When tracking and hunting in the Great Outdoors you don’t always know when opportunities to bag your quarry will arise. When these opportunities do materialize, you want to give yourself every advantage available so as not to waste them. Following are three helpful tool recommendations to take with you when you venture into the outdoors for the hunt.

Get Yourself A Good Rangefinder

The first is to get yourself a rangefinder. I’m sure many hunters would argue that this gadget is a necessity out in the field. As the name suggests, rangefinders use a laser, which bounces off your target, and helps you to determine the distance between you and the animal you are tracking. This allows you to get as precise a shot as possible once you’ve adjusted your ballistics or your bow.

Rangefinders come in different sizes, weights, and range capabilities. So as the hunter, you really need to figure out what suits your needs first. Rangefinders that range up to 4000 reflexive yards may not suit your purposes if you know you will only range out to 300 or 400 yards. Deer hunters know that deer can come as close as 10 yards or less if the hunter stations himself in a tree or other camouflaged blind. Decide what fits the technique you would employ before deciding on the rangefinder you need.

In addition to distance, rangefinders come in different weights; they come with different displays, and they obviously come at different price points. Red displays tend to do better in lower outdoor light or in darkness versus black displays. And you want to know if your rangefinder is adaptive to the light at dusk or after sundown. Also, some rangefinders have an adjustable eye relief versus fixed eye relief. Smaller and lighter may be preferable to larger and heavier, depending on whether you are using a gun or a bow.

Depending on where you shop, you’ll find rangefinders starting at around $80.00, and they can go up into the $1,300 price range. Prices will vary depending on where you shop; whether it’s Dick’s Sporting Goods or on eBay and Amazon. If you do your homework you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding the rangefinder you need at your preferred price point.

A Paracord Bracelet is a Little-Known Secret

The next gadget may be a little lesser-known but has become a must-have to hunters and adventure seekers. It’s called a Paracord bracelet, and you either purchase yours or make it yourself. This bracelet is valuable to outdoors enthusiasts because of its versatility and usefulness in emergency situations. Paracord is a very strong cord, wrapped and/or knotted into different shapes and then fitted to a buckle.

This bracelet is handy in the field because it’s small and lightweight, yet offers solutions to many different challenges. One of the many uses for the cord is trap building. The paracord enables you to build traps (provided you know how to do so) and catch animals as small as rabbits or as large as deer. It can also be used as a fishing line if you are in the mood for seafood.

The bracelet is very commonly used to tie gear to backpacks. The cord is sturdy enough that outdoorsmen use it to build shelters. You’ll need other supplies and gear to do so, or if you have the imagination you can use what you find in nature. But the cord is strong enough to secure your makeshift tent/refuge from the elements.

Still, another use for the bracelet is splint making. You’ll need the proper padding. You’ll also need the proper bracing (commonly done with sticks). But you can tie the dressing around the injury and securely keep it in place. Hopefully, you never need this, but the prepared hunter anticipates and is ready for anything.

Nowadays you see people wearing these bracelets as fashion statements. Companies are aware of this, and they produce Paracord bracelets in many different colors, shapes, and sizes. These bracelets are relatively inexpensive (one can be had for about $10), or if you choose to make your own, you’ll find plenty of how-to videos on YouTube.
Stay Hidden with a Ghillie Suit

Ghillie Suit

The third recommendation is something you want to consider if you’re out hunting and you know you won’t be sitting in a blind all night. If you want to remain virtually invisible, but you still want to move around while tracking your target, you should consider purchasing or crafting a Ghillie Suit. Snipers used these Ghillie Suits during the first and second world wars because the suits were extremely effective at concealing the sniper, as well as the weapon. Today hunters use these suits to yield the same benefits.

The suit’s base make-up is a mixture of different length twines whose colors are custom-tailored to the surroundings in which the suit will be used. Also, grass, leaves, and other natural elements from the hunting grounds can be attached to the suit as needed. A Ghillie Suit creates an irregular form and breaks up the very recognizable human body in a three-dimensional landscape. The Ghillie Suit’s design is so effective that threads on the suit move exactly as the surrounding grass and shrubs move when the wind blows.

Because the suit does so well to break up the human form, animals like deer will come right up to your location (provided they don’t detect you). A Ghillie Suit won’t keep animals like deer from being able to smell you, but because the suit blends so well with the environment, if you stay low and stay motionless, the deer’s chances of spotting you are near zero.

Hunters looking to test run a Ghillie Suit should be aware that the suit does get very warm inside. Base clothing like ponchos can mitigate some of the heat, which is important if you’ll be in the suit for a long time. Ghillie Suits can be purchased for around $40.00, and are so extremely customizable as to make the wearer nearly invisible in any terrain.

