Top Climbing Locations in North America

You can probably go just about anywhere in the world and find great places for rock climbing. North America is one destination that provides climbing enthusiasts with a plenitude of spots to choose from including Rocky Mountain Park and Denali National Park.  The most important aspects to consider when choosing a climbing park is first, the type of climb you want and secondly, your ability level. Weather is another key factor to keep in mind. Here’s a few of the top picks that show up on the avid rock climbers list:

Pikes Peak

Pike’s Peak is a great place for those who are adventurous at heart. It’s one of the most dangerous and endurance testing rock climbing parks in the world. This mountain can be dangerous and requires preparation, with 7,500 feet of vertical gain and bouts of deadly lightning. Most climbers choose to visit in the summer, but it’s best to get an early start to avoid lightning storms. Fees range from seven to ten dollars per person.

Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado

Denali National Park

This park features Mt. Mckinley, the highest peak in North America. The rise on this mountain is even larger than that of Mt. Everest. Mt McKinley stands tall at 20,320 feet and a rise of 18,000 feet. While there are a number of routes to take, West Buttress is one the most popular. Weather can change on a dime in the area, so come prepared with tarps and the right gear. The best way to get there is to fly into Mt. McKinley with one of the local aviation services.

Location: Denali Park, Alaska

Rocky Mountain National Park

One of the most popular climbs in this park is Spearhead, an amazing route that ascends an impressive 13,000 feet. This is definitely a climb for those who are more advanced. Another well-liked trip is to climb to Longs’ summit via the Keyhole Route. This is a very dangerous climb that crosses sheer vertical rock faces, accompanied by falling rocks. Not using a rope in this area could prove fatal in case of a fall. This destination provides tons of climbing opportunities that include everything from short, bouldering trips to multi-day wall experiences.

Location: Estes Park, Colorado

National Park

This park is full of delicate arches and spectacular views. For beginners, the Dark Angel is the perfect place to test your skills. While its good for novice climbers, it’s not without excitement for those more advanced. This park also offers a treat for those who prefer crack climbing; the formidable Tonka Tower. If you are bold at heart, take some risk and attempt to climb the Three Penguins. The entrance to Arches is located five miles north of Moab.

Location: Moab, Utah

Yosemite National Park

Yosemite is a park that’s made its way into many rock climbing stories of adventure. Climbers can find an endless variety of challenging rocks including the sun-drenched Tuolumne Meadows domes to the sustained crack climbs of the Merced River Canyon. There are also tons of multi-day climbs to encounter along the big walls of the Valley. Yosemite is a climber’s playground as well as home to a large ecosystem of animals, plants and waterways which are protected and set aside for visitors to enjoy. Some of the most amazing climbs in the world have taken place here. Overnight camping trips cost just five dollars.

Location: Yosemite National Park, California

 

Grand Teton National Park

This park is not only a great place for climbing, but visitors can also experience a vastness of wildlife such as the majestic pronghorn. Grand Teton is one of the classic alpine peaks in the nation. For more than 100 years, climbers from all over the world have been drawn to “The Grand” and continue to visit it yearly. There are more than 35 routes and 50 variations to choose from, so there is something for everyone. A few new routes have been discovered including The Squeeze Box. The newest route is located just north and lies between Shea’s Chute and the Alex Lowe Memorial Route. The Owen-Spalding is the perfect route for those who want to test their technical skill.

Location: Moose, Wyoming

 

Top South Florida Wildlife Gaming Sites

Hunting in Florida can be both relaxing and an exciting way for friends and family to experience the area’s natural beauty. Before heading out on a hunting adventure it’s important to take the opportunity to understand the indigenous wildlife and their habitats.

Besides being a way to forage, hunting supports conservation in a variety of ways. The revenue derived from hunting licenses directly supports conservation, and contributes in other ways as well. The money that comes from the sale of hunting licenses is factored into a formula that determines how much money in Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration a state will receive. The funding for conservation here in Florida is directly linked to the money made from the shooting sports industry and its participants.

Hunters play a large role in on-the-ground conservation projects too. They are the eyes and ears out in the field, and therefor provide the FWC with important information about what’s happening with wildlife that inhabits more remote areas of the state.

While Florida offers a variety  of species for both hunting and fishing, there are a few favorites among the sporting industry.

The wild pig or as it’s better known as, wild boar or feral pig, is the second most popular game in the state. While it’s not native to Florida, its flourished here since it was introduced by Spanish explorer Hernando DeSoto in the 1539.

