Outdoor U

Wow!

2011-10-31T18:57:00.000-05:00

Imagine encountering one or a pack of these guys when you were not prepared.

Very Interesting Movie

2011-10-27T09:59:00.000-05:00

Gotta Have Shades

2011-10-25T19:33:00.000-05:00

Your vision is priceless, yet many people resist investing in a good pair of sunglasses to protect their eyes while in the outdoors. You may have noticed I said "investing" in a good pair of sunglasses. There is no comparison between the $20 pair of sunglasses you picked up at the local big box store and a pair of quality sunglasses made with top notch materials.

I've always purchased the best sunglasses I could find and have never regretted it. If you divide the cost of the sunglasses over a 1-2 year period of time, the daily cost is less than a cup of cheap coffee at the local gas station.

Every time I'm by the water with someone wearing bargain sunglasses they always look at me funny when I say "look at that fish" or "did you see that?" They have no idea what it's like until I hand them my sunglasses and then they usually say "Oh, WOW".

I was recently given the opportunity to try a pair of sunglasses from Margaritaville/Jimmy Buffett. When they arrived and I opened the shipping box I was impressed with just the box the sunglasses came in. Instantly, I knew I was holding a quality product. (Have you ever noticed that if a manufacturer packages their product in a great box the product is usually great?) After unpacking the sunglasses I headed outside for a test.

The pair I received had brown lens which I normally don't care for. Most brown lens are too bright in my opinion or just turn the world an odd color. These lens were awesome and I now prefer these to my current gray lens. The clarity was great and had no signs of distortion. (On cheap sunglasses with poor quality lens material you will notice small defects or distortions that cause eye fatigue after wearing for a while). The frames were extremely light and had a very good fit, plus they had a nice style. After a few minutes of wearing I hardly noticed I had sunglasses on. I then jumped into my truck and headed to a local pond to see how the polarization compared to my other sunglasses. My other pair of sunglasses are made by Costa and they are a #1 rated fishing sunglass. Once I looked into the water I knew that Margaritaville had done their homework.

When I got home my wife tried them on and I noticed this evening that I no longer have possession of the sunglasses. They have mysteriously disappeared from the house and if my hunch is right the sunglasses are now cleverly hidden in her car:)

Do yourself a favor and make the investment in a good pair of sunglasses. It's something you will never regret. If asked last week I would have told you to buy a pair of Costa's but after trying this pair from Margaritaville I would encourage you to give them a try.

Lead use being threatened

2011-10-13T18:05:00.001-05:00

Anti-hunting and anti-fishing interests are currently litigating against the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) to force the EPA to expand its Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) authority in order to regulate traditional ammunition and recreational fishing tackle... READ MORE HERE

Also....watch the video in the post below

Hornady Presents Boone and Crockett Club

2011-10-13T17:53:00.000-05:00

Way too funny not to post

2011-10-02T08:20:00.001-05:00

Cool new product

2011-09-26T11:45:00.005-05:00

I received an email over the weekend about a new product that I think is pretty cool. I hate full face masks so this product looks like it would be a great addition to the wardrobe for outdoor activities, especially late season bow hunting. Normally I don't talk about products on the blog unless I've tried them "hint, hint:)" but I made the exception this time because of it uniqueness. Check out there website here.

Fall Catfishing

2011-09-24T17:56:00.003-05:00

Fall is a great time to be out on the river. After a long summer of flood waters the river is finally ready to be fished from a boat. September 24th and 72 degrees. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday. Pictured is Captain Bill Doll with a nice 10lb channel cat. As for me, a 15oz. cat would have to do.

Check out this way to chop wood

2011-05-16T18:04:00.002-05:00

Man, what a great way to chop wood!!
Chopping Wood Video

Must watch video

2011-04-30T15:26:00.003-05:00

Here's a video that I guarantee you won't forget anytime soon! She didn't cry, although she came close to losing it, and she gave those a reality check they dearly needed.

Texas girl, Judy Dorsett Tyler, had the encroachment on her second amendment rights so graphically illustrated. The honorable senator from New York , Chuck Schumer, was getting a little uncomfortable in his chair. The room was absolutely dead quiet throughout her testimony and the gun banners (meaning Senators who want to BAN citizens' ownership of all guns) absolutely speechless as this little Texas gal chews them up and spits them out. She knows what the 2nd amendment is really all about. Watch it. You will be glad you did.

Cold Cats

2011-03-24T20:21:00.003-05:00

Don't wait for the dog days of summer to go catfishing. As soon as the ice is gone grab your gear and head to the waters edge. Catfish will be taking advantage of the winter kill. Most bodies of water will experience winter kill of its' forage fish and the cats will be gorging themselves at this time of year. Drop out a cut bait and hold on!

Guest Post - Raising a Prepared Family

2011-02-28T12:20:00.002-06:00

Click here to read this interesting article.

Learn Wildlife Studies Online

2011-01-11T14:33:00.003-06:00

Looking for an online school to learn wildlife studies? Check out this article for some great information.

Turkey Skin as Bait

2011-01-07T20:45:00.002-06:00

A great thing to tip your ice fishing jig with is the skin from around the neck and between the legs of a turkey. This skin is normally cut off before cooking and thrown away, so this makes good use of a waste product. Cut the skin into small pieces and freeze in small containers until your next ice fishing trip. The skin is tough, odor rich and can be colored with food coloring if desired.

10 Things You Must Have in an Emergency Kit

2010-12-18T11:56:00.004-06:00

Take a look at this article. Some good stuff here.

The 10 Things You Must Have in an Emergency Kit

Buy Your Ammo Here

2010-09-24T10:58:00.001-05:00

I've added a link to the right hand side of this page where you can buy your ammo for the upcoming season. Check it out and stock up.

Guest Post - Fire Starting

2010-09-16T16:01:00.001-05:00

As a former Iraq War vet, I am an outdoor enthusiast and have had my share of survival tests including the dry scrub wilderness of the Middle East. Now while that isn't necessarily pleasurable, I do enjoy visiting local places, such as national parks and the wilderness of the West and Pacific Northwest. I'm also a regular airsoft milsim player, a form of simulation play with realistic looking replica firearms. This keeps me outdoors a few weekends a month in wooded areas and large swaths of backcountry. Every now and then I come across a situation where I need to start a fire whether to cook or for warmth. Some of the airsoft events I go to last multiple days, and you have to make do with whatever is in your bag. The nights can be fairly cold and a hot drink or warm soup can make a big difference. A few times, I have been without the ideal tools and forced to improvise. Here are a few ways I've learned to make a fire from materials on hand when a match is nowhere to be found.

Preparation and Basics: First, you will need dry tinder in a location isolated from wind or rain. Things that will suffice for tinder include: bark, birds nests, rope, dead leaves. Then make sure the area where you're starting the fire is free from strong winds and you have at least a 5 foot area clear of dry brush and other combustible materials. (you don't want it to get out of your control). The tinder pile should be piled a few inches high, and your combustible sources arranged from ease and speed of combustibility. Once the tinder is ignited, let it burn till the flame is larger, then place dry leaves or bark on top. Once the bark is ignited you can move to sticks and then thicker pieces of wood.

1. Come Prepared: If you are in an area prone to excessive moisture, it is wise to be a prepared. Purchasing a Firesteel, commonly known as a magnesium firestarter in the camping section of your local sporting goods store shouldn't cost you more than 10 dollars. They generally are small and rectangular, some are cylindrical. These are better than matches because moisture isn't a concern. In other words a wet, rainy night won't become a wet, rainy cold night because they can work wet. First, use your knife, rubbing slowly to shave off some of the magnesium into a pile. Place the metal on the pile of tinder. Next, holding the knife perpendicular to the surface of the firestarter, scrape it quickly and lightly to generate sparks, the spark should be hot enough to ignite the tinder/magnesium mix quickly.

