Hog Hunting – Past and Present

For thousands of years people have participated in hog hunting out of necessity and for enjoyment, however, what is truly amazing is that hunters have maintained its purpose and high standards the whole time. Although currently hog hunting is conducted very differently than it was in the when it first started in Persia, people still have the same enthusiasm about hog hunting.

If you’re a new hunter and want to try out hog hunting, then you need to be aware that that there is a greater risk of danger hunting hogs than with other kind of hunting; however the gratification gained might make it feel like the risks are not important to actually matter.

Rules must be clearly established from the start: don’t approach a hog in any type of way that will put your life in danger. Remember this, you need to realize that hogs usually show aggression if they feel threatened, specifically when their piglets are nearby. These animals have a reputation as fighters, being violent and showing no fear when attacked by an enemy. So, don’t give an impression that you are an enemy by keeping the right distance between you and the hog, or try to find a cover spot that is a long way from the particular path that hogs usually travel upon. This means that you must watch their routes, take notes about their where they gather and seek advice from landowners that have seen hogs in their area.

The fact is, being prepared is very important for hunting hogs, maybe more than anything. Being aware of the areas where hogs usually come, either to eat, for leisure activities or to breed is important for all hunting experiences. It is easy to do this if you have skilled hog hunting guides to show you the best locations in the area.

To an unskilled hunter, all parts of the woods look alike, with nothing particular, however a skilled hunter knows the hog’s schedule just by observing general signs. Footprints are evidence that a hog has walked through a certain area recently, or the signs may indicate they haven’t been in the area for a while. Also, consider that hogs usually go to areas that are easy to access, not close to bedding areas, and, if available, close to trails and water. Hogs have habits of visiting the same area, again and again, so if you find a good location to place your bait don’t go anywhere else, because the odds are another hog is on its way soon.

This brings us to the least favorable part of hog hunting: getting the bait ready and putting the bait down. The bait you use should primarily contain corn, and it will draw hogs to the bait hole you have previously dug. Since they have an amazing ability to smell, hogs can’t say no to a free meal even if it is a long way. Usually they will come in big quantities, but this is not good since they will eat all the food before you have the opportunity to shoot, so if you’re going to put bait out, be prepared to hunt. Don’t “set it and forget it”. Also, remember to remain as far away as you can from the baiting area (human odor will probably be noticed by the animals and it will upset them), but still stay within a reasonable shooting range.

The great thing about hog hunting, at least in south Texas, is that the hog population is plentiful enough that there are no bag limits. After all, hogs have been running rampant in the south for decades, maybe centuries, but people are amazed that they have survived the test of time.

One final tip – before leaving on your hog hunting trip, be sure that you’re carrying enough firepower; best to bring something with at least a .30 caliber to take them down. Otherwise you’re just going to make them angry, and an angry hog is not something you want to mess with. Check out the close call this guy had in the video below.

 

Hunting Safety 101

Safety While Hunting

The idea of bagging a 12 point buck or bringing home a trophy black bear holds great attraction to the thousands of hunters that venture into the woods each fall. Hunting is the most enjoyable thing you can do with your clothes on, but it can also be dangerous, even fatal, if one is not careful and does not follow safe hunting principles.

Basic Tips

First and foremost, prepare well before setting out on your hunting trip. Do not go to unknown locations or simply take off on a whim without proper precautions. Inform your family and friends about your proposed trip… where you are going and when you will be back. In fact you could even go a step further leaving detailed instructions about how to reach there in case of a medical emergency. Stick to your schedule so that you don’t cause undue anxiety for others. Call if you change plans and if not, they should be able to reach you with assistance using the directions left by you. Your next step is to prepare your rifle or shot gun by cleaning it thoroughly. Even a weapon that has been kept in storage should be cleaned before use. Next, you should prepare a first aid kit with all the required medications, bandages etc. in case of an accident. Carry your cell phone. You can turn it off while hunting, but it can be of tremendous help if there is an emergency to get help really quick. Keep track of the direction in which you are moving so that you can give proper instructions if help has to reach you fast.

While Hunting In The Woods

Before you step into the woods, wear your hunter orange clothing. By wearing an orange cap on your head or an orange vest on your chest, hunters can see you when they’re out hunting game and deer can’t see you. If you wear full camouflage, your movement may confuse the other hunters who may take a shot at you, mistaking you for a deer. When you are in a group, always keep the location of the others in your mind to avoid mishaps. If you are using a doe decoy, surround the area with orange tape so that the others will recognize it to be your decoy. Stay hidden on a slightly elevated position so that others do not hit you by accident.