This short list isn’t all of the equipment that gives you an edge on the hunt. But these three items definitely increase your chances to turn prey into dinner.…

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One of the best vacations that an individual, friends, and family can enjoy is a hunting trip. Before individuals engage in a hunting trip, they should make sure that it is planned out thoroughly. Individuals want to make sure that they prepare the most suitable trip for themselves, their friends, and their family. When planning a hunting trip, one of the first things that an individual should consider is what type of hunting they want to do. An example is going to be duck hunting, squirrel hunting, or deer hunting. Individuals also have the option of planning the trip and navigating it themselves or hiring a guide.

The Purpose Of A Hunting Plan

Having a hunting plan is very important for a hunter. It is crucial because it will let people know where you will be hunting and who you will be hunting with. A hunting plan should have a detailed route you will be taking and any alternate routes you will take if an emergency or bad weather occurs. It is crucial to be specific with the directions you put in a hunting plan so that first responders or family will find you in case of an emergency. This hunting plan should be left with a trustworthy individual in your family or close friend who is not going on the hunting trip. Another important thing left in a hunting plan is your cell phone number and the carrier. This is a backup because if somehow the directions cannot be understood, you may be tracked by your cell phone.

Another important thing that an individual and all parties attending a hunting trip should practice with the weapons they will be using. The worst thing is to be on a hunting trip and accidentally shoot someone in your party or another hunter out in the wilderness. Lastly, make sure that you take all of the supplies you need but do not take more than you need. Taking more than what you need can overpack your vehicle, but taking less can put you in a bind out in the wilderness.

The Physical Conditioning You Should Be In When Hunting And The Clothing That Should Be Worn

When hunting, this is a physical experience, so you must be in good conditioning to tolerate the physical exertion you will endure. You should also make sure that you are in a good mental state. This means that you have no stress and are not concerned about any outside issues. You can focus on your hunting expedition. If you have any of the following conditions, you should consider whether you should go hunting or not. The health issues are poor physical conditioning, asthma, heart condition, allergies, impaired vision, and impaired hearing. There are options that individuals have to accommodate these health issues. An individual can plan a less complicated hunting trip or physically prepare themselves before taking the hunting trip.

When planning a hunting trip, clothing is another essential aspect that should be considered strongly. The reason why is because if you take the wrong clothing, it can affect your ability to hunt and be safe. If you are going to be hunting in the mountains and it snows, you want to make sure that you take warm clothing and snow boots. If you bring clothing for summer weather, you can become severely ill or even fatally ill if it is cold. It is recommended that you wear light clothing and a hat if you are hunting in the summer where it is hot. This will protect your skin from sunburn and prevent an individual from getting exhausted by the heat. In cold weather, the only suggestion is to layer up, ensuring that they stay warm. One of the essential pieces of clothing that every hunter should have is some fluorescent vest, possibly orange so that other hunters can spot them. This is a safety precaution and prevents any accidental shootings.

The Benefits Of Using A Rangefinder For Hunting

One of the best technologies that can benefit a hunter is using a laser rangefinder. The laser rangefinder was not as good five years ago as they are now. The advancements in technology have allowed vast improvements to laser rangefinders. The rangefinders have been made faster, more accurate, and they are still easy to use. A rangefinder gives the hunter an advantage because they can shoot whatever they are hunting from a distance and have an accurate aim. This saves on bullets because bullets are not wasted trying to hit the target. It also is good because the hunter can kill more game while hunting because they have more ammunition. The rangefinder brings the hunter and its prey closer to each other without actually being near each other. The rangefinder allows the hunter to prep the hunt by finding potential sitting spots for the hunt.

A hunter can practice with the rangefinder before hunting and this improves the hunter’s ability to estimate the distances. This is important because sometimes the prey may randomly sneak up on you and you only have that moment to get the kill. So if a hunter has practiced with their rangefinder, they can quickly adjust to how far the prey is. A rangefinder can also be seen as a safety device because it keeps the hunter from shooting the wrong thing, such as another hunter’s ability to see long distances.

Hunters need to provide a detailed plan when going on a hunting trip. This plan includes if they are going to use a hunting guide or not. It includes leaving their cell phone number and the route that they will be hunting on if they will be hunting on their own. It is essential for hunters to prep for the weather and take all the proper clothing. The hunter should consider their health if there are suffering from any issues such as asthma. The hunter should take all the needed equipment and leave any unneeded equipment. A hunter should also have a rangefinder because this helps make hunting easier and prevents an accidental shooting of any other hunters.…

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The cusp of a new season is here and that can only mean one thing for eager hunters who pride themselves on their first big kill. Are you prepared for venturing into the wilderness and playing decoy to deer, moose, elk, and possible duck? No matter what type of animal you aim to shoot, it’s clear you have to be ready with your hunting rifle for all possible encounters.

