REPLACING OF AN OLD FAVORITE

Every once in awhile you make a mistake! It happens to the best of people. Some mistakes are devastating and others are just plain disappointments that stick with you for a time. I have made my share of mistakes just as you have.

            One mistake I have long regretted making is the sale of a particular rifle. Back a number of years I did not have much extra cash to buy a lot of hunting rifles or much else for that matter. At a gun show I picked up an old Swedish Mauser in 6.5 x 55 caliber. Having a father and grandfather that were both gunsmiths, I naturally had to customize it. But the end results was that it turned out to be a sweet shooting and accurate little rifle. I hunted with it for about six or seven years and took over a dozen deer with that rifle.



(the replacement for my original)

            As often happens, you get to the point where you think you have outgrown a particular item or just want to upgrade to something perceived as better. I too was guilty of that. I sold my Mauser to friend who was really interested in it, so that I could pick up a proper deer rifle. Well to make a long story shorter, that rifle I traded up for has been long gone, as well as a number of other rifles as well. All during that time I always regretted the sale of the 6.5 X 55. So I began looking for the replacement of it.

            The first thing I noticed was the rise of the sticker price. One of the reasons I had originally purchased that rifle was that it was well within my budget. I paid less than seventy-five dollars for the original one. Now they can’t be touched for much less than two hundred. Their popularity has grown tremendously, partly because it has been found that they can be easily customized to smaller hunters that might be sensitive to recoil of heavier calibers. They also are a very accurate gun and are a part of history as well. Besides, they are just plain fun to shoot.  

(top view of the rifle)

 

            So the last gun show I attended, I was pleasantly surprised to find a nicely worked over little Mauser on the end cap of one table. The sticker shock was still there, however, and I knew that there was going to have to be some dickering if I was to go home with it. That is just what happened. I paid about three times what I had initially paid for my first one, but the good part is that I wouldn’t have to do a thing to the rifle because it was well worked by the previous owner.

            Hopefully I won’t be foolish enough to make that mistake again. This is a nice rifle to take out on a rainy, snowy day. It has a receiver sight that can’t get fogged up because of wet weather. It is light to carry and I have never had a problem in the cartridge doing what it should when shot. The longest trailing job I ever had in over a dozen deer was bout fifty yards. I am looking forward to getting out with this rifle a couple of times this year.

LOOKING FOR DEALS ON GEAR

During the yard sale season, many good finds can be picked up for a song and dance. I didn’t do much of that kind of thing this summer but I did come up with a few good pieces of equipment.

            First, I found a light weight tent that looked interesting. This was at a moving sale and it was marked ridiculously low to begin with so when I asked the condition of the tent, the owner immediately said “It should be alright, but I’ll make you a deal. Take it for a dollar.” What could I do? For a dollar I at least had another set of tent stakes, even if the tent was no good!

(tent picked up cheap, yet a good find)

            Once I got home with this find, I set the tent up in the front yard to check out its condition. Pleasantly, I found it to be in quite excellent shape as far as the fabric, zippers and netting goes. The only problems I see is that the collapsible poles are a bit worse for wear. Someone must have bent them a bit farther than was intended for them to go because two sections were split. But for just a few bucks, new poles can be had and it is certainly a roomy tent. Its light weight also makes it good for moderate weather backpacking.



(cook set picked up for one dollar)



           

Second, I also found another cook set that was in mint condition. If ever used it wasn’t used more than a single time. This excellent set consisted of a shallow cooking pot with a cover, a dish and a metal drinking cup. Although a little large to use backpacking, it will come in handy on any fishing and hunting camping trips in the near future. I believe I spent a total of one dollar for this as well.



(inside contents of the cook set)



            Not all items go for a dollar. The third item picked up was a rifle scope with a mil-dot reticle. This will work well on any number of rifles and although a bit more in money, it was still way less than shelling out for a new one. Of course it will mean making another trip to the shooting range to sight it in, but sacrifices must be made!

            Not only did I find these additions to my gear, but a couple of friends also found a number of useful items. Each one found a ground blind for less than half the price of new cost, and neither blind had been set up more than once or twice. The original blazing white tags were still on them. Add to that camo seats and stools, fishing equipment, plus a number of other items and you get the idea.

            Although I would not look in this direction for items that my life might depend upon, it still shows that some very useful camping and outdoor items can be found second hand. Don’t over look the opportunity next time your spouse suggests another yard sale trip.

