Proper Hunting

Category: Hunting Gear 2018

  • What is a trail camera?

    What is a trail camera?

    You might be new to hunting, or maybe you just haven’t taken the time to dig in on what is a trail camera. A trail camera is a small photo or video device used by hunters to monitor the behavior and movement of the animals within their hunting property. With the information being provided by these cameras, hunters can put together an effective strategy for hunting game.

    Why use a trail camera for hunting?

    Aside from helping you plan out your hunting approach, there are plenty of reasons why you should use a trail camera. They are as follows.

    • Lookout

    Using trail cameras will eliminate the need for you to watch the game trails deer visit, or will potentially visit. Meaning, you do not have to be physically present in the field or in the woods while trying to keep an eye on your favorite hunting property.

    • Will not scare off the game

    Trail cameras, if installed in the right location, will help you spot the game without spooking animals, or leaving scent in a hunting area.It will give you better chances of profiling the animal without worrying that it will know you have been in the area.

    • Capture better images

    Aside from recording the movement and behavior of the deer you are hunting; a high-quality trail camera will also provide you with clearer and better pictures of the animals. I don’t personally hunt over corn, but pending your state, pre-season scouting can be made really easy by adding cameras and a pile of corn in a favorite hunting area, to see what is in the neighborhood.

    • Be in many places at once

    My favorite benefit that you can get from using trail cameras is that these clever devices will allow you to be in several areas within your property at the same time. They will provide you with the best options while hunting.

    The Best Places to Put a Trail Camera

    Setting up or installing trail cameras may sound like an easy job. Technically, as long as you have a manual or you know how to operate the cameras, you can easily install them anywhere you want. Turning the camera on is a breeze, but finding a good spot for a camera is a different story. You can find more intel about “where to find deer” here. Same would typically apply for where to place a camera.

    If you want to capture as many bucks as possible, you need to put your trail cameras in strategic places within the property. For this to be possible, you must consider the season, the location, and the purpose your camera will serve in your hunting activity.

    The right camera placement will ensure that you will get detailed information about the animal you are hunting in every image that it will take. Now here are some helpful recommendations on where to put your trail cameras depending on the hunting season.

    Spring and Summer

    Spring and summer are considered the best seasons to monitor your deer herd and analyze the kinds of bucks that you will come across with when fall arrives. During these two seasons, it is best to place your trail cameras in locations where food is abundant. These places include but are not limited to soybean fields, summer flood plots, some heavily used travel trails.

    However, the best spot to set up your trail cameras during these seasons are on mineral licks and corn piles. These will give you better access to some low-impact locations like field edges. You may also consider putting a trail camera near watering holes and other bodies of water because they are heavily visited by deer when the weather is hot. This is especially true in arid/desert regions for deer.

    Fall

    Fall is the time of the year when bucks shed their velvet. This process changes the behavior and travel patterns of bucks during fall. This shift in their traveling patterns starts showing off from late summer throughout fall. During this period, it is best to move your trail cameras from their initial positions to heavily traveled trails commonly found between food sources and bedding areas. Deer become attracted to apples, acorns, and chestnut trees during fall.

    Aside from placing your trail camera in natural land pinch points, you may also put them over scrapes. The latter is situated beneath low-hanging tree branches usually frequented by bucks. Before setting up your device, make sure that you have your scent under control and that you pay close attention to exit and entry routes. Some deer are scared of foreign objects, so ensure that you don’t place your camera directly over scrapes but at least a few yards away from it.

    Winter

    Once fall is over and the deer hunting season draws closer to its end, start moving your trail cameras back to where food sources will be abundant. From being overly sensitive and hyper during fall, deer start going back to their normal behavior and will pay more of their attention back to food. During this season, your camera will give you a clearer view of how your herd is enduring the cold winter months.

    Camera Set Up

    Here are some of the things that you should remember when setting up your trail cameras.

