The More You Scout The Less Time You'll Waste...

Scouting Tips: Pre and post season:
by: Ken Carrier

Here's why this is so important...

So many hunters walk in the woods, hang a

stand and waste precious time away from
friends and family.

 

They get discouraged and eventually see or
tag next to no deer at all.

This doesn't have to be the case.

 

Here's a couple of scouting tips that I've used

for years that always get me on top of ol' big boy.

Pre-season-

--- A great scouting tip is to always have glasses

with you in your truck or car.  It's important to

always glass feeding areas or fields that you may

be able to hunt.

--- This tip always works:  Early season, set up
a stand over a food or over an area where you
can see the most land.  Check out where the big
boys/ deer are popping out.  When the season
approaches move the stand and get on them.

--- This may sound a little crazy but, I've been

running for years now and what I do is go to an

area where I may hunt.  I park and run 5 miles

or so before dark.

This great because I see deer out in fields, I can

pattern them by coming back and running again

and again, and the best part is I'm getting into

shape for hunting season.

--- While shed hunting follow buck trails along rub
routes while bucks are still on their fall home ranges
this helps you pattern them well before the season..... 

Post-season-

Once the hunting season is over or you've tagged

out, most hunters think the season is over.  That's

just not the case for dedicated hunter it's the

beginning of next season.

After hunting season the weather turns bitter cold

and walking through the woods could feel like nothing

more than a chore.

This is the difference between serious white-tail

hunters and weekend warriors I promise.

I can't wait until it snows!!  Talk about locating the

big boys! 

 

You might say how in the world is this going to

guarantee me a buck the next time in the woods?

Let me make it crystal clear...

Following / scouting in the snow will help you in the

following areas:

--- You can clearly see well used trails

--- If you look hard enough you can see the drag

marks of a bucks front hooves

--- Following tracks in the snow will lead you to

food plots

--- If you walk far enough the tracks just might

take you to ol' big boys bed.  This is where he hid

during last hunting season.

--- What about when you walk to your stand and
you jump that deer and wonder where did he go. 

 

Guess what by following tracks you know their

escape route.

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The bottom line is this, regardless if it's pre
or post season the more you scout the less time
you will waste during peak hunting hours.

Do yourself a favor and use some of these tips and
get out there and do what others are not willing
to do.  SCOUT!!!

 

Thanks to Ken Carrier, I was able to bring these

scouting tips to you.

 

You can check out Ken's Bow Hunting For Whitetail's
site at:

 

http://www.FreeHuntingSecrets.com/

technorati tags:Bowhunting, hunting, deer+hunting, scouting, outdoors, sports, Ken+Carrier

Bowhunting Pre-Season Maintenance Tips...

Here's a great article about preparing for the upcoming bowhunting season.  Outdoor writer Justin Morris reminds us of some basic bowhunting maintenance tips.

Enjoy,

Michael

=====================================

Gearing up For Bowhunting Takes a Little Work

By Justin Morris

For those hunters craving the challenge of taking their quarry with bow and arrow, the time to do so is fast approaching.

From Oct. 1 until Jan. 15, Oklahoma bowhunters will have an opportunity to bring home a turkey or bag that elusive buck that just might make the Pope & Young record book. But as intoxicating as thoughts of a successful hunt may be, they must be tempered by a sober evaluation of the gear that does the work.

Mark Chouteau, manager of Oklahoma City’s Oklahoma Archery, has been working with archery equipment for 15 years, and offers a number of tips to consider when preparing for an upcoming hunt.

Most important, he says, are the cables and string. These are the lifeblood of the bow and should be examined for any wear. Chouteau says the nocking point on the string sees a tremendous amount of flexing. Like bending and straightening a metal wire, the flex point is weakened, but this is hidden by serving and isn’t an obvious place to check for damage. Since a broken string is a sure way to ruin a hunt, Chouteau urges archers to consider replacing the string once a year.

When replacing a string, keep in mind that it will be stretching, or “creeping,” as it is broken in. Certain string materials stretch more than others, but some loosening is unavoidable. Chouteau estimates that it takes a couple hundred shots to truly break in a string. A well-tuned bow requires a precise string length, so once a string has had time to stretch it should be twisted back to the required length.

Cams that have been properly cared for will provide consistent shots and quiet operation. A bow that spends any time out-of-doors will eventually collect some dirt and grime, so inspection and cleaning of the cam axle is a vital aspect of routine bow maintenance.

On the other hand, Chouteau often sees good intentions toward cam axle care resulting in more harm than good.

“Some cams have a Teflon bushing, which is self-lubricating,” he says. “Too many people will use petroleum-based products such as WD-40 or a 3-in-1 oil on these bushings, and this will just make them wear out faster.”

