Late Season Trophy Hunting In Michigan

Ep.26 - Fred's Late Season Hunt from Blaine Anthony on Vimeo.

First Time Hunting Video

Ep.21 - Calling all deer from Blaine Anthony on Vimeo.

Christmas In The South

Well, it is Christmas time again.  You know the time right after deer hunting season closes and the rabbits are scarce.  A time when porch sittin' is just a little bit chilly and the fireplace is warm and inviting.
Memories however are still deep in your mind and with that thought we offer to you a real memory of hunting seasons past and present.  Hope your Christmas is rewarding, warm, safe and tasty.
Merry Christmas.

2011 MICHIGAN GUN DEER SEASON BEGINS

Well, you've waited all year for this most sacred day and it has finally arrived.  The 2011 Michigan Gun Deer Season Begins today.
To all of you hoping to bag your buck we wish you well with one thought predominantly on our minds: SAFETY FIRST.  Don't take chances with your loaded firearm.  Ensure that you are handling it safely and that all of your hunting buddies are doing so also.
And with that we wish you a good hunting season and best of luck in the field.

The Crossbow As Your Alternative Defense and Hunting Weapon

The Crossbow: An Alternative Weapon for the Modern Day

A crossbow, resembling something between a rifle and a bow, uses a fast string to launch projectiles—just as a bow does—but also has a stock and trigger like a rifle. Although we don’t know exactly when the crossbow was invented, they were discovered in Chinese graves dating back as early as 2500 B.C. The crossbow was also used by the Greeks in 5^th century B.C.  The Greeks realized that there was a definite advantage to the crossbow over a traditional bow and this discovery revolutionized their success on the battlefield. The crossbow became the weapon of choice because of its versatility and accuracy.

Although the first crossbow doesn’t look anything like what they do now, early crossbows were constructed in much the same manner; primarily, they were bows mounted across wooden tillers or stocks. When the crossbow was fired, an arrow or bolt moved down a channel in the tiller/stock. Later, devices were built in to make it easier to draw the string back. One common device was called a stirrup and it was built on the front of the crossbow. This allowed the archer to brace the crossbow with a foot and draw the string with both hands. Some men used hooks attached to their belts.

The design of the modern crossbow has many improvements over the earlier design. Earlier crossbows were simple pieces of wood with ends that were connected by a bowstring. Modern bows have more effective shapes and are constructed out of better materials. As a result, they are much more accurate and far more powerful.

Crossbows versus Traditional Bows

Ordinary bows require a great deal of physical strength and training, where crossbows do not. With a traditional bow, the archer must draw, aim, and shoot in rapid succession. The longer it takes to aim, the more tired the archer’s arm becomes, which lessens his accuracy. If one uses a crossbow instead, he can draw the string, cock the crossbow, and then leave it cocked until the archer is ready to fire.

Another benefit to the crossbow takes the archer’s stature into consideration. If an archer is short in stature, it may be difficult for him to use a long bow and the crossbow then becomes a better option. If the archer doesn’t have a lot of upper body strength, drawing back a traditional bow can be difficult. Unlike a traditional bow, the archer’s size and upper body strength doesn’t come into play quite as much with regards to the crossbow. With a crossbow, an archer can use his thigh and buttock muscles (the body’s strongest muscle groups) to cock the crossbow. There are also tools available, like levers or cranks, available to him to increase his ability in this area. So basically, a crossbowman is able to use a more powerful weapon than a traditional archer with the same amount of physical strength.

How a Crossbow Works

Modern crossbows are usually made from very strong, lightweight materials like various woods, plastics, and even bone. They also have accessories such as adjustable stocks, scopes, and other attachments to make the use of the crossbow more efficient. Yet, they are still basically a bow and arrow that is operated by spring action. What happens when you draw a bow is that you pull one end of a spring and it stores elastic potential energy until you let go of it. Its potential energy becomes energy movement, which allows the spring to snap back to its original shape. The movement and energy of the spring action propels the arrow from the bow at a high rate of speed.

The amount of energy a bow can hold is called the draw weight. It is the amount of physical force required to draw the bow. A bow’s draw weight increases as the distance you pull the string back increases. The overall strength of a bow depends on how hard it is for an archer to pull the string back as well as how far back it can be pulled. Manufacturers call this bow energy, which is measured in foot-pounds, and arrow velocity, which is measured in feet per second.

