Tips for Air Travel (Part 1) – Finding Flight Pitfalls – The Layover

By Lora Gene Young

A goodbye photo before leaving for New Zealand

Seasoned travelers and rookies alike, traveling to and from your destination dream hunt could be the most stressful part of your hunt. You do not want to start your trip with a missed flight or end your trip stuck in an airport on standby because the plane left without you.

There are so many things to consider I am going to break these tips up into parts. 

Part 1, the LAYOVER…

1 Layovers – No one likes a long layover, but too short is more detrimental to your travel than long.

a.  Remember, when you change from a domestic flight to an international flight, even though you are still in the US, you will have to change from domestic to international terminal. This takes longer than your usual flight change. Also, you will possibly be changing airlines; this could add time needed to find your correct terminal and gate. I always go for a minimum of two hours for a layover if I am changing between terminals, especially if I do not know the airport.

b.  Next, when you enter your destination country, you might have to make a connecting flight to another part of the country. You will go through customs at your first airport of call. Customs always takes time, especially when you are the foreigner. Make sure your layover in this airport takes that into account. Once again, allow at least two hours. This also applies when returning home. You will have to go through customs. If your port of entry is a large airport, such as LAX, there could be three or four additional planes landing at the same time. This means a VERY long line to go through customs. Then the terminal change. Possibly re-checking baggage. Make sure you know what you will need to do. Once again, I suggest a minimum of two hours, more if you are in LAX or re-checking luggage.

c.  One time when too long is really too long. With a layover over 12 hours your luggage will not be checked through to your final destination. You must retrieve your luggage, and then re-check it. Many times you cannot check-in until two to three hours before your flight. This means you are stuck with your luggage, limiting your site-seeing ability during this long flight. You also cannot proceed through security to your gate; you are stuck in the check-in area with very few amenities.

Bring some reading to keep you occupied in-flight or when waiting during long layovers!

d.  When it comes to layovers on a hunting trip, the last thing, and possibly the most important, your guns. If you are bringing guns into the destination country this will make your layover longer. Some countries require police to review your guns in person in order to approve your importation paperwork. Many times these officials have specific office hours. If your flight arrives at 6 am and the customs officials or police are not there to examine your guns until 8 am and you only have a two hour layover, you will miss your connecting flight. This is no way to start your hunting trip. Make sure this does not happen to you. Ask your outfitter about this or research the airport of entry.

Flying does not have to be stressful. You do not have to arrive for your dream hunting experience frazzled and on edge. Plan ahead, check the little things, ask questions, and most of all, just relax, you will get there, even with a few bumps in the road. Even if there are hiccups, one day, you will laugh about the whole experience.

Scent Control Tips

By Andrea Haas

We all have different views and opinions on scent control while hunting. Some feel scent control is just a way for companies to get you to buy their products and make more money. Others may not use any scent control products at all and still see deer while out hunting, feeling they don't need to follow a scent control regimen in order to harvest deer. 

Personally, I disagree with both of the above. Yes, the hunting industry is just that, an "industry". And yes I'm sure you can go hunting, using no scent control at all, and still see deer. But, there's no denying that deer use their amazing sense of smell as one of their defense mechanisms.That alone is reason enough to at least experiment with different scent control products & find something that you feel works to your advantage. 

I think that a good scent control regimen should be at the top of your list when planning out your hunting strategy, along with hunting stands only when the wind is in your favor for that specific spot. Here's a few tips & products that have worked well for me in the past!

• Wash your clothes using scent control laundry detergent. We always wash a load of our every day clothes first using the scent control detergent to help rid the washer of the smell of our everyday detergent. Make sure the detergent does not contain UV brighteners as they can make your camo appear to "glow" to a deer in low light situations. Scent Killer Gold Laundry Detergent is a great option. 
  

• Air drying your clothes outside is ideal but you aren't always able to do that. When drying our clothes in the dryer we like to use dryer sheets to help prevent static build up. I like Scent Killer Autumn Formula Dryer Sheets. 
  

• Keeping your clothes scent free until ready to wear is crucial. I store mine in a Watson Airlock Bag. The "Bottomless 26" bag has 7,000 cubic inches of water resistant storage. A 4680 cubic inch scent free storage compartment gives you plenty of room to store your clothing, plus there is a separate compartment just for your hunting boots! 
  

• As soon as possible before going hunting shower using scent control body care products. For women the Scent Killer Gold for her Value Pack from Wildlife Research Center works great! The shampoo has all the great scent killing abilities as the original, but this one is formulated just for women. It's safe to use on color treated hair and is a lot more moisturizing. The Value Pack contains Shampoo, Conditioner, Body Wash, Scent Killer Spray and a bath pouf. 
  

