“Mr. Whitetail” Larry Weishuhn’s Deer Hunting Tips

There’s a reason they call Larry Weishuhn Mr. Whitetail. It’s not because of television shows (on the Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel, etc …) or award winning writings (both books and articles) or his induction into the National Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame. The name spread because of these accolades, but it’s not why they pasted him with that moniker. He’s known as Mr. Whitetail because the man understands deer.

I’m a regular neophyte when it comes to hunting whitetail, but I wasn’t the only one at the NRA’s Great American Hunting & Outdoor Show who was dazzled by his seminar on hunting. Just like the seasoned hunters who asked the questions, I shook my head as he dispelled myths, revealed facts and laid out the groundwork for a successful hunting season.

Here’s some of his highlights (paraphrased):

• Buying scent blockers always seemed like a waste to me. If the sun is in your eyes and wind at your back, you’d be amazed how good any scent blockers works.
• If you want to learn about deer then study people. If you want to learn about people then study deer. It’s amazing the similarities we share.
• We go out for deers early in the morning. Deers come out more between 10 am and 2 pm. Do they know we leave by 10 to go watch football or is that just part of their nature?
• Predators don’t take down the weak and informed until they’ve eaten all the healthy ones. Why would they? Would you cut up a sickly cow or a robust steer?
• 6-8 weeks before deer season opens, I hang blaze orange and dirty socks in the areas where I’m going to hunt. Once the season starts, they’ll be use to what I’m going to look like and what I’m going to smell like.
• There are two parts of North America — those that have wild pigs and those that are going to have them.
• Birth control for deer is foolish. Any medication or devices introduced into the mix eventually makes the rest of the herd sick. The only efficient method of birth control comes with a 130 grain solution.
• You can kill as many deer on the ground as you can from a tree. But you don’t have to climb to get to the ground.

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Proper Turkey Decoy Placement

How close should you put your turkey decoy?

Many people tend to over think how close or how far away you should place your turkey decoy.  They worry “the tom won’t see my turkey decoy if he comes from over here,” or  ”if I put it too close the tom will see me.”  Hopefully I can make you rethink how to answer the question so you don’t make a mistake I have seen over and over again.

How close you put the turkey decoy is a weapons question

How close your put your turkey decoy is completely dependent on your weapon limitations.  When I set up to kill a tom in the spring or fall, the shooting is the easy part.  You place your turkey decoy at a distance you are comfortable you can hit it at 10 out of 10 times.  If you are shooting a longbow, the decoy may be 15 feet from your blind (I set them that close most of the time).  If the pattern on your new 12 gauge is most effective at 35 yards, you set the decoy at 35 yards.  With a top-quality turkey decoy, you have confidence the toms will confront him, so put the decoy where you are comfortable shooting, and you will make the shot.

How close you put the turkey decoy should dictate the spot you set up

Since how close you put the turkey decoy is a factor of the range at which you are comfortable shooting, it will dictate where you set up.  If your shotgun performs best at 35 yards, don’t set up where the farthest shot will be 15 yards.  Your group will be so tight you can easily miss the tom’s head and neck.  He only has to bob his head slightly as you squeeze the trigger for a complete miss.  A 35 yard optimum shot means you need to set up in a more open area to best use your choke’s pattern.  If you are shooting a self bow with a 5 yard comfort zone, you may pick tighter spots where the bird really needs to come looking for your turkey decoy.  You don’t have to set up in thick cover, but it is a good option, as the toms may not close the whole way in wide open areas where they know that their strutting antics are easily seen.  Our Best Turkey Decoy helps solve this open field issue, but if you run low quality fakes, it is a concern.

Our Best Turkey Decoy maximizes success by placing birds in your comfort zone

Many toms are missed each spring because of how close the toms come to the turkey decoy.  If your turkey decoy is not top of the line, you can’t predict how close the tom will approach.  If you put the turkey decoy at 35 and the bird hangs up at 50, you may miss the shot.  By using top quality decoys, like our Dakota jake, the toms are much more likely to come all the way to the decoy.  That means you decide how far the shot is, and having that control over shot distance means you know you can make the shot.

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Bowling for Spring Gobblers: Strange Turkey Decoy Tactics

I’ve seen all kinds of turkey decoy tactics across the country in the past 20 years. Breeding sets, back feather rugs, and walking behind silhouettes. I have tried it all. At least I thought so until I hunted with guide Justin Nott at Laughing Water Ranch Outfitters in north central Nebraska. They take close to 100 turkeys every spring. I’ve seen a lot of weird turkey decoy tactics, and below is a favorite.

