By Miscellaneous Authors   Sat, May 01, 2010

Here in Idaho, as well as most of the Western United States, we have a vast network of public forest lands that are ideal hunting locations. However if you are going to be hunting in these remote wilderness areas there are some key pieces of equipment hat you must have. In the higher elevations the weather can change very quickly in the fall and the first and foremost thing that any hunter must be prepared to prevent is hypothermia. I can not stress this enough. More people die from hypothermia every year than any other cause in the mountains. Getting caught out at night with out being prepared for it can be deadly.  

The other major factor when hunting in the wilderness is the lack of communications. How do you call for help if you need it? Even when you can call for help you could be miles from the nearest road and it could take hours for that help to reach you. Do you have the right supplies to survive until that help reaches you?

The pack I use for hunting has an attached Fanny pack that can be removed and carried alone. This Fanny pack has 2 water bottle holders as well so I always have my water. I keep my emergency gear in this Fanny pack. All other hunting accessories go in the main pack or one of the external pockets on the main pack.

Here are the essential that I believe everyone hunting should carry with them.
First and foremost for me is fire making. The only way to defeat hypothermia is to stay warm. The most effective way to stay warm is to build a fire. You should have at least two different types of fire starters with you at all times. Matches are a simple and easy fire starter to carry. They take up little room in your pack and are fairly reliable.  

There are many different varieties of matches readily available to the outdoors enthusiast these days that are designed to light when wet, or in high wind, or both. These are good matches to keep with you, but do not rely completely on them because they can fail and leave you shivering in the dark.  
Another easy fire starter is the disposable butane lighter. These also are cheap, readily available, and take up little room in your pack.  

I also keep a flint and steel fire starter in my pack. This particular model has a bar of flint material embedded into the side of a bar of Magnesium . To start the fire you scrape some of the Magnesium  off into your tinder and then scrape the flint to throw sparks onto the Magnesium  to ignite it.  

I also carry some tinder material in my pack. Hunting here in the west it can be difficult to find tinder that is dry enough to get a good fire started so I bring some with me. There are many different types of tinder that you can keep in your pack that will not take up a lot of space or add a lot of weight to the pack. The two things I like to carry are Dryer lint and a paraffin wax mixture. I read about this in a survival blog a few years ago and I found it a great and simple way to have an excellent fire starter at all times. Take an egg carton. Fill each cup of the carton about 2/3 full of wood shavings and then fill with the melted wax. Let the wax cool then tear off a few cups to put in your pack. I place mine in a zip lock bag to keep it dry. Light the paper from the egg carton which will light the wax and this set up will burn long enough to get any damp wood you may have for your fire going.

You need to practice your fire building skills before getting out in the woods. You also want to practice under the type of conditions where the fire is most critical. For example, one of my practice methods is to scatter some fire wood around my back yard to simulate gathering wood for an emergency fire. I put my pack and normal hunting clothes on. I then get a 5 gallon bucket of ice water and place my hands in the water for a few minutes. Then remove my pack, take out my fire starters, gather the wood, and start the fire. If you just go out and practice on a nice warm summer day with no sense of urgency you will find it is much more difficult when the emergency situation comes along. Again you are fighting against hypothermia and you want to be sure you are up to the fight when the time comes.

I also carry an emergency blanket. These compact light weight blankets are very good for keeping you from losing body heat. They will retain nearly 80% of radiated body heat to help prevent shock in case of an accident or to keep warm when caught out in the elements.
 
You also want to be able to tell where you are and where you are going. For this you want o carry a map and compass. You also need to know how to use them. There are a variety of sites on the Internet to find quality topographical maps. After getting your maps I would suggest you have the map laminated to keep it from being damaged by the weather. You can also use a GPS system, but you have to remember that when you get deep in the forrest you do not always get a signal on the GPS and you could end up miles from where you want to be before you do get the GPS working. I carry a Bushnell Backtrack GPS. This is a very basic unit that you set the way point for your car and it will point you back to where you started. You can set a total of 3 way points on the Backtrack so  use 1 for your car, 1 for your camp, and the last one for where you kill that monster bull. Also make sure you have extra batteries. This is another advantage to the Backtrack over some of the GPS units with more functionality because the Backtrack only uses 2 AA size batteries.
 
It gets dark in the woods at night. You will want to make sure you have some form of light to find your way. I carry 2 of the Mini mag light flashlights, A good head band flashlight for hands free work, and I carry a hand crank rechargeable flashlight. I make sure I take enough batteries to replace with a fresh set every day for 3 days. I do not use the mag lights around camp for light, because these are my emergency  lights in case I get caught away from camp for some time.

There are many different size first aid kits available on the market today. Most come in a case and have all kinds of different bandages wraps and antiseptis. I prefer to keep things a bit more simple. I carry 4 or 5 2X2 gauze pads and 2 rolls of bandage gauze. You can cut the 2X2 pads and the gauze roll to what ever size you need. There are not many injuries that you will not be able to deal with using these bandages, and they do not take up a lot of space.

I also keep a spool of fishing line in my emergency pack. This is great for a variety of uses. You can use the fishing libne tied to a stick to fish with. You can use the fishing line to tie on bandages. Or you can use it alond with the emergency blanket to put up a quick shelter to keep the rain off of you. I put a few blacknat flies, a couple of small worm hoos, and a few pieces of split shot into an old film container for the rest of my fishing kit.
That brings us to food. I do carry 6 power bars in my pack. This will give me two bars a day for three days. Not exactly the best eating, but it will keep you going. These are emergency rations and you should not eat them as snacks during the hunt. After hunting season I take them out of the pack and have them for lunch, but I do not touch them during the season.

There are other things that would be a good idea to carry such as a signal mirror, signal whistle, or a Spot locator which will make it easier for rescuers to find you should you get in trouble and your family can keep track of you from the internet as well.

By TalkHunting Magazine   Wed, Sep 01, 2010

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By TalkHunting Magazine   Fri, Jul 30, 2010

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By TalkHunting Magazine   Fri, Jul 30, 2010

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By Miscellaneous Authors   Wed, Jun 30, 2010

Hog hunting is fun, and on the right property, with a lot of hogs it could be the hunt of a lifetime.
    
I am blessed to live on a small piece of land “fifteen acres” that is surrounded by corn fields. For about five years I was overrun by hogs, and it would not be unusual to see ten to fifteen hogs any given night in my fields. This is when I started learning a lot about hog hunting. Now I’m not going to tell you that I know everything about hogs, but I would like to pass on what I have learned from personal experience.
    
If you are just starting out hog hunting, the best advice I would like to pass along is concentrate your efforts on beating the hog’s nose. A hog’s best defense is their sense of smell, then their hearing, then last their eye sight.
    
I had the opportunity to capture, raise and study wild hogs in a pen here at my home. These hogs were a mixture of Fowler and Russian Boar. What I found was that hogs often depend on their nose as their first line of defense. The hogs might then try and locate you with their ears and in few cases, search with their eyes to identify their threat.  Most of the time, however, a hog will not wait on their eyes to identify a threat. After a hint of danger from their nose they are out of there. So, if you can get past their nose, you may have them beat. Let me give you a few examples of what I’m talking about.
  
When I would capture very young hogs, or shoats, I would put them in a pen. At feeding time when I would bring the hogs their food and the wind was at my back blowing towards the hog pen, the hogs would meet me at the fence. If the wind was blowing the other way, I could often sneak up to the pen. Approximately ninety percent of the time the hogs would smell me coming with their food long before hearing or seeing me. Another good example of how good their noses are; one day while hunting a hundred yards off to one side of the hog pen I could hear my hogs grunting and chopping their teeth. So I picked up my binoculars and started glassing around. About four hundred yards up the pipe line that I was hunting over; I could see a group of hogs coming my way. My hogs had picked up the scent of this group of hogs long before they could see or hear them. I picked this location to hunt because the scent of my hogs would draw other hogs in. You can use their nose against them.  
      
If you're going to beat a hog nose, hunt down wind. Minimize your scent as much as possible by using a good scent blocker suit and/or a good scent killer product like Dead Down Wind. I prefer to use them together.
    
As far as a hog’s hearing, I would place it just below the canine group. I have walked up on hogs in the woods with hardly any effort. I believe that they use their hearing more during communicating between themselves then as a form of protection. Hogs will alert each other of impending danger by grunting. This is where their hearing would best serve them as a form of defense.
    
The eyes of a hog are at best good. I have found that if you don’t move when a hog is looking for you he will not find you. Many times while hunting hogs I have had them walk right by me like I was not there. But they can and do pick up on movement very well. The few times hogs have spotted me, was when I moved and alerted them to my location.
    
Just for the record, I’m not claiming to be someone who knows it all when it comes to the hog's senses. But I do believe, from all of my personal experiences, hogs depend on their noses more than any other sense. So whether it's your first time or you just want to try something new, put most of your effort in hunting down wind and you should find that hogs are pretty easy and a lot of fun to hunt. If you beat their nose their eyes and ears won’t be so alert! Good Luck and Good Hunting.

By Miscellaneous Authors   Wed, Jun 30, 2010

Let me start off by saying I am no professional dog trainer by far, but I have been doing this since I was old enough to remember. Everyone has their own personal training methods and I am sure all of them work just fine. These are just simple things I have been taught and handed down over the years that work and so far has proven to make some dang good tree dogs. I hope you enjoy reading this article and maybe it just might help you out at some point.

I started training dogs with my dad at the young age of 6. I have always been a dog nut and also nuts about hunting. So in my mind there were not two things that could go together any better. Just like most hunters I started out hunting small game, tagging along with my dad up and down the hills and hollers of North Alabama. As I got a little older I wanted to go more but my dad was working and could not go with me and momma was not having any part of me going along. So my dad said we will get you a dog to go with you and that is when it all started.

My dad had always told me a good dog will look out for you and try to keep you from harm if it is around; it is just up to you to respect them and pay attention to them. So I was raised to see that a good hunting dog is more that just a dog or an animal, it is a friend that I knew I can count on. It’s an extra set of eyes to watch for snakes or big cats not to mention it will help me put some meat on the table. I have been told many times that I treat my dogs just like a person; well I believe they kind of are. They have feelings and that they can understand just about what ever you are saying to them, so I believe that’s the way they should be treated. Who ever came up with the saying “A dog is man's best friend” hit the nail right on the head. They never complain or talk back and when you leave the house with out them they still remain loyal to you.

To get a dog trained to do what ever you would like it to do you got to earn his/her respect first. You have got to let them know you are also a friend they can count on as well as the boss. You have got to let them know they can trust you and that you will be thankful to them no matter what, even when they do not do exactly what you wanted them to do. A dog lives to be patted on the head and hear “Good Boy/Girl”. All of this starts when they are a puppy and I do not think it is ever too early to start this. No doubt this does come with a lot of patient, discipline and a lot of hard work for you and your K-9.  Every dog is different, some just a simple point of the finger and a sharp tone of the voice breaks their little heart and others it may take more. I raise Jack Russell’s and Jack Fist, They are somewhat a timid dog but also rather hyper. Usually a point of the finger and a sharp tone works well for them. I start them off before they are even weaned. I will talk to them and play with them with squirrel tails while they are still in the box. Some show interest right off the bat and some don’t.

With that type of breed it is somewhat bred into them to hunt small game, mainly squirrels so they usually catch on pretty fast. It does not matter how good your blood line may be, you are not always going to get a litter full of hunters. Some just are not interested in it, they just want to be pets and that is just fine once again kind of like children.  You raise them to hunt or fish but they may just want to stay home and play video games. As much as this hurts us…..well we all know as hunters it’s just got to be in your blood and sometimes this will come later on in life for us but in most dogs this happens right off the bat. They are rather in or out and you will know this within the first 6 months. I personally have had good luck with the runts and the ones that are very vocal and high tempered in the box.