2. Sun and Glass: This next method I have is if your group knows they're going to hunker down in one location and it's still bright out. You have to use any piece of convex glass on you, and focus it like a magnifying glass onto the tinder. A pair of sunlglasses, sometimes someone's eye goggles, even some rifle optics or lens covers will suffice. I personally use the lens of my tactical flashlight, as it screws off easily and I don't have to sacrifice or break any equipment to use it. You should face the optics towards the source of light, and with some patience and testing you'll ignite your tinder quickly.

3. Battery and Wire: The next method involves using a battery and some wire. This is optimal for use at night when you can't use a lens. Take a battery (AA, 9volt, etc) and attach insulated wire to both ends, (I usually carry some extra wires for my airsoft electric guns to do field repairs.) next you have to touch the two ends of the wires together to create sparks, place the wires on top of the tinder to ignite.

4. Flint and Steel: A more primitive method is with a Flint and steel. It's similar to using a Firesteel but much more skill based. If you happen to have a used matchcase, the flint at the bottom is a great source but if you are not able to access even that, a stone will work. The stone should be hard edged and struck with a carbon steel object such as a knife (Most tactical knives are carbon steel, stainless steel does not work). The striking should be done in a downward motion to appropriately direct the sparks. Once the tinder is smoldering, gently fan to bring oxygen to fuel the flame. Continue adding fuel to strengthen the flame.

5. Fire Plow: If you have absolutely none of these tools but a lot of gumption and elbow grease, you can try a fire-plow. The fire-plow is a friction method of ignition. You rub a hardwood shaft against a softer wood base. The base should be about 16î long on the longest side. To use this method, cut a straight groove in the base and plow the blunt tip of the shaft up and down the groove. The plowing action of the shaft pushes out small particles of wood fibers. Then, as you apply more pressure on each stroke, the friction ignites the wood particles. This requires a lot of patience and repetitive motions, be mindful not to slip, as you can get a nasty splinter from being a little inattentive.

Fires are a great way to make the outdoors more livable. You can boil water, cook food, and the smoke will keep the bugs off you. Speaking of smoke, I've even used it as a trap to lure in enemy airsoft players! I'd wait out in the side away from the fire, and I'd ambush them as they come to investigate the source of smoke (I of course never leave the fire unattended, its always within my line of site with a large canteen of water handy next to it) Just remember to respect the fire and always keep it as small as you need it. Also, I always clear it with the Airsoft event planners, or local forest officials to see if it's permissible to start a fire.

John Durfee is a Gulf War veteran and the marketing manager for Airsplat, the nation's largest retailer of Airsoft Guns and Apparel.

My Dream River Boat

2010-09-10T16:30:00.007-05:00

Man could I get to the catfish with one of these. Just think, if everyone reading this donated $10.00 I could get one:)

BE SAFE!!!!!!!

2010-09-10T11:54:00.006-05:00

Don't let this be you! If you are hunting from a tree stand USE YOUR HARNESS!! No deer is worth getting paralyzed or worse.

Please be responsible and take a Hunters Safety Course. This post was brought to you by HUNTERcourse.com

One Happy Family!

2010-08-05T10:33:00.001-05:00

A friend called to borrow my frog net to catch a few frogs for an evening catfishing trip. He was taking his neighbors on their first catfishing adventure and the results were impressive. The large one above weighted 20lbs 12oz and the "smaller" one weighted 12lbs 13oz. CONGRATS!! I think we may have some new catfisherman in the area.

Fishing for Hybrid Bass

2010-08-03T18:11:00.003-05:00

Tony Bowen, a guest writer, has written an interesting article about fishing hybrid bass. Read it here.

My Favorite Dog Quote

2010-07-21T15:42:00.004-05:00

The late George Bird Evans writes in Troubles with Bird Dogs. "I think we are drawn to dogs because they are the uninhibited creatures we might be if we weren't certain we knew better. They fight for honor at the first challenge, make love with no moral restraint, and do not for all of their marvelous instincts appear to know about death. Being such wonderfully uncomplicated beings, they need us to do their worrying."

Tred Barta Update

2010-06-24T17:48:00.003-05:00

Tred Barta is an outgoing, outspoken individual that has good old time values. Watch one of his TV shows and you know you are dealing with a special person. Last year Tred had some very unfortunate medical issues strike him and I'm not sure that I could have survived as he did.

Pat LeFemine at Bowsite.com has posted an exclusive interview that you really need to listen to. This man is something special and I think everyone could learn about living through the tough times and to make the best out what ever God hands you.

Tred Barta Interview

The Fresh Air Fund

2010-06-23T19:07:00.002-05:00

Share your love of the outdoors with a child that may never have another option to experience our lifestyle. Consider becoming a host family for the Fresh Air Fund. To learn more about this program click on the banner above.

Scouting from the Skinning Shack

2010-05-13T14:25:00.003-05:00

To be successful hunting deer you really need to know what the deer are eating and when they are eating. Sure, watching a deer feed is one way to know the preferred food source at the time, but what did the deer eat 3 hours ago or 6 hours ago? If you could just figure out what the deer is eating or going to eat when you are sitting in your stand you could choose the stand that is closest to that food source the following day. So how do you figure this out?

If you are hunting solo then I can't help you with this tip, unless you have multiple tags. But if you are hunting with partners and one of them is successful it's time to get messy. Grab your rubber gloves, if you must, and start playing CSI on the deers digestive tract. Start closest to the exit point and work your way up to the esophagus. Observing the different food stuff in the digestive tract will give you an idea of the order the deer ate in the past 12-18 hours. If the esophagus has acorns in it, you can bet that the other deer in the area will be eating acorns the following day within a few hours that this deer was shot.

Deer, like other animals, are creatures of habit. Getting messy is just another way to help you break their habit, hopefully with a well placed shot.

A Jerky Treat

2010-03-18T15:16:00.002-05:00

If you are like me you enjoy eating jerky. The problem is that most store bought jerky tastes more like the bottom of a grease pail than jerky. Because of this I have resorted to only eating jerky that I make, until now.

I've had the pleasure of trying the jerky from Jerky.com and I can tell you that it is some good stuff. They recently sent me two new flavors to try. Sweet and Spicy Mango and Sweet and Spicy Orange. All I can say is grab a cold one and enjoy. These flavors are not what you expect in a jerky but they were both very good and in no way were the flavors overpowering. They hit the spicy part right so if you are into very mild jerky these are not the flavors for you.

If you like jerky and want to try something a bit different click here, order a few bags and enjoy.

Weekly Rut Report

2009-08-31T17:37:00.002-05:00

Here is a link to the weekly rut report by Larry Weishuhn
Weekly Rut Report

Happy 4th of July

2009-07-03T11:58:00.000-05:00

Happy Independence Day from OutdoorU!

Flagging your Gear

2009-05-05T20:32:00.002-05:00

When you are out hunting and need to set down your backpack or other gear it can sometimes be a challenge to find it again. A great way to make sure you can easily find your stash again is to mark its location with a flag like the utility companies use to mark underground utilities.

They are very visible and can be rolled up for easy carrying. Check your local building supply store for these flags. If you can't find them check with your utility company. They will gladly let you have one or two. Just don't take one that is already being used to mark utilities, the fine would probably pay for another hunting trip.

Scouting Bears

2009-04-24T17:28:00.005-05:00

One way to determine what size bears are in your area is to hang a bait bag up in a tree. Choose a tree with fairly smooth bark. Leave the area for a day or two and come back to check the tree for claw marks. A 4 inch wide claw pattern equates to approximately a 200 pound bear. A 5 inch wide claw pattern equates to approximately a 300 pound bear and a claw pattern wider than 5 inches equates to one big bear.

Shoot Better by Looking Farther Away

2009-04-21T07:15:00.003-05:00

Have you ever played a video or arcade racing game and noticed that you do better if you focus down the track rather that at the front of the car?

When shooting at upland game or clay birds, look where you expect the birds or clays to be when you shoot. Our eyes are much better at focusing from far to near than vise versa.

If you are watching the gun barrel and a bird flushes or you yell Pull at the trap range, the object you desire to hit seems to get away a whole lot faster and is normally a blur.

Try keeping your eyes focused on where you expect to shoot and your hits will improve greatly.