• Brush your teeth with scent control toothpaste right before heading out to hunt. I like the e2 Scent Prevent Toothpaste from Dead Down Wind. 
  

• Don't wear the same clothes you will be hunting in while driving to your hunting property, otherwise you will just be wasting your time with the above steps. I pick out an outfit to wear while driving to the property, wash it in scent control detergent with my camo and store it in my airtight bag until ready to head out. Keep your hunting clothes in their scent free bag or container and bring them with you but don't change into them until you are at your property & out of the vehicle. 

• Finally, I spray myself head-to-toe with scent eliminating spray after getting dressed before heading to my treestand. These sprays help kill bacteria & limit the amount of human scent detectable to a whitetail. I use the Scent Killer Gold Spray mentioned above that is included in the Value Pack for women.

Good luck to everyone this season and I hope these tips will help you! Do you have any tips of your own that I didn't mention here? Let us know by leaving a comment!

Tips For Using Deer Scent

By ProStaff Kinsey Edmunds

If you're new to bow hunting, at first it can be a little intimidating. But think about it, it’s no different than learning to ride a bike, or learning to play guitar for example. These are all things that take practice. The more practice you allow yourself, the better you're going to be! You're going to make mistakes and mess up from time to time, but that’s how you learn! Some of the most valuable hunts I’ve been on was when I had made a mistake. Those mess ups in the field helped me to be a better hunter in the future. One of the things I love most about hunting is that there are always opportunities to learn more about the outdoors. No hunting experience will ever be the exact same. The more you get out there, the more you will experience and learn!

I would like to share a tip with you that I learned that helped me in killing my first archery buck. Last year, October 23, I was out bow hunting. I won’t ever forget it because it was the day before my birthday! Bucks were starting to chase after the does as the pre-rut was beginning, and soon the rut would be in full force. The rut really picks up in Missouri around October 31 into the first few weeks of November. Prime time :) My friend had told me that using Wildlife Research Center Golden Estrus was a great way to attract those bucks running hard in the rut. I decided to try it out. 

I started at the base of my tree stand and drug the scent wick I had dipped in golden estrus out about 30 yards in the field. I did this directly in front of my stand and then to the right of my stand as well. An important thing to remember when doing this is to start out dragging the scent at the base of your tree and then drag from there. The scent will be stronger when you first put it on the ground, than when you get done dragging it out. You want to lure the buck in closer to your stand. Which is exactly what happened with my buck! 

I was sitting over a clover and cow pea food plot which is surrounded by timber. He came out one side of the timber and crossed the field to the other side. He began marking his scent while rubbing his antlers on some trees and then proceeded into the edge of the woods that he had crossed over to. Not going to lie, I was a little bummed, but knew anything could happen. I sat eagerly in my stand hoping he might come out again. I’m pretty sure he caught wind of that estrus and went down into the timber he crossed over to. He made a circle back around putting him now directly in front of my stand where I had drug out the estrus to. He slowly walked closer towards that estrus as my heart was beating harder and harder. I couldn’t have planned it any better! He ventured in closer because the estrus lured him closer to my stand, and continued to stay on that scent. He got to around 18 yards and I shot! This was my first time using the golden estrus and I was highly impressed as it helped me shoot my first archery buck! 

Another thing you can do is dip a scent wick in the golden estrus and leave it hanging from or near your stand. There are many products out there that are the same thing, but I have only used Wildlife Research Center, and it definitely worked for me. Like I said, I killed this buck in the pre-rut and I had sat in that same stand the night before and watched that same buck I killed run those does. It was one of the coolest hunts I’ve been on. There were multiple does that night in that food plot, and he was having a hay day chasing them around! The next night he was the only deer I saw and was in search of those does to chase again. 

I hope this has been a helpful tip and got you excited to get out there and try something new! Remember, just because you didn't kill on a hunt doesn't mean it wasn't a successful hunt. Each time in the stand is a chance to observe nature. Watch and learn! That is the best way to become a better hunter, by learning first hand from personal experience. I wish you all the best this hunting season!

Confessions Of A New Archer

Our newest prostaff member Lora Gene Young is no stranger to the world of hunting, as you can see in her blogs about hunting internationally. But archery is something totally new to her. I was so excited when she told me that she was going to give archery a try this year and I'm excited to share with everyone what she learns along the way. Here's what she has to say about her first 2 days of shooting:

"OMG am I loving this! I was a bit apprehensive to start. Felt like I had waited too long to start a new discipline. That feeling is all craziness, never too late to start a new hobby. Sure, I won't be ready to use archery in hunting season this year, but I hope improving my archery skills will lead to improvement in other areas as well. In the future, I look forward to longer hunting seasons and more opportunity to finally get that big buck. 

