By Larry Saavedra

An overlooked aspect of a hunt test competition, besides training vigorously before the event, is clothing. Believe it or not, it does matter what you wear.

If you come to the starting line (where you release a dog) wearing a color or style of clothing that the line judges deem as inappropriate for competition, the judges will stop the competition and ask you to change your clothes to something more in-line with the hunting environment, typically of neutral colors and so forth. This overlooked detail is black and white in AKC, and UKC/HRC rulebooks.

If you’re a people watcher, the fun thing about judging a hunt test is that you see a lot of different personalities and styles of dog handlers. Some come to the line dressed for success with pressed camouflaged duds from head to toe, while others sport street sneakers and tees. Heck, I’ve even seen people wearing flip-flops, although it happens only rarely.

As a judge you learn to expect the unexpected. Everyone respects your tastes in duds, so long as your clothing doesn’t provide you with an unfair advantage in competition; technically you must be dressed in a manner favorable to hunting.

For those new to the retrieving game, learning what to wear comes with experience, and a careful study of the sanctioning body’s rulebook. My advice to the novice is to bring one change of dark shirts and socks for starters. You will get wet and muddy, especially during the water series. Also, say no to those designer jeans! They might look cool at the mall, but the moment a dog shakes after a dip in the pond, you’ll be soaked to the bone. A better choice would be Carhartt’s flannel-lined jeans, which incidentally go on sale in the off-season from Cabela’s.

If you really hate getting wet, and most of us do, look for waterproof chaps that typically fit over the leg the dog heels to, although some competitors use them on both legs.

Hats are a personal issue, not everyone wears one, but don’t wear a white one, because you’ll likely be asked to remove it before you get started! Long sleeve shirts are better than short-sleeved, and long pants are usually a good idea too, especially in snake country. Beyond it all, plan to be outfitted like you were going hunting, and exceptional footwear are a must have item.

Boots offer the best protection and while there are hundreds of models to choose from, I’ve learned that buying a cheap pair is a total waste of money. Aside from the lack of comfort, cheaper boots can’t standup to the types of loose impediments that are often found in the field.

I recently bought what I thought was a decent pair of boots at my local sporting goods store, only to find out that a small metal shard had pierced the sole and nearly dug into my foot. These boots were only two months old, and in one outing they were destroyed.

Some handlers swear by ranch-style boots or even a soft-leather hiking shoe, but I favor a solid trail boot that’s preferably lined with waterproof Gore-Tex. The pair I’ve been wearing for nearly a year now is the Ranger GTX from Lowa (see image at start of article) with its above-the-ankle protection. These boots are handcrafted in Germany and they are made to fight off the elements, whether it be summer or winter. I can’t find another boot that even comes close to its superior quality.

The Ranger GTX is considered a mid-duty boot and they weigh about one pound each, and right out of the box they need to be broken in for a few weeks before they become comfortable enough to walk in. They aren’t the lightest boots out there, but they are definitely the most durable you will find.

The uppers are made of Nubuck leather and outsole is a Vibram Tactis DST, which gives you the stiffness you need and the sure-footedness you require in precarious situations. Because they are perforated around the top, any hot air trapped inside is released through these openings. So far, I’ve had zero issues with water.

The Ranger GTX has a lot of little features that make them the ideal field boot, like the tongue stud that prevents the padded tongue (with gussets on both sides) from moving off-center, offering a more equalized pressure once the laces are tied. There is a half-rand on the boot, which provides further support, especially in rocky terrain. The details make these boots in a class of their own. Lowa makes similar boots for women.

Although the Ranger GTX is a mighty fine boot, it’s not necessarily going to win your dog a title. You’ll have to do that with exceptional training methods. But at least the next time you run hunt test, you won’t have to worry about trudging through the water and mud. And they sure beat the heck out of flip-flops.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Duds for Dog Handlers

Late winter and early spring is the worst time of the year for elk, moose and especially deer in Utah.

Deep snow makes it hard for deer to move and find food.  And cold temperatures sap the deers’ strength.  By the time winter ends, deer are usually the weakest they’ll be all year.

Winter is also the time of year when male deer, elk and moose shed their antlers.  The animals will be without antlers until spring, when they’ll start to grow a new set.

Gathering shed antlers

Gathering antlers that drop off the heads of deer, elk and moose is an activity that’s grown in popularity across the country, including here in Utah.  The challenge with shed-antler gathering is that it happens during the worst time of the year for the animals and the habitat the animals rely on in the winter.

