Building a Natural Ground Blind

When hunting in the wild, building a good blind is an essential part of the process. A good blind not only gives one somewhere to sit for hours on end that one won’t hate after three of those hours have gone by, but it also increases the chances of success astronomically. Hunting is a hard sport to be good at; it takes dedication and talent, know-how and skill. There are so many factors that can go wrong-everything from weather to equipment malfunction-and the successful hunter knows that he or she needs to do all things possible to reduce those risks. There is no reason to add a poor blind to the list of possible mistakes; building a ground blind that is well-placed, well-hidden, and of a quality construction and camouflage is a must for those wanting to hit it big this fall and winter.

The first step may seem obvious, but the hunter must scout the area thoroughly and find a place with heavy deer traffic. Ideally, this area will not have just one deer trail, but two or three. These trails are sometimes easy to find and sometimes a bit harder; the hunter must look for paths through the trees, areas where the grass is matted down, and lines where the underbrush and tree branches have been broken. If possible, the blind should have multiple sight lines as well. Many times this can be accomplished with placement on the top of a rise or hill, where one can shoot down both sides and along the flat top of the hill where the trees will be thinner. This is most useful when hunting with a rifle, because of a gun’s advantage in range over a bow or crossbow.

On the Hunt: Wild Boar

Wild hogs, or boars, are feral pigs, and they probably one of the most exhilarating and challenging animals to hunt. There are many benefits to boar hunting; a freezer full of pork, trophy tusks, and incredible stories. The days of hunting for a single wild boar in his natural habitat are long over, and with the rise in boar hunters, finding a large trophy boar can be more challenging than ever before.

Boar hunters must keep in mind the terrain they will be hunting in as well as their range to the pigs when choosing rifle and ammunition. Many successful hunts use center fire rifles, but the caliber will depend on the size of hog desired and how close the hunters expect to get. For close range, no more than 150 yards, in dense scrub, a .30 Winchester rifle, or .44 Magnum will do nicely. As will the Remington 7600 pump action and the side-by-side Chapeus because they are compact and can get off rapid shots; above all other advantages, though, is that all of these firearms are available in large calibers, increasing their effectiveness at close range as well as their effective range overall. The drawback on these choices is that they are all relatively high-priced; the Remington can run at least $1,000 and the Chapeus starts at $5,500 stock.

Canine CPR

Any dog lover will agree that being prepared to save your pet’s life is important. Knowing how to administer CPR to your canine can help save their life in the instance of any trauma. If your dog is unconscious or unresponsive due to instances such as drowning, electric shock, or chocking. In these cases CPR is important to know and the Heimlich maneuver can be equally important in a case of chocking.

The first thing you need to know about canine CPR is that like any case of human CPR you will have to remember to use the ABCs of CPR. The ABC’s of canine CPR are airway, breathing, and circulation. These steps must be followed in that exact order.

What to Do When a Mountain Lion Attacks

Mountain lion attacks, although uncommon, do occur each year. Also known a cougars or pumas, mountain lions are native to certain areas of the United States. When hiking or camping, it is important to know what to do if a mountain lion attacks.

DO NOT RUN

Liquid Fuel Stoves for Camping

There are few things in life that can bring you as close to nature as camping. Putting yourself out in the elements, sleeping in a tent with nothing but a sleeping bag between you and the earth just seems to be one of the most rewarding experiences. Perhaps the best part about camping is the detachment from the hustle and bustle of the world we all live in. There are no business meetings, cell phones tying us down or other responsibilities weighing us down. Even though camping is generally done to get away from electronic devices and other technology, there are some things that are a real necessity for all campers. One such thing is a liquid fuel stove.

When camping, there are very basic things that are needed; food, shelter and clothing. Shelter is often supplied in the form of a tent or other structure that you choose to sleep in for the duration of the camping venture. Clothing is usually satisfied by whatever you decided to bring along with you. The general need for food and sustenance can be met by bringing items that do not require heating or preparation, but there is always a need for cooking meat and eggs and such. If you decide you would like to live off of prepared foods that do not need refrigeration, then a stove is still a necessity. Campers that plan to spend any extended amount of time in the wilderness know that water is the most important thing the body needs. In the event that you do not bring enough water for your trip, you will need to boil water from a lake or stream. There are minerals in this water, as well as the carcasses of dead animals and their waste, that you will not want to consume. This is where boiling the bacteria out of the water is essential.