Thursday, July 23, 2015

Getting The Most Out Of Your Trail Cameras!

A few simple tips to help you get the most out of your trail cams this season!

-Have your camera's setup & ready to go before heading to the woods. Less time in the woods equals less time you're out there possibly spooking game
-Some good places to hang cams are near mineral sites, known deer trails, water sources, etc.
-If there's not a good tree to hang a camera in, try using a Stic-n-Piccamera mount. They also make mounts that screw into trees that allow you to get that perfect camera angle, like the one pictured above. (No more sticks in between your cam & the tree!)
-Keep in mind that as the season progresses the deer will change their patterns. Set up your cameras accordingly & be prepared to shift them around throughout the season







Monday, July 13, 2015

Husband and Wife Deer Skulls

By Becky Williams
Originally posted on Becky's blog: Let A Girl Show You How To Hunt And Fish

For this project we found two skulls while out shed hunting. One was a doe and one was a buck skull that had already naturally shed its antlers, but still neat. I soaked them in clean water and peroxide for a few hours to clean them up. They were old and had been dead for a long time, they were already dried out.

This one is the buck up close. I added some small metal decorative corners to the wood.

To mount the heads I had some scrap wood in my barn so I stained it a drove a 2 inch screw through the backside, so the skull can hang on the protruding part of the screw.  The back of the skull of the deer has a deep hole where the brain would've been so the screw slides into it perfectly.



Here is the finished product with a small latch on the back to be hung on the wall. They are neat conversation pieces, and they were found while out shed hunting with our children.







Tuesday, July 7, 2015

High On A Mountain

By Lora Gene Young of GypsyNomadHunting


I stand on the steep slope of the mountain taking in the scene below. Lake Ohau looms a brilliant blue in the distance welcoming the glacier waters from the rivers that meander through the valley. I take a deep breath and inhale the cool, crisp mountain air. My heart is thumping in my chest, my mind is racing and I am giddy with excitement as we cross the thick scrub to my animal. 




This morning started the same as most mornings working for Southern Mountain Adventures in New Zealand. The kettle was on for coffee and tea, bacon and eggs in the fry pan, a hungry group at the breakfast table. I never dreamed that would be the day I would be standing next to my first tahr!

It all happened so fast. We had a few extra minutes, we had a helicopter, my boss, Croc Adams, asked if I wanted to give it a go on the top of the facing mountain, and we jumped in and away we went.

We spotted a group of bulls at the top of the mountain across from the cabin. We got in position on a flat spot looking up across a shingle slide. The plan was to get the group to run down the slide towards us. As goes with most plans, the animals did not cooperate. They ran across the ridge and behind us. I got one shot off at a big bull, but it went right over his head and he disappeared across the ridge.

One lone bull had run the opposite direction and was on the next ridge over. We radioed the helicopter pilot our plan and went to find this one. As we swung around the ridge, there he was, silhouetted on a rocky out crop. He was even bigger than the first one! He jumped over the bluff and disappeared into the tall scrub. 

We found a place to set up for a shot. We slip and slide across the shingle face and wade through the heavy vegetation to get to a good shooting spot. Many times I find myself sliding on my bum down the slope or grasping for bush branches as I step down into holes. But we have to move quickly into position.

My bull is in the brush below us. As he makes his way across the mountain face I try and get a shot, but he is moving fast and keeps disappearing in the thick brush. Finally, he turns and moves up the slope. He is within range, but he is moving away from us. 

All I see is his rear. I whisper to Croc, "Can I shoot him in the ass?"

The response, "Yes, shoot him in the arse."

So I squeeze the trigger.

We hear the thump of bullet connecting with flesh. I have hit him. But he is still running, tahr are such tough creatures. Another round is chambered. I fire again. Another hit and he slows. He is down, but still alive. One more shot and it is over. My heart is pounding in my ears. We scramble through the thick vegetation to his location. There is my bull. Full, thick mane and massive body, some of the biggest based horns I have seen.


