Be prepared to practice patience. Turkey hunting takes a lot of patience. Spring turkey hunting involves less patience, as you make hen turkey sounds to try to get a gobbler to come to you. Turkeys do not mate in the fall, though, so you will have to patiently engage in stand hunting. Stand hunting involves finding a spot and then waiting for the turkey to come to you.

Since you will at some point be hunting turkeys in the spring, you must become familiar with the several devices used to make a turkey sound. There are two main types. One is called a friction call, which is produced by rubbing two surfaces together. The other is a mouth call. This occurs when air is either inhaled or exhaled. A third type of caller, a shaker, creates a “gobble” noise when you shake it in a rapid motion.

Regardless of which type of call you will be using, you must practice the call diligently. You will also learn a lot by listening to the turkeys themselves. They are the best examples to follow. Listen to live turkeys or a calling recording. You can also get help by contacting an experienced turkey hunter. Turkeys are capable of making more than two dozen different calls. Most hunters, however, can only notice about 10. Their sounds include the yelp, the cluck, the purr, the cackle, and the most familiar sound of them all, the gobble. Make yourself familiar with each of these turkey calls.

The most important thing you will do to ensure a pleasurable turkey hunting experience is to practice safety. Turkey hunting, as with all forms of hunting, poses a threat to those who do not use caution and wisdom in the field. Use gobble calls only when you are locating a tom. Do not use it to attract one. This will cause another hunter to think that you are a turkey. You run the risk of being shot if this happens. Keep your hands and head camouflaged when you make turkey calls.

There are other things you can do to ensure your safety and the safety of others. Never stalk a turkey. Do not get closer than 100 yards to a gobbler. Choose a calling site that allows you to see at least 40 yards in all directions. Do not move an uncovered decoy. Wear an orange cap or gloves while walking, as your camouflaged clothing can be mistaken for a turkey by other hunters. Most shooting accidents happen because one hunter mistakes another hunter as game. Finally, remember the three basic rules of hunting:

1. Treat each and every gun as if it is loaded.
2. Always point the muzzle in a safe direction, away from others.
3. Be 100% sure of your target.

Following these rules and guidelines will allow you to have a successful turkey-hunting season, be it spring or fall. As with all forms of hunting, safety is always your highest priority. Keep this in mind, and you are ready for the upcoming season. Have as much fun as you can while practicing as much safety as you can.

How To Have a Successful Turkey Hunting Season is a post from: Modern Hunting Guide. Feel the great outdoors with our other Fishing and Adventure Travel tips and tricks.

Some granola, candy bars, or dried fruit are a good idea to bring along if you are not skilled at finding food in the wild. Never eat any plants or berries unless you are familiar with what types are poisonous. If you are unsure of the safety of a plant or its fruit, don’t eat it. Risking an illness while stranded in the wild is not preferable to an empty stomach. A bottle or two of drinking water is necessary also. Humans can survive for weeks without food but only three days without water. You will not want to drink any water found on the land without boiling it for several minutes first to kill off any bacteria or parasites.

It is recommended that you carry a needle and thread in your survival kit. These materials can be used to repair torn clothing. You can also stitch up a wound to stop heavy bleeding in case an injury occurs and you cannot get medical attention right away.

Most hunters carry a six to eight-foot length of rope to help drag their game back to the truck or haul equipment up into a tree stand. This rope can be used in many ways if you are stranded in the woods for an extended period of time. You can use a rope for first aid purposes, to help build a shelter, or to secure equipment during your hike. You can even string up a makeshift clothesline to dry wet clothing should you fall into standing water. Be sure to keep your rope with you and not in the truck.

It is also a good idea to wear a belt when out hunting. A belt can be used as a tourniquet in an emergency, as well to help secure a splint to a limb if necessary. A belt is one first aid item that you don’t have to cart around either.

Fire safety when stranded

It’s important to follow usual camp safety guidelines when starting a fire under any conditions in the wild. Always triple check to make sure a fire is completely out before leaving the area to prevent flare ups and a potential forest fire. Choose an area away from trees and shrubs, and line your pit with small boulders or stones to help contain the embers.

Gather larger logs and sticks and stack them in a teepee fashion. Then gather small twigs and scraps of paper to use as kindling at the base of your teepee. Blowing gently on your kindling will help your flames catch hold. You can use pine boughs to shield your fire from wind if necessary. You can also use boughs to stand or sit on if snow is present. This will help insulate your feet from the cold while warming yourself near the fire.

Survival Tips for The Hunter is a post from: Modern Hunting Guide. Feel the great outdoors with our other Fishing and Adventure Travel tips and tricks.

