Outdoor Adventure USA

HUNTING

This week we explore the world of hunting. The prospect of bringing home some tasty game appeals to many, and we invite all the hunters as well as those who would like to learn how, to join us.

The scope of the net covers a lot of ground, and we want to include as many aspects as possible. So, topics can include, but are not limited to, hunting trips, hunting apparel, preparation for hunting, places to prepare meat, recipes, how to cook, equipment, communication devices, electronics, trail cams, optics, scent control and scents, firearms, footwear, field dressing and handling of wild game, ammunition, hunting stands, calls, scouting, tips on how to get a leg up on drawings, hunting ethics, and eye and ear protection. Just some suggestions.

Hunting Dog

I think there is no better way to spend a day than hunting with your gun dog for birds in the Fall. Rambling through a field with a bit of chill in the air but the sun shining on your back along with your dog is very pleasant. Really beats freezing in a deer stand, so bored you have run out of things to think about, or laying on your back in water in a duck blind waiting for action. It is very satisfying to watch a well-trained and behaved dog (your dog) work the field. It is a great day even if you don’t bring home any game.

There are 4 general categories of hunting dogs
• Pointers - they search, locate, point
• Retrievers - they retrieve, handle (take direction well), can be flushers
• Flushers - they search(limited), retrieve
• Versatile - they search, point, track, retrieve

Don't expect the Versatile to be as good at any one of the jobs as the specialized dogs.

My dog Alex is a Golden Retriever - this was at about 3 months.
Best to get a puppy at 10 weeks and develop him yourself for the first year.

Dogs are pack animals - you need to be the pack leader.


Goldens love to retrieve! Conditioning is repeated experience with positive reinforcement


Alex was very large for his breed.

There are two important components essential to protecting our hunting heritage.

• First, is protecting our access to, ability to own, and ability to utilize firearms.

• Second, is ensuring hunting laws are in place that provide for access to lands and sustainable game management.

This is a tall order for an individual alone, but an individual as part of a group can be a powerful force.

A good formula for supporting the cause is:
(National Gun Rights Organization) + (Local Gun Rights Organization) + (Hunting Organization(s)) = A Good Contribution

National Gun Rights Organizations
United States: National Rifle Association. https://home.nra.org/
Australia: Gun Rights Australia. http://www.gunrightsaustralia.com/
Canada: National Firearms Association. https://www.nfa.ca/

Local Gun Rights Organizations
California: California Rifle and Pistol Association. https://www.crpa.org/
Arizona: Arizona State Rifle and Pistol Association. http://www.asrpa.com/
USA: NRA State Associations: https://stateassociations.nra.org/find- ... sociation/

Hunting Sustainability and Rights Organizations
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. https://www.rmef.org/
National Wild Turkey Federation. http://www.nwtf.org/
Quality Deer Management Association. https://www.qdma.com/about/
Australian Deer Association. https://austdeer.com.au/
Izaak Walton League of America. https://www.iwla.org/

There are two (at least) situations that can take a toll on the conscience of a hunter:

• A clear shot opportunity at game that's within the capabilities of the hunter and the hunter's equipment, but ultimately misses the game due to an adrenaline or fatigue induced wobble of the muzzle during the shot.

• A clear shot opportunity at game that's within the capabilities of the hunter and the hunter's equipment, but ultimately hits and wounds the game but fails to put it down due to poor shot placement due to an adrenaline or fatigue induced wobble of the muzzle during the shot.

For many hunters, most of their shooting will be at a range where most shots will be taken while sitting at a bench under supported conditions. That's a great way to sight in a scope, but unfortunately, that type of range practice does not optimally mimic what a hunter will likely face in the field, such as the need to shoot from a standing, kneeling, sitting, or prone position and usually under unsupported conditions. Hunting Guides recognize this situation and many, in an effort to maximize their client's opportunity for a one-shot harvest, will do what they can to dial back the hunt conditions to as close as possible to range conditions.

How do Hunting Guides do this? It is often accomplished by having shooting sticks available for their client's use.

Shooting sticks, when properly used, provide support to the firearm during the field shot, thereby reducing the adrenaline and fatigue induced wobble of the muzzle that can so often result in missed shots and/or wounded game.

I recommend that hunters acquire shooting sticks and carry them while hunting. If you have shooting sticks with you, you can always choose not to use them for a shot: if you don't bring them, then obviously you can't use them when they could assist is a responsible shot.

Examples
MonoPod
Good up and down control
Little lateral control
Little shot line control
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Good up and down control
Good lateral control
Little shot line control


>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Good up and down control
Good lateral control
Good shot line control

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Simple Design - BiPod, Leg length not adjustable


>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Simple Design - BiPod, Leg length is adjustable


>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Simple Design - BiPod, Fancy, Leg length not adjustable


>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Simple Design - BiPod, DIY Construction


>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Shooting Sticks are easier to carry than a rock, and are easier on your firearm!

Study Educational Material





Getting a Hunting License in California
Two options:

1. 10 classroom hours and test
2. Online course followed by 4 classroom hours and test

You must register for a California GO ID (Get Outdoors Identifier) through the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) web site before registering for any hunter education class
https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Hunter-Education/GetGOID
You must register for all hunter education classes through the DFW web site
https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Hunter-Education
Hunter Education Study Guide
https://www.hunter-ed.com/california/st ... /20100501/


Course Availability
https://www.register-ed.com/programs/california/160
Take your course, pass your test, check to see when your information clear the DFW web site
Purchase your hunting license
Purchase any species- and area-specific tags
Recommendations

• Figure out what you'd like to hunt
• Acquire firearm of legal and proper style, caliber/power, sighting mechanism
• Practice shooting from positions used while hunting (e.g., using shooting sticks), not from a bench
  Basic Shooting Positions Every Hunter Should Master

  

  Kneeling.png (160.77 KiB) Viewed 1008 times

• Enlist the services of a qualified guide
  • Often expensive, but worth it for the educational experience
• Find accurate hunting ammo (California-legal lead-free ammo may have very different ballistics)
• Sight in and practice, practice, practice

Early check-in request.

WD6USA
Jeff

GENERATIONS

Please check-in John, KN6VL and Bruce, KD6GCO

Check in please - Thanks - Bernie

Thanks for early check in, KF6KOC Randy.