Canine CPR

2009-04-20T19:22:00.002-05:00

There may come a time when your 4-legged friend needs your help and knowing how to perform CPR may save their life. This process is not difficult to learn and all dog owners should know how to do it properly.

Check for breathing and a pulse. Watch the chest closely for any movement. Check for a pulse with your index and middle fingers. The best place to check for a pulse is on the femoral artery, ankles and chest.
If you see no signs of breathing and cannot find a pulse it is time to start chest compressions. Lay the dog on his side. Place your hands on top of each other, lock your elbows, place your hands on the dogs ribcage and start compressions. Perform 5-10 compressions, using fairly strong force.
If this does not get the dog breathing again you will need to do mouth to nose breathing. I know this sounds funny, but remember, you are trying to save a dogs life. Put your mouth over the dogs nose, lightly sealing around the sides of the nose with your hands and blow a steady, medium size breath into the dogs nose.
Rotate between chest compressions and nose breathing and after a minute or so check for a pulse. Continue this routine until the dog recovers and then get him to a vet.

If the dog does not survive, at least you will know that you did everything you could.

Keep Those Turkey Wings

2009-04-17T14:00:00.002-05:00

Turkey hunters, after you have harvested your turkey keep the wings. Traditional shooters will gladly take them from you to make their own fletching from. Maybe you could even make some type of trade. If you have no one that wants them, send them to me. I'll take all of the wings you can get:)

First Robin Hood

2009-04-16T19:28:00.000-05:00

Kind of fun but what a waste of $12.00!!

Your Arrow as a Sight

2009-04-15T07:06:00.002-05:00

If you shoot a traditional style bow there are many different methods of aiming. The two most popular ways are instinctive and gap shooting. Shooting instinctively you concentrate only on the target but your subconscious mind still sees the arrow and makes the needed adjustments to make an accurate shot. Gap shooters use their secondary vision to see the arrow while they are looking at the target. In either method the arrow is still used as a reference, whether you actually see the arrow or not.

To enhance your subconscious or conscious minds ability to see the arrow put a small wrap of white tape around the end of the arrow behind the field point or broadhead. This little extra added visibility can make a big difference in your accuracy. This becomes especially beneficial during periods of low light. Using white reflective tape may also come in handy for arrow retrieval in the event that you miss.

Break and Wait for Turkeys

2009-04-05T08:24:00.004-05:00

If you find yourself with several turkeys in front of you and there is no safe shot available you may want to try rushing into the flock of turkeys to break them up. After they scatter, wait until they start coming back one by one or in pairs. This does not always work but it may be your only option at times. Also, turkeys are known for coming back to the location where they were broken up, just be sure to give them enough time to return. They should start coming back in about 15-20 minutes. Light calling can also get the birds returning in a timely manner.

Don't Over Call Turkeys

2009-04-04T18:49:00.003-05:00

One of the biggest mistakes turkey hunters make is calling too much. The idea is to get the birds attention and then let them come to you. Calling too much increases your chances of being picked out and once they spot you it is over.

Going to Africa?

2009-03-13T17:11:00.003-05:00

If you have plans on going hunting in Africa, check out this new site. There is tons of good information there and I especially like the shot placement gallery.

Ice as Structure

2009-03-09T15:29:00.003-05:00

The surface of the ice is a reflection of what lies below. Pressure ridges, low spots, blow areas etc. are all structure. Fish use structure, no matter if it is from plants, sand, silt or ice. The next time you are ice fishing, look for ice structure and fish it accordingly.

2009-01-18T16:14:00.002-06:00

The best method of cleaning a rabbit I have ever seen. I thought this may come in helpful for Doug.

Trail Camera Real Estate Agent

2009-01-09T14:09:00.003-06:00

If you are looking at purchasing some hunting land, ask if you can place a few trail cameras on the property for a week or so before making an offer. Even though a piece of property looks good to you it may be devoid of wildlife activity. Remember to ask yourself why the property is for sale. Maybe the reason is that the current owner has never harvested any game from it. Don't take the word of any seller or agent. If they are not willing to let you put out a few cameras I would be hesitant. Talk to your attorney or real estate agent. It may be possible for you make your purchase offer contingent on using trail cameras for a set period of time. If the photos do not produce positive results you could withdraw your offer. Contingencies are very common in real estate transactions so don't be afraid to ask.

Deer Vehicle Accidents

2008-12-14T10:05:00.002-06:00

Deer and vehicle accidents are up all across the country and several lives are lost each year because of these accidents. One of the problems is that our instincts induce a swerve when something presents itself in front of our moving vehicle. These swerves can put our cars into oncoming traffic or into the ditch where many cars end up rolling over.

To avoid, or should I say try to avoid these accidents we have to do our best to override our instincts and keep the vehicle straight. The chances of missing a deer by swerving and not having a related accident are poor at best. You are much better keeping the car straight, hit the breaks and hope for the best. One thing though, right before impacting the deer, if they have not moved, is to let off the brakes so the cars front end comes back up so the deer goes under the vehicle not over or into the vehicle.

I know that these tips will be hard to do when that deer steps out in front of your moving car but try your best, it may save your life or the lives of your loved ones.

Another thing we as hunters can do to reduce deer vehicle crashes is to kill some does to help control the deer population. Many hunters have no interest in shooting a doe but I believe it is our duty as hunters to kill as many does as the Game & Fish Departments allow for each given area. So get out there and take a doe.

Inexpensive Shooting Bag

2008-12-07T08:26:00.003-06:00

Wandering through a sporting goods store recently I walked past the shooting bags used on a bench during the sighting-in process or just plain plinking. I was shocked by the price of some of these bags. For a mere $69.00 you could have a nice sand-filled canvas bag with a nice leather accent stripe.

Here is my idea of a nice bag and one that will only cost you a few dollars. Go to your sock drawer and find an old cotton or wool sock. You need one that has a pretty fine weave. Take the sock and fill it with rice. Tie off the end of the sock and cut away the excess tail. Using a plastic zip tie in front of and behind the knot is also a good idea.

The rice settles nice in the bag when you place it on the shooting bench and provides a stable and adjustable rest.

Snow Tracking a Buck

2008-11-18T09:11:00.003-06:00

To verify that you are really tracking a buck in snow, follow its tracks until you find a urine spot. A does urine spot will be in center or slightly forward of the center line between the hind legs. A bucks urine spot will be forward of the hind legs. One exception is if the buck is rubbing urine on its hind legs as part of a scenting/marking activity. Bucks also have a tendency to dribble as they are walking away. Also be on the lookout for tine impressions in the snow if the buck stopped to browse. If there are tine impressions in the snow you know you are on the trail of a large buck.

New Knife Website

2008-11-02T18:39:00.003-06:00

If you are in need of a new knife check out fellow reader Kris Anderson's new website. There is plenty of selection and the prices look good also.

VOTE!

2008-11-01T12:41:00.002-05:00

Tuesday is coming fast and I must admit that I will be glad when all of the political rambling is done. I know this is a blog about outdoor tips but I want to give you some voting tips this time instead.

Simply vote. If you don't vote you loose your right to criticize or complain.
Don't base your vote on issues alone. Remember, the issues the politicians talk about are nothing more than political promises and we all know what happens after someone is elected.
Vote for the person that is most aligned with your core beliefs and values, not on what is popular today.
Don't vote for someone based solely on the way they look or sound. A college professor once told me that the political system would be 100 times better if nobody saw the candidate until after they were elected.
Simply vote. Yes, this is a repeat tip but it is the best tip there is!

Be Prepared While Flying

2008-10-30T17:26:00.002-05:00

If you are traveling by airplane to go hunting or fishing this fall do yourself a favor and put a large padded envelope that is self addressed and has 3-4 dollars of postage on it in your carry on bag. If security finds something that is not allowed to take on the plane, like your trusty Leatherman, you can deposit the item in the envelope and mail it home rather that forfeiting it to security.

