August 2009

Hollow Point Bullets Recalled That Fail To Explode Targets -From the Onion

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Missouri Car Dealership

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Have You Seen The Turkey Guillotine Arrows

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Hunting Minnesota and Wisconsin this Deer Season

Beautiful scenery and the chance to take home some serious venison, welcome to deer hunting in the far north. Minnesota and Wisconsin have some of the largest numbers of harvested deer each year. Each state boasts 500,000 plus deer taken every year, and in one state that is only gun season, add about 240,000 thousand more taken during bow season. That, my friend, is a lot of deer! Before you head north on this deer season there are a few rules and regulations you might want to be aware of. Each state has a game and fish commission or wildlife management team that determines what the rules each year will be. This is so the deer population is properly preserved, neither over or under hunted according to that year’s population growth.

Minnesota

Minnesota is a great place to deer hunt there are a variety of terrains and deer a plenty. This year’s deer season shapes up like this:

09/13/08 – 12/31/08 Deer hunt – Bow season
10/11/08 – 10/12/08 Deer hunt – Early Antlerless Deer Season
10/19/08 – 10/20/08 Deer hunt – Camp Ripley Bow hunt – 1st season
10/26/08 – 10/27/08 Deer hunt – Camp Ripley Bow hunt – 2nd season
11/08/08 Deer hunt – Gun opener
11/08/08 – 11/14/08 Deer hunt – Gun – Zone 3A
11/08/08 – 11/23/08 Deer hunt – Gun- Zone 1A
11/08/08 – 11/16/08 Deer hunt – Gun – Zone 2A
11/22/08 – 11/30/08 Deer hunt – Gun – Zone 3B
11/29/08 – 12/14/08 Deer hunt – Muzzleloader season

Some definite changes have been made to the rules and regulations this year and here we will take a quick look at some of them.
• Any center fire cartridge of .220 or above may be used. Rim fire is still prohibited.
• A child of between the ages of ten and eleven may hunt with the direct supervision of a parent or guardian.
• Zone 4 has been eliminated and the permits moved to zone 2.
• All season hunting licenses have been eliminated; there are now three stand-alone licenses, archery, gun, and muzzleloader.

License types and the bag limit for each is below:

• Regular archery- A bow hunter may take one deer of either sex without applying for the lottery.
• Regular Firearm- During the season a hunter may take a buck in the area but must apply for an either sex permit through lottery before September 8th.
• Muzzleloader- A hunter may take one deer of either sex provided they do not also hold a firearm license. Hunters who possess both licenses must apply to the lottery.
The season bag limit for certain areas is two no matter what combination of license you hold; the exception is the intensive areas of the state. These intensive areas have been designated by number and can be found on the website. The difference per license is this:
• Regular Firearm – You must hold a regular hunting license and may purchase up to four more deer permits at half the regular price. You are allowed one deer of either sex and four additional antlerless deer. Bonus permits are for antlerless deer only in the intensive area for which they have a permit.
• Archery/ Muzzleloader- Is much the same as firearm, with the exception of the bonus permits. They are good for any intensive area in the state, not just ones the hunter is licensed for.
This is a brief look at some changes to the regulations please check the official site for more details.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin has an abundance of deer as well and is a terrific place to hunt whitetail deer. Here is a brief look at their hunting season and some rules and regulations.
• Bow hunting season- Sept. 13 – Nov. 20, 2008 and Dec. 1, 2008 – Jan. 4, 2009
• Gun season- Nov. 22 – Nov. 30, 2008
• Muzzleloader – Dec. 1 – Dec. 10, 2008
• Youth Deer Hunt – Oct. 11 & 12, 2008

Wisconsin also has a separate area called the CWD zones and the season is a bit different in these zones.
• Archery- September 13 to January 4 (Earn-a-buck)
• Youth Hunt- October 11-12 (exempt from earn-a-buck)
• Early Firearm- October 16-19 (antlerless-only)
• Traditional- November 22-30 (Earn-a-buck)
• Muzzleloader only season- December 1-10 (Earn-a-buck)
• Late firearm – December 11-14 (antlerless only)
• Holiday firearm- December 24-January 4 (Earn-a-buck)

This special zone was developed to combat a disease among deer called chronic wasting disease. This disease cause the deer to literally waste away and is spread through close contact. To attempt to eradicate the disease special zones with extended seasons were created.

Another program instituted in Wisconsin is the earn-a-buck program. In order to control herd sizes the commission set up the program like this:

In order to take an antlered deer the hunter must first harvest an antlerless deer. In this way, he “earns” a sticker that makes his hunting permit valid. This only applies to certain areas of the state called units. Regular units do not require an antlerless kill first. However, an antlerless deer killed in a regular unit will not count toward the requirement for the earn-a-buck in EAB units. In other words if you happen to kill an antlerless on your regular tag in a regular area you are not now qualified to hunt an antlered deer in the EAB unit.

