Great Hunting Tips

Cut back your shooting lane during the summer months. This will have the best impact on deer if you do it right before the season starts up.

When hunting from a tree stand, get yourself situated in the stand before you bring your weapon into the stand. Tie a rope length that is longer than the stand is high, carry the rope up with you and then tie it to the stand (depending on stand type) or yourself. Once you are situated and the stand is secure, pull the weapon up to you. Please make sure if your weapon is a rifle that it isn't loaded, just in case it falls back to the ground as you're pulling.

Have you ever had an issue while looking at a deer through your scope? You know, you have it in view, then you look through your scope and you can't see it. Well, keep both your eyes open when lining up the shot, this will eliminate the problem.

Here's a quick one, but it's very handy; make a few scent bombs to place around your stand. You can use a few 35 mm film canisters filled with cotton balls and your favorite scent. They travel well, not taking up much space and they seal tight.

Use a topographic map to scout the area you want to hunt. You'll be able to see trails and roads leading in and out, you'll also be able to better figure out potential bedding areas and water sources. Doing this before you go will help you know where to look and what to expect.

Fishing with Live Worms

Fish love worms. Those night crawlers are full of protein, and they’re easy to eat. They don’t have bones or hard edges that could scrape a fish’s throat. Fish are also drawn to the squirming of live worms. This is why fish will often go for the worm before anything else. It’s just too good to pass up!

It’s just too bad that the humble worm is so often overlooked in the world of fishing. A squirmy worm is more messy and troublesome than plastic bait, and not nearly so pretty or artful as a handmade fly. But the worm can be very effective bait if you know how to use it right.

The mistake many people make is that they try to thread the worm onto a single hook. No matter how natural you try to make it appear, your worm will probably end up looking like a mushy ball of some kind to the fish. Also, if you only hook one end of the worm, it will be prone to breaking off. You don’t want that.

The solution is to use a set of gang hooks. This will be two or more hooks tied together, almost literally a “gang of hooks.” You can buy them online or tie some hooks together yourself. Either way, it’s the best way to present a worm to the fish. It will look more realistic.

If you want to catch more fish, you can’t go wrong with a worm that’s threaded right. Even a plastic worm will get results.

Largemouth Bass Fishing

The largemouth bass goes by many names. These names may include but are not limited to green trout, black bass, bucketmouth, bigmouth, and lineside bass. If you are unsure of what a largemouth bass looks like, they have dark blotches that make up a horizontal stripe running down each side of the fish. The top jaw goes back beyond the eyes hence the name "largemouth".

With the average bass weighing in between 1 and 3 pounds they can possibly weigh up to 22 pounds. The largest one on record came in at 22 pounds, 4 ounces, 38 inches.

The largemouth bass is a meat eating predator. When they are small they will feed on plankton, bugs, smaller fish, frogs and crayfish. A full size bass can hold as many as five sunfish in its mouth.

As the state fish of Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and Florida, the record holder was caught in Montgomery Lake in Georgia. Sport fisherman will get a fight when hooking one of these. Most fisherman will use plastic worms, crankbait and spinnerbait to land a largemouth. When hooked it is not unusual for them to perform acrobatic leaps across the water.

The best chance of finding a largemouth bass will be if you avoid the fast current waters and fish the slow or still water. They often will make brush, stumps or fallen trees and logs their home and frequently inhabit a shoreline where rocks are abundant.

If you are the competitive type, there are many bass clubs and tournaments you can fish in. Most of them are catch and release though so if you want to keep your fish you may want to reconsider this option.

Fly Fishing: An Overview of the Different Kinds of Flies

Although fly tying came about as a practical way to deceive and catch large fish such as trout and salmon, it has become an art unto itself. Even a purely functional fly can be a thing of beauty for its colors and textures, while others are almost indistinguishable from real insects and aquatic creatures. The latter are usually collected for display, never to be used.

There are different kinds of flies meant to attract different kinds of fish. Some flies are imitators, made to resemble insects as close as possible; some are attractors, since they rely on shape or color to arouse a fish's curiosity or aggressive tendencies. Here's a general overview of the different types of flies:

Terrestrial: This type of fly is meant to imitate an insect that has accidentally fallen into the water. It could resemble an insect that is dead or drowning. Examples include crickets, grasshoppers, etc. It can be either submerged under water or floating on the surface.

Dry: A dry fly will resemble an insect that naturally floats on the surface of the water. They may be attached to a light hook so that they float better, or they might be made with a bit of cork so that they stay buoyant. Dry flies may need to be dried from time to time.

