Hunting 101(?)

[Sytes]

So, what tip(s) bring you to harvesting success ? This is not a 'gimmie' for honey holes. This is a 'share' a tip or few on what brings you success.

The topo view holds many treasures if examined with that "Hunting 101" skill...

Scouting - how to predict where they may be come season.

The best, most constructive questions to seek answers from biologists, wardens, locals, etc

Other pumpkins (orange) about. How to modify to your advantage.

The means to best conceal scent.

How to best 'rest' your rifle and your ideal shot placement..

Field dressing how you find best to gain the most.

Packing out. Tips n tricks...

 

[idnative1948]

A few may think this lame, but dad always taught us to keep an eye on our back trail. More than once we have been able to get the job down by catching an animal trying to put the sneak on us.

 

[Devil Diver Down]

Good discussion topics, Sytes! I'm a guy who has been hunting 'the wrong ways' for the vast majority of my life, and have less time to spend than at any other point in my life to figure out the right ways. I don't know good answers to many, if any, of the points you bring up, so I'm eager to read answers.

I will share this: One of the mentors at a youth turkey camp 3 years ago said, "the best way to learn to kill turkeys is to spend a lot of time around people who kill a lot of turkeys." Even though they didn't have enough mentors to go around and sent me and my son without one, that statement made a bunch of sense to me - unfortunately I only have a few friends who hunt and none of them kill a bunch of anything (maybe beers) - and I have learned to hunt hard, not so much hunting smart.

Oh, and I agree with idnative's dad - watched a toad of a bull sneak across a trail behind me at under 30 yards while on a cow hunt about 8 years ago. He had his ears pinned back like a shamed dog that just pissed the rug and knew he had a beating coming.

 

[spook12]

Here's one for you Sytes. I learned this from an old man who spent his whole life as a Butcher.

When skinning an animal(any animal) make ''Every'' hide cut with the grain of the hair.
This will almost completely eliminate cut hair on your meat.It doesn't matter if it's a hanging animal or if it's something larger like an elk or bear that you are skinning on the ground. It also doesn't matter if you are gutting the animal or not,always go with the grain of the hair.
Like most of you I have seen the videos that show the gutless method and they claim to be showing the best way to break an animal down and there are a lot of tips in most of those vid's but in every one that I have seen guys are making cuts either up the leg,up the belly or up the back and neck(Against the grain).You can still make every cut that you want, you just make it in the opposite direction than we have all been taught.I bet every one of us remember that diagram from our hunters Ed. class that shows you how to gut a deer. Start at the groin and work towards the sternum being careful not to rupture the gut. Wrong. Start at the sternum and work down to the pelvis next time and see how little hair is cut.
The same goes for capeing an animal,start between the ears and work toward the tail.Always cut down a leg, never up,this is the one that is always wrong on the vid's.

I know we have some taxidermist hanging out around here,maybe some of them will chime in on the cut hair they see on guys capes.

Try it on your next harvest and see if your meat isn't cleaner than it's ever been.
We eat what we kill in our home and I want it as clean as possible.

 

[buglum]

I only have one tip that I use religiously-Put your time it!

People always ask how I have killed many spring bears and good sized elk. My answer is simple- I go 4-6 days a week during the current season. None of them have been killed on my 1st-10th day of hunting. In my experience most of my animals have fallen on the 15th-25th day I have gone.

 

[HSi-ESi]

This tactic is more tailored for rifle, but I've used it with success.

I'm always on the lookout for escape routes / travel patterns. When the hunting pressure is getting high - and I know elk are in a certain area - it's likely that they'll be passing through on very specific trails. Take advantage of that knowledge.

If I bump elk out of an area, I'll always track them just to see where they are going, what trails are used etc. I might get a shot on that day (rarely ever happens), but it's more for the future knowledge when I hunt that area again.

 

[RobG]

Here's one for you Sytes. I learned this from an old man who spent his whole life as a Butcher.

When skinning an animal(any animal) make ''Every'' hide cut with the grain of the hair.
This will almost completely eliminate cut hair on your meat.It doesn't matter if it's a hanging animal or if it's something larger like an elk or bear that you are skinning on the ground. It also doesn't matter if you are gutting the animal or not,always go with the grain of the hair.
Like most of you I have seen the videos that show the gutless method and they claim to be showing the best way to break an animal down and there are a lot of tips in most of those vid's but in every one that I have seen guys are making cuts either up the leg,up the belly or up the back and neck(Against the grain).You can still make every cut that you want, you just make it in the opposite direction than we have all been taught.I bet every one of us remember that diagram from our hunters Ed. class that shows you how to gut a deer. Start at the groin and work towards the sternum being careful not to rupture the gut. Wrong. Start at the sternum and work down to the pelvis next time and see how little hair is cut.
The same goes for capeing an animal,start between the ears and work toward the tail.Always cut down a leg, never up,this is the one that is always wrong on the vid's.

I know we have some taxidermist hanging out around here,maybe some of them will chime in on the cut hair they see on guys capes.