“By the time winter ends, the animals are stressed,” says Mike Fowlks, Law Enforcement Section chief for the Division of Wildlife Resources.

“Also, the habitat the animals rely on in the winter is wet,” he says.  “It’s easily damaged.  Once the habitat is damaged, it can take years for it to recover.”

Fortunately, Fowlks says you can have fun gathering shed antlers without stressing the animals and damaging their habitat.

“A free course that’s available on our website will show you how,” he says.

Fowlks says you must complete the DWR’s Antler Gathering Ethics course if you want to gather shed antlers in Utah between Feb. 1 and April 15.

Free course

The free course is available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/shedantler.

After you finish the course, make sure you print your certificate of completion before you take off to gather antlers.  “And make sure you carry your certificate with you,” Fowlks says.  “By law, you must have your certificate with you while you’re gathering shed antlers.”

If you have young children, and you’ve completed the course, your children don’t need to complete it — your certificate will cover your kids too.

Fowlks says if you complete the course, you can gather antlers across Utah.  “Please remember, though, that many of the state’s wildlife management areas are closed in the winter and the spring to protect wildlife,” he says.

You must complete the course if you want to gather shed antlers between Feb. 1 and April 15.  If you wait until April 15 or later to gather antlers, you don’t need to complete the course.

For more information, call the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office or the DWR’s Salt Lake City office at (801) 538-4700.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - You Must First Complete an Online Course to Gather Shed Antlers in Utah

A heart- and belly- warming tale of continued support from Sportsman Channel and many other outdoors organizations is the Hunt.Fish.Feed event. It’s an organized dinner hosted by Sportsman Channel and various partners supplied by the harvest of hunters and fishers.

Since 2007 Sportsman Channel has been hosting the event together with various partners over the years, according to Ryan Nolan, publicist for Sportsman Channel. This year’s partner is the Mule Deer Foundation. Past partners have been Safari Club International and Time Warner Cable. This year, Salt Lake City, Utah is the lucky host of the dinner to take place February 8th, 2012. The event has been feeding people all over the country, including Illinois, Wisconsin, Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma, Michigan and Colorado.

At Hunt.Fish.Feed you can grab a healthy dinner, volunteer your time or harvest if you wish, and even spot a Sportsman Channel celebrity if you’re lucky. At past events, Ted Turner’s son, Beau Turner of Beau Knows Outdoors was on site in Atlanta. Brothers Chris and Casey Keefer, stars of Backcountry Quest TV and more recently Dropped: Project Alaska also made an appearance at another event.

The food is fresh and healthy and not canned at these dinner events since the main meal comes from recently harvested venison. In the following video from 2010′s event, see scenes of the action and hear Dr. Jimmy Sites of Spiritual Outdoor Adventures speak to the rewards of feeding those in need.

To watch another video from the chef at Hunt.Fish.Feed this year and learn how to make venison tacos, click here.

Original press release issued by Sportsman Channel on February 2nd, 2012:

Sportsman Channel and Mule Deer Foundation are teaming up to host a Hunt.Fish.Feed event in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, February 8, serving a special venison dinner to 2,000 of those in need at Catholic Community Services.

Special guest Scott Leysath of HuntFishCook will help prepare and serve venison tacos.  Hunt.Fish.Feed, created by Sportsman Channel, is a unique outreach program that taps an underutilized food source—game meat and fish donated by sportsmen—to feed those struggling with hunger across America.  Salt Lake City’s event will utilize 600 lbs of venison donated by local sportsman through the Mule Deer Foundation.

“We look forward to working with our partners at Mule Deer Foundation and Catholic Community Services to make this a successful and impactful event,” said Todd Hansen, COO of Sportsman Channel. “Programs like Hunt.Fish.Feed provide unique avenues to help the needy, especially during an economic time that finds more and more people in need every day. We are proud to continue to help our citizens in our hometown.”

“On the eve of our annual meetings and Western Hunting & Conservation Expo this week at the Salt Palace, as members and other hunters join us from across North America, we are proud to share the bounty of the hunt,” said Miles Moretti, CEO of Mule Deer Foundation.

