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Practice Life-Sized

admin — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:12:25 +0000

by Moultrie Feeders

-By Brandon Wikman

Summer is a time when hunters hone their archery skills and try to outdo their shooting performance from last year. It is an ideal time to tweak, tick, and twiddle with new gear or accessories. The summer drags most archers into their front yard or local shooting range to plunk away on bag, block, or 3D targets. I’ve learned that it is crucial to your practice regimen that you invest efforts into piercing arrows in the correct target at the correct time.

Several professional hunters and archers are quick to say that practicing is only as good as you make it out to be. These words and tips of suggestion are coming from people that practice every single day of their life. They constantly shape their form, mold techniques, and improve the ending result of their scores. Practice shooting life-sized animal targets improves a hunter’s success tremendously in the field, whereas practicing at bulls eyes primarily sculpts competitive target shooters.

Firing arrows into a realistic looking target trains your mind and sinks the recollection of crunch time into a practical perspective. Shooting at tiny round circles works great for dialing your bow into ‘hunt-ready performance.’ I use bag and block targets to gauge my accuracy, adjust my sights, and gain confidence in my shot. The only downer of shooting at the speckled dots is that they’re nowhere to be found on the chest of a real animal! Your trained archery hunting eyes must magically put the bulls-eye on a walking whitetail or drinking antelope. Practicing on life-sized animal targets train your shooting instincts.

Many bear hunters who dare hauling a bow and arrow into the woods never practice at a bear target. They spend there entire spring and summer simply plunking arrows into the center of their fluffy bag target until it erodes. Or they may have only jabbed a dozen arrows into the vitals of a deer target, which is completely different than the physical makeup of a bear. The importance of shooting practice is only as good as you make it out to be.

Many outfitters and guides have clients who’ve saved tons of green over the past couple years for an exciting trophy elk or mountain lion hunt but they have never punched arrows into anything that even closely mimics the vital organ placement, shape, or body of the animal there going to be pursuing. Each animal you plan on hunting must be scrutinized to the max. The knowledge and understanding of an animal’s vitals and anatomy is what slices the diehard hunter from the rest of the pack. Don’t be afraid to drop a hundred more dollars on the animal target that you’ll be hunting. There’s no sense spending thousands of dollars without taking a serious mental aim on what you will be chasing. You must put your frame of mind to the ultimate test by introducing new ways to stimulate better practice.

I’ve taken these game-chasing lessons and used them to my advantage. Last year, with the help of some friends and family, I constructed a virtual hunting experience in my woods. It is an archery-hunting course crafted for every hunter in North America. There are over twenty shooting stations that range from a distance of 10-yards to 60-yards. Each station has a different animal placed in a specific scenario. Whether it’s a bear climbing a tree, a moving fox, or a whitetail sipping an afternoon drink, the course gives people the most realistic practice experience.

Taking your archery practice to a higher-level is an essential step in building your killing abilities. Dedicate time to create your very own mock-hunting experience that you can share with your friends and family. You may want to implement tree stands, ground blind stations, and moving targets. There are endless opportunities and a mixture of fun situations to mock. It is a great way to increase your accuracy and boost your overall shooting confidence.

Whitetail Vocabulary Lesson

admin — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:10:31 +0000

by Moultrie Feeders

-By Brandon Wikman

Whitetail deer have a wide assortment of both verbal and nonverbal means of communication. They’re language and lingo has been carefully studied by animal biologists since the early years of the late 1800’s. Deer have a very unique style of engaging in conversation. Many of us have already heard of the basic converse from deer to deer. A whitetail’s vocabulary ranges from bleats, grunt, bellows, and bawls. The list below details the most popular whitetail dialect. You will generate a fresh idea of deer verbalization and a typical time frame of season they communicate.

