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First Time Hunter – First Time Squirrel Hater

Matt Browning — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 05:21:18 +0000

During the opening of late muzzleloader I had the opportunity of bringing a friend along who had never hunted before. Hunters should jump at the chance to pass on the tradition of hunting, to give outsiders of the sport an understanding of our hobby, our values, and grant them the opportunity to share in the enjoyment of hunting. On this occasion I hunted alongside my friend in a stand that comfortably seats two. The anticipation and excitement of opening day was upon us. I had seen several does at this spot during general firearms; in fact I had seen a deer in shooting range every time I had hunted the stand. As luck would have it I only caught a glimpse of one deer way out of range during this particular morning. As my friend learned how patient hunters had to be he made an amusing observation, “I have never hated squirrels till now.”

Texting While Hunting

Matt Browning — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 18:02:18 +0000

During whitetail firearm season my brother and I attempted to implement a little technology into our hunts to help communicate. I have tried using walkie talkies in the past. I found them useful for putting on drives, but trying to remain as quiet as possible sitting in a stand and conversing with those things is not a combination I will try again. This time around my brother and I turned to texting with our cell phones to communicate during our hunts. Now I know many of you think of texting as a teenage fad and a strange concept all together, but I find it has many advantages for hunting purposes. Brief messages are all that need to be exchanged during a hunt. My brother and I were able to converse with each other without making any audible sounds to the surrounding wildlife. All of our words are typed and read quickly and quietly. By simply turning our cell phones on vibrate and keeping them in our jacket pockets this became possible. If you are going to attempt this strategy in your next hunt there are a few things you need to look out for. Be aware of the sun, a deer will easily spot the glare of the

Turkey Gobbling Behavior

Matt Browning — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 10:58:09 +0000

Gobbling is the tom turkey's way of expressing dominance, telling all birds in the area he is ready to breed - and to fight for the right. Gobbling also serves as a means of attracting hens to the tom. While the tom is looking for receptive hens, he is trying to get them to come to him by advertising his presence. Toms call to get hens to come to them, but they do respond to hens calling and go to the hen. The advertising strategy of a tom changes once he is with a hen. Gobbling is used to attract hens from a distance. When the tom is within visual distance of the hen he begins to strut, relying on the color of his head, expanded tail and puffed up body size to attract the hen and prove he is the biggest, healthiest, most colorful male. This explains the dimorphism (the difference in coloration, size, or antler growth) in many animals. The biggest, strongest, healthiest male, with the most coloration or largest rack, attracts more females, breeds more females and passes on his traits to the offspring.

Staying Entertained in Your Treestand

Matt Browning — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 06:22:32 +0000

OK, I’ll start with a confession: I often read a book when I’m in a stand or blind. There, I said it and I feel cleansed. I only bring this up because just days ago a good friend (and former guide) told me how much he hated it when his clients told him they read while they were hunting. “Is hunting not exciting enough to keep them occupied?” Ted asked.

How to Jump Shoot a Buck

Matt Browning — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 03:47:29 +0000

Tired of waiting in a stand? Too cold to sit still for hours on end? Try jump-shooting a buck. This is one of my favorite tactics when I’m exploring new territory and want to cover a lot of ground, but it’s also great on a known hunting area late in the season, when you’ve pushed bucks around and don’t know exactly where they are. Here’s the skinny: The Tactic