They can be found in of Florida’s 67 counties and live in a variety of habitats, but prefer sloughs and pine flatwoods, oak-cabbage palm hammocks and marshes. Mature wild pigs can weigh as much as 150 pounds and be 5-6 feet long. They tend to travel in small family groups.

By law wild pigs are defined as wildlife and are one of the most popular, large animal hunted in Florida.

Hunting on private property must be done with the landowner’s permission. On private land, wild pigs can be trapped and hunted year round with legal to own rifles, pistol, shotgun, bow or crossbow.  Either sex may be harvested and there is no size or bag limit. A hunting license is not required.

Laws for hunting wild pig vary by season on wildlife management areas (WMAs).Hogs are allowed to be hunted during most hunting seasons, except spring turkey. During archery season, hunters are required to use a bow, and during muzzleloading gun season, a muzzleloader is required. Many WMA’s require an management area permit and various other permits to hunt wild pigs during particular seasons. There is often a daily bag limit on wild pigs and a minimum size limit on what’s allowed to be taken. Guns and a light for night hunting are not permitted as well.

By far, the most popular game in Florida is the white-tailed deer. Seasons  and bag limits are divided up by zones and hunters must obtain a deer permit as well as a hunting license to hunt deer. Hunting licenses are also required when hunting whitetail on private lands for both non- residents and residents.

Fees for a hunting license are (17.00 for yearly resident, 46.50 non-resident 10 day) and a deer permit ($5.00 for residents or non-residents).

During  archery, crossbow or muzzleloader season, an additional permit is necessary ($5.00 for residents or non-residents).

 

 

Deer Hunting In United Kingdom

The earliest known form of hunting was recorded in Norfolk, England in 1534. For pest control, farmers had to train packs of hounds to chase down and hunt foxes. Before the rise of agriculture and the domestication of animals hunting was a crucial activity and a necessity. Hunting brought food to the table, and pride to the hearts of men.

Royalties like King Edward VII, King George V, King George VI, Prince Philip, and Queen Elizabeth II have also enjoyed the predatory rush, excitement, and satisfaction brought by the practice of hunting.

Deer Hunting, since time immemorial, is considered a part of British rural culture. In the year 2012, deer hunting or deer stalking became a sport in the entire United Kingdom. According to BASC or the British Association for Shooting and Conservation, more than a million people in the United Kingdom actively participate in game birds shooting and deer hunting every year.

Deer hunting or deer stalking involves the use of high-powered rifles. Such practice is usually done high on moors, and in woodlands. There are certain hunting lodges all over the United Kingdom, which are properties that cater to the whims of hunters and their hunting parties. One of the most popular hunting lodges is Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge in Epping Forest.

There are six species of deer that exist in the United Kingdom which include the Red Deer being the most famous among all, the Sika, the Fallow Deer, the Roe Deer, the Muntjac which is a stocky deer with small antlers, and the antlers-less Chinese Water Deer. They are hunted for sport and the purpose of culling to a certain extent relative to their population.

In locating a wounded deer, a hunter would definitely have to rely on his hound’s skills on tracking it down. Most of the time, the species of dogs that are trained and used in accomplishing the said task are the German Wirehaired Pointers, Hanavaians, Baverians, and Vislas.

A hunter or stalker shoots a deer at a range that will guarantee a humane kill. A hunter’s position should be strategic, his vision clear, and his aim precise.

The deer hunting provisions in the UK differ from country to country. Scotland and Northern Ireland share a common deer legislation that is set apart from that of England and Wales.

One is permitted to hunt or stalk a deer if and only if he only uses legal firearms, and shoots during open seasons at the hour after sunset or before sunrise from a moving vehicle.

Because of certain factors that include the preservation of animal life and diversity all throughout UK, there have been laws passed to either ban or minimize hunting in some parts. The Hunting Act of 2004 in England and Wales prohibits hunting with dogs except when it is done for pest control, in hunting rats and rabbits, retrieving shot hares, rescuing wounded animals, drag hunting, and trail hunting. When caught and found guilty, the fine to pay will cost you a lot (5,000 pounds) and besides that, the court would have all the rights to confiscate your dog and your hunting equipment.

Why We Condemn The Killing Of Cecil the Lion

First of all, we here at The Outdoors & Adventure Blog would like to express our sincerest sympathy to the people of Zimbabwe and all the people in the world who condemn the brutal killing of a mighty creature – Cecil the Lion. While we feature hunting as a sport here, I hope our readers know that the hunting excursions that we talked about are done in the most humane way possible. Furthermore, hunters get permits to kill animals in order to control or balance their population against their environment and they don’t use it as an excuse to be cruel to these animals.