Contact Call – Also referred to as the ‘lost call.’ The contact call can be matched to the idea of the kee-kee-run call made by wild turkey. Both whitetail and turkey share the same concepts of locating fellow members of their family or group. A doe will make a loud and deep bleat two to three times every 15 minutes. You may use this calling technique as a way to mimic a confused doe. It is perfect to use while walking into your setup to cover your noise while still-hunting. Deer usually speak this language during the pre-rut, which runs throughout the entire month of October.

Doe Grunts – Differ from buck grunts in several ways. Doe grunts are a deer’s way of saying “Hey…come here.” The doe grunt is used to persuade fellow deer in the area to come. You must keep this calling technique soft to mimic the call perfectly. The louder you make the grunt, the more aggressive it sounds. Doe have been known to use this lingo throughout the month of October as well.

Breeding Bellow – One of my favorite calls. This hyper doe gurgle will be heard during the heat of the rut. Many people think that the bellow and the “estrous bleat” are the same. The converse differentiates greatly; in fact, the ‘estrous bleat’ means, “I will be ready to breed soon.” The bellow means, “I’m ready to breed right now!” I’ve used this calling technique with the combination of rattling to coax in many mature bucks. You will not hear doe make this call during the early season. The primary time of this communication will be heard during the breeding season in November.

Tending Grunt – Another breeding-style call made by high-strung bucks. The grunt is a rapid succession of mini-grunts in a staccato pattern. You may have heard this call while sitting in your tree stand and suddenly catch a glimpse of a buck trailing a doe. A buck will typically produce 10-20 soft tending grunts during any moment of chase. I’ve watched many professional hunters on video mimic this call with a follow-up of an estrous bleat leading into a rattling session.

One key of success to the art of calling is to create a surreal situation. Adding realism in your calling will give you the upper hand when calling to deer that have been called to before. Be creative and try new strategies. I’ve heard of people scratching the bark off the tree you’re sitting in with antlers when rattling. My cousin has dropped rocks from his stand to mock the sounds of hoof traffic before banging together antlers of tossing out grunts.

Game calling has always been popular in duck and turkey hunting. Bring your grunt tube into the woods during every hunt. You never know when you may want to break it out and bring the big buck into range!

moultrie monster buck contest

admin — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:13:01 +0000

After reviewing hundreds of entries each week to choose our weekly winners, a panel of judges at Moultrie selected the 2008 Monster Buck Contest winners.

The Grand Prize Winner is this huge Wisconsin buck.

Congratulations Kevin for capturing a true monster. The Grand Prize package includes a Moultrie I-60 infrared game camera, Camera Security Box, PowerPanel, and two 4-GB SD Cards.

Our 1st Runner Up is this awesome North Carolina buck that was sent in by Jeff.

And 2nd Runner Up was awarded to this great Louisiana buck captured by Tyler.

Congratulations to all of our winners and thanks to everyone who participated by sending in so many impressive photos.

choosing the right tactical knife

admin — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:18:12 +0000

With such a broad selection of knives and an endless list of different manufacturers it can be a hard task trying to find the suitable tactical knife that will serve your desired task. I know this because I went through it all years ago and back then there wasn’t as much variety. Lucky enough I have gained a good knowledge of the different types of tactical knives throughout the years. Let me explain.

First question you need to ask yourself.

What situation will you want the tactical knife for, urban, jungle, forest etc. Each knife can serve a different purpose. A machete for jungle, a strong blade for forest with teeth to cut branches and for urban combat a good tactical knife might be considered a multi-purpose knife as with these you have screw driver, pliers etc.

These days a nicer piece of kit would be to have your knife camouflaged to whatever colour you want, green, desert, tiger strip, whatever pattern you want it can be attained.

Before I purchase a knife these are the questions I ask myself and so should you.
- Whats its purpose
- Where will I be using it
- Length of blade needed.
- Are teeth needed
- What type of handle
- What type of blade, fixed, automatic or drop point
- Should it be camouflaged

With all this in mind finding the right tactical knife shouldn’t be a problem, how much you want to spent is up to yourself but i would recommend on buying from a known manufacturer like gerber or buck knives.