TEN ESSENTIALS TO CARRY HUNTING

     Many of us only hunt close to home. We often do not give much thought to getting turned around and lost or having to spend an unexpected night outdoors. We go out, hunt and then turn around to head home for the night, usually before supper.
     There is something to be said, however, in carrying a form of a survival or bug out kit while going afield anytime. I have a number of friends who would not even think about going a half mile from home without their bug out bag. So the question is; what should be included in that bag?
    Here are ten essential items that you might want to carry:
1. A compass and a map. Know how to use them both. A GPS is fine, but you are literally betting your life on technology. I am more confident in a good compass and topographic map.
2. A knife. Pick a strong one, preferably a fixed blade with a good sheath.

(a sample of some good knives)

3. A whistle and one other signal device. A whistle is not a normal sound in the wilds. Also carry a mirror or some other type signal device.
4. Carry two forms of fire starter. This is up to you. But a word of advice. Two different cigarette lighters only counts as one form of fire starter. Try a lighter and some kind of steel striker.
5. A small flashlight. Carry extra batteries and a spare bulb.
6. A small first aid kit. Put it together yourself. The ones you might buy may not have the items necessary to your situation.
7. Sunscreen/lip balm/ insect repellent. This is self-explanatory.
8. Extra clothing to match the conditions you might face.
9. Extra food. Carry at least one days worth of food.
10. Sunglasses - winter or summer. Snow blindness is just as dangerous as overexposure during summer months.

(These cool shades should certainly do the job)

     So next time you plan on only hunting the "back forty" maybe you should consider carrying a bugout pack just in case. A bag of survival items does not weigh all that much, but it can be worth it's weight in gold if something is needed on one of your outings.

HUNTER SAFETY CONCERNS

        The hunting seasons are fast upon us for another year. We are approaching the time when we see many more sportsmen and women afield than during the rest of the year. The issue that should be foremost in all of our minds is that of safety when going into the outdoors. I believe this issue can be broken down into three areas; preparedness, visibility and state of mind.

(Successful hunt because of preparations made)

        Preparedness is that aspect of how knowledgeable and how fit you are to go into the woods in the first place. This is both cognitive and physical in nature. Cognitive or knowledge of what is stored in your mind and can be retrieved as needed. There is no one thing here, but it may include knowing the game laws so you don’t do anything questionable while afield. It may be knowing proper gun handling and hunting etiquette so that you do not endanger another or yourself.
A good example of this is in turkey hunting. Are you aware that since we hunt completely in camo that when you spot another hunter you should not try to alert them by waving your hand. Just speak aloud and they will hear and recognize you. Also you are recommended not to wear red, white or blue colors while turkey hunting. These are the colors of a gobbler during the spring mating.
The physical is self explanatory. You should be in relatively good shape physically because hunting does tax you physically. A simple daily walking program can help your aerobic health a great deal and make you fit for hunting.
Visibility is the second area of safety concern. For the most part, it is a no brainer, hunters should be wearing hunter orange while hunting most game. Deer hunting or small game hunting, anytime with the exclusion of waterfowl and turkey hunting I believe it is only sensible to wear a good amount of hunter orange. Notice I keep saying hunter orange. Hunter orange is the only color that has proven effective in low light or anytime hunting. It is seen and identified as not being natural to the outdoors. All states find that hunting related accidents decrease when hunter orange is worn. Other colors just don’t cut it!

(Hunter orange really shows up)

Third, the state of mind, is extremely important. By this I am referring to the very basics as to why you hunt in the first place. Because of its nature, the hunt should be all that is on your mind at the time. Do not let your mind wander while you are hunting. That is one way that accidents happen. Also, do not try hunting while you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. This is just plain foolish. We have encountered those in the woods that were very much under the influence of alcohol at times and immediately removed ourselves from their vicinity.

(It is nice for father and son to tag bucks on the same hunt, just don't compete)

Above all, do not let yourself be pulled into that whole competition scheme that some hunters have going. You know what I mean, “Joe got a nice buck last weekend and now the pressures on for me to get one or the rest will think less of me!” There is no place for that kind of competition in hunting. Chances are taken under those conditions that should never be taken. Remember one thing, once you pull the trigger on either shotgun or rifle, there is no calling back the shot. It is on it’s way!
I hope you have many excellent hunts this fall, but hunt smart and hunt safely.

DEER HUNTING PRIVATE OR PUBLIC LAND

The deer hunting seasons are fast approaching. One of the biggest issues for hunters today is finding properties to hunt. Some are fortunate enough to have their own acreage to hunt or to have access to certain private acres. Others have a mixture of private lands and public lands to hunt and still others may only have public lands to hunt.
I fall in that second category. I hunt both private lands and public lands. I also hunt in at least two different states each year. I find that my success doesn’t really depend a lot on whether it is public or private land I am on at the time of the hunt. You still have to scout the area and have a strategy ready to hunt any particular property.