In fact, most tourism agencies that feature hunting in their list of fun things to do have certain rules and guidelines for people who like to hunt wild bears, elks, African buffaloes, lions and other big game hunting animals. For aggressive and dangerously powerful animals, they recommend the large hunting rifles while less aggressive animals can be taken down by airguns or bow and arrows. Tourism departments of countries like Canada, the United States, Russia and other European countries require hunters to be physically fit in order to survive the harsh conditions of the hunting grounds and, if absolutely necessary, survive animal attacks. That’s because out there in the wilderness, the hunter can quickly become the hunted.

The problem with Dr. Walter Palmer is that he didn’t follow any of these rules when he set out to hunt which ended in a very brutal and inhumane killing of a cherished animal. According to the news, he initially poisoned Cecil with raw meat when he lured him for a clear shot of his bow and arrow. But when that didn’t work out, he had the lion suffer for over 20 minutes before the poison killed him slowly, then shot him with a 0.22 caliber hunting rifle and decapitated the poor lion for trophy. That is a lame and lazy way to hunt, he paid the department of tourism of Zimbabwe to torture and kill animals and not to hunt, in fact, he shouldn’t even be called a hunter or an amateur hunter, because he displayed no such characteristics and he made other hunters (real hunters) look bad.

Personally, I think hunting should only be done in areas where predators outnumber humans like the northern forests of Canada and Russia and not in places like Africa. The lions there have a strict territorial system tha they claim, they don’t invade human settlements or threaten their existence and they don’t grow too many for the environment to sustain. I think African  nations should ban the killings of endangered species all together!

Pretty soon if the outcry is too great and animal cruelty becomes too much, I may have to re-brand this blog as simply just “The Adventure Blog.” It doesn’t feel right anymore in writing about stuff that involves a lot of violence like this one.

At the moment, the whole world is outraged at what had happened. In fact, they are angrier over this situation than terrorist attacks and other human rights abuses that have been going on lately (I do hope that we will be angry over those stuff too, but being angry about Cecil the Lion is a good start though) and they want to extradite Dr. Palmer and file a lawsuit against him for killing Cecil. However, I hope that this issue will gain enough traction that those who also care about white rhinoceros and elephant hunting will stop permanently and poachers be prosecuted for what they have done.

On personal notes, ancient kings and warriors in the past demonstrate their courage by facing the alpha male lion of their pride and challenge it to the death. They used knives, spears or just their bare hands. That was brave. What Dr. Palmer did was an act of cowardice and he should be ashamed of himself for doing so.

10 Things To Know Before Going On A Moose Hunt

Hunting down a moose is no easy task. It is an endeavor that requires a step by step plan and careful preparation as one lousy move may shrink your chances of a successful kill down to nothing. For novices, you should remember one important detail: moose are massive creatures. Nobody should dare underestimate the power of a wild animal that could weigh more or less 1500 pounds. There are tips, secrets and critical notes you ought to know before going on a moose hunt, whether it will be your first time or not.

1. It’s critical to schedule a moose hunt on a day free of snowstorms or heavy rains. A sudden change of weather condition may lead to disastrous outcomes. Pick a day that is perfect for you and the moose.
2. Study the area where you plan to execute your moose hunt. Get familiar with the area, bring a map and a compass with you always to make sure that you won’t lose your way going to the location and coming back from it. If you plan to hunt deep into an area and far from the main road, it’s best to leave trails, though optional. Tell your family and friends about your excursion, your departure and the estimated date and time of arrival from the excursion. We never know what could happen, it is but wise to practice precautionary measures.
3. Train your body into fitness. Hunting is a physical endeavor that would require your body to exert more energy than usual. Mind you, only a man who is physically an 8 to 10 will be able to handle the weight of the moose meat that you’d have to carry on your back after making the kill. So make a checklist of the necessary equipment, comfortable clothing and the appropriate gear to make sure that you have everything with you need with you. Most importantly, acknowledge your limitations, and listen to your body.
4. It is inevitable to spend a night or two at the location so include on that list a survival kit in cases of emergency. Pack in that kit some meds, matches, a whistle or a flare gun (again, you never know the extent of the dangers of the wild), extra ammunition, shelter provisions, and high energy food.
5. Study on how to execute a quick and humane shot aimed at a vital area (heart, major blood vessels, lungs and the liver) on the mouse with the proper firearm. Practice with your rifle and condition it prior to the actual hunting. If you are a beginner and your knowledge on hunting firearms is scarce, research thoroughly about it, ask friends who have gone to hunting trips before, or better yet consult a professional.
6. If you opt to hunt during rut season, do so somewhere near a body of water. Otherwise, concentrate on areas where food and water sources are abundant.
7. The most used technique in luring a moose towards you is by moose calling. Research more on moose calling and practice often to ensure that your sound is as accurate as possible. Stand Hunting or glassing, floating, road and trail hunting are some other techniques that you ought to consider.
8. Give importance to the direction of the wind and use it to your advantage. Once you’ve spotted your moose, approach from the downwind side to avoid the dispersion of your scent. Include a wind indicator on your list of equipment to bring.
9. The proper starting incision point when field dressing the mouse should be at its breastbone’s base up until shortly before its anus. Do not wound any internal organs while at it.
10. Lastly, prior to the hunting, learn how to quarter the moose meat, plan a strategic way in getting the moose meat out of the woods as quickly as possible, and observe a proper transportation and cooling process.

