deer hunting

Deer Hunting: Finding the Perfect Location

Leave a comment

Deer hunting is an art. You need to have a perfect place to hunt a deer, probably a perfect tree stand. Some tips which help you to hunt a deer can really be helpful to find a perfect spot for getting a deer down.

Basic Preparation:
For hunting a deer, you need to know that where the deer actually reside. The preparation for finding a deer location should begin at least three to four weeks in advance. Catching a deer location before that might not really help as they might have changed their routes.

However, you can keep a few areas where deer can be found in your mind and may be re-consider and re-evaluate those areas while actually going for hunting.

Care should be exercised in making minimal changes to the surroundings and leaving little, or if possible, no signs of you being there. After finding the perfect spot, place your tree stand over there. This is done to get the deer used to seeing that stand at that location.

Choosing multiple sites can be helpful as this might leave little scent behind.

Checking for the food source:
Awareness in terms of the food that deer eat during the season for hunting can be helpful. Trees that are producing nuts start dropping the nuts while the hunting season starts. Therefore once can track the deer foot-prints by finding out areas where hickory or nuts or acorns are dropped around. Other food items such as mushrooms, farm crops, herbs, apples, grass etc are also consumed by deer. Trailing these foods can help you find a deer location.

Rest Domains:
One should also check for the rejuvenating and sleeping areas of deer. Generally they sleep in areas where there are thick bushes. Also find the trails where the deer move for feeding their child. These areas might be at a distance and off the track. Larger bucks normally go beyond the normal areas into further deeper brushes.

Their sign might not be seen into some most common trails. These large bucks follow the common trail only while they go up for feed.

Problems Faced:
• Boring as you have to wait for the deer to appear
• High chances of you dosing off to sleep while waiting for the deer
• Making unnecessary sounds and noises or movement due to uneasiness

Solutions:
• Make yourself comfortable by coming out of the tree stand whenever you feel uneasy
• Set up heat and motion detectors at the deer trails, using a deer trail monitoring system. These can alert you whenever the deer is approaching you

Thus, these tips can help you select a perfect location and have a nice hunting season with deer.

hunting

Hunting Rabbits

2 Comments

For many people, hunting rabbits is cruel and unusual punishment. For others, however, hunting rabbits is an age old sport that requires patience and skill. This article will speak to the latter while paying no mind to the former, realizing that the rabbit hunt is as old a tradition in America as hunting other animals and acknowledging that, while hunting may not be necessary in any modern context, it is a heck of a lot of fun.

Most people choose to hunt rabbits with a dog. This is because using a dog can help bring the rabbit out into the open or can help draw the hunter towards the area in which the rabbits are more prolific. A dog can also serve as a great companion to hunting, enabling the hunter to actually have someone to talk to instead of the cold steel of the Remington rifle. Still, some people choose to hunt without a furry friend, making for a different hunting experience.

When people hunt for rabbits without a dog, it is important to learn the traits and factors involved with rabbits. The hunter must virtually become the rabbit; learning the rabbits pathways and food stops are vitally important to a successful rabbit hunt, so thinking like a rabbit is integral to the success of the hunt. Of course, thinking like a rabbit may tell you that killing these furry little friends for sport isn’t such a great idea. If that happens, ignore those facts and focus in on your goal of bagging a fluffy bunny.

An ideal time to hunt bunnies is in the first warm days of spring. Here, bunnies will likely be soaking up the sun and having a great time in open fields. This is a great time to break out your rifle and start bagging some rabbits. The time is ideal because, in relation to the winter, the rabbits you seek will be more out in the open and more prone to be visible to the naked eye. In winter, rabbits tend to smartly utilize brush cover and brambles to cover their tracks from nosy bloodhounds.

