Hunter Chat

Deer Lures

lcobb — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:13:47 +0000

Deer lures (scents) have become one of the most popular methods of attracting white-tailed deer. But what can you expect and how do you use them?
For white tail hunters, deer lures (scents) have become one of the most popular methods of attracting white-tailed deer. While curiosity, and food can be used throughout the ruting season , Products like urine and pheromone based scents may be more effective during most parts of the rut. The scents associated with the pheromones produced by deer glands are used to relay information to another deer. The interdigital glands between the deer’s hooves produce a scent that allows deer to track each other. This scent is present all year long and can be used to lay down a drip or drag line to attract a deer to a specific location.
The tarsal glands appear as a tuft of erect hairs on the inside of the back leg. The scent produced by these glands is so specific that it is believed that other deer can determine the age and sex of the deer leaving the scent. The strong smell of these glands is caused by the deposit of urine on the glands when the deer rub-urinates on itself. The forehead glands are located between the top of the eyes and the antlers, and are most active during the rut. The activity of these glands has been positively correlated with age and probable social status; they are most active in older, dominant bucks. The glands produce an oily substance making the hair appear dark. The oil is transferred to rubbed trees and the overhanging branch at scrapes when the head of the buck comes in contact with the tree; and is used by dominant bucks to advertise their presence to both sexes. The scent from the forehead glands may also serve as a priming pheromone to bring does into estrus, and to synchronize the timing of the rut between bucks and does. Since this scent is most evident when bucks rub and scrape it should be used during the rubbing and scraping phases of the rut. Because this scent is associated with dominance it may work best to attract dominants, and it may scare off smaller bucks.
The pre-orbital glands are located in front of the eyes. These glands are under muscular control and may be opened by rutting bucks to signal aggressive behavior. Females open this gland when tending fawns. It was previously thought these glands were rubbed on the overhanging branch at scrapes, but deer researchers are no longer sure if that is true. The salivary glands are located inside the mouth. These glands produce saliva, which contains enzymes to help in digestion. The enzymes in the saliva may contribute to the scent left on the overhanging branch at scrapes and rubbed trees when a deer licks or chews the branch or tree. The nasal glands are two almond shaped glands located inside the nostrils, and they are probably used to lubricate the deer’s nose. Scent from the nasal glands may also be left on overhanging branches at scrapes. Scents from these last three types of glands are not readily available on the market, and they may have no useful purpose as a deer attractant. Urine is present all year long and the presence of non estrous-urine and non-testosterone urine in an area signifies that deer are using the area, which implies that the area is safe. Urine without hormones can be used all year to attract any age and sex of deer. Testosterone It has been shown that a buck’s testosterone level rises in the fall, and that dominant bucks have higher testosterone levels than subdominant bucks. Researchers have suggested that does can smell testosterone and protein levels in a buck’s urine, and are able to determine the health of the buck by the smell; which allows the does to choose a healthy dominant buck to breed with. If this is true, urine from a healthy dominant buck should attract does, which may in turn attract bucks.
Prior to the rut bucks often travel in bachelor groups and groom each other’s head/neck region. As a result of this the bucks learn to know the smell of each other by their forehead, tarsal, metatarsal and interdigital scents. Throughout the year older bucks exert dominance over subdominants by threats; kicking with the foreleg and attacking with the antlers. When bucks begin sparring in the fall each buck knows which of the other bucks are dominant and stronger. They also know which buck used a rub, overhanging branch and scrape by the smell left behind. This eliminates much of the fighting between bucks that might otherwise occur.
Since testosterone levels rise when the bucks begin to shed their velvet and make rubs and scrapes, and remains high as long as does remain in estrous, urine with testosterone can be used throughout the rut. A buck in rut is curious about which other bucks are in its area, and may be compelled to check out any new buck scent in the area. However, because high levels of testosterone are associated with dominance, buck in rut urine may attract dominant bucks, but it may scare off subdominants. Estrogen Once the does come into heat they produce vaginal secretions (including estrogen) that the bucks are able to smell. These vaginal secretions may be detected on the doe, or in the urine the doe passes and leaves behind. Some researchers believe that bucks may come into breeding readiness when they perform the flehmen sniff and detect estrogen from a doe; and that this detection may ensure that both the bucks and does are ready to breed at the same time. This suggests that bucks may respond to estrous secretions or estrous urine as long as their testosterone levels are high, which may be as early as late August or early September, until after most of the does have been bred.
One of the problems hunters have is determining which scent or scents to use during the different rut phases. To determine how bucks responded to different attractants a group of researchers used several different substances; urine before a doe was in estrous, urine while a doe was in estrous, urine after a doe was in estrous, buck urine, a commercial deer lure and saline solution. The researchers found that peak responses to the lures occurred in mid-November, when peak rutting activity occurred.
They also found that a high proportion of the responses to all the substances occurred during the first part of the study. It was believed that lower responses later on in the study were a result of the deer becoming accustomed to the substances. This suggests that hunters can expect the best responses the first few times they use scents. It also suggests that if scents are left out for a long period of time, the deer may not respond, because they get used to the scents.
vaginal secretions The other doe had been sterilized and was not treated with any substance. The vaginal secretions were collected by wiping the vagina of the doe with a tampon, and the researchers were careful not to contaminate the tampon with urine. A buck was then introduced to the two does, and its number of approaches and time spent with each doe was noted. There were no significant differences in the buck’s responses when estrous urine, mid-cycle urine and mid-cycle vaginal secretion were used. But, when estrous vaginal secretions were tested, the buck approached the treated doe more often, and spent more time near the treated doe. This suggests that the best substance for a lure is the vaginal secretion collected from a doe in estrous. But, since this is hard to most also found that the liberal use of doe urine in an area may cause the area to be used more often. Most people believe the reason for this is that all the deer are curious about which other deer are using the area, and they come in to investigate.