 

Knowing these things will greatly improve your chances in hunting moose and sooner or later you’ll be able to catch one and bring it back home as a souvenir.

Preparing For Cape Buffalo Hunting: Using A Champion’s Bow And Arrow

Have you always wanted to hunt down a formidable beast like the African Cape Buffalo with only a bow and arrow? With a strong conditioned arm (you would definitely need all the muscle power and force your arm could exert), the perfect bow and arrow that will deliver enough kinetic energy for an instant humane kill, and of course a permit from the local government or the big hunting game department to stalk and hunt a Cape Buffalo, you’re good to go on the hunting trip of your dreams. By the end of this page, you will have a concrete idea on how to accurately prepare for a successful Cape Buffalo hunting using a champion’s deadly bow.

Cape Buffalos, also commonly known as the African Buffalo, are the largest of its kind that naturally occur in the continent of Africa. They are wild bovids from the family Bovidae that stands 51 to 59 inches, weighs about 930 to 2000 pounds (bulls are usually over 200 pounds heavier than the cows), with a muscular and skeletal build heavier than any North American animal, and have horns that grow over 40 inches across. Despite its very close resemblance with the water buffalo, its origin still remains unknown.

Typically, prior to the actual Cape Buffalo bow hunt, you should first do a lot of research and penetration tests on the perfect combination of a bow, arrow, and broadhead. You can opt for a heavy bow and arrow and a heavy double blade broadhead. The weight of the best bow to use in hunting a Cape Buffalo should be around 80 pounds. Depending on its length, size shafts, and other additional accessories, your arrow’s total weight should be around 800 to 1000 grains. Your bow and arrow’s efficiency will largely depend on your own calculations that would get you the desired kinetic energy, shot placement strategies, and other techniques.

To give you an idea, one of the more successful hunters used an 80-pound Hoyt RKT bows and Easton Full Metal Jacket Dangerous Game 28 and a half inch arrows, with 250 size shafts each weighing 17.2 grains per inch, a 9 grain X Nock, fletches in four inches, and a 75 grain Brass X HIT Break Off insert. With these he made use of Phantom SS two-blade broadheads that weighed 200 grains. In total, his arrow weighed a total of 816.2 grains, giving him the ability to produce an initial kinetic energy of 86.15 ft/lbs.

A 90-pound draw weight Bowtech Tribute with  Smooth Cams and a 27-inch draw length, a 28 inched Easton 2018 Aluminum arrow accessorised with Easton Trooper Fiberglass shafts inside, Luminoks, a 200-grain Muzzy Phantom stainless steel broadhead and a two-blade double bevel edge with the bleeder blades removed will surely deliver a classic kill shot.

You may also include other accessories such as a 3-pin Tru-Glo sight, NAP Quicktune Rest, stringer release, Nikon Realtree Rangefinder, and an Alpine Quiver.

Good luck on your next Cape Buffalo hunt!

Amazing British Columbia Bear Hunting Season

British Columbia is a remote province situated on the west coast of Canada, 80 kilometers north of Campbell River. A significant part of British Columbia is known for its wildlife abound by a mammalian population that people don’t normally witness in the United States of America. Abundant in healthy populations are grizzly bears, black bears, and the Kermode bears or spirit bears making British Columbia the most popular go-to for bear hunting enthusiasts.