    • The best time to set up or install your cameras is mid-day. Also, it is highly recommended to install them right after a light rain or drizzle because the wet environment will help minimize your scent.
    • Make sure to hang or strap your camera securely to its place. Ensure that it is facing the right direction where you believe the deer are frequently traveling and that it is elevated just right for the sensor to pick up the presence of the animal.
    • Always make sure that your device has fresh batteries and SD card. Buying 2 cards per camera is ideal if you don’t have a cell signal/wireless signal camera, so you can rotate the card every time you check the camera (otherwise you will need to stand there and check hundreds of pictures in a potentially prime hunting spot). Strategically place it at least facing the northern or southern direction, so it will not capture too many shadows created by the sun’s movement.
    • Check your cameras at least once every two weeks to make sure that they are in right conditions.

    Best Trail Cameras for Deer Hunting

    Choosing the right trail cameras for deer hunting is key if you want to get detailed photos of your herd and monitor their behavior. If you are still unsure of what cameras to buy, here are a few that we can recommend.

    Moultrie Cell Camera – 6000

    what is a trail camera - moultrie 6000 cell camera review
    View Moultrie Cell Camera On Amazon

    If you want an excellent cell / wireless camera at an affordable price, the Moultrie 6000 Cell Cam is the right choice for you. This camera has served me well for a long time. Exceptional battery life, even using cell signal. Great quality pictures both day and night. Easy to set up! Moultrie also has an awesome app for their cameras, with GPS and Photo Storage, tagging, and animal ID features. This camera has a big bang for the buck. You can check price on the button above, but typically goes for less than $100.

    CAMPARK Trail Game Camera

    Check Amazon’s Price and Reviews Here

    The Campark Trail Camera is equipped with a camera that captures 14-megapixel images and records full HD 1080P videos. It has a 0.3s trigger speed that detects movements without delay, ensuring that you will not let miss the most critical moments of the hunt. The Campark Trail Camera has excellent sensitivity and night vision which makes it the best choice if you want to monitor the herd in the dark. It is equipped with a 120-degree wide angle lens to ensure that will get a broader view of the surrounding. (Not cell ready)

    Wild Game Innovations Terra Extreme

    Check Amazon’s Price and Reviews Here

    Last but not the least is the Wild Game Innovations entry level camera. For under $50, this little guy is a tank. Pictures are high quality, battery life is great, and works in low or no lights too. Unlike its contemporaries, this device shoots 14MP clear images. This camera also has a sensitive range of up to 60+ feet. An added perk is you can swap SD cards from the bottom, so it wont mess up your straps. A last nice to have from this camera is the bungees are very sturdy, compared to some of the other straps available in the market.

    Key Takeaways

    • Always consider the season when looking for an ideal place for your trail camera.
    • Make sure that you did everything to minimize your scent while installing your trail cameras.
    • There are plenty of trail cameras available in the market but make sure that you buy the ones that suit your hunting property and goals.
    • Invest in trail cameras that are durable and have excellent specifications if you want to increase your chance of capturing as many deer as you can.

    While you are here, you may want to check out:

  • How far can a deer smell?

    How far can a deer smell?

    The sense of smell among members of the deer family is legendary. In fact, it’s hard for humans to grasp. But recent research into the sense of smell of elk and whitetails finally puts some numbers to it.

    How far can a deer smell? They Can Smell You from a Half-Mile away. Researchers at Mississippi State University found that a deer’s sense of smell, like a dog’s, can be anywhere from 500 to 1,000 times more acute than a human’s. Furthermore, scientists say that whitetails have thousands of sensitive receptors in their nostrils, which they use to sort out up to six smells at one time.

    For more than 50 years Leonard Lee Rue III has observed, researched, photographed and written about deer. He has done more to educate the American public and hunters on the ways of the whitetail than anyone.

    How do you defeat the whitetail’s awesome nose? You can’t. You can only stay in the game by playing the wind and practicing good scent control on every hunt.

    You ought to spend as much time as possible on your hunting property year-round, working on the habitat, scouting and hunting. Every day you’re out there, monitor the wind directions at morning, midday and afternoon. Mark the currents on a map or in a journal. Over time you’ll see the common winds that accompany various weather patterns at different times of the year. That is vitally important info because the majority of the trees you pick for stands will be based on the prevailing winds in your area.

    Most hunters focus on where deer will come in on the upwind side of stands. That is surely important, but it is not enough. When picking a tree, you need to determine where to put your wind, and hence your scent, so you’ll alert as few deer as possible. If a mature buck circles in somewhere downwind of your stand and smells you, he might just melt away into the brush. But an ornery old doe might stand out there and blow like crazy, alerting every deer within a half-mile that she smells a rat. Either way your hunt is probably ruined.

