5 Ways To Make Your Hunt Safer

One of the most important parts of hunting is safety. Here are five ways to keep you and your hunting party safe.

Tip #1 I didn't know it was loaded
You should always treat a gun as if it is loaded. Most people get hurt when they are playing around with a gun that they think is not loaded and it is.


Tip #2 Marco
Always I repeat always know where the other members in your hunting party are. For example Dick Cheney was not aware of where Harry Whittington was, and look how that turned out.

Tip #3 What is it
It is also very important to always be sure of what you are shooting at. One of the most careless mistakes that people make while deer hunting is shooting at any thing that moves. Countless people have shot a friend, sibling, or even a complete stranger all because they didn't see what they were shooting at.

Tip #4 I can see the orange
While quail or deer hunting you should always wear an orange vest. Not only because it is the law, but because it can keep you alive.

Tip #5 OH NO
Whenever you use a climbing stand always wear a safety harness. Last month I read an article in a magazine about a guy who fell out of a tree stand and now he is paralyzed. If he had been wearing a safety harness he would probably still be able to walk.

The Pre-rut of Deer Season

The Pre-rut
The Pre-rut of deer season usually starts a couple of months before rifle season. This is the time of year when deer are preparing to mate. This is also when the bucks start peeling the velvet off of their antlers, fighting for dominance, and making scrapes. The dominant bucks move around constantly this time of year so it is almost impossible to track their movements.

Hunting Bucks during the Pre-rut
During the Pre-rut, do not try to pattern them because they go somewhere different every day. Bucks can gain up to 100 lbs. during the Pre-rut, so how do they gain all of this weight. Bucks eat a lot of food during Pre-rut so the best place to hunt is over a food plot or a natural food source. The deer also make their mating calls this time of year. So a good deer call that can do a buck grunt and a doe bleat is the right call to use.

Filler Up

Intro
I have had the privilege of going on three very good dove shoots this year. All of the fields had something in common that seemed to really attract the birds and no it was not bait. All of the fields were extremely clean. I have observed through my hunting trips that birds like clean feeding areas, so I am going to tell you how to have a clean field.

Burn Baby Burn
Before the season starts you should burn off the fields you plan to hunt. It is always wise the harrow around the fields before burning them off. After you burn off the field you should keep it mowed until the season starts.

I Spy With My Little Eye
You should always scout out you fields before hunting to see what time the birds are coming and how many are coming. When you have found out their pattern is it is time to shoot them.

tag: dove hunting, fields, preparation of fields, dove

Dove Hunting 101

Preparing to hunt

Dove hunting is one of the most unpredictable types of hunting there is so you need to be prepared. During winter in south Georgia, it can be anywhere from 50 to 80 degrees in the afternoon, so I always bring a jacket. There is no telling how many birds you will see. Every time I go into the field I take at least four or five boxes of shells. If you have a really big appetite like me, bring a snack and some water into the field with you. There is nothing worse than being thirsty in a dove field. Decoys help bring a lot of dove in so don't forget one when going on a dove hunt. Always bring the appropriate camflauge depending on what kind of field you are in. Oh yeah, it is a good idea to bring a gun too.

The hunt

Dove hunting is one of the most exciting things I have ever done in my life. If you prepared properly then it can be exciting for you too. When it is cloudy, the dove come in constantly throughout the afternoon. If it is a good shoot, you will get action all day long. My personal favorite is a sunny day. Usually the birds come in at anytime from 3:00 to 4:30 and come in heavily until nightfall. I might have to wait an hour or so but it is worth the wait. On days like this I like to bring a portable radio out and listen to the Georgia Bulldogs play football.

Tips for hunting dove

1. If you think you know where the birds are going to come in, try to get to that spot before anyone else

2. Never try to aim at the birds, looking back and forth from the bead to the bird causes you to miss. Put your cheek firmly on the stock and see the shot before you shoot it.

3. If you have a bird down while a lot of other birds are coming in, use surroundings to mark the bird and get it later.

4. If two birds come over you at the same time, shoot the bird farthest back so you do not have to stop your swing to shoot the next bird.