There are several factors that affect a bow’s length and draw weight, and that will change the velocity an arrow will travel including its size, shape, and composition. As a result a simple short bow will not be as powerful as a simple long bow. Larger crossbows that a crossbowman aims from the shoulder are more powerful than smaller, handheld crossbows. Because some crossbows can have an arrow speed of 292 feet per second or more, it is absolutely critical that you know how to safely handle your crossbow.

Handling Your Crossbow Safely

The crossbow is a lethal weapon and it is important to follow assembly instructions provided with your crossbow. The crossbow is a weapon designed primarily for hunting large game, so it is fast, powerful, and it produces high energy. Therefore, care must be taken to handle a crossbow safely. Here are some safety tips:

1. Before using your crossbow, examine it for worn cables and strings, missing strings, and loose or damaged parts. Never use your crossbow unless it is in top condition.
2. The forehand grip on a crossbow is positioned to keep your thumb and fingers from getting injured. Never hold the forehand grip in a position where your thumb extends above the flight deck in the way of the strings. Always keep your fingers on the forehand grip above the flight deck so they don’t interfere with the string. Never have your hands or fingers positioned on the forehand grip where they are in front of the cable or string.
3. Don’t cock your bow until you are ready to use it.
4. Use the proper arrow for the model of crossbow you possess.
5. Grip firmly when you cock your crossbow, otherwise the string can slip and cause serious injury.
6. Never point at anything you don’t intend to shoot.
7. When pointing at a target, make sure people are standing well behind you.
8. Never release the trigger safety until you are aiming at your target. Crossbows have an automatic safety that engages as soon as you cock the bow. Some have a separate manual safety that you can engage yourself. Either way, the safety will keep you from firing the bow accidentally. However, once you release the safety, be sure your target is in sight.
9. Never walk or hike with an arrow loaded in your crossbow.
10. It is not safe to manually unload a crossbow. So if you don’t take a shot, carry old arrows with a field tip and fire it into a bale of hay or some other inert object to discharge the arrow.
11. Never dry fire your crossbow or use it with bolts lighter than those it’s made to use. Choose bolts that correspond to the size and weight of the bolt your model of crossbow fires. Using a light bolt with a very strong crossbow can cause the bolt to fly erratically and can damage the bow and cause injuries to you or others.

Today crossbows are popular weapons amongst recreationists and big games hunters alike. They recreationally, can be a great deal of fun for both amateurs and pros.  But before using a crossbow, be sure to research the laws in your state, because laws governing crossbow use vary widely from state to state. Some laws allow only disabled hunters to use crossbows, while others allow anyone to use a crossbow. So know the laws, understand that this is a lethal weapon, and if you decide to buy a crossbow, learn how to handle it safely to avoid unnecessary injuries.

HOW MANY GUNS IS TOO MANY HOW MANY GUNS IS TOO FEW

HOW MANY GUNS IS TOO MANY?  HOW MANY GUNS IS TOO FEW?

Here’s the deal; you don’t tell me how many guns I should own and I won’t tell you how many kids you should have.

For many years gun owners have defended their choice of owning more than one gun.  Conversely, non-gun owners have also defended their choice of owning no guns at all.  It is a problem that isn’t going to go away anytime soon.  And that’s okay.  We live in a free (so far) country and can make our own choices as it relates to our personal safety.
I would suggest to you that there is no “right” answer.  

If you chose not to own a gun then I believe that you are at some time or another going to be faced with a life-or-death situation in which you’ll realize that you should have owned at least one gun.  But for discussion’s sake let’s assume that you do own a gun.  The question then becomes how many should you own and why?

If you own a gun, and I believe that everyone should own at least one, then you should have more than one.  My logic behind this belief is this:  If you’re in your home and someone kicks in the door and rushes toward you with what is clearly the intent of doing you great bodily harm and you are armed you will be able to defend yourself.  However, if you are in your home and that person kicks in the back door while you are upstairs getting ready for bed and the only gun you have is locked in the gun safe downstairs there is a good chance that you will die.  Would it not be better to have more than one gun available in your home?  By having more than one gun and having them strategically placed throughout the home you have a far better chance of survival in a critical life-threatening situation.

The same holds true when you are out of your home at work, shopping or wherever you might be.  If you’re attacked and the primary weapon fails to function properly what do you do?  Well, how about going for the hidden back-up weapon that you have wisely decided to carry with you?  After you’ve survived this encounter I don’t think you’d ever say to yourself “boy I’m glad I didn’t have a second weapon with me cause that would have been just too many guns and far too heavy to carry all the time.”  No, you’ll say “I’m sure glad that I took with me the 38 snub-nose revolver as my back up today.  That darn semi-auto jammed up after the first shot.”  Police officers carry a back-up weapon.  So should you.