I will start them off by dragging squirrels or squirrel tails around the yard and around trees and hang them up and let the puppy try and find it. I know what your thinking “What if Squirrel season is closed? Were on earth am I going to get a squirrel?” Well I have been known to pick up dead ones in the road and cut their tails off. If they are not run over to bad I get the whole thing and that is always a plus. Just a little hint, a good quiet subdivision is always good for a few of those squirrels. People don’t drive as fast through them. ”LoL….I know what your thinking “Gross”……..Yea probably so but it works. When you start dragging the squirrel around always keep your dog at a point were it can not see you so you know he/she is using their nose not just their sight. If it is legal were you are I would prefer to use the most affective way to train your pup. Which is to live trap a squirrel “if you can” they are smart little critters, but I have done it.

If you do choose to go with the trapping method be sure and check your traps ever 3 to 4 hours or as often as possible. Squirrels will not live long in a small area such as a small live trap. They will go into shock and die. Let your pup smell the trap real good with the squirrel in it. Let your dog bark at it and get him/her as excited as possible, try to encourage your dog to GET THAT SQUIRREL or BARK AT BOY/GIRL or even a little WATCH IT NOW helps! Try and back the trap away from the nearest tree at least 70 to 80 yards. Hold your puppy let the squirrel out and give him about a 50 yard head start then turn your dog loose just so he/she can just about catch the squirrel before it gets on the tree. This will allow your pup to know were to look and find the squirrel and will also get him/her to start rearing up on the tree barking at the squirrel.

This method works better that any other simply because you are using a real live squirrel. Once you get your pup to rear up on the tree encourage it once more to BARK AT THE SQUIRREL! WATCH HIM! And to GET HIM! Let your pup know what his/her job is. Once you get your pup on the tree and it knows what’s going on just walk away. If the pup follows, walk back to the tree and repeat the encouragement. Try walking away again and give it a minute. If your pup trys to follow just keep walking. Walk a little ways from the tree and stop. Just wait and see if your pup returns to the tree on it’s own. If so, just watch its actions and start the encouragement again.

After a little bit of this, shoot the squirrel out on your pup. This will fulfill the job to let your pup get the squirrel as soon as it hits the ground, with any luck the squirrel will bite him/her, if that happens this will sure enough make your pup want to go after them. Always let your pup know you’re proud of him/her. They live to be praised by us and just like us they like to be congratulated for a job well done. I would suggest letting your pup have the squirrel to play with and roll on. Before doing so ALWAYS cut the feet off the squirrel before giving it to your pup or even a mature dog. The feet are very dangerous for a dog to eat and this also will allow for a little blood to come out of the squirrel for the dog to smell. This will allow him to get very acquainted with the smell.

This will be your opportunity to make it fun for your pup. Play with him/her with the squirrel, throw it around and drag it up to trees or somewhere high so they have to jump or rear up on it to try and get it down and always encourage them. All of these steps will make your pup want to go again soon and the more the better while you’re training. The older your dog gets the better hunter he/she will become. Just let them hunt as much as possible because after all you have trained them and that is what they are going to love to do. Just like us, as hunters, they will think about it 24/7. Your dog will know when it’s a good day to hunt, just like you. Then on other days they just lay around. My top dog is named Jake. I can let him in the house and ask him if he wants to go get a squirrel and he will go into my hunting room and sit in front of my gun cabinet and bark, he knows exactly what I am saying.

Between me and my dad we have 7 squirrel dogs 4 of the seven are top notch hunting dogs the other are just a good set of eyes but that comes in helpful a whole lot. What the other dogs miss they see, so sometimes when a squirrel crosses out to another tree the other dogs will stay at that tree barking but the other ones will know were he went. Hunting dogs are fun but require a lot of work and attention. I do not think any child should ever grow up with out a good squirrel dog or any hunting dog. It will teach them understanding, responsibility, and respect for the outdoors.
                
                 “A Few Helpful Hints”

•   Never let your dog eat the feet of a squirrel!!!!
--- A lot of good squirrel dogs have been lost due to this. The feet of a squirrel have very sharp claws. The claws will hang on the dog’s intestines and when they try to digest them it will rip them open. This will cause bowel to get into the blood stream and kill the dog. He or she will bleed to death internally.

•   Socialize your dog with as many other dogs as possible at a young age.
--- This will save you a lot of heartach in the future. This will allow you to hunt with friends and their dogs without a fight going on. You will be able to put your dog in a dog box with just about any other dog with out a fight. Also this will make your dog not so aggressive at the tree. In other words if another dog tries to tree with your dog on the same tree they will not fight over it. No good dog hunter wants a tree hogging dog. This will cause major aggression toward other dogs and can ruin a young dog your maybe trying to train. It will make them tree shy and they will not tree in fear of being beat up on.

•   How to pick a puppy that you may want to train!
--- Well everyone has their own way of picking out a dog. Well in my book, looks are not going to put food on my table. I like a pretty dog but an ugly one will be just fine if he hunts well. I like a pup that is active in the box. Very playful, high strung and vocal, I always try an get the runt if possible. They seem to make the better dogs in my book. My dad clams that females make better hunters than males simply because they are easier to train and listen better. Which may be true but I prefer males. I like the aggressiveness in a male; they will not give up no matter what.

•   Never Doubt or give up on your dog.
--- You have got to have faith in your hound. If you don’t they will pick up on it and will slack. If your dog barks up a tree and you feel there is nothing there well search it out anyway, they are doing what they think will please you. It might be a cold scent but your dog is doing its job so you got to do yours. Never doubt your dog if your going to do that, you might as well stay at home. Hunting is a job to your dog and they take it just as serious as you do your job at work. So let them know when they do well they are just trying to please you.
--- Don’t give up on your hunting friend too soon. If they are not picking up on it as fast as you would like, just stay at it. As long as they are showing interest they are trying to figure everything out, but it will come. Your dog will not give up on you so you can’t them. Nothing good comes easy to you or them.

•   Stick to the Deal
--- The deal that is made between you and your hunting dog is made at the very beginning of all of this training. The deal is you do your part and your dog will do his/hers. So if your dog tree's, do everything in your power to harvest what your dog has worked for. It has done its part now it is time for you to do yours. Your reward is meat on the table, your dog's reward is a pat on the head and seeing its master smile because of a job well done and that my friend is what your dog lives for and a few scraps from the table never hurt.

I hope this will help you all some were along the way. If you do not have any dogs or hunting dogs I encourage you to get one. They are the most loyal friend anyone can have here on earth. I would not take a farm in Texas for any of mine. Thanks for taking the time to read my article and the Campfire News.

By Miscellaneous Authors   Wed, Jun 30, 2010

This article is an opinion or view on what the hunting lifestyle means. There are basic questions to be answered about the hunting lifestyle and they will not all get answered in this article. The basic questions to be answered are, what is a hunting lifestyle? How do you have a hunting lifestyle? What is the definition of a hunter? Is the hunting lifestyle growing or dying? In this 21st century do we really need a hunting lifestyle? What are the benefits of a hunting lifestyle, personally as well as to society as a whole? This is just a sample of questions to be explored.  

My hunting lifestyle began at an early age. I can remember being the designated bird dog to fetch the fallen birds during some really great dove hunts. I can still remember the roar of the shotguns and the fast beautiful gray birds darting in and out. The smell of the birds in my hands, the wonder of the soft feathers and how they all fit together on these marvelous creatures. The different types of feathers on the bird, from the wing feathers, to the body feathers, to the down underneath feathers, they all fascinated me in their form and function. The smell of blood on my hands from the dove, which would be frightening to some, but was fascinating and different in all its strangeness to me as I retrieved the birds during the harvest. I saw lots of birds being shot at and not being hit. I saw birds fall and I ran to fetch them. I can remember being proud to fetch the birds and the compliments and thanks from the older hunters. The smell of the dirt in the fields, the hot sun and the cool afternoons as the sun set and the hunt ended. I can remember my Dad complementing on what I did right, and correcting me on what I did wrong, or could do better.  The evenings were spent sitting around the fire, eating great food and frying up some of the harvest from the days hunt.

The cleaning of the birds was an adventure, which was as fascinating as the hunt itself to me the young boy. Getting pointers on the fastest and easiest way to clean the birds was a learning experience from the older hunter's. I learned to be extra careful to wash all the feathers and dirt off to the satisfaction of my Dad and the older hunters, I loved to hear the statement "great job young man". I would not be allowed to fire a weapon for several more years but already all the details of the hunt had me hooked for life.

Squirrel hunting was another early memory. I was fascinated by the fuzzy creatures and staring up into the seemingly gigantic trees looking for the twitch of a tail or listening for the chatter and bark of an agitated squirrel. I carried a pellet rifle which was sufficient to harvest the squirrel; I just had to get him close. The first harvest was excitement, wonder, and sadness all rolled together. After the emotion of the harvest I was immediately ready for the next stalk on the squirrel. I could not seem to get enough. I was in love with the hunt and the kind of game that I pursued did not matter, I loved to hunt!

The beginning of hunting season was always an exciting time. There was a hunting club for all residents of the county who paid the membership fee. There was twenty thousand plus acres that was divided into three areas and seemed to be big as the whole world. We set up camps for the season, moved in tents and campers, set up outdoor kitchens, cut wood and cleaned out the camping areas from the previous year's weeds and debris. It was a process that took awhile and was a lot of work but oh so enjoyable. We had big hunting buggies, jeeps, and other four wheel drive vehicles and these all had to be readied and prepared for the season. We would leave on Friday nights and return on Sunday afternoons. It was a glorious time where we could feel like we were out in the wilderness and we were all alone.  I don't remember any world record game harvests. I do not remember a lot of harvests period. I do remember looking forward to those weekends with every cell in my being. I remember learning to drive on those weekends.

I remember a night sky so bright and full of stars, nothing could compare to its brightness, not even the sun. Games of hide and seek and tag that went on till the early morning hours. No fear of snakes or woodland creatures for which there was plenty. We felt we were part of the woods and thus invincible. Best friends that I have to this day were made during this time. We discussed with all the worldly wisdom of young boys, the mysteries of life, girls, and the big buck we were surely going harvest the next day. Dads were around, but they did not keep us penned up and were not worried what we were up too. They got a break from us and we got a break from them.

I learned how to put a clutch in a 64 Willis jeep.  I learned how to rebuild a flat head hurricane six cylinder motor. I learned how to take apart a 4 wheel drive hub turn it around and make it stay locked in permanently. I learned how to use a winch and jeep jack. I learned how to get a vehicle unstuck from the mud. Most of all I learned how to work and make the best of bad situations.

There were lessons of responsibility learned.  There were rules that were hard and fast and swiftly punished when broken by anyone especially the young boys. You bring a loaded gun in camp and you would find yourself in a world of trouble very quickly. Act foolish with your gun and handle it in an unsafe manner and you would not have it for awhile after getting your butt beat for stupidity. Even worse you would be shunned till you proved yourself to be a safe hunter again. There was no forgiveness or leniency with these. We were taught these rules were life and death and there was no room for mistakes. These were some of my earliest lessons about the seriousness of life and death decisions.

I learned the beauty of an early morning sunrise on the dew hung in cobwebs which hung in bushes across the farm fields that looked like ice on the ground. I learned the sound of a male bob white calling for his mate. I learned the sound of a gobbler sounding off letting the world know he was awake. The whir of turkey's wings as they flew up to roost for the night. The kind of trees that turkey preferred to roost in. The tracks made by different creatures in the great outdoors. I saw the evidence of life and death. The pile of feathers where the bobcat caught the turkey. The bones left where some creature had been eaten, and another had been fed.

These memories were the foundation for which my hunting life style was laid upon. My hunting life style continues even unto this day. I consider the life style a part of my being and I will describe in future articles how and what it means in my life. I hope this article shows where I get my love of this lifestyle from and the fundamentals that this lifestyle instilled in me.

Ray Scott of the Whitetail Institute sent out an email to all his customers promoting TalkHunting.com. In his email he stated he believes in what TalkHunting.com is doing.  What TalkHunting.com is doing is promoting a hunting lifestyle in a 21st century way.