The bonus is this if a hunter checked in an antlerless in the previous year they may be pre-qualified this year. The stickers were to be in the mail by late August or the hunter could check online to see their status.
There are many more rules and regulations you will want to be aware of for the Wisconsin deer-hunting season, this is merely a brief overview. Have a great hunting season.

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Hunting Equipment What You Need Versus What You Want

When you think of deer, hunting equipment you may think that you do not need much more than your gun and a little camouflage. Actually, there is so much more than that, some you have to have and other things you may want to have. Some articles are even required by law in the state you hunt.

Clothing

There is at least one article of hunting clothing you will be required to purchase and wear. Blaze orange is required at different levels, depending on the state you hunt in. In Wisconsin, for example the requirement is 50% blaze orange during any firearm season. Conversely, in Minnesota the requirement is some blaze orange on either clothing or cap. Some states even require blaze orange to be placed on ground blinds. Be sure you check the regulations on the state you will be hunting in.

You can find blaze orange vests, t-shirts, sweaters, caps, and even coats so choose an article of clothing that is beneficial to you where you are hunting. Where I live, the preference is in lightweight vests worn over the hunters camouflage.

Camouflage is another type of hunting clothes that you will find is a deer season staple. Camouflage pants, shirts, coats, hats and even socks can be found in most hunting clothes. I would not be surprised to find out there are camouflaged underwear available from realtree! Camouflage was first used in WW I when the French army started a special camouflage unit, the rest as they say is history. When choosing your camo choose a style that works with your surroundings. For instance, mossy oak will probably not be very concealing when hunting arid parts of Texas! Something along the lines of cactoflage would be better suited to that environment.

Do not neglect to get a good pair of hunting boots before you go out this season. This is an area often overlooked with detriment to hunter’s feet. Again, this will be an area specific choice but look into getting good camo boots that are rated for the temperatures in which you will be hunting. Look for well-made boots that will keep moisture out and heat in as well as comfort, you do not want to cut a hunting trip short because your feet are hurting or frostbitten.

Hunting Gear

Now that you have, your wardrobe all picked out it is time to pick up the last few items you will need. Hunting gear comes in all different forms there are things you will need and just some stuff you will want.

Hunting Knife

First, let’s look at what you will need. You will need a good sharp hunting knife in case you must field dress your deer. Many hunters carry a regular pocketknife but the best choice is a certified hunting knife. Pocket knives are generally small and may not be very sharp leaving you to saw your way through tough deer hide, not to mention there propensity for breaking. As with many other aspects of hunting equipment a lot depends on personal preference and the game you are hunting. Many hunters like knives that incorporate a gut hook on the tip. This will aid you in skinning your deer by preventing you from paunching the meat, that is contaminating the meat from cutting the stomach or bowel.

Calls

Another piece of staple hunting equipment is the deer call. Deer calls are a variety of contraptions that make various sounds particular to the whitetail deer. Hunters vary on which is the best with the suggestions being to have more than one type in your arsenal.

Buck calls

To call in a buck you can use a variety of calls. A buck grunt mimics the grunting or snorting sounds of another buck, this will lead another buck to come check it out. They are looking to see if there is a female nearby or to just run the intruder out of their area. Rattling antlers has much the same effect; you take a set of antlers and rattle them together imitating the sound of two males fighting.

Bucks will also respond to doe bleats of course. That is what the mature buck is looking for in the first place. As with the grunt, this is generally a manual contraption that you blow through in specified patterns to achieve the correct sound. Doe bleats often double as fawn calls also, these are good for calling in a doe if that is what you happen to be hunting. Of course, do not forget where there are doe there are usually bucks too.

Night and Hale has come up with the granddaddy of all hunting calls. It is a remote control E-Call. This little baby comes with cartridges that have pre-recorded animal sounds on them. Want a little antler rattling followed by a snort or two? This thing does it via remote control! Simply conceal the call a few feet from you deer blind or stand then give everything a little while to settle down. Now pull out your handy dandy remote and begin calling. Easy as can be, this will probably become a favorite because one of the draw backs of the manual calls like those above is you need a little skill.

Cover Scent

There are hunters that swear by cover scent and no scent detergents and then there are others who say it is pointless. I say do what makes your hunting trip exciting. I have a friend who washes his clothes and bedding in scent free detergent all year round. For those who are interested, let’s look at a few cover scents.

Doe estrus is a cover scent that mimics the smell of a doe in heat. Guessing that there is not a lot more that needs to be said about that particular scent.