Thus far we’ve discussed having one (or more) hand guns.  What about other weapons of self-defense and survival?  What should you own that will provide safety and survival for you and your family other than a hand gun?

I truly believe that a shotgun of not less than 20 gauge, a 22 rim fire rifle and a high caliber rifle such as a 223 is also required to ensure your survival and safety.  And of course if you own one of each you should own two of each as a back-up system of survival.  Malfunctions do occur at the most inopportune times.

Most pragmatic gun owners recognize the value of embracing the policy of “own no more weapons than you can handle.”  And I agree with that.  You shouldn’t own anymore weapons than you can take with you in a bug-out situation.  Take them with you and survive.  However, in your home those weapons must be available at all times.  So what do you do?  I’ve always believed that if you own one you should own two of each.  That way, if you have to bug out for any reason, you’ll have everything available quickly all packed up and ready to go.

Ammunition is also a concern.  Having all types of weapons that require different ammunition can be a challenge.  Hand guns I believe should all be of the same caliber thereby eliminating the need to have different ammo for different guns.  With your shotgun you also should own just one caliber.  And the 22 rim fire is just that, a 22 caliber rifle.  For me I have the personal policy of buying one box of ammo for each weapon out of every check I get each week from my work.  That way I’m assured of having enough plus more should the need arise.  It doesn’t do any good to have a weapon if you don’t have the ammunition to use in it.

So, how many guns are too many?  To the utter consternation of the hard-liners on both sides of this issue, the answer probably really is “to each his own.”  In the realm of guns, as in most anything in life, “one man’s just enough is another man’s too much.  So like I said in the beginning…

You don’t tell me how many guns I should own and I won’t tell you how many kids you should have.

P.S.  Consider this:  If a woman chooses to own three thousand pairs of shoes does she wear all of them at the same time?  No, she owns them so they are available when she needs them.  In my opinion you should own several guns… not that you’ll use them all at the same time but they will be available when you need them.

Be safe, be prepared and always be armed.

Tim
 

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Coleman Tent Kit

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3 Keys to successful deer hunting

Okay, this is hunting in Alabama. But... these tactics work everywhere. Take a look.

Game Hunting - Are You Ready?

Game hunting can of course be very dangerous without the right equipment. A bear wounded by a poor choice of weapon is probably going to attack. Its not unheard of for a wounded deer to turn on its attacker either.
Before you go big game hunting you should be a proficient shot with your guns or bows. Many big game hunters will tell you they honed their skills hunting small game such as fowl or pheasant before moving onto big game hunting such as deer.
The reason they advise small game first is twofold. First, chances are a hit on small game is going to result in a clean kill. Second, once you can hit say a squirrel a distance, then you are much more likely to able to make a clean kill shot when it comes to big game hunting such as bear deer or elk. A poor shot hunting big game puts himself at risk from attack and the animal at risk of a slow death by infection from it wounds.
Being a good shot, while important, is only a part of hunting though. Understanding the animal you hunt is also a must have skill if the hunt is to be a successful one. You will need a good understanding of its habits and where your prey likes to go. Being able to spot your preys tracks and understand and read them is a great skill that comes with study and experience.
Its not all running through the woods though tracking and hunting. Much big game hunting is done from a stand, either on the ground or from within a tree. This type of game hunting requires great patience and determination as you can find yourself stood quietly in position for many, many hours waiting for your prey.
Another important factor of course, is your equipment. You must have the right weapon for the game you hunt otherwise you put yourself at risk from a wounded animal and the animal at risk of a slow death. If you are bow hunting make sure it has a draw weight packing a big enough punch to make the clean kill on your chosen target.
Their are many different makes, variations and models of hunting rifle available today and the choice you make will be entirely based on the prey you hunt. Famous brands like the Winchester and Remington as well as relatively unknown brands like the Sakko 75 hunting rifle and the Tikka T3. Weatherby and Ruger are also rifles which are used by some hunters. Whichever hunting rifle you use, just make sure it is suitable for the game you hunt.
Pitting your wits against prey in its own environment is what makes hunting so thrilling. From the moment you spot that track until you have your target in your sights, your heart will be racing with adrenalin. Having the correct equipment with you will help ensure the days game hunting is a successful one.

Sniper Bowhunting Strategies Video Series

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History of Big Game Hunting - Sport Or Survival?

