EARLY DOE STARTS TODAY
Good luck to all the hunters out in the woods today!
Tip - stands that are used for buck hunting can be used successfully for doe hunting, it is easier to simply hunt food sources for does. Bucks will often hang back in the woods until dark, but does will come out to feed early when there is still plenty of shooting light. If you hunt in forested areas, finding preferred food sources can provide all day hunting. White oak trees, persimmons trees, and fruit trees make a great stand location for doe hunting.
Good luck and if you get one write us your story!
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Grouse, Squirrel, Turkey, and Rabbit
Well Grouse, Squirrel, Turkey, and Rabbit seasons start today, so here are a few tips on how to find em'
Squirrel - The best way to find squirrels is to look for a feeding area. Look for nut trees, such as walnut, oak, or hickories. Empty shells on the ground under the tree indicate that squirrels have most likely been feeding there and, unless the tree is bare, they will probably be back. It's a good place to start. When you spot your prey, sometimes you just have to outsmart it. You can be sure that if you are moving and spot a squirrel, he spotted you first. He will probably scurry up a tree, usually on the side opposite of where you are standing. You can wait him out or use some trickery.
Turkey - Tom turkeys can't walk or strut and gobble at the same time. They generally stop walking or strutting, then stick their neck out and gobble. The number of times a tom gobbles can give you clues as to what the tom is doing, and where it is.
1. If a tom gobbles 0 times per 1 minute, and it is at a strut, there is probably a hen present.
2. If a tom gobbles 1 time per 1 minute, and it's before sunrise, it is probably on the roost. You should set up: 1. at a nearby strut the tom uses, 2. between the tom and any nearby hens, 3. between the tom and the nearest strut.
3. If a tom gobbles 1 time per 2-3 minutes, and it is before sunrise, the tom is probably on the ground and moving. There are several things you can do: 1. if the tom is moving toward you call just enough to keep it coming. 2. if the tom is moving away from you try to get it to change it's mind, but it is probably headed toward a hen, group of hens or a strut; 3. figure out where the tom is going and get there before it does.
4. If a tom gobbles 2-3 times per 1 minute, and it is at a strut, there is probably no hen present. You can: 1. try to get it to leave the strut, which it is probably reluctant to do, 2. try to sneak up on it, 3. figure out where it will go after it leaves and get there before it does, 4. wait until another day and get to the same area before the tom.
Grouse - 1. When hunting likely grouse habitat, look for things that are green. In the brown of winter, those green plants will attract grouse seeking food.
2. If the weather is quite dry, hunt in areas near water. You don't have to hunt creeks, rivers, or ponds, but look for marshy areas near springs.
3. Remember to stop often when walking through good cover. As with rabbits, it appears that the grouse think that have been spotted and may flush when a hunter stops. When you stop, be ready to shoot
4. As the sun begins to go down, focus your energy on the edges of brush, instead of the middle. Walk along thick brush and poke into the brush at intervals.
Rabbit - 1. Much of the best rabbit hunting takes place on private property. The best way to locate a prime piece of property starts with a slow drive. Ride around taking note of the cover, terrain and food sources, the latter being among the most important.
2. No food, no rabbits — just that simple. Farm crops always draw rabbits and the closer to thick cover the better.
3. Grapes, berries, red osier dogwoods, fruit trees, young saplings and just about anything that they can sink their teeth into are all favorite foods. Rabbits love to eat anything that is green, but once the green stuff is gone, look out! Any twig or small tree is fair game.
Hopefully this helps!
Squirrel - The best way to find squirrels is to look for a feeding area. Look for nut trees, such as walnut, oak, or hickories. Empty shells on the ground under the tree indicate that squirrels have most likely been feeding there and, unless the tree is bare, they will probably be back. It's a good place to start. When you spot your prey, sometimes you just have to outsmart it. You can be sure that if you are moving and spot a squirrel, he spotted you first. He will probably scurry up a tree, usually on the side opposite of where you are standing. You can wait him out or use some trickery.
