Paracord Survival Sling

 Below is a quick and easy video about how to make a Shepherd's Sling out of Paracord.

 

 

12 Tips for Bowhunters

Going bowhunting this Autumn? Bowhunting season in Ontario lasts from September to December. Here are 12 tips if you are new to archery and/or hunting.

Practice Consistently:

Regular practice is crucial for bowhunters to develop and maintain their archery skills. Dedicate time to practice shooting techniques, accuracy, and distance judgment. Practice under various conditions, such as different weather and lighting conditions, to improve your adaptability. If you're not already skilled at archery then you should definitely consider getting archery lessons.

Know Your Equipment:

Understand your bow and its specifications, including draw weight, draw length, and arrow selection. Ensure your bow is properly tuned and in good working condition. Familiarize yourself with the different components of your bow, including sights, rests, and releases, and make any necessary adjustments.

Master Stealth and Concealment:

Bowhunting requires getting close to your target, which demands exceptional stealth and concealment. Learn to move quietly and efficiently, avoiding unnecessary noise and sudden movements. Utilize camouflage clothing, scent control measures, and natural cover to blend into the environment.

Study Animal Behavior and Patterns:

Gain knowledge about the behavior and patterns of the game species you are pursuing. Understand their feeding, bedding, and movement patterns to increase your chances of a successful hunt. Use trail cameras and scouting techniques to gather valuable information about their habits and preferred locations.

Choose the Right Hunting Stand or Blind:

Select a hunting stand or blind