All About Hunting

There’s plenty of planning that goes into any hunting trek - but if you’re going to hunt across the border, there are more and more regulations you’ll need to keep up-to-date with to avoid trouble. Be sure you apply for the permits you’ll need well in advance - experts recommend you start this process three months in advance.

Permits range from those you need to carry firearms across the border to those you’ll need to bring your trophies home - and that’s in addition to the tags you have to apply for to hunt in the first place. Thankfully, most of us don’t have much to worry about when it comes to actually crossing the border - you’ll do well to carry your passport and it’s imperative that you’ve applied for and received the requisite permits and tags before you travel.

Coming home, you’ll need to ensure you’ve followed the regulations for packing meat, trophies and other hunt proceeds or your hard-won goods may be confiscated by officials at the border. Bear in mind rules apply on both sides of the border, and it is important to understand them all. So do your research, apply for permits early and abide by the regulations - and enjoy your hunt!

In addition to the bow’s handing, draw length and draw weight, there are other variables to consider when choosing the right bow for you, such as:
- The ATA, or axle to axle length, of the bow. Generally, a longer ATA makes for a more forgiving bow, but a shorter ATA is often considered more convenient
- Let Off is the amount of tension released by drawing the bow - common let offs are between 65 and 85 per cent.
- The distance between the string and the back of the riser is the brace height of the bow. In general, a higher brace height makes for a more accurate bow that’s easier to shoot.
- Single, dual or hybrid cam bows are available, and choosing between them is up to your skill and confidence. A single cam bow is usually easier to handle, dual cam bows are faster but can be difficult to draw. The hybrid cam bow is relatively new and seems to offer the best features of both styles.
- Brand. This really is a matter of personal opinion - but it’s worth considering what reputation the bow’s manufacturer has with your fellow bow hunters. Most well-known brands come with a lifetime guarantee - but how easily can you act on this? Find out before you buy to avoid disappointment in the future. 

If you’re serious about hunting ducks, you’ve got to know your calls. When used correctly, a duck call can be the key to a great day in the blind. Experts say there’re eight duck calls serious hunters should know to make the most of their time on the hunt.

First, the basic quack - this is the foundation for all other duck calls, so it is important to get right - a top tip is to be sure you end each quack with a crisp CK sound rather than just tailing off the QUA part. The hail or highball call is the honking Aink Aink noise. It should be used sparingly, and never when you’re within 100 yards of ducks. Next, is the greeting call, a steady Kank Kank Kank Kank Kank that’s excellent for getting ducks in the distance to come nearer.

The basic feeding call (kitty kitu kitty kitu), the pleading call (a long greeting Kaaank), the comeback call (a faster KankKankKank) and the lonesome hen call (a drawn out, sort of whiney Quack) are all useful to add variety to your calling repertoire.  And finally, the simple whistle is a great variation on traditional calls and works best for Mallards, Pintails and Wigeons.
 

The one accessory all turkey hunters need is a good vest. Think of it as the biggest multi-tool you’ll ever own, a portable filing-cabinet or wearable luggage - in any case, ensuring you put the right accessories in the vest is one of the keys to successful turkey hunting.

First, choose the right vest. You’ll need plenty of pockets, storage space and a removable game bag that’s easy to wash. Vests with a built-in hunter orange panel are preferable, especially if you can conceal/reveal the panel at appropriate times.

Next, pack your vest with the gear you’ll need in the field. Use custom-sized pockets for your calls and ammo. Pack your snacks, drinks, gloves, bug repellent, first-aid supplies, and other accessories into the vest’s non-specific storage pockets. Consider taking a camera if you can fit a smaller digital or disposable camera into your vest. Another nicety a lot of turkey hunters opt for is a small, inflatable cushion to make sitting in the field for long periods a bit more bearable.

Though any catch is a good catch, seasoned hunters know that some animals are better trophy candidates than others. Regardless of your chances of being listed in the annals of time as a great elk or deer hunter, it’s nice to know you can do a rough score of your animal in the field. So pack a steel tape measurer and a note pad to work out your own rough score.

Measure the inside spread of the main beams at it’s widest point. Measure the length of each main beam from the burr to the tip. Measure the length of each point more than one inch long  from the top of the main beam to it’s tip. Measure the circumference of the main beam between the burr and the first point, then proceed to measure between the first and second, second and third and so on until you’ve measured the circumference of all segments.