Additional Precautions

If you happen to be tracking a wounded deer, be doubly careful because the other animals in the pack will begin to panic at the smell of the blood from one of their wounded members. Wounded animals behave unpredictably and if it senses that you are chasing it, it will try desperately to get away from you. Don’t take on the wounded deer head on. And… don’t come between the animal and a solid object. You must have the escape route clearly thought out should the animal attack you instead. In case you cannot avoid being attacked, do the next best thing and try to protect your head and chest from damage as far as possible. This can protect your vital organs and improve your chance of survival. While you may not be hunting them, you could get attacked by bears and snakes and so it pays to be on the lookout for them as well. If you have greater cognizance of your surroundings, your chances of staying safe is vastly improved. You can really enjoy your hunting expeditions by following safety rules and always acting with common sense.

 

Respecting Nature And Being Safe When You Hunt And Camp

Nature is beautiful and worth preserving. Therefore it is advisable to adopt nature-friendly ethics while hunting. Some of the ethics common among experienced hunters are as follows:

• Try as much as possible to maintain a quiet atmosphere when camping overnight.
• Do not cut or damage the woods.
• See your stay in the bush as a visit to someone’s house and do not make unnecessary changes to the woods.
• Try returning the areas close to its original form when leaving a campsite.
• Do not leave any of your belongings behind.
• Avoid leaving your trash like nylons, cans, papers and any other materials which cannot decompose lying about the camping area.
• Since there are no toilets in the woods, always cover up your excrements with dirt.
• Forest’s fires can be a huge natural disaster to animals and human beings alike. Remember the words of Smokey The Bear, “Only you can prevent forest fires”.
• Put out your campfire with water and bury it to avoid it being rekindled by wind or dry leaves. This is to avoid forest fire, which can cause years of damage to the woods.
• If you must set up a tree stand, go for a strong and mature tree. Do not damage a small tree with the weight of yourself and your gear.
• Tie back stray branches with a rope instead of snapping them off.
• Avoid using strings, copper or metal because it might damage the tree.
• Bigger trees will give more room for you to explore your options when tying your ropes to the branches.

Tips on how to stay safe while hunting;

• Beware of dangerous and aggressive animals like wild boar, bears, and mountain lions when hunting.
• Be on the look out to avoid direct contact with any animal you are not trying to harvest.
• If by chance you come across any aggressive animal, put your hand down and back out slowly while maintaining a steady eye contact with the animal. If you fret or act aggressive, the animal will attack you just to defend itself. If it does attack you, roll into the fetal position and play possum.
• Clear the ground before camping overnight, this will scare away reptiles and insects such as snakes, centipedes and scorpions. Because most of these animals are curious about any change in their environment, they might hide in your bedding and other camp gear.
• Check your gear very well before leaving the area. This is to avoid packing any unwanted animal or insect in your bedding or backpack.
• Bad weather poses a huge problem for hunters, especially during winter. Always pay attention to the weather, and if possible get updates before heading out. This will help you to decide the kind of clothes to wear.
• Wear hunter orange to be recognized by other hunters in your area.
• If there are wind gusts, avoid standing close to trees. This will prevent weak branches from slapping you in the face or breaking off and harming you.
• If you are camping overnight, carry a battery charged flood or torch light.
• Do not set up your camp fire near your tent or any tree.
• Check that the fire is out before leaving the area.

While teaching your children basics of successful and effective hunting, endeavor to teach them the importance of respecting nature and its environments. The best way to do that is by being a role model to them by exhibiting respectful behavior when hunting with them. This will guarantee that future generations can also enjoy hunting.   

 

First Aid And Hunting

Anyone that has hunted long enough has heard of, or known of, a person that suffered an injury while on a hunting trip. While not all hunting accidents are as critical as the one displayed in the picture above, it is, however, absolutely necessary to take all precautions to avoid accidents and injuries. Especially so when you’re hunting in remote locations where medical facilities may not be available. But, like the Boy Scouts motto, you should “always be prepared” in case the unthinkable should happen while you’re out in the field. Being prepared with something as simple as a first aid kit and basic medical skills could be enough to save your life or someone else’s.