Turkey decoy tactics

Justin talked about one of the turkey decoy tactics he uses for gobblers in open meadows and fields. If you’ve hunted turkeys enough there’s a good chance you’ve been in this situation: a big strutter in the middle of a wide open field. Maybe he’s got a few hens with him or he’s just being a stubborn gobbler. You’ve thrown every call in your vest at him. He seems interested, but not coming any closer. The only chance you have to get that bird closer is to get a turkey decoy out in the field, but there’s no cover and no way to crawl out there without being seen. So how do you get the decoy out there? Simple, just throw it. Well, more of a controlled roll like you’re bowling. This may sound like a long shot, but it has actually worked for him many times. The throw is movement, which will always garner a turkey’s attention, and it’s surprising how often the reaction is positive.

Most turkey decoys don’t bowl real well. Justin was fortunate this past fall to field test the Best Turkey Decoy. The way the birds came in and crushed the turkey decoy made it feel like spring. He even had a good tom mount it, which is pretty rare to see in the fall. Not only is the Best Turkey Decoy a detailed and life-like turkey decoy, it almost always lands upright when tossed! Let’s face it, you’re not going to throw a cheap foam decoy too far. A full body strutter such as a Killer B or Pretty boy could work, but they’re too big and awkward to roll. Plus, if you’re using a real fan there’s a good chance you’ll destroy it. In the past, Nott used a specially modified mounted jake named Frankenstein. Unfortunately, Frankenstein was fairly delicate and wasn’t very fond of being tossed around, especially into a wet field. Still, it got quite a few wise old birds killed, but he was spending as much time repairing it as he was hunting.

Turkey decoy tactics practice

With a little practice, Justin says you can roll the Best Turkey Decoy out to 30 yards and make it sit upright 8 out of 10 times. Even if the turkey decoy doesn’t sit upright you’re still in the game. A quality turkey decoy laying on its side can give the impression of a wounded bird. Most toms, whether they’re the dominant bird in the area or not, will likely jump at the chance to easily get rid of potential competition. Also, turkeys know by instinct that a wounded bird can attract predators and will try to push it out of the area. He’s actually had birds commit to Frankenstein while he was lying upside down on his back.

Another situation this technique is good for is when you use a hen yelp to locate a bird in thicker timber and he’s already on top of you. The bird is coming and there is no time to think out the best set up. Just toss the turkey decoy in the direction of the bird and find the nearest tree. It might save you the heartache of spooking that fast-closing tom. A locator call such as an owl or crow call helps, but sometimes birds just wont respond, especially during midday.

Bowling turkey decoys is more of a last ditch effort, but it’s definitely something you want to keep at the bottom of your bag of tricks. I know there’s a good chance you’ll see me bowling for turkeys this spring. For more turkey decoy tactics, come see Justin at Laughing Water Ranch. Maybe we can go bowling together.

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California DFG to Offer Three Late Season Goose Hunting Opportunities

The California Fish and Game Commission has approved a third 2011/2012 late season hunting opportunity for geese.

Licensed hunters can now hunt white-fronted geese and white geese during the late season for geese in the Balance of the State Zone. This is in addition to the already established late season goose hunts in the North Coast and Imperial County Special Management Areas.

The purpose of these late season goose hunts is to reduce goose crop depredation complaints on private lands. Providing hunting opportunities in the late season will help reduce potential crop depredation by lowering the population(s) and shifting geese onto public areas. Most goose populations that winter in California are at or above population goals and remain in California through late spring. Providing hunting opportunities at this time helps minimize potential damage on agricultural lands. All late season goose hunts are closed on Type A and B wildlife areas. However, other public lands open to waterfowl hunting may be open during these late season hunts.

The new season in the Balance of the State Zone will be open from Feb. 18 through Feb. 22. A daily bag limit of eight geese is allowed which may include up to six white geese or up to six white-fronted geese. The Sacramento Valley Special Management Area will be closed to the take of white-fronted geese during the late season goose hunt. Type A and B wildlife areas will not be open to hunting. However, Type C areas and other public lands that allow waterfowl hunting may be open.