It is important to realize that rabbits tend to run from side to side. This, of course, does not mean that you should not actively watch the rabbit while firing madly into the open field. What it does mean is that a hunter can actively track the path of the rabbit by watching for repeated steps in terms of the tracking. A rabbit will only run in a short line for a short time, changing pace and darting back and forth in jagged hops until it reaches its safe cover. Knowing this, follow the rabbit with your tracking skills and nail it before it hops down the rabbit hole and back to Wonderland.

Many hunters make the mistake of moving too quickly and making too much noise when hunting rabbits. Just ask Elmer Fudd about the best options for hunting rabbits and he will tell you that the best technique for hunting “wabbits” is to slowly stalk the prey before firing off shot after shot from your alarmingly huge elephant gun. The honest truth about hunting bunnies is that the technique must fall somewhere in the middle. Charging into the middle of a known rabbit field with your guns blazing will likely not catch you any rabbits, but you do need to be somewhat assertive to bag a bunny.

The overall best technique for hunting rabbits is what is known as the “stop and go” technique. This technique is exactly what it sounds like; the essence of the stop and go technique is in utilizing tip-toe style movements and stalking the rabbit through watching it, moving towards it and moving further towards it. As you can pattern the rabbits’ movements, you can eventually squeeze off a shot and throw poor Cottontail in the trunk to impress all of your friends. If you miss, however, be careful. Some rabbits actually bite.

hunting

The Problem with Canned Hunting

Leave a comment

Canned hunting is effectively trophy hunting. A canned hunt is a type of hunt that involves the hunter being essentially promised a kill by a hunting agency or governing body. The activity basically takes place on the grounds that the host of the hunt, whether a hunting agency or private party, captures an animal and releases it in a generally enclosed area to be hunted by the hunter. The enclosed area tends to be a small fenced in area so that the kill comes rather easily to the hunter.

Naturally, there have been all sorts of ethical issues involving canned hunting. Through the years, the controversy and criticism of canned hunting has reached a fever pitch. Rightly so, as the issue with canned hunting is one more directed towards animal cruelty than any other type of hunt. The animal is captured and “canned”, giving it no original chance for survival. This type of simplistic approach to hunting is often polarizing to many within the hunting community, some of which appreciate the delicate balance of nature in its own right.

The United States actually has a set line of legislation regarding canned hunting because of the criticism. In the Sportsman Hunting Act of 2005, the United States proclaimed that anyone who transports an exotic animal for the purposes of canned hunting shall be fined or put in prison for no longer than one year. While the penalties are not all that tough, the sentiment is still resounding. The United States government does not particularly qualify what constitutes an “exotic animal”, however, and this has led to some confusion among canned hunters.

The critique involving canned hunting is rather obvious. Animal rights groups claim that is it cruelty to animals and, while they protest all types of hunting, their position is somewhat more compelling when it is amplified by other hunting groups. Certain hunting groups claim that canned hunting takes away from the element of the “fair chase” or the “fair catch”. In other words, hunting groups typically claim that part of the adventure of the hunt is, of course, the hunt. Without the hunt, hunting is left to barbaric slaughter. These hunting groups claim that canned hunting simply strips away any of the elements of survival in terms of hunting and brings it down to its most animalistic classification.

Naturally, another opponent of canned hunting is the North American Humane Society. They claim that canned hunting represents cruel activity towards animals and exists to promote brutality towards animals. The hunted animal, according to the Humane Society, has literally no chance to escape and is essentially a victim of terrorism by the hunter and the hunting party. The animal is captive and is nearly tortured by the psychological implications of being in captivity and then being hunted while in such captivity.

There are several incidents in current events which reflect canned hunting. The United States Vice President Dick Cheney is said to be a fan of canned hunting, once apparently bagging around seventy ringneck pheasants on a hunt in which the pheasants were captured and then released in a specific area upon Cheney’s request. Of course, the most famous Dick Cheney canned hunting incident likely involved the shooting of Harry Whittington. It is not known if Cheney has any objections to canned hunting on a moral level, however, as the Vice President tends to be known for a certain level of ambiguity.