Try it on your next harvest and see if your meat isn't cleaner than it's ever been.
We eat what we kill in our home and I want it as clean as possible.

Yup, although I've only practiced that when skinning. I'll try it from the start.

For gutless I do the shoulder and then pull the skin back and then slice the belly and pull the body away from the paunch so I don't poke a hole in it while doing the rest. Sometimes I cut it free and get it totally out of the way. I know it isn't the way the kool kids do it, but it only takes another minute and after getting sprayed in the face with stomach juices it is I who is gutless.

 

[SFC B]

Something I learned my first day of hunting ( I was 33 ) was to be in EARLY and not to leave until shooting light is DONE. The first day of hunting for me was a damp day during firearms season in WA sitting on a clear cut @ Ft Lewis. I was sitting on a stump at the edge of the woodline and didn't see anything all day. 5 min left in shooting light I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. As I sit a doe and fawn come out of the woods and walk directly in front of me at 5 yards. I was hooked right there!! Still one of the coolest things ever. Had a similar thing happen the next year in IN with two yearling does right after sun up. It pays to put in the time and never give up!!

 

[A-con]

Disclaimer;

On a depth chart of skilled hunters, I’m pretty much down near the bottom, so take it for what it’s worth.

The topo view holds many treasures if examined with that "Hunting 101" skill...
.

When I draw a tag in a new area, I get a unit wide map and start marking well know places. Recommendations from Wardens and biologist, places recommended by other hunters, or talked about on the internet. These are the places I will most likely avoid, but I study them. Elevation, terrain, food, water and cover.
Then I look for similar places near by. This works for me almost every time. Everybody and their brother will be hunting on “Big Buck Mountain, you’ll find me on that smaller, nameless mountain. two miles away.

The best, most constructive questions to seek answers from biologists, wardens, locals, etc
.

Before I talk to a Warden or biologist, I do my homework and have some intelligent questions. I ask about several specific places, and the last question I usually ask is: Are there any other areas you would recommend ? This question has put me in some pretty good places.

 

[Sytes]

Ok guys, we need some more beans spilled here... we have a ton of hunters here. Whether you're a hardcore guru hunter or just a Joe that goes out when he can get the time, we all have gained some knowledge.

I'll give my two pennies worth of information that seem to help me a bit

★★★The topo view holds many treasures if examined with that "Hunting 101" skill...

When I find the district or the general area I plan to hunt, I flip between the satellite and the topographical map. This gets mixed with hunting GPS maps (an awesome product by the way) and look for a water source, Security and food either a route to or within the area. Of course the one feature that's hard to avoid, access to get into that area.

★★★Scouting - how to predict where they may be come season.

Unfortunately my time does not allow too much for scouting. If I can I try to make a fishing trip of it during the summer or something of that nature. I look for game trails, Scat, good bedding areas, and if I happen to find that wallow... Well that's a feeling as if I found a bunch of gold!

★★★The best, most constructive questions to seek answers from biologists, wardens, locals, etc

I've always been uneasy about asking questions of biologists. I have a warden friend or two And sometimes in small chatter I might pick up a tip though I've never felt comfortable pushing for conversation specific to where I can find game. Same goes with locals. I'll have breakfast or lunch and enjoy small conversation with local people though again to come straight out and talk about where I can find game tends to be a little uncomfortable for me. I still pick up tips though probably not near what others are able to retrieve information.

★★★Other pumpkins (orange) about. How to modify to your advantage.

This is an area I am definitely at a disadvantage. I do everything I can to avoid orange patches. I would rather chance small residential herds over known large herds simply to avoid the orange pumpkin patches. Unfortunately I have found myself in a position or few where I've come across other pumpkin patches and had to resort to figuring out how to take advantage of it. The only thing I've come across as a strategy is to stay lower on the hill side than the other orange hopefully when the sound of the shots begin the elk will head the least resistant path downhill.

★★★The means to best conceal scent.

This one I picked up from a former friend and it has really helped over the time... one month prior to my hunt I have glad bags full of pine trimmings from the general area I plan to hunt or something matching that from the local area. I place all my camo clothing, gear and backpacks inside those bags. I also use unscented detergent for all of my undergarments, etc.

★★★How to best 'rest' your rifle and your ideal shot placement.

I have shooting sticks though to be honest unless I've been set up an area and waiting, I have not use them. A couple years ago I picked up a nice bipod and have not had an opportunity to use it yet though I think this will be helpful. It added a good amount of weight though the long legs will make it reasonable for sitting positions, at least that's my theory.
Shot placement, I've always been behind the front shoulder however after hearing about neck shot placement I may try that.

★★★Field dressing how you find best to gain the most.

I used to gut the animal though having learned of the gutless method several years ago, that has made the job much more simple! I will try going with the grain of the hair as that sounds to be a great tip! Thank you.

Anyhow, that is my basic Joe hunter pennies worth of information.

Thanks guys for all the information shared already and hopefully we get some more information, never hurts.

 

[ida homer]

Countless things to name, as every time I go out I learn something new. I've only been at it for a few years now and have shot a couple decent critters.