    Always try to set up and float your wind over an area that’s not going to see a lot of deer traffic. For example, let your wind scent drift away from your stand and out into a pasture field, or maybe out over a deep creek that deer probably aren’t going to cross. I sometimes set a stand slightly upwind of a steep hill or bluff that deer won’t or can’t walk up on the downwind side.

    Determining the best wind for a stand definitely involves trial and error. You might look at a map or aerial and say, “Okay, a southeast wind will work best there.” But until you go in and sit the stand several times, you don’t really know if a southeast is best or even adequate. You have to study the unique topography of an area because ridges, bluffs, draws and other terrain features can dramatically affect wind direction. You also need to observe the overall deer movement throughout an area as it relates to various common winds.

    Most hunters concentrate on wind direction, but they often neglect wind speed. Big mistake. I have treestands on the tops of ridges that are perfect for high-pressure mornings with little wind. I also have sets in draws and hollows that are just right for strong northwest winds that kick up after a front blows through. I’ve got a great stand on the edge of a small food plot down in a bottom where, if the wind is above 5 mph or so and stays that way throughout the afternoon, I’m OK.

    But if I try to hunt that stand on a dead-calm evening when the wind drops to nil at dusk, the cool thermals start shifting and falling, spreading my scent all over the bottom and messing me up big time. You’ve got to keep all that in mind to beat a buck’s super sniffer.

    Fortunately, we know a lot more than ever about how deer smell. Let’s take a look at four things that give members of the deer family their amazing ability to smell what’s around them.

    The Long Snout

    Members of the deer family and predators need their sense of smell to survive, so they are equipped with far more olfactory receptors than those animals that do not rely on their sense of smell. The long snout creates more room for special nerve cells that receive and interpret smells. It’s estimated that humans have about 5 million of these olfactory receptors, while members of the deer family, including elk and moose, have about 300 million. Bloodhounds have about 220 million.

    The Specialized Brain

    The area of the brain dedicated to interpreting scent is larger in deer than in humans. The drawing of air across all those receptors in the snout sends signals to the primary olfactory cortex, which is in the temporal lobe of the brain.

    Because this part of the brain is larger in animals that use their nose for survival, this creates an ability to interpret the smells that’s added to their ability to pick up all those smells with those 300-million receptors. This would suggest that using a cover scent of any kind would be futile, because a deer can simply sort the smells out.

    A hunter using deer urine to cover his scent smells like a hunter and deer urine to a deer, not just one or the other. While cover scents have little effectiveness, the ability to reduce (not necessarily eliminate) human scent with antibacterial soaps, detergents and sprays, anti-microbial Scent Killer, and carbon is proven science. The science of the deer’s smell would suggest that reducing human odor is worth the trouble, attempting to cover it up is not.

    Smelling in Stereo

    Members of the deer family also have broader lateral nostrils which allow them to detect smells directionally. Moose have the most pronounced application of this. This allows the animals to determine the direction of the source of the smell more readily. This is called “stereo olfaction,” and it allows members of the deer family to more quickly determine the source of danger.

    You may have noticed a deer raise its head as it is smelling the air. The deer is flaring its nostrils while drawing air across the olfactory receptors in its snout. The animal can quickly determine what it’s smelling and the direction it’s coming from.

    They Live by Their Nose

    The fourth thing that helps members of the deer family survive is simply an increased awareness of the smells around them. We humans might not pay much attention to the scents coming in through our nose until it overpowers our other senses. We don’t think about smells much; until someone hands you a child with a dirty diaper, or you walk into a restaurant where they are frying bacon.

    Contrast that to the life of a deer, which is focused on the smells coming through the nose 24-7. The other four senses take a back seat to the importance of smell in their everyday lives. We humans can increase our awareness of the smells around us just by paying attention to them. Have you ever smelled a rutted up buck before you saw him? How about a herd of elk? Using our ability to smell what’s around us is a skill that can be developed. After all, we are predators at heart.

    While you are here, you may want to check out:


  • Best knife for skinning deer 2020.

    Best knife for skinning deer 2020.