Canned hunting represents a great deal of controversy and criticism in America. It is not looked at favorably at all and, instead, is rather shamed even within the hunting community. As the community of hunters tends to progress and allow for nature to operate on its own constraints within their boundaries, canned hunting tends to represent all that is wrong with human interference on its most brutal and basic level. Canned hunting is not hunting at all; it is simply a deadly game of capture and kill that gives the animal no chance to run.

hunting

Hunting Safely

1 Comment

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.

elk hunting

Elk Hunting: Heed The Call

Leave a comment

Elk are very big in size and this is the reason why elk hunting is considering very special kind of hunting by hunters.

These large sized animals have different type of life style and the mating customs of these animals are also different. These animals can be deliberately violent or coward.

The hunters who participate in elk hunting activity regularly get very less chances to come near this royal creature. They can tell very less stories regarding their experience with these large creatures. The weight of a male elk can easily reach to eight hundred pounds. The elk are very shrewd and it is really a complex task to kill elk. The hunting of elk requires a great skill on part of hunter.

The success of elk hunting practice depends on many elements. Time is the major element for hunting elk. An experienced elk hunter can easily understand that how much time is required for elk hunting.

They can also tell about effect of temperature on elk hunting. Those who wish to hunt an elk for first time require hiring the services of a guide. Elk can be found in many areas. A guide can help in making a successful attempt of elk hunting by offering value able tips to the hunter. Thus can guide can be very helpful for you for elk hunting.

Bugling or announcing is the second important element for elk hunting. This is the activity, which is performed by the male elk for challenging other males and for attracting females during the mating season. Hunter also does this practice but it can be dangerous if it is used excessively.

The effective use of this type of practice is possible only if hunters have vast experience to have information about the places for use of this method. In this way an experienced hunter can use this technique more effectively.

You can find many manuals and books in the market, which can give information regarding use of bugling while hunting.

You can also find calls, which can imitate female elk or cows. Some hunters make use of these devices to attract a bull closer during hunting. After sending the bull at a beneficial place one can make a move for final attempt. You can make a successful shot after attracting the bull.

The excessive use of bugling can prevent the male elk from coming near to advantageous area during hunting. The good quality of instrument ensures the good quality of results. Elk have inherent quality to foresee dangers.

You can hunt an Elk only by creating a natural environment. Thus it is necessary to make the elk hunting practice more and more realistic.

hunting

Picking the Best Rifle

Leave a comment

Picking the right rifle for the big hunt is vitally important because it can make or break the hunt itself. You never know what problems may arise from having the wrong rifle at the hunt, so ensure that you have taken the time to pick the best rifle for the job. There are a number of criteria points that should be explored as you determine the best rifle for hunting, too. As you grow as a hunter and learn more, you will be able to make your own decisions in terms of picking a rifle for the hunt. For now, however, it is likely best that you consider a bit of expert opinion.

There are many types of hunting rifles. Bolt-action, lever-action, semi-automatic and pump-action rifles are just a few of the different types of guns that hunters utilize in the big hunt. Within these types, there is also a selection of different caliber types. Solving the great mystery of picking the best rifle, then, means answering a few questions about the type of hunt you will be on.

You will first need to consider your location. If you will be hunting in thick brush, you will probably need a faster-loading gun that you can operate rather quickly in tight spaces. With limited visibility on your hunt, you will likely want a light gun that you can work with rather quickly. If you have a longer distance to cover, you will probably want a rifle that offers you a great deal of more control. Bolt-action rifles can give you that control, but they are hard to work with in small quarters of space because of the mechanics of operation. While some hunters may say that they have done so, it can be extremely complicated to load a gun with a bolt-action loading mechanism while crouching behind a bush. The movement alone could lose the prey.