The history of big game hunting is as old, or older, than man. Depending on your beliefs, big game hunting technically can go back to pre-man animals who hunt each other. For this discussion, however, we will limit to man.
In man's history, hunting was essential to survival. Even after the skills of farming and cultivation were spread, man continued to hunt meat. As time went on, man's hunting expanded to sport, for skin, and trophy heads. And, some unscrupulous hunters ignored laws and poached certain animals, which almost led to extermination of some species.
Today, big game hunting is an extremely popular sport. It requires licenses or permits in most areas, and big game definition varies slightly with geographical areas. However, the general range of big game includes the following animals:
Deer, Mule Deer, Coues Deer - and other varieties
Bear - various varieties
Antelope
Buffalo
Musk Ox
Water Buffalo
Lion
Mountain Lion, Cougar
Big Horn Sheep - and other varieties
Boar
Elephant
Moose - various varieties
Elk - various varieties
Wolf
Hippopotamus
Rhinoceros
Elephant
Leopard
Caribou
Rocky Mountain Goat
Big game animals have not been without threats of extinction, from overkill, and because of this conservation programs and limiting permits and licenses have worked to prevent elimination of some big game species. Part of the history of big game hunting is the conservation efforts that continue today. It is this and sportsmanship, and tough poaching laws that have maintained the ability of man continuing to do big game hunts as time passes.
Modern big game management began in 1922 with the establishment in New York of the National Collection of Heads and Horns, located in the Bronx Zoo. This was followed in the next decades by other conservation and record keeping associations. The 13th edition of the book "Records of North American Big Game" will be published in 2011. Records are based on a scoring system of points for each type of animal.
In the U.S., different states have different seasons for hunting, depending on the animals hunted, and mating seasons and birthing times. In other countries, they have their own sets of laws for big game hunting. Africa is noted for large species, and fierce animals such as the lion, which is carefully protected and hunting is limited. When there is a limited availability of licenses or permits, competition and prices are high. For example, an out of state hunting license for bull buffalo in Arizona can run over $5400 for the permit.
The high prices tend to restrict big game hunting to those persons having an amount of time and wealth, although many ordinary people will hunt smaller game like deer, which are more plentiful and have more permits.
The history of big game hunting will continue to record trophy animal hunting as long as conservation and protection efforts continue. This will allow big game hunting to be a pleasure for many hunters, and a goal for others to strive to do at a future time.
                            


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The Best Rifle Caliber to Hunt Big Game With

This has been a debate for many years and will continue to be a debate among hunters for all eternity. There's many different calibers of rifles to choose from. The most popular being the.270 and 30.06. More recently the 7mm and.300 have started to become mainstream rifles to take big game hunting. Most will agree it all depends on what type of animal you're hunting. Obviously using a.270 with a low grain cartridge for a full grown bull moose is not the best option. While some will argue it's ok if your shot placement is spot on.
5 months before my first big game hunt my father bought me my first Remington.270 bolt action. I loved that Remington.270 cause it was the rifle I shot and killed my first mule deer with, a beautiful 4-point buck. However when I started hunting elk I upgraded to a Remington 30.06 bolt action on my father's recommendation. I can still remember him saying "elk are very strong animals and are very hard to put down." That statement has stuck with me for many years and always comes to my mind when I'm elk hunting.
I can still remember the first elk I shot and killed. The area I hunt is spike only so that makes my options easy. I spotted him 2 days into the hunt about 450 yards away from my position. He was a big majestic spike. He had to be two years old due to the size of his body and his antlers or his father was a great big bull. Anyway the first shot that hit him went straight through his vitals, which didn't stop him from moving downhill and I proceeded to put two more rounds into him finally bringing him down. I was in awe at the shear strength and power that these animals have. My father was definitely right.
My father uses a.300 semi-auto Browning which is a beautiful rifle and has a lot of knock down power. I sighted the scope in for him and ended up with a big ole bruise on my shoulder the next day.
For the last 10 years I've been using my Remington 30.06 to hunt mule deer and elk and that caliber seems to be the best for me.
When it comes to which rifle to use I recommend bigger is better and using the highest grain cartridge possible. The worst thing for a hunter is wounding an animal and not being able to find it. A lot of us can relate a story or two regarding that. Nothing makes a hunter feel worse than that. I make sure when I hit an animal it's going down. Another recommendation is to make sure you're practicing all year with your rifle, it is very true that a well placed shot from almost any rifle will put down a big game animal.
May all your hunting trips be good ones.