Taking a class on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (otherwise known as CPR) could be the best $30 you’ll spend in your entire life. Knowing CPR can literally mean the difference between life and death for someone you’re hunting with. Classes are often taught at your local fire department, hospital, even the Red Cross offers classes. You can attend the class, learn the steps, and be certified in one day. First aid courses are also taught in some of these CPR classes. Before attending such a class, it is a good idea to first consult with the organizer to know whether first aid is included in the course or not.

If you’re ever in an emergency situation when out hunting and someone is calling for help, first be sure that it is safe for you to help the injured person. The scene should be evaluated immediately to avoid finding yourself and the victim both in danger. Before providing any first aid to others one should ensure that the area is safe for both the victim and yourself. The main reason behind this logic is that if the person capable of providing first aid becomes injured then he or she cannot help others. If you were to become hurt as well, the rescue team would have to deal with one more injured person. In an accident situation a split-second decision can make a difference between life and death.

A person trained in first aid should first check any breathing difficulty being faced by the injured person. It is important to check the airway. In case the throat or mouth is blocked by objects, water or blood, then this should be handled immediately. If required, breathing should be provided. You should also check the victim for a pulse. If the victim has been shot, for example, and blood is coming out from the wound, you can tear off your t-shirt and apply pressure to it to stop the bleeding. If the wound is on the leg or arm, it may be appropriate to tie a tourniquet with a shirt, rope, or even your belt, if that’s the only thing available. If you’re going to tie a tourniquet, it needs to be tightened on the leg or arm in such a way that the flow of blood towards the injured areas is restricted.

It is important to call for assistance as soon as possible. It can be difficult for a single person to handle such a situation without any assistance. If others individuals are present, then rescue tasks (like CPR) should be shared to avoid exhaustion. In some extreme cases there may be spinal / neck injuries to the victim, making it difficult for the injured person to breathe, this type of condition requires providing rescue breathing. See where your CPR certification comes in handy?

Many times hunting accidents can be avoided simply by keeping away from aggressive animals, practicing weapons safety, and being prepared ahead of time. So, before venturing out on your next hunting excursion, be sure someone back home knows the the location of where you’re hunting and what your return date is. It’s possible to avoid injuries and accidents to a great extent by being informed, keeping away from unsafe conditions, and using basic first aid procedures.

 

Hunting With A Tree Stand

There are many things to consider when being an avid deer hunter way before you even attempt to go out and catch that prize deer. Will you hunt from the ground or use a tree stand? If you use a stand, will you need more than one?

To answer these questions we must first think of where you will be hunting and the weather. You should already have a spot that is meant for hunting picked out and Ok’d long before you even go out. Make sure this is an ideal spot and a safe location. You simply can’t just go out with your rifle and sit in the woods, expecting them to come to you. Deer hunting takes time and much patience as well as being prepared for any situation so that you can react quickly, all the while never disturbing the area and scaring off your target.

Many hunters actually plant deer plots with the deer’s preferred vegetation to attract them to a particular area. Not only does this get the deer to come to the spot of your choice but it also gets them comfortable and relaxed enough to let their guard down. As any hunter will tell you, a calm and relaxed deer makes for a happy hunter! It might help you to research what certain foods the deer you want to hunt likes best as well as what they eat or need for different times of the year. There are many food plots available for you too buy but you really need to do your research on this one ahead of time to ensure the most success.

As far as tree stands go, it would definitely be helpful and almost always advantageous to have two stands, preferably stands that are very portable and easy to adjust. Deer are very sensitive and can smell the scent of someone with ease and any scent at all will make them uncomfortable and easily scared off.

So the most important thing for you to remember, prior to your hunting trip with deer hunting outfitters, is to place your tree stands so the wind blows from the deer to you and not the other way around. You are also going to want to make sure that you purchase some scent eliminator for any article of clothing. Highly recommended is also to not smoke or bring anything with you that might put out even the slightest odor. After all, the goal here is to attract the deer, not chase them away by making an easily preventable mistake.

 

Moose Hunting With A Guide

Moose hunting is an exciting experience, and if you are new to it, you would benefit from hiring a trained guide to take you on the trip. The cost of hiring a guide can range anywhere from $2000 and up, but there are various reasons why doing so is worth the investment.