The key is to bring your rifle into the range prior to taking it out into the field. If your gun has been sitting unused for too long, chances are it needs to be rescoped and adjusted to accommodate the various ranges of game you plan to hunt. Assuming your rifle will shoot exactly the same way from one season to the next sets you up for missing your target, therefore sighting in your rifle will ensure you are on point and ready to aim.

What Does Sighting In Your Hunting Rifle Mean?

In layman’s terms, a sight-in is a recalibration of the sights (ie. your target) with the ultimate goal that the bullet or shell is placed at a predictable position for solid impact within the sight picture. The main premise of the sighting in is to shift the line of your aim until it shifts the axis of symmetry for the bullet to settle at a designated point of reference. In so doing, when you fire off your rifle with reliable precision it will repeatedly hit at where it aims at the designated points of the identical distances you originally set.

The actual procedure of sighting in involves firing a group of shots from a cooled-off gun barrel, then figuring out the center of the geometric shot pattern. If you adjust the sights to move the point of your aim to that center within the group, you are to repeat the process continuously until subsequent groups are consistently centering on that point of your targeted aim.

The Reasons for Sighting In

As you prepare your hunting rifle for shooting targets out in the wild, know that firearms may be positioned differently from one shot to the next. Many rifles have sights to help you in positioning your rifle so the bullets or shells will land square on your target. However, precision plays a key role in the manufacturing of these firearms in today’s modern society, what with their extensive testing before distribution.

If you’re certain the sights are correctly positioned when you purchase your rifle, the probability of you having to go the extra mile to sight in will be limited. But, there are situations where the bullet placement may be different than what you expected and the numerous factors causing you concern can be traced to the following:

• A loosening or moving of sights from their original position since your last firing
• Optional telescopes may have replaced original alignment markers
• Your rifle may have been sighted in for a different target
• You may be using new ammunition than previously used in testing
• Involuntarily moving the rifle while pulling the trigger
• Holding your rifle in a way that allows unanticipated movement during the recoil process
• Vision impairments that produce an unexpected sight picture

Pay attention to the above before you plan and organize your trip to the great outdoors. You’ll definitely be thankful you were prepared with factors that may affect your 100% sighting in target.

5 Much-Needed Points to Consider

Remember that big-game animals don’t have a clue you’re arriving and about to disrupt their thriving livelihoods. Try not to assume your hunting rifle will be exactly as it was the previous season, and instead, listen up to these 5 tips that will ensure you have a successful hunt and your rifle is raring to go.

1. Get close in and pre-align your firearm’s barrel – This tip involves removing the bolt from your rifle, gazing down the bore, aligning the bull’s-eye to the center, and rotating the crosshair into the middle of the bull without moving the rifle.
2. Fine tuning – Your point of impact is everything. As your rifle is printing close groups in the bull’s center at a shorter distance, try moving back to longer distances and begin to shoot groups to achieve a finer tune. It may also be a good time to attempt various loads to obtain the most compressed groups possible. Think tactical and with accuracy during this process.
3. Keep shooting until you can’t shoot anymore – As common sense as this sounds, the more you shoot the more you get real life experience out in the field. Transfer what you’ve learned from the range and take your rifle on a serious hunt, experimenting with various ranges to make certain your firearm is properly sighted. You’ll need to compensate for weather changes, terrain changes, and how rapidly your prey might move. Intensive shooting may take time and energy, but without firing off several thousand rounds of ammunition at specific targets, how will you ever guarantee success with sighting in?
4. Reading your target – If only it was that easy to aim, shoot, and reach your target with perfect precision every single time. Reading your target includes knowing what chaos might ensue once you begin firing. Consider your ammunition and whether or not it’s causing your shots to be all over the place. Your scope could also be damaged as well. Also, check the screws on your rifle to make sure they’re tight. One misaim and the animal in your sight is freaking out and you’ve lost all means to having a successful hunt.
5. Stay confident – Your shooting ability lies directly in the confidence you have in sighting in your rifle prior to adventuring out into the woods. Big game has no idea what you’re feeling, therefore you must practice your shooting first at a range, identify any problems with your firing technique, know where your rifle will fire, and determine the farthest range at which you can hit your target. Each of these propel your towards hunting with confidence after sighting in.

In Conclusion

Hunting is a skill not to be overlooked or dismissed from one season to the next. Your firearm is a weapon that determines how successful you’ll be as a quality hunter, therefore sighting in prior to adventuring out will guarantee your shots are aimed properly, your target is within reach, and you will drive home with food for your family. Above all, do your homework, practice at the range first, then get real life experience out in the wild time and time again.…

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