One very important thing not frequently mentioned when discussing planning hunting trips is limitations... your physical abilities, mental awareness limits, hunting area limits, and reasoning limits concerning shots to take or not take. Remind yourself not to stretch your travel distance beyond your range of return before night sets in or your energy gives out completely. Be aware that when the adrenalin flows fast under hunting conditions, people tend to turn off intelligent thinking and stretch their selves beyond what they would do normally, i.e., "I'm 'pooped' but surely I'll find something over the next hill". If you share experiences such as I do, you will frequently see game just across the limits of your hunting area. This is a wonderful opportunity to use that camera you brought along. When you have hunted hard and have been 'unsuccessful' in filling your tag, or adding to your bag, it can be very tempting to shoot that game you see in an area that is virtually inaccessible. Ethical, and legal, reasons should tell you to beware, and also your own physical limitations should wave a flag. As you hunt more you will eventually hear "I could have gotten a deer, but where it was, the only way I could have gotten it out would have been with a knife an fork" i.e., cooked it there and eaten it there.
I wish you good and safe hunting.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Buckmasters Tip of the Week - Wingshooting
Tip of the Week: Improve Your Wingshooting Score
Shotgunners' excuses for not hitting quail, doves, ducks and other fast-flying birds are much more numerous than the real reasons they don't succeed.
Mounting the gun inconsistently is one of the most common problems. Bringing the gunstock to the same place on your cheek and shoulder every time is a must. The mount should also be smooth and unrushed, with the right hand doing the majority of the lifting.
Anyone can develop a good gun mount, and you don't need to hire a sporting clays instructor to perfect it. All it takes is an hour of practice at home every day for two weeks. The practice is done in front of a full-length mirror. Make sure the gun is unloaded before starting, of course.
Looking into the mirror, slowly bring the stock to your cheek so that your dominant shooting eye is positioned over the rib and you're looking down the barrel as if you're ready to shoot. Do not let the barrel wag or move up or down when lifting the gun. The idea is to do away with unnecessary movement and to develop "muscle memory" so you mount the gun the same way every time.
A different form of this practice involves inserting an AA flashlight into the open, muzzle end of a 12-gauge gun (AAA flashlight for 20 gauge). Again, make absolutely sure the gun is unloaded before you begin. With the room lights off and the flashlight turned down to its smallest circle, mount the gun while keeping the beam trained in the upper corner of the room, where the ceiling and walls meet. Drop the gun and repeat the process for 20 minutes or until your arms or shoulders tire. Any unnecessary gun movement will cause the light to jerk out of the corner spot.
NSCA instructors say a good gun mount will improve a shooter's score 20-40 percent. That's a lot of birds.
http://www.buckmasters.com/tip_of_week/090226tip.htm
Shotgunners' excuses for not hitting quail, doves, ducks and other fast-flying birds are much more numerous than the real reasons they don't succeed.
Mounting the gun inconsistently is one of the most common problems. Bringing the gunstock to the same place on your cheek and shoulder every time is a must. The mount should also be smooth and unrushed, with the right hand doing the majority of the lifting.
Anyone can develop a good gun mount, and you don't need to hire a sporting clays instructor to perfect it. All it takes is an hour of practice at home every day for two weeks. The practice is done in front of a full-length mirror. Make sure the gun is unloaded before starting, of course.
Looking into the mirror, slowly bring the stock to your cheek so that your dominant shooting eye is positioned over the rib and you're looking down the barrel as if you're ready to shoot. Do not let the barrel wag or move up or down when lifting the gun. The idea is to do away with unnecessary movement and to develop "muscle memory" so you mount the gun the same way every time.
A different form of this practice involves inserting an AA flashlight into the open, muzzle end of a 12-gauge gun (AAA flashlight for 20 gauge). Again, make absolutely sure the gun is unloaded before you begin. With the room lights off and the flashlight turned down to its smallest circle, mount the gun while keeping the beam trained in the upper corner of the room, where the ceiling and walls meet. Drop the gun and repeat the process for 20 minutes or until your arms or shoulders tire. Any unnecessary gun movement will cause the light to jerk out of the corner spot.
NSCA instructors say a good gun mount will improve a shooter's score 20-40 percent. That's a lot of birds.
http://www.buckmasters.com/tip_of_week/090226tip.htm
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Disclaimer
Legal stuff:
This blog is the work of volunteer hunter education instructors, both past and present, and not associated with KDWP personnel in any way, shape, or form. The opinions of these instructors are just that, opinions only. We are not State employees and do not have specific permission from the KDWP to use their namesake for any unlawful purpose. Simply put, we are just trying to have a place for hunters to share their experiences and passion about our beloved sport. Simple as that.