Pick a Spot

2008-10-16T06:59:00.003-05:00

When shooting at an animal with a bow remember to pick a spot and forget about the rest of the animal. Many misses can be attributed to the archer looking at the animal as a whole. Doing so is a surefire recipe for missing, or worse, wounding. Try to find something on the animal to visually lock on to. A tuft of hair, a color change in the hair or fur etc. What also works is to imagine a glowing red dot on the side of the animal and shoot at this dot. A good mantra to remember is "Aim Small Miss Small".

More New Games

2008-10-15T17:17:00.003-05:00

Activision is my new best friend. Last weekend I received a package in the mail and inside I found the new Cabela's Dangerous Hunts 2009 and Cabela's Legendary Adventures games for my Wii machine. Man talk about timing. It was cool and raining all weekend and these games helped pass some time. The problem is that now I'm addicted! I have played other hunting games over the years but nothing comes close to these games. I especially like the Dangerous Hunts 2009 game. It is fast paced and puts you right in the middle of some serious hunting situations. The graphics are great and the game play is exciting. If you have access to a Wii, Xbox or Playstation give these games a try, you won't be disappointed.

Picking the Right Pup

2008-10-01T13:59:00.002-05:00

Choosing the right hunting puppy can be a daunting task. They are all so cute and how are you supposed to know which one will become the hunting dog you desire? In my case, I had no choice because Charlie was the last puppy of the litter. Luckily he turned out to be the best dog of the bunch. In this case, 6 other people did not make the best choice. So how do you choose?

One method or test you can use to determine the true disposition of a pup is to pick him or her up and cradle them in your arms, on their back. If the puppy just lays in your arms and makes no attempt to get up-righted he may be too docile to make a good field dog. If the pup struggles and fights and yips until he can get away he will likely be too high strung to train properly. If the pup struggles for awhile and then settles down for a good belly scratching it is a good sign and shows that the pup has some drive yet is willing to be trained.

Remember, when choosing a puppy, there are several methods you can use but none of them are fool proof, except one, your heart. When you are looking at pups and one of them sticks out from the rest and it just feel right, take him or her home. Forget every test or sign you have heard about and enjoy the dog. Even if they never develop into a good hunting dog you will still have made the right choice.

Did You Know?

2008-09-22T20:32:00.003-05:00

1. When creating a mock scrape, an overhanging branch is vital to the success of the scrape.
2. A resting deer will normally lie on its right side and face the wind.
3. Bucks usually quarter into the wind when approaching scrapes.

Rapala's Fishing Frenzy

2008-09-19T22:21:00.004-05:00

It's hard to beat actually fishing but if you are one of those families with an Xbox 360, Playstation or Wii sitting below your TV then you owe it to yourself to check out the new Rapala Fishing Frenzy game. This is a new game this year and is available now. I know I can only play so much golf or tennis on my son's Wii and a I find a relaxing game of fishing a joy. If you pay attention you may even learn a thing or two which may help you when you're back on the water.

Walk Like An Animal

2008-09-15T15:04:00.002-05:00

Trying to sneak through the woods in a silent and stealthy manner is difficult at best, especially since we only have two legs. Our cadence can be picked up as a danger signal by all animals. When you are walking your way through the woods try walking forward with an odd number of steps and then stop and then walk and stop etc. Listen to a 4 legged animal walking and this is the cadence they have. We may not be able to sneak like an animal but at least we can sound like one.

Remember September 11

2008-09-11T17:56:00.004-05:00

In memory of and tribute to those who died.

With sympathy to all who lost family, friends and colleagues.

With regret for our lost innocence,

And disapointment over how the world has changed.

Remember 9/11.

Mixed Camo

2008-09-09T20:01:00.002-05:00

To really improve your camouflage efforts try mixing patterns/colors. Wear a shirt or jacket with one camo pattern and wear a different pattern/color for your pants. The mixture helps break up your outline, which is still very evident, even with the best camouflage available. Also, don't forget about your face and hands. Our bare skin sticks out like a sore thumb and covering exposed skin should be a priority.

Learning from your Kid

2008-08-17T10:21:00.003-05:00

If you ever need to be shown how to catch fish, forget all of the tips and just take along your kid, as Scott did. Alex outfished his dad, again. Good job Alex!

Cheap Bait

2008-06-18T07:15:00.003-05:00

Fishing at a local pond that is filled with Bluegills, Largemouth Bass and Crappie was getting costly. Nightcrawlers are the bait of choice on this pond and at $2.50 per dozen it does not take long to end up losing your pocket change. The small fish love to nip the crawlers and suck them off your hook all day long.

On a recent trip to the pond I took one GULP Alive minnow and cut it up into small pieces. I fished for 4 hours and caught several bluegills and a largemouth bass and still had a few pieces of this one cut up bait left. I have tried other similar baits, including GULP, on this pond in the past with no success but GULP Alive did the job.

The next time you are heading out for a day of fishing give this idea a try. You may never go back to the almighty crawler.

Don't Miss High

2008-04-03T11:45:00.001-05:00

This tip was forwarded by Rex Howell. Thanks and sorry for the lack of posts. It's been a busy winter. This tip came from Buckmasters.

Don't Miss High
Ninety percent of the shots missed at deer are high. If you shoot at a deer and he just stands there looking at you, chances are good that the shot went high. When you get excited about taking the shot, you're more likely to jerk the trigger, and that makes the shot go high.
When I aim at a deer with a bow, I aim at the lower one-third of my target area, which takes care of any tendency to shoot high.
Bowhunters talk about whitetails "jumping the string," which means they're reacting to the sound of the bow. I've learned about this the hard way because I've had a lot of bow shots go just over deer. I've looked at slow motion video of those missed shots, and the deer don't really jump when they dodge an arrow. They simply react to the sound so quickly that they duck down and turn to run. As they do so, the arrow misses high.
By putting my sight on the lower one-third of the deer's lungs, it will usually be a good shot, even if the deer ducks before the arrow gets there. If the deer doesn't react to the sound, I'm still in the fatal zone by aiming low, and my exit wound is lower in the deer's body, so I'm more likely to have an immediate blood trail.
If you're hunting with a shotgun, there's even more of a tendency to shoot high because most shotguns don't have nearly as crisp a trigger as a rifle. It takes a pretty good pull to make the shotgun go off, and you wind up shooting high.
--Jackie Bushman

Fishing Under the Ice

2008-02-17T10:53:00.001-06:00

Most fisherman drop their lines towards the bottom once the ice hole has been punched, but you may want to try fishing right below the ice near the very top.

As the season progresses and oxygen levels get lower the baitfish, plankton and other goodies that fish eat will spend more time near the surface. This also means that your target fish are also likely near the top, especially during the morning.

You will need to blind fish in this manner because your sonar won't be very effective at this close range.

Good Smelling Plastic

2008-02-03T11:57:00.001-06:00

No one can deny the success that GULP and similar plastic baits have had. The problem I have with them is the cost. One way that I am now trying to mimic the concept was hatched in my mind while enjoying a can of sardines. Why throw away the juice of the sardines? Why not pour the left over juice into a container of plastic jigs? After a few days of soaking, in the fridge, the baits have taken on a nice aroma that should be attractive to fish, hopefully, more so than the mock smells the commercial baits are soaked in. Oil from any canned fish or even oysters should be great for making your own fish attracting plastic baits.

PETA - The New Slaughterhouse?

2008-02-01T17:26:00.001-06:00

New Data Shows PETA Killed 97 Percent Of Dogs And Cats In 2006

WASHINGTON, DC- Yesterday the nonprofit Center for Consumer Freedom formally petitioned Virginia's Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), requesting that the government agency officially reclassify People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) as a slaughterhouse.

An official report filed by PETA itself shows that the animal rights group put to death nearly every dog, cat, and other pet it took in for adoption in 2006. During that year, the well-known animal rights group managed to find adoptive homes for just 12 animals. Not counting pets brought to PETA for spaying or neutering, the organization killed 2,981 of the 3,061 “companion animals” it took in. According to VDACS, the average euthanasia rate for humane societies in Virginia was 34.7 percent in 2006. PETA's "kill rate" was 97.4 percent.