Wet: The wet fly is submerged under water. It's usually made to mimic aquatic insects, drowned (or drowning) insects, or small aquatic creatures such as leeches.

Streamers: These kinds of flies are meant to provoke an aggressive response from the fish. They often resemble an injured minnow or some other baitfish.

Nymph: Fish often prey on aquatic nymph insects that are in the process of emerging into their adult form. Examples include mayflies, damselflies, and dragonflies.

Responsible Fishing

All fishermen should do their part to protect and care for our rivers, lakes, and other waterways. By practicing a few simple rules, we can ensure enjoyable fishing for years to come.

First, never litter. Take along a trash bag or garbage can so all refuse can be properly discarded. Tossing garbage into the water is inexcusable. Put trash where it belongs.

Always pay attention to the rules and regulations governing the area in which you're fishing. Check the regulations ahead of time. Certain places have restrictions on the size, number, and type of fish you can keep. There can even be limitations on the type of bait and fishing gear allowed. There are even more rules if you're using a boat. Respect the laws of the land.

Along those same lines, never fish in a restricted area. They're usually off limits for a reason, often serving to protect wildlife and vegetation. Sometimes it's to even protect your safety, so obey all posted signs and warnings.

When using a watercraft, pay particular attention to its proper maintenance. In some lakes, you'll be required to clean the watercraft after leaving the water. If the appropriate steps aren't taken, your craft can spread potentially dangerous conditions or non-native species, like the Zebra Mussel, to the next body of water your boat visits. If you're good to the fishing environment, the fishing environment will be good to you.

Destination, Destin FL

Destin FL has some of the most variety in fishing in the country. Of all the variety you can have in your fishing trip, one thing's for sure, none of it will be ice fishing. You can fish year round in Destin and yes it does get cold, but you won't need to pack an ice pick.

Destin has been named Best Beach in the South for four years running by Southern Living magazine. With over 500 vacation rental homes, condos and cottages, there are plenty of places to stay while you are there.

While all of this is nice, you may be wondering about the fishing itself. Well the options for fishing are abundant in the Emerald Coast waters. You don't need a boat because there is plenty of great fishing off the beach pier and jetty. Fishing in this way is best between April (when the first Pompano arrive) through October, this is when the best sport fish are caught. Besides Pompano you'll also catch these other fish Whiting, Channel Bass, Sheepshead, Blue Runner, Bluefish and more. Blue crabs can also be found along the shore.

If you're a die-hard and just can't imagine fishing without a boat, you are in luck. Deep sea fishing is also available and you'll never forget the experience. Most of the fishing fleets in Destin specialize in deep sea bottom fishing. The bottom fishing is fantastic year round off the shores of Destin. You can expect to catch Trigger fish, Snapper, Grouper, Amber jack and Cobia. Boats are available for half day, full day and even over night charter. There are even party boats that can hold 25 to 105 people.

All this and more is waiting for you in Destin, FL. It's easy to see why Destin should be your next fishing destination.

Safety Tips For Coyote Hunting

It seems as though Coyote hunting is not nearly as talked about as any other animal hunting. This is interesting considering the speed with which the coyote seems to spreading its habitat. A member of the dog family, the coyote used to be found mainly in the Northwest part of the United States. Due to human expansion and settlement, the coyote has adapted very well to these changes and has spread much further across the land.

When hunting coyote it is very important to be aware of wind direction at all times, the coyotes sense of smell is highly developed and should not be ignored. Keeping this in mind, set up with the wind at your face or ideally with a cross wind with enough room to see any coyotes that might be approaching. You may also want to set up with the sun at your back, making it more difficult for them to see you. Position yourself in the shade if possible, with the sun at your back, shadows will be in front of you, this is a bonus.

As any hunter already knows, ensuring that your camouflage matches your surroundings is also important. Equally important when hunting the coyote is to ensure that you face is camouflaged and all skin is covered. Human skin is very reflective and coyotes will spot you if it isn't covered. Stillness is another important part of this type of hunt, dedicated eyesight is something coyotes are known for and the slightest move on stand can give you away.

Always use the buddy system. Take turns calling, separating yourselves by 8 - 10 feet, backs facing. This way, what one doesn't see, the other will.

Fishing and Hunting Tips and Places

You know you’re a true outdoors man if you lie awake at night anticipating for weeks ahead the hunting season or the upcoming fishing trip you planned with your buddies. And lest anyone try to convince you otherwise, hunting and fishing aren’t for just the granola, outdoorsy types. John James Audubon, a famous scientist and artist in the 1800s once said, “Hunting, fishing, drawing, and music occupied my every moment. Cares I knew not, and cared naught about them.”