Through the internet and  a forum, people from all parts of the world are sharing their hunting lifestyle on this great site. The site has the backing of many great sponsors

Hunter Safety Systems
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[url=http://www.outdoorsaddiction.com]Outdoors Addiction
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BuckMasters Magazine
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I hope these great sponsors as well as TalkHunting.com may encourage you to embark on a hunting lifestyle or at least encourage you to investigate it a little further. The hunting lifestyle is a way of life that I truly embrace, and I hope to show you the benefits and joys of through future articles.

by Allen Ridgdill

By Brent Sawyer   Fri, Apr 30, 2010

I got a call on Wednesday from John “cookin” Thibodaux.  “Did you know the Louisiana Sportsman’s Show was this weekend?”  No, I didn’t.  I didn’t even know what the “show” was about.  He was so excited about it that I consented to try and go with him to it on Saturday.  As soon as I got home I looked it up on-line.  “Welcome to the 31st annual Louisiana Sportsman’s Show,” exclaimed a voice from within the screen.  How did I miss 31 years of Sportsman’s Shows?  I’m 31 too.  I was beginning to feel an affinity for this thing, even more so as I read of all the hundreds of vendors that will be attending.  The Show started on Friday, March 12 and continued through the weekend.  It looked to me like an event worth attending.  

“31st Anniversary of Louisiana’s ORIGINAL hunting, fishing, and boating show including hundreds of fishing and hunting booths, boat areas and more…”  I still can’t get over the “hundreds” part.  There were vendors from all over the world.  The first thing you would encounter when you enter the gate was a lot full of boats; fishing boats, ski boats, duck boats, party barges, and more.  Two warehouse buildings beyond the boats boasted the hundreds of vendor booths.  Here were many names I knew and many, many more that I didn’t.  I first searched for Bowie Outfitters, a sponsor and friend of Talkhunting.com.  They had quite a layout.  If you turned your back to the flow of people traversing the isle, you could almost believe you were in the store on Perkins Dr. in Baton Rouge.  I also found Hunter Cam Systems, a former and, hopefully, future sponsor of Talkhunting.com.  He had some new improvements to the old system.  Some other favorites of mine were Chef Kenny with his spices and potato peeler, Cajun Injector, a favorite of us southerners, Chem Spray South Inc., a company that specializes in chemical applications, Scale Damage Bowfishing, and Dunk’em, the creators of the better mouse trap.  I talked to countless outfitters and local vendors who had great products and services at reasonable prices.  More than that though, I spoke with fellow outdoorsmen and women.  These people had a passion for the outdoor world and were working to further the dream.
  
Also available were shows, programs, demonstrations, and rides.  A new addition for this year was the Purina INCREDIBLE DOG CHALLENGE.  They had the dogs “performing amazing acts of acrobatic skill.”  You could also meet the Trout Masters; anglers featured in the book, Trout Masters: How Louisiana’s Best Anglers Catch the Lunkers.  There were tons of activities like the Outdoor Food Festival, monster truck rides, carnival rides, skeet shooting, hunting and fishing demonstrations, duck calling with The Duck Commander, archery shooting, and live rainbow trout fishing for the kids.  There were so many things to do that it took a whole day just to see everything.
  
Cookin and I brought some Talkhunting.com information cards with us to pass out.  On my way to the Show I was contemplating how I would approach the subject of Talkhunting.com and keep my explanation short and simple.  I was reminded of something my Pastor says almost every week in church.  “We all need an elevator speech, a short two to three minute spiel about your church and how it affects your life and your faith.”  I think Talkhunting.com is the same.  We should be able to tell people what the site is and what it means to us in a crisp, clear way that takes no more than a minute or two.  People are leery of sales ploys and scams.  They don’t want us to “sell” Talkhunting.com to them; we need to share it with them.  So I came up with my speech.  

Cookin and I talked later about how each of us shared our stories differently but were both effective in creating an interest in others. Talkhunting.com is a site for all of us.  Our daughters and grandmothers can feel comfortable with us.  We have a place that provides an atmosphere of belonging; a place where friendships thrive.  We didn’t attend the Louisiana Sportsman’s Show to convert people; we went to expand our community of friends.

By Kimberly Fox   Sun, May 30, 2010

Greetings brothers and sisters and welcome to another issue of Following God’s Trail. This month brings about the subject of being in the light. I want to be in God’s light because that allows the chance to keep my eyes open and to see the world as I should be in it. We think of light as the force that allows us to see things, but there is another type of light: God’s moral character.

I John 1:5-7 (NKJV) 5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

Sometimes darkness is a hunter’s friend. The hunter gets ready to go to the tree stand when deer hunting or blind when turkey hunting in the wee hours of the morning and is able to hide under the cloak of darkness. The darkness allows the hunter to prepare for the hunt. Often a hunter knows the territory well enough to go without a light on the way to the stand, but sometimes he relies on a flashlight to shine intermittently to show him the way so he can arrive noiselessly. Actually, some flashlights have colored lenses that make it easier for a hunter to shine without the game seeing it. That gives an added bonus because the game being pursued doesn’t know that the hunter lays in waiting. Once daylight approaches, it is game on!

In much the same way that the game doesn’t know that the hunter awaits him; we sometimes fail to realize that Satan is waiting on us in a different kind of darkness. When we have Jesus in our lives, we see clearly, and we have a light and happy heart because we’re aware of sin and how to avoid it; however, darkness enters our heart through events beyond our control, and we lose some of that carefree feeling. We begin to doubt God’s love for us. Satan absolutely loves darkness and thrives when we flounder around because we can’t see- physically or spiritually.
How many of us run to find a flashlight or candle whenever the power goes off? I know that I do, and it is a little dumb to light a candle or turn on a flashlight because we’re sitting in the dark, and we just want to see. In reality, we’re not doing anything but wasting energy, but we find comfort in having the light with us. It allows us to see that “nothing is going to get us”. Some people go into sheer terror when the lights go off because they are afraid of the darkness. That may be because of the uncertainty of not knowing what is there; this is because we rely so much on our vision. It is surely an uncomfortable feeling to be scared of the darkness and to imagine what might be lurking. God shines His light on us, and He allows us to have that comforted feeling when we have Him in our hearts.

John tells us in the verses above that we can find light easily. If we proclaim to be a Child of God, then we should be true in our walk with Him. If we declare this then we need to make sure that we do it because if we tend to follow the darkness then we are basically telling a lie, and our witness is ruined, so is our relationship with Jesus. We’re not living up to God’s standards. If we want to live in total light, then we must live a moral life and put Christ first.  In order to remain in the light and to fight off darkness, it is helpful to have companionship with other Christians. We need to have fellowship with Jesus as well. In fact our fellowship with Him helps keep us in His light, and sin is revealed. This helps us avoid situations that we need to avoid. Seeing the sin enables us to maintain our salvation and keeps us close to Jesus. If we choose Christian companions, then we can hold each other accountable and draw strength from each other to fight the darkness.

One thing we should all remember is that it is only the blood of Jesus Christ that can cleanse us. Jesus died for us, sinners, to be able to one day see Him in heaven. His death on the cross makes it possible for imperfect believers to have a relationship with a perfect, holy God. If you do not know Jesus as your Savior, there is no better time than the present to ask Him to forgive you of your sins and to come into your heart. It’s THAT simple.
Love in Christ!

By Miscellaneous Authors   Sun, May 30, 2010

Chico

Hello everyone and welcome to the May Member Spotlight. This month we shine the spotlight on Chris "Chico" Lopez, he has been a member of Talk Hunting since July 2009 and has reached wall hanger status. Thank you for participating in the Member Spotlight
 
1. Tell us a little about yourself.
I am definitely a city boy turned country.  I love blue jeans, country music, Johnny Cash, southern rock, sweet tea, baseball hats and my cowboy boots. Cooking game when I have been fortunate enough to make a harvest is something I look forward to. I am at ease when I am chasing deer, water fowling, gunning for turkeys, hunting trout, or just having a line in the water.  I enjoy taking someone out for their first time hunting or fishing, and watching their face when they realize their dream.  I am fortunate to be in the outdoors as much as I am, and if the good Lord is willing, I will be able to do it for many more years.

2. What is your favorite animal to hunt, and why?
I love to hunt waterfowl.  I enjoy watching the sun rise over a marsh and watching the silhouettes of birds against the morning sky.  It is a great time to enjoy the camaraderie of your hunting buddies.  Also being able to shoot multiple times is great.

3.  What is your favorite firearm, and why?
I like my old 870 12 gauge.  It is about 17 years old and has been extremely reliable.  Great all around gun.

4.  What is your favorite hunting method, and why?
I like to hunt with my bow.  There is just something about that sweet string music.  The challenge I guess.

5.  Who is your favorite author, and why?
Mario Puzo.  I loved the Godfather.

6.  What is your favorite food, and why?
I would have to say bacon wrapped venison back strap.  It reminds me why I have to get out of bed and hunt, when it would be easier to just roll over, and go back to sleep.

7.  What is your favorite quote?
The choices you make today will shape your life forever.

8. If you could have dinner with anyone person, who would it, be?
My Grandma and Grandpa because it would be nice to see them again.

9.  What is your favorite non hunting or fishing activity?
Cooking, man do I love to cook.  I guess that is why my waist size isn’t small!

10. {Optional} Tell the members about your most rewording, memorable adventure in the outdoors.
My most rewarding moment in the outdoors has to be without question, taking my 2 year old son Drake out deer hunting, this past season. We had fun, cut up, and saw deer. He enjoyed it, and asks me all the time, "Daddy when can we go shoot the deer?"

11. {Optional} Tell the members about your funniest mishap in the outdoors.  
The funniest thing that has happened was the time I was river fishing for walleye. My buddy, and I went about 3 miles downstream and decided to head back to the boat launch, when my impeller went out on my motor. Needless to say, two guys paddling upstream, in heavy current, was a funny sight. After that, I knew I had to get in better shape. Or be more careful when going out.

12.  What talk hunting member would you like us to ask these questions to next month?
Wkyhunter

by Nick Stallings

By Luanne Bragg   Tue, Mar 30, 2010

Part 1
                
The CUR….aka Heinz 57….aka mutt….aka mongrel….aka designer dog.  Now, three of these are not planned matings, two are.   Of course we all know about the rage over breeding Labrador Retrievers to Poodles and selling the “mixed breed” Labadoodle pups for high dollar prices to yuppies.  The CUR is a selectively bred mixed breed dog.  They have been developed by crossing mostly hunting or sporting breeds to obtain the best traits frm each breed to be used in the field for specific hunting needs.  The following are the Curs that are currently recognized by the United Kennel Club (“UKC”) and that have specific field trials and standards.  

BLACK MOUTH CUR:  The origin of this breed is uncertain but it is believed to have originated in the Mountains of Tennessee and was developed to be an all around hunting and working dog around the family farm.  The Black Mouth is powerful, agile tree dog of medium size.  The body is square or just slightly longer than tall.  Legs are long, head broad with moderately broad muzzle.  Ears are set high and drop.  The tail is straight, set low and may be any length.  
The coat is short and close fitting.  The Black Mouth is a fast, hard hunter that finds game using eyes, ears and nose.  They are usually silent trailing dogs but are not faulted for opening slightly on a very hot track.  They should never bay like a hound on a track and should only fully open when at the tree.  

These are very courageous dogs and can be excessively possessive of family and property.  The color of this breed can be all shades of red, yellow, and fawn, black, brown, buckskin or brindle with or without a black muzzle.  Very small amounts of white are allowed under the chin, around the nose, on the neck, chest, legs and tip of the tail.  Minimum Height is 18 inches for a male and 16 inches for female.  Minimum weight is 40 pounds for a male and 35 pounds for a female.