The North Coast Special Management Area will be open from Feb. 18 through Mar. 10. The daily bag limit is six small Canada geese only. Large Canada geese cannot be taken during the late season hunt. Type A, B and C wildlife areas will not be open to hunting but other public lands that allow waterfowl hunting may be open.

The Imperial County Special Management Area will be open from Feb. 11 through Feb. 26. The daily bag limit is six white geese. Type A, B and C wildlife areas will not be open to hunting but other public lands that allow waterfowl hunting may be open.

The complete regulations can be found at www.dfg.ca.gov/regulations.

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Fowl Weather a Boon for Poachers: Butte County Wardens Make Huge Overlimit Case in California

No one welcomed the recent storms more than California’s 70,000 waterfowl hunters. Rain and wind in California’s central valley has salvaged what was an extremely slow hunting season for waterfowl. All of the central valley wildlife areas and national wildlife refuges with hunt programs reported increased hunter success averages last weekend.

The vast majority of hunters in the field were law abiding and ethical. But wardens cited three Butte County men and one San Jose man who stepped far out of bounds by shooting a total of 108 ducks in two days.

California regulations provide for a duck hunting limit of seven ducks per day with 14 in possession if taken over two or more days. Collectively, the four men had an overlimit of 52 ducks, with additional individual species violations.

On Jan. 20, Butte County Warden Tyson Hulse observed unusual behavior from the men that suggested they might be “double tripping.” Double tripping is a term used to describe when a poacher takes a limit of ducks or geese, brings them back to his residence, then goes out again in an attempt to shoot more.

For 12 hours the following day, Hulse watched the four men continue taking overlimits of ducks. At the end of the day, he gathered three members of his squad and contacted the suspects at two different residences. In addition to the 108 ducks the men killed in the two day period, they had freezers full of additional duck meat in various states of processing that made it difficult to count.

Citations were handed to Todd Gregory Owen, 48, and Cody Lee Owen, 21, both of Biggs; Clint Matthew Owen, 24, of Richvale; and Jeffrey Delte, 24, of San Jose.

Hulse offered a special thank you to the Butte County Fish and Game Commission for their recent purchase of high quality binoculars and a spotting scope, without which the case would not have been possible.

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California DFG Offers One-day Turkey Hunting Clinic in March

The Department of Fish and Game’s (DFG) Advanced Hunter Education Program is offering a northern California turkey hunting clinic on Saturday, March 3. The clinic will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Gray Lodge Wildlife Area near Gridley.

Joe Johnson, a DFG biologist and experienced turkey hunter and instructor, will lead this exciting clinic. Topics to be covered include concepts of decoy placement, blind design, ballistics, calling, equipment, game care and safety.

The clinic will be open to hunters of all ages and skill levels. The cost is $45 for adults. Youths 16 years and younger are free but must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. DFG’s Advanced Hunter Education Program will provide all necessary class equipment.

Advance registration for the clinic is required. Participants can register online at www.dfg.ca.gov/huntered/advanced/index.aspx. Registered participants will receive an e-mail with a map to the facility and a list of items to bring.

Gray Lodge Wildlife Area is located approximately 60 miles north of Sacramento.

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The Making of a Film Production Company: Warm Springs Productions

Keep an eye on Warm Springs Productions and the TV series this film production house makes in the coming years. The company swept away three awards at the Golden Moose Awards presented by Outdoor Channel this year. This makes yet another addition to the recognition WSP has received in only its fourth year in business.

Most recently WSP won “Best Overall Series,” for Benelli Presents Duck Commander and “Best Graphics” and “Best Sound Design” for Buck Commander Protected By Under Armour at the 2012 Golden Moose Awards presented at SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. The first year the company was in business (2008), they took five of the 10 golden moose awards they were nominated for.

I spoke to Warm Springs Productions President Chris Richardson about the Montana company’s exponential growth since its founding in 2008.

“We had visions of success but, growing this quickly has been a unique experience,” said Richardson. WSP started out at a four-person operation in a tiny office that went on to produce 78 episodes for seven television series last year as a full production house that does everything in-house; the pre-production, graphics, sound, post-production, filming, and so on.

Bridger Pierce, the Director of Operations & Senior Producer of Outdoor Programming was also on hand to discuss the company’s successes. He was excited about the talented people at the company that make success possible. “I think Chris and Marc [Pierce, CEO] have done a great job of hiring within the outdoor industry and from outside of it,” Pierce said. “It’s through that bringing together of a great crew that Warm Springs was able to continue raising the ceiling on outdoor television.”