Buck urine sounds questionable as a cover scent but I am assured that this scent will bring big bucks a running. Like the calls and the antlers buck urine alerts a deer that a buck is in the area marking his territory so to speak. The dominant buck in the area will assuredly come out to take a look.

You can get less inflaming cover scents such as pine or cedar just be sure that it is a scent native to your hunting area. These scents will mask your human scent and keep from scaring the game out of the country.

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Tree Stand, Deer Blind, Climbing Stand, Which One Do I Choose?

It is late October and you have your brand new hunting license and a gun, you are ready to go hunting right? Well not quite, you may want to look into the many types of deer stands available. A deer blind or deer tree stand are not only more comfortable than sitting on a log they also give you the added benefit of cover. This cover could mean the difference between venison on the table tonight and going home empty handed. Below you will find everything from the executive deer bind to the basic climbing tree stand and the benefits of each one.

Know that the area of the country you will be hunting will play a large role in choosing your deer stand. For instance, if you are hunting in southern Texas, you won’t need the added protection of a full deer blind. However if you are braving the cold Wisconsin winter a deer blind with amenities such as heat may be very welcome.

Tree ladder stands are one of the basic types of tree stand. These stands are generally built with steel and require you to affix them to the tree for deer season. They are not portable but can be easily removed for safekeeping after the season is over. The designs are diverse and include one or two man varieties, padded seats, safety bar, safety harness, and rifle rests. A good tree ladder stand should be made of material that blends into its surroundings, a non-glare metal finish with colors natural to the area are best. Tree ladder stands have the advantage over tower stands in that they are out of the line of sight of the deer and attached to a tree that has been in their habitat all along. These types of stands are easily found where deer hunting in the woods is popular.

Climbing stands are just what they sound like a deer stand that you can climb your chosen tree with. With a climbing tree stand, you have to option of more portability. These are great for the avid deer hunter who may be hunting in several different locations this season. Most are made of lightweight steel and come formatted to carry backpack style. As with any stand, these should also blend well with the surroundings. These also have different amenities available there are bare bones types with just a seat and small bar for your feet up to tree stands have a larger platform that you can stand up on. For safety, this type of tree stand should have a safety harness.

If you will be hunting more open areas this season, there are freestanding deer hunting stands. A popular version is the tripod tree stand, these are great for field hunting where you want to be up above the sight and hopefully, smell of the deer. They are also convenient for hunting scrub areas where there are trees but they are too small to support a traditional tree stand. The tripod will be adjustable ranging in height from 12- 16 feet in the air, that way you can get the perfect altitude for the area you are hunting. These look like a huge camera tripod with a swivel seat at the top! The seat will set upon a solid metal platform giving you plenty of room to get the perfect shot, as well as giving you the option to stand and stretch. For safety, there will be a 360-degree bar that doubles as a rifle rest. For added protection and camouflage, you can purchase toppers and skirts.

This brings us to the final category of deer hunting stands, the deer blind. These can be built on a tower or be ground blinds the choice is yours. For comfort, these are the crème de le crème of deer hunting stands.

Ground blinds were created to give hunters a concealed place to hunt from that affords more protection from the elements than traditional deer stands do. There are all shapes and sizes and all manner of composition. The sky is the limit on these beauties; the more you can spend the more comfortable your ground blind will be.

The majority of hunters opt for functionality over comfort, a good ground blind will be camouflaged to the area you are hunting. Assembled similar to tent construction these come with legs that are easily assembled and a tent like fabric that is constructed of 150-denier polyester and can stand up to six feet in the middle for more maneuverability. This material is weatherproof and has blackout on the inside so that your movements are not easily detected by game. Simple and to the point these great hunting blinds pack up just as quickly as they set up, 10 seconds or less.

If you are a bit like me a little older than you used to be or just plain not crazy about the cold there are executive deer blinds you can purchase. Now these do not come cheap but man do they come with benefits? Basically, any design you can imagine and best of all you can get one that is heated. While these are moveable, I would imagine that they are better set up in a more permanent location so that the deer become used to their presence. These are like tiny mobile homes flooring, walls, and carpet but specially designed for hunting, like windows that slide to accommodate your rifle. These are definitely the latest in comfort hunting and while some hunters scoff, you can see a real benefit especially for the very young or the more seasoned hunter who has seen enough cold winters but still likes to hunt whitetail. Yes, sir I think I will take two thank you very much!

All in all no matter where, when, or what you hunt there is a deer tree stand, climbing tree stand, tripod or ground blind for your hunting pleasure. This is a small list and by no means is it comprehensive. Ground blinds are used for deer; turkey or you name it and come in colors and camo blends to prove it. Want realtree camouflage? Do you think Cabela’s is the last name in hunting supplies? All this and more are out there waiting for you this deer season.

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My First Black Bear

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