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Three Reasons to Wear Snake Boots

September 29th, 2009
by Harry Benjamin Watts

Snake boots are great pieces of hunting or hiking gear that protects the wearer from the worst case scenario of a bite from a venomous snake. While turkey hunters in the swamps of the South are probably already familiar with this footwear, many others are not. In fact, it’s not out of line to suggest that the average person doesn’t even know that there is footwear specifically designed to protect your feet and lower legs from venomous reptiles.

Snake proof boots might only be common to hunters and hikers at the moment, but they are made in styles that also make them attractive to other crowds. In fact, some snake boots look down right stylish while still offering the all important protection.

There are far more than three good reasons that consumers should look at snake boots. But if this article was going to list every single reason, you could end up sitting here and reading all day!

Out of all the reasons to get snake boots, the first one should be obvious. This footwear protects you from snake bites – whether they are rattlers, cottonmouths, coral snakes, or copperheads. If you live in an area with even a few of these slithery little guys, then you might want something extra to keep them away from your ingredient.

The second reason to wear snake proof boots is to protect yourself financially. Specialty boots like this cost a little more, but in the United States treating a snake bite can cost $15,000 to $20,000, and that’s only if no complications occur. When venomous snake bites are involved, over half the time there are complications. That type of financial hit is way too much for most individuals to handle.

A third reasons for wearing snake boots is for the peace of mind. There are literally millions of people who have an outright phobia of snakes, but it’s much easier to deal with tall weeds by the river when you know nothing can strike out and hit you. The lower leg protection offers that peace of mind which is worth just as much as the actual protection for many people.

There is a wide variety of good reasons for wearing snake proof boots. As this article shows, these reasons can cover a wide array of topics, but the end result is the same no matter what line of reasoning you take to get there. This footwear is worth the small extra cost for the protection provided.

In the end, the decision on whether or not to wear snake boots is up to you. At least with this article you now know that there are some great options in footwear when it comes to defending yourself from snake strikes.

About the Author:

Harry Benjamin Watts Hunting , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

7 Costly Mistakes Made Elk Hunting in Colorado – Are You Leaving Your Big Bull in The Rockies?

September 18th, 2009

Each season, when Elk Hunting in Colorado,there are hunters that will make common mistakes. Usually, the are mistakes that can be easily corrected. Planning ahead and being aware of these “pitfalls” can stop most of them. Most of these mistakes happen because a hunter did not fully understand what was really important.

You Need To Be In Condition – You will be hunting in the Rocky Mountains – that is very rugged terrain. Elk Hunting in Colorado requires you to be in good physical shape. The 4 remaining Elk breeds in North America have survived so long because of their ability to move through the mountains will skill. You will have to actively track them through the mountains at high altitudes before you will be able to take a shot. It is not uncommon for an out of shape hunter to have to cut their hunt short due to lack of strength.

Elk Bugling – Bugling is a learned skill that must be practiced over and over. While you are Elk Hunting in Colorado, is not the time to start to learn this skill. Elk Bugling is something that needs to be practiced before you go on your elk hunt. Elk bugle often and bugle loud. They will bugle loudest when coming into close range of another bull. If you are the “other bull” – get loud and challenge.

Get a Quality Pair of Binoculars – Elk Hunting in Colorado or Elk Hunting in general is an expensive hobby. Most of us hunt with a budget in mind. I understand that and costs need to be managed. Buying cheap binoculars is a bad investment. As much as everything else cost, do not sell yourself short by not being able to spot the Elk you want to track. Elk are stealth and crafty – they can blend in behind a twig. Your goal is to find them and track them from the start. Your scope will not suffice – get really good binoculars.

Do Not Set Up Too Tight – You know you need to be 100% about a shot before you take it. Well, you can’t take a perfect shot if you are cramped into a spot that you can’t move in. Your arms and legs have to have room for movement to set your shot up. You might have found a perfect spot to watch from – but it might not be the best spot to take a shot from. Try your stance out first.

Elk Are Smart – Never Underestimate Your Competition – that is a quote all Elk Hunters should know. Elk know a lousy elk bugle, or the smell of you Axe body wash, or the sound of a truck door slamming – they have survived by being smart. Don’t underestimate their intelligence while Elk Hunting in Colorado.

Colorado Weather – The weather in the Rockies can change on a dime. It might be a perfect day in the morning and turn freezing after the sun goes down. Make sure you have a thermal blanket in your daypack and a reliable way to start a fire in case you need it. It is one of those “in case” things that you might need.