(This buck was taken on public hunting land)

No matter if you hunt public or private land, you will often find yourself hunting the hunters. By that, you will set up and hunt an area according to the hunting pressure around you. Often on public lands, there is heavy traffic and hunting pressure and your best opportunity is to hunt a funnel area and sit tight most of the day. Allow the deer to be pushed toward your stand. If you move around very much you stand a good chance of driving deer to other hunters.
On private land it is much the same, with a slight twist. You often know the other hunters around you and you often know their individual hunting patterns. You know how long this one or that one can stay on stand and when they head out for lunch. You again can set up a stand in a funnel area or a travel area, watching for the deer bumped by other hunters.

(This buck was taken just a few miles away on private land)

The one thing to remember is that no matter what, unless you own the land yourself, you are a guest on that property and should at all times be courteous and thoughtful of others around you. Once land owners find that you are an ethical and careful hunter, you are often given other opportunities. This can be quite valuable in finding areas to hunt. I often hunt private lands that are not open to other hunters because of previous bad experiences for the land owner with slob hunters of the past. Many times, with courteous respect toward the landowner, I have seen those properties opened up to me for hunting purposes.
Never forget that our hunting is a privilege, not necessarily a right. We need to earn that privilege over and over again. That goes for use of public lands as well. More and more of these acres could be made into wildlife preserves if we, as hunters, abuse our privileges while hunting.

WORKING WITH NEWCOMERS TO THE OUTDOORS

(starting out a fisherman)

(Working With Newcomers to the Outdoors by Bob Phillips first appeared in Lake Champlain Weekly in May 2010)

   Outdoor Sportsmen go through stages in their outdoor experience. Although those stages may have varying extrinsic or intrinsic values and may vary as to the time frame or period the sportsman goes through that stage, the bottom line is that we all change over time in our outdoor pursuits.
   You can name those stages with any title you wish to use but generally they look something like this. First, there is the stage where you just start out and can’t wait to spend as much time as possible doing whatever your passion dictates. You will fish for anything, no matter the size or the conditions. Second, there is the learning stage where you spend much time trying to learn through experience, books, video or other media as much as you possibly can about your sport. Third, comes the stage where you try to give back something to the sport you enjoy. This is usually done by teaching others, writing about it or just plain sharing your experiences with others interested in the same. The final stage is one where we continue to refine and perfect our techniques as much as we possibly can. This is also the stage where your endeavors often become a bit more costly in equipment and travel.
   These stages may not be all that cut and dried as you might first think. The first stage is where you, yourself are usually mentored by someone else. Doesn’t matter if we are talking backpacking, fishing, hunting or canoeing. Someone probably took you under their wing and formally or informally taught you the finer points of enjoying that sport. Here the learning curve is quite pronounced. You haven’t much time but to go out and enjoy the pursuit of your sport.
   There comes a time however, when you begin to learn more and want to give more to your sport. This is where the other three stages can somewhat blur together but at the same time bring you much satisfaction. Learning more about your sport can be greatly entertaining whether you like to sit and read or not. Many times a number of my hunting and fishing buddies and I will plan to attend an outdoor function together in order to see new developments in the sports or just to talk with other sportsmen. Sportsmen shows, gun shows, seminars and visiting special nature exhibits or sites can all add to your education. At the same time if you are taking some neophyte along, you are helping to educate them and thus giving back to the sport by encouraging a new comer. So these two stages blend together.
   Often times, if you do attend one of those venues, you will hear experienced old-timers in the sports standing around discussing trends and methods from their own experiences. Even though they may now be in that fourth stage of their sport, they are also helping along others through their historical perspective or by confirming the methods and techniques that work in the field.
   During the past year I have been able to help young people with such things as choice of hiking equipment for trips from day hikes to extended stays in the backcountry. Taking hikes to experience the outdoors in whole new surroundings than what they were familiar. We have also had opportunity to get out ice fishing and learn some of the techniques of that sport, which are quite different from the open water fishing of summer. We also did some open water fishing. In both the ice fishing and open water fishing we were able to check out an abundance of tackle and equipment that might be used.
   This past week I took a small group of kids out fishing for perch. Nothing big but at the same time something I knew that they would be successful at doing. This is one of the keys for successful introduction of someone new to the sport. Try to make it a successful and enjoyable outing. They will then look forward to the next outing.
   As you head afield and astream this year consider taking someone new along and introduce them to the sport you love so much. It pays in the end.