Are you a newbie spring turkey hunter getting ready for your first hunt? If so, here are some tips for getting started in this often-exciting activity. Spring turkey hunting is prime time for gobblers, and it is the time of year where many new hunters experience the first thrill of hunting. Here are some guidelines that can help get you started.

The Fine Art of Wild Turkey Scouting

One of the most difficult things about turkey hunting is just being able to locate the wild birds. Turkey scouting is something that takes practice. With time, an experienced hunter will be able to scout for wild turkeys in many different locations. What is the easiest way to get started in wild turkey scouting? First, begin by locating general areas where you think you suspect (or perhaps you have been told) wild turkeys reside. This is a wild turkey habitat, and you should begin by noting the general areas where wild turkeys keep their habitat. Using this as a starting point, you can begin to refine your search for wild turkey habitats. Narrow down a larger area to a more specific are. Then move to certain part of woods or a specific field. If you do not have the benefit of experience, there are certain resources you can always turn to find out where the biggest wild turkey populations reside. Consult with conservation officers, wildlife biologists, hunting club members and sporting goods dealers are good places to ask about local wild turkey populations and habitats. You may also want to check for state and federal lands, reservoir areas, wildlife management areas and military reservations. If possible, you may also want to consult with private landowners. Some landowners will actually grant hunters permission to hunt on their lands.

Do Advanced Field Scouting

There are many things you can do once you think you have reached an area with an active wild turkey population. This is where field scouting comes into play. You should being field scouting after you have found several possible hunting areas. You will want to use a map and mark the area where you plan to hunt. If possible, drive the back roads of the area to get a good idea of the local terrain, including the power lines, the high points, ridges, rivers, open creeks, river bottoms and other land features.

Learn to Use a Turkey Call

A turkey call or a locator call can be your best friend as a novice hunter. There are so many different kinds of turkey calls, but as a newbie, you should begin with just a few. Common turkey calls include an owl hooter and a crow call. Practice with these and see if you can get a response. Every time you think you hear a response, you will want to mark the general (as specific as you can) on your map. Resist the urge to continue to call a bird that is responding to you. Many times, this will cause your gobbler to become shy and they will not respond to you. If a gobbler becomes call shy, they will cease from responding during open season.

Dressing for Hunting Success

As a wild turkey hunter, a small but important part of your preparation is to dress for hunting success. This means camouflage, and lots of it. Wild turkeys have very good vision, so you will definitely want to avoid being seen. A complete camouflage outfit will include a camo suit, a facemask, gloves and a cap. You should also wear dark socks so that your flesh does not stand out when you sit down. You may also choose to carry a camo vest with lots of pockets where you can store extra shells and maybe even a snack.

Advice for the Newbie Spring Turkey Hunter is a post from: Modern Hunting Guide. Feel the great outdoors with our other Fishing and Adventure Travel tips and tricks.

If you are American and you are keen on archery, you will almost certainly have heard of Three Rivers Archery products. In Europe and the remainder of the world, you probably have not heard of them. Three Rivers Archery products are some of the finest in the world. In their own words, they specialize in longbows and re-curve bows.

Three Rivers Archery also offers arrows and other archery equipment such as the resources to construct or refurbish your own arrows. These resources include carbon fibre, wooden and aluminum arrow shafts, arrow heads, feathers and nocks. They also supply quivers, arrow rests, bow strings and everything else to do with archery.

Three Rivers Archery Supplies

The cost of these superb quality products is reasonable and professional archers, hunters, hobbyists and sports people all use Three Rivers Archery goods. There are models of archery equipment to suit every purpose and every pocket.

The equipment sold by Three Rivers Archery is of Olympic standard. That is to say that their re-curve bows match up to the requirements set by the Olympic committee. Their traditional longbows are genuine replicas of original longbows.

The arrows are made of modern resources as well as wood. The modern composite arrows are often better because modern carbon fibre and aluminum alloys are more durable for making arrow shafts than wood. That is hard to confess for a traditionalist, but modern carbon fibre and aluminum alloy arrows do not splinter like a wooden arrow can if shot from a heavy-duty longbow.

The steel arrow points that Three Rivers Archery sells are far better than the old brass arrow tips as well. The old brass arrow points would often buckle or dent, whereas these new steel points are practically indestructible. They sell whistling steel tips as well, although I am not sure why anyone would want a whistling arrow point. What is the point?

If you are not certain where you can get hold of Three Rivers Archery goods, go online. They have an excellent web site which is massive although still simple to navigate. If you are interested in archery, then I am in no doubt that you could easily spend an hour or more just browsing the web site.