Wednesday, February 8

• Catholic Community Services
• St. Vincent de Paul Dining Hall
• 437 West 200 South
• Salt Lake City, UT 84104
• Prep: 3-5 pm
• Serve: 5-6 pm

“We are grateful to Sportsman Channel and the Mule Deer Foundation for bringing their fine cuisine to the hungry patrons at Catholic Community Services,” said Dennis Kelsch, CCS Basic Needs Services Director. “This is a rare treat for many of our clients, and we are excited they will get this opportunity to have a dinner cooked by renowned chefs.”

Join the conversation about Hunt.Fish.Feed. online at http://facebook.com/huntfishfeed

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Venison Tacos the Fare to Feed 2,000 of Salt Lake City’s Homeless and Hungry on Feb. 8

Ice-fishing with friends recently on a lake near Winnipeg, Delta Waterfowl President Rob Olson deep-fried four rice-fattened California mallards in peanut oil, a dark-meat snack to keep Old Man Winter from nipping at their extremities.

The plucked birds were rubbed in spices, injected with marinate and cooked to medium-rare perfection.

“They were wicked good,” said Olson, laughing, noting they ate the ducks off a piece of plywood with their bare hands. “The meat was moist and, frankly, I can’t remember duck tasting so good. The preparation was super easy too.”

Like many hunters this time of year, Olson has some ducks and geese in the freezer poised for the pot. He encourages other waterfowlers to prepare their birds and share them with family and friends. And don’t worry, he said, if you’re inexperienced in the kitchen.

“Just take a few birds out of the freezer and let them thaw, then start doing some research on how to prepare them,” he said. “I think the key to cooking ducks is to defrost one. Make it a habit once a week to pull out some frozen game meat. It will keep you from having a bunch of freezer-burned stuff later on.”

Above all, Olson says make the experience fun. “Cooking ducks and geese should always be a celebration, so just have fun doing it,” he said. “Just start rummaging through your freezer and find those frozen orphans and get them thawing.”

Here are some basic tips and suggestions for preparing ducks and geese:

• Thaw out your birds thoroughly before preparing. The best way is to let them thaw in the refrigerator. If you’re short on time, fill a large pot with cool water and place the still-wrapped bird in it. It should thaw within two hours. Be sure the frozen bird is properly sealed or it will get waterlogged.
• Clean your birds thoroughly. Be sure it get everything out of the cavity—everything.
• Soak meat in milk and onions overnight to pull out blood and gamey taste.
• Let meat come to room temperature before you cook it. Always pat it dry before cooking.
• Cook ducks hot and fast or low and slow.
• Roasted ducks should be cooked no more than medium-rare. Grilled duck breasts too. No exceptions.
• Let your birds rest (five minutes, perhaps longer) after they’re done cooking. Resting allows juices to redistribute and stay in the meat; cut into it too soon and you’ll have a soaked cutting board. Resting also allows the birds’ flavor to set up and intensify.
• save the carcasses and scraps to make stock, which you can use in gravies or sauces.
• Sauces and side dishes are an important part of wild-game cookery. Find a few to enhance and accompany your ducks and geese. You won’t be sorry.
• The internet is an invaluable tool to learn more about cooking waterfowl and other wild game.
• Be bold and experiment. Don’t worry about failure. Just thaw some birds and start. Make it a celebration.

Find more recipes and how-to videos at deltawaterfowl.org.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Delta’s Tips for Preparing, Cooking Ducks and Geese

There’s a reason they call Larry Weishuhn Mr. Whitetail. It’s not because of television shows (on the Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel, etc …) or award winning writings (both books and articles) or his induction into the National Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame. The name spread because of these accolades, but it’s not why they pasted him with that moniker. He’s known as Mr. Whitetail because the man understands deer.

I’m a regular neophyte when it comes to hunting whitetail, but I wasn’t the only one at the NRA’s Great American Hunting & Outdoor Show who was dazzled by his seminar on hunting. Just like the seasoned hunters who asked the questions, I shook my head as he dispelled myths, revealed facts and laid out the groundwork for a successful hunting season.

