Hunting 101

1, Where is a perfect shot for the different kinds of animals hunted?

Deer, Moose, etc. list what you know.

2. Are there effective hunting lures like deer calls, scents, antlers, foods etc.

3. Is a hunting stand best or a blind or just behind a shrub?

4. Is it better to hunt with someone?

5. What's the importance of draining and gutting an animal properly and quickly?

6. If someone was starting out would using a .22 to practice with be acceptable if he/ she was going to use a .303 in the woods?

7. Would wearing full camouflage {with your orange cap and vest} be better than just regular clothes with the vest and cap {can animals see very well}?

8. Is it true and animal can live for days if shot in the rump and you don't find it? Or can it cover a lot of ground after it's wounded in a non-vital area?

9. Statistically speaking is it better to move through the woods or just stay put once you reach "your spot"?

10. Do you control the rifle with both left and right hands? {Remember learning how to shoot a basketball? One hand was for the shot and the other was for guiding}

11. Are you suppose to shoot while letting out your breath or stopping it in the middle? or between heartbeats or does it matter?

12. How bright can your flashlight legally be?

 

True hunters hunt with their bare hands.

 

I used to club rabbits over their heads with my nutsack, does that count?

 

1. For any deer, elk, moose, antelope, etc you'll place your shot just behind the front shoulder.

2. Calls and scents are frequently used with great success. These can range from mouth calls to rattling antlers to cover scents to attractants.

3. there is no "right" answer here. All of the above work well in different situations. I like to set up stands near known travel zones, but that is purely personal preference.

4. I prefer to hunt with others for a few reasons. I like enjoying the outdoors with friends. It's a LOT easier to field dress and drag deer out in pairs. If you're out in rough and remote terrain (I'm usually not), you definitely want to have someone with you AND let other people know where you're going.

5. You field dress an animal to help the meat cool down. You'll want to do this properly so you do not damage some of the meat (tenderloins especially!) You do this right away, because the animal is not yet stiff, which makes the job much more difficult. I've never "drained" an animal and believe that this is an old wive's tale.

6. Practice with anything that you can get your hands on. Starting with a .22 is great, because you can focus on technique and not worry about recoil. The last thing you want to do is start out with a large caliber and develop a flinch. People handle recoil differently, so don't rush it. If you find that you're not tolerant of recoil, that's nothing to be ashamed of or worry about. Simply find a caliber that you feel comfortable with and learn to shoot it well. Know your limits and stay within your personal boundaries and skill level. I have a world more respect for the guy that passes up a questionable shot than I do for the guy who brings down a trophy by shooting it six times and chasing it all day long. In fact, I will never hunt with a guy who does that!

7. Deer are color blind. Camoflage does help to break up your outline, but that's about it. Camo patterns are designed to appeal to hunters!

8. Yes. Referring back to #6, a bad shot can cripple a deer and never kill it. As a hunter, your absolute number one priority (beyond safety) is to respect the game that you hunt. If you do not know with certainty that you can make a quick, clean kill, DO NOT take the shot. Period.

9. People do both, but stalking requires a lot of patience and skill. As long as the deer are moving well, I prefer to sit in a stand that I've placed in an area and let the deer come to me. Hunting stands is a lot more common in the Midwest than it is out West.

10. Shooting well requires the use of both hands. For a right-handed shooter, the left hand will support the rifle, while the right will be responsible for the trigger pull and grip. You can't do well unless both work together.

11. Personal preference for the most part. Some people like to take a breath, let half of it out, and then shoot. Others take a breath and hold it. Do whatever is most comfortable for you. Timing heartbeats is best left to the bench rest boys. Out in the field, it's never even crossed my mind.

12. No clue about the laws in Canada, but down here the power of your flashlight makes absolutely no difference. You can't hunt deer with the use of a flashlight, so I like to have the brightest one possible if I need it to help me find game after dark.

 

Who let you out of the Romo thread?

 

I fought my way out, with my bare hands. Who needs guns, when all you need is a machete.