“It is absurd to classify PETA as a ‘humane society’ when its employees are slaughtering nearly every companion animal they bring in,” said CCF Director of Research David Martosko. “PETA has killed over 17,000 pets since 1998. Given the group's astonishing habit of killing adoptable dogs and cats with such ruthless efficiency, it's only fair that the state of Virginia refer to PETA as a slaughterhouse.”

Don't Double Freeze Your Catch

2008-01-24T19:05:00.001-06:00

If you are an ice fisherman and plan on keeping some fish for future use by freezing them don't just throw your fish out on the ice after catching them. If your catch freezes and then you thaw them to clean and then freeze them again you will end up with mushy fish. You wouldn't buy frozen fish at the store, bring them home, thaw them out and then freeze them again so don't do it to your personal catch either.

Take along a cooler or pail to keep your fish in. Add enough water to cover them and they won't freeze. Using a stringer in an extra hole will also work. Taking a little extra care on the ice will pay big dividends at your next fish fry.

25 Ultimate Vacations for Outdoorsmen

2008-01-17T11:59:00.001-06:00

Looking for a great place to go on a vacation as an outdoorsman, check out this link.

A Little Motion Goes A Long Way

2008-01-14T18:02:00.001-06:00

We have all seen the motorized bunnies that shake all over the place in an effort to attract predators. These do work but they can be a pain to lug around and set up, not to mention the cost of buying your robotic bunny.

A much simpler method and one that is just as effective is to tie a turkey tail feather to a small rod that you can stick in the ground with ease. A fiberglass driveway markers works great, but you will need to paint it before using. This turkey tail feather will provide just the right amount of movement to help attract that wily predator when you are calling.

Squirrels or Deer

2008-01-05T09:16:00.000-06:00

When you come across acorns that have been eaten in the woods don't get too excited about what you may have found until you do a little further investigation.

Deer love acorns but so do squirrels. I know a hunter that has hunted over acorns with high expectations, only to be let down by the lack of feeding deer and all of the annoying squirrels running around his tree.

To tell if it was deer or squirrels eating those acorns take a look at the left behind portions of the acorn. Deer will snap the cap of the acorn off with their teeth and then eat the rest of the acorn. A squirrel will either take to whole acorn or will leave behind chewed acorns. They will look like someone took a bite out of the acorn. If you are finding mostly chewed acorns and not the caps, either change locations or go get your squirrel gun.

Improving Arrow Penetration

2007-12-30T09:57:00.000-06:00

To improve arrow penetration, reduce wind drag and make your arrows easier to remove from the target during practice, apply a thin coating of either a gloss tire gel or a quality auto wax. Personally, I use Klasse sealant which is a high tech auto glaze. It last longer, is essentially odor free and is the slickest product I have found.

Cold Feet

2007-12-26T17:46:00.000-06:00

There is nothing worse than cold feet that has been caused by of all things, sweaty feet. If the conditions are right and your choice of socks were not, you will end up with sweaty feet which will lead to cold feet in a hurry.

The best way to prevent this, other than proper foot gear, is to use an antiperspirant on your feet. Make sure to use a scent free product. You don't want the heat of your feet carrying the fhu fhu smell of your antiperspirant all through the woods.

Money Talks

2007-12-13T19:58:00.000-06:00

Unfortunately, Politicians make most (in my opinion) decisions based on either keeping their jobs or money. For once this may help the sportsmen, as long as we make a point to let our elected officials know about the facts revealed in a report released by the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation. The CSF sent a copy of this full report to all Members of Congress but I think that if we each sent our Representatives a copy it would do more good. The full report can be downloaded here.

Some highlights of the report are:

America's 34 million hunters and anglers directly support 1.6 million jobs.

They spend more than a billion dollars a year just in license, stamps, tags, and permit sales.

They pay $25 billion in federal, state, and local taxes which is enough to pay the salaries 0f 527,900 police officers or 454,000 firefighters or 476,870 public school teachers.

Taxes paid by hunters have enabled the purchase of more than 15.4 million acres of federal and state managed wilderness and national wildlife refuge land.

If Sportsmen as a whole were a major corporation, they would be among the top 20 largest companies in the world. Revenue generated by sportsmen exceeds the combined revenues of Microsoft, Google, eBay and Yahoo.

Fishermen spend more than $1 billion on the purchase of bait alone.

Economic impact is not the only "big stick" that us sportsmen carry. We also have tremendous political influence. Outdoor enthusiasts comprise 1/3 of all voters, one of the largest voting blocs in the nation. 8 out of 10 sportsmen say that a candidate's position on sportsmen's issues is important in determining for whom they will vote. 73% of Americans approve of hunting and 95% approve of fishing. Only 3% that appose either or both hunting and fishing are from an animal rights philosophy (isn't it surprising how we only hear about the animal rights issues in the media).

With this information we should all feel a little bit better about the future of our sporting life. However, we must use this information to our advantage the next time the animal rights groups threaten to take away what we all love. The Humane Society and PETA don't want people to know the truth and they are very aggressive and persuasive at pushing their view points. Make it a point to inform your Representatives about the financial impact that we as sportsmen make and more importantly the political clout that we have as a group. If they want their job for another term they had better look at who is footing the bill.

Ice Safety

2007-12-11T18:43:00.000-06:00

If you will be going out on the ice this winter please assume that "There is no safe ice" and read the information on this web page put together by the US Army. No fish is worth losing your life over. Play it safe and have fun.

Seeing Blue

2007-12-03T17:46:00.000-06:00

Research has proven that deer can see color. The exact colors and the intensity is still being researched but the one color that the researchers are sure that deer can see is Blue.

This is one color I wish that deer couldn't see because I'm a creature of habit and comfort, which means that I wear blue jeans quite a bit while hunting deer. I guess that will have to come to an end.

Storing Your Gun

2007-11-29T14:08:00.000-06:00

I was visiting with a local gunsmith friend this morning and the subject of cleaning/storing guns came up. He stated that he never oils the outside of his guns. This came as a surprise but he went on to tell me that oil floats on top of water. If moisture gets under the oil or was there when the oil was applied it will be trapped there and can cause rusting and pitting. He said the best thing to do is to wipe down the exterior of your gun with a silicone impregnated cloth. Water always beads up on silicone just like a car wax. He said he also uses carnuba wax on some of his guns.

Preparing Your Gun for Cold Weather

2007-11-28T15:13:00.001-06:00

If you are planning on some late season hunting with your favorite gun it is time to make a few small changes before going afield.

Gun oil/grease and cold temperatures do not mix well. If you are using an autoloader, this advice is especially important. Before taking off on your cold weather hunting trip take your gun apart and spray everything, except the gas mechanism on autoloaders, with a good gun degreaser to remove all traces of oil and/or grease. Let the gun parts dry for a short time and then apply a graphite power to the moving parts. Put the gun back together and go hunting.

When you are done hunting you should again clean the gun to remove the graphite powder and other residue and then apply a good gun oil.

PETA Signs

2007-11-17T17:48:00.000-06:00

Take a look at these signs from PETA. Remember also that the Humane Society is in the same boat as PETA and all sportsman need to get involved in fighting back against these groups. If we expect someone else to fight the fight then we will all lose.

Delayed Posts

2007-11-14T15:31:00.001-06:00

I just wanted to check in with everyone and apologize for the low number of posts lately. With the fall hunting season and fall walleye fishing I have not had much time to sit behind the computer....and neither should you...get out there and enjoy the fall!! Keep checking back as I'll be adding posts sporadically and I promise to get back into regular posting as soon as my freezer is full.

For Great Tasting Deer

2007-11-07T14:41:00.000-06:00

Meat preparation begins BEFORE THE SHOT! Older deer (bucks in particular) usually have a stronger taste (gamy), and will usually be harder to tenderize. So if meat is what you are after, first and foremost, learn to identify and choose an animal between 1&3 years old. Does are usually the best choice. Try to shoot a calm animal. Animals that have been spooked or are running when shot tend to have a "gamy" taste when cooked. The shot...careful shot placement is ALWAYS important! Proper shot placement is not only an ETHICAL MUST...a quick kill also insures the best tasting venison! Broadside shots, through both lungs are best. This insures a quick, humane kill and destroys a minimal amount of meat. Once your deer is down...gut it, clean the inside of the body cavity (use clean dry rags and keep water away from the inside of the carcass to prevent bacteria growth) and COOL it down ASAP! In the unfortunate event of a gut shot CLEANING of the body cavity becomes TOP PRIORTY! If you need to use water to clean the body cavity out because of a gut shot then be sure to wipe the body cavity dry with a clean rag. I wish you all good hunting this fall.