The topic I'll touch on is scouting and Google Earth. A few years ago I didn't see scouting as valuable as a tool as it is. You get to basically hunt all year long so that when your season does open come fall, you spend less of your hunting days armed hiking. Even if it's just the 2 days before your season opens, that could save you precious hunting time. If you can't find game or sign during those 2 days, you may even consider moving areas for the opener.

Google Earth is probably the most helpful tool there is out there. In the last 4 years, I have had to find my own hunting spots due to fires burning down old ones and just for the sake of wanting better spots. I have found a couple legit OTC honey holes in the last 2 seasons just from Google Earth and minimal days scouting on foot.

My old mantra was that if you go the extra mile and out hike everyone, you will be rewarded. Not always is the case. The method that has been paying off immensely for us in very popular units near Boise has been to find the overlooked areas right off the highway. If it means driving down the road, stopping and parking 10 feet off the white line and to start hiking uphill blazing trail, so be it. 2 of our most consistent spots that we have had very good luck in, you are able to see the major highway from the side of the mountain where our group has killed bulls. On Google Earth I look for decent plots of feed, water and cover with ZERO trails (even foot traffic only trails doesn't cut it) or roads near by. In summary, if there is no real access to the area you want to hunt or you have to make your own access, that's a great starting point.

Backpack hunting is fun no doubt and always an adventure. But time constraints don't always call for it. As the presence of predators increases in the back country, we have found that in some areas elk actually migrate less and reside year round very close to some of our decent sized mountain towns. Even if this level is only 3,800 to 5,000 feet in elevation.

 

[Redwood]

You need to leave the 4 wheeler and go for a hike. Find some good overlooks and actually use those binos you've been dragging around. You will see more game than you thought possible by sitting and watching. You need to shoot your gun/bow how you will in the field. I don't care if you can hit a pie plate from 40 yrds. Can you hit it while kneeling and shooting around a tree, from your butt. Know how to shoot like you will from the field, very few benches to be had in the woods. Get out early and come back late, first and last light are your best chances of catching that lery buck. Spend time in the trenches. Some go out and get lucky right away, assume you will never be that guy. You will have to squeeze everything out of yourself for success. There is no substitute for time on the trigger or in the field

 

[RobG]

Flyfisherman Jack Gartside said when coming to a new area he would go to all the shops to ask their opinion on where to go for the best fishing. Then he would avoid those areas like the plague. I'm not sure that is always true for elk hunting, or even flyfishing, but I'd prefer to get skunked hunting alone than fighting over who shot that elk that just crossed the Yellowstone Park boundary.

 

[Speeddmn]

Lots of greats tips here. One for shooting that I was taught and use alot is simple. Sight the gun in with the rest available means. If its a lead sled then great! But and this is the kicker. Wear the same cloths you hunt in and take that gun into the field and shoot it as you hunt. I mainly shoot from a sitting position. So I set up a target 200 yrds or so and place my rifle on the shooting sticks, sit on my but with all my gear on and make a few shots. This will tell you how the gun really shoots.

For field dressing I like to keep a few old tent stakes and some para cord with me. Tie the legs to a tree or the tent stakes to keep them out of your way, and always keep the head of the animal uphill the best you can! Let gravity help you.

I try to avoid other hunters but sometimes letting those road hunters push the elk/deer toward me. I will pick a nice slope to sit on and glass for hours! if you move around to much you might miss the herd that is just on the other side of that mountain you decided to not walk up. Either way its a two way street if you walk for miles you cover lots of ground, if you sit, you glass alot of the same ground and allows them to come to you.

 

[alwayshunting]

I have also started using Google Earth quite a bit lately. I use it in conjunction with paper maps. You can mark points and draw boundaries to build yourself a hunting map. Then print a few screen shots to use in the field. Topo and PLSS layers can be added to easily switch back and forth from satellite view or you can overlay them as a semitransparent layer and see both. Also, some forest websites have some very helpful layers that can be added. Sometimes they are difficult to navigate to on the website and only some forests have them, but they can be very helpful.

 

[RobG]

I have also started using Google Earth quite a bit lately. I use it in conjunction with paper maps. You can mark points and draw boundaries to build yourself a hunting map. Then print a few screen shots to use in the field. Topo and PLSS layers can be added to easily switch back and forth from satellite view or you can overlay them as a semitransparent layer and see both. Also, some forest websites have some very helpful layers that can be added. Sometimes they are difficult to navigate to on the website and only some forests have them, but they can be very helpful.

where do you get the Topo and PLSS (section/township?) layers?

 

[alwayshunting]

where do you get the Topo and PLSS (section/township?) layers?

I have been using this one http://www.earthpoint.us/TopoMap.aspx it shows both. They also have one that only shows PLSS. It is pretty helpful.

 

[greatwhitebuffalo]

If you remember one and only one rule:

1. Hunt other hunters. Find them, and you'll quickly eliminate possibilities.


This echos previous comments, but doesn't hold true for non-hunting (farming, automobiles, tc.) traffic. As said earlier; a short way off some paved roads hold great opportunity.