Watch the season three promo of Duck Commander below

After fifty to sixty days of filming, 700 hours of footage and two to three weeks editing time per episode, WSP finally had 12 episodes of Duck Commander to present to the Outdoor Channel. In that time the crew really bonded with the Robertson family, the stars of the series.

“We spent hundreds of days in Monroe and it’s hard not to just become part of their family,” said Richardson. “They make you feel at home even if you’re manning the swamps with them for 40 days in a row…. I call them my second family when I’m down there.”

Both Richardson and Pierce recall the unruly time schedule of filming – cameramen had to get up before the hunters, around 3 o’clock in the morning, and they couldn’t sleep until filming was over; often times after 11 p.m. But the challenges were worth it.

“We would shoot long hours,” Pierce said, “but the reality is that we’ve got such a great staff who are creative minded and really want to put the best product on TV and so every single one of them isn’t satisfied until we accomplish that.”

And to accomplish that it took 700 hours of footage, most of which ended up on the editing floor, to produce 12 episodes of Benelli Presents Duck Commander. In that time, one camera fell into the swamp and every day the crew faced the challenges of pouring rain, ice-cold waters, humidity, keeping batteries charged and the many Louisiana mosquitos that breed in its swamps.

And while WSP can’t reveal everything they’re working on before its officially announced, look for projects WSP is working on right now with the Discovery Science channel, the History Channel and the shows that are already in production like Buck Commander and Making Monsters set to air soon.

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Sustainability: Wildlife is the Model

“Sustainable” (insert your preferred commodity here) has become the new buzzword for anyone and everyone who wants to make a serious impact to help conserve our planet’s natural resources.

For example, sustainable energy development has become most prevalent in recent times. The energy currently being produced on wind farms and via solar energy has greatly raised the awareness among the general American public for the concept of “sustainable.” More so that the term “green,” “sustainable” reflects both the common-sense utilization of resources with the goals of decreasing human impact on the planet — while still maintaining growth in our U.S. and world economies.

I would like to reflect today on an often overlooked natural resource that offers a sustainability paradigm: our nation’s abundance of wildlife. Please let me explain. Wildlife species, like the North American Whitetail Deer, are currently estimated at all time highs in their population count, with some estimates suggesting there are over 25 million deer in the U.S. alone. By contrast, deer populations at the turn of the 20th century dipped as low as 500,000.

So, how does this relate to sustainability?

Every state’s wildlife resources agency manages wildlife populations to prevent the ravages of overpopulation – and the dangers that come with it, such as vehicular accidents. They generally allot a certain percentage of the state’s deer herd to be harvested by hunters. The state tightly regulates the number of deer harvested so as to not exploit the herd, thus allowing continued growth. Hunters pay substantial fees for hunting licenses in order to pursue deer; this money goes to support habitat conservation to further the management of the species. Sustainable Harvest.

All hunters are expected to utilize the meat and venison from their harvest. Through hunting, individuals are able to provide a high-protein, low fat food sources for their family and friends. Sustainable Locavorism.

Because deer populations are so high, hunters harvest more meat than they and their friends can consume. The venison, however, does NOT go to waste. Programs like Sportsmen Against Hunger and Hunters Feeding the Hungry help individuals donate ground venison to local food banks. Meals made from venison that hunters have provided over the last 10 years to those less fortunate number in the tens of millions. Sustainable Giving.

Sustainable practices have long been a tradition of American culture, however only now has such a definition like “sustainable” being given to it. For wildlife and those that pursue game species, sustainability is the key to providing a true vale on the individual animal. Not only is the hunter gaining a valuable meat from the animal, but others within the community can realize the important role wildlife and hunting play to provide food to those less fortunate. Establishing a value that wildlife, in very real and tangible terms, helps feed others, encourages better and more productive management of these animals in the future.

Hunters have helped increase wildlife populations while putting hundreds of millions of dollars into conservation, and have provided hundreds of millions of healthy, organic meals for their families and the less fortunate in the process. If this is not the definition of sustainable, then I don’t know what is.

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Late Season Oklahoma Bow Hunting

As the sun set on the Western horizon, my wife Beth, cameraman Hunter, and I still had six more hours of driving to do. Traveling through Mississippi, the miles couldn’t move fast enough to the Oklahoma border. We were headed to hunt the Okie state for the first time and couldn’t be more excited for a late season bow hunt.