Big Game Field Dressing Safety - Long Overlooked

For some reason, I never gave it much thought. Perhaps the excitement and pride I have always felt, harvesting a big game animal, clouded my mind as the knife came out and the "mess" began. That is not until the day I slipped.
I thought that I had just nicked my finger but as the job progressed, so did the pain. It wasn't until I finished and pulled off my field dressing gloves that I discovered a cut worthy of stitches!

Back at camp, that afternoon, a conversation with my hunting partners started the ball rolling. "If you really think about it, it's sort of nuts to stick your fingers in there with any sharp knife", said my Brother Mark. We were both taught how to field dress by a certified hunting instructor, one of the best we'd ever met, our Dad. Dad wasn't much of a trophy hunter. He loved his venison so cutting up the cape was no big deal for him. He showed us how to guide the knife blade with our fingers so as not to cut the entrails and make easy work of the heart/lungs by cutting straight through the neck and severing the trach.
As the years passed, Dad supplied the venison (as did we) and Brother Mark, Cousin Rich, and I concentrated on trophies. That's when our methods to the "task at hand" changed. I've nicked the stomach a few times and a trophy buck demands a more care to preserve the cape for mounting. Our days of cutting through the neck or up through the brisket where over. I never liked cutting up through the brisket anyway as it always dulled my sharp knife rendering it useless. My technique for removing the heart/lungs included fishing both arms up into the chest cavity, one searching for, finding, and holding the trach, while the other carefully turned and maneuvered the knife into place for the cut. This is the technique that nicked me more than a few times and ultimately led to the bulky bandages that made hunting difficult for the next few weeks.
Did you ever have those nightmares as a kid that it's the first day of school and you can't find your class room or can't remember your locker combination? You know the ones I'm talking about! Mine was that I would somehow break my arm the day before bow season and not be able to draw my bow! I never gave much thought to slicing myself with a knife! Though primarily a bow hunter, I hunt all seasons. If the powers to be ever come up with a "spears" season, I'll be out there!
That season, 2006, the next deer shot, a plump doe became my Design and Engineering specimen and drawing board for the purpose of studying other methods and ultimately tools, to make field dressing safer and more efficient. For over an hour, sketch pad in hand, I used my design background and design for Six Sigma tools to chart and study the procedure. The resulting tools have been accepted with rave reviews by our local contingent of sporting goods stores as well as the bulk of 400 field trials by the North American Hunting Club members during the 2007 deer and elk seasons. Even the "old timers", set in their ways, got it and liked it!
They (whoever they are) say "necessity is the mother of invention". This inventor believes that more than ever as do my fingers!

Deer Hunting Tips - 3 Great Deer Hunting Tips To Make Your Hunt A Successful One

Being a successful deer hunter can be one of the most challenging things anyone will ever do. Do you want to know why its so hard to take down a big buck or doe for that matter? Its really simple actually. You see, the bigger a buck or doe gets, the older they are. like humans, deer become wiser with age. That is why it is important that all hunters know quality deer hunting tips that can make their hunt a successful one. There are many, many tips out there, but here are three deer hunting tips that really work.
1) Deer Calling: Determining what deer call to use is extremely important to your success. Your deer call needs to focus on which age/sex deer you are trying to attract. A lot of people focus their deer calls on what rut phase a deer is in, which is not what you want to do. Does respond to maternal/distress type deer calls. Bucks will respond to just about any deer call that you put out there. Also, dominant bucks will respond to mating calls, but it is not recommended that you use it. What type of deer your trying to call will ultimately determine what call you want to use. For does and young bucks use a distress call or fawn bawl. If your hunting just bucks use a social/low/ tending grunt. Finally, if your hunting dominant bucks you need to use a social/low/tending grunt or grunt snort.
2) Deer Rattling: Deer rattling is most effective in areas that have high buck to low doe ratios. Also, deer rattling is good to use in urban type areas where deer move around and river bottoms. Why do bucks respond to deer rattling? Its simple really. Bucks respond to deer rattling out of curiosity. The bucks want to know whose fighting and if there is a suitable doe with them. This is very important. Rattling works best when bucks are at the peak of their rut. Finally, you need to use deer rattling early in the morning while bucks are still searching for does. This is actually very effective and is one of the best deer hunting tips around.
3) Blocking Scents: Blocking scents can be used effectively at any time and it does not matter what phase of the rut it is. Some of the best blocking scents are actually the smell of a dog and a smelly sock. Also, in dense woods there may be numerous trails for the deer to move through. Take time at some point and block a few of the paths to funnel the deer towards you, which will give you a better shot in the long run.
These are just a few deer hunting tips that people use to be successful hunters. While it seems simple, deer hunting can be very frustrating to those who do not take the right steps and implement the right plan. Obviously, which deer hunting tips you implement will depend on where you hunt and what type of deer you are hunting. Some tips will work better than others. Just make sure to find the perfect tip and hunting game plan for you.