Just Stay Home – You will never bag a bull sitting in your living room – I don’t think they can ring the doorbell. I cannot promise you that you will get the big bull if you go elk hunting in Colorado – but I can promise you that you will not bag an Elk if you stay home – Go Elk Hunting!

Elk Hunting is Super! Before you plan to go Elk Hunting in Colorado check out Mike Boone’s Elk Hunting Blog at ElkHuntingGuide.net for more Super tips.

Mike Boone Hunting , , , , , , ,

What The PSE Brute Compound Bow Is All About!

August 27th, 2009
by Bart Icles

PSE Archery has always been the favorite brand for most avid sportsmen of archery – bow shooters and bow hunters alike. It has the widest choices of the most advanced and superior compound bows in the market today. Being one of the first archery manufacturers to machine bow risers out of solid aluminum using their four stage forging process, it made today’s compound bows lighter yet stronger than other bows.

PSE compound bows all come with standard and original features that make any archer make faster and more on-target shots. These standard features sets PSE bows apart from their archery counterparts in the form of their custom-made bowstrings, grips, cables, vibration dampeners, larger cams, pivoting limb pockets, and side-locking tabs.

One such of these is the PSE compound bow called the “Brute”. It is the embodiment of power never before seen in a bow of its class – it exudes immense, unmatched power without sacrificing accuracy. Once the archer draws back and takes aim at the target – be it a moving big game buck, or a stationary target, the difference can be suddenly felt and without fault. It’s the ideal bow for all archers – beginners and experienced.

The PSE Brute, weighing at a mere 4 lbs., it features a more lightweight riser, with a draw length that can be easily adjusted to anyone’s specific or preferred requirements. It has a slim low torque grip and a built-in backstop that ensures all shots to be perfectly vibration free. Its parallel limb design has been engineered to perfection, resulting in more efficient and easier archery equipment that is much more of a delight to use. It has multiple sight mounting holes the gives the archer the entire configuration figures for flexible adjustments as needed and when needed, without taking out performance concerns.

It has a sleek Oak tree-stand finish, adding more than a touch of class to an already classy bow. It has a brace height of 8 1/8, factory installed and configured Vibracheck hush kit, and an asymmetric idler wheel. The PSE Brute offers great value for your money that is guaranteed to completely satisfy an discerning and critical archery buff.

With the PSE Brute, it firmly validates and shows the world and industry of archery how seriously involved PSE Archery is in making the sport of archery grow, grow, and grow, and at the same time contribute to improving all facets of all individuals archery expertise.

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Bart Icles Hunting , , , , , , , , ,

Selecting The Most Appropriate Spotting Scope

August 20th, 2009
by Jim Samposzi

People involved in birding, hunting, security, nature sports, and other outdoor recreation need a way to clearly see things that are a huge distance away. Spotting scopes give people this ability in a portable, easy to use method. These small devices are usually mounted onto various objects, or held in ones hand, so that they can see something far away; whether it’s a beast, a criminal, or a beautiful landscape.

These gadgets are different than telescopes in that they are small and not conducive to viewing planets and space. Also, these scopes produce an upright image – telescopes, on the other hand, use a series of mirrors to reflect and refract light; sometimes the images in a telescope are actually upside down. Furthermore, a spotting scope is known to be used during daylight, while a telescope is not. Although a spotting scope isn’t perfect and subject to interference and reduction in effectiveness, they can be a big help in viewing things at a distance.

These tiny, powerful tools can be used in daylight for a number of different things. Most people employ the use of spotting scopes in activities like bird watching and scoring targets for target practice. Spotting scopes are preferred over binoculars in many functions because they are stronger and magnify objects greater than do binoculars. Most spotting scopes can provide 60 to 80 times magnification in daylight. Not only can they provide this power of magnification, they do so with crisp, sharp imaging.

Spotting scopes are subject to interferences that bring down the strength of the magnification. Things like wind, atmosphere, dirt, and air patterns can affect the ability to see things at further distances. Using a spotting scope in moist, non-mountainous climates affect the device, where using the spotting scope in a dry, mountainous area yields sharper images. Also, shifting in wind patterns and other conditions can hurt the clarity of this instrument when used.

With this instrument, like any other instrument, the price varies. However, it is suggested to spend a lot more and get something that cannot yield the results that you want. The reason is that top-end scopes produce clarity as magnification gets increased. The less expensive models tend to come with less capability as the magnification can be lower. Although a reduction in cost is attractive, and because of portability, they do not provide the same abilities as the ones that are more expensive. This is usually because of the glass in the objective lens. Basically, when purchasing a spotting scope, you get what you pay for. And, most of the time, size indicates the sharpness and clarity.