Along with the bears, there is also a bountiful number of deer, wolves, moose, elks, cougars, coyotes, lynx, and a lot more animals you can hunt. Glendale Cove is the place where a huge fraction of the grizzly bears are found. On the other hand, the black bear’s population per square mile in British Columbia is the most impressive in all of North America. They can grow to massive sizes, 6 sometimes 7 feet.
Given its geographical beauty, British Columbia is a place enjoyed by many for activities such as camping, hiking, mountain climbing, mountaineering, fishing and as mentioned, hunting. Many people have attested to British Columbia, Canada being the most popular and alluring location for avid bear hunters. If you have been long craving for the thrill brought by hunting and have never in your life seen the beauty of a bear in person, it’s time for you to hit British Columbia soon.

Bear hunting season usually falls sometime in spring or peak fall when the salmons start swimming back to the river. Hunters find it very exciting to use the method of spot and stalk. British Columbia doesn’t allow the method of baiting. Many spot 5 to 10 bears a day and successfully stalk and kill 1. That’s a considerably amazing number. As hunters have insisted, bear encounters in British Columbia are incomparable.
Every British Columbia Bear Hunting Season ends beautifully with proud hunters and their pictures with massive bears. During the previous 2014 British Columbia Bear Hunting Season, their rates shot up to an impressing 100% opportunity and 85% success on black bear hunts. You’d be able to view some grizzlies too but most of the time, the kills are just black bears.

The full 6-day May British Columbia Bear Hunt will probably cost you an amount of $3500, while the June hunt rate is at $4500. These fees are usually inclusive of a service from the airport in Prince George to the actual venue.If a hunter decides to take a second bear, he would be allowed to do so with a trophy fee of around $2500. A wolf would cost you less, nothing more than $100.
So what are you stalling for? Get your hunting gear and hunting equipment ready, start inviting your friends who you know are interested in bear hunting too, book for the season, and enjoy spotting and stalking your dream kill at the next British Columbia Bear Hunting Season. Don’t forget to post your proud pictures on the net for everybody to see how truly amazing bear hunting is in BC, Canada.

Top 10 Mountain Hunting Rifles

Having been around the mountains of North America more times than I can count, I am a witness to the glory days of hunting rifles, the hunters that used them, their effectiveness or lack thereof. Precision shooting, especially in the wilderness of the cold and rocky Alaska, Northern United States or Canada requires a rifle that’s lightweight, dependable, accurate and of course – weatherproof.

There are no perfect hunting rifles and they all have advantages and disadvantages. Some hunting rifles incorporate super lightweight materials but hunters have trouble with accurate shooting as its recoil has significantly increased. There are also shooting rifles that have high hit accuracy but are too damn heavy to carry that it will burn up all your calories while halfway through the hunt. As an experienced hunter myself, I always recommend rifles that has a minute of arc (MOA) shooting consistency of 1 ½ and yet is still as uber lightweight as ever. Like most hunters, I have my ten best hunting rifles that I would take with me anytime, anywhere on a mountain hunt. Some of these you may have seen on TV while you watch Pursuit Channel online.

Here are My Top 10 Picks for Mountain Hunting

Image (c) Guns and Ammo

1) Kimber 84M Mountain Ascent

Kimber’s latest Mountain Ascent model – the 84M – has taken hunting to the next level. It is probably the lightest production rifle on the market weighing in only at 4 pounds and 13 ounces. It has the perfect length, easy to carry around, sits right on your shoulder and it feels good to the touch. It also sports an all-weather construction that will make your mountain hunting experience a memorable one. The suggested retail price of this gun is around $2,040. Want to get more expert advice on hunting rifles? Then watch Pursuit Channel online!

Image (c) Cheaper Than Drift

2) Double Broom Mountain Rifles

Then there’s the Double Broom Mountain Rifles. It has an accent of beauty in it and yet it is lightweight and rugged. Packing up your hunting and camping equipment and this hunting rifle at your back, you’ll be set for your mountain hunting trip. The best thing about Double Broom Mountain Rifles is that you can have them custom made for your own specifications and they are excellent for precision shooting.

Image (c) Find The Best

3) Savage Model 16/116 FCSS

Another brand that champions precision shooting is Savage guns, they make the best hunting rifles in the market and their accuracy is second to none. The Savage Accutrigger feature is the favorite of mountain hunters and at only 7 pounds, it has the ideal weight-to-recoil ratio. You will sharpen your hunting skills in no time using this hunting rifle and it sells just over $850, it is friendly to your budget.