Tips for first timers, don't overdo it. Start slow, just a few arrows at a time. You don't want to tire yourself out the first day, it will deter you from continuing the next day. 

Go for good grouping. Don't worry about where the first shot hits, maintain the same aim and evaluate your grouping.

Have fun! Archery should be something you enjoy, don't stress."

Preparing Your Dog for Hunting Season

Photo by Wildside Images

Hunting season is almost upon us and one of the most common questions Scott and Beth Ward of Over the Top Retrievers are asked is “what should I do to get my dog ready to go for the season? “I recently had the privilege of training with them and got to pick their brains for few tips for your four legged hunting buddy. 

Conditioning. Humans don’t run a marathon without training so ease your dog into activity. Starting with a walk, jog, run get that heart rate up.  Throwing a bumper, a ball.  Swimming is always a great cardio exercise for dogs making sure you are watching your dog and realizing they have limits, a dog can get hot fast once they get out there doing what they love to do.  Avoid high jumping, and sharp sudden turns because out of shape joints, muscles and ligaments do not need additional stress. Short reps with bumpers or Avery® birds still gets them excited but hopefully prevents injury prior to the opener. 

Remember to keep your dog wanting more, stop retrieves on the upswing where you know they are crazy to get that bird again!  Water retrieves are always good but be mindful, dogs can over heat in water, in late summer water temperatures can be high mixed with the muscle fatigue your dog could get into trouble.

Photo by Wildside Images

If you are lucky to have some property to get out on a run with a 4 wheeler or a long horse ride gets the heart pumping.  Planting birds/bummers and working on hunt it up drills helps reintroduce the dog to the mindset of the hunt.  

General health must always be a priority. Short nails, healthy pads and checking eyes, ears and nose to make sure they are clear of debris and signs of infection.  Proper gear for your dog, I know I may have packed on some pounds since last hunting season, has your dog? Ill-fitting skid plates or vests can lead to nasty skin issues from chaffing/rubbing.

Diet. Proper nutrition can build the energy and fuel your dog needs to plow through icy waters or keep quartering to get the rush of the flush.  Sometimes a decrease in calorie intake is needed to get some extra pounds off prior to hitting the fields. Keep in mind that you couldn't run a marathon after big plate of grandma's chicken Alfredo, you shouldn’t ask your dog to do this.  Get them on a healthy diet with appropriate servings. 

Photo by Wildside Images

Stand Alone marks (drills). Put your dog on a sit, walk away a good distance 30-50 yards, (farther than you could throw a dummy/bird/bumper while standing next to your dog).  Once the mark is thrown, release your dog to retrieve.  Although this is a hand thrown mark, you are working on your dog sitting, waiting/honoring the mark, the dog should not be sitting in the heal position next to you, you need distance between you and the dog.

Must haves for your dog hunting first aid kit:
Nail trimmer: cuts nails, barb wire, small sticks

Leash: restrains dog, helps with trap removal, works as a tourniquet or muzzle

Saline: to flush eyes, nose, ears, wounds

Water: Don’t forget to hydrate!

If you have more questions or concerns about getting your dog ready for the hunt feel free to contact us at Over the Top Retriever,763-244-0819.

Check out Over the Top Retrievers at www.overthetopretrievers.com. We offer all breed obedience, pre-season/refresher hunting course, gun dog, and hunt test training.  Private lessons available upon request.

Because if you are going to go...Go Over The Top!

-Samantha Andrews-

Evin's Hunting Tips

By ProStaff Evin Damuth

Over the last year I have had the opportunity to Pro-Staff for several outdoor companies. Through this experience I have become friends with countless women who share such a strong passion for the outdoors. It is because of this that led me to become interested in Huntress View.  

Huntress View is a community of women who are passionate about hunting and wildlife, are outdoors any chance they get and share their experiences. This community of women is coming together for each other essentially. Founded by Andrea Haas, Huntress View tests outdoor products designed for women, shares stories of successful and unsuccessful hunts, recipes, and tips for women. This website is for anyone who is new to hunting or who is a seasoned hunter. Since I’ve had the opportunity to be part of their Pro-Staff I have made friends with wonderful ladies and learned things myself. It is so wonderful to be able to create a network of women who want to genuinely help other women get started!   

With that being said, I have read numerous articles from both men and women’s perspective of getting young girls and women introduced to the outdoors. While the content of these articles are spot-on, I wanted to share from my own perspective. Even though I have spent a few years in the woods and have learned much, there are times when I need to remind my fiancé or even my dad that I’m not as seasoned as they are. Here are my tips for women who are interested in hunting this season:

1.    Don’t have a pre-conceived idea of what it will be like. I think a lot of women have a bad taste in their mouth for hunting because of what they think they know about it. Who wants to smell like doe urine, sit immobile for hours, and get eaten alive by mosquitos? Throw out all pre-conceived thoughts you have about hunting and just go for it. You’ll be pleasantly surprised.