This kind of scope can provide the ability to see objects from far distances away. Because they are able to fit in ones pocket, they are portable and can be brought along with other equipment. But, most of the better ones require mounting of some sort. It is also suggested that you mount the scope for a reduction in moving when the lens is focusing in on the object; this will yield a much better view.

About the Author:

Jim Samposzi Hunting , , , ,

The Advantages of Compound Bow Hunting

August 10th, 2009
by Bart Icles

A hunter using a rifle can effectively shoot his target from a range in excess of 200 yards or 180 meters, whereas a bow hunter is limited to within only 20 – 30 yards. Bow hunting greatly depends on the archer’s ability, the type of bow used, and weather to determine the effective distance to squarely hit a target. Bow hunting has been used as far back even before the Roman Era, and saw its gradual decline when firearms appeared. With the invention of the compound bow, the sport of archery was revived – especially in game hunting and backyard shooting.

Compound bows gave the avid archer and game hunter a new and challenging way of target shooting and hunting game hunting. Any hunter who favors using the rifle when hunting can learn a thrilling thing or two with using a compound bow. Modern compound bows are more advanced with its technical leverage system and composition makes the equipment itself suitable for hunting in many harsh conditions easier on the hunter.

Engineering advances have made bows as functional as possible with its ergonomic designs. Compound bows are relatively easier to carry, being made of light weight materials, compared to rifles which are a burden to carry especially in long hunting trips. Bow hunting brings back the thrill of stalking and shooting game that was lost long ago. A bow hunter must get a close as possible to a prey by using stalking skills to get a good clear kill shot.

Training on how to properly use a compound bow cannot be hurried and accomplished just as easily with a rifle. It’s challenging at the most, but will be worth the effort once it is learned. If it was fun learning how to use a rifle for hunting purposes, learning how to use the compound bow for hunting is much more fun and rewarding. Even if you didn’t hit your intended target right away, the excitement in itself will be your reward. With constant practice and determination, like you did with the rifle, you can master the bow as many have already done in the past.

Besides bow hunting, there is also bow fishing to preoccupy any avid hunters time when deer season is over. Bow fishing has its modifications and additions to the compound bow to make it suitable for hunting fish game, with the common additions of a line attached to a spool or reel, as well as using some specially designed arrows. Bow fishing also demands a new skill for a hunter to learn such as taking into account water refraction, still hunting, stalking, and ambush.

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Bart Icles Hunting , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Are Game Cameras Good Investments?

August 9th, 2009
by Stephen Nepstein

You could have been reading a huge amount of confused claims regarding game cameras. Some folk swear on them, and say they make the change between catching your dream, prize animals and returning home empty handed yet again. Others say they are not worth the cash and will be doing more harm than good. So what is the truth with game cameras, are they a worthwhile investment?

Clearly with game cameras you are using them to provide information. You need to know the types of animals that are on the grounds, as well as the number and size of those animals. You want to understand where those animals go and when they are going there. Capturing all of this on film can give you an amazing early lead when it’s time to hunt.

However, the critics of game cameras will tell you the cameras themselves are about to do more harm than good. This is really because the flash can actually shock animals away, and keep them from returning to a spot or lingering for a very long time.

Additionally, critics will say the various gamesmen who have had their game cameras vandalized, damaged or robbed. The reason being because when you leave the camera out in a remote location some other person can simply find it unguarded and essentially do what they wish with it.

Both of these flaws are true when it comes to game cameras, however you can eliminate both of them. As an example, you can stop scaring off your targets by using an infrared camera. The infrared camera doesn’t produce a plain flash, meaning you won’t be doing anything to frighten the animals away.

At the same time, the infrared flash of game cameras will also leave them more hid from strangers who may need to steal or destroy it. If you mix this with a solid hiding spot and some quick camouflage, there is no reason that you can’t shield your device for an indefinite amount of time.

Game cameras are particularly handy when you have plenty of ground to cover, or before hunting season starts. This will cut down your work by a great amount and will allow you to actually have an early lead over any competition. Once you know where and when to go there’s nothing which will stop you from succeeding.

It’s correct that game cameras have some clear drawbacks. For some folks, these drawbacks mean they aren’t worth the investment. However, they can also be stopped and most people find that setting up game cameras can be quite advantageous towards completing their hunting goals each and every season.