MOUNTIAN CUR:  This is the oldest of the recognized Cur Breeds having a breed organization formed in 1957.  Prior to that time dogs like this could only be found in very remote, rural areas and there were no records kept on the breed.  This is a breed is powerful, agile tree dog of medium size.  The body is square or just slightly longer than tall.  The legs are long enough to allow the dog to move quickly and with agility in the rough back country.  This dog has a broad head and the muzzle is slightly shorter than the skull.  The ears are set high and droop.  The tail should be straight, low set and may have a natural bob.  The coat is dense but close fitting.  This Cur breed is fast hard hunter that runs a track with its head in the air.   They should run a track with a Clear bark that can be heard for a long distance.  This Cur can be courageous fighters when required.  This breed is intelligent and has a strong desire to please.  This breed is the most easily trained to hunt specific game. Mountain Curs make good family companions and watch dogs.  This breed is primarily black and can have tan or brindle points; blue, brindle, brown, red, yellow, blonde or buttermilk buckskin.  White markings are okay but should not be the primary color.  This breed should be between 16 and 26 inches tall and has no specific weight determination only that it need to be proportionate to size.

STEPHENS’ CUR:  Originally a strain of Mountain Cur the little black dogs were bred by the family of Hugh Stephens in Kentucky to be sufficiently distinct and were then recognized as a separate breed.  This breed excels at hunting squirrel and raccoon but also used in packs on mountain lion and bears.  This Cur is powerful, agile and of small to medium size.  The body is just slightly longer than tall; the legs are long enough to allow the dog to move quickly through rough terrain.  The head should be broad and muzzle slightly shorter than its skull.  Ears are set high with a drop.  The tail is set low and should be medium in length.  The coat should be dense but close fitting.  These are working dogs and when hunting they carry their head high on a track with a full open voice on a track and when game is treed should turn frm a bark to a bawl voice. This Cur should be Black and white marking are allowed but white should not be the dog’s primary color.  This Cur should be between 16 and 23 inches tall and should never weight over 55 pounds.

This article was researched frm the UKC breed standards and on the Breed websites.

I will continue reporting on the Curs (and Feist or terrier crossed) breeds in future articles.  I knew very little about these breeds before starting the research on them.  They have sparked an interest and I will let you know that there are three more recognized Cur/Feist breeds by the UKC and dozens that are considered by their breeders are separate breeds of dogs.

By   Wed, Jun 30, 2010

by TalkHunting Member Duane “Duane72” Taylor

The sun is rising sooner, the weather’s getting warmer. Hunters and farmers alike are in the fields and woods getting food plots and crops in the ground. For some, the seasons have ended, for others another season has only begun. In most cases though, the scouting will be persistent throughout by the overgrowing use of trail cameras, one of the most valuable scouting tools since the introduction of binoculars. The trail camera lets a hunter see what’s there… without being there. An ever-watchful eye when you can’t be present.

Many factors can affect the quality and quantity of pictures you get on your trail camera. There are many variables in the trail camera itself that change from manufacturer to manufacturer. Anything from trigger speed, to color, to battery life can all be different from model to model even. We won’t go over all of that here, but all things considered; any trail camera can be successful to a degree if you avoid some of the more common mistakes.

Here are some basic things to think about to hopefully help your next camera location is as successful as it can be:

1st Location:
Often times, our cameras are placed logically where we see sign. But too often we see a track, find a tree, strap it on and hope for the best. Take some time and treat the location like you might a tree stand or blind location. Don’t just consider any sign positive, but look for well used areas, trail convergences, funnels, etc. Obviously feeding stations if you have them, and food plots and natural food sources can be good, but even then consider the impact on movement. Often times trails to and from those sources can be best.

2nd Placement:
Once the location is found, there are several things to consider determining the placement of the camera. Consider a tree further off the trail, yet with good viewing lanes.  The goal is to place the camera where it will not be an obvious addition to the surroundings. If you aim the camera directly at the trail, or too close to the feeder or corner of that food plot, often you’ll come up with tail-end or head-only shots. Many may be blurred from rapid movement. Aim the camera down the trail at an angle, or further back from the feeder for a broader shot. This allows the camera’s trigger time to function and also may provide time for that second or even third shot depending on your make and model’s trigger speed. Think of the sun as well. You don’t want to place the camera where it will be in direct morning or evening sun as it can cause “wash out” shots, or confuse the daylight sensors and send the camera in or out of night mode too early, or late leaving you with dark shots. Often overlooked is wind. Try not to aim the camera where the movement of brush and weeds from the wind will be constantly setting off the camera. Though you may have a few shots of animals mixed in, you’ll find yourself searching through empty shots by the dozens, sometimes even hundreds! Another overlooked thought is the direction of the tracks on the trail. See if you can determine which direction they go in predominantly. Sometimes it’s obvious, other times not so much, but taking the time to look is beneficial. You’ll always have a few of those backside shots, but you can hopefully sway the balance.

3rd Scent:
This may be the most overlooked thought, and most common mistake made while setting out trail cameras. We don’t go into the woods to hunt without making every provision to ensure we are not seen or smelled. Yet, when setting out and checking trail cameras in the off season, many often go in and out without taking the time to take precautions on scent. At the very least, take a moment to spray down with a scent killer before going to check or set up/move your cameras. (Dead Down Wind is always a great choice I might add!) Use a scent killer wipe or spray on your camera (wipes preferred to avoid lens contamination) before you leave the area so it doesn’t stand out in the air like a human flag. Rain and time may kill or reduce your scent print on the area & camera, but it can still alert animals to the camera’s presence.

Take some time to consider these things when setting up your camera and you may greatly increase the quantity and quality of the pictures you capture.

By   Fri, Apr 30, 2010

by TalkHunting Member Scott "Scott from Bama" Cobbs
       
When I was 22 years old, in 1988 or so, I moved in with this crazy friend of mine, let’s just call him Howard (because that’s his name).  We both worked at the same place, so it was convenient for us to ride to work and home together and saved us a little money in the process.  Howard is the kind of guy who is too crazy to be scared of anything or think it through beforehand and I was young and dumb enough to go along with anything he didn’t think through.

That summer, while visiting a friend of ours, we suddenly heard the old man who lived next door hollering and ran around the house to find him in his garden jumping around and yelling like a mad man.  It seems the old man had come across a rattlesnake in his pea patch and was not at all pleased about it.  We ran to his rescue armed with a hoe and a garbage can.  In just a matter of minutes, we had the snake safely in the can, you might say.  We took the can and the snake back to our buddy’s house and stretched some wire cloth over the top and easy as that, we had a pet rattlesnake.  

The friend we were visiting, Kenny, worked for a place that installed huge glass windows and had some leftover glass and suggested that we build a terrarium to put the snake in so we could keep it in the house.  We thought this was a great idea, and immediately went to work.  The finished product was not too bad.  It was about six feet long, four feet deep, and three feet high. The front and one side were tempered glass with the back and the other side made of plywood covered with mirrors.  We put legs on it so it was about 18 inches off the floor, and the top was a solid piece of plywood with the front half hinged and the back half had a fluorescent light mounted so we could show off our new pet!  It was great!  We caulked all the seams and cut grooves in the corners so that the glass fit perfectly.  We put sand in the bottom and an old oddly shaped piece of driftwood in the middle, and then with a large rock or two placed around, it was ready to go.  Man we thought that thing was something!  No wonder we were single, huh?  

A few days after we caught this snake, I was at another friend’s house and his wife came running around the corner screaming that there was a snake in the back yard.  Upon investigating, we found another rattlesnake coiled up in his yard and immediately began trying to figure out how to catch it.  We turned a five gallon bucket over next to the snake and it crawled into the bucket to hide.  We stood the bucket up with a stick and slapped a lid on it and just like that, we had two pet snakes!  

Now, this seemed to be the summer for snakes because over the next couple of weeks we added three more serpents to our den.  Howard came home with one in a cooler; another friend brought one by in a feed sack, and I can’t really remember where the fifth one came from.  But, it was a sight to see there in our living room, this big glass case with five live rattlesnakes in it.  Four of them were what we call here in Alabama, velvet-tails and the fifth was a young timber rattler.  Now we just had to figure out how to feed them.  

So, we’re at Wal-Mart asking about their prices for mice, and the nice lady is looking at us kind of funny when she asked, “So what do you boys want mice for?”  When we told her that they were to feed to our rattlesnakes she looked at us like we were crazy.  Hey, snakes gotta eat too!  

When we got home, we pulled some chairs up real close to the cage and dumped the mice in and waited for the show.  The mice, being the city mice they were, had no idea what the snakes were.  The snakes, on the other hand, knew exactly what the mice were.  The young timber rattler popped three of the mice right off the bat, one of the other snakes got one, and the other three snakes must have been well fed when caught because they paid no attention to this first batch of Wal-Mart mice.  The initial anticipation finally wore off and we went about our business and forgot about the lone mouse that was left shivering in the corner of the cage.  This mouse now knew what rattlesnakes were.  The next morning when we looked in the cage, the mouse was nowhere to be seen.  When we opened the lid, he had managed to climb the corner of the cage and was just under the lid waiting for his chance to escape.  And escape he did, jumping out as soon as the lid was cracked open and scaring the crap out of us and running through the house to never be seen again!

Well, we got into a routine, sort of, where we would feed the snakes every couple of weeks and always check the lid for any survivors that might jump out at you.  We even got to where we would handle the snakes some.  We learned that if you held them by the tail, they were way less agitated and by bouncing them up and down slightly you could keep them from raising their heads for a strike.  A bit risky, sure, but like I said before, we weren’t exactly rocket surgeons.  The snakes even seemed to recognize when it was us who entered the room as opposed to someone who didn’t live there.  They wouldn’t rattle when we came in, but if someone who normally wasn’t around came in, they would all sing!  

Eventually, our habit of leaving the surviving mice in the cage led to the death of one of the snakes.  We came home from work to find a couple of survivor rats biting one of the snakes!  We couldn’t believe it!  Who ever heard of such a thing!  We removed the mice with a long handled net we had, but the snake died a few days later.  We assumed it was from an infection from the rat attack.

As time went by, we got more used to having the snakes around.  We handled them quite often, showing off to our friends and proving our ignorance to others.  I don’t remember either of our parents visiting the entire time we had the snakes, but I could be wrong.  Some old ladies at work even started a rumor that Howard and I were Satan worshipers.  Ha, the joke was on them, we were just idiots!  Once we were at a local bar and the subject came up and Howard was called a liar by one of the fine upstanding patrons.  “Y’all aint got no rattlesnakes!” he said.  Howard said, “Just wait right here!”  We only lived about ten minutes away and I was afraid I knew what was coming next.  Yep, I was right; Howard walked through the door of that bar about a half hour later and laid two rattlesnakes on the table and asked that old boy, “You still think I’m lying?”  This was looked on most unfavorably by the bartender as most of his customers were scattering like a covey of quail!

We had the snakes about six or eight months when I met the gal who was later to become my wife.  She must have thought I was brave or stupid enough to train, but she stuck around in spite of the fact she was dating a fruitcake who kept rattlesnakes in his living room.  We dated awhile and I asked her to marry me and she said yes.  No big surprise there.  What woman could resist a man with so much to offer?  

About a month before the wedding, I moved out from Howard’s house and into a trailer that would become home to my bride and me, and left Howard to care for the snakes on his own.  The big day came and I was even able to coax Howard into a tuxedo to serve as a groomsman.  Well, after the wedding, in true Alabama redneck fashion, we had one heck of a reception.  And I’ll say it; there might have been some alcohol involved.  Everybody had a big time and wished us well, and then my new wife and I left the party.

We stayed at a local motel that night and then headed for Gatlinburg for our honeymoon.  (I know big spender right.  Hey, it was all I could afford).   We promised to call our parents when we got settled in to let them know that we made the trip alright.  When I called my mom, she said, “Now y’all don’t need to come back, but Howard got bit last night after the reception.”  Well, wasn’t that a fine start to our honeymoon?  My mom went on to explain that after the reception Howard and a few others had gone back to his house.  He decided to impress his guest with his snake-handling skills and was bitten in the face!  She assured us that he was o.k. and that there was no need for us to come home.  We stayed in the mountains for a week, all the while wondering what the whole story was.