 

So you don't have to cut the throat or let the blood out another way? Hum I don't know where I got that idea from then. Also is there a field dress kit you buy as a package or are you left to your own devices?

And what's the field dress?

I was kidding about the flashlight. I've heard stories of people jacking deer from their vehicles at the side of the road.

 

Cutting the throat is an old wive's tale. I've heard it talked about frequently, so I'm sure that you heard it from any number of people. I know people who still do it, but I don't see much merit.

Many places sell field dressing kits that include latex gloves, bone saw and a knife. I've never used latex gloves, but they could definitely come in handy if you're not going to be near any water to rinse your hands/arms off.

Here's a video that shows how to do it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKm42ql7NSw (fair warning, it is GRAPHIC)

Yeah, poaching by spotlight is too common.

 

the only reason for someone to cut an animals throat would be if the animal is not dead and needs to be put out. If you have to do this, be ready for the sound as it is quite wicked.

 

A lot of people think that cutting the throat and draining the blood makes the meat taste better, but I've never seen any proof that the practice works.

 

really? I have never heard of that.... It would be interesting to try.

and why the hell hasnt Tarek found his way in here yet, he is a bit of a hunter as well.

 

I've tried venison that has been prepped this way along with some that wasn't. There was absolutely no noticable difference.

Field dressing the deer takes almost everything out anyway, so cutting the throat and hanging the deer doesn't accomplish much of anything.

 

Another point - don''t track an animal immediately after it's shot. Wait 30 minutes to 1 hour. the animal will run instantly, and will find cover to lay down, when it can't go on anymore. A lot of times a deer doesn't know that it's dying, and will lay down. You don't want to spook an injured animal - it will keep running as long as it thinks it's being chased. Keep a good visual on the last spot you saw it and follow the blood trail.
Kevin S.
Orchard Park, NY

 

Excellent point, Kevin.

 

Am here......just found the thread and reading through it .

 

I always love reading about your hunting experiences, Tarek. Warm up that keyboard!

 

Will do Mike and thanks. I've got to run at the moment, but I will start posting tomorrow, also with some hunting pictures of different types of game.

 

I have no doubt that your post and pics will be worth the wait. I look forward to both.

 

everybody should post their hunting pics up! it would be cool to see all the different game from all over the world that f-chat hunters have taken..

 

How well do deer pick up scents? If I shower before going out, don't put on any scents, don't perspire much and use an attractant like buck scent, how close can the deer get without picking up on me? This would also take into consideration that I don't make much noise at all.

100 yards? 70 yards?

 

Also I was talking with my father and thought the .303 was overkill. I don't mind the price of ammo which is about $3.50 a shot but I also want to practice with the rifle and don't want a sore shoulder any time soon.

What range of rifles would "always be enough" even at 300-400 yards? {that would be target shooting for me, it might take a long time before I shoot at an animal that far}

Thanks again for all the tips.

And 8 Snake that video was very insightful. Also the link with the specs was informative even though I didn't understand 100% of it.

 

Deer have an excellent sense of smell. I believe that deer bust more people with their noses than anything else. When you watch deer travel, they will most always try to travel into the wind, so that they can smell what is ahead of them. It's hard to put a yardage on this, but you definitely want to watch your scent. You can buy shampoo and soap that help to reduce your scent, and also clothing (Scent Lok) that helps to absorb human odor in the woods.

 

What kind of game do you plan to hunt (anything larger than deer)? If you're staying with deer, check out the .25-06, .270 and possibly .243 (some would say this is a bit small for Mulies). The .243 and .25-06 shoot very flat and have minimal recoil.

Neil, if you have any questions about the link feel free to ask away. I'll try to answer anything to the best of my ability.

 

So if I take all the steps, like non-scent soaps etc. And don't eat any tacos on the way out, scent shouldn't be a big issue? Or is it always a concern and the hunter can only limit what he puts in the air?

I've read up on their noses and ears and apparently they're deadly accurate and can tell not only which direction the trouble is but how far away it is.