I Hope the information can be of use to you and if you linke you can find great tactical knives at http://www.sharphuntingknives.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dean_Gammell
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hunting knives – choosing the right style

admin — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:11:07 +0000

Many hunters are preparing their equipment for the Fall 2008 Hunting Season. This article describes the various hunting knives available to hunters this season and the benefits of each style.

People of all ages throughout time have hunted for survival, pleasure, and necessity. The hunting knife has been a staple piece of equipment for all of these scenarios. A quality knife makes the process of hunting easier, more enjoyable, and often times safer. When looking for the right hunting knife for yourself you must understand what types of knives are available to you.

Types of Hunting Knives

Fixed Blade Knives
Fixed blade and folding are the two main styles of hunting knife. Fixed blade knives are generally the more rugged and reliable. Fixed blade knives like the Coast Bowie Knife or the Puma Rolled Stag White Hunter are both good examples of high quality fixed blade hunting knives because of their superior stainless steel blades and sturdy handles. Fixed blades are also very easy to clean. Fixed blade knives, however, are generally bulkier, heavier, and potentially dangerous if not packed and handled properly. Hunters planning to do a lot of hiking or climbing might want to steer clear of a fixed blade or purchase a high-quality protective sheath.

Folding Knives
For most hunting trips, folding blade knives are strong and durable enough for the tasks at hand. Folding knives do just as the name implies – the blade folds into the handle, protecting the blade and the user from cutting themselves and reducing the overall size of the knife. There are two main types of folding knives – lock-backs and pocketknives.

Lock-Back Folding Blades
Lock-back folding blades have nearly the same strength and durability of fixed blade knives but have the added benefit of being safer and easier to pack. Many lock-back knives allow for one hand operation making it easier to use when you are all alone or juggling multiple pieces of equipment. Lock-back blades are also much safer – their blade locking mechanism ensures that the blade won’t flip back unexpectedly cutting the user.

Pocket Knives
Pocketknives are usually more versatile than lock-back or fixed-blade knives. They are more compact, easy to carry and, if purchased from a reputable brand, can provide all the strength needed to skin or gut game.

Choosing Your Knife
Remember, when choosing your hunting knife, practicality is the most important thing to consider. It may seem like the right idea to buy a ten-inch fixed blade giant but the knife may prove too large and cumbersome to use in a more common hunting scenario. Most hunters don’t need anything larger than a four- to five-inch blade.

The fundamentals of the high-quality, reliable hunting knife will continue to remain constant. A well-made fixed or folding blade knife suitable for your hunting needs will make your next hunting trip fruitful and rewarding.

~Ben Anton, 2008

Ben Anton lives in Portland, OR.
Find the best hunting equipment, including stainless steel Coast knives and other blades on the Coast website for hunting lights and knives.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ben_Anton
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primitive bows

admin — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 03:48:08 +0000

The first bow was probably no more than a stick that had a piece of sinew tied to it. Bows and arrows were used for myriad purposes: Hunting, delivering messages, battle and war, competition, and more. Over the centuries, not much has changed, as far as the basic concept of bows is concerned. A bow remains a stick with a string. However, the bow itself has evolved into a precision weapon, and though it may not be used anymore in warfare or for delivering messages, it is still favored equipment amongst hunters and archery enthusiasts.

Every object today has a moment back in time where the item was conceived and first put to use. Anything we have in our lives has history and roots, and the bow is no different. Early bows were no more than bent sticks strung with sinew. What’s interesting is that the basic design of the bow has barely changed over time. What has changed, however, is that the uses the bow could accomplish, such as warfare and delivering messages, have fallen out of favor. Hunters and archery enthusiasts still consider the bow favored equipment, though.