About the Author:

Stephen Nepstein Hunting , ,

PSE Bowfishining Bows And Accessories

August 9th, 2009
by Bart Icles

PSE Archery has one of the most extensive archery products and accessories in the market today for all archery sports enthusiast. PSE offers sport fishers with an assorted line of specialized bows specifically made for bow fishing. From hunting and shooting freshwater and seawater games such as carp, grass carp, bighead carp, paddle fish, alligator gar, and sharks and rays – PSE has it. Bow fishing is a demanding yet very rewarding sport favored by many seasonal hunters of water game to for practice and honing of their archery skills when deer hunting season is off.

The accessories you will need to have is a good PSE traditional bows, such as a recurve bow or longbow, or a compound bow, an excellent reel, a strong line, and some specialized arrows. The type of bow that bowfishing demands depend highly on the concerned hunter, the type of game, and the expected fishing conditions.

Bow fishing arrows differ much compared to the arrows used in bow hunting and target shooting. These arrows are stronger and denser, and are constructed from fiberglass, solid aluminum and carbon-reinforced fiberglass to minimize arrow breakage and for more penetrating power. Bow fishing is done in shorter ranges and does not require fletched arrows as this causes the arrow to miss the target by veering off to either one side. Bow fishers employ some basic hunting and fishing methods incorporated as one principle in the form of still hunting, stalking, and ambush.

The lines in particular are not at par with the commonly used in regular fishing. These are made from braided nylon, Dacron, or Spectra, that has greater tensile strength with having line weights in the range 80 to 100 lb. test for medium to big game fishes, and 600 lbs. for alligator game. It is designed to have bright colors like lime green, white, or neon orange for better and clear visibility underwater.

With your reel concerns, there are only three types to take note of: the hand-wrap, spincast, and retriever. Hand-wrap reels are the simplest, consisting only of a circular spool wrapped on the hand and tied down in a line holding slot. The spincast is much the same as a spinning reel but offers better line snare reduction. The retriever reel is held in place in a container which only comes out when a line runs out, or when the shot goes much farther and the hunter presses a stopping device to keep game from straying.

PSE hunting bows like the Hammerhead, Kingfisher, and AMS Bowfishing Bows and kits, make bowfishing a fun and enjoyable sport to do. So be sure to get one of these hunting bows the next time you do your thing.

About the Author:

Bart Icles Hunting , , , , , , , , , ,

With Martin Archery Any Archery Activity Is Worth Doing

August 2nd, 2009
by Bart Icles

Martin archery was founded in 1951 by Gail and Eva Martin. It is one of the world’s oldest developer and manufacturer of archery bows and accessories, and its bows are known the world over as the fastest and most accurate of bows. All Martin bows are not just archery equipment but a masterful work of art.

The most commonly favored bows used by target archers and bow hunters alike are the traditional bow and compound bow. All bows are designed to store their energy within its limbs, with handles or risers that are attached to their limbs. Longbows can be made from one individual wood and can be crafted very easily and quickly. An average bowyer can craft a longbow in a matter of ten to twenty hours at the most, while skilled bowyers are able to make one in just a matter of hours.

The longbow is a kind of bow that is much different than a recurve and flat bows, as its limbs are narrower, having a cross-section that is circular or D-shaped. It can be as tall as the archer who’s using it, allowing it to be drawn fairly long at least to the point of the archer’s jaw. Longbows have been used for game hunting, for war, and for competition by the world’s many cultures.

On the other hand, the compound bow is a modern type of bow made out of aluminum and magnesium and is rather more rigid in design compared to other bows. It uses a leveraging system from cams, cables. The compound bow is lightweight and durable, making it an ideal archery equipment of choice for most target archers and bow hunters alike.

Martin Archery is a well-known expert in compound bows as they’ve been at it now for more than 58 years. Over the course of their business, Martin has an outstanding 25 patents credited to their name, including the famous Vibration Escape Module, Double Helix Bowstrings, Teflon Plated Cable Guards, Core Flex Limbs to name a few that has made a lasting mark on the design of the compound bow. Their compound bow lines are the Pro Series: Warthog, Firehawk, Firecat Pro-X, MOAB Pro Hunter, S4 Scepter; and the Gold Series: the Bengal, Cheetah, Leopard, Mystic, and Saber.

Using a Martin archery bow – traditional or compound can always bring utmost satisfaction and pride to any avid target archer or serious woodland bowhunter.

About the Author:

Bart Icles Hunting , , , , , ,

How To Choose The Right Compound Bow For You

July 19th, 2009
by Bart Icles

In buying your first compound bow, you need to understand the basics of a compound bow to help you determine the correct bow most suited for you. You can do the research yourself to know all the details on the essential components and its meanings, as also the technical aspects of bow shooting, but this might otherwise staunch your interest and smooth introduction to the sport once you encounter some difficulties. So, it’s more appropriate for you to avail the services of a professional archery instructor to help you understand all the basic and important things you need to know about archery as a beginner to the sport.