Their web site is very well set out with distinct sections for every aspect of archery including ready-made articles such as bows, arrows, paraphernalia and apparel; there are additional web pages on targets, quivers, accessories, books, DVD’s and adolescent archery. There are further sections on medieval archery, hunting and bow making. There are even impressive deals only accessible to their web site visitors.

If that is not enough, then there is a forum, an email service and an off-line catalog and you can order by post, by telephone or over the Internet.. Three Rivers Archery will of course send your purchase to your home.

Three Rivers Archery Supplies is a post from: Modern Hunting Guide. Feel the great outdoors with our other Fishing and Adventure Travel tips and tricks.

Shop Around for the Best Taxidermist You Can Find

The first step to preserving your trophy hunt should take place weeks before the actual hunt. You want to begin by shopping for the best taxidermist you can find. Shop around your area for professional taxidermists. Get a feel for the quality of work that they do. Ask how much they charge. If you live in a smaller area, there may be fewer taxidermists to choose from. However, if you cannot find an adequate taxidermist in your local area, scout other taxidermists across the country. There are many fine taxidermists that you can find simply by asking other hunters or doing a bit of research. Taxidermy is one of those fields where you don’t want to skimp. Paying a little extra can often go a long way.

Considerations Before the Hunt – Things to Pack

There is a lot of prep work to be had previous to the hunt. There is a list of things that you should pack with you for the hunt. There are many things you should consider packing, which includes a large plastic bag, a cooler, paper towels, and cotton balls and used pantyhose. Some taxidermists recommend used panty hose so that it can be used to keep the birds feathers in place. To use panty hose, simply cut out a section from the thigh area and tie it up on one end. After shooting the bird, make sure to slip the bird carefully into the hose or bag headfirst. Using a plastic bag is another alternative.

Getting Your Kill to the Taxidermist in the Best Possible Condition

The secret to getting the best possible taxidermy mount is to keep the animal in good condition before getting it to the taxidermist. There are special considerations that you should take in order to ensure the best possible results at the taxidermist. A lot rides on how you shoot the wild turkey.

Tips for Shooting Wild Turkeys for the Best Taxidermy Results

If you are hoping to mount your kill, always aim for a clean neck or headshot. In general, avoid shooting the bird head-on while it is strutting, as this can cause the tail feathers to become easily rumpled or shred them entirely. In general, avoid shooting a strutting bird. The best shot for mounting a bird later is to take a clean side shot, ideally while the bird’s neck is stretched upwards. In general, you should avoid getting shotgun pellets near the wing feathers or the tail. Most taxidermists will find it much easier to repair the head or neck than the tail and wing feathers. For the best results, there is evidence that 25 to 30 yards is a good distance for hunting turkeys. This amount of space allows for a clean kill without the messy patterns that can result with closer patterns. Avoid having to take a second shot, but if you have merely wounded the bird, try taking a second shot at the head from a sufficient distance. Many turkeys will thrash around after being hit, thus losing many feathers. If this is the case with your kill, collect all the loose feathers you can so that the taxidermist can replace them.

Considerations During the Post-Kill Period

There are many important considerations to take during the post-kill period. Use napkins to keep the bird from spilling blood or body fluids on the feathers. Limit damage to the feathers, and keep the bird as cool as possible after the kill.

Taxidermist Prep Work Before and After your Turkey Kill is a post from: Modern Hunting Guide. Feel the great outdoors with our other Fishing and Adventure Travel tips and tricks.

There are a few materials available that might help a hunter pattern his gun. For example, many of the better hunting and sports stores offer turkey targets. If a commercially produced target is not preferred, a hunter may draw roughly the size of a turkey’s head on a paper and pin this paper to the usual target used to train.

To properly pattern a gun, targets need to be set up about every ten yards starting at twenty. This means 20 yards from the shooter, 30, 40 and then five yards distance for any targets after the 40 yards one. When shooting at the targets, try out different types and even different brands of ammunition, since most shotguns and rifles have different accuracy levels with different loads. If the hunter is lucky he has one of the few shotguns that is very accurate and there will not be much pattern work necessary. After setting up the targets, the hunter needs to aim at the turkey head. By shooting the head, he will learn several things about the gun (given of course that the shooter is a good shooter). First of all the hunter will learn from his shot pattern, where he has to aim at with the bead of the shotgun to be able to center his shooting pattern on the turkeys head. It will show if the gun is dead on, or maybe a tad bid high or low. As mentioned before, the hunter should try out different loads, so that he can learn which load gives him the best, most accurate pattern.