Fishing Females - Reader of the Month

2007-11-03T08:51:00.000-05:00

Dear OutdoorU,

Once again I have out-fished the guys in the boat! While fishing in the Gulf off the shore of Florida I was able to bring over 20 fish into the boat (red snapper, mangrove snapper, striped bass, spotted bass and some other stuff.) The two men in the boat caught 6 fish total. One was a "lizard" fish and another a catfish, neither of which the Captain would allow in the boat. Tee Hee.

I've attached a picture of the one of the only fish we kept (for shark bate) because the captain believed in catch and release. Next time I take a charter I'm going to make sure we have a "filet and release" cruise.

Love your sight and hope to learn enough to keep out fishing all they guys in the boat.

Sincerely,
Anonymous Fishing Female

Timeless Bowhunting

2007-11-02T09:40:00.000-05:00

Once again I want to recommend a book for those of you that bowhunt or are thinking about bowhunting. Timeless Bowhunting by Roy S. Marlow has been one of the best books I've ever read concerning archery.

It covers every detail of the mechanics of archery for both compound shooters and traditional shooters. The book is laid out with easy to understand chapters that are only a few pages per topic. I like books that I can pick up for just a few minutes when I get a chance, read a chapter and put it back down. The problem I had with this book is that I'd read a chapter and say to myself, oh what the heck, one more chapter and pretty soon the book was done.

If you are at all interested in a deeper understanding of archery and want an easy way to learn about it, then this book is for you.

Red Line versus Red Hooks

2007-10-30T15:18:00.000-05:00

I have always wondered how they can advertise red fishing line as being invisible to fish yet you always here that fish bite better on red hooks. How can this be? Someone must be lying.

Well today I learned the answer on the Huntcast podcast. The answer is that the red color in fishing line is translucent. This translucence will cause the red color to disappear in about 4 feet of water.

The red color of a fishing hook is opaque and reflects light which will make the red color visible down past 100 feet.

Now I feel better knowing that no one has been lying.

Controlling Your Scent With Chlorophyll

2007-10-28T19:23:00.000-05:00

In the pursuit of eliminating human odor you may want to give Chlorophyll tablets a try. Chlorophyll has been used by doctors for years in treating patients with bad breath and body odors. Chlorophyll works on the inside of the human body at the source of the odors. If the right amount of Chlorophyll is taken your body will produce very few odors which is the goal we all want to achieve while hunting deer.

One hunter, I forgot his name, on a recent Podcast said that he stops eating meat prior to and during the hunting season. He also shaves his head and the rest of his body hair. Another thing he stated as being essential to his success was the use of Chlorophyll tablets. He said that you will know when you are taking enough of the tablets based on the odor of... well you know. He stated that when there was no odor left you are taking the right amount.

I don't want to get into how to take Chlorophyll, when to take it or how much to take. I also don't want to talk about any potential safety issues, even though I'm not aware of any. What I want to do is let you know that Chlorophyll is an option for scent control and to encourage you to check into on your own. I think you will be happy with the results. By the way, you can buy Chlorophyll tablets, without a prescription, from most pharmacies.

Don't Spoil Your Big Game

2007-10-23T19:51:00.000-05:00

The #1 cause of spoiling wild game comes from washing out the carcass or icing down the carcass. I know this sounds strange and counter intuitive but believe me in this matter.

My Father and Brother operate a professional meat processing plant and each year deer are brought in that have spoiled because the hunter washed out the inside of the deer or iced it down thinking they were doing the right thing.

The bacteria that spoils meat needs water/moisture to grow and do its damage. Without the moisture there can be no bacteria growth.

After field dressing your big game, drain out all of the fluid and then using a clean rag wipe out the inside of the carcass as good as you can. Be sure to wipe in every nook and cranny, especially between the hind legs and up into the throat area. Prop open the chest to allow for drying and cooling.

Don't skin your animal until you are ready to process the meat. The skin will protect the meat and keep it from drying out. If the temperatures in your garage stays at or below 40 degrees you can hang your animal to age for 7-10 days. If temperatures in your garage get above the 40 degree mark because of a warmer fall you should take your animal to a meat processor or process the game animal yourself right away. Just be aware that if you do not allow your deer to age for a while you will not have as tender meat. If you are going to be making all of your deer into hamburger or sausage the aging process can be eliminated all together. Another option is to quarter your animal and age the meat in a refrigerator.

You owe it to yourself and to the animal to properly take care of the meat after the kill. Remember, wild game is the best organic protein that you can eat. Check the price of true organic beef and you'll see that venison is a bargain. At least that is my story and I'm sticking to it :)

Weighing Fish Without A Scale

2007-10-21T11:52:00.000-05:00

Carrying a scale all of time can be a pain and using a scale can do damage to the fish. An alternate way to weigh a fish is by measuring it and doing some calculations. You can either do the calculations in the field or just take the measurements and do the math at home. It is surprising how accurate this method is.

The correct way to measure any fish for International Game and Fish Association (I.G.F. A.) rules is from the middle of the tail in the fork to the tip of the nose. Use the length and width to figure out the weight of the fish.

Here is the math needed to weigh a fish without the need of a scale. Calculate the size of the fish with the formula: length times girth squared, divided by eight hundred e.g. 33” x 21” x 21” /800 = 18.191 pounds. Anglers who don’t have a measuring device can use dollars for size comparison with photographs for later calculations. A dollar is almost exactly six inches long; take a photograph with the dollar bill in the same frame to get a near exact idea of how big the fish is. You can also make markings on your fishing rod or take a measurement of your arm. What works great though is to go to a sewing/fabric shop and buy a flexible measuring tape. The roll up to fit in your pocket, they are waterproof and they are cheap.

Fishing Tips from the Experts

2007-10-16T18:26:00.000-05:00

The more tips and tricks that you have the better luck you’ll bring to
your fishing. As a beginner you’ll want to try a variety of techniques
until you find what works best for you and the water that you’re fishing
in.

• Thick weeds: When you’re fishing in thick weeds the best lure
that you can use is a spinnerbait or a crankbait that is shallow
running. Make sure that you cast parallel to the edge of the weed
flow if you can. Remember look in the inside edges of weedbeds.
• Timber pileups: When you’re fishing in deep timber your main
focus will be to not get your line tangled up. Use a plastic worm
or a jigging spoon for the best results.
• Fishing from fallen trees: If you want to fish from a fallen tree
make sure that you pull back your bait so that it runs in parallel to
the tree limbs. This is because the water is very shallow and you
don’t want to disturb the area any more than you have to.
• Working the area: Make sure that you work the area that you’re
fishing as thoroughly as possible. Try a few different lures if the
first one doesn’t bring you success. You might want to think
about returning again at a different time of day.
• Keep a close eye on your lines: Make sure that you keep a
constant eye on your lines particularly when you’re retrieving
them. Remember that when the weather is cold the bass can strike
and completely miss the lures.
• Avoid excess noise: The more noise that you make the less the
bass will bite.
• Night fishing: Night fishing is a great option in the summer
months when the water temperature during the day is just too hot
for bass to swim high in the water.
• Creeks and coves: During the fall months make sure that you
check out creeks and coves since this is where baitfish tend to
hover...and this means the bass won’t be far behind.
• Using surface plugs: When you’re using surface plugs try to pay
as much attention as you can to the angle of your rod. You should
be holding the rod low when you have the lure close to you and
higher when the lure is further away.

Tree Stand Safety

2007-10-09T19:02:00.000-05:00

The most common injury among deer hunters comes from falling while using a tree stand. Don't become a statistic this fall, no pun intended, follow these guidelines to stay safe.