How to field dress a deer

lcobb — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:37:00 +0000

Your hard work has finally paid off; you shot your deer and he is down on the ground, now what ? Proper care of your deer is very important in making sure that its taste good when it is served for dinner. This article is to tell new hunters how to field dress, skin and prepare a deer for butchering.
FIELD DRESSING A sharp knife is better than a dull knife when it comes to field dressing a buck of course. A sharp knife will actually reduce bad (unneeded) cuts on the deer and yourself as well and will make the entire process easier. Take your time when dressing a deer, mistakes do to speed or thinking “I have done this a million times” will often require you to make a trip to the hospital to get stitches.
Prop the animal on its back and begin field dressing by making a cut from just above the genitals up to the rib cage. When you make a cut from just above the genital to the sternum take care not to cut too deep. You only want to cut through the hide and through the animals stomach muscle. If you go to deep you will puncture the deer’s intestines and you will have to deal with the smell.

Now turn the deer on its side and allow the guts to fall out. They will require help from you by cutting away the fat that will hold the intestines in. Care must be taken to not puncture or break the deer’s bladder. The bladder will be in the area where the cavity narrows down at the hips. Cutting around the anus and tying it off with string. Then cutting either forwards or backwards from the abdominal cavity to remove this entire area. Easier said than done. Care must be take not to puncture anything here this is where the deer droppings and urine are located. The deer’s abdominal cavity is separated from the chest cavity by the diaphragm. This separates the lung and heart from the stomach and intestines. This must be cut out to remove all of the intestines.

This is how it usually works for most, with the guts half in and half out most cut the diaphragm away from the deer’s chest cavity, then reach as far up into the deer’s chest as possible and grab the deer esophagus. With the other hand carefully slide the knife into the deer’s chest and work your knife up into the chest to cut the esophagus just above your other hand. After it is cut simply pull the heart and lungs out and with it comes the rest of the intestines. (Most will keep the heart and eat that as well)
Wash up.
Drag the deer out. Hopefully close enough to the truck, but most have a ATV around for help.
Load in truck.
Go home or to camp for skinning. That what’s works for most good luck and happy hunting

Lori Cobb
www.theoutdoorsmangallery.com

5 Tips For Coping With Buck Fever

lcobb — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 20:32:24 +0000

I think it’s safe to say that most of us have had to deal with Buck Fever at one time or another I know I have a nice 10 point buck, I could tell exactly what it looked it. But as most of us know, it’s how you deal with buck fever that will decide whether or not you go home with a deer or not.

Buck Fever is the condition that comes over a Hunter when they have an opportunity to take a deer. The deer may be right beneath their tree stand or 100 yards away. For many hunters, the sight of any legal deer puts them into an uncontrollable jerky convulsions. Hitting a deer at any range under these conditions is pure luck.

Even the best of us get buck fever. It’s how you deal with it that counts.

Here are 5 tips for dealing with Buck Fever.

Get out and see deer. For people who never see a deer except during deer season, the sight of a legal deer within range can send them over the edge. Get out and watch deer. Go to a game farm if you must, but get out and see deer. Not only will it help with Buck Fever, but you might also become familiar with the body characteristics of Bucks and Does.
Control your breathing and thoughts. When you see a legal deer, focus on controlling your breathing. Nice deep breaths and slow exhales. Whatever you do, don’t hold your breath! Also, don’t freak out and start thinking “Oh my God, there’s a deer, I better shoot quick before he/she is gone”. Concentrate on making the shot. Focus on a spot. Count backwards if you have to in order to get your mind off the deer. Anything that will help you focus on making the shot.
Visualize yourself making a successful shot. I often sit in my stand and visualize myself making a successful shot on a deer. Even when I’m not in the stand, I’m thinking about making a good shot on a deer. See yourself remaining calm, cool and collective. Visualize yourself easing your weapon up and getting a good sight picture and focusing on a small area. Visualization can be very important in controlling Buck Fever.
Practice, Practice and then Practice more. It was three years of bowhunting before I took my first deer with archery equipment. The previous two years I had many opportunities, but failed for many reasons. On year three, the second weekend of the Season I had three Does come through the brush near my stand. I’d spent all Summer practicing with my bow. That year I had switched from shooting with sights to instinctive shooting. I never gave it much thought, but one thing I realized when that Doe was at 15 yards was that I was going to drill her. I couldn’t explain it, but I KNEW without a doubt where that arrow was going. Practice with your weapon until you know it intimately. Practice builds confidence. Confidence in knowing you can hit what you’re aiming at goes a long ways in settling your nerves.
Hunt small game. For many Hunters, deer hunting may be the only time when they have an opportunity to shoot anything. Buy a 22 rifle if you don’t have one or take your bow and get out in the woods and hunt small game. Squirrels, rabbits or even varmits. It doesn’t matter. The same dynamics that go into putting a deer on the ground are the same that goes into putting small game on the ground. Sight picture, control your breathing, steady aim, squeeze the trigger. When you can consistently take Squirrels at 40 and 50 yards with a 22, you’ll be ahead in your deer hunting game. And who knows, you might find that deer hunting hotspot you’ve been looking for.