5. If more than three birds come to you at the same time, just pick one out and shoot it. From personal experience, shooting in the middle of them never works.

6. If you want to keep your money, don't break the law. Just follow the rules.

7. A person's life is way more important than a bird. Be safe when you go hunting.

8. If you know a child who wants to go hunting, take them out and introduce them to the outdoors.

9. When a bird is coming to you, stay still, dove are color blind and see motion a whole lot better than most other animals.

10. No matter how the outcome of the hunt is, always have fun.

Bird!!!

The Approach

When duck hunting most ducks come straight at you when they are planning to land in the decoys. Whenever you have a group of ducks doing this I would suggest that you wait until they set there wings, as in the picture. Whenever they do this it is time to take em. All you have to do is aim directly at them and pull the trigger.

Fly By

One of the hardest shots for me is a passing bird. My problem is that I forget to continue my lead. What I mean buy this is that I stop my swing when I shoot and the bird just flies in front of the shot. I would suggest to go to your local shooting club and practice these shots. If you don't it could cost you some birds.

Overhead

The birds that fly directly over you are my favorite. If you have one coming straight at you, you should have about a three foot lead if it is a dove or a big and a four to five foot lead if it is a teal. To hit a bird going out away from you, you should give him a two or three foot lead depending on height and distance.

tag: ducks, shots, duck hunting, decoying ducks, fly by, teal, mallard

The Ins And Outs Of Better Trapshooting

I am a two time State champion and one time National runner up. I have been shooting trap for two years and I love it. I am not a professional, but I might have a tip that will help you.

Its Kinda Like A Recipe. It Involves Preparation
Just like any other kind of sport there are things you have to do before shooting in a tournament. Before shooting in a tournament you need to be well hydrated and you need to be familiar with your gun. During the summer temperatures can reach close to 100 degrees. When you have on a vest loaded down with shells you will sweat like crazy. One of my teammates passed out during practice because he got dehydrated. You also need to shoot as much as possible before a tournament. You need to be used to shooting you gun 200 or more times a day. I am not saying that you need to shoot two hundred rounds a day fifty or seventy five is enough.

Ka-Ching
It is always important to have the right equipment before doing anything. There are several things that you need before shooting trap. One of the most important to have the right gun. It is important to have a gun that fits you and my Beretta 682 Gold E does just that. It has an adjustable comb to adjust to my shooting style. A brand new Gold E cost about $4,000, but you can get a used one for around $2,500. I know that it sounds like a lot, but if you are serious about trapshooting it is money well spent. As far as gauges go anything from a .410, I have actually seen somebody shooting one of these, to a 12 gauge.

Don't Kill Your Gun From Powder Residue
I am a firm believer in having good shells. This summer I shot 600 rounds in one tournament. You would think that after that many rounds without cleaning my gun the barrel would have been full of powder residue. However the barrel was as clean as it was before the tournament. I believe that it was all do to my shells, Federal Gold Medals.

Umphh
One problem with shooting a shotgun 100 or 200 hundred times straight is the kick. There are several ways that you can remove kick. One is by buying recoil a pad the other is by having a good vest. If you are looking for a recoil pad I would suggest either the one of the new Pachmayr Decelerators or a Limbsaver. I recently purchased a Beretta vest. My previous vest came from Wal-Mart. It wasn't the best in the world, but it got the job done. When my parents first mentioned getting a new vest I was somewhat reluctant. However my parents convinced me to buy a new vest so I did. It was money well spent. My new vest is so much easier to mount on and as and extra bonus behind the mounting pad their is a pocket for pads so my gun won't kick as much.
tag: trap shooting, ata, federal, beretta, 682 Gold E, Federal Gold Medals, Pachmyar, limbsaver, state champion

Quack Attack

I am what some people might call a quack-a-holic. I love to duck hunt. It is one of my most favorite things to do. Just the thought of duck hunting sets my heart to pumping. However there a few items you will need before going duck hunting.

Burr I Said It's Cold Out Here
The most important thing, besides your gun, is warm clothing. You will be miserable and you will probably never want to go duck hunting again if you get out there and freeze. To protect yourself from getting cold here is what you should wear. Your clothing will consist of three layers. The bottom layer should be long johns. Your second layer should be a pair of long pants, a sweat shirt, and wool socks. The third and final layer should be a light jacket, a heavy jacket, and waders. As my dad always says you can take it off but you can't put it on.