Here’s some of his highlights (paraphrased):

• Buying scent blockers always seemed like a waste to me. If the sun is in your eyes and wind at your back, you’d be amazed how good any scent blockers works.
• If you want to learn about deer then study people. If you want to learn about people then study deer. It’s amazing the similarities we share.
• We go out for deers early in the morning. Deers come out more between 10 am and 2 pm. Do they know we leave by 10 to go watch football or is that just part of their nature?
• Predators don’t take down the weak and informed until they’ve eaten all the healthy ones. Why would they? Would you cut up a sickly cow or a robust steer?
• 6-8 weeks before deer season opens, I hang blaze orange and dirty socks in the areas where I’m going to hunt. Once the season starts, they’ll be use to what I’m going to look like and what I’m going to smell like.
• There are two parts of North America — those that have wild pigs and those that are going to have them.
• Birth control for deer is foolish. Any medication or devices introduced into the mix eventually makes the rest of the herd sick. The only efficient method of birth control comes with a 130 grain solution.
• You can kill as many deer on the ground as you can from a tree. But you don’t have to climb to get to the ground.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - “Mr. Whitetail” Larry Weishuhn’s Deer Hunting Tips

How close should you put your turkey decoy?

Many people tend to over think how close or how far away you should place your turkey decoy.  They worry “the tom won’t see my turkey decoy if he comes from over here,” or  ”if I put it too close the tom will see me.”  Hopefully I can make you rethink how to answer the question so you don’t make a mistake I have seen over and over again.

How close you put the turkey decoy is a weapons question

How close your put your turkey decoy is completely dependent on your weapon limitations.  When I set up to kill a tom in the spring or fall, the shooting is the easy part.  You place your turkey decoy at a distance you are comfortable you can hit it at 10 out of 10 times.  If you are shooting a longbow, the decoy may be 15 feet from your blind (I set them that close most of the time).  If the pattern on your new 12 gauge is most effective at 35 yards, you set the decoy at 35 yards.  With a top-quality turkey decoy, you have confidence the toms will confront him, so put the decoy where you are comfortable shooting, and you will make the shot.

How close you put the turkey decoy should dictate the spot you set up

Since how close you put the turkey decoy is a factor of the range at which you are comfortable shooting, it will dictate where you set up.  If your shotgun performs best at 35 yards, don’t set up where the farthest shot will be 15 yards.  Your group will be so tight you can easily miss the tom’s head and neck.  He only has to bob his head slightly as you squeeze the trigger for a complete miss.  A 35 yard optimum shot means you need to set up in a more open area to best use your choke’s pattern.  If you are shooting a self bow with a 5 yard comfort zone, you may pick tighter spots where the bird really needs to come looking for your turkey decoy.  You don’t have to set up in thick cover, but it is a good option, as the toms may not close the whole way in wide open areas where they know that their strutting antics are easily seen.  Our Best Turkey Decoy helps solve this open field issue, but if you run low quality fakes, it is a concern.

Our Best Turkey Decoy maximizes success by placing birds in your comfort zone

Many toms are missed each spring because of how close the toms come to the turkey decoy.  If your turkey decoy is not top of the line, you can’t predict how close the tom will approach.  If you put the turkey decoy at 35 and the bird hangs up at 50, you may miss the shot.  By using top quality decoys, like our Dakota jake, the toms are much more likely to come all the way to the decoy.  That means you decide how far the shot is, and having that control over shot distance means you know you can make the shot.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Proper Turkey Decoy Placement

I’ve seen all kinds of turkey decoy tactics across the country in the past 20 years. Breeding sets, back feather rugs, and walking behind silhouettes. I have tried it all. At least I thought so until I hunted with guide Justin Nott at Laughing Water Ranch Outfitters in north central Nebraska. They take close to 100 turkeys every spring. I’ve seen a lot of weird turkey decoy tactics, and below is a favorite.

Turkey decoy tactics

Justin talked about one of the turkey decoy tactics he uses for gobblers in open meadows and fields. If you’ve hunted turkeys enough there’s a good chance you’ve been in this situation: a big strutter in the middle of a wide open field. Maybe he’s got a few hens with him or he’s just being a stubborn gobbler. You’ve thrown every call in your vest at him. He seems interested, but not coming any closer. The only chance you have to get that bird closer is to get a turkey decoy out in the field, but there’s no cover and no way to crawl out there without being seen. So how do you get the decoy out there? Simple, just throw it. Well, more of a controlled roll like you’re bowling. This may sound like a long shot, but it has actually worked for him many times. The throw is movement, which will always garner a turkey’s attention, and it’s surprising how often the reaction is positive.

