State Game Commission Revises Mentored Hunting Program

State Game Commission Revises Mentored Hunting Program

After weeks of controversy about possibly dropping its mentored hunting program, which rankled many veteran hunters and organizations interested in helping get more youth involved in the outdoors, one state wildlife agency reached a compromise of sorts.

Mentored hunting programs have helped thousands of youngsters across the country get into hunting and the outdoors.

A decision given preliminary approval Jan. 27 by the Pennsylvania Game Commission will alllow children under age 7 to still be able to hunt deer and turkeys in the state. But if they kill a deer or turkey then the state-required tag will have to be transferred to them by a licensed adult mentor.

To be able to get their own tags for deer or turkeys, children will have to be at least 7 years old.

“There’s no reason in the world to give a tag to a 1, 2, 3 or 4-year-old kid,” said Dave Putnam, president of the Board of Game Commissioners, in this Lancaster Online report. “They’re not going to be out there using them, so why don’t we just leave the tag in the computer.

“We’re not taking away the ability for the 2-year-old to shoot an antlered buck. If the parent decides, ‘I think little Susie is ready to wail away’ — go ahead. But they have to use their own tag.”

The commission will revisit the decision at its next meeting in April. Until then, no doubt, the commissioners will be hit with all kinds of feedback — pro and con — from concerned hunters and citizens.

Proponents of the mentored youth program, which currently allows youth age 12 and under to obtain deer and turkey tags, say parents should be the ones to decide when their young hunters are ready. Opponents say some adults abuse the system with tags for youngsters who don’t really hunt and are just along with the adult.

Read the full report here.

What do you think? Should parents be able to decide when their child is ready to hunt and allow them to do so, or should state wildlife agencies set age restrictions? We’d like to hear your comments.

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Moultrie 6.5 Gallon Pro Hunter Hanging Feeder

Moultrie 6.5 Gallon Pro Hunter Hanging Feeder

Wanted feeders on your property buthesistant about thecost?It’s timeto upgrade upto Moultrie’s 6.5 GallonPro HunterHanging Feederfor both functionality and economy. The low price makes it affordable to outfit your entire property with feeders. Establish for months ahead of the hunt and keep the action hot around your deer feeders at the desired times. Program up to 6 different feed times a day New up-to-the-minute timer lets you precisely program start time Create variable feed settings (1-20 seconds run time) Diamond-shaped metal spin plate and funnel 360º feed pattern for widespread coverage Remove ABS plastic kit housingeasily from outside of barrel without having to empty the feeder Option to operate on one 6-volt battery (not included) or 4 D-cell batteries 4-pack of D-cell batteries Included.

List price: $80.00

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Tips for Staying Warm While Hunting Deer in Cold Weather

Tips for Staying Warm While Hunting Deer in Cold Weather

Deer & Deer Hunting Editor-in-Chief Dan Schmidt at full draw in his Heater Body Suit. This valuable tool works well up north in snowy conditions or even in the southeast where a damp January morning can give any hunter the shakes.

Staying warm and shooting a bow accurately do not go hand in hand. The bulky clothing you wore for gun season might be prohibitive to making a shot while twisting around the base of a tree. Jacket collars, cuffs and bulky sleeves can easily get in the way of the bow string.

By Daniel E. Schmidt

The best approach is to invest in high-tech underwear. This stuff is lightweight yet keeps you warm during the coldest days. Outer layers should include pants and a jacket that are insulated yet streamlined. A knit hat and quality pair of pack boots will also keep you warm where you need it most.

It’s wise to check out the Heater Body Suit from T.S.S Equipment of Cleveland, Wis. The suit is almost like a custom-built sleeping bag. It has saved many of my late-season bow-hunts because it allows me to dress very lightly. The suit includes a zipper that opens easily when it is time to stand and shoot.

Air-activated hand-warmers are also effective. I use them in my boots, pockets and hand-warming muff. When temperatures drop really low, I wear a kidney belt that accommodates three hand-warmers. Never place hand-warmers near your skin, and don’t use them if you have poor circulation.

Click to learn more …

One of the more effective new ways to keep your hands (and mid-section) warm is the new FireCel from Celestron Elements. This is an essential multi-purpose tool for any deer hunter. I’ve been playing around with one for the past few months, and I must admit it is quite the handy little device. The rugged FireCel features a dual-temperature hand warmer, a multi-mode flashlight, and a portable power supply for smartphones and personal electronics.

FireCel’s 2500 mAh rechargeable lithium ion battery can deliver a full charge to most smartphones and MP3 players. The company says the hand warmer, with 110- and 130-degree settings, provides continuous heat for up to 3 hours. However, I’ve gotten 5 hours out of mine. In fact, I was using the hand warmer that day I should have killed the mid-150s buck here in November. Oof. I’d rather not re-live that afternoon. I should have had that buck. My own fault.