You will also need to consider your type of prey. Most rifles are suitable for killing deer of any kind. Again, the discussion ventures back to the location distinction on this account. If you are killing smaller animals, however, you may want a rifle that you can hold at a more “still” pace. This means that you do not want to spend your time controlling the gun when you are trying to control the shot. For this reason, many recommend going with a smaller semi-automatic for hunting animals like rabbits or badgers. The skittish nature of the animal can be offset by squeezing off a quick shot from a semi-automatic.

After you have determined your prey and your location, it may be time to pick a rifle. Of course, there are many popular brand names within each subset of gun type, but the reality is that you will need to find a gun that you find to be most comfortable. You will look for strength and accuracy out of a bolt-action gun, for example, which may lead you around to several gun stores before you find the right one. You should also look for little extras on the gun, such as adjustable triggers and thumb safety switches. Features like these will make your gun a lot safer and a lot more user friendly.

After you have purchased your gun, you should get to know your gun. Take it apart and put it back together again. Learn the ins and outs of your gun so that you can be as safe as possible with it. You will need to know what ammunition it is that your gun shoots. Find out the best way to maintain and store your gun, too. Gun safety is of utter importance, so ensure that your new rifle is locked away and stored in a safe place away from children or other family members that may be curious about it. Always keep it unloaded when you are not using it and never point it at another person.

deer hunting

Deer Hunting: Alabama Deer Hunting

Leave a comment

If you are dreaming about hunting a white tail deer, then Alabama is the best place to be looked into. It does not matter, if you are an aspiring hunter or a well-experienced hunting champ. Alabama offers the best ambience for catching your prey. Here, you can easily hunt in well-managed properties specially designed for hunting purposes. It offers you to choose between bow and a gun for your hunting adventure.

No matter you are amateur or well experienced; you’ll surely have great time hunting in Alabama farms. This place provides you a wonderful opportunity of hunting white tail deer, which is the most familiar species of deer, found in south. Alabama offers you an area of more than 5000 acres of land for hunting purpose, where you can easily found a good number of deer population.

Recent developments:
It is quite rewarding to know that the amount of money generated and quantity of hunting activity, both have tremendously increased in Alabama. Alabama has increasing prospects of deer hunting today. Also some of well-established farms provide deer hunting classes in winters in wooded areas. This sounds amazing and fascinating, right?

In Alabama, you can choose amongst the wide variety of pastures or hunting lands according to your suitability and desirability. You also have an option of choosing from guided hunts or from your self- assessed hunting understanding.

Time factor:
This may sound as a shortcoming as deer hunting in Alabama is seasonal in nature. You just can’t walk into woods seeking for your trophy deer at any moment of time. It is very important to take the timing factor in notice, before packing bags for hunting adventure in Alabama. You also need to check with relevant authorities regarding the same.

Favorable months:
Mid October is the best time for bow hunting in Alabama. For gun hunting, you need to wait until November ends. Even the dates are not fixed; you need to contact the concerned authorities and should go through schedules of hunting season from Alabama wildlife department.

Alabama deer hunting is getting quite popular. Many enthusiastic and passionate white tail deer hunters have started residing in nearby places in Alabama. Deer hunting in proper season gives one rewarding results as they can have an eye on number of prey target.
As Alabama provides number of hunting opportunities with minimal restrictions, it proves to be a very profitable business option for state.

hunting

Gun Safety for Hunters

Leave a comment

There are many reasons that a hunter would get seriously injured, but the leading cause is improper gun handling. Unfortunately, too many hunters ignore vital safety precautions when hunting and do not take good care of their weapon. Hunting injuries or fatalities are becoming all too common in the world of hunting and many people do not seem too concerned about the fatal realities of these incidents. The logical hunter, however, takes careful note of all of the safety precautions involving his or her weapon and learns the basics of gun safety for hunters.