Control your Buck Fever until after the shot. That’s when the shakes will hit you hard. Your right leg gets short circuited and starts thumping like it has a mind all its own. There’s no shame in getting Buck Fever. But you need to work at controlling it until after the shot. Then you can shake so hard that you knock all the leaves off the surrounding trees!

Lori Cobb

www.theoutdoorsmangallery.com

Bear Hunting

lcobb — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:21:56 +0000

Here is an information blog that I found is very useful, please read and share and feel free to add your own ideas and comments If you are thinking of hunting bear, you can go for information many places. The internet and government websites and books are only a few of the places that are available for information. Books will tell you that hunting bear is a thrilling, exhilarating, and enjoyable experience. This is not far from the truth. The thrill of the hunt is intoxicating. The exhilaration you experience when you bring down your target. Both of these feelings are enjoyable. Government websites will tell you when the season for hunting bear is open, and what permits you will need. It will also tell you how many you can bring down. You can apply for your permit online – it is faster and more convenient. They will also tell you want protective clothing is required by law to wear while hunting bear or any other type of animal. The internet is abundant with information. This could be your key resource in finding information for hunting bear. There are websites, outfitters, and other types of information that can be of great assistance. Outfitter sites will tell you where they will take you, what it will cost you for them to guide you out to the wilderness, as well as what equipment, other than your firearms and ammunition, you will need to bring. Other websites will tell you where you can find the kind of bear you want to hunt, what the terrain could be like and what some of the bear’s body language means. The information that is available on hunting bear can help you with all your questions. If you want to know which bear is most popular to hunt, a site will tell you that. If you would like to know which bear is the most aggressive, most sites will tell you which one that is. These sites will also tell you where you can find them, if these are the bears you are interested in hunting. If you are a new hunter, with no equipment, bear hunting sites will tell you what kind of gear you need, from weaponry to protective gear. They will explain that you will have to apply for a firearms permit and go through the process of getting the weapon of choice. This is to ensure your safety and the public’s safety. The sites could also tell you where the best places are to get your choice of weapon. When you go and pick out your weapon, tell the clerk why you want the weapon, and they may advice you differently on the choice, but ultimately, that choice is yours.

Its Here, Bow Hunting Season

lcobb — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 17:21:19 +0000

Its Here, Archery bow hunting is a great adventure. There are some very common things that keep hunters from being successful. Once you recognize that fact, you can take steps to correct these simple mistakes; your archery bow hunting will improve as I am learning right now.
Many people simply misjudge distance in archery bow hunting. This can be remedied simply by using a range finder and measuring distances to get an idea before you hunt. This is especially helpful when using a blind or tree stand. If you are going to be archery bow hunting in a fixed position, a range finder can totally eliminate misjudging distances. You can use a branch or rock to mark distance if you need to, but naturally occurring things like trees work just as well.
The second most common mistake in archery bow hunting is missing the kill zone. Anyone who has ever wounded then lost their prey knows how horrible that can be, Speaking from expereience this is not a good feeling at all. In archery bow hunting, there is an explicit obligation to be aware of our game’s kill zone, so that we never take the risk of leaving a wounded animal to suffer. Deer should be a straightforward broadside shot. Recognizing your shot is important too. If you take your shot while the animal is facing away from you or with its head behind a tree, you are likely to get off a good shot without spooking the animal.
If equipment is in ill repair, you have wasted a hunt. Nothing is worse than realizing after you are out on the hunt that your bow is out of tune. You can only hunt with good equipment, so check and maintain your equipment often.
Drawing too much weight is another big mistake. Accuracy is much more important to good archery bow hunting than speed. Setting your draw weight beyond what you can handle, is a sure way to handicap your self. Be sure to consider the added difficulty of drawing your bow in a tree stand. It is much easier standing, so if you will be sitting, take this into consideration.
Often people don’t recognize the mistake of over hunting an area. Every time you go to a specific area, you are leaving your scent there. No matter what you do, you leave that calling card behind and the deer know it. By going only to the same place over and over, you practically guarantee that no deer will come anywhere close to the place.
One final mistake is shooting before you should. If you get over confident and don’t wait for the perfect time, slow and easy is the catch word of the day and the best way to approach archery Bow hunting. So Go to your Local Sporting store, Get your bow tuned up. Good luck, Have fun and always Remember to be SAFE !

Lori Cobb