Most turkey decoys don’t bowl real well. Justin was fortunate this past fall to field test the Best Turkey Decoy. The way the birds came in and crushed the turkey decoy made it feel like spring. He even had a good tom mount it, which is pretty rare to see in the fall. Not only is the Best Turkey Decoy a detailed and life-like turkey decoy, it almost always lands upright when tossed! Let’s face it, you’re not going to throw a cheap foam decoy too far. A full body strutter such as a Killer B or Pretty boy could work, but they’re too big and awkward to roll. Plus, if you’re using a real fan there’s a good chance you’ll destroy it. In the past, Nott used a specially modified mounted jake named Frankenstein. Unfortunately, Frankenstein was fairly delicate and wasn’t very fond of being tossed around, especially into a wet field. Still, it got quite a few wise old birds killed, but he was spending as much time repairing it as he was hunting.

Turkey decoy tactics practice

With a little practice, Justin says you can roll the Best Turkey Decoy out to 30 yards and make it sit upright 8 out of 10 times. Even if the turkey decoy doesn’t sit upright you’re still in the game. A quality turkey decoy laying on its side can give the impression of a wounded bird. Most toms, whether they’re the dominant bird in the area or not, will likely jump at the chance to easily get rid of potential competition. Also, turkeys know by instinct that a wounded bird can attract predators and will try to push it out of the area. He’s actually had birds commit to Frankenstein while he was lying upside down on his back.

Another situation this technique is good for is when you use a hen yelp to locate a bird in thicker timber and he’s already on top of you. The bird is coming and there is no time to think out the best set up. Just toss the turkey decoy in the direction of the bird and find the nearest tree. It might save you the heartache of spooking that fast-closing tom. A locator call such as an owl or crow call helps, but sometimes birds just wont respond, especially during midday.

Bowling turkey decoys is more of a last ditch effort, but it’s definitely something you want to keep at the bottom of your bag of tricks. I know there’s a good chance you’ll see me bowling for turkeys this spring. For more turkey decoy tactics, come see Justin at Laughing Water Ranch. Maybe we can go bowling together.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Bowling for Spring Gobblers: Strange Turkey Decoy Tactics

You’re sitting in the tree. You have been set up since before daylight and your decoy is out. Within range, you have high hopes and you have confidence you have gotten in without leaving a scent trail, other than an attractant. Lets say you have a buck decoy out and have done all the work you can to get it as attractive to a buck as possible. All the right moves, all the right timing, all the right scents are in place. Everything seems to be in your favor to get this buck you have worked for, into position for a good shot. It’s archery and your range is at 20 yards. With confidence levels this high, it’s hard not to get excited about what may transpire in the next few moments or hours.

Wind is right, temperatures are cold, but tolerable. The woods seem to be speaking and the nature moves all around you. You have your stand set up to be able to ambush him as he steps out from the trail and investigates your decoy. You know what he looks like with all the cam pictures you have. Some deer filter out across the field and you begin wondering if he has changed his pattern. The deer in the field are eating, comfortable and slowly, more and more are showing up to feed. So far, things look very good.

Then, it happens. He comes out from the opposite side of the field. Murphy’s Law has reared his ugly head. Although there are several deer wandering away from you, there is still hope. You give him a grunt to get his attention. He looks up and sees this decoy, a mature buck decoy,  standing at the edge of his field. His tail twitches, ears ease back a little, you can tell he isnt happy with the thought of a competitor moving in on his prospects. You give him another grunt and he begins making his way towards your decoy. Now the heart quickens, blood is pumping and the adrenaline is filling your system like a boost of high octane caffeine.

As you ready for the shot, he is coming in on a string. This is what you have anticipated for weeks or even months. It’s going to happen and you are ready. As the buck approaches, he lays his ears back, moves downwind and makes his final approach. Now, at this point, the question is, how did you orient the decoy, relative to your stand? Did you place it looking away from you? Towards you? At a right angle, quartering away?  Or did you even give it a thought?

Even though there is no guarantee on how a wild animal will act, or react, in a given situation, there are a few things you can take into account when placing your decoy out in front of your stand. Let’s say, again, you have placed a buck decoy out. Most would consider this to be a threat to a mature buck, as he sees it as the “new kid” on the block. He will most likely approach it with an aggressive stance and approach from somewhere in front or slightly quartering into the front of this decoy. This would tend to make you want to place your decoy in such a way that, when your intended target is within range, you have a shot with as high a percentage as possible, to make a lung shot. Ideally, your shot would be a quartering away shot at a slight angle, or a full broadside shot.  There is no way to tell how the buck will approach your decoy. If possible, you can use a tree, bush or other obstacles to “force” his approach. But again, no guarantees. Mostly, a wild animal is going to act just as it is, wild. We can only guess, at best, what they may do and how they will act.