When we got home, we contacted our friend Kenny and got the rest of the story.  It seems Howard had taken one of the snakes out of the cage despite the protests of those present and had held it up for a bravado filled stare down when the snake struck.  He reacted just quick enough to keep the snake from sinking it’s fangs into his face, but the rattler was still able to scratch his cheek with one fang.  Instead of staying calm like they recommend he began slinging the snake at arms length pinwheel style and killing it with the ceiling and one wall.  There was a tale tell blood pattern to prove this.  (Any CSI would have been proud of my acute observation.)  He then turned to Kenny and said, “Get me to the hospital!”  Our local hospital, at that time, was located about fifteen to twenty minutes away.  They got in Kenny’s car and raced to town.  About halfway there, Howard told Kenny, “I’m going out!”, and fell forward against the dash.  When Kenny got him to the hospital, Howard was out cold, and Kenny, who is about half Howard’s size, began trying to get him inside.  The Emergency Room personnel noticed and came out to help, all the while asking Kenny what kind of drugs that Howard had overdosed on.  Kenny said he kept screaming back that it wasn’t an overdose, it was snakebite.  They got Howard inside and administered all the proper antivenin they had at this small hospital and then airlifted him to Birmingham for further treatment.  

When we got to Birmingham to see him, it had been six days since he had been bitten.  His head was still swollen to the size of a basketball and he could just open his eyes barely enough to see.  He was in good spirits though and joked that he would never own another animal that had teeth.  There was a spot on his cheek where the tissue was deteriorated and he would have to have a skin graft but he was going to be o.k.  Apparently, he had already used the ‘no teeth’ line, because awhile later, another friend of ours came in to see him carrying a goldfish in a bowl and he told Howard that he had filed the goldfish’s teeth down before he brought it.
 
Howard is fine now but has one heck of a story to tell.  It was a close call and we all learned a valuable lesson.  I am older and a little wiser now but still have my moments.  Several years later, when my kids were about twelve and eight, we came home one day, went up on the porch and into the house and then we all went back outside to feed the animals.  As we were walking to the barn, I looked back and saw a rattlesnake crawling from under the porch we had just came off of, heading toward a little shed we have in the back yard.  I grabbed a hoe and a bucket and told the kids to stand back and I’d show them how we used to catch rattlesnakes.  I turned the bucket over beside the snake, which was now coiled and rattling like crazy.  But instead of crawling into the bucket to hide, the snake struck at me.  Well, I must have looked like a human weed eater chopping that snake with the hoe.  I’ll bet there was twenty pieces of snake when I was done.  I guess that’s not exactly how we used to do it!

By   Fri, Apr 30, 2010

by TalkHunting Member Scott "Scott from Bama" Cobbs          

This is a true story as told to me by my Grandpa many years ago.

Way back when dating was called courting and you went to see your gal either on a mule or on foot, my grandfather left the top of the mountain where I now live to visit the pretty, young woman who lived down in the valley, Pauline, who later became my Grandmother.  He walked down the mountain on the winding road, like they all used to be on steep grades, which made it easier on the mules or horses to pull a load when ascending or to hold back a load when descending.  

He visited longer than he had really planned, but just didn't want to leave Pauline or face that climb back up the mountain.  By the time he set out for home, the weather had changed and it was trying to blow up a storm.  It wasn't raining, just blustery and dark.  Very dark on that mountain road with the trees overhanging and the clouds blocking any moonlight to speak of.  

Gum Pond Mountain rises up from the valley very steeply and so has several switchbacks on the way to the top.  Grandpa said that the wind coming off that mountain was very stiff and he was walking directly into it, leaning into the wind and the steep grade at the same time.  About halfway to the top, he came out of one of the curves and looked up the road only to be surprised by what he saw.
 
Up the road ahead of him was a large white...something, and it was headed down the mountain toward him at a pretty fast clip.  He said his first instinct was to run, but judging by the speed of this thing, he knew that there was no way he was going to outrun it.  So he decided to just brace himself and face it, planning to kick it as hard as he could when it got to him.  He said his heart was pounding and the wind was rushing and he couldn't hear it but he could make out the form of this thing headed directly for him as hard as it could go.
 
He thought, "I'll kick it and then run like the dickens before it has a chance to recover!"  So he summoned all his strength, braced himself, and tried to time it so that he kicked this 'beast' just as it arrived.  He kicked so hard that he almost lost his footing on the dirt road and was suddenly and overwhelmingly relieved to find the old newspaper wrapped around his leg.  This newspaper was the 'beast' that had been blowing in the wind straight down this mountain road toward him.
  
He would tell this story and then grin and say, "Now, don't always believe what your mind says you're seeing."

By   Fri, Apr 30, 2010

by TalkHunting Member Russell “Jaeger” Kassner

It seems to me that my first full-length introductory article for the Campfire News should be an article explaining how people can be introduced into hunting.  This article is directed primarily to those of you who do not come from families with hunting backgrounds or who live in urban and suburban areas where hunting is not a commonplace way of life.  For example, you may be a young person who lives in an urban or suburban area and whose only exposure to hunting comes through reading magazines.  You may be a lady who wishes to get into hunting in order to enjoy the outdoors and has no real idea where to get started.  Further, you may be an older person in need of direction as to how to get into hunting for yourself or another.  In this article I will attempt to provide ways in which you can be introduced to hunting on your own.  I am primarily a self taught hunter and will present to you how I obtained the information and skills necessary to enjoy the outdoors through hunting.

Before we go any further, I would like to make one cautionary point.  Unlike fishing, there is no catch and release in hunting.  As you go through the steps to acquire a hunting knowledge, equipment and a place to hunt it will at some point become necessary for you to deal with the fact that hunting involves taking the life of an animal.  This article is not intended to address the moral implications of hunting but rather allow you to contemplate whether this type of outdoor activity is acceptable to you.  If it is not, there are many other ways you can enjoy the outdoors, such as, for example, hiking, outdoor photography, etc. Whether to become a hunter and engage in all that hunting entails is a decision only you can make.

Young or old, the first place to start is by garnering information about hunting in general.  Periodicals are an excellent way to get an overall picture of the various aspects of hunting.  Magazines, books, etc. should be the first place you look and read everything you can get your hands on.  Additionally, in this modern day and age, much information is available through various Internet web sites.  There is none better than TalkHunting.com.  It is a family friendly site where you can post basic questions and get various answers and opinions from experienced hunters across the country.  Libraries are also an excellent place to get general information on various types of hunting.

If you are too young to drive or obtain a hunting license it helps to have the support of parents or others who will take you to libraries, magazine stores, gun and archery shops etc.  In my case, even though my parents did not know much about hunting, they supported my interest in hunting and took me to those places where I could get general information.

Once you are old enough to qualify for a hunting license, the various safety courses provided by the state game agencies will provide excellent instruction in beginning hunting and other outdoor activities.  Often these agencies offer such courses as general hunting, bow hunting, trapping, waterfowl identification, among other things.  Indeed, successful completion of a basic hunter safety course is almost universally required before you can obtain a hunting license.  Further, many state game agencies, including New York State, offer safety courses and or self-study courses online to assist the student in preparation for the actual live safety course.

Notably, in New York State, the state game agency also runs a series of programs called Women Outdoors which provides many courses in outdoor activities and is an excellent place for women looking to get into the outdoors to meet with other like-minded women.  Check with your own state game agency to see if it offers similar programs.

Once you are convinced that hunting is for you and have investigated through reading and taking various safety and informational courses, the next step is to get hands-on experience with hunting implements.  Again, in this area, the youth have an advantage in the multitude of programs available to them.

School or local summer field archery programs provide the young person with an opportunity to experience the thrill of sending an arrow from your bow to a target down range.  In order to get hands-on experience with firearms, the youth divisions of local gun clubs are an excellent place to start.  It is often much easier to get into a gun club as a young person than it is as an adult.  Often spaces in gun clubs are limited or have waiting lists for adults but will readily except junior or youth members.  In my particular case, I was enrolled in the summer field archery program at a very young age and allowed to continue daily practice in the small range set up outside in the backyard of my house.  When I became old enough to handle a firearm, yet not old enough to obtain hunting license, my parents assisted in enrolling me in the junior division of a local gun club where I learned to shoot four position .22 caliber target series.

If you are an adult, this is the point at which it becomes slightly more difficult to get hands-on experience with actual bows or firearms in preparation for your career as a hunter.  I would recommend that you make friends while taking your hunter safety courses in order to find those who may have grown up with hunting as a family activity.  This may get you invited to experience shooting bows and rifles and or shotguns in a target setting prior to venturing afield.  If you cannot find these opportunities, rely on your experience obtained from reading periodicals to purchase a first bow or firearm and start seeking shooting instruction.  Many well-established shooting ranges have instructors who will provide proper instruction in archery, rifle or shotgun shooting.  hunt and head out afield.Once you're proficient with your chosen weapon, you are now ready to look for places to

Now comes the fun part, where do I go to hunt?  The first source to turn to in looking for an area to hunt is through your local state game agencies.  If you already have a hunting license, often your regulations guide will have a list of the more popular public hunting areas.  In order to dig deeper and get more specific, contact the various regional offices of your state game agencies near the areas you wish to visit.  They will be able to provide you with all the information necessary to hunt the nearby public areas including the need for any required seasonal or daily access permits.  In addition, many agencies also provide maps showing exactly where the public hunting areas are and where parking and other public access is permitted.  

Another excellent way of obtaining information on places to hunts is to visit local gun or sporting goods shops in the areas immediately near the public hunting areas.  Talking with sales clerks at these local stores will often reveal other more isolated hunting areas or hunting access points not normally utilized by the majority of hunters.  As a side note, never leave the gun shop without buying at least one small item in order to thank the clerk for giving you information or directions.  I often will not leave a gun shop without buying a small, few dollar pocket knife.  After several decades I probably have at least two pocket knives stashed in almost every piece of hunting equipment I own.  It is money well spent and helps ensure that the next time you visit the same hunting shop the clerk may reveal even more information.  Besides, it is always a good thing to reward those who help you by revealing information not otherwise readily available.

You are now in a position to head out afield and enjoy hunting.  Initially, many people prefer to go out in groups of two or three in order to assist each other and enjoy the outdoors together.  In my case, most of my initial hunting forays were conducted solo in the local marshes and Pine Barrens of Eastern Long Island.  By studying local maps provided by the state game agencies I was able to identify those smaller and under hunted areas often overlooked by more experienced hunters.  Later, while attending college in the Midwest, I made friends with local boys who also enjoyed hunting and would often take me to their home on the weekends in order to go hunting and generally get away from classes and enjoy time in the woods.  Upon returning to New York, I again found myself in a position of doing most of my hunting solo.  While hunting with one or two others is an enjoyable and pleasant way to spend the day, many of us who have learned to hunt solo enjoy the peace and solitude of being in the outdoors alone away from distractions of work and other matters.

By the way, I’ll let you in on a little secret.  National Hunting and Fishing Day is always in September.  That is the day many sportsman’s clubs and state game agencies have events to show the public what hunting is all about.  Check your local agencies and see what will be provided. For more information on your local events, contact The National Hunting and Fishing Organization:

NHF Day Coordinator
500 W. Sunshine St.
Springfield, Mo 65807
Phone: 417890-9453
On the Web at:  http://www.nhfday.org/Default.aspx
   
In summary, to get started in hunting, garner as much information as you possibly can through reading and visiting gun shops, get hands-on experience with your choice of bows, rifles or shotguns by joining various clubs or visiting local shooting ranges that provide instruction and then seek out those special places to hunt by contacting your state game agencies and local sporting goods shops.

By   Fri, Apr 30, 2010

by TalkHunting Member Scott "Scott from Bama" Cobbs

On December 28th, 2004, at approximately 5:30 p.m., my wife and kids and I were enjoying a Sunday evening after the Christmas holidays.  We were winding down and glad that the rush was finally over.  Then the phone rang.  It was my wife’s mother on the line and she was terribly upset.  Although my wife answered the phone, I could hear that my mother-in-law was crying.  My wife was visibly shaken by the call and insisted that we leave immediately to go to her parent’s house.  When I asked her what was wrong, she said that her mother had said, “I think my ankle is broken and your dad is still outside holding the goat!  Get over here as quick as you can!”   We didn’t know what that meant but we jumped in the truck and away we flew to the in-laws house, which was about a ten-minute drive.

