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Bowhunting Practice: Field Testing For Better Preparation

Posted in Big Game, Hunting, Outdoors, Whitetail Deer, tagged Archery, Blind, Bowhunting, Game, Hunting, Practice, Preparation, Recreation, Shooting, Stand, Tips & Techniques, White-tailed deer on September 28, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Prepare for real-world encounters

Now that Minnesota’s and Wisconsin’s bow hunting seasons are underway, thousands of archers will take to the woods in pursuit of North America’s most popular game animal — the whitetail deer! For those of us who just can’t get enough hunting, the bow season is a wonderful opportunity to take advantage of this time of year.

Archery season affords us the luxury of enjoying over three months of pursuing our passion — all the while, enjoying some of the best weather and scenery the year has to offer. Even though the season has begun, it’s important to reflect on the skills and preparation required, because you can drastically increase your chances of success by preparing for it properly.

Practice, practice, practice!

There is a big difference between target shooting and bowhunting. If you want to better your chances for closing-the-deal, you need to prepare specifically for those types of situations.

One of the most important and beneficial things to have in your archery arsenal is Confidence! The only way to achieve this is through practice and preparation! (more…)

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Whitetail Deer Food Plots For Management and Feeding Big Bucks

Posted in Big Game, Hunting, Outdoors, tagged Bow Hunting, Deer, Deer Feeding, Deer Hunting, Fall Deer Mix, Food Plots, Forage, Greens, Management, Minnesota, Monster Bucks, Whitetail Deer, Wildlife on September 14, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Food Plots: What you can plant now for a great fall plot!

Food plots are a great way to improve property and to grow and hold more wildlife. By providing precious nutrients, and attracting a wide range of critters, food plots can be enjoyed by hunters and all nature enthusiasts alike!

Often grown to attract, and hold deer, different plots may be utilized by wild turkey, waterfowl, upland birds and other wildlife as well. By growing food plots we can provide animals like deer with the nutrients most beneficial to them specific for any given time of year. In short, this means we can tailor our plots for our herd’s specific needs. We can provide them with valuable protein during the growing stages of spring and summer, vital for body and antler growth as well as lactation and healthy fawn development.

Of course we can also plant things that will provide deer with the much-needed energy, carbohydrates and protein it takes to recover from the rut in the late fall into winter. So whether you’re trying to develop a healthier wildlife population, or create a hunting hot spot (or both), now is the time to plant for a great fall plot!

There are so many choices when it comes to choosing what to grow in your food plots, that if you’re new to the process it can be a bit overwhelming. Food plots really are a labor of love, and if you just take a little time before hand to do some research, you can save yourself a lot of frustration later.

Important Considerations:

Region and climate
Soil type – What to plant
Size
Goals
Equipment

Once these considerations are made, the best bet may vary from person-to-person, region-to-region. In my area of Northeastern Minnesota, as well as the upper Midwest the period of time from late August to mid September is the time to plant for fall plots. (more…)

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Scouting for The Best Trail Camera?

Posted in Big Game, Hunting, Outdoors, tagged Best Trail Camera, Bucks, Bushnell Trophy Cam, Cuddeback Capture IR, Moultrie Game Spy I Series, Scouting Camera, Stealth Prowler HD, Trail Camera, Whitetail Deer on August 26, 2010| 3 Comments »

I’ve been chasing this particular buck for a number of years now, and I’ve never quite been able to close the deal with him. Had a number of close calls. (notice my stand about 20 yards behind the deer!) This pic was taken when the buck was 3-1/2. He’ll be 5-1/2 years old this year, so I’m sure he’ll be as big and cagey as ever! We have a number of bucks around that definitely carry the same genes….trail cams are so much fun!

Camera Crazy

If you’re a deer hunter, you’d have to be living under a rock not to have noticed the trail camera craze of recent years! Because of their unparalleled scouting benefits trail cams have made any self-respecting whitetail addict’s gear bag incomplete without them.

Scouting cameras have evolved from simple trail counters to 35mm cameras, and into today’s efficient and advanced digital trail cameras with a multitude of features.

The simple fact is that trail cameras have truly revolutionized the way we hunt and scout. Because of them, we can keep a keen eye on the prize 24-hours a day, 365 days a year! If you haven’t yet taken advantage of both the fun and the benefits of trail cameras, you’re missing out!