Arriving after midnight, we quickly found our beds so we could start off first thing in the morning. As daylight came the deer movement began. Since hunting over feeders is legal in the state, and late season food sources are a strong necessity to get a shot, we were going to use these to our advantage. Beth was hunting the top of a ridge and not long after being in the stand she had deer coming in. After the first few came in to feed, a nice buck followed but never offered Beth a clear shot.

Setting up just off a food plot on a hardwood creek bottom, I saw a few deer after first light, none large enough to shoot or close enough. Suddenly I saw a nice buck trotting across the plot. He was heading away and I decided to blow my grunt call. With a few short tending grunts, the buck stopped and headed straight for us! He came in on a string to the call and stopped at 15 yard…right behind a tree! Standing there looking, the buck knew something wasn’t right and trotted back up the ridge and out of bow range. Talk about a great start to the trip!

The afternoon was also slow for me, only seeing a doe with two yearlings, but Beth was wrapped up on a food plot with deer. She saw several bucks that were nice and a couple of shooters. None offered her a shot on the first afternoon though.

When morning two began we awoke to rain, which isn’t a good combination for video gear or bows for the most part. We decided to tough it out in ground blinds, we normally hunt in Ghostblinds but in the rain we needed cover for the video cameras. Sitting in the blind as daylight approached we watched the woods come alive on the top of a hardwoods ridge. With the acorns long gone, the only food available was the feeder setup 15 yards away. Several does and yearlings along with one small-racked buck came in to feed then eased back down the ridge. I thought to myself that the rain was setting in harder and the deer would stop their moving for the morning when I looked to our right and a buck was coming up the ridge. Checking him out with my Hawke binoculars, he was a nice eight with a broken rack. As I looked at him, a giant eight point walked into view. This buck had it all: mass, tine length, width, and height.

Quickly I told Hunter there was a shooter coming in and to get ready with the camera. I clipped my release on my loop and readied myself for the shot. The bigger buck came right in and began feeding. I slowly drew by my bow and anchored for the shot. Gently touching the trigger, my arrow released and I hear a loud thwack and watched the buck hit the ground right there! What happened? The chair I was sitting in was a little low in the blind so after I released the arrow, my fletchings clipped the edge of the blind window just enough to kick my arrow up. Luckily my Muzzy plowed the deer’s spine and dropped him right there. After a follow up shot the buck was done. Was I lucky or the buck just unlucky? I will never know, but I had my Oklahoma tag filled!

Beth was back on the same food plot she hunted the afternoon before and again had encounters with a couple nice bucks with no luck. She was looking for her first deer with a bow and was doing all she could to contain herself. She finally had a nice eight point in range and drew back on him only to have a doe walk in the way and she was never able to get a shot off. Over the next three days she saw plenty of deer but no shooters to get an arrow towards. As dark fell on the last afternoon, I asked her if she wanted to give it one more try the next morning before we had to head home. Her answer, “I didn’t pay all this money for a tag to eat it!” She learned from me many times that tag sandwiches don’t taste good!

The last morning she climbed in the stand well before daylight and was ready. The morning was fairly slow then two bucks came in to feed. One was a real nice eight point, and on the last day she wasn’t giving any a pass! She drew back her Elite bow, anchored and placed her pink Muzzy right behind the buck’s shoulder at 31 yards. Beth had just filled her tag and arrowed her first ever deer with a bow, a nice eight point on top of all that!

There is nothing like spending time in the woods with the ones you love. Getting to share Beth’s first bow kill with her was very special and hopefully the first of many to come. She never hunted before meeting me, I don’t know if I’ve created a monster or not but she straight loves the outdoors and filling her tags as much as I do. I know I’m blessed for sure!

Until next time, God bless and good hunting.