We pulled into their driveway not knowing what to expect and immediately met the unexpected!  On the front porch, looking in the front door was a large sheep.  It was a ram to be more precise, a four-horned Jacobean ram, about 150 to 200 pounds, with a bad attitude.  As soon as we came to a stop I opened my door to get out and ram-bo headed my way.  My father-in-law came to the door then and yelled to me, “Watch out, he’s mean!”  When I stepped out of the truck he came at me and I jumped into the bed of the truck to avoid being the next victim.  The ram stopped just short of butting the side of my truck with his large horns. Now I had just been cleaning my truck this evening and had realized that my pistol permit had expired, so I took my gun out of my truck and placed it in the house until I could get the permit renewed.  If not, this would have been a much shorter story.   I now had to make do with what I had at hand which was a short shovel in the bed of my truck, so I grabbed it and swung at the sheep catching him on the side of the head and horns.  

This only served to irritate the irate wooly-booger, who then backed up, shook his head and dared me to get out of the truck bed.  I had dropped the shovel on the ground when I struck the sheep with it, so now I was defenseless and stuck in the back of my truck.  I checked my toolbox, which is cluttered with junk and found a length of rope and decided that I would somehow have to get that sheep tied up before we could check on the in-laws.  So, rope in hand, and sheep standing only a few feet away, I jumped out of the truck picked up the shovel and swung at the ram as he charged.  The shovel caught the ram on the side of the head and didn’t even slow him down, so I grabbed him by the horns and we began to waltz around the yard, spiraling and spinning until I ended up beside the sheep, at which point I threw him to the ground and held on.  At about this time, my 12-year-old son came running around the front of the truck and helped me to get the rope on the ram’s feet and securely hog-tie my dance partner.
When we were convinced that the ram wasn’t going anywhere we went inside to check on my wife’s parents.  We found my mother-in-law lying prone on the floor in terrible pain with her ankle swelled to the size of a softball.  My father-in-law was covered with grass stains and blood and looking like a man who had just been in a fight. I guess because he had!

They told us what had happened before we got there.  When they returned home from volunteering at the hospital, they pulled into the drive and saw what they thought was a goat in their yard.  No big deal, they thought they would just call someone to come put it back in the fence.  When my mother-in-law stepped out of the pick-up and began to gather her things she was struck from behind by the ram.  When she got up and tried to get back in the truck she was struck again.  She then tried to make it to the house and was hit a third time, this time he knocked her down and she broke her ankle in the fall.  While this was happening, my father-in-law came running around from the other side of the truck to find this ram repeatedly charging his wife.  He threw some heavy books he was carrying at the aggressor trying to avert his attention.  It worked long enough to allow my father-in-law to grab the ram by the horns and wrestle with it until his wife could crawl into the house to call for help.  In the time that he was fighting with it, the ram managed to get him to the ground, gash his leg open, scrape him up somewhat, lose both his hearing aids, and break his arm.  He said that he didn’t know exactly how he managed to get away from the sheep and into the house.

After things had calmed down for a minute or two, I went outside to make sure the assailant was still tied up and under control.  Suddenly my father-in-law burst outside with his.38 snub-nosed revolver cursing at the sheep and began firing at it from about 20 feet away.  Amazingly the ram just laid there, calm as could be while the pistol was emptied and as my father-in-law continued to click on spent rounds.  I don’t think he touched him with a single shot.

My wife got both her parents to the hospital while I kept the kids and made sure the sheep was going nowhere. I called the guy that had sold the property to my in-laws and explained how someone should come and get this sheep or they might find it hanging from the meat-pole.  Apparently, this ram belonged to a lady he knew and she had got it for her daughter for Easter when it was a lamb and it had been kept in a pasture next door to my in-law’s house.
 
I left the sheep tied up in the front yard where the owner picked him up later that evening.  The local news showed up at my in-laws house the next day for an interview.  I don’t know how they found out as we didn’t call the sheriff’s department or make any reports.  In a local newspaper article a few days later, the owner of the ram was interviewed and she said that when they came to get it, its feet were tied so tightly that the circulation had been cut off (poor thing).  She also stated that it had obviously been beaten as there was a large stick nearby.  I was thinking, “Where the heck was this stick when I needed it?!”  The owner told the newspaper that the sheep had died a few days after the incident.  We all were very sad to hear that…..sort of.  The owner did call my in-laws and apologize for what had happened, but they weren’t compensated in any way. Both of my in-laws have since had surgery to put in pins and plates for their broken bones and my mother-in-law again had surgery on the 9th of January.  

They are now fully recovered and a bit wary of any animals they might find in their yard. As I stated before, this event was covered by the local paper and the local television news.  It was also picked up by the Rick & Bubba morning radio show and was even shown as a public interest story by CNN.  As if to add insult to injury, the CNN story had an accompanying picture of two small fuzzy lambs lying down together.  Luckily, in all the reports, I was known only as the son-in-law.   I wouldn’t want people to think that this 6 foot 2 inch; 225 pound country boy got his butt whipped by two little lambs!

By   Fri, Apr 30, 2010

by TalkHunting Member Robert "pollock" Szatkowski

Hog dogging, have you ever wondered what it is like to catch a wild pig with your bare hands and feel the raw power of a beast that can truly test your body's inner strength? Then, this is a story for you.

Once there was a boy named Scott. He grew up in the woods with his dad, growing up his dad tried his best to raise the boy  with true respect for his fellow man and most of all respect for the woods and the animals that live there. At the age of thirteen Scott was a good size boy and thought he was invincible. Scott had always helped his dad train dogs on pigs in a pen but they were always small ones.
 
Scott had never been on a real hunting trip for wild pigs with his dad, his dad always said that he would let him know when it was time. So one day Scott looked at his dad and said dad I have been helping you all my life, I know how to catch one of these pigs. So his dad said ok son its time.
All through the week Scott could hardly wait, all he could think about was being in the open woods with truly wild hogs. Finally it was the day of the hunt and Scott was so excited he could not sit still for nothing in the world. When his dad got home from work he told Scott to load the dogs, in the blink of an eye Scott was out the door. With the dogs and gear loaded the boy and his dad start toward the woods, when they finally got to where they were going Scott's dad looked at the boy and said this, son this experience that you're about to embark on will truly show you what a wild animal is made of and make you a man. Stay close and listen to what I say; Scott took in every word and was ready for anything.

The man and his son went to the back of the truck and set the dogs loose and the hunt was on. All Scott could think about while walking in the woods was how the whole hunt was going to happen. After forty five minutes Scott looked at his dad and said dad how come we haven't seen nothing yet and at that split moment the dogs sounded off a quarter mile out. Scott's heart raced with excitement, everything he had been thinking about had went blank in seconds. The boy and his dad took off running toward the dogs. When they got there Scott stood in amazement, it was the biggest Russian razor back boar he had ever seen.
 
This pig was a true dog killer and men to if it got the chance. In a split second Scott took off toward the beast without any word from his dad. At this time the hog was spinning round and round trying to throw the dogs of its body, so Scott's dad took off after the boy and pulled him back by his shirt and moved ahead of him. All the sudden the pig broke loose and started toward Scott's dad. While trying to move Scott out of the way, Scott's dad fell and before he could do anything the beast was on him, trying to kill him. But in the same moment the dogs grabbed the hog again and Scott moved in. Without even thinking about it Scott grabbed the beast by the back legs and pulled it away from his dad dogs and all.
 
Scott had never held something with so much power this pig was jerking, pulling, and thrashing its head trying to kill any thing that got in its face. While Scott held the beast with all his strength his dad made it back to his feet but he was cut bad, all over his hands and arms were he had tried to keep the hog from killing him. But despite all the pain, he drew his knife and stabbed the beast, the fight was over. Scott dropped the pig and went to his dad, he asked dad are you ok, being the person he was his dad said "yes, son, I'm good." This moment in time had made Scott a man, and his dad knew it. He thanked his son for the job he had done, and the two men have been hunting together every since

By   Fri, Apr 30, 2010

by TalkHunting Member Steve "dixiedawg" Horton

Six inches of fresh snow hugged the ground, and the crispness of late autumn chilled the predawn air.  My wife was asleep as I left my cabin in Potter County, Pennsylvania—God’s Country—for my tree stand.  Archery season was in full swing, and I was anxious to get to my stand before sunrise.  This November day was going to be perfect.

The crunching of my feet through the snow was the only sound I could hear as I headed down the side of the mountain, along the edge between the hardwood and pine forest areas.  I stepped over a log, and then lost my footing.  The darkness took on an even darker hue.  And it became dead silent.

I brushed the snow off my face.  It was daylight now, but I had trouble seeing anything.  The only thing I felt was excruciating pain.  My knee was bent grotesquely, and I realized I wouldn’t be able to walk or put any weight on my leg.  I pushed backward and leaned against the log.  I unzipped the leg of my insulated camo-pants and packed snow around my knee.  I reached into my pocket for my emergency whistle and started blowing it in sets of three long blasts, the universal call for help.  If I was going to make it back to the cabin, the whistle was my only hope.

One hour . . . two hours . . . three hours . . . four hours.  As the morning—and the pain—grew long, I continued to blow my whistle every five minutes, hopeful that someone would hear it.  Snow had started falling again when I heard a familiar voice.  My wife, Debbie, who had gone outside the cabin for firewood, had heard the whistle.  When she recognized the call for help, she chipped the ice off our truck and came looking for me.  She pulled me up and helped me hop to the truck.  On the way back to the cabin, we agreed that the whistle saved me.  I couldn’t have yelled loud or long enough for her to have heard me.  

My “perfect” November day didn’t turn out as I had planned.  I never made it to my tree stand, but I didn’t care.  For all the times I’d been alone in the woods, I never gave a second thought to “What if . . . ?” scenarios.  But I was ready if something happened.  That November day, my habit of carrying a whistle might have prevented a tragedy.  Trust me; you never know what might happen when you’re alone in the woods.  So if you’re like me and want to enjoy the outdoors safely, always carry a loud whistle in case of an emergency and remember the universal call for help.  Three loud blasts together, with a whistle or a gun, might be your only hope.

By   Fri, Apr 30, 2010

by TalkHunting Member Rev. Jay R. “preacherman” Dagenhart

For the previous two years, I had the  privilege of hunting a piece of property close to where I live in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia that was LOADED with deer. One day in particular I counted 59 deer on this property. Due to some unfortunate circumstances, my friend that I hunted with and his father (the property owner) had a “falling out” and I lost rights to hunt that property. I moped around for a while and my wife had to listen to me gripe about not having any place to hunt.

After a few months of uncertainty and the 2009 hunting season looming closer and closer my friend (yeah the same one) called me up, and said that he had secured us a place to hunt that had not been hunted for years, and was heavily wooded.   A few weeks before bow season we each received keys to the land and started to scout out places for tree stands. To say this property was difficult to hunt would not be an understatement in the least. There were no fields, the side of a mountain, and very little sign of deer activity. Well, I hunted early bow season and only saw a few does and a couple of fawns. I was disappointed, but I labored on anyway. It would take me nearly 40 minutes each day to climb up the mountain to my stand, but I still held out hope. Well everything changed the morning of November 17th.

That morning began just as had each morning of the season before. I climbed in the dark for 40 minutes towards my stand, but I decided to try to find a new stand that my buddy had placed a few weeks before. I knew about where the stand was, but I was unable to find it in the dark. So I sat on a ridge and waited for daylight to come. After daylight and no sign of any deer, I moved up the ridge some and found his stand. I climbed up about 8:00 am and sat for only about 30 minutes. I heard some rustling in the leaves behind me and saw a does trotting and weaving in the thick brush. I raised my Ruger .308 and placed the scope on her. I noticed that her tail was straight out and she looked behind her. Finally I saw antlers behind her and I moved my scope towards to buck.