Where do I begin?

There is no question that because of increased popularity, an ever-increasing amount of companies within the hunting industry are throwing their hats in the ring. There are so many manufacturers and different features it’s easy to experience camera confusion and making a choice can be overwhelming. There is a wide range of varying features and as you can expect, prices.

As I outline a handful of popular models, my advice is to consider what’s important to you and keep in mind the aspects of different features in relation to your specific application. (more…)

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Keep Venison and Frozen Fish Safe by Taking Preventive Measures

Posted in Big Game, Fishing, Hunting, Outdoors, Small Game, Upland Gamebirds, Water Fowl, tagged Freezer Burn, Freezing, How To, Preserving, Processing, Storing, Temperature, Transporting, Venison, Wild Game on August 16, 2010| 1 Comment »

IMPORTANT! THIS MESSAGE IS TO ALL HUNTERS AND FISHERMEN.

Whether you have an upright or chest-like freezer — NOW is the time to protect its contents from melting and spoiling in the event you lose power or someone accidentally leaves the door open.

A Lesson Learned the Hard Way.

It’s was a very sad day — we just came home after a week vacation to an awful smell. We searched the house, sniffing the garbage can and refrigerator. We found some old moldy oranges. Thinking that was the odor…but as soon as I opened the door to the basement the stink grew more intense!

As I walked downstairs to the basement, I quickly found the source of the foul stench. I could see the freezer door open, as the light inside illuminated the adjacent wall. “Oh know!” I thought to myself. I opened the freezer door to find bloody venison and numerous fish fillets floating in their bags. Dripping on the floor and overflowing the drain — it was clear that the freezer door was left open for a whole week!

We had a lot of food packed into the freezer. There were days when it was hard to close the door. The door could have simply popped open allowing all the cold air to escape. Even with the freezer running constantly, it could not keep up with the warm air entering. If you find that your freezer is not working and the inside is above 40 degrees and you know it has been at that temperature more than two hours, then the food probably is not safe.

A Major Investment in Time and Money.

Here is what we lost:

Last years venison I had cleaned and cut-up and packaged within a 2-hours of shooting it.
Pheasants sought after in 2-feet of snow, hundreds of miles of driving and walking in -27º below temperatures.
Grouse flushed over my dog Abby just before getting stuck by a porcupine.
Walleye’s caught 12 miles out after traveling over a foot of water on top of the ice (scary).
And early spring crappies after waiting months for the ice to go out.

ALL A COMPLETE WASTE! (more…)

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My Memories…Are My Trophies

Posted in Big Game, Hunting, Outdoors, tagged Bowhunting, Duluth, First Deer, Hunting, Minnesota, Northwoods, Trophy Bucks on August 6, 2010| 3 Comments »

I’m pleased to welcome Jacob McIntosh as our contributing writer. Jacob has extensive hunting and fishing experience and will write about his adventures living in Northern Minnesota. I hear he has video and his family are great cooks! I’m looking forward to reading what Jacob comes up with! — FML Outdoors Editor, Scott Nelson

It’s That Time of the Year

With summer already on it last leg for the year and fall right around the corner, many outdoor enthusiasts are beginning to switch gears. Although there is still plenty of time to enjoy the warm weather, open water and all the fun that summer offers, I’ve noticed many (including myself ) starting to transition from summer mode to fall mode. Our thoughts and daydreams have gone from watching bobbers disappear beneath the water and tight-lining walleyes to falling leaves, cool temperatures, migrating waterfowl and if you’re a deer hunting fanatic like me, of course, big mature whitetail bucks chasing does up and down ridges on frosty November mornings.

My Obsession for Nature

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always loved nature and being outdoors. Like so many outdoorsman, I particularly love to hunt and fish. In fact, I will openly admit that I am a full-blown, 100% whitetail obsessed addict! Couple this with the deep passion for bowhunting and it really turns into a year-round pursuit. Lucky for me, my brother shares the same passion that I do!

Introduced to the outdoors by our father, we grew up in the woods and on the water and were hooked from the words “Bobbers-down!” Still, I don’t think that even my dad, or us for that matter, could have predicted the love we would have for it all and the wild obsession that it would grow into!

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