One of the first fundamental laws of hunting safety is to always treat the gun as if it is loaded. This is a universal guideline for gun safety as it does not refer to any actual type of gun. In terms of having a gun in general, one should never assume that it is unloaded. One should never be flippant with a gun or wave it around, point it at others or work carelessly with it. There is always the off chance that something could occur as a result of any gun powder residue or other possibilities, giving the odds of a dangerous incident more ground than necessary. Instead, simply treat the gun as if it is always loaded and err on the side of caution.

In relationship to the aforementioned law of gun safety, it is important to be responsible and keep the gun unloaded until it is ready for use on the hunting grounds. This avoids any injury or death due to the gun accidentally going off due to careless use or due to improper storage. Many a story has been told about gun injuries relating to guns going off in truck compartments and shooting through truck seating, relating to the notion that the gun was not only properly stored but that the improperly stored gun was loaded. For reasons such as these, always store the gun as unloaded.

When on the hunting field, it is important to remember hunting safety techniques. Always keep the fingers in indexed positions until ready to fire. This avoids any accidental firing which can obviously result in serious injury. Instead, the fingers should be somewhat folded and away from the trigger if possible. If the fingers are more apt to be near the gun’s trigger, keep them folded and away from any notches until the prey is well within scope range. One false move with a finger too close to the trigger could result in accidental firing resulting in injury or death.

Keep the gun pointed in a safe direction. This, of course, means that the gun should never be pointed at another person. Many a story has been told of guns pointed at hunting companions in jest, only for the gun to accidentally go off and injure or kill the unfortunate companion. For this reason and for reasons involving common sense, keep the gun pointed somewhere safe and away from yourself and people at all times. This rule applies whether the gun is loaded or not.

Never look down the barrel of the gun to see if it is loaded. This is simply something that should not be done under any circumstances. As a reference to the aforementioned rules, one of the fundamental foundations of gun safety is expecting the unexpected. If one is looking down the gun barrel, there is no predictable way to ensure that the gun will not accidentally fire from powder residue or any other elements that could be lodged in the gun. Keep the face away from the gun barrel at all times.

Make sure that the gun is never dropped. This can result in accidental firing, which can send a bullet or powder in a very chaotic and unpredictable direction. Instead, always hold the gun with both hands and treat it as carefully as possible.

Never let a person who is intoxicated in any way handle a gun. Alcohol and drugs slow the reason factor on people, resulting in a lapse of reason and better judgment. An intoxicated person may improperly operate a firearm, leading to injury or possible death.

All in all, these fundamental rules should be followed if one wants to ensure a safe and happy hunting trip. Without paying attention to safety regulations, the risk factor of the average hunting trip more than doubles and injury is almost inevitable. Be safe when hunting or handling a gun of any kind.

bow hunting

Bow Hunting And Mental Discipline

Leave a comment

Bow hunting, like any other sports, needs both the physical and mental discipline of an athlete. The physical part comes into play because you need the strength and the right skills in archery. The mental part is the concentration needed to hit the target.

Focus

Just like any good athlete, you need to practice your shots. Like any other sport, no matter how excellent your sporting gears are, your accuracy still depends on your focus.

The world’s greatest athletes who are thought to be naturally gifted in their sports are the world’s most intensely focused personalities. Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, Roger Federer are just some of them.

For one, focusing is said to be a skill. Just like any other skill, it can be developed and can be bettered through frequent practice, just like what you do with your muscles and your other physical skills.

As one expert said, a hunters preparation does not end in the physical preparation of shooting in the practice range. It should develop the mental mindset which might include, for instance, wearing the actual hunting clothes during the practice sessions.

Visualization

One proven way of improving ones focusing skill is through visualization. Discovered by old shamans before, visualization is now proven by clinical and sports psychology studies as a very effective performance-enhancer, especially in sports.

One way to improve your focus in bow hunting is to visualize your target buck present during your practice shots at the range. Imagine how your perfect shot hit your buck right where you want it.