Never did I imagine my fist bull tahr would be a seven-year-old, 12 1/2 inch with ten-inch bases! An hour later, after photos and skinning and packing the car, when we are on our way to leave camp, I realize, my legs are shaking and I am still grinning from ear -to-ear with excitement.




Croc still teases me about shooting my tahr in the the butt. I tease him about telling me to do it! He says, “Well, I didn’t expect you to actually hit him!” Guess he learned, do not tell this girl with a gun to shoot and expect a miss!




Sunday, July 5, 2015

Dove Hunting Gear & Apparel List for Women

By Andrea Haas




Dove season is one of my favorite hunting seasons. It marks the beginning of deer season here in Missouri, and around much of the U.S. It's a bit more relaxed than deer or turkey hunting, which I feel is much needed after months of being so serious in the woods. Not only that, hunting doves is one of the best ways to sharpen your shooting skills.

I put together a head to toe gear & apparel list with what I feel are great options for women dove hunters, as well as a list of some hunting equipment that may come in handy on your hunt.


Uninsulated Hunting Clothing


Prois Ultra Short Sleeve Shirt




  • This shirt is lightweight & easy to move in. It's made of 100% polyester, which wicks moisture away to keep you dry. It does have an athletic cut, which makes it a tad shorter than most shirts, so I recommend going up a size or 2. Still, it fits great & is very comfortable! 
  • Available for $39.60 at EvoOutdoors 

Prois Pro-Edition Pants



  • Made of 100% Polyester Tricot, these pants have the "4 S's" - soft, sturdy, silent & snag resistant. 
  • Knee pleats added for enhanced movement and comfort while sitting, squatting or stalking
  • Available for $152.10 at EvoOutdoors

Hearing Protection

Howard Leight Women's Super Leight Earplugs



  • I personally prefer earplugs over earmuffs due to the comfort. Plus dove season is usually warmer & earmuffs tend to make you sweat more.
  • These earplugs by Howard Leight offer a better fit for women who are smaller framed, like me, & come in a pack of 14 for $4.49 at Cabelas

Hunting Boots

Women's Pursuit Stealth Boots by Muck Boot Company

  • These boots have 5mm of Neoprene with a fleece lining that is actually very breathable in warmer temperatures and during active hunts
  • Check out my full Product Review
  • Available for $209 in women's sizes 5 to 11

Shooting Vest

Prois Competitor Shooter's Vest

Front

Back

  • You may or may not want to wear the whole vest while dove hunting. If you do, it has bilateral shoulder padding, for both left and right handed shooters. This vest is also great for those who enjoy shooting sporting clays, skeet, trap, etc. 
  • If you choose not to wear the whole vest, just unzip it at the waist and it converts into a shooting apron. It has a rear mesh pouch to hold spent shells and large front pockets that will each easily hold a box of shotgun shells.



Stools/Chairs

Dove Shooter by AlpsOutdoorz


  • You could easily tuck this chair into the edge of a woodline, in a blind, etc. 
  • Includes an easy-carry shoulder strap, has a cooler underneath the seat, and 2 large front pockets to store your ammo or a few dove decoys!
  • At AlpsOutdoorz for only $54.99

Concealment

2 Piece Shotgun Cover Kit by Beartooth Outdoors
  • I don't have a camo shotgun so when dove hunting, I prefer to cover up my shiny shotgun with the 2 Piece Shotgun Cover Kit by Beartooth Outdoors
  • It protects my shotgun from the elements and has a few slots to hold your shotgun shells
  • Available for just $34.95 at www.beartooth-products.com   

 

Decoys

Lucky Duck Clip-On Dove Decoys, 4 Pack


  • We purchased a couple packs of these decoys last year & they seemed to work well for bringing doves in closer. My husband made a "tree" out of re-bar and put it in the field where we dove hunt. We attached the doves to this "tree" using their steel clothes-pin style clips and they stayed attached to it well. 


Hunter's Edge Dove Feeding Frenzy

  • We also purchased this rotating decoy system last year and it seemed to work good as well for bringing the doves in
  • It rotates the doves around in a realistic motion and seems to catch their eye better than the non-moving decoys.
  • It's also available at Cabelas, for $79.99