If this echoes your own sentiment, it’s important to follow some of the following hunting and fishing tips to not only enhance your experience in the great outdoors, but to preserve yours and others’ safety.

If you’re determined to catch the fattest, juiciest goose to surprise your wife by pulling it out of the freezer for Christmas dinner, using decoys is more effective than most people realize. It might seem old fashioned, but just remember that geese can’t tell the difference between wood and flesh from a distance, and so using larger decoys will often help in attracting geese from further distances.

If your wife is constantly complaining about the state you leave her cutting boards in after bringing home a fresh catch of trout from the river, instead of wishing she could forget about the fishy smell emanating from her dishware and focus on your amazing abilities to bring home dinner, she’ll be a lot happier if you squeeze a little lemon juice onto the cutting boards periodically. This will keep the smell fresh and keep her from relegating you to the couch at night.

When you arrive at your hunting destination, you’ll be more successful if you start hunting as soon as you step out of your car. Don’t make the mistake of assuming that deer will somehow magically only be in places where you aren’t making camp. If you do things right—not talking too loudly, closing car doors gently—chances are likely that you’ll snag a buck not 20 yards from where you’ve parked.

To find some pristine fishing territory, Idaho has some fertile ground, such as Little Salmon River in Orohno, Hells Canyon on the Snake River in Salmon, and Upper Salmon River in White Bird. If the names don’t encourage you, try it out for yourself to see if they’re merited.

There are great hunting grounds all across the country—not only in the west with the Utah Uintas and California Sierras, but also in the east where Pennsylvania offers some great game land, such as Raccoon Creek State Park, where some new area has just been made available for hunting and Washington and Greene Counties actually have an overpopulation of deer this year, so you can have your pick.

Northern California Offers Great Fishing Opportunities

The avid fisherman may be wondering where the best spots are to continue the sport as the weather gets colder around the nation. Lake Shasta, in Northern California, comes highly recommended by those who live on it as a great place to bring in some fish even as the fall heads towards winter.

Lake Shasta affords the opportunity to land a variety of fish. There are salmon around, but experts say that the best salmon are deep in the water this time of year attempting to spawn. If you catch a salmon too near the top, it’s probably a fish that won’t be ready until next season. A salmon that won’t get tossed back is going to be at the bottom of the lake. However, the spotted bass fishing at Lake Shasta is excellent, according to local fishing companies. A variety of baits types have had success bringing in the fish recently, including crankbaits and plastic worms. Trout, including rainbow trout, are also being hauled in from the lake in recent weeks.

Fly fishermen looking for some action in the area should investigate both the McCloud River and the upper Sacramento River. The highlight of these rivers is the trout indigenous to the area. Adding to the native fish, the Fish and Game Department has spent the past ten years increasing the fish population. While the majority of the introduced fish remain on the smaller side, there are plenty to be had. And the wide array of fish species makes fishing in this Northern California region extremely exciting.

How to Catch a Bass

Make no mistake about it, bass are a fun fish to catch. Chasing after a bass and understanding its habits can really be similar to fighting a relentless enemy eye to eye. Some fishermen like to spot their bass of choice, and play the sort of mind game only a man upon the water can understand. But if you want to bring home a few fish every time you cast that rod, there are a few things about bass that you might want to know.

Bass love to disappear near submerged rocks and islands, so they are best found near some sort of underwater hiding spot. The best way to find out where bass are hiding is to study a map of the lake you are about to discover. Look for creek channels and long points on the map. Bass can be easily understood because they stick to the same habits throughout the year, which makes them easy to track. This type of fish loves to swim back and forth from deeper waters to shallow waters, and during the fall season bass will always be found amidst shallow water. Another good idea is to watch the surface of the water for bubbles that will appear on occasion. Bubbles on the surface indicate that a school of bass have begun to feed upon minnows, which will cause quite a raucous.

Bass are really interesting fish, and it is easy to spend more than one afternoon searching a lake for the perfect bass spot. Usually bass stay near anything that is underneath the surface of the water, so try a few hidden spots before heading out into the middle of the lake. Once you begin to understand the patterns of bass, catching them will become much easier. Remember to allow other fishermen space on the lake, and don’t try to crowd someone else’s spot. Also, if you happen to pass fishermen in a small boat, resist the temptation to rev your engine and cause waves – this is really quite rude to do.