    Aside from antlers, deer are also hunted for their tasty meat. However, before you can cook that meat and serve it to your family, you need to skin the animal first. If you believe that the challenge of hunting a deer ends by capturing the animal, wait until you get to the skinning part.

    There are two ways that you can skin a deer. Either you let a butcher do it for you, or you do the skinning yourself. Deer skinning can be quite challenging and tough for any person. But, if it is not your first time, you probably know by now that choosing the right skinning knife can make the job a whole lot easier.

    A skinning knife is a hunting tool that is mainly used to prepare the captured animal as food. Skinning or hunting knives are different from your ordinary kitchen knife because they are specially made to be extra versatile and sturdy.

    Traditional skinning knives are designed to have slightly curved blades, making them highly efficient tools for peeling the skin off an animal. However, current knives have been designed to be used not just for skinning but for boning and slicing slabs of meat as well.

    If you are thinking of buying your very own skinning knife, here are four of the best blades in the market that you must consider.

    Four Best Deer Skinning Knives

    Buck Knives 119 Special Fixed Blade Knife with Leather Sheath

    The model 119 Special Fixed Blade Knives by Buck Knives are specially designed for hunters who prefer to have the traditional solid feel of a fixed blade in their hands. The 199 model is made in the United States by the family-owned Buck Knives.

    The 119 is created from 420HC steel which boasts of excellent edge retention and corrosion resistance. It is hardened to a standard Rc 58 for you to get the best performance out of it. Overall, this knife measures 10 ½ inches with a blade length of six inches and only weighs 7.5 ounces.

    The 119’s clip blade is guaranteed to make piercing, cutting in tight places, and other detail works to be easier. Its black phenolic handle is made with palm swells for a more comfortable grip. Furthermore, the aluminum pommel gives the knife its aesthetic appeal.

    The 119 Special Fixed Blade Knife is among Buck’s list of top selling knives. It comes with a protective leather sheath with a snap fastener. The knife also has belt loops which allow any hunters to carry it safely in their belts wherever they go.

    Check Amazon’s Price and Reviews Here

    Pros:

    • High-quality knife at an affordable price
    • Corrosion resistant steel and high edge retention
    • Simple but elegant design
    • Durable

    Cons:

    • The phenolic handle tends to get slippery under certain conditions
    • Quite heavy because of its thick steel
    • The point may break easily

    Elk Ridge Hunting Knife Two-Piece Set

    If you’re looking for an affordable but highly reliable knife to take with you during your deer hunting trip, the Elk Ridge Hunting Knife Two Piece Set is just the perfect choice for you. The set includes a gut hook skinner and a small sharp finger caper knife packed in one portable sheath.

    Elk Ridge is one of the most respectable knife makers not just in the United States but around the world as well. Its green camo hunting knife set is a testament to the brand’s mission of creating affordable and high-quality knives for hunting.

    The Elk Ridge Hunting Knife set features one straight edge blade and a gut hook blade which measures 7 inches and 6 ½ inches overall, respectively. The duo is ideal for hunters who love to stay for extended periods in the wilderness.

    The trailing point, full tang, skinning knife has a black stainless-steel blade which measures 3 ½ inches. It is equipped with a green camo ABS handle designed with finger grooves and a lanyard hole which is suitable for affixing cordage.

    On the other hand, the gut hook knife also features a 3 7/8 inches black stainless-steel blade. The deep-bellied, full tang knife has a finger hole for tighter control. The knife also has a green camo non-slip textured ABS handle and a thumb jimping at the back of the blade for firmer control.

    Both the skinning and gut knives are stored securely in a black nylon dual carry sheath. The 440 stainless-steel used in the creation of both knives contains more carbon to give the blades excellent toughness and better edge retention.

    Check Amazon’s Price and Reviews Here

    Pros:

    • Affordable
    • Compact
    • Razor sharp
    • Comfortable grip
    • Aesthetic appeal

    Cons:

    • Sheath not durable enough to handle the sharpness of the blades
    • Handles may not suit hunters with large hands

    Outdoor Edge SwingBlaze, SZ-20N, Double Blade Hunting Knife with Rotating Skinning and Gutting Blade

    The Outdoor Edge SwingBlaze Double Blade Hunting Knife is considered one of the most innovative knives of this generation. The knife features a drop-point skinning blade on one side and a gutting edge on the other side. Its design will allow you to switch between a skinner and gutter knife in just a push of a button. It’s essentially two tools in one.

