http://www.joeletchenguns.com/tips.htm is a good dialog about shootgun shooting... plenty of great places in the Internet so spend some time there. No, not just the obvious but also the little hidden gems like this site. Go to Google, Bing, Alta Vista, etc... search and take good notes of where you discover things. Share this with your peeps too. Remington, Federal, Hodgdon, Browning, NSCA, etc. are all great starting places for more knowledge. Share the passion with your friends and their youngsters.

Check Your Equipment

In addition to the scouting trips mentioned in the previous article, now is also the time to start practicing for the upcoming hunting season if you haven't already started. You owe it to the animals you hunt to become proficient in whatever you are hunting with to ensure a quick, humane kill. The last thing you should want to do is shoot at something and not be completely confident you can hit where you want to hit.

However, before you head out to practice or to hunt, be sure to ALWAYS check your equipment. You owe it to yourself and others to be safe...not just in making sure of your target, but also insuring that your equipment is in good working condition before trying to use it.

Here's a list of things I check before heading out:

• Bow limbs - check for any cracks or deep scratches
• String - check for any fraying or cuts on the string; be sure to keep the string waxed
• Cams/Pulleys - make sure all are secure with no gashes and all screws are secure
• Sight - make sure the pins are straight and all moveable points are tight and secure
• String/Limb Leeches/Silencers - make sure they are present and that there are no tears and they are attached securely
• Peep sight/tubing - make sure they are present and tied securely
• Silencer - make sure it is attached securely
• Nock points/loops - make sure they are attached securely
• Grip loop - make sure the loop is the right size for your hand and it is attached securely
• Quiver - make sure the quiver is securely attached and that all arrow tips are covered
• Overall - make sure everything that can be tightened is tightened all the way
• Arrows - check each arrow for any cracks, creases, dings and dents
• Fletching - check to make sure all the fletching/vanes are glued down and none are loose or missing
• Nocks - make sure each nock is inserted into the arrow all the way and that there are no cracks or breaks
• Tips - make sure all tips are securely fastened (if threaded, be sure to tighten them down all the way)
• Release - whatever type of release you use, be sure it is in good working order

If you're not sure about something, don't use it. If you don't know how to fix something correctly, bring it to a professional. Be safe, not sorry.

Preparing for the Hunt

Deer hunting season starts in a little over two months from now. And, now is the time to start preparing for it. Yes, it's hotter than blazes outside but in order to be ready to hit the woods come opening day, you need to start now.

So, what should you be doing? This is the first in a series of articles in which I will talk about preparing for the hunt to include scouting, checking your equipment, practice at the range, treestands, blinds, physical fitness, safety precautions, among other things. The things I do work for me but in no way are they the ONLY way to do it or even the best way. I encourage you to take what you need and leave the rest. So now that the disclaimer is out there, here we go.

In order to hunt on opening day, you need to first find a place to hunt. Even if you've hunted the same place for years, I encourage you to still do the leg work during the summer to learn even more about the place(s) you hunt. I believe you can always learn something new each time you step into the woods. And trust me, you will never know the woods better than the deer you are hunting.

So for me, scouting is comprised of several "methods" or steps which collectively comprise my scouting adventures. First, there's the look everywhere for deer method. That is, every time I am driving or riding in a vehicle, I'm looking for deer. And when I see them, I make mental and written notes of what, when and where I see them. Why? Because it leads me to places that I know for sure have deer. And, seeing deer is always a good thing. It may lead me to a farmer's house to ask for permission to hunt or to a Walk In Hunting Area (WIHA) or to public land. The point is to look and see. Observe what the deer are doing; what time it is; how they behave; which direction they are traveling; if you were to hunt there, where would you put a stand or blind; which direction does the wind primarily come from. The more you observe deer from a distance (you don't want them to know you're there and you don't want to spook them) the more you can "pattern" them.

A second method is the aerial and topo maps method. When I determine a piece of land is worth a look, I get an aerial and/or topo map and study them before I go to the woods. I want to know the boundaries of the land so I don't trespass. I want to know the elevation changes. I want to know where water is. I want to know if there are crops and/or food plots. I want to know where the "edges" are. Basically, I want to get an idea of what to expect when I get there. If I can determine from the maps where possible crossings are or bedding areas or feeding areas are, it can help me pinpoint my scouting efforts rather than walking every inch of the area I am scouting.

Thirds is the get off the couch and out of truck into the woods method. Yep, this is the hot and sweaty one. During this time of the year be sure to spray down with plenty of insect repellant--see my earlier article on this--to try to avoid chiggers and ticks. When you find a place that you might want to hunt, you need to walk the area (be sure to have permission first if needed). The two methods above hopefully have narrowed down the areas I want to walk but walking the land is critical to knowing your hunting area. Seeing deer from a distance and looking at pictures can't tell you what actually seeing up close and personal what is in the woods can. When walking the woods, I look for tracks--are there clearly defined trails? are there multiple deer using the trails? which way do the tracks travel? are there multiple trails crossing in an area? are the tracks large or small?. Tracks can tell me where the deer have been and which way they usually go. Sometimes, though, it's difficult to see tracks because of the ground being too dry and hard or there's too much brush in the way. I also look for deer poop--I may not be able to see tracks on hard, dry ground but I can certainly see poop pellets or clumps. If you find deer poop that is clumped together, it generally means that the deer was bedded down close by. I look for buck rubs from the last year or prior years. I look for acorns from previous years. I look for areas that might be suitable for bedding. I look for food sources.

Fourth is the get information from others method. Listening can be one of the best ways to find out where to hunt. Some people will tell you lots about where they hunt or where to hunt (farmers are really good for this). If you can find a farmer that will allow you hunt their land, be sure to ask them if they would recommend where you should hunt.

The fifth method is using trail cameras. If you find a place that you think might be a good area, you might try putting a trail camera there to take pictures of what you can't see because you're not there. If nothing else, it's a great way to get some candid wildlife shots.

To me, scouting is an ongoing process even in the hunting season. So don't think it's a one time deal to get out into the woods and think you are going to have enough information to pick the best place to set up come opening day. Lots of things change between now and hunting season. I'm not suggesting that you go scouting every day, but the more effort you put in now will likely be rewarded come time for hunting.

Happy birthday, America! I would like to think I had something profound to say today but I don't. I look back to the beginning of the this country and marvel at the intelligence and wisdom our founding fathers possessed. The great forethought they had when they wrote the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Where would we be do today without them? Where would we be today without the brave men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice for love of country? Where would we be today if no one believed in what is good about the USA?
I believe in America. I believe in the people that make up this great nation. I believe each of us can make a difference in our world. And, I believe that most of my beliefs started outside.
Outside where we become one with nature. Outside where we cross paths with God's creatures. Outside where it is up to me to decide what I do and how I do it. Outside where no one else is watching.
I am a proud American. I am a proud hunter. I know that when I go into the beautiful outdoors, I feel a tiny bit of kinsmanship with my forefathers.
So I encourage you to stand up for what you believe. Respect others. Respect nature.