It is also important to make sure that shots are fired at the further away targets. This will give the hunter his effective range and the maximum at which the hunter can consistently hit the turkey head with this shotgun. To be able to determine this, the hunter needs to have at least four if not five or more shots strike the turkey head.

Patterning a shotgun properly takes some time, but it is time well spent. The more accurate a gun can be shot, the more game the hunter might take home. While if the hunter has to guess where to aim to hit the animal, he for sure will miss a target as small as a turkeys head.

For newbies to the hunting and turkey hunting sport, many hunting books, online pages and even employees at the local shooting range should be able to help. By the way, before going out there and try to pattern a gun in the backyard, make sure that it is allowed to shoot a gun in the backyard. Many states have laws that do not allow for the use of guns within city limits, especially in big suburban neighborhoods. If patterning the gun is still necessary within city limits, the hunter can go to the nearest shooting range and do it there.

It is also important that the hunter does not pattern his shotgun too much ahead of time. Time and even usage can change what the hunter has learned from his gun and therefore, patterning it just before the trip is the better choice.

So, before planning the next turkey hunting trip, it is important to check the gear for completeness and to make sure everything is packed. It is also essential to pattern the gun. The better the gun is zeroed, the better for the hunter, because the hunter can more rely on his skill than on good luck for aiming.

How to Pattern your Shotgun for Hunting Turkeys is a post from: Modern Hunting Guide. Feel the great outdoors with our other Fishing and Adventure Travel tips and tricks.

There are many types of stands and most are safe to use. Some of these include ladder-type stands, climbing stands, and lock-on stands. You can also nail boards to a tree. No matter what type of stand you are using, know that accidents can happen. If a stand seems unsafe to you, do not use it. If you are thinking about using a new tree stand and you are far from your home or from people in general, wait. You would be unable to notify anyone in the event that you were injured. Do not take using a tree stand lightly.

You will benefit by becoming familiar with some of the ways by which hunters injure themselves on or around tree stands. Accidents happen when hunters fall asleep. It happens more often that you would imagine. Hunters also get injured when they slip while climbing in or out of a tree stand. You cannot avoid things like excess moisture on your boot, or an exceptionally damp step. The third way by which hunters suffer injury using tree stands is having a piece of equipment break. Nothing is 100% dependable. The best way to avoid severe injury from these unfortunate events is to wear a safety harness.

Many hunters know the risk of not using a safety harness, but they still use tree stands without one. Your safety harness will only help you if you wear it. It is not good enough to put on the harness after you have settled into your stand. Climbing into or out of your stand is when you are most likely to be hurt, so you need to be wearing it before you begin ascending your tree stand. It only takes a minute to secure and is well worth the hassle. The damage done by a fall with a safety harness is minimal compared to one without. The safety harness will mean the difference between a few bruises and a premature death.

There are a few additional steps you need to consider while preparing to use a tree stand for the first time. Tree steps and tie-on ladders are two favorite methods used by hunters. Some also use large nails as steps. If you are looking to cut costs, go with the nails. They are cheaper than the ladders. Test the nail to make sure that it is strong, steady, and secure. Use nails that will fully support your weight. When nails bend, hunters slip and injure themselves. Use a drill to make pilot holes for the nails. Some hunters prefer to use climbing stands instead of nails, but they are more expensive and limit you to certain trees.

Consider using a tree stand as you hunt. It is an effective way to catch your prey off-guard. Both your body and your scent are above the deer’s vicinity. It also allows for a broader view as you study the landscape. Tree stands do cause accidents, though. Take all of the necessary steps to prevent any major injuries. Use a safety harness to shorten the distance of your fall. Make sure that the nails you use to climb the tree are secure. Following these steps for using a tree stand ensures a safe and pleasurable hunting experience.

How to Use a Tree Stand While Hunting is a post from: Modern Hunting Guide. Feel the great outdoors with our other Fishing and Adventure Travel tips and tricks.

Computer technology has come a long way from its early days and the same technology has extended to the Internet where you can find all sorts of 3d hunting game to play online that very well could amaze you.  Being able to play a game in 3d makes it completely real looking.  What that means is that if you are playing a game in a forest, you will feel like you are in a forest because the programmers make it look completely real with 3 dimensional technology.  When you are playing 3d hunting games online, you will feel like you are in the woods as you wander through the foliage in pursuit of your prey.