This blog is not associated with the Department so don't blame them if we mess up. Please.
Best,
Butch Moberly
Volunteer hunter education instructor
Shawnee, KS
This blog is the work of volunteer hunter education instructors, both past and present, and not associated with KDWP personnel in any way, shape, or form. The opinions of these instructors are just that, opinions only. We are not State employees and do not have specific permission from the KDWP to use their namesake for any unlawful purpose. Simply put, we are just trying to have a place for hunters to share their experiences and passion about our beloved sport. Simple as that.
This blog is not associated with the Department so don't blame them if we mess up. Please.
Best,
Butch Moberly
Volunteer hunter education instructor
Shawnee, KS
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
2/10/09 notes for the NRA deer class 8/15/09.
Deer hunting class notes:
Join the NRA today. We really need your support.
Read, study, listen, learn, watch, scout, inquire about deer hunting. Watch and study the "city deer" at Shawnee Mission park at sunrise and sunset.
Practice lots with your firearm both static (snap caps) and live fire. New gun, new scope might take 50 - 250 rounds to be comfortable in the field, and can easily take lots more for new shooters. Practice until you know where each and every bullet will fly and stop. Each bullet, every time, each backstop. Always.
Understand (at least clearly comprehend) internal, external, and terminal ballistics of your ammunition including point blank range. Understand minute of angle measurements.
Understand how "open iron" sights require much more eyesight ability then do telescopic sights. Know frequently "iron sights" shoot away from the sun light striking them. (Optical illusion but it happens).
Be knowledgeable about the multiple types of bullets and ammunition available for modern firearms. Most important, know what the design of the bullets are and their intended use. Never ever use target, varmint, or FMJ (full metal jacket) bullets for deer. These either expand too quickly (varmint bullets) or do not expand at all when exposed to deer sized critters at anticipated velocities. Use the correct hunting bullets only, please.
Study deer biology to understand where the heart and lungs are for every shot.
Comprehend windage and elevation corrections and their value and importance. Ballistics tables are on-line (see Federal site below) and easy to comprehend.
Be ethical, responsible, and a visionary of our sport. Your actions in the field affect many other hunters today and long into our future. Please be part of the solution, not part of the problem.
Practice at the rifle range wearing your hunting clothes, not just street clothes. Eye relief of telescopic sights and grip on the stock will both change dramatically.
Take a rifle, bullets, license, binocular, orange, knife, deer tag, basic survival kit, and a flashlight when in the field. Prepare thyself for success.
Take a first aid class.
Wear a hat and glasses to protect your eyes.
Take a camera along on trips and use it. Share the images with both hunters and non-hunters.
Take a spare rifle along on the trip and include all required support supplies for it. The ideal caliber is the same as your first firearm. If different, it should be very different to eliminate accidently mixing wrong ammo in the field. Example: 25-06 Remington, 270 Winchester, 280 Remington, 30-06 Springfield, 338-06 A Square, and the 35 Whelen are all from the same (basic 30-06) case. Some bad things can happen very quickly when you feed the wrong ammo to a rifle.
Active compared with passive hunting techniques: Drives, pushes, and still hunts all alert the deer you are there for them. You frequently do see the deer… leaving where you are hunting.
Saddles, funnels, and natural barriers frequently direct game to specific areas or places. Use these topographic features to increase your chances of seeing game.
Learn to maintain your firearms and always make certain you are being safe with them. Lots of info on line, and all gunsmiths worth their namesake will share "how to" info to new shooters.
Practice walking very quietly outdoors in your hunting boots. Gently roll your foot down heel to toe and then softly place your weight. Slapping your feed on the ground should be avoided.
Clearly understand the State regulations and requirements.
Tree stands and ladder stands require transportation, set up, practice, and are not quiet to move. They also offer significant advantages of sight picture. Use fall arrest protection. Get low in a high place.
Do not believe "most" of the sports TV show crap on the air. A 220 grain bullet traveling at 3600 ft/sec is not "absolute minimum required" to shoot a 120 pound whitetail at 150 yards. Just simply not true... Most of these "sports shows" are simply commercials that last 30 or 60 minutes.
Learn to blood trail. Ask a mentor to help you practice. Glycerin, dish soap, red food dye, and water mixed together works well for practice. If you shoot a deer, you simply must recover it.
Get good hunting clothes, especially good comfortable boots. Rocky boots are my favs.