It was then that I heard something that I had never heard in the deer woods before. I heard him roar! Not a grunt but a definite roar. I knew he was a mature buck but he was dodging and trotting chasing the doe so I could not see his antlers well. I squeezed off a shot and he hunched and kept running towards me. After he stopped about 70 yards away I shot once again and he dropped in his tracks. After I made sure he was finished, I climbed down from the stand and headed towards him. I could not believe what I saw when I got close. I have hunted most all of my 38 years of life and have never seen a deer like this one. I called my buddy and my wife and as I was on the phone talking, another much smaller 8 pointer and other bucks were chasing this doe all around me oblivious that I had shot or was even there talking.

People talk about days in the woods that you will never forget, but I truly can say I will never forget that day. My buck of a life time weighed in at 198lbs and scored 140 ¾ Boone and Crockett with an inside spread of 21 ½ inches. My taxidermist aged the deer at 6 ½ or possibly 7 ½ years old (He really didn’t have any teeth left). That day was definitely “A Day to Remember”

By   Thu, May 06, 2010

by Steve Hearing – Director of Media Relations

The 13th Annual Amy Pray Outdoor Weekend promises to be even better than before. The event will be held at the Huron Pointe Sportsmen’s Association www.huronpointe.org located at 35800 28 Mile Road in Lenox Township, Michigan. The event is being sponsored by the Michigan Bow hunters Association who has been long time supporters of Benefit4Kids. There is a large wooded 3-D archery course which is laid out for the novice as well as the expert archer. There are trap, skeet, and sporting clays for the shotgun aficionados. There are many kid’s events and a great family atmosphere with free camping all weekend long. There is a campfire which is second to none full of dedications and heart warming stories. This campfire has special meanings to anyone who has attended it before. Most of those who attend once come back year after year.

All new this year is the “Dinner4Dreams” mini banquet. There will be raffles, auctions, card blitzes, women’s items, guns, bows, and trips offered during the evening event. Cost of this event is $15 for adults and $5 for kids 15 and under. There are only 300 tickets to the “Dinner4Dreams” so order your tickets quickly as we expect them to go fast.

There are many sponsorship opportunities for businesses and individuals alike. There are 30 target sponsorships which range in cost from $50-$200 and are a great way to not only show your support for Benefit4Kids, but to get your business some cheap advertising. Some other portions of the event also have sponsorship opportunities.

 As always, all the proceeds go towards helping terminally ill and life limited children experience their “Outdoor Wish”. More information about the event, Benefit4Kids, and other events to help kids can be obtained at www.B4K.org, info@B4K.org or by calling 877-245-5430.

B4K was founded in 1998 with its' primary mission to grant the outdoor wishes of children with life threatening and limiting illnesses.  We also work to involve today's children in the outdoors and the many activities it offers them.  Many children are denied the opportunity to experience the outdoors due to costs, lack of available mentors and limited facilities, which offer an all around outdoor experience. Benefit4Kids is a 100% Volunteer Organization. Our board members and volunteers are all employed elsewhere, and donate their time to help this organization.  This allows 100% of your donations to go supporting the kids. With costs on the rise and even more kids than ever, your support is vital to this organization.


Steve Hearing – Director of Media Relations
Benefit4Kids

By   Thu, May 06, 2010

By Michael Veine

It was the last day of Michigan’s archery deer season and my unused deer tag felt like it was burning a hole in my pocket. Even when the odds are against me I always keep a positive mental attitude when deer hunting. It was crunch-time though and I knew full well that my chances for success were remote at best and dwindling fast. I sat tight in my tree stand well beyond the point of enjoyment. Finally the penetrating cold, a sore behind and the lack of deer sightings convinced me to head for home.

My house is situated on a small parcel of land and while my back woods are not what I’d consider prime deer hunting, it does hold a decent population of whitetails and the convenience of walking out my back door to hunt is awfully nice at times.

Commitments precluded an evening hunt, so I slowly still-hunted on the way back to the house to give myself one last chance at success. I had barely covered about 200 yards when the sight of a deer moving ahead caught my attention. My growing despair quickly turned to optimism when I saw antlers. It was a decent buck, not a huge one, but on the last day of the season, any adult buck would have looked like a trophy.

The buck scooted past me well out of range on an obvious search-and-destroy mission for does. I let him proceed on by until he was out of sight and then raced ahead to try and cut him off. After sprinting the 200 yards out to the road, I quickly ran up to my driveway huffing and puffing all the way. I raced past my garage and then cut back to the edge of the swamp where I hoped the buck would come through. I knew my property like the back of my hand and I was well aware of a deer trail leading through this natural funnel. I knelt down and hoped that I’d beat the buck to the spot without spooking him.

I kept up my vigil kneeling in the tall swamp grass lined with brush and small trees. With my arrow nocked, I scanned in the direction where I anticipated that the buck might emerge. Unfortunately, after 15 minutes without further sighting, my enthusiasm plummeted.

As a last ditch effort, I pulled out my trusty grunt call and pressed it to my lips. It was a cold, quiet, bluebird day with very little wind, so my grunts floated out for quite a distance. After several grunt-calling sequences with no responses, I was ready to submit to defeat. I was feeling lower than a snake’s belly in a wagon rut when all of the sudden I heard a gentle swish from behind me. Turning around, my disappointment instantly melted away as a different and much bigger buck materialized through the brush. I was a little shocked at this sudden turn of events and my heart let me know the magnitude of the situation by thumping like a base drum in my chest.

In preparation for a shot, I slowly pivoted around and began scanning ahead for a possible shooting lane along the buck's approach route. When he closed to within 25 yards, he abruptly stopped quartering towards me behind a thin screening of sumac brush. If he proceeded ahead, he would pop into the clear at about 10 yards distance.  With no cover separating us at that scant range, he would certainly spot me, ruining any shot opportunity; so I decided that it was now or never. When he turned broadside to look over his back trail, I drew back the bow from my kneeling position. There was a fist-sized hole through the brush that was conveniently lined up with the center of the buck’s chest.  Instead of concentrating on a specific spot on the deer as an aiming point, I trained my sight pin on the gap in the brush and then carefully squeezed the trigger on my old reliable mechanical release. At the shot he whirled and bolted across the marsh with a wide swath of crimson plainly visible down his side. After 100 yards, he slowed and began to falter; seconds later the muddy quagmire swallowed him up like a dog inhaling a steak scrap.

After waiting about an hour, I approached the fallen buck, which had died right where I had last seen him. The incredibly lethal shot had taken out both lungs causing him to expire within 10 seconds. That "Backyard Buck's" beautiful head mount now adorns my office wall. Once again a small place had produced a filled deer tag and just in the nick of time.

A growing trend these days in the whitetail woods is hunting on smaller and smaller parcels of land. Increasingly, larger holdings are being carved up into pint-sized properties and at a record pace I might add. Urban sprawl and escalating real estate prices across the country are the main culprits. These days it seems like everyone wants to buy a parcel of land in the quiet country for a building site or just to own their own piece of turf.

Over the past decade, I’ve noticed some drastic changes in the woods on both private and public property: It’s becoming more crowded and the hunting is being reduced to tighter and tighter quarters.  I really can’t complain too loudly about these developments though, because in the past decade I’ve experienced the best success of my entire deer hunting career, which spans over thirty years.  My recent success has been distributed between both private and public land hunting spots. The secret to my success in these demanding locations is to apply smart “small place” hunting strategies.

Learn the Land

One major advantage of deer hunting in a small area is being able to develop an intimate knowledge of the land. I can safely say that I know every deer trail on the 38 acres that I call home. The deer’s preferred feeding and bedding areas at different times of the year are also etched into my mind. In addition, I also know where deer are likely to travel during daylight hours. Basically, I know the property well enough to hunt it very effectively. 

Know Your Neighbors

It doesn’t matter if you hunt on private or public property, prudent deer hunters need to develop an intimate knowledge of the hunting pressure or general human disturbances in any given hunting area. On small private parcels, lands that surround yours will typically be pounded by others. Talk to the owners of adjacent properties and find out who is hunting where. Open communications often reduces conflicts and also makes deer hunting more enjoyable and successful for all.

It is a good idea to have an agreement with neighbors before the season starts concerning recovering wounded deer. My neighbors and I have an agreement that if one of us hits a deer and it crosses a property line, we must first call or visit and let the property owner know what's going on before venturing onto their property. This small courtesy eliminates having to needlessly investigate a possible trespasser; besides, this policy also eliminates the temptation to rush the follow-up and often results in a helping hand.

Public hunting grounds pose a unique challenge when deer hunting. Often, I actually scout more for the presence of humans than for deer. I simply will not deer hunt, especially with a bow, in an area that is being actively hunted by others. In this pursuit, I typically spend countless hours searching for the right combination of seclusion and available deer. Quite often, I will concentrate my efforts on a very small chunk of land in the middle of a vast public forest. I may only have one or two stand setups that are worth hunting among thousands of acres of land.

Hunt Wisely

On small parcels, over-hunting and burning-out a stand become a real problem.  Even on my 38 acres, I have erected six different treestands along with several ground stands. I only hunt a particular stand when the wind is favorable. I will typically hunt my own land in conjunction with other public and private parcels so the pressure is spread out as much as possible. If you start noticing a reduction in deer sightings in an area, then the spot is probably being over-hunted.

Entry and exit routes to and from stands need special consideration. I plan and clear those courses carefully so I can access my stands with minimal disturbance to deer.  Even if it takes five times as long to get to a stand, it's better to avoid bumping deer.

Enhance the Land

Small parcels of property can be made into deer utopias by adding a few enhancements. Deer need quality cover and nutrition to thrive, and they also require a steady water source to survive. A well-placed food plot or two is one of the best ways to attract deer to your property. However, if you can provide a nearby bedding sanctuary along with a constant water source close to a food plot, then the deer will really take notice. I also like to spice up my property with plenty of 30-06 Plus Protein mineral sites. With proper planning you can attract and hold deer and also make them very “huntable” in the process.                       

Suburban Hot Spots

I once attended a party at the home of one of my wife's co-workers. In the past, I had some discussions with this guy about the subject of guns and hunting. He is not an anti-hunter, but like the majority of people in this country, he is just a non-hunter who doesn't understand modern wildlife management practices.

We are both avid gardeners and when I asked our host how his garden was doing, he said, “Mike, grab your beer and come look at this.” He then showed me the remnants of his once-beautiful garden. All the strawberries, tomatoes, beans and other plants were chewed off right down to the roots.

He pointed into the dirt and said, “Do you recognize those tracks?”

I replied, “Looks like you've got a deer problem.”

Hinting that I knew the solution to his problem, he then said, “Those !@#$% deer have ruined my garden and I’ve tried everything including repellents and even fences, and those !@#$!@#$ are still coming into my yard.”

I was shocked because I had never heard this normally soft-spoken guy swear or get bent-out-of-shape before. It’s kind of funny how a little deer infestation can change a person’s attitude. It only takes one or two bad encounters and most people are more than ready to have someone take out some deer.

I’ve had several opportunities presented to me in urban and even suburban areas where homeowners are being devastated by hungry deer. It really pays to present your hunting activities in a positive manner to anybody who will listen at work, church, school, and clubs or wherever you go. Networking really pays off, especially when deer become nuisances.

Bigger is Not Always Better

Small hunting spots are what you make of them. I would rather have eight to 10 isolated, small, hunting areas than one large property to hunt. Typically, the larger parcel would be composed of the same family group of deer. Hunting pressure would eventually alter the deer’s travel patterns, degrading the quality of the hunt after just a short period.  Conversely, with many separated small spots, a prudent hunter can rotate stands and keep things fresh. Each spot would be composed of a separate deer herd and the deer can be taken by surprise on each outing.