Deer Hunter 3D

There are all sorts of 3d hunting games online that you can find and play – often for free.  Once you download the software you need, you can jump into a 3d world that will make your gaming experience almost literally come alive.  You will hear the sounds of the animals when you play 3d hunting games online.  You will see their tracks.  Technology has not come far enough yet to allow you to smell the air and feel the weather, but 3d video games are certainly the wave of the future.

So where can you find 3d hunting games online?  They are in many places.  To find them, all you need to do is an Internet search with your favorite search engine.  We used Google and found the following places that offer 3d hunting games online:

• Real Tree:  www.realtree.com
• Terra Game:  www.terragame.com
• Game Vial:  www.gamevial.com
• Best Software:  www.bestsoftware4download.com
• My Gamer:  www.mygamer.com

We do not endorse any one of these web sites over another, but we did feel compelled to at least give you a place to start where you could find 3d hunting games online just so you can see the amazing difference between 3 dimensional gaming versus 2 dimensional gaming.  We think you will find that the difference is not only amazing but incredibly enjoyable as well.

If you like hunting and you want to try out 3d hunting games online, don’t just take our word for it – see for yourself.  Do a little experimentation and find a place that you are comfortable with.  Play around a little bit and see that when you play 3d hunting games online, you will have an experience that is like no other.  Well, it won’t be quite the same as being out in nature hunting, but it will be fun nonetheless!

3D Hunting Games Online is a post from: Modern Hunting Guide. Feel the great outdoors with our other Fishing and Adventure Travel tips and tricks.

One of the good things about computer hunting games to play for free is that you also have a lot of choices of what type of game you want to hunt as well as whether or not you want to play against the computer or against other hunting enthusiasts from all over the world.  There are a lot of people who like to play computer hunting games, and you may discover that you will find yourself a whole new community of friends that, obviously, share the same interests as you.  You will find yourself with new friends and a whole new part of your life that revolves around the love of hunting and video games.

There are lots of web sites that offer computer hunting games to play for free.  When we did a Google search, we found hundreds of places that you can go to that makes the choices almost limitless.  You can hunt for deer, elk, bears, moose, and more.  Not only can you find computer hunting games to play for free, you can also play computer fishing games as well.  For the hunting enthusiast, it is an exciting new innovation with all sorts of possibilities.

Like hunting video games on video consoles, you can move up in levels the better you get.  These games can even improve your real-life hunting skills.  As you hunt for your prey in realistic environments, you can hone your powers of perception that you can take into the field and utilize what you’ve learned.

Here are some sites you may want to consider.  Please keep in mind that we do not support any one site over another, but we want to give you some choices to look at as you look for computer hunting games to play for free!

• Game Revolt – www.gamerevolt.com
• Njoyment – www.njoyment.com
• Uncover The Net – www.uncoverthenet.com
• ESPN – www.espn.com
• Mr. Free – www.mrfreefree.com

And those are just a few of the many computer hunting game to play for free online.  Check out their sites and find one that you like – or choose them all!  The Internet offers up so many options for gamers and the web site operators know that.  That is why you won’t have any trouble at all finding computer hunting games to play for free.

Computer Hunting Games to Play for Free is a post from: Modern Hunting Guide. Feel the great outdoors with our other Fishing and Adventure Travel tips and tricks.

You may want to navigate the web site and check out what they have to offer and whether or not they have what you are looking for.  Some of these web sites will ask that you become members of their community.  All that requires is an e-mail address and possibly a user name and password that you will create yourself.  They do this so that their web site is attractive to possible advertisers, but it is also an advantage to you.  After registering, you will find yourself a member of a large number of people who love gaming and especially hunting games just as much as you do.

When you are a web site member that has deer hunting game for free to play now, you can communicate with other members and often even play against them to make the game even more exciting.  You can have a little friendly competition as you hone your online hunting skills and get tips and tricks from those who may be better than you.  You can then move up the ranks and challenge others to beat you!

As you start playing deer hunting for free to play now, you will possibly soon find that the game can be addicting, so don’t forget you have another life!  But many people who also game this way find that it helps their real life hunting skills.  Most of these online games are in realistic settings.  That means the sounds are real, the landscape looks real, and the skills you need to track the deer are much the same as what you will use when you are in the woods looking for your next big kill.

Try out a few different sites for deer hunting games that are free to play now.  You will find that getting started is easy and it is so much fun – especially if you are a serious gamer that loves hunting.  Find a site you like and then enjoy the benefits of being a member and playing against people from all over the world!

Deer Hunting Games for Free to Play Now is a post from: Modern Hunting Guide. Feel the great outdoors with our other Fishing and Adventure Travel tips and tricks.