Practice with your rangefinder, binoculars, tree stand, fall arrest harness, fire making stuff, camera, and the other equipment. Bushnell has local discount places for sports optics and they are very friendly to KDWP hunter Education!
Choose hunting partners with whom to share your sport carefully. Consider those who once hunted, quit, and will now share their knowledge with you. When you are ready, please share your wisdom with others new to our sport.
Do not measure success with the size or frequency of the gut pile. Success is an emo frequently different for each hunter / huntress.
Practice at home (with known safe firearm) breath control, sight picture, trigger control (with a snap cap), and follow through each night before season in the different shooting positions. Before an elk trip, I "snap off" dozens of shots each night for weeks before departure.
Use a collimator (Bushnell sports optics) at the range each trip and make good notes of crosshair positions. Use it in the field to verify your telescopic sights have not been compromised during the trip.
Success is not measured always with the kill.
Get in shape. Quit smoking, it really stinks. Chewing is not much better.
Be aware of "undercuts" along creekbanks and oxbows... yee-ha moments can spoil your day, rifle, trip, life...
Figure out firearms security measures if you stay in a motel during your hunt. Try not to thermally cycle rifles daily.
Have appropriate safe method of cleaning telescopic sights, rangefinder, and binoculars in the field. Provide a way to protect your firearm in really nasty weather.
Discuss the economics of reloading. Some calibers are difficult to justify the costs while others will break even much more quickly. I reload lots and enjoy this time at the bench. Note to Butch: Look for reloading ROI Excel application. http://www.hodgdon.com/ is a great site about reloading.
Get permission to scout, hunt, and share your success with your landowners. Be their friend all year long.
Practice getting up early before season.
http://www.federalpremium.com/resources.aspx has a great downloadable external balistics chart. If you do not clearly understand this... ask someone to help you.
Climatize your body to accept cold weather better through regular practice.
Practice making a fire in stormy conditions, and know other survival skills. This is life or death stuff so please take it seriously.
http://www.bushnell.com/ is a great place for sports optics. They have a retail store at 87th street and I-35 in Lenexa. Always use shooting glasses when you shoot. Most of the time, I also use them when hunting as I have been peppered with shotgun pellets many times. Quite possibly I may have lost my sight had I not been wearing good safety glasses and a brimmed hat. Spend the extra time and money and protect your eyes and ears.
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/ Do your homework before you go out to the field. Plan extra early mornings to watch His gifts afield.
http://www.weather.com/ Be aware of the approaching weather. Changes in weather alter deer patterns, feeding habits, and actions.
http://earth.google.com/ is a great place to view your hunting areas... free and wonderful stuff.
Human waste issues in the field. Be aware of biological concerns, privacy, and odors. Take a rifle along on this trip.
Find warm & comfy outdoors in bad weather, harsh bitter winds, driving rain, etc. by using correct gear and techniques. Practice these before season.
Find a mentor and ask them for help… perhaps several years of help to watch, listen, learn, inquire. Pay close attention and always offer profound respect when appropriate.
Plan a day pack / backpack. Plan for failure: stranded, hurt, lost, etc. and also plan for success: gloves, knife, tags, pen, ties, lights, etc.
Map and compass knowledge if you do not know your way around very well where you are hunting. Orienteering classes are available for this skill set. Don't trust your life to your GPS.
Two knives in the field, and know how to keep them sharp and clean.
Understand cleanliness issues and biological hazards both to yourself and the critter when field dressing deer. Videos, books, mentors, and simple beginners' luck are all handy.
How will you drag it to the truck? Can you load it by yourself? Tarp or covering frequently required.
What are you going to do with it after you get it home? Butcher shops that accept wild game animals have rules, hours, transportation, cleanliness, temperature, cranky neighbors, etc. Home butchering requires skills, tools, space, and planning. What do you do to legally dispose of the remains? Material handling issues abound when dealing with DRT cervid carcasses.
Practice with a premium quality pellet rifle frequently... I use two different RWS Diana models for this duty. Both are barrel cockers and safe (relatively, of course) to shoot indoors with good known homemade backstop. http://www.rwsairguns.com/ Remember to never use BBs in a precision air rifle (too hard and will damage the precision rifleing) and conventional high power rifle telescopic sights will be internally shaken apart on a spring gun. I mounted a Leopold 40 mm 3X9 on my .22 caliber and it shook it's giblets loose in less than one box of pellets. Leopold fixed it free (thanks!) and told me to not mount it again on a spring pellet rifle. Also remember to never use mineral based petroleum oil for piston seal lube as it may diesel and burn up your air system. Use only the expensive synthetic lube for this specific duty... readily available where you purchase your air rifle stuff.
