Results by search “goods” 237
Tying Up
Creating a drop-shot rig is easy. A small finesse worm is usually used for finicky bass, but always choose long, slender plastics that are free of legs and pinchers that can twist your line. Drop-shotting favorites are traditionally modest, straight plastic worms and minnows; the softer, the better. Some companies are now using “super plastics,” which are incredibly buoyant and allow the lure to float up, rather than settle, on a drop-shot rig, and can help trigger more bites. Z-Man Fishing Products’ ElaZtech lures are a good example.
You need to match those small baits with an equally small hook. In snag-free areas, simply nose-hooking the worm is most effective, so a light 1/0 hook is a good starting point. Most die-hard drop-shotters rely on the Gamakatsu split-shot / drop-shot hook.
You can Texas-rig your plastics when fishing around brush or heavy cover but, again, stay with a fairly light hook. The VMC WM worm hook is a good one. In any case, always tie your hook w
Best Dog Breeds for Shed Hunters
A pro trainer weighs in on the traits you should look for in an antler-finding dog
At the beginning of every shed hunting season, I always imagine the treasure trove of deer antlers I will find. Then, reality sets in. I end up with a few good antlers, a bunch of dinks, and some weird stuff. This year, I found a ram’s horn. Last year, it was a toilet seat. At the end of it all, I always think about what a good year it would’ve been if I’d just gotten a dang antler dog.
That sparked a conversation with Dog Bone’s Jeremy Moore about the best dog breeds for shed hunters. “I don’t know if there is such a thing,” Moore says. “I think it depends completely on matching you with the right dog. It’s a stylistic and preference thing more than anything.”
So, if you were hoping for a definitive list of the top 10 shed hunting breeds, this isn’t it. The good news is, you have a real chance of getting the dog you already have – or the one you want – to start finding a
Naivis Gen 2+ Night Vision Scope: Honest Hunter's Review
Look, I've been hunting for over 20 years. I've seen gear come and go, and I'm not easily impressed by fancy gadgets. I decided to give the Naivis Gen 2+ night vision scope a try, hoping it would give me an edge during those low-light hunts. I paired it with the Naivis 850nm IR illuminator, which I'll touch on later. Here's my honest take:
Naivis Gen 2+ The Good:
Decent Image Quality (For Gen 2+): Let's be clear, it's not Gen 3 clarity, but for the price point and being a Gen 2+, the image is surprisingly good. It provides a usable image in fairly dark conditions, allowing target identification out to a reasonable distance (about 150-200 yards in my experience). It definitely beats trying to hunt with binos and a prayer.
Sturdy Build: The scope feels solid. It's been bumped around in my pack, endured some light rain, and still holds zero. That's crucial when you're out in the bush.
Adjustable Brightness: The ability to adjus
Beretta AL391 Urika 2 (12 Gauge) - A Hunter's review
I've owned and hunted with a Beretta AL391 Urika 2 for a good number of years now. It was my go-to semi-auto for everything from waterfowl to upland birds, and even the occasional sporting clays outing. I've put it through its paces in all sorts of conditions – rain, snow, heat, dust – and have a pretty solid understanding of its strengths and weaknesses.
The Good Stuff Beretta AL391 Urika 2 12-gauge:
Shooting Comfort: This is where the Urika 2 truly shines. The gas-operated system does a fantastic job of soaking up recoil. Even with heavier magnum loads, it's surprisingly manageable, which translates to less fatigue during long days in the field and faster follow-up shots. Compared to inertia-driven guns, it's noticeably softer on the shoulder.
Reliability (Mostly): When clean and properly maintained, the Urika 2 is generally reliable. It'll cycle a wide range of loads, from light target rounds to heavier hunting loads, without
Review of the Rößler-Austria TITAN-6 Rifle, Caliber .30-06, Barrel Length 560 mm
I recently had the opportunity to test the Rößler-Austria TITAN-6 rifle, chambered in .30-06 with a barrel length of 560 mm. Here are my thoughts on this firearm.
Build Quality:
The build quality of the TITAN-6 is impressive. The materials used feel durable and well-engineered, and the rifle has a solid heft that instills confidence. The stock is crafted from high-quality wood, providing an aesthetic appeal while also feeling good in hand. Overall, it has a premium feel that is expected from a manufacturer like Rößler.
Ergonomics:
The ergonomics of the TITAN-6 are quite good. The rifle fits comfortably against the shoulder, and the controls are intuitive and easy to access. The pistol grip is well-shaped, allowing for a secure hold even in challenging shooting conditions. The adjustable comb is a great feature, enabling shooters to customize the fit to their preference, enhancing overall comfort durin
The Mid-Gun-Season Blues: When Times Get Tough
Morning Hunts
I believe your chances are best during this period when you hunt a morning stand back in the timber. When the pressure is on, an old deer feels most comfortable cruising around or pushing a doe on a hardwood ridge or in a cedar draw or creek bottom. By that time, he should have gone completely nocturnal, but deep woods give him a false sense of security. A buck believes he’s hidden in the trees, but he’s not if you’re posted there. Set up early, and look for a good deer ghosting around at dawn.