Turkey - Tom turkeys can't walk or strut and gobble at the same time. They generally stop walking or strutting, then stick their neck out and gobble. The number of times a tom gobbles can give you clues as to what the tom is doing, and where it is.
1. If a tom gobbles 0 times per 1 minute, and it is at a strut, there is probably a hen present.
2. If a tom gobbles 1 time per 1 minute, and it's before sunrise, it is probably on the roost. You should set up: 1. at a nearby strut the tom uses, 2. between the tom and any nearby hens, 3. between the tom and the nearest strut.
3. If a tom gobbles 1 time per 2-3 minutes, and it is before sunrise, the tom is probably on the ground and moving. There are several things you can do: 1. if the tom is moving toward you call just enough to keep it coming. 2. if the tom is moving away from you try to get it to change it's mind, but it is probably headed toward a hen, group of hens or a strut; 3. figure out where the tom is going and get there before it does.
4. If a tom gobbles 2-3 times per 1 minute, and it is at a strut, there is probably no hen present. You can: 1. try to get it to leave the strut, which it is probably reluctant to do, 2. try to sneak up on it, 3. figure out where it will go after it leaves and get there before it does, 4. wait until another day and get to the same area before the tom.
Grouse - 1. When hunting likely grouse habitat, look for things that are green. In the brown of winter, those green plants will attract grouse seeking food.
2. If the weather is quite dry, hunt in areas near water. You don't have to hunt creeks, rivers, or ponds, but look for marshy areas near springs.
3. Remember to stop often when walking through good cover. As with rabbits, it appears that the grouse think that have been spotted and may flush when a hunter stops. When you stop, be ready to shoot
4. As the sun begins to go down, focus your energy on the edges of brush, instead of the middle. Walk along thick brush and poke into the brush at intervals.
Rabbit - 1. Much of the best rabbit hunting takes place on private property. The best way to locate a prime piece of property starts with a slow drive. Ride around taking note of the cover, terrain and food sources, the latter being among the most important.
2. No food, no rabbits — just that simple. Farm crops always draw rabbits and the closer to thick cover the better.
3. Grapes, berries, red osier dogwoods, fruit trees, young saplings and just about anything that they can sink their teeth into are all favorite foods. Rabbits love to eat anything that is green, but once the green stuff is gone, look out! Any twig or small tree is fair game.
Hopefully this helps!
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Its that time of year
Well fellas, its gettin to be that time of year again! The leaves are startin to change color, and its gettin colder. Perfect conditions for sittin out in the woods and ready to shoot the monster.
Here are some seaons that open soon. (for Michigan)
Early Doe - Sept. 16 - Sept. 20
Youth and Disabled Veterans - Sept. 25-26
Black Bear - Sept. 10 - Oct. 26 (Upper Peninsula)
Sept. 10 - Sept. 25 (North Baldwin)
Sept. 10 - Oct. 21 (Drummond Island)
Sept. 17 - Sept. 25 (Gladwin, Baldwin, Red Oaks areas)
Rabbit - Sept. 15 - March 31
Elk - Aug. 31 - Sept. 3
Sept. 24 - Sept. 27
Ruffed Grouse - Sept. 15 - Nov. 14
Squirrel - Sept. 15 - March 1
Wild Turkey - Sept. 15 - Nov. 14
I'll update more seasons as the time gets closer to them.
Here are some seaons that open soon. (for Michigan)
Early Doe - Sept. 16 - Sept. 20
Youth and Disabled Veterans - Sept. 25-26
Black Bear - Sept. 10 - Oct. 26 (Upper Peninsula)
Sept. 10 - Sept. 25 (North Baldwin)
Sept. 10 - Oct. 21 (Drummond Island)
Sept. 17 - Sept. 25 (Gladwin, Baldwin, Red Oaks areas)
Rabbit - Sept. 15 - March 31
Elk - Aug. 31 - Sept. 3
Sept. 24 - Sept. 27
Ruffed Grouse - Sept. 15 - Nov. 14
Squirrel - Sept. 15 - March 1
Wild Turkey - Sept. 15 - Nov. 14
I'll update more seasons as the time gets closer to them.
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