    With the SwingBlaze, Outdoor Edge combined functional design not only with the sharpest, edge-holding steels but also with advanced production and traditional craftsmanship process to create an excellent two-in-one knife for big game hunters like you.

    The SwingBlaze combi-knife is guaranteed to cut not just the skin of the deer but the meat beneath it as well. The knife is so sharp it can open games like a zipper while eliminating the possibility of cutting any internal organs inadvertently. Because it is designed to cut from the inside, the blade will remain sharp for more extended periods.

    The SwingBlaze hunting knife is crafted from Aichi AUS-8 stainless-steel, and zero quenched for better performance, excellent edge retention and hardened to 57-58 Rockwell.

    The knife’s orange Kraton handle is specifically designed to provide firmer, non-slip grip even if it’s wet. The knife comes with a high-quality nylon belt sheath complete with a Kydex insert. The SwingBlaze measures 8.3 inches overall. The skinning blade measures 3.6 inches while the gutting blade is 3.2 inches long.

    Check Amazon’s Price and Reviews Here

    Pros:

    • Practical two-in-one knife
    • Easy to use
    • Affordable
    • Comfortable non-slip handle

    Cons:

    • Not easy to clean
    • Switching between the two blades is quite hazardous

    Buck Knives 113 Ranger Skinner Hunting Knife

    Another excellent hunting knife from Buck Knives is the 113 Ranger Skinner. This knife combines the elegance and performance of Buck’s Ranger series and the classic Buck Vanguard.  The 113 Ranger Skinner is a highly-recommended knife for skinning game.

    Just like its other contemporaries from Buck’s, the 113 Ranger Skinner is made from premium materials to make it more reliable when you’re in the wilderness. Its 3 1/8 inches drop point skinner blade is made from 420HC steel which is a standard material used by Buck Knives for its knives. This material makes the blade corrosion resistant and gives it great edge retention as well as durability.

    The 113 Ranger Skinner is optimized for skinning game. Its narrow tip and full, curved belly design allow the knife to provide smooth skinning cut that aids hunters in penetrating thick layers of skin. On the other hand, the downward angle point of the blade prevents any accidental slice through the hide from happening.

    The 113 Range Skinner’s compact built, and versatile blade makes it more functional than other skinning knives available in the market today. Not only that, the American Walnut Handle and the Brass Bolster will ensure that it will fit perfectly fit in your hand. Add to that the genuine leather sheath with integrated belt loop and you now have an ergonomically designed and guaranteed American-made skinning knife that you can carry with you while hunting.

    Check Amazon’s Price and Reviews Here

    Pros:

    • Corrosion resistant
    • Optimized for skinning game
    • Classic and functional use
    • Ergonomic design
    • Affordable

    Cons:

    • Not aesthetically appealing
    • Not suitable for hunters with large hands

    Key Takeaways

    Your skinning knife plays a significant role in making your deer skinning task easier. When choosing the best knife to purchase, you need to take into consideration the following factors so you won’t end up disappointed.

    Our choice for best bang for the buck in this comparison would be the Outdoor Edge Swing Blaze, but there are no real bad choices in the group.

    Keep these in mind while you make your choice for your best skinningin knife choice.

    • Blade – if there’s one thing that matters most in the skinner knife that you’re about to buy, it probably is the blade. Make sure that the blade is corrosion resistant, durable, and made from high-quality steel. Substandard blades tend to get dull faster or break.
    • Handle – make sure that the handle is non-slip especially when it’s wet to avoid accidentally cutting the game in unnecessary areas, or worse, cutting yourself. Not only that, but you also need to consider the length of the handle to ensure that it will fit your hand.
    • Price – don’t be swayed by the notion that high price is equal to good quality products. Read reviews from reliable sources and customers before making your purchase. Sometimes, blade makers offer their premium knives at affordable prices.

    Also, to make sure that your knife will last longer, always remember that some hunting knives are designed and manufactured for specific purposes only. For instance, a skinner knife should only be used for skinning animals unless the manufacturer indicated that it can be used for cutting flesh or boning.