In my home state of Michigan, I often attend off-season hunting sports shows like the Deer & Turkey Spectacular. At last year’s show, antlers coming from the most crowded regions of southern Michigan dominated the Spectacular’s annual deer contest.  This is an area consisting primarily of many small parcels. It never ceases to amaze me that the majority of the biggest bucks in my state, some of which are Boone & Crockett candidates, are taken from this region.

“Big bucks in small places.”

Need I say more?

By   Thu, May 06, 2010

When my wife and I got married, she was employed at a large engineering company that designed and produced equipment for the meat-processing industry. The owner, a stately older fellow, had an incredible mind for invention. He designed the first hot-dog making machine, and even today, more than 90 percent of hot dogs produced worldwide go through one of his machines.

The hot-dog-making machine was not his only creation, and the company's corporate office was a kind of museum of the various items he had invented. My wife took me on a tour of the offices one day, and when we came to the museum area, I saw a machine that looked somewhat familiar.

Noticing my interest, my wife said, “That's the treadmill he invented.” I read the date on the display, and it was far earlier than the treadmills that had appeared in popular culture. As the story goes, the man and his wife enjoyed walking, but that wasn't always an option during long Midwestern winters. So, he decided to build something on which they could walk inside. He did, but everyone who looked at the machine said, “Who would pay for a machine that you walk on inside? You don’t go anywhere when you walk. All you have to do is just go outside and walk.” Consequently, he never filed a patent, and the rest is history. My wife’s employer was simply ahead of his time.

In 1999, the Whitetail Institute unveiled a breakthrough in deer nutrition called Cutting Edge Nutrition Supplements. Since then, thousands of deer hunters and managers have used Cutting Edge and have seen the tremendous results it can produce. However, like many revolutionary products, it took time for people to really understand its significance. Cutting Edge is achieving greater and greater awareness.

Cutting Edge was revolutionary because it was the first product line to address the changing nutritional needs of whitetails as they go through their yearly physiological cycle. Up until then, the only supplements available to consumers were spring and summer mineral products. Although these worked during the antler-growing season, the rest of the year was unaddressed.

Someone asked, “Why do deer back off mineral supplements in late fall and winter?” Much research determined one of the main answers: The nutritional needs of a deer herd change in late fall and winter. That discovery led to further investigation. Soon, researchers identified three distinct times when nutritional needs change significantly enough that a specific nutritional supplement is needed. From that came Cutting Edge Initiate, Cutting Edge Optimize and Cutting Edge Sustain.

 
What is Cutting Edge?

In simple terms, Cutting Edge nutritional supplements are designed for specific times. More accurately, they are designed for three specific physiological phases of a deer herd. During a year, the nutritional needs of deer change based on changes in their bodies.

Beginning in late fall and winter, deer go into survival mode. In most parts of the country, food sources are scarce, and deer exhibit a pseudo-hibernation characteristic as their food intake decreases and their metabolism slows. At this time, energy is the most crucial part of a deer’s diet. Protein needs are at their lowest, as are mineral and vitamin requirements.

Deer need energy during late fall and winter to maintain body condition, but it's often in short supply. After the rut, bucks have expended significant amounts of fat reserves. Energy is crucial for them at this time so they can minimize body-weight loss. This is immediately important for survival and will affect antler growth the next spring. Antler growth is secondary to body condition, and a buck must regain lost weight in spring before more of the nutrients it consumes can go to antler growth.

Does also require extra energy in late fall and winter because they are in gestation. That is, they're pregnant. Pregnant does must support themselves and have enough quality nutrition to support one, two or even three fetuses.

Fawns, sometimes called yearlings, are also vulnerable at this time. They are still growing and don't have the same fat-storing ability as mature deer. In fact, typically the highest winter-death losses are mature breeding bucks and first-year fawns.

Deer can derive energy from several sources, but the most efficient are carbohydrates and fats or oils. In terms of deer nutrition, carbohydrates can be broken down into those derived from starch and those from fiber or cellulose. A common starch carbohydrate source is grain (corn).

Although it's a good energy source, starch can be overdone in the diet of a ruminant and must be balanced with fiber- and fat-derived energy. Overly-high starch levels can cause digestive problems, such as low pH in the rumen, which hampers microbial populations needed for proper rumen function.

As winter winds down just before spring, there is a period called the pre-green-up. This is likely the most difficult time nutritionally for deer. As spring approaches, bucks begin to sprout new antler buds, and does enter their final stages of gestation. These physiological states spark a shift in nutritional needs. Protein needs increase, as do mineral and vitamin needs. At the same time, energy remains critical to maintain or regain body weight.

Unfortunately, in most of the country, this period coincides with the least amount of quality food. All the hard mast has been eaten, along with any waste field grains. Most of the browse has also been consumed. Forages have not yet begun to regrow, leaving deer with a nutritional deficit. Nutritional stress at this time can stunt antler growth in the buck herd and cause pregnancy problems with does, such as reabsorbed or aborted fetuses. It can also cause lower birth weights in fawns.

In spring and summer, deer can usually find adequate energy in forages and browse. Also, protein needs, although still very high, can be met through high-protein food plots. Minerals and vitamins, on the other hand, become increasingly important. Antlers are in peak growth, and along with protein, bucks need lots of vitamins and minerals to grow antlers. As mentioned, much of the protein need can be met through food plots. But rarely are adequate minerals and vitamins available for optimal antler growth.

At that time, does are lactating. Again, protein is vital, but so are minerals and vitamins. This is important for the doe and more important for the fawns she is feeding. Research has shown that the faster a buck fawn grows and the heavier it is as a yearling, the larger its body and antler size will be at maturity.

These areas are distinct, and each requires a specific nutritional supplement. No one supplement can fulfill the nutritional needs all year.

That's where Cutting Edge comes in. Here's a description of each Cutting Edge product.

Cutting Edge Sustain

Sustain is a highly-concentrated nutritional supplement used in late fall and winter. It is composed of protein, buffering agents, minerals and vitamins, fiber-digesting aids, energy (fat and carbohydrates) and Devour, a taste- and scent-enhancing agent.

Of these components, energy is of the highest concentration. The carbohydrates in Sustain are precisely balanced with fiber- and starch-derived carbohydrates. Oil and fat are major energy contributors. Although protein is not as critical in late fall and early winter, deer need a certain amount, so it's part of the formulation. The same is true for minerals and vitamins. The starch-digesting aids are designed to improve the rumen’s ability to digest all types of fiber, natural or supplemented. The buffer agents help maintain proper rumen pH and rumen microbial health, and Devour makes Sustain irresistible to deer. Sustain is not a complete feed, but a supplement. It's designed to supply lots of nutrients with small amounts of consumption. In other words, Sustain is similar to an energy bar.

Cutting Edge Initiate

Initiate is designed for late winter and early spring, otherwise known as the pre-green-up period. It contains lots of protein and energy, as well as Devour, buffering agents and fiber-digesting aids. Initiate is similar to Sustain in terms of nutrients and ingredient function, but its protein levels are much higher: 20 percent. This increase in protein is needed for early antler growth and late-gestation fetal development. Though protein is high, energy is also high, as deer still need it for body-weight maintenance and fetal growth. Mineral and vitamin levels are also higher in Initiate. Devour, buffering agents and fiber-digesting aids perform the same functions as in Sustain.

Cutting Edge Optimize

Optimize is designed for spring and summer, during the height of antler growth and doe lactation. The need for supplemental minerals and vitamins comes to the forefront at this time. The need for supplemental energy decreases. Protein and energy requirements remain high, but the need for supplementation decreases, especially if deer have access to high-protein food plots. Minerals and vitamins become the emphasis of supplementation. Optimize contains all the macro minerals needed by deer to maximize production. These minerals are formulated in specific amounts and ratios, and from specific sources to ensure high digestibility. Also included are vital vitamins A, D and E. Finally, Devour is added for maximum attraction.

 

When to Use the Cutting Edge products

Sustain: mid-fall through late winter

Initiate: Late winter until spring

Optimize: spring green-up through mid-fall

By   Sat, May 01, 2010

Danville, Alabama (April 7, 2010) ---Hunter Safety System, the company that has built a reputation around developing innovative products to make hunting both safer and more enjoyable, has introduced the new Lineman’s Climbing Strap (LCS) as an accessory to it’s award-winning safety harness systems. HSS engineers designed the LCS for easier movement up the tree and quicker adjustment than with the original rope-style belt.

The LCS boasts durable, heavy-duty nylon webbing that can be repositioned quickly; dual carabineers that quickly attach to a HSS harness; and a steel friction adapter that provides easy one-handed adjustment to strap length yet automatically cinches securely with the addition of weight. Once locked in place, the LCS provides hands-free operating ability during the dangerous time of installing ladder sections, screw-in tree steps and treestand platforms. The LCS is 7-feet long to accommodate a wide range of tree diameters, and it was designed to work in conjunction with the standard Tree Strap as an additional measure of security and for times when the belt must be detached to clear an obstacle such as a branch or your stand. Using the LCS, weight distribution is integrally spread through the HSS harness, providing more support and comfort and less fatigue than other products on the market.

“Here at Hunter Safety System, we’re all about ‘Safety First,’” said Jerry Wydner, HSS president and co-founder. “When you’re hanging those treestands, putting up tree steps or hanging ladders, you want to make sure you’re connected to the tree at all times. You’re going to need hands-free stability to be able to lean back, attach those straps, screw in those steps, and tighten that treestand. Whether you’re putting it up or taking it down, you need to make sure of ‘Safety First’ and ensure you’re always attached to the tree. And that’s why we’re including the Lineman’s Climbing Strap with every new HSS harness.”

The LCS will be available for existing HSS harness owners at a suggested retail of $39.99. The LCS will be included with each new HSS harness system. (Does not apply to existing stock.) A video showing the LCS in use can be found online at the www.huntersafetysystem.com home page.

Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Danville, Alabama, Hunter Safety System is a leading designer and manufacturer of innovative deer hunting gear and hunting equipment for the serious hunter. For additional information, you can write to: The Hunter Safety System, 8237 Danville Road, Danville, AL 35619, call toll free 877-296-3528, or visit the company website at www.huntersafetysystem.com.

By   Tue, Mar 30, 2010

Danville, Alabama (March 24, 2010) – For those treestand hunters that have chosen to sacrifice the safety of a restraint system for the freedom of mobility because, “It’s just too bulky,” or “It just doesn’t feel the same,” Hunter Safety System has a safe, comfortable and lightweight solution for you.

Hunter Safety Sytems’ newest harness, the Ultra Lite, offers the same structural design, materials and construction of traditional Hunter Safety System restraint systems, but it forgoes all the specialties of the full-featured vests. This “Ultra Lite” design guarantees all the comfort, adjustability and safety of every Hunter Safety System vest.

Padded chest, shoulder and back straps provide a sleek new look and a new level of comfort to a harness design that is so light you forget you have it on. The Ultra Lite is fully adjustable to accommodate early-season and bulky, cold-season clothing, and the saddle-style leg strap design offers added safety in the event of a fall and more comfort while in the stand. This new harness is equipped with the new super-quiet, rubber-coated leg strap buckles that are stronger and smaller than those used in previous styles.

The Ultra Lite is compatible with all Hunter Safety System accessories including the Lineman’s Climbing Strap, Lifeline and Suspension Relief/Deer Drag Strap, making it a great choice for those looking for a lightweight, affordable and packable safety harness.

Being safe while hunting from an elevated stand has never been easier, and now you have even more options from which to choose. In addition to the new Ultra Lite, Hunter Safety System offers options with pockets, blaze orange and various camo patterns.
 
The Ultra Lite comes with the Lineman’s climbing Strap (retail value $39.99) and will be available this summer at retailers nationwide or online at www.huntersafetysystem.com. Suggested retail price is $99.95.

Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Danville, Alabama, Hunter Safety System is a leading designer and manufacturer of innovative deer hunting gear and hunting equipment for the serious hunter. For additional information, you can write to: The Hunter Safety System, 8237 Danville Road, Danville, AL 35619, call toll free 877-296-3528, or visit the company website at www.huntersafetysystem.com.