Author: Gord Nuttall

Effective visual confirmation tactics to lure bucks in close use the best deer decoys. Gear List: The author in this article swears by the Montana Deer Decoys (click to shop) Using a decoy in your hunting setup can improve your chances but only if used correctly. Decoys draw animals in close that would have otherwise passed by out of range. Decoys provide visual reassurance for incoming deer that are investigating noises or commotion. Once a deer spots a decoy, it focuses its attention on it rather than you and this can really increase your chances of getting a shot off…

Well-placed trail cam scouting photos can help you gauge a buck’s score Filtering through trail-camera photos is quickly becoming a favorite pastime for hunters. For them, it can be like Christmas morning, with each memory card filled with thousands of pictures waiting to be opened and scanned. Every hunter has different levels of “acceptable” target deer to hunt. For rookie hunters, anything that moves usually suffices. Bow hunters might be interested in the Pope and Young minimum qualifying score as a target buck for the season. For other hunters, it may be that elusive net score of 150 inches. And…

Successful whitetail deer hunting includes the other 10 months besides October and November. Whitetail deer are one of the most widely distributed and abundant big game species across North America, making them accessible to a large number of hunters. They are found in a variety of habitats, from forests to agricultural fields, and can be hunted in many different states and provinces. Whitetail deer can provide a challenging and exciting hunting experience. They are elusive and wary and require hunters to use stealth and patience to get within range for a shot. Many hunters enjoy the challenge of hunting whitetail…

It is true that the modern world places a high value on efficiency, and this can be particularly challenging for hunters who want to find the best possible hunting locations without spending too much time and effort on scouting. However, technology has made it easier than ever before to identify good hunting spots and to prepare for a successful hunt. One of the most powerful tools available to hunters today is digital mapping technology. Using platforms such as Google Maps or specialized hunting apps, hunters can easily locate areas with good habitat and terrain for specific game species, identify potential…

Using trail cameras for hunting can provide valuable information about the animals in an area, such as population size and trophy quality. It can also help identify movement patterns, which can aid in planning hunting strategies. With the ability to constantly scout even during the night, trail cameras can provide valuable insights throughout the year, helping hunters to be more efficient in their pursuits. Overall, trail cameras can be an effective tool for hunters to gather data and improve their hunting efforts. There are many different brands and models of trail cameras available and each has unique features. It’s important…

From the very dawn of human history, animal fur has been a source of protection from the elements, a way of establishing social ranking, a trading commodity, and a medium used for artistry and clothing. When out snaring coyotes, surrounded by snow, trees, and crop fields, a trapper is far more likely to consider the immensity of the natural world and his own small place in nature, perhaps conserving local game herds. Most trappers would not think of themselves as being the cornerstone of a multi-million-dollar fashion industry that dates back many thousands of years, and with a future that…

Early-Season Tips Thirty degrees. Dusty and windy. Bachelor herds of big mule deer bucks. Those are the ideal conditions you want to hunt early season for mule deer. Who hasn’t dreamed of taking a velvety mule deer buck with their bow? The first few days of the season offer the best opportunity to harvest a mature buck because they are still in summer mode, venturing into crop fields on a regular basis. Like all hunts, that’s no guarantee though, and you must do your scouting, pattern recognition, practicing and mental preparation to swing the odds in your favor. There is…

Here are some strategies to effectively track the game animal you just arrowed We owe it to the game animals we hunt to follow up on the shots we take as best we can. There are rarely second shots with bowhunting, so making the first one count, and following up with a solid tracking routine, is important. That routine consists of collecting and analyzing clues, waiting, following the trail, and making logical decisions along the way. Moment of Truth The “moment of truth” is what separates the hunter from the target shooter, and it occurs the instant an arrow is…

As the sun went down, I jumped on my stand-up paddleboard (SUP), grabbed my fly-fishing rod, and went out to where we had earlier fished for bass with spinning gear from the pontoon boat. The spot was about five to eight feet deep and had lots of cover and feed for bass. I had never fished from my SUP before, but I cast out my popper fly, let it sit for a bit, then stripped the line back, making a “schloop” sound along the top of the water. Nearly instantly, a bass came up and attacked the fly pattern, imitating…

You Can’t Read Their Minds, But You Can Read The Signs The Ability to Assess a Black Bear’s Mood Will Keep You Safe and Successful As it repeatedly slashed the ground and huffed, the black bear moved its head from side to side and wouldn’t back down. “One more step closer and I will shoot,” I thought. Then the bear clawed the ground and faked a charge, bringing it even closer. With the animal now a mere eight meters away, I released. When my arrow pierced the bear’s lungs just behind the front shoulder, the boar quickly dashed away and…