Take Em
My favorite part of duck hunting is seeing the ducks work the decoys. For them to work the decoys you have to have some decoys. Greenhead Gear makes some of the prettiest decoys I have ever seen. To get ducks interested in the decoys you need to have some duck calls. If you are a beginner I would suggest a double reeded call. They are easier to blow than a single reed and ducks respond to them. I like the Primos Wrench. I could just never get the hang of blowing a duck call until last Christmas when my parents got me a Wrench.

Bada Bing Bada Boom
Here comes my favorite part the shotgun. The most common used gauge is a 12 gauge. I shoot a Benelli Nova. Now let me tell you it is a workhorse. That gun has seen more mud and dirt than any other gun I have and it is still going strong. There is only one problem with it and that is that it is a pump. I plan to get a Beretta Xtrema 2 this spring. From what I have heard the Beretta's are just as reliable, but I am kind of uncertain. If you have any advice for me please comment.

Kablamo Goes The Ammo
To kill ducks you have to have the right ammo. For timber ducks I like number 4s. If I am hunting on a lake of somewhere open I like number 2s. With number 2s you have bigger shot and with bigger shot comes more knockdown power. I also prefer 3 inch shells. Some people will tell you that you need 3 and one half inch shells. Let me tell you something if you can not kill them with 3 inch shells you are shooting at them to far away or more commonly known as sky busting. Nothing ticks me off worse than a boat full of sky busters. when you shoot at them high up you wound more than you kill. One of my biggest problems with duck shells is the cost. I some brands cost close to twenty dollars a box so I shoot Kent Faststeels. They are cheap and they are a good shell. I have been shooting them for three years and I have never had a problem with them.

deer stand for hunting land

One of the most important things about deer hunting is the stand that you hunt in. There are two very important factors that you need for setting up your stand.
The Location

Bow hunter
The most important factor for setting up a deer stand is by far the location. If you are hunting with a bow, you want to make sure you are in a comfortable range for your shot. Bow hunters should set up a stand where there are signs deer movement. Deer love to move around in thick areas because they feel safe there. Your stand needs to have a few open places that leave you good shots.

Rifle hunter
For the rifle hunter, a stand location can be a whole lot different. A rifle hunter has a whole lot more range than a bow hunter does, so he does not have to be near as close as the bow hunter. A rifle hunter's best location for a deer stand is over a food plot with water. It does not matter how much a deer moves around, he always has to eat and drink. If you keep on hunting one of these stands, your gonna catch the big one off guard.

The Type of Stand,

Bow hunter
All hunters need a good, quality stand, but bow hunters need a different type. A bow hunter needs a portable stand. One day he might see buck signs in an area, but the next he sees more buck signs in another area. In that case, the hunter needs a climbing stand because of its durability and portability.

Rifle hunter
A rifle hunter does not have to be picky for what kind of stand he chooses. He can use any kind of stand from a tripod to a box stand, just as long as he is comfortable where he is and he has a good shot from where he is.

6 Habits of Highly Effective Quail Hunters

The Beginning
If you want real adrenaline go quail hunting. There is nothing like the rush of jumping a huge covey of quail. Before you go quail hunting there are a few things you should have in your arsenal.


Habit #1 - Gotta have a Good Gun
One thing you need is a gun. A 20 gauge is one of the most common used gauges. I prefer a twenty gauge because it is just the right amount of gun. With a twelve gauge you have sometimes over kill the game. What I mean by this is that the bird is so close when you shoot that you hit him so much shot it literally blows him apart. Besides 20 gauges their are 28 gauges and .410s. Any brand and action are fine.


Habit #2 - Clean you gun after your done
It is always important to have a clean gun. There is nothing more embarrassing or frustrating than having a gun malfunction in the middle of the hunt. To clean a gun properly you need a few things. You will need a ramrod, oil, rags, and Hoppe's powder solvent. First take the Hoppe's powder solvent poor a little on a small piece of cloth, put it on the ramrod and push it through the barrel. Next clean the action with the oil and a rag. After cleaning the action clean all of the metal on the outside of the gun so that it will not rust.