Chouteau points out that simply washing these bushings with soap and water can keep them clean enough to work properly. If you do use a lubricant, he recommends the dry variety.

A well-maintained and tuned bow is only half the equation. Every arrow you plan on taking hunting could be the one nocked prior to a perfect shot, so Chouteau urges hunters to make sure each one is ready to do their job. When shooting aluminum shafts, know the difference between an arrow suitable for the hay bale and one suitable for the hunt. Take the time to look down each shaft for the slightest deviation that could disturb its effective flight.

Carbon fiber shafts, while more expensive than aluminum, have become quite popular due to their light weight and durability. At first glance, a carbon shaft may appear to be flawless, but Chouteau recommends giving each a slight flex to expose even the smallest cracks. Some varieties of carbon shafts, if cracked, could splinter upon impact and leave carbon fibers in the quarry. This is not good news if said quarry is intended for the dinner table.

Inspect each arrow’s nock for cracks, and snap each onto the bow string to ensure that it grasps the arrow tightly. Replace any nocks that don’t hold the arrow snugly on the nock point. Many a “perfect shot” has been ruined by an arrow slipping slightly on the string.

The straightest arrow can be led astray by the slightest damage to the fletching, so make sure your feathers or vanes are ready to cut through the air effortlessly. Chouteau advises a total replacement of fletching if it is in any way damaged. Regluing or repairing won’t offer the aerodynamic advantage of a fresh, perfect vane or feather.

Cloth or yarn string silencers are popular for reducing string noise and vibration, but repeated shooting can shake them apart. Replace silencers if they seem worn thin, preferably with those made of a material that doesn’t absorb moisture. A decent rain can turn a “puff”-style silencer into a detriment.

An archer can only shoot as well as his equipment allows, and once in the field there is little time to make improvements. By setting out with a bow and a quiver of arrows ready to do exactly what they are asked, the hunter significantly reduces factors that interfere with the fundamental nature of the hunt — the test of one’s talents and training, on the line, with no second chances.


Article Courtesy of 'The Norman Transcript'.

technorati tags:Bow+Hunting, Bowhunting, hunting, bow, arrow, archery, sports, outdoors

BowHunting Fitness - Why Upper Body Strength Is Important!

Hey folks,

I know it's been a while since I've updated this blog on a regular basis and for that I apologize.  Things sure do get busy around here during the summertime.

Anyway, you might remember a while back I posted a few articles by Tim Dickerson on Bowhunting fitness.  Well, today I'd like to continue on that topic...

Upper Body Strength

After reading Tim's article you'll learn two very important nubs of information...

1.  What muscles do you think you use when drawing your bow?

2.  How strengthening these muscles will help you be a better hunter.

Tim provides a great workout routine for building up these muscles using free-weights.

Enjoy,

Michael

Here's some snippets from Tim's article...

Look at the pictures of me with my bow at full draw.

Now, take a moment to think about your upper body.  Forearms, upper arms, back and shoulder muscles, neck muscles, chest muscles even the stomach muscles are used to draw your bow.

Strengthening your upper body will enable you to hold steadier, draw smoother and increase holding time.  Isn’t that what you want when drawing down on an animal or on a ten ring at a 3D shoot?  Sure it is.  So let’s get down to business.

Click Here To Read The Rest

technorati tags:Bow+Hunting, Bowhunting, hunting, fitness, exercise, weight+lifting, workout, freeweights, Tim+Dickerson

Bowhunting time just around corner...

Shawn Clark of the the Sheboygan Press recently published an article that I thought is right on the money.

If you're planning on bowhunting this year, start preparing now if you haven't already.

Take note of all the things you ought to be doing NOW in order to ensure a successful hunt.

Happy Hunting,

Michael

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Bowhunting time just around corner

It's getting to be the end of summer, and while many of us are still in the fishing mode, it's also the time to get down to the nitty gritty as the upcoming hunting seasons approach.

If you are like me, the fever is beginning to burn a little bit hotter every day, as bow hunt 2006 gets closer. Have you done any scouting yet? Are you still practicing your shots? If not, will you be soon? Are all the little noises gone from your tree stands and bows? Are your shooting lanes trimmed? There is a lot to be done before the season starts as many of you already know.

While everything I mentioned is important, nothing is more important than the shot you take when the beast is standing in front of you. Shot placement is everything, and will ultimately make or break your season. Why wouldn't you be practicing, especially this time of year? Here is what you can do about it, and now

Click Here To Read The Rest...

technorati tags:bowhunting, hunting, scouting, archery, bow, arrow, broadhead, shooting, outdoors