Always wear a safety harness when hunting from a stand, including when ascending and descending.
Never climb into a permanent stand that you did not build yourself, or have not carefully checked out.
Never hunt from tree limbs.
Be sure the commercial stand you have is safe. Practice with it before using it in the woods.
Never climb a tree that is too small or too large for your stand to fit safely.
Be sure your stand is level at the height you wish to hunt.
Always stand up slowly and be sure of your balance.
Be sure you are steady and braced before shooting a firearm.
Always use a haul line for your gun or bow. Don not attempt to climb a stand with your equipment.
Never climb a dead tree, or one with dead limbs above your head.

Hopefully, everyone will follow this advice and have a safe and productive hunting season this year.

Deterring Thieves

2007-10-05T06:51:00.000-05:00

Unfortunately, not everyone that will be in the woods this fall are upstanding citizens and ethical hunters. Each fall numerous ground blinds and tree stands are stolen. To help prevent your gear from being stolen try hanging a small sign on your ground blind or tree stand before you leave. It's amazing what a small sign that says "Smile, you are on hidden camera" will do. Most people know that deer trail cameras are widely used and the potential thief may think twice about stealing your gear if they think there is a chance of being caught on camera.

Early Season Pheasants

2007-10-04T07:21:00.001-05:00

Early in the season, pheasants sit tighter, allowing the hunter and dogs to approach them in their resting areas. Since the birds haven't been pressured much at this point, shots are usually at close ranges, and a twelve gauge shotgun with modified or improved chokes and #6 shot make an excellent early season load. This is also the time of year to unlimber your 20 or 28 gauge gun for these early birds.

Tying Effective Knots

2007-10-02T07:11:00.001-05:00

Very few knots will ever be at 100% of the rated strength of the line. However, if you moisten your knots before you pull them tight they will be much more effective. Other things that you can do to tie a better knot include: Tighten them very slowly, Keep an eye out for any weak frays and test every knot by making sure to pull it hard. These techniques will reduce the chance of knot failure occurring at that moment when you least want it.

Traditional Archery Website

2007-09-28T11:00:00.000-05:00

For those of you that may be interested in traditional archery or are already a traditional archer be sure to check out Pete Ward's website. I've been searching for quality information on traditional bows etc. and this website is one of the best I've found. Thanks Pete for the good work, it is appreciated.

Training a Retriever Pup

2007-09-28T07:44:00.000-05:00

I wish that I would have known about this tip when my lab was a puppy. He is a fantastic retriever both on land and in the water, but in the water Charlie likes to take the fastest way back to shore and then run the bank back to me. This is a bad habit for a retriever and it would not bode well during any competitions.

A method I recently read about for training retriever pups is to go to a small pond that is encircled by tall grass or cattails. Beat down a small path to the waters edge and do your water retrieving training from there. The pup will have no choice but to return to you if they want out of the water. When the pup does get back to you, lay on the praise. After a few sessions of this training it should be engrained into the pups mind that he needs to retrieve directly to you if he wants the praise and the chance to retrieve the dummy again.

Fluorocarbon Line

2007-09-27T07:24:00.000-05:00

If you are using fluorocarbon fishing line you need to know that this line does not have a memory. What this means is that in a way it is like salt water taffy. When it gets stretched out it stays streched out. This stretching is the cause of much frustration for the fisherman because it is along this stetched out section that most break offs will occur. Do yourself a favor and the next time you get snagged while using fluorocarbon line. Back up your boat as close to the snag as possible, pull a few more feet off of your reel, cut the line and re-tie. Be sure to retrieve your cut line from the water and hopefully your lure also.

Practice Calling Deer

2007-09-25T07:18:00.000-05:00

If you don't have any faith in a deer call or are afraid of scaring deer away, only use it after you see a deer that you are not going to shoot! You will get to see that it doesn't scare them and you will get to see their reactions. Make sure to use the appropriate call though or you just might confirm to yourself that they don't work.

Boat Landing Etiquette

2007-09-23T09:05:00.000-05:00

Don't become the victim of boat ramp rage. Learn the following method of unloading and loading your boat for a more enjoyable time at the boat landing.

PREPARING FOR LAUNCH:

Find a quiet spot in the parking lot away from the launch lane traffic. Some ramps provide lanes to "prep" the boat for the water ("make ready" area).

Remove all tie-downs except the winch hook attached to the bow eye of the boat. Remove any outboard or stern-drive tie-downs or supports. Anything that can be detached from the trailer should be placed inside the tow vehicle.

Stow needed gear and required equipment in the boat. Make a thorough pre-launch check of accessories (bilge pump, lights, battery switches, etc.) to ensure they are working.

Place any maneuvering aides equipment (boat hooks, paddles, fenders, anchors, etc.) within easy reach. Store lines where they are handy. It is a good idea to secure at least one mooring line to a bow cleat.

Check the boat over carefully one more time. THE BOW EYE WINCH LINE SHOULD STILL BE SECURED and the engine raised, though ready to be lowered.

AT THE RAMP:

Wait patiently in line at the launch ramp. When it is your turn, stay in a single lane! Pull your rig onto the ramp and back the trailer until the wheels are at the water's edge. Be slow and deliberate. This boating activity requires a degree of precision developed only with practice. (Practice during low use times in a parking lot or other large area.)

The launch procedure can be accomplished solo, but it is much easier with two people. The second person signals the tow vehicle driver when the boat and trailer are in position. Place the tow vehicle in GEAR or PARK. Put the emergency brake on.

The second person can board the boat and lower the outboard or stern-drive unit to its normal operating position. Be sure the lowered unit is not touching the ramp.

When given the signal, the vehicle driver backs slowly to a position where the engine's cooling water intakes are submerged. This assures the engine will receive adequate cooling water during warm-up, so no internal damage occurs.

Start the engine. Let it warm up. This prevents the engine from stalling at critical times when leaving the trailer.

Once the boat engine is running, check to see everything is operating properly. Ease the engine into and out of reverse a couple of times. If it doesn't stall, you are ready for the big step-- backing off the trailer.

Unhook the bow winch hook. If using a fixed bunk or adjustable trailer, have the tow vehicle driver back the trailer into the water until the boat begins to float free of the bunks or bolsters. This may mean backing the tow vehicle's rear wheels into the water. It should now be possible to shift the boat into reverse and slowly back off the trailer. If not, your helper might have to push back at the bow. If this effort does not help, have the boat driver sit in the stern of the boat while someone pushes the boat back. If none of these procedures work, the trailer and boat may need some adjustment.

A multiple-roller trailer differs somewhat in that as soon as the bow hook is released, the boat should roll off with very little effort. You need not back this type of trailer in nearly as deep as a bunk trailer. Use caution. The drive unit or outboard must remain in a slightly upright position so it will not hit the ramp as the boat rolls off the trailer.

Control the launch of a roller trailer with the boat's forward and reverse throttle. Once off, lower the drive unit.

RETRIEVING YOUR BOAT:

For boats with additional operators, drop off a person who is experienced in trailering to pick up the vehicle and trailer while the boat and occupants wait offshore. Do not block a ramp with an unattended boat or vehicle.

The line is formed by cars and trucks with trailers, not by boats already in the water waiting to be retrieved. Please wait your turn in line.

When first in line, back the trailer into the launch lane. The boat operator can slowly drive onto the trailer. Secure the winch hook to the bow eye. Winch the boat up to the stop and secure the winch. Be sure the boat is centered on the trailer and the lower unit is raised before pulling out.

Proceed to an uncongested area of the parking lot to further secure the boat.

Using Tire Pressure

2007-09-21T07:27:00.000-05:00

You can get a lot farther off road this fall by altering your tire pressures for the conditions. The rules are pretty simple: If the tires need to penetrate to gain traction leave the tires at the pressures indicated on the sidewall. If the tires need sidewall protection increase the tire pressure by 20%. If the tires need to float over thick mud or soft sand decrease the tire pressure by as much as 50%, just be sure the you don't go too low or the wheel could damage the tire. In order for you to take advantage of changing tire pressures you will need to purchase a DC compressor. These are inexpensive and an item everyone should own anyway.