Gear list:

• Bow: Elite Pulse (Michael) Elite GT500 (Beth)
• Rest: QAD Ultrarest HD (Michael and Beth)
• Sight: Spot-Hogg Hogg-It (Michael and Beth)
• Broadhead: Muzzy MX-3 ,100 grain (Michael), Muzzy 100 grain 3 blade Pink (Beth)
• Fletchings: Bohning Blazer vanes (Michael and Beth)
• Optics: Hawke Frontier ED 43mm (Michael and Beth)
• Release: Scott Quick Shot (Michael), Scott Little Goose (Beth)
• Scent Eliminator: Lethal Field Spray (Michael and Beth)
• Attractant: Muzzy Bowhunter Setup (Michael and Beth)
• Camo: Realtree APG by Gamehide (Michael and Beth)
• Safety Vest: Hunter Safety System Pro Series (Michael and Beth)
• Pack: Gameplan Gear Spot N Stalk (Michael and Beth)
• Stablizer: X-Factor Outdoors System (Michael and Beth)
• Boots: Lacrosse Alpha Burly in Realtree APG (Michael and Beth)

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Deer Decoy Placement

You’re sitting in the tree. You have been set up since before daylight and your decoy is out. Within range, you have high hopes and you have confidence you have gotten in without leaving a scent trail, other than an attractant. Lets say you have a buck decoy out and have done all the work you can to get it as attractive to a buck as possible. All the right moves, all the right timing, all the right scents are in place. Everything seems to be in your favor to get this buck you have worked for, into position for a good shot. It’s archery and your range is at 20 yards. With confidence levels this high, it’s hard not to get excited about what may transpire in the next few moments or hours.

Wind is right, temperatures are cold, but tolerable. The woods seem to be speaking and the nature moves all around you. You have your stand set up to be able to ambush him as he steps out from the trail and investigates your decoy. You know what he looks like with all the cam pictures you have. Some deer filter out across the field and you begin wondering if he has changed his pattern. The deer in the field are eating, comfortable and slowly, more and more are showing up to feed. So far, things look very good.

Then, it happens. He comes out from the opposite side of the field. Murphy’s Law has reared his ugly head. Although there are several deer wandering away from you, there is still hope. You give him a grunt to get his attention. He looks up and sees this decoy, a mature buck decoy,  standing at the edge of his field. His tail twitches, ears ease back a little, you can tell he isnt happy with the thought of a competitor moving in on his prospects. You give him another grunt and he begins making his way towards your decoy. Now the heart quickens, blood is pumping and the adrenaline is filling your system like a boost of high octane caffeine.

As you ready for the shot, he is coming in on a string. This is what you have anticipated for weeks or even months. It’s going to happen and you are ready. As the buck approaches, he lays his ears back, moves downwind and makes his final approach. Now, at this point, the question is, how did you orient the decoy, relative to your stand? Did you place it looking away from you? Towards you? At a right angle, quartering away?  Or did you even give it a thought?

Even though there is no guarantee on how a wild animal will act, or react, in a given situation, there are a few things you can take into account when placing your decoy out in front of your stand. Let’s say, again, you have placed a buck decoy out. Most would consider this to be a threat to a mature buck, as he sees it as the “new kid” on the block. He will most likely approach it with an aggressive stance and approach from somewhere in front or slightly quartering into the front of this decoy. This would tend to make you want to place your decoy in such a way that, when your intended target is within range, you have a shot with as high a percentage as possible, to make a lung shot. Ideally, your shot would be a quartering away shot at a slight angle, or a full broadside shot.  There is no way to tell how the buck will approach your decoy. If possible, you can use a tree, bush or other obstacles to “force” his approach. But again, no guarantees. Mostly, a wild animal is going to act just as it is, wild. We can only guess, at best, what they may do and how they will act.

Now, with a doe, in my opinion, this tactic is a little more dependable. Chances are this buck will approach with one thing in mind.  This is the rut, and they are rutting. This doe smells like she is ready and willing. You have him approaching and, when he begins his final approach, there is a great chance he will do this from behind her. He wants to be careful when he makes his investigation. You have set your doe decoy up with her facing away, slightly quartering to one side or the other. The best we can do is try and increase our odds and hope for the best. Even when we do everything right, sometimes it just doesn’t work out the way we pictured it. Just remember that we can study every movement we can, make an educated evaluation with the information we have gathered over our lives and make the highest percentage shots we can, when we do get that shot.

Do your homework, go the extra mile, make that seemingly unnecessary adjustment, practice ethics and conservation. Make your shot count. Practice shooting, trailing wounded game tactics and think about what you’re doing and why. We all take calculated risks when we hunt and if we can make it an activity with knowledge at the forefront, most times it is successful whether make a harvest or not. Teach this to our young. Pass on the respect and conservation minded way of our heritage. We need to follow the right paths for our children to walk behind us, as we have done with the ones who have taught us.

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