Those new to moose hunting want to have someone with the knowledge and skill to guarantee a good expedition. Moose licensing is often by lottery, and you need to prepare long ahead of time for acquiring a permit as well as reserving a guided tour. Once you know the state or location where you plan to hunt, call ahead to multiple guide services to compare their prices and services. In addition to licensing requirement inquiries, when choosing your guide you should be prepared to ask questions such as:

• What is the hunter success rate in the region? (And specifically, of their organization?)
• Are they knowledgeable about the overall population of moose in their region?
• What types of hunts are available? (town hunts, lodge or cabin hunts, spike camps, etc.)
• How long have they been in business and how long have they been hunting?
• What are their different pricing packages and what does each include?

Most experienced guide services will do much of the prep work for you, such as preparing meals, acquiring licenses, and afterward, they may do the butchering for you or prepare trophies, etc. You want to make sure to ask if they provide meals, as there are some that do not: you need to know whether or not you’ll need to bring food and come prepared!

Be sure to ask the service for their references, and find out if they know the different types of hunting including stand hunting, still hunting or the spot and stalk method. You may also want to learn whether or not they do moose-only hunts or have combination species hunts available.

Learn whether they are experts in moose calling, and if they are knowledgeable about safety with these amazing animals. For example, a moose may charge when it is spooked; your guide should know what to do and how to approach these animals in a manner that protects your group as you complete your hunt. Experienced hunters can also benefit from the knowledge the guide has of areas new to the hunter. Guides will have access to well-known hunting grounds, and they will also be informed about other wildlife that you may encounter during the hunt that are native to the area.

Take the time and make sure that you are doing your best to choose a reliable outfitter and guide. Aside from contacting several different services, you may also want to research the state in which you plan to hunt prior to making the decision to go with a particular guide service for both references and state-specific requirements and regulations.

Hunting with a guide is a choice that you must make individually, but you do want to consider that a guided hunt is likely to have a higher rate of success. Though the price of doing so may seem costly, the cost of being unprepared would be far worse! Do your research and enjoy a hunt with a guide service that is ready to serve you.

 

Weapons Safety For The Hunter

A hunter can be seriously wounded for a lot of reasons, one of which is his improper handling of the weapon. Some may be too excited of their hunting expedition that they forget to practice important security measures in caring for their guns. Gun-related injuries are prevalent in the world of hunting and many are neglectful of the possibility of occurrence of these mishaps. However, a responsible and thinking hunter knows how to deal with the issue and safety precautions are highly regarded for his own benefit and safety. Carelessness is not included in his hunting agenda.

First and foremost, treating the gun as if it is always loaded even if it is not is one of the primary laws of safety hunting. It is a general rule for gun safety irrespective of the type or model of the weapon. One should never assume that a gun is unloaded so he will not forget to take precautions. He should never play with a gun, not even swirling it around nor pointing it to others as accidents always happen without prior notice. In addition, chances of accidental mishaps may arise due to some carelessness or over confidence. To be safe and secure, never forget to treat the gun as if it is always loaded even if it is not.

In connection with the abovementioned law of gun safety, it is essential to be dependable and maintain the gun unloaded until it is needed for the hunting expedition. This prevents improper handling that may lead to injury or death due to carelessness and inappropriate storing. Many unfortunate incidents happened that led to accidental shooting because guns were kept in truck compartments. Not only that the guns were improperly kept, they were also loaded so it fired unintentionally. To keep this from happening again, stay safe and keep the gun unloaded. The life that you may be saving may be yours or your loved ones.

At the hunting ground, it is valuable to practice techniques for safety hunting. Do not forget to keep fingers in index positions until it is time to fire. Doing so prevents accidental firing and accidental injuries. To be safe, fingers must be closed and away from the trigger. If it is unavoidable to hold a gun, keep your fingers away from any notches until the target is within the shooting range. Just a wrong move could result to accidental firing and unexpected injury or even death. When holding the gun, keep it pointed at a safe direction, but never to another person. This precaution is applied whether the gun is loaded or not. Also, do not attempt to look at the barrel of the gun just to check if it is loaded.

Never let someone that is under the influence handle a gun. Drugs, alcohol and guns are fatal combination. Do not ever make a mistake of combining these three as it will surely result of unfortunate events. And lastly, make it a point to never drop the gun as it may result to accidental firing.

 

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Thanks for stopping by and visiting.  This is going to be my new blog home where I talk about hunting, fishing, and various outdoors activities that I enjoy.

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