Jigging for River Walleyes

2007-09-19T07:31:00.000-05:00

Jigs are made to order for walleye fishing in rivers. Cast jigs into active water below dams, rock piles and other obstructions. Sand and gravel bars at the mouths of feeder streams are also good jigging bets. Some river specialists cast upstream and retrieve at cross angles to the current, letting the water carry the jig downstream during the retrieve. This "wind-in" covers lots of water while the jig simulates natural food being washed downstream.

Others cast downstream and slowly retrieve the jig back against the current. When current is strong enough, it's possible to work the jig in one spot without retrieving line. This approach enables you to hound a hot spot. Your bait stays in the water more with less casting.

Fishing for the Young by Ted Takasaki

2007-09-17T16:51:00.000-05:00

More than four out of five Americans fished as a child. Surveys show most adults who fish today started before their 13th birthday. That means the best way to preserve the future of the sport is to take kids fishing.

A day on the water can improve the bond between parent and kid or make you the hero of the neighborhood. Fishing builds self-esteem, independence, responsibility and decision-making.

All it takes is a little patience. Be sensitive to how children will judge the time they spent fishing. It's that judgment that will determine if you have a fishing pal for life.

Here's a few ideas to help;
* Start the trip long before you hook up the boat. Include youngsters in on planning. Show them where the lake or river is on the map. Show them hydro maps of the targeted waters. Build anticipation.

* Let them help with preparations by spending a night or two after dark with flashlights and trowels digging in the yard for nightcrawlers. Kids love to get dirty. And, you might just remember why you liked hanging out after dark long after mom called you home for dinner.

Take them to the store and let them pick out lots of goodies and things to drink.

Let them help make and wrap the sandwiches. Have them gather the sunscreen, insect repellent and sunglasses. Take a bird-watching guide along.

Spend some time in the yard teaching them how to cast. Show them what you mean by vertical jigging.

The point is the more they feel a part of the trip, the more they will work to make it a success.

* Check state regulations. Some require children under certain ages to wear safety jackets. If your state doesn't require them, it's still a good idea they do. Make certain theirs fits and is comfortable.

* Don't use Mickey Mouse gear even for small children. Tackle foul-ups are just as frustrating for them as they are for you. Spincasting reels are OK for youngsters. But, make certain they are good ones that won't break down.

* It's not a good idea to target muskies the first time out for a lot of obvious reasons. Kids want ACTION. They don't care if their fish are small. They just want something to pull on the line over and over and something to brag about at school on Monday morning.

Target schooling fish. Bluegills are good. Perch and crappies are good, too. Walleyes can be good at certain times. Do your homework to insure as much success as you can. Go when the odds of catching fish are highest.

* Use a simple slip-bobber rig for panfish. Kids love to watch for the bite. (And, so do we.)
Use a Thill float, a small hook and enough split shot to balance the rig to detect even light bites. Show them how to tie a simple Palomar knot. It's quick, good for many uses and it works.

Use wax worms and nightcrawler pieces for bluegills. Use wax worms or minnows for crappies. Your son or daughter might get a surprise in the form of a big bonus catfish or bass.

Don't get too fancy. Older kids can be taught to jig for walleyes and sauger in rivers. But, let them use heavier jigs, like 3/8 and 5/8th Fuzz-E-Grub jigs to keep them on the bottom in the strike zone. It's probably easier to teach them to use three-way rigs with heavier weights on the dropper. Same is true for Lindy rigging. Make sure the weight is a heavy one to teach them the importance of bottom contact.

When the bite is on, trolling for walleyes in lakes and reservoirs is simple and fun. Use planer boards and teach them how to spot strikes. Let them reel in the fish.

* Here's an important point: Kids don't care what kind of fish they catch. Make a big deal out of whatever they reel in.

Put away your prejudices, and applaud even carp. They fight great, and that's all children want. Nothing is more depressing than to watch a kid fight a fish for five fun-filled minutes only to hear the grown-ups in the boat say, "Oh, it's just a carp." The smile from the little fisherman disappears very quickly.

* Take lots of pictures or videotape. They let you relive the fun and reinforce the experience over and over again.

*Stop often for snacks and soda. As most parents know, hungry kids are tough to handle.

* Even if you don't plan to keep any fish, put the first one or two in the livewell. Let the kids check on them often. It gives them something to do. The same goes for the minnows. You'll be surprised how a trip to the livewell or bait bucket to check on the fish will perk up bored kids.

* We happen to think it's a good idea to take some fish home to eat. It is good to show children the angling process from water to table. It teaches kids there's nothing wrong with harvesting a few fish according to the state and local laws. Kids should know that there is a food chain and they are part of it.

* If you shore fish, let them explore. Countless hours can be filled with exciting discoveries, like crawdads hidden under rocks.

* Never, ever make them stay longer than they want. When fishing becomes a chore for them, you've lost.

Nearly a quarter of Americans who fish are under the age of 16. Someone has to show them how. Don't you think you should?

Stalking Your Stand

2007-09-13T11:23:00.000-05:00

This idea, which I would have never thought of comes from Byron Ferguson, the famous archery guy. Byron stated that you should stalk your stand. What this means is that you should approach your deer stand as if there is a deer standing by or below it. This makes so much sense because isn't the reason you placed your stand in the spot you did is because you expect deer to be by it?

Mathews Switchback For Sale

2007-09-12T13:47:00.000-05:00

***SOLD***
Anyone out there interested in buying a like new Mathews Switchback. It is a left hand bow with a 30" draw. #60-#70 draw weight. The bow will include a Mathews drop-away rest, Specialty Archery peep & Loesch custom grip. I'm going to make the switch to traditional archery but need to sell this bow first. Email me at outdooru@gmail.com for more information.

A Real Deer Story

2007-09-11T21:11:00.000-05:00

I received these pictures in an email and I thought I would pass along the story and pictures. Pretty amazing stuff.

You won't believe this one. I was hunting out in Sidney this past weekend for my muzzleloader buck. Well I got him. I'll make a long story short.

First off, Mike kept telling me he saw a buck with an arrow through his head.
I thought he was full of it, but he kept telling me he saw it again.

Sat. evening we saw this buck jumping around going out of control from about 350 yards away. Mike told me it was probably the one with the arrow in its head. The buck was with another one that night.

The next morning I sat up in the tree stand and waited, all of a sudden at about 10 minutes after sun up there were two bucks that came right to the side of my stand, 30 yards. I saw the arrow instantly and didn't know what to think. Anyways, he ended up giving me a shot and I took him.

Looks like the arrow was in there probably at least a couple months or more. No blood or anything and you could move the arrow.

Forget the Bucks

2007-09-11T12:09:00.001-05:00

You have spent the summer patterning a buck and now he is gone. Has the rut started? If it has you can pretty much forget about the pattern the buck developed during the summer and early fall. He has one thing on his mind and it's not his normal routine.

If you want to harvest a buck during the rut forget about him and look for the does. Find out what the does are doing, where they are doing it and when they are doing it. If you can pattern a doe during the rut you will also find the bucks.

Also remember that does get harassed a lot by bucks of all ages, waiting for her to go into estrus. To excape this harrassment many does will seek out the thickest cover they can find. The dominant bucks know this and if you find a doe holed up in thick cover you can bet that a visitor will appear at some point in time.

Rut Week

2007-09-10T07:39:00.000-05:00

If you need to pick a week of vacation for deer hunting, choose November 3rd - November 9th. In the Northern 2/3's of the United States this is the week that the first does of the year will likely come into estrus. If you live in the Southern 1/3 of the country you will need to do some local investigation of the deer activity and adjust these dates accordingly.

Light Minnows

2007-09-06T14:11:00.000-05:00

If you are heading to your fishing spot by foot leave the heavy minnow bucket in the truck. Pick out the minnows that you want to use and put them in a zip lock bag with a little water. They will live for quite a while and if you plan on jigging it does not matter if a few die.