2.    You don’t have to have the most expensive gear when you are just starting out. I can’t lie, I love Bass Pro as much as anyone else does, and I’m always willing to splurge a little on hunting. That’s because I know what I need and I may be hunting in frigid temperatures all bow season long. If you’re getting started and are accompanying your husband in a deer blind 150 yards from the feeder, don’t feel the need to spend $100 on a pair of scent-proof gloves. Get the essentials and build from there.

3.    Be patient. Be patient in every area of hunting. Whether that means you’ve been sitting under the same tree for three hours or you’re trying to learn archery. Be patient. It won’t come easy, it requires work, patience, patience, and a lot of patience.

4.    Hunting isn’t a beauty contest. I’m a little guilty in this area! I still want to feel and look good when I go hunting. But the reality is, the animals don’t care. Outdoor Channel may have warped our thinking on this because who doesn’t want to look like Tiffany or Eva posing next to their harvest? The reality is though, that we’re going hunting, we’ll get dirty, sweaty, and hopefully draw some blood. Leave the lipstick at home.

5.    Try to be ‘present’ during the hunt. For me, hunting is all about being away from stress, the phone and just spending time with whoever I’m hunting with. Take time to enjoy the beauty of the nature around you.

6.    You don’t have to be as strong as the men. I can’t pull back a 70 pound bow, load a buck in the back of my truck by myself or move feeders. I need help, and that’s ok. That isn’t to say that as women we are completely helpless or unable to hunt alone. I hope each year to be able to do things I couldn’t the year before. Just know that we can take our own pace, and that’s completely fine. 

7.    Don’t shoot out of your comfort zone because you feel pressured to. There have been numerous times when dad and Cody have whispered, “Shoot it, shoot it, shoot it now,” and I haven’t. What is a good distance or enough light for them might not be for me. I won’t shoot unless I feel confident about the shot. Cody target shoots his bow at 100 yards; I haven’t even attempted that. Know your limits and comfort zone and stick to it.

8.    You may get criticized for trying a ‘manly’ sport. People always look at me surprised when I say I hunt. Then when they find out I bow hunt suddenly I’m on a whole new level. Hey, girls hunt. I know a lot of girls who hunt a lot better than some guys I know. Hunting is easily a women’s sport just as much as a man’s sport now.

9.    Be open to teaching moments. When I first started hunting, there were a lot of tears. Frustration would get the best of me. If you want to be serious about chasing game then you have to be open to teachable moments. I’ll never know everything, and I will always have something new to learn. If you’ve made a mistake just remember it and next time improve from it.

10. Have fun, make memories. For me, hunting is where I make my best memories. I have moments where I feel so defeated, and moments where I feel I can accomplish anything. The best part is that I get to have those moments beside my dad and my fiancé. I can’t adequately describe the feeling of walking down a blood trail with those who are the most special to you and see what you were able to harvest. The hugs, the laughs, the happy tears, it’s a complete package.

Markie's Bowhunting Tips

Bowhunting Tips from Huntress View team member Markie Tormoen

-Always be ready!

-Know what way the wind is blowing and if it's right for what stand your sitting in.

-I put my release on at the truck just in case I bump something on the way in. Once your in the tree knock an arrow right away. A deer can move through at anytime. 

-Pick out your shooting lanes and pick out spots in those lanes that are a good place to kill a deer. Always be ready when you hear anything, snap of a stick or crunch of leaves. Stand up and get ready. You don't want to miss your chance on a big buck because you weren't up and ready. A lot of the time they come in silent and you don't know they're there till they're right under you. 

-One of the most important things to know is that deer are herbivores which means their eyes are on the sides of their heads so they can keep a look out for predators while they are grassing. You might not be able to see the deer but they can see you, so be still! Get in the habit of moving your eyes more than your head. When you do move your head, move it slowly. 

-Once a deer moves in wait for its head to go behind a tree or bush to draw back. He should be moving in one of the shooting lanes we had talked about earlier. But you're already ready because that should have been one of the first things you scoped out once you got in to your stand! 

-If the deer is moving, stop the deer with a vocal grunt before you shoot to make a good ethical kill! 

-When the deer is running away after the shot look at the tail to see if it's up or down! If it's up you probably missed, if it's down you probably made a good shot! That way you will also know which way the deer is headed so you can track it easier. 

Good luck this season ladies! I hope these tips helped!