Now, with a doe, in my opinion, this tactic is a little more dependable. Chances are this buck will approach with one thing in mind.  This is the rut, and they are rutting. This doe smells like she is ready and willing. You have him approaching and, when he begins his final approach, there is a great chance he will do this from behind her. He wants to be careful when he makes his investigation. You have set your doe decoy up with her facing away, slightly quartering to one side or the other. The best we can do is try and increase our odds and hope for the best. Even when we do everything right, sometimes it just doesn’t work out the way we pictured it. Just remember that we can study every movement we can, make an educated evaluation with the information we have gathered over our lives and make the highest percentage shots we can, when we do get that shot.

Do your homework, go the extra mile, make that seemingly unnecessary adjustment, practice ethics and conservation. Make your shot count. Practice shooting, trailing wounded game tactics and think about what you’re doing and why. We all take calculated risks when we hunt and if we can make it an activity with knowledge at the forefront, most times it is successful whether make a harvest or not. Teach this to our young. Pass on the respect and conservation minded way of our heritage. We need to follow the right paths for our children to walk behind us, as we have done with the ones who have taught us.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Deer Decoy Placement

You’re sitting in the tree. You have been set up since before daylight and your decoy is out. Within range, you have high hopes and you have confidence you have gotten in without leaving a scent trail, other than an attractant. Lets say you have a buck decoy out and have done all the work you can to get it as attractive to a buck as possible. All the right moves, all the right timing, all the right scents are in place. Everything seems to be in your favor to get this buck you have worked for, into position for a good shot. It’s archery and your range is at 20 yards. With confidence levels this high, it’s hard not to get excited about what may transpire in the next few moments or hours.

Wind is right, temperatures are cold, but tolerable. The woods seem to be speaking and the nature moves all around you. You have your stand set up to be able to ambush him as he steps out from the trail and investigates your decoy. You know what he looks like with all the cam pictures you have. Some deer filter out across the field and you begin wondering if he has changed his pattern. The deer in the field are eating, comfortable and slowly, more and more are showing up to feed. So far, things look very good.

Then, it happens. He comes out from the opposite side of the field. Murphy’s Law has reared his ugly head. Although there are several deer wandering away from you, there is still hope. You give him a grunt to get his attention. He looks up and sees this decoy, a mature buck decoy,  standing at the edge of his field. His tail twitches, ears ease back a little, you can tell he isnt happy with the thought of a competitor moving in on his prospects. You give him another grunt and he begins making his way towards your decoy. Now the heart quickens, blood is pumping and the adrenaline is filling your system like a boost of high octane caffeine.

As you ready for the shot, he is coming in on a string. This is what you have anticipated for weeks or even months. It’s going to happen and you are ready. As the buck approaches, he lays his ears back, moves downwind and makes his final approach. Now, at this point, the question is, how did you orient the decoy, relative to your stand? Did you place it looking away from you? Towards you? At a right angle, quartering away?  Or did you even give it a thought?

Even though there is no guarantee on how a wild animal will act, or react, in a given situation, there are a few things you can take into account when placing your decoy out in front of your stand. Let’s say, again, you have placed a buck decoy out. Most would consider this to be a threat to a mature buck, as he sees it as the “new kid” on the block. He will most likely approach it with an aggressive stance and approach from somewhere in front or slightly quartering into the front of this decoy. This would tend to make you want to place your decoy in such a way that, when your intended target is within range, you have a shot with as high a percentage as possible, to make a lung shot. Ideally, your shot would be a quartering away shot at a slight angle, or a full broadside shot.  There is no way to tell how the buck will approach your decoy. If possible, you can use a tree, bush or other obstacles to “force” his approach. But again, no guarantees. Mostly, a wild animal is going to act just as it is, wild. We can only guess, at best, what they may do and how they will act.

Now, with a doe, in my opinion, this tactic is a little more dependable. Chances are this buck will approach with one thing in mind.  This is the rut, and they are rutting. This doe smells like she is ready and willing. You have him approaching and, when he begins his final approach, there is a great chance he will do this from behind her. He wants to be careful when he makes his investigation. You have set your doe decoy up with her facing away, slightly quartering to one side or the other. The best we can do is try and increase our odds and hope for the best. Even when we do everything right, sometimes it just doesn’t work out the way we pictured it. Just remember that we can study every movement we can, make an educated evaluation with the information we have gathered over our lives and make the highest percentage shots we can, when we do get that shot.