Deer Hunting in the United States

Deer hunting is the sport of pursuing deer which began as early as 7,000 BC. There are numerous types of deer throughout the world that are hunted.
The deer most sought after in North America, east of the Rocky Mountains, is the white-tailed deer. West of the Rockies, the mule deer is the dominant deer. The most notable differences between the two are the differences in ears, tail, antler shape, and body size.
The mule deer's ears are longer than the ears of a white-tailed deer, and resemble that of a mule. Mule deer have a black-tipped tail which is smaller than that of the white-tailed deer. Buck deer of both species sprout antlers; the antlers of the mule deer branch and rebranch, while white-tailed bucks have one main beam with several tines sprouting from it. White-tailed bucks are usually smaller than mule deer bucks.
There are four common methods of hunting deer: stalking, which consists of following signs and trails of deer; stand hunting, waiting where deer are likely to travel (including tree stands); still hunting; and line drives, which consists of flushing deer toward a line of hunters. Scouting and stalking involves following deer signs. Common signs include rubs, scrapes, and tracks. Scrapes are places where bucks scratch the ground and urinate below low hanging branches on the edge of fields. Bucks do this to mark territory and attract female deer. Deer tracks may tell you the size and age of a deer. Rubs are marks on the trunks and low branches of trees where bucks have rubbed the velvet off their antlers. Another purpose for this action is that it marks territory with a visual signpost.
Another method of deer hunting, although illegal in most states, is dog driving. Dogs are used to drive deer to a place where the hunter can get a shot.
There are also numerous factors that play a role in deer movement, but the one thing that can usually be counted on is the movement of deer 30 minutes before sunrise and 30 minutes after sunset when the deer are going to or leaving their feeding ground. The main factors in deer movement are precipitation, wind, hunting pressure, rut, and lunar movement. Deer will stay in their bedding area during stormy weather, and when the storm stops, the deer usually start moving. The deer will move to an area they feel is safe for them; they will also start moving if the storm passed through their feeding period. Most deer feeding occurs in fields of agriculture such as corn and soybeans. Because they don't like to be caught in the open during a storm, the deer tend to move to a more covered area of the feeding ground or leave the ground entirely until the storm ends. The rut, usually a month long period in which bucks mate with does, can last longer or slightly shorter than one month. The rut causes deer to be more active and do things that they would not normally do. The last factor in deer movement is the position of the moon. When the moon is directly overhead deer seem to be more active.
Many different weapons are permitted in various states of the USA during certain times of deer season. These include bows, crossbows, rifles, shotguns, and muzzleloaders.
Archery season usually opens weeks or months before a state or localities gun season and can be permitted for several weeks or months afterwards. Modern compound bows and recurve bows are used, as well as some primitive recurve and longbows by historical enthusiasts when permitted.
Rifles and shotguns are commonly used for hunting deer. Most regions place limits on the minimum caliber or gauge to be used; rimfire rifles and centerfires under .22 caliber are often prohibited due to ethical concerns. Some areas of the United States prohibit rifle hunting altogether; most hunters in these areas use 10, 12, or 20 gauge shotguns with buckshot or slug loads.
Muzzleloader hunting is also a common practice. Modern muzzleloading rifles equipped with synthetic stocks, telescopic and fiber optic sights, in-line ignition systems, advanced bullet designs, and black powder substitutes such as Pyrodex are much more effective than the muskets of generations past. However, many traditionalists still use wood stocked, iron sighted rifles with round lead balls and traditional black powder charges.
Camouflage has been used for many years and while it is very important, it is not essential, especially during gun season when it is required that hunters wear blaze orange clothing when on public land.
There are many different types of deer stands, ladder stands, climbers and stationary blinds. Ladder stands are ladders with a platform on top of them chained to a tree. Climber stands are platforms with a seat that may be carried on your back and then placed usually about 4-8 feet off the ground on a tree. Stationary blinds, built from wood and other materials are meant to be a durable and long-lasting blind either on a stand or on the ground, depending on the terrain. Knives are essential for skinning and field dressing deer. Tags and permits are required to hunt deer legally which helps defray the cost of enforcement and conservation programs.

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