Primitive bows are a thing of the past, but the initial design of a bent stick and sinew attached as a drawstring has remained true for an incredible amount of time. Of course, past times had a wide variety of uses for bows and arrows, and most of those uses have fallen from favor, replaced by other methods, techniques, or equipment. For today’s hunters and archery enthusiasts, though, the bow retains much of its favor and is still as popular as ever.

One of the most obvious characteristics of a primitive bow is the lack of an arrow rest, a small shelf that the arrow rests on when nocked. Shooting a primitive bow requires resting the arrow on the first knuckle of the hand holding the bow. Another characteristic of primitive bows is that they are made of all-natural materials. Backing such as animal sinew helped strengthen the bow in areas where the wood alone wasn’t sufficient. Fiberglass and carbon backings were not an option and those who replicate primitive bows do not use these materials.

Don’t let the term “primitive” fool you, though. Crafting bows was and still is quite a science. One method used for increasing the strength and flexibility of a primitive bow was creating the bow from several thin layers of material. A bowyer would layer the back of the bow’s wood core with horn and the belly (the side facing the archer) with sinew. When drawn, the sinew would stretch, and on release, the horn would contract, thus adding power to the flight of the arrow. Today, bows constructed using this technique are called composite bows.

Many people taking up the sport of archery want to emulate their ancestors and use bows primitive people had at hand or want bows such as those used during the medieval ages. The most simplistic of these bows are “stick bows”. These bows are usually made from a straight piece of wood with no curve at the tips. Stick bows were most commonly used among primitive people such as the Great Plains Indians. Other bows, such as the English long bow and the short bow, have the same design. A long bow’s design was more for distance than accuracy. At the height of its popularity, a legion of archers could launch enough arrows to darken the sky. Some of these bows required as much as 150 pounds of pull and could travel great distances.

One attraction of archery is that individuals can take up the sport to emulate people who lived in medieval ages, acting as veritable Robin Hoods of the modern day. The bows used in medieval times included the English long bow and the short bow. The media often shows displays of the English long bow’s abilities, that of launching arrows to fill the sky. These bows were designed for distance, not accuracy, though they required as much as 150 pounds of pull and traveled long distances. Stick bows, another bow of the Middle Ages, were simplistic bows made from a straight piece of wood having no curves at the tips.

Aficionados of medieval times often take up archery to emulate people of past eras. The English long bow and the short bow were popular in the Middle Ages and the prowess of the English long bow is often demonstrated in the media. Archers using long bows would fill the sky with arrows, using up to 150 pounds of pull to deliver their missiles over great distances. Accuracy gave way to the need for arrows to travel far. Another bow used in medieval times was the stick bow, a simplistic type crafted from a single piece of straight wood.

Other types of primitive bows include “horse bows”, as used by the Mongols and Japanese Samurai warriors. These bows have a unique curve that allowed shooting from horseback. Another type of horse bow used by the Samurai was one where the hand grip was set off center. The archer would hold the bow lower down so that it wouldn’t interfere with riding the horse. It is easy to see how our modern day recurve bow evolved from these ancient horse bows.

There are bows that have evolved from primitive bows, such as those used by horseback riders. Mongols and Japanese Samurai warriors used bows having a unique curve that permitted shooting while riding. Samurais also used a bow that had an off-center grip, and this bow was held at a lower position to avoid interfering with riding. Modern recurve bows are clearly designs based on these types of primitive bows.

Mongols and Japanese Samurai warriors gave us another type of primitive bow that has evolved to the modern recurve bow archers are familiar with today. These uniquely curved bows were used by horse-riders and held in positions that didn’t interfere with equestrian requirements. An off-center grip was common to bows used by Samurais, though the holding position was lower down.