Image (c) Free Guns Classifieds

4) Ruger M77 Hawkeye All-Weather

There’s no arguing with this rifle when it comes to ruggedness and dependability. It can withstand varying weather conditions, weighs 7 pounds more or less and has good accuracy – a perfect combination for mountain hunting. Along with your toothbrush and some clean socks, this is one of the best hunting rifles that you might want to pack along your hunting and camping equipment.

Image (c) Google

5) Winchester Model 70 Extreme Weather SS

One of the most famous brands on hunting rifles, Winchester has always emphasized on the different weather conditions in designing their weapons; and true enough the Model 70 Extreme Weather SS says it all. It is 3 quarter pounds lighter than the Remington 700 XCR II, but it has a Bell & Carlson stock, a floated barrel and controlled feed pre-64 style action, which means this thing can keep firing all day and you won’t get any complaints from it.

Image (c) Google

6) HS Precision 2000 PHL

Their reputation for making excellent hunting rifles does indeed precedes their name, and any serious mountain hunter will never say “no” to their guns, especially with the 2000 PHL. The HS Precision 2000 PHL is so accurate that it guarantees a sure hit as it can fire at ½ MOA (minute of arc). Thanks to its composite materials it only weighs at 5.75 pounds which is a strong contributor to its accurate shots. This rifle has been featured in many of the shows you’ve watch Pursuit Channel online. It doesn’t come cheap though as standard pricing for this beautiful machine is around $3,000.

Image (c) Hunting Rifle

7) Christensen Arms Carbon Custom

Christensen Arms likes to trade futuristic rifles and other weapons for hunting and shooting purposes. Using carbon composites to build their hunting rifles, the weight of the gun has been greatly reduced. On top of that it also has an impeccable accuracy which make you love it even more! Average cost per rifle is around $3,000 and it goes higher as you request for some extras.

Image (c) Golf MKV

8) Remington Model 700 XCR II

The XCR II is built for extreme conditions [that’s what the (x) stands for] and it is of the classic model 700 which is highly refined. The scratchproof and weather resistance feature of the rifle is provided by TriNyte coating which merges perfectly with stainless steel. While I applaud the Remington model 700 XCR II as one of the best hunting rifles in the market this much, it does have a downside to it though, and it weighs down on your shoulder at 7.3 lbs. But besides the uneasy weight of this gun, everything is okay. It’s out of the box accuracy can be counted on always and it has a variety of munition calibers available besides the usual 0.22s. You can get this hunting rifle for $1,005 more or less and some stores offers discounts too! This rifle is an excellent addition to your hunting and camping equipment.

Image (c) Guns and Ammo

9) Thompson Center Venture Composite SS

Some rifles make the hunter but some hunters make the rifle. Your rifle should be an extended part of your limb and not just another tool that you use for hunting. It is unfortunate sometimes that gun manufacturers overrate their guns on paper and yet it can’t deliver what it says. So if you’ve had enough spending on overpriced fancy hunting rifles, then I recommend you get a custom made one that fits your needs and your budget. What will you get? Oh not much, just a guaranteed 1 MOA accuracy, an externally adjustable trigger, match crowned barrel and a good caliber variety. It’s very underpriced at $600 apiece and yet overqualified for mountain hunting or any other types of hunting that you won’t believe you’re actually paying so little and getting so much!

Image (c) Rifles Shooter Magazine

10) Nosler M48 Custom

This is one hunting rifle that’s hard to get your hands on, simply because it’s quite expensive. Just the mention of the price and people will get that frown of a little disgust that it’s beyond their budget for hunting rifles. But the pricing is reasonable though because you’ll get superb shooting accuracy, cerakote finish tough and durable materials and custom to order barrel lengths. Watch Pursuit Channel online and get live hunting action from our shows and the various hunting rifles being featured there!

Hunting and Shooting – Learn the Basics

Learning from expert hunters and a few of my own personal experiences is a precious thing. Basically there is no definitive hunting textbook and you learn the basics, and then learn the rest when you’re out in the field. You can’t learn everything in books or class discussions.

 

Image (c) Global Rifle

 

Here are a few hunting tips that I want to share with you.