One of the first and important things to take note when buying your first bow is draw length. The draw length is the distance between the nock on the string and the grip when the bow is fully drawn. The anchor points are the parts of your face, namely your chin, cheek, and lips or nose, where the string touches your face. These anchor points is where your drawing hand comes to touch the anchor points on your face when drawing a bow in aiming and shooting a bow. A draw length that is too long is not safe to have, as it will make the string hit and injure your bracing arm.

The next thing to consider is the bow’s weight. Light weight bows are most suited for hunting, as this need to be carried around for the duration of the hunt when stalking or following a game target. Heavier bows are most suited for shooting stationary targets such as that found in archery competitions.

Next is the brace height or the distance between the bow grip and the string. It should be as comfortable as possible to enable an archer draw, aim, and shoot easily. With a shorter brace height and a long draw length, the bow is harder to draw. Whereas, a longer brace height will let an archer draw the bow more easily. The shorter brace height shoots faster arrows, while the longer brace height shoots slower arrows. The trade off is that short brace heights are difficult to shoot and does not afford accurate shots.

Last to consider is the draw weight. Draw weight should be set according to the type of archer: for adults the comfortable draw weight would be 50 lbs., for kids 10 lbs., and for teens 20 lbs. Draw weight is dependent on the drawing power of the archer in order to have the desired ideal and correct drawing, aiming and shooting movements for more accurate shots.

Take the tips to heart and you’ll get the right bow suited only just for you.

About the Author:

Bart Icles Hunting , , , , , , , , , , , ,

All important Turkey Hunting Equipment

July 16th, 2009
by Ethan O. Tanner

There is a huge variety of hunting equipment available these days, due to the growing popularity of turkey hunting and ever-increasing numbers of turkey hunters. Turkey hunting was a much simpler activity in the past. The hunter, dressed in his usual garb and hat, places his favorite slate call, box call, wing bone or scratch box into his jacket on the way out of the house. He picks up his double-barreled shotgun and a few shells in his pocket before walking out the door.

This is him, the turkey hunter – all prepared to fight with a wary old tom. But what other gear will he have with him? When it comes to hunting equipment having lots of choices and options is a very good thing.

Today’s modern turkey hunter has numerous choices than he ever had. But sometimes, it becomes consuming to a novice. Before going to hunting, you have to choose first what you are going to use to haul all of your gear. This will also help determine the type and amount of gear you carry with you into the woods. Turkey Vest, Back pack, and fanny pack are the three staple choices for packing turkey hunting gear.

These vests come in many different ways including the full vest or jacket style. Some prefer vests since there are many separate pockets and the game bag on the back that lets you carry decoys well plus the turkey if you get one. A vest is also another outstanding to organize your basic turkey gear with one hunting garment.

Backpacks allow you to pack much more gear than the vests. They also can be withdrew and even used as backrest if needed. The least costly option are the fanny packs. They are popular to many hunters since you can carry some gear but you are not dragged down as much as with a backpack or vest. They also provide fast access to everything inside.

Many hunters will carry along a laser range finder and this is perfect, especially for those hunting with a bow. Your laser range finder will provide comfort and knowledge on how far your potential shot may be for that big old Tom.

Do you need to carry that lots of calls with you? No, absolutely not, but if you want to, there are now vests available that allow you to carry them and much more.

Here are some basic needs and optional gears you might consider: Basic needs include shot gun, shotgun shells, full camo outfit including cap, favorite calls. Turkey tag pencil or pen to sign tag. Gloves, head net or face mask. Bug spray for mosquitoes and ticks. Water and drinks, compass, toilet paper and knife are some of the few things that are usually brought.

Elective gears include decoys, turkey tote, extra set of gloves and facemask, extra strikers for slate calls, and other local calls like owl, gobble tube, hawk, goose, coyote, peacock and woodpecker. Leather type multi-purpose tools, flashlight, matches, cell phone, walkie talkie, 2-way radio, GPS, topo map and aerial photos for hunting area. Rain gear, binoculars, camera, camcorder, tripod, laser range finder, ratcheting pruners, folding saw, ground blind or square piece of camo cloth, Snacks/food, moistened hand wipes, seat or pad and snake bite kit.

Having all these equipment will certainly not guarantee that you would become the best turkey hunter in the world, but they can help further your chances of having a turkey dinner when you go home for the day. Delight in your Turkey Hunting outdoor experience.

About the Author:

Ethan O. Tanner Hunting , , , , , , , ,