You can visualize this scenario as many times as you want. Doing so will make you more confident. You will then be able to focus on where you want your arrow to be, instead of, say, the antlers.

When the big buck finally appears during the hunt and faces you, you will be able to look at nothing else but the place where you want your arrow to go. If you had visualized the double-long shot, there is a good chance you will achieve it in real time.

Accentuate the positive

Another discovery that increases the mental focus is the emphasis of positives instead of negatives. It had been shown that anything positive registers better and stays in the mind longer.

In times of stress, it is calming to say to oneself to “Keep quiet” than “Don’t make noise!” or to say “Stay calm” than say “Don’t be hasty!”

Mental discipline

You may not have the natural talents of our top world-caliber athletes. You can always use their mental training techniques and benefit from them. And bring your bow hunting skills one level up through mental discipline.

duck hunting

The Joy of Duck Hunting

Leave a comment

Duck hunting is one of the most popular hunting sports in the world. It is as much a social calling as it is a hunt, in fact, representing a whole set of cultural standards and etiquette rules that many people do not even consider. It has a whole culture all its own, from a proper dress code to duck hunting dogs and assistants. The world of duck hunting is ripe with cultural significance, but is also has a dark side and represents a less than desirable aspect of human nature. Regardless of the point of view, there is something to be learned about duck hunting that may shed some light on either side of the ethical quandary.

Duck hunting is mainly a sporting activity around the world now, as commercial duck hunting has since been banned in most of the developed countries. Duck hunting is, in fact, as old as time itself. There are early indications that ducks and geese were somehow hunted during the Ice Age. Cave drawings indicate that duck hunting was a sound practice early on in human existence, giving way to ducks and swans appearing on cave paintings in Ice Age Europe. There is also evidence of duck hunting in Egypt, as a mural on the tomb of Khum-Hotpe displays a man capturing ducks in a stream. Ducks were also likely hunted by early man in the Americas, as early Peruvian art indicates.

With this international history, duck hunting enjoys a popularity that spreads around the world. It is especially popular in North America, where the largest number of localized ducks can be located. Most ducks use the Mississippi River as a migratory guide, so many duck hunts take place along the river to use it as a guide for finding ducks. Arkansas is a major hotbed of duck hunting, with Stuttgart being considered the “duck hunting capital of the world”.

Duck hunting is often considered popular because of its simplicity. The tools of the trade are simplistic enough, from a decoy set to a shotgun and duck call. The essence of duck hunting is based around the trickery of using the decoy and the duck call in tandem to lure the ducks out and into the air towards the decoy. After this takes place, the ducks are in open range for the hunt and the firing begins. These hunts take place around rivers, streams, lakes and any other bodies of water where ducks can be found.

There are many aspects that stand in contrast to duck hunting, of course. Most waterfowl conservation experts agree that the hunting of any type of waterfowl does little to help any situation. In fact, most marsh and wetland areas are shrinking at tremendous rates, giving rise the the criticism that duck hunting effectively diminishes an already diminishing habitat. There are several organizations that constantly spar with duck hunters over this reality.

One organization is the popular Ducks Unlimited. Ducks Unlimited is an international organization that stands as the leader in non-profit marshland protection and the protection of waterfowl. Ducks Unlimited sometimes works with hunters to protect the marshlands and protect the hunter’s way of life. The main goal of Ducks Unlimited is the conservation of localized habitats where ducks can be found, enabling hunters to continue protected and logical hunts of ducks and enabling the survival of more ducks by creating better places for them to live.

Still, some hunters ignore this philosophy and have no interest in any protection of habitats. They, instead, pillage the duck areas and hunt ducks that should not be hunted. Duck hunting remains a controversial sport because of this aspect, unfortunately, and will continue to have a dark side as long as hunters remain blissfully ignorant as to the realities of organizations such as Ducks Unlimited. Without the cooperation of hunters and marshland protectors, duck hunts may be a thing of the past.

all about hunting