Adjust your Learning with the Right Pacing
The first thing to learn in this quick hunting course is learning how to shoot a rifle. Regular hunting rifles use 0.22 caliber munitions which is lethal at 100 yards or less for beginners and much much further away for pro hunters. Whitetail animals tend to have a quick foot and can sprint so fast that they’ll be out of sight in less than 5 seconds, so don’t rush the shot. This is the part where you need to take your time to aim right in order to get the kill-shot. For instance, deers and elks have relatively large body size where you can pick a spot to aim, and in most cases the bullet wound it will get from your rifle is deadly.

 

You can also learn from the pro hunters at our Pursuit Channel hunting shows on how to aim and make that lethal shot in hunting animals.

 

As much as possible, aim your crosshairs near or at the vital organs of the animal, which is right behind the front legs – that’s a 90% kill-shot. Aim right then, follow through. Support the butt of the rifle adjacent to your shoulder and squeeze the trigger, don’t pull too quickly. Loosen your grip before firing up a shot and only hold the gun steady after you make the shot. Prepare to fire another shot in case the animal is still moving as it might try to get away if the bullet wound is not fatal. Big game hunting can be a tricky business but it’s all fun and games once you’ve learned how to do it.

 

Essentially, you can apply these methods to target shooting also. Try not to take too long to aim your hunting rifles or bow before you take the shot as this will mess up your aim more and will cause you to miss.

 

Image (c) Reuters

 

Watch Your Step
Not being careful while out in the field hunting big game and other animals could cause you injuries and some might even lead to death (God forbid). Watching where you land your feet and your immediate area could save your life! For instance, what if you were so focused on your target that you forgot there’s a poisonous snake on your path just a few feet away from you? Yes, although this doesn’t occur often it is better to be safe than sorry. Might as well bring with you some hunting dogs to warn you in advance.

 

Pro hunters in our Pursuit Channel hunting shows always emphasize awareness and presence of mind. You’ll often see them talk about the basic rules in hunting while in their camps or hunting lodges before heading out into the wilderness.

 

Image (c) Hunter Education

 

Do not use the Gun Sparingly
You didn’t bring your hunting rifles and a bag load of ammo just to get that one clean hit now, did you? Even seasoned hunters and expert marksmen would prefer to have more bullets than they need. That’s because of the unpredictability of things and you can never be too sure always. I will be blunt and honest in this hunting course, you will make mistakes out there hunting animals, the law of averages will have its way one way or another; and that’s a fact.

 

Sometimes even a direct hit, the animal can survive a 0.22 caliber bullet wound and escape, but if you fired a second and third shot, then that will kill ‘em dead. Let loose and don’t hold back! Your goal is to bring that buck home with you and not let it escape.

 

Image (c) Marlow Rifle

 

Gun Care is Paramount for Effectiveness and Gun Safety
The chances of hunting rifles or hunting bow malfunctioning will be greatly reduced if you keep them in the best shape possible. In my five years as a big game hunter, I’ve always used the Winchester Model 70 Extreme Weather SS. During hunting season I would always remove its individual parts, clean and lubricate them and then put them back together again; and I do this every dawn around 4am just 2 hours before we set out to hunt. As a result, I have a high hit ratio and am one of the best hunters among my buddies. I took good care of my gun and it took good care of me while hunting.

 

Image (c) Google

 

Use your Five Senses and Instincts to know when Game is Coming your Way
Around 150,000 years ago, before we relied on technology to survive, we first developed our five senses to hunt food or defend ourselves from predators. And now that you’re back in this hunting course once more, I would advise you to use them for this purpose again. Your eyes and ears would be the primary game detectors when they’re coming your way. While your sense of touch, smell and taste are used for when you are the one chasing the animal that you’re hunting.

 

If the animal is coming your way, then that’s a better deal for you as you just have to lie and wait until you get a clear shot. Aim your rifle in the general direction where you hear or see the animal is coming from; however, do not point it straight right away. Instead aim it to the ground or up towards the sky until the animal gets into the clearing and you can identify it; otherwise you might shoot another hunter or an innocent camper/hiker. As for me, I do what the experts do in those Pursuit Channel hunting shows – get hunting dogs to aid me in hunting. But do use your five senses, it helps a lot too!

 

Image (c) The Hollywood Reporter

 

Lower Your Aim
For conventional sights such as scopes and iron sights used on hunting rifles; it’s good to lower your aim slightly in order to anticipate the “kick” when you fire off a shot. But not so much with tree stand sights as used on bows as they work differently. If the angle of the shot is particularly steep and precise shot placement is required, then you need to aim lower at about 1 or 2 degrees. For example, when you’re hunting smaller animals like the squirrel, you’ll need to aim and hit precisely. But when you’re hunting a big game this is not required as your hunting rifles are quite accurate within a 5-inch diameter.