Listen to your Guardian Angel. They frequently know when you are in danger.
Be Thankful we have the opportunity to hunt. We owe a debt of gratitude to so very many.
Deer hunting class notes:
Join the NRA today. We really need your support.
Read, study, listen, learn, watch, scout, inquire about deer hunting. Watch and study the "city deer" at Shawnee Mission park at sunrise and sunset.
Practice lots with your firearm both static (snap caps) and live fire. New gun, new scope might take 50 - 250 rounds to be comfortable in the field, and can easily take lots more for new shooters. Practice until you know where each and every bullet will fly and stop. Each bullet, every time, each backstop. Always.
Understand (at least clearly comprehend) internal, external, and terminal ballistics of your ammunition including point blank range. Understand minute of angle measurements.
Understand how "open iron" sights require much more eyesight ability then do telescopic sights. Know frequently "iron sights" shoot away from the sun light striking them. (Optical illusion but it happens).
Be knowledgeable about the multiple types of bullets and ammunition available for modern firearms. Most important, know what the design of the bullets are and their intended use. Never ever use target, varmint, or FMJ (full metal jacket) bullets for deer. These either expand too quickly (varmint bullets) or do not expand at all when exposed to deer sized critters at anticipated velocities. Use the correct hunting bullets only, please.
Study deer biology to understand where the heart and lungs are for every shot.
Comprehend windage and elevation corrections and their value and importance. Ballistics tables are on-line (see Federal site below) and easy to comprehend.
Be ethical, responsible, and a visionary of our sport. Your actions in the field affect many other hunters today and long into our future. Please be part of the solution, not part of the problem.
Practice at the rifle range wearing your hunting clothes, not just street clothes. Eye relief of telescopic sights and grip on the stock will both change dramatically.
Take a rifle, bullets, license, binocular, orange, knife, deer tag, basic survival kit, and a flashlight when in the field. Prepare thyself for success.
Take a first aid class.
Wear a hat and glasses to protect your eyes.
Take a camera along on trips and use it. Share the images with both hunters and non-hunters.
Take a spare rifle along on the trip and include all required support supplies for it. The ideal caliber is the same as your first firearm. If different, it should be very different to eliminate accidently mixing wrong ammo in the field. Example: 25-06 Remington, 270 Winchester, 280 Remington, 30-06 Springfield, 338-06 A Square, and the 35 Whelen are all from the same (basic 30-06) case. Some bad things can happen very quickly when you feed the wrong ammo to a rifle.
Active compared with passive hunting techniques: Drives, pushes, and still hunts all alert the deer you are there for them. You frequently do see the deer… leaving where you are hunting.
Saddles, funnels, and natural barriers frequently direct game to specific areas or places. Use these topographic features to increase your chances of seeing game.
Learn to maintain your firearms and always make certain you are being safe with them. Lots of info on line, and all gunsmiths worth their namesake will share "how to" info to new shooters.
Practice walking very quietly outdoors in your hunting boots. Gently roll your foot down heel to toe and then softly place your weight. Slapping your feed on the ground should be avoided.
Clearly understand the State regulations and requirements.
Tree stands and ladder stands require transportation, set up, practice, and are not quiet to move. They also offer significant advantages of sight picture. Use fall arrest protection. Get low in a high place.
Do not believe "most" of the sports TV show crap on the air. A 220 grain bullet traveling at 3600 ft/sec is not "absolute minimum required" to shoot a 120 pound whitetail at 150 yards. Just simply not true... Most of these "sports shows" are simply commercials that last 30 or 60 minutes.
Learn to blood trail. Ask a mentor to help you practice. Glycerin, dish soap, red food dye, and water mixed together works well for practice. If you shoot a deer, you simply must recover it.
Get good hunting clothes, especially good comfortable boots. Rocky boots are my favs.
Practice with your rangefinder, binoculars, tree stand, fall arrest harness, fire making stuff, camera, and the other equipment. Bushnell has local discount places for sports optics and they are very friendly to KDWP hunter Education!
Choose hunting partners with whom to share your sport carefully. Consider those who once hunted, quit, and will now share their knowledge with you. When you are ready, please share your wisdom with others new to our sport.
Do not measure success with the size or frequency of the gut pile. Success is an emo frequently different for each hunter / huntress.