The FireCel also has an integrated flashlight with red and white LEDs and 5 modes, including SOS for unexpected emergencies. The red LEDs are ideal for stargazing or anytime you need to preserve your night vision.

FireCel’s high quality aluminum shell is rugged enough for outdoor use, and compact enough to fit in your pack, pocket, or glove compartment. Never leave home without the 3-in-1 FireCel.

One last bit of advice: Whichever outfit you wear when hunting in cold weather, be sure to dress in your late-season outfit and practice shooting from a tree stand. Achieving consistent groups while wearing winter clothing is a lot more difficult than you might think.

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Primos Big Bucks Bag Call

Primos Big Bucks Bag Call

Big sounds come in a convenient compact size. Sound like small bucks sparring or reproduce a dominant buck fight. You can increase the volume of sound the bag makes by removing one or more of the Power Tines.

List price: $17.99

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Locavore Blog: Turning deer hide into buckskin (with photos!): Phase 2

Locavore Blog: Turning deer hide into buckskin (with photos!): Phase 2

One of the coolest winter projects anyone can try is turning your deer hide into buckskin. It seems like it would be hard to do, but most of it is fairly easy — requiring more time (for each phase) than anything else. In my last post, I went over how we got started, covering phase one of turning deer hide into buckskin.

Phase two is now complete and we’re nearly ready for phase three. One of the main things learned from this project is how inexpensive it can really be to turn your hides into buckskin (as opposed to sending them to a tannery) and the self reliant skill set learned in the process. Going forward, I cannot imagine doing anything else with the hides of any deer we harvest.

Before I get into the phase two photos and instructions, I want to mention that it appears that the board of Vermont Fish & Wildlife has agreed to extend Vermont’s bow season in 2016. This is great news for any bowhunter who either hunts in the state or travels here to hunt.

Now onto phase two of turning deer hides into buckskin:

We left our hides soaking in lye for a week so that we could remove the hair on the other side. We opted to do this outside as it is incredibly messy, but the hair came off very easily with our hands and a dull blade (we used a putty knife).

We did this near our stream as the flowing water actually helped with the process and made getting rid of the fur pretty easy (and natural).

Once the hair is gone from the hide, scrap off another sheer layer of skin residue using a dull blade.

Once it is removed (it looks like white goo on the edge of the blade), you are ready to soak your hide in running water. We have a stream in the back of our property and weighed the hides down with rocks. If you don’t have a stream, a hose will work, but will end up much more laborious than letting nature do it for you.

We have our hides in the stream, weighed down with rocks, for about a week. This will help soften the hide for the next (and almost final) step of the process.

Next up: phase three (which should leave you with deer hide that is soft as suede). Stay tuned!

Interested in Archery? Check out Kristen Schmitt’s Video and Join the Fun!

Born and raised in metropolitan Detroit, Kristen Schmitt never thought she’d move away from everything she knew. But a conscious decision to re-evaluate priorities led her and her family to leave the city and move to the country where they could spend more time together, away from the hectic nature of city life. Her decision to pursue archery and bowhunting came after the move – and after talking with numerous women already involved with the sport. Inspired by their drive and confidence, Kristen picked up a bow for the first time a year ago and hasn’t looked back.

In Beginner’s Guide to Archery: For Women you’ll find:

  • An overview of the essential archery equipment and gear you’ll need to get started
  • Instruction on archery fundamentals
  • Coverage of essential hunting topics like scent control, safety, wild food vs. local food, and more

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4×4 Camo Camouflage Truck Decal Hunting Deer Sticker

4x4 Camo Camouflage Truck Decal Hunting Deer Sticker

Printed and Finished with the latest digital technology on professional 6 year outdoor vinyl. Go ahead and make your ride stand apart from the rest by replacing those factory decals. Clean with damp cloth only to prolong life.