 

Image (c) ALA Park

 

Expect the Unexpected
It isn’t always sunny in Minnesota and it sure ain’t gonna stay the same in British Columbia either, so be ready for anything. You need to be able to roll with the flow whenever the situation calls for it. When you go out hunting always have the initiative that at some point in time you might be camping also. It be better if you have sleeping bags, rain coats, tents and other camping supplies, but the safety of hunting lodges is unbeatable; as they serve both as a staging point and base camp for you and your fellow hunters. Bringing along hunting dogs would be essential too!

 

Be the Last One Out
Don’t leave early because you’ll never know what you will miss. It’s simple math: less hunters in your area means more opportunities to come across a game.

 

From firsthand experience, I’m always the last one to leave the hunting grounds and I often go back to the hunting lodges with a catch – sometimes bigger ones! These days ever since my buddies found out my secret to success, they would stay late too but we spread out at about 400 yards apart from each other. Now almost all of us has a catch when we go back to the cabin.

 

 

I hope you enjoyed this hunting course and picked up a few lessons worth learning. Don’t forget to subscribe to our Pursuit Channel hunting shows in Roku, Direct TV and Dish Network as well.

Elk Decoy Setup Guide

Elk decoying is an art that requires knowledge from a thorough study of elks and skills which are mostly acquired from field experience. A lot of men and women have found leisure and excitement in elk decoying. More often than not, despite the careful planning, meticulous strategies and costly equipment, the decoying and elk hunting tips still goes terribly wrong. Perhaps what you need is a simple to deploy elk decoy and a quick setup guide that will give you a clear shot at decoying a bull. This elk decoy setup guide is concise and effective in every way.

 

Image (c) Montana Decoy

There are some Pursuit Channel shows that have very similar tips on hunting whitetails and elks and you can subscribe to them at Dish Network, Direct TV and now over the internet via Roku.

Here’s how to do it with these elk hunting guide:

Situation Numero Uno: You know the precise area where the elks usually feed, but they only come to that place after the sun goes down and all the light fades.

Decoy setup: Situate two to four cow elk decoys on that same area before dark. They should be visible and positioned somewhere near the path wherein the elk would enter. Quick elk scent sprays in the air should do the trick. Find cover some 20 to 40 yards away and patiently await your bull. Remember that usually a bull will tend to come from downwind, so try as much to take advantage of this. Hunting elks is not usually easy but elk decoys make it more efficient.

Situation Numero Dos: The elk’s annual recurrent sexual period has started but they just wouldn’t settle within your bow’s range.

 

Image (c) Got Hunts

Decoy Setup: Ask your partner to entice a bull towards your position by calling early in the morning. Settle yourself at a strategic position. Avoid calling too much before sunrise, this marginally decreases the possibilities of a satisfying response. You can opt to spray a scent of a cow in estrus state around the area for maximum results. The bull will eventually notice the decoy and come towards it and as soon as you get a clear aim, release the arrow.

Pursuit Channel’s “Bow Hunting Addiction” TV series are also available in their YouTube channel where you can watch YouTube hunting videos about elks. There are more Pursuit Channel shows that give you expert advice and tips on how to hunt elks.

Make sure that you have a know on the herd’s activity patterns and the area’s thermal changes. When the direction of the wind alters, consider changing your current position too. Thorough observation on the mentioned factors may help you a lot on your endeavor.

Situation Numero Tres: All the cows in the area have been knocked up and bred already but you are extremely sure there are a number of them that are still in estrus, attracting bulls in search for a rut ender routine is one of the best elk hunting tips that you can get from the pros.

 

Image (c) Bow Hunting Magazine

Decoy Setup: Set up a cow decoy some 25 to 30 yards away from the area where you sight a bull continuously getting rejected. Cow call at this distance for a while and sit tight for it will only take a jiffy to get a bull stomping your way. When hunting elks; position yourself where the bull won’t notice you but would only walk past you as it approaches the decoy. Once you get the chance, aim straight and hit that bull with your best shot. Don’t forget to watch the Pursuit Channel shows where you’ll learn about trap hunting animals and hunting decoys and tactics.

With careful assessment of each situation, patience, perfect timing and this easy to follow but reliable hunting guide, you won’t miss a chance at a beautiful bull.