dog boots: the conundrum continues

admin — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 21:25:06 +0000

Scott B. called with a question I’ve had a LOT of personal experience with: dog boots. This topic has generated more frustration among more hunters than almost any other (besides over/under vs. side-by-side).
Whether it’s cactus or lava rock, our pooches’ paws sometimes need a little help if we’re going to hunt more than a day [...]
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hunting checklist with tips

admin — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:18:00 +0000

Tomorrow archery season will start in Mississippi and will run until November 21, 2008. Gun (with dogs) starts November 22-December 1, 2008. Primitive Weapon will pick up on December 2-15, 2008 and January 22-31, 2009. Gun (no dogs) will start December 16-21 January, 2009. Youth Gun (under 16) will be November 15-21, 2008. With all that said, here is a checklist for hunters below that was taken from a supplement in The Vicksburg Post called Hunting ‘08 that may be helpful. Deer season is upon us in our great wild outdoors! For easy hunting tips check out this blog. Charming, Just Charming!

Hunting Equipment
Hunting license
Firearm and ammunition
Shotgun shell bags
Rifle cartridge cases
Sharpening stone with oil
Binoculars
Scents
Unscented insect repellent
Camo face paint
Game bags
Rope and hoist
Game feeders
Decoys
Bone saw
Backpack
Pocket Knife (Swiss Army-type)
Compass

Repair and Maintenance
Rifle, shotgun or pistol cleaning kits
Solvent and extra patches
Gun Oil
Silicone spray
Assorted small tools
Trigger locks
Flashlight
ATV supplies/fuel

Clothing
Underwear and socks
Thermal underwear
Flannel shirts
Hunting or camo pants or jeans
Insulated vest
Camo
Game and shell vest
Hiking or hunting boots
Snake leggings
White pants, shirt parka/poncho (for goose hunting)
Orange safety vest
Stocking cap
Ski mask
Hunting cap
Leather work gloves
Silicone gloves
Wet Weather Gear
Poncho
Rain Suit
Rubber boots
Hip boots
Chest waders

Extras
Food
Pillow for sitting on ground

Camera

May you all have GOODHUNTING!

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“ultimate checklist” 1.0 for upland bird hunters

admin — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 03:38:46 +0000

checklist-page-1
checklist-page-2
Okay everyone, here is the list. I know I’ll be using it as I pack for the Irish Setter/Tri-Tronics-sponsored “Awesome Upland Road Trip.”
Thanks to those who contributed ideas and suggestions. Many are incorporated here. I’m hoping (with your help) that this becomes the definitive reference source for upland bird hunters, and perhaps a starting point for [...]
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scentLok revisted

admin — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 02:57:38 +0000

Hello all,

It has been a minute since I have posted. I spent my summer loving and enjoying my family and didn’t take the time to post. I hope that all have had similar experiences with their families as they are a true blessing in every since of the word.

Fall approaches… I know it sure doesn’t seem that way with temps reaching in the 90’s everyday, but it is. The bow season starts the last week of September here in Tennessee. And so…. I need to go shoot my bow from now until bow season is over. I have been out a few times this summer but admittedly I don’t shoot much when it is hot.

Last year I wrote a post on Scentlok clothing and issued a challenge to them. I requested a free Scentlok suit to trial their product (which would be sent back after the test) and then report an unbiased review of them. As I expected, I never heard a word from them. I can’t say that I blame them because I am just a small time blog writer. Why take the chance of getting bad press?

Well, I bit the bullet. I bought the Scentlok suit and face mask. I will be buying the hat and gloves sometime soon. I will try these items as directed and report on them again throughout the bow season. I must admit that I am somewhat skeptical of the suit. On the other hand I have had some very compelling comments on the subject on my previous post. So, I decided to try it and see.

I bought the Savanna EXT deluxe coveralls for $159.95 at Bass Pro Shop. This seemed like the right first purchase. It is lower priced then the jacket and pants together and it is designed for hotter weather. If this works flawlessly then I may consider buying the suit intended for colder temps. This may even last for the entire season here in Tennessee. I will have to see. A full report will be made in October.

If anyone has had any experience with Scentlok clothing please post your comments. I would like to collect as many opinions as I can throughout the year to give a fair accounting of these products.

God Bless,
Sean

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