Do your homework, go the extra mile, make that seemingly unnecessary adjustment, practice ethics and conservation. Make your shot count. Practice shooting, trailing wounded game tactics and think about what you’re doing and why. We all take calculated risks when we hunt and if we can make it an activity with knowledge at the forefront, most times it is successful whether make a harvest or not. Teach this to our young. Pass on the respect and conservation minded way of our heritage. We need to follow the right paths for our children to walk behind us, as we have done with the ones who have taught us.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Deer Decoy Placement

Salt Lake City, UT– Starting this spring, bear hunters will have opportunities they’ve never had before inUtah.

The new opportunities have been made possible through a new bear management plan the Utah Wildlife Board approved in 2011.

John Shivik, mammals coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources, says the plan is giving more people a chance to hunt bears inUtah.  “At the same time,” Shivik says, “the plan provides some important safeguards to keep the state’s bear populations healthy and safe.”

Board approves hunting rules

At their Jan. 12 meeting, members of the Wildlife Board approved black bear hunting and pursuit rules forUtah’s 2012 seasons.

All of the rules the board approved will be available in the 2012 Utah Black Bear Guidebook.

The guidebook should be available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks by Jan. 31. The following are some highlights:

• In the past, most of the bears that were hunted inUtahwere tracked with hounds and ran up trees.  A few hunters have also used bait to lure bears in so the hunters could make a clean and effective shot with a bow and arrow.

But starting this spring, more spot-and-stalk-only hunts will be offered inUtah.

Hunters may not use hounds or bait during spot-and-stalk hunts.  Instead, they must spot the bear and stalk it.

• In the past, all ofUtah’s bear hunting areas were limited-entry areas.  Only those who draw a permit for a limited-entry area can hunt on it.

Starting this spring, though, the state will offer some harvest-objective hunts.

The number of hunters who can hunt on a harvest-objective area isn’t limited, so switching a limited-entry area to a harvest-objective area gives more people a chance to hunt the area.

To protect bears on harvest-objective areas, the number of bears that can be taken on each area is limited.  Once that limit—also known as the area’s quota—is reached, the hunt on the area ends for the season.

Harvest-objective hunts will be offered on three areas: The Wasatch Mountains, Currant Creek, Avintaquin unit in north centralUtah, the Beaver unit in southwesternUtahand the Nine Mile unit in southeasternUtah.

• The spring hunts on some ofUtah’s bear hunting units will run a little longer this year.  The longer spring seasons will allow biologists to put more pressure on bears in areas where livestock are often killed and campgrounds raided by bears.

Protecting the bears

In addition to providing some new hunting opportunities, the new plan provides bears with some important safeguards:

• In the past, Shivik says three hunting-related factors have been used to determine the health of Utah’s bear population—the percentage of bears taken that are female, the average age of the bears taken and the number of adult bears that survive each hunting season.

You won’t find those three factors in the new plan.  Instead, biologists are focusing on two key factors: the number of female bears and the number of adult male bears that hunters take.

(An adult male bear is a bear that’s five years of age or older.)

Shivik says the number of females and the number of adult males hunters take gives important information about how a bear population is doing:

• The number of females hunters take is important because females give birth to cubs and then care for the cubs after they’re born.

“But the best early indicator we have about the health of a bear population is the number of adult males hunters take in relation to the number of females,” Shivik says.

Shivik says adult males wander more than other bears.  The wandering the adult males do helps bear populations expand.

Because they wander more, adult males are also the bears hunters usually encounter first.

If biologists see that the number of adult males hunters are taking is going down—and the number of females is going up—they know the bear population in the area is declining.

“Once hunters start finding more females,” Shivik says, “we know the population is declining in number.”

In addition to the number of female bears and adult male bears hunters take, biologists are also using two important bear studies to monitor the health ofUtah’s bear population:

• One study involves snagging hair from bears at sites acrossUtah.  After the hair is snagged, DNA tests are used to determine how often the bears that left the snagged hair visited the sites.  This study is helping biologists measure how fast or slow the state’s bear populations are growing.

• In the second study, biologists visit bear dens in the winter to see how many cubs are in the dens.  The biologists also assess the health of the cubs and their mothers.  This study is giving biologists important information about the number of new bears that are being brought intoUtah’s population each year.

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