Finally, add the measurements together to obtain a rough gross score for your rack. There are deductions for asymmetrical presentation, and a non-typical rack is harder to score. However, the Boone and Crockett club offer a great online scorecard you can fill in or download for use in the field.

The duck is one of North America’s most commonly hunted species. Our most common duck breeds are the mallard, teal, gadwall and widgeon. Other ducks often hunted across the continent include the northern shoveler, the wood duck, the bufflehead, the ringneck and the bluebill.

The mallard is, according to scientists, the daddy of them all. His striking coloring and distinctive style makes him a favorite for trophy seekers as well. Mallards are omnivorous, eating everything from grains and insects to aquatic plants depending on what’s available. They make their homes near ponds, lakes and marshes as well as in ditches and urban water features.

Whatever the duck, it’s behavior is bound to be similar. So, the best advice is to practice your calling techniques, dust off your decoys and find the best blind location you can. Be patient, think safe and take care of your bird dog while you’re waiting - the rewards are there for the taking. 

One of the best ways to improve your chances of success on the hunt is to identify areas where your chosen quarry eats and sleeps. The best hunting ground of the two is the area where the animals eat. Hunters recommend lying low in an abandoned orchard or another area with plenty of good browse crops to get a great deer with good reason.

For a start, most animals are a little distracted while they’re eating. Though the exquisite senses of animals are on alert most of the time, eating seems to dull them slightly. So get familiar with the animal’s eating habits - figure out what they like, and how hard they’ll work to get a favorite crop.

Then, scout the area you’re going to hunt and look for suitable crop land within the hunting zone. While you’re at it, look for tell-tale signs that the game you’re hunting is enjoying the menu on offer - trails, scrapes and rubs might surround the area and with a little practice, you can identify partially-eaten fruits and even the damage to foliage your chosen animal eats. 

The number of scares because of contamination in the food chain in recent years has increased steadily. As a result, many hunters are harvesting more from the animals they take than ever before. Often, you’ll cook up a great spread of venison, elk or even goose and your dinner guests will greet your delicious offering with a simple question: is it healthy?

Breathe a sigh of relief, because in virtually every case, the answer is a resounding yes. Game meats are lower in saturated fat, as well as total fat content, when compared to their domestic counterparts. For example, a 3.5 ounce serving of beef has, on average, six grams of fat - a 3.5 ounce serving of venison has half that. When it comes to providing nutrient-dense meals, you can’t beat a rabbit - they pack an astonishing amount of vitamin B12. And, game meats are among the best sources of lean protein nature has to offer.

When you’re planning a hunting trip to an area you’re unfamiliar with or are going after big game, an outfitter can provide some much needed know-how and essential equipment. Which is great, for some of us. For the rest, we’d rather rely on our own skills and judgement, make the investment in hunt-specific equipment and put in the work to make the hunting experience our own.

The price of hunting with an outfitter is high - often reaching easily over the $5,000 mark. If the cost alone doesn’t put you off using a hunt outfitter, the lack of independence might. For some, the thrill of the hunt is exploring the terrain, self-reliance and pitting your wits against those of some of mother nature’s cleverest critters.

Some outfitters offer a sort of half-way house that many hunters find to be a fair compromise between the help they need and the freedom they crave - the drop camp. An outfitter offering this service will usually guide you and your party to an existing camp, leave you there to do as you like and stop back to check on you and top up your supplies as needed during the week. He’ll also haul away your gear and meat once the hunt is done.

Particularly when you’re going after big game, like elk or caribou, booking your hunt with an outfitter can be easier than going it alone. There are a number of things to consider - from the equipment and physical effort required to understanding the lay of the land and knowing where the beasties like to hide.

An outfitter can provide a solid alternative to spending thousands on gear you’re unlikely to use for any other purpose or hunt in your lifetime. That isn’t to say hunting with an outfitter is cheap - it isn’t, but you’ve got to weigh the investment up against the savings. Additionally, an outfitter can provide you with some essential services once you’ve made that golden shot and bagged your trophy. Bear in mind an elk weighs at least four times what you do, and consider how readily you can pack that animal out of the hunt zone - with an outfitter, a lot of that hassle simply disappears.

The majority of good outfitters won’t guarantee you a kill- this is because to do so is impossible unless you’re hunting on a ranch or farm that breeds the animals for this purpose. However, an outfitter worth his salt will usually give you a fifty per cent chance of bagging a good mark. So do your homework and check the outfitters’ references from the outset to avoid disappointment.