Habit #3 - Ammunition is a Gun's Nutrition
It is also important to have good shells. I like Winchester AA or Federal Premium. They do not leave a lot of powder residue and they shoot consistent. Any thing from 1oz. loads to 7/8 ounce loads will do.


Habit #4 - If I can't see ya I wouldn't want to be ya
On of the most important things for safety is an orange vest. It is always important to be able to know where the other members in your hunting party are. You do not want your hunt to be like Dick Cheney's .


Habit #5 - You'll have a fit if your shoes don't fit.
If you plan to do a lot of walking and you will it is important to have a pair of shoes that fit. I like Irish Setters they are comfortable, light, and they don't make my feet sweat. Briar pants are a necessity if your planning on walking through briars and other thorny areas.


Habit #6 - For a doggone good time, gotta have a good dog.

It is always important to have good quail dogs. Without quail dogs you will have to do a lot more walking and you will not kill near many birds. One of the most common used breeds is Spaniels. They are well behaved and they know how to find quail. Besides Spaniels there are Setters and some people even use Labradors. No mater what breed you choose dogs are always an important part of your hunt.

tag: quail, dogs, pointers, federal, winchester, guns, spaniels, setters, labradors, irish setters, hoppes, 12gauge, 20 gauge, dick cheney, orange vest

The Laws for Dove Season

Dove season in Georgia is one of the best times of year. You get your shotgun, about four boxes of shells, a hunting seat, and a snack and drink and wait for the dove to come. A good dove shoot is one of the most adrenaline rushing, action packed hunts you will ever experience. There is one thing that gets in the way of a good dove shoot, the laws that come with it. I understand that some of the laws need to be there, but there are two that need to be changed.

The Limit Law is Lame

The first law that needs to be changed is the limit law. In Georgia, you can only kill twelve birds on every hunt. When your at a really good shoot and your right on target, twelve is a puny number. The limit in most other states is fifteen birds a hunter. That should be the limit in Georgia. Hunters in Georgia need to get together and get this law changed.

The Season Law is Nonsense

The second and most important law that should be changed is the season law. One of my Dad's friends had a dove shoot a couple of weeks ago. It was one of the best dove shoots I have ever been to in my life. He told us last week that he had more birds now than he did in the previous shoot, but we can't shoot them for about three weeks because the season went out again. What happens if the birds go away or they just don't come back. That would not be good for us hunters.

A sport for all

Dove hunting is a hobby shared by kids, teenagers, and adults. It would be an amazing hobby if the limit law and the season law would be changed. Together, hunters around the United States can join and get these laws changed. Even if you have to obey all of the laws, hunting with friends and family is something everyone needs to enjoy.

tag: birds, dove, georgia, hobby, hunt, hunting, laws, limit, season, shooting, shotgun, teenagers

Choosing the perfect rifle

Remington 700 CDL

Savage 111F

Ruger M77 Mark II

If you are like me you have a problem deciding what brand of rifle to buy. Here are my top three picks.

Remington

Coming in at number three is Remington. Remington is one of America's oldest gun makers which means that they build rifles you can depend on. Remington makes several different models of rifles. Some are designed for deer, varmints, and big game. So no mater what you plan on hunting their is a Remington designed just for you at a price you can afford.

Savage

My second choice is Savage. If you are like me you have a bad problem with jerking the trigger. Don't worry Savage has solved the problem. Savage recently came out with the accu trigger. It is the best innovation since in triggers since adjustable trigger pulls. Yes it's that good. So if accuracy is what you desire go to your local hunting store and request a Savage.

Ruger

My top pick is the Ruger M77. My brother and I both shoot a Ruger M77. One its biggest features is how lightweight they are. Usually when you have a lightweight rifle you have a lot of kick. I use a 270 and it kicks no harder than a 12 gauge. Rugers are available in a number of calibers and models. You want the best without all the cost choose a Ruger and see for yourself.


tag: rifles, shooting, hunting, savage, remington, ruger, accu trigger, accuracy