Then keep hanging tough. Each day into midseason, you’ll hear fewer gunshots and see fewer hunters stomping around the woods. Most of the die-hards who, like you, haven’t tagged out will hunt a couple of hours in morning and afternoon. At midday, things will settle down, and some deer will get up and move. You might still nail a good buck between 9 a.m. and noon.
These are one of the most important hunting tips for starters.
Stealth and Silence Always be as quiet as you possibly can. Even the faintest twig, branch, clothing and equipment rattling will alert the animals. Dress appropriately, gear up lightly, and don’t use velcro clothing or anything that would make a lot of noise.
Navigating Your Surroundings Become acquainted and scout out the hunting area. Depending on which game animals you hunt, it’s always a good idea to familiarize yourself with the perimeter, and use landmarks so you won’t get lost.
Patience Goes a Long Way Many hunters don’t have the patience to acquire a clean shot. There’s a lot of waiting, but it pays off in the end when a deer appears on your scope. Persistence is key.
Mind Your Scent Animals have heightened senses, and it’s a good idea to become as odorless as possible. There are many chemicals and cosmetic products that mask your scents. That means no smoking, no alcohol, and no smelly food. The wind factor is a
At 78 years of age, cancer has pretty much taken away my ability to climb mountains in search of elk. Don’t feel sorry for me, I have killed plenty of elk, mostly cows for the good eating. The good Lord has allowed me more than a charmed life. I have a wonderful family with great kids, grandkids and great grandkids and I have fly fished (my main sport) all over the world, sometimes in places I never dreamed I would go.
My youngest son, Stefan, and I decided to do something we had never done before. We planned to go on a guided elk hunt. I work for the International Sportsmen’s Expositions telling fly-fishing tales and doing fly tying demonstrations. In my spare time I began to canvas the floor, down in Denver, looking for a suitable elk-hunting outfit. QRS Outfitters out of Meeker, Colo., was particularly attractive, and they thought an early season muzzleloader hunt would fit the bill for what we were looking for, so we booked our hunt.
Neither of us has owned a muzzleloader, nor ha
DON’T ABANDON OTHER FOODS
There’s no question deer migrate to oaks when acorns start falling, but even when a majority of their diet consists of acorns, they eat other food.
"I have a couple of food plots adjacent to some mature white oaks,” Giles said. “I see deer feeding in the plots all the time, even when there is a good acorn crop. They don’t spend nearly as much time in the food plots when there are lots of acorns, but they will certainly stop for a few bites of clover or oats on their way to or from acorns.”
The edges of bean fields also are worth hunting, but find an oak dropping acorns on the edge of that bean field and you’ve found a potential hotspot. Isolated fruit trees, native and planted, draw deer throughout the early autumn, too. Sandiford likes to find fruit-bearing persimmon trees near oaks.
“If you can get a combination of foods in a small area, you’ve got a real good place to hang a stand,” he said.
Hunting during an epic acorn crop can drive you nuts, but the
How to Plan Your First Antelope Hunt
Pronghorns are the gateway species for Western big-game hunters, and there’s a long season full of opportunity. Here’s when to go
I wouldn’t go so far as to say a dead antelope buck smells good, but I don’t mind their odor a bit. There’s a hint of petting zoo goat — not necessarily repulsive in itself — mixed with dry Western air and sage and musk. All combined, somehow, the smell is sweet, and for me it always triggers good memories of hunting adventures far from home.
Just about every Easterner ever to buy a deer tag has at some point dreamed of hunting out West. I talk to eager prospects every year, and many of them want to come out swinging, with designs on an elk hunt in the mountains.
I love elk hunting, especially in September. But I always temper any encouragement I give with this reality: If you’re not going guided, you’re probably not going to kill an elk. Not your first year.
If you’re prepared to pony up for a guided elk hunt, go
12 Reasons Why Your Venison Tastes Like Hell
Is your deer meat tough, dry, and gamy? It shouldn’t be. Check out this list of 12 deer-butchering sins to find out why your venison tastes bad — and how to make it better
I’m often amazed at the people, deer hunters included, who tell me they just don’t like venison. That statement is usually followed by a qualifier: it’s tough; it’s gamy; it’s dry. And so on.
I’ve eaten a lot of good deer meat. But I’ve eaten some really bad deer meat, too. I’m only a self-trained butcher, but I’ve been processing five to six deer a season for the better part of 20 years. When it comes to cooking, I’m no Scott Leysath or Michael Pendley, either, but my wife, kid, and I do eat venison in some form two or three meals per week, year-round. I think we eat pretty good.
Some things consistently make venison really tasty. And some things will ruin the flavor, too. Here are a dozen of the worst offenders.
1. Poor Field Care
In the real world of hunting, things
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