ANTICIPATING DEER HUNTING SEASON

(beautiful whitetailed doe) 

Autumn, here in the north country, usually brings visions of changing foliage, harvest time and hunting, both small game and big game hunting. The small game seasons are all open by the first part of October. There is the usual squirrel and rabbit seasons, but there are a number of bird seasons that many take part in as well. Pheasant hunting is strictly a put and take endeavor. The state program releases a large number of pheasants each year on public access hunting lands. There are a small number of these released pheasants that do make it through the winter months, but the winters are usually too icy and snow covered for their survival. There is also some very good ruffed grouse hunting here as well. Waterfowl seasons are also the sport of many, especially here around the Lake Champlain area.

(single doe across an agricultural field)

The main hunting season, that most hunters look forward to, is deer season. The varied locations for many hunters can have them in the mountains one week and on tilled agricultural lands the next. Lately we have seen the loss of more and more family farms which is not good for the economy, but it does help the deer hunters. As these pastures and lands become overgrown with second growth, the deer move in more readily and make for some excellent hunting.
Since we are coming off another mild winter from last year, I think we can expect to see about the same type results for our deer hunting this fall as last. I, for one, am looking forward to the black powder season. I purchased a new break-action 209 primer muzzleloader for this season and am anxious to get out and hunt with it. If that were not enough, the archery seasons opens just next week with the opportunity to hunt a few days on last season’s license, that is providing you still have an unfilled tag from last season.

(young buck in velvet)

So for many, the best part of the year is just now coming up. They look forward to and plan for this season for much of the year. I trust your time on the trail of the deer is an enjoyable season this fall.

SOME PET PEEVES REVISITED

(Some Pet Peeves Revisited by Bob Phillips first appeared in Lake Champlain Weekly in June 2010)
   During the course of a year, I usually speak at a few different Sportsman Shows and/or banquets. I also read a number of outdoor magazines. A reoccurring theme is one of creating your own success. This, on the surface, seems to promise success to every sportsman out there. I say, on the surface, because I see a problem with much of what is toted.
   I am not saying this to elevate myself to the realm of expert, but it seems to me that much of the printed and spoken word is geared more toward making money for the author and less toward real help for the sportsman. I realize that I am now stepping up onto my soapbox but I think much of what is foisted upon the sportsman today is really the attempt of another to capitalize upon the outdoor craze that is around us. You know, bigger racked bucks and heavier fish, at all costs.
   Granted, who doesn’t want to bag the best buck possible or land the nicest fish in the lake? But according to QMP experts, apparently that isn’t in the realm of happening unless you have acreage and are willing to put hundreds or thousands of dollars into its management each year. Most of us do not have control of hundreds of acres that we can do food plots and selected shoots to bring the herd under ideal conditions. I am not trying to minimize those that do, but I see that hunting is fast leaning toward the realm of those with the dollars and means to pursue such. How often have you heard recently, “I have given up hunting, it is just too difficult to find places to hunt anymore.”
   Whether you agree with their excuse or not, the point is that much of our land is privately owned and it is more and more difficult to attain hunting permission. Count yourself fortunate if you do have access to such hunting territory. Here in our northern part of the state, we are fortunate to have many acres of state land to hunt. You must get off the beaten path a few miles to get into it, but it is available. But access isn’t really the issue I started addressing.
   Let me ask, what is the difference between sitting in your tree stand over a food plot that you planted to draw deer in or sitting over a bait pile you put out to draw deer in? I have no problem with either one of these methods when and where they are legal, within reason. Growing up on deep woods deer hunting as a kid, I do have trouble just sitting over food sources to shoot deer that come in, and calling it hunting.
   This is often the theme I hear when attending outdoor shows or in the reading. It is usually cloaked in the tactic of balancing the scales for yourself, but nevertheless I believe that too many have swallowed this concept to the exclusion of other methods. What has happened to such tactics as stalking, still hunting, tracking and trail/scrape hunting?
   Perhaps it is a shortfall of the new technological age we are part of, but we have become slaves to the charts, feeding schedules, moon phases and phases of the rut. I find that many outdoor show speakers and writers, if they are not toting their latest QMP techniques, are calling for strict adherence to one of these above mentioned “scientific” schedules. They are a useful tool at times but let’s face it, they are not always practical. For myself, I usually get only a few hours per week to spend fishing, hunting or even hiking or canoeing. If I limited myself to those times listed on the charts as the peak times for hunting, I would never get out in the woods or on the lakes. The bottom line is, I go when I have time to go, despite what the charts say about my chances of success. Strangely enough, I have gotten a few of my biggest bucks at a time the charts said I shouldn’t!
   Well enough of my pontification. I’ll step down now, but I hope you get the most out of your times afield and astream despite what experts try telling you.