Practice at home (with known safe firearm) breath control, sight picture, trigger control (with a snap cap), and follow through each night before season in the different shooting positions. Before an elk trip, I "snap off" dozens of shots each night for weeks before departure.
Use a collimator (Bushnell sports optics) at the range each trip and make good notes of crosshair positions. Use it in the field to verify your telescopic sights have not been compromised during the trip.
Success is not measured always with the kill.
Get in shape. Quit smoking, it really stinks. Chewing is not much better.
Be aware of "undercuts" along creekbanks and oxbows... yee-ha moments can spoil your day, rifle, trip, life...
Figure out firearms security measures if you stay in a motel during your hunt. Try not to thermally cycle rifles daily.
Have appropriate safe method of cleaning telescopic sights, rangefinder, and binoculars in the field. Provide a way to protect your firearm in really nasty weather.
Discuss the economics of reloading. Some calibers are difficult to justify the costs while others will break even much more quickly. I reload lots and enjoy this time at the bench. Note to Butch: Look for reloading ROI Excel application. http://www.hodgdon.com/ is a great site about reloading.
Get permission to scout, hunt, and share your success with your landowners. Be their friend all year long.
Practice getting up early before season.
http://www.federalpremium.com/resources.aspx has a great downloadable external balistics chart. If you do not clearly understand this... ask someone to help you.
Climatize your body to accept cold weather better through regular practice.
Practice making a fire in stormy conditions, and know other survival skills. This is life or death stuff so please take it seriously.
http://www.bushnell.com/ is a great place for sports optics. They have a retail store at 87th street and I-35 in Lenexa. Always use shooting glasses when you shoot. Most of the time, I also use them when hunting as I have been peppered with shotgun pellets many times. Quite possibly I may have lost my sight had I not been wearing good safety glasses and a brimmed hat. Spend the extra time and money and protect your eyes and ears.
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/ Do your homework before you go out to the field. Plan extra early mornings to watch His gifts afield.
http://www.weather.com/ Be aware of the approaching weather. Changes in weather alter deer patterns, feeding habits, and actions.
http://earth.google.com/ is a great place to view your hunting areas... free and wonderful stuff.
Human waste issues in the field. Be aware of biological concerns, privacy, and odors. Take a rifle along on this trip.
Find warm & comfy outdoors in bad weather, harsh bitter winds, driving rain, etc. by using correct gear and techniques. Practice these before season.
Find a mentor and ask them for help… perhaps several years of help to watch, listen, learn, inquire. Pay close attention and always offer profound respect when appropriate.
Plan a day pack / backpack. Plan for failure: stranded, hurt, lost, etc. and also plan for success: gloves, knife, tags, pen, ties, lights, etc.
Map and compass knowledge if you do not know your way around very well where you are hunting. Orienteering classes are available for this skill set. Don't trust your life to your GPS.
Two knives in the field, and know how to keep them sharp and clean.
Understand cleanliness issues and biological hazards both to yourself and the critter when field dressing deer. Videos, books, mentors, and simple beginners' luck are all handy.
How will you drag it to the truck? Can you load it by yourself? Tarp or covering frequently required.
What are you going to do with it after you get it home? Butcher shops that accept wild game animals have rules, hours, transportation, cleanliness, temperature, cranky neighbors, etc. Home butchering requires skills, tools, space, and planning. What do you do to legally dispose of the remains? Material handling issues abound when dealing with DRT cervid carcasses.
Practice with a premium quality pellet rifle frequently... I use two different RWS Diana models for this duty. Both are barrel cockers and safe (relatively, of course) to shoot indoors with good known homemade backstop. http://www.rwsairguns.com/ Remember to never use BBs in a precision air rifle (too hard and will damage the precision rifleing) and conventional high power rifle telescopic sights will be internally shaken apart on a spring gun. I mounted a Leopold 40 mm 3X9 on my .22 caliber and it shook it's giblets loose in less than one box of pellets. Leopold fixed it free (thanks!) and told me to not mount it again on a spring pellet rifle. Also remember to never use mineral based petroleum oil for piston seal lube as it may diesel and burn up your air system. Use only the expensive synthetic lube for this specific duty... readily available where you purchase your air rifle stuff.
Listen to your Guardian Angel. They frequently know when you are in danger.
Be Thankful we have the opportunity to hunt. We owe a debt of gratitude to so very many.
Friday, February 6, 2009
First post...
Here is our first post to the new blog. This will allow a place to share info and pics. Hopefully, this will entice others to post pics, stories, hints, and fun stuff. Hopefully...
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