List price: $34.99

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Guide Gear 15′ Ladder Tree Stand

Guide Gear 15' Ladder Tree Stand

You can see them, but they can’t see you. Your new Guide Gear 15′ Ladder Tree Stand is PRICED LESS! Take your hunt to new heights. Our own Guide Gear Ladder Tree Stand keeps you out of their sightlines (and out of their sniffers) at a lofty 15′ in the air. Large foot platform and sturdy seat help you maintain the stamina needed to lay in wait until the perfect target and shot become available. Get yours here for LESS than what the competition is asking for comparable stands! Rise above: 17 1/4 x 12 1/2″ foot platform; 19 1/4 x 13 1/2″ seat; Attaches securely with heavy-duty ratchet strap and 2 stabilizer straps; 3-section construction, boltless sleeve fit (includes pins); Adjustable ladder-support bar; Includes full-body, fall-arrest harness, and safety DVD; Supports up to 300 lbs. Stands 15′ tall (to seat). 52 lbs.; Don’t wait… now’s the time! Order Today! Guide Gear 15′ Ladder Tree Stand

List price: $80.00

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VIDEO: How to Use a Smartphone to Gauge Deer Hunting Distances

VIDEO: How to Use a Smartphone to Gauge Deer Hunting Distances

Learn how a new technology that’s built into deer hunting rangefinders lets you sync your smartphone to the rangefinder to help better gauge distances, adjust for bullet drop, windage and more.

Deer & Deer Hunting’s Dan Schmidt gets the scoop on the new Elite Rangefinders from Bushnell Optics. Bushnell’s Scott Peterson explains the technology that’s built into each rangefinder.

This interview was conducted at the 2015 Shooting, Hunting and Outdoors Trade Show in Las Vegas.

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Rivers Edge Products Cute Deer Toilet Paper Holder

Rivers Edge Products Cute Deer Toilet Paper Holder

This decorative and unique toilet paper holder features a poly resin design. It holds a roll of toilet paper and comes with mounting hardware. Great gift for the outdoor enthusiast.

List price: $22.99

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Wildlife Agency: Drones, Tracking Scopes ‘Unethical’ Technology for Hunting

Wildlife Agency: Drones, Tracking Scopes ‘Unethical’ Technology for Hunting

Scope technology such as the new one from Tracking Point is drawing a critical eye from some wildlife agencies and hunters.

Technology is gaining a foothold in the hunting industry as smartphones, game cameras, drones and technical scopes join performance apparel, utility vehicles and better weapons — carbon bows and arrows, for example — every year.

Some state wildlife agencies have balked at these advances. That stone wall has come, sometimes, at the urging of groups of hunters and other times from within the agencies. Most agencies have older folks in management positions and so, arguably, it’s easy to see where they may say, “Whoa, those electronic things ain’t cool!”

Some state agencies still prohibit lighted nocks for bowhunting, which truly is about as stupid as trying to cook rocks. Lighted nocks do not give a hunter an advantage in locating or killing a game animal. They greatly assist with finding the blood trail starting point or the animal, which is a basic tenet of hunters — make the best effort to find and recover your animal.

Yet some agencies believe a little lighted nock is “too much” and steps over the line. What a load of crap. They allow compound bows with carbon fibers and speedy cams and lightweight arrows, but think a lighted nock is too much. Sheesh.

Drones also are getting a critical examination due to their ability to provide hunters with real-time images.

Now the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is wading into the fray and taking aim at what it deems as unethical methods of hunting. Here’s the press release about the agency’s upcoming public hearing:

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department will hold a public hearing at noon on Thursday, Jan. 29, regarding proposed rules that would regulate the method and manner of take of wildlife through the use of emerging technologies such as drones, smart rifles, and live-action game cameras.

The hearing will be held at Fish and Game headquarters, 11 Hazen Drive, in Concord, N.H.

“We need to establish rules regarding these fast-changing technologies to make sure that people understand that their use for hunting is not appropriate or ethical,” said Fish and Game Law Enforcement Chief Martin Garabedian.  “Use of this equipment violates the principle of fair chase because it gives hunters an unfair advantage over wildlife.”

Garabedian explained further that “the traditions of hunting dictate that game be taken in the spirit of fair chase, which is one of the central ideas behind North America’s successful wildlife conservation model.”

Specifically, the new rule would:

  • Ban the taking of wildlife using an unmanned aerial vehicle (commonly referred to as “drones”);
  • Ban the use of “smart rifles” for taking wildlife (these rifles contain a computer that locks in on the target, adjusts for wind, animal movement, etc., and automatically fires);
  • Ban the use of live-action game cameras to locate wildlife for the purpose of taking said wildlife. These cameras transmit real-time images to a cell phone or computer.

The complete rulemaking notice, with proposed rule language for these proposals, can be viewed at wildnh.com/Legislative/Notices_summary.htm (click on Hunting-related Use of Drones, Smart Rifles”).

Written comments must be received by February 5, 2015. Send to: comments@wildlife.nh.gov (use subject line “Comments on [title]”); or write to Executive Director, N.H. Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03301; or fax to 603-271-1438.

What do you DDH readers think about these “emerging technologies” in regard to hunting? We’d like to hear your thoughts.

Get Ready for Your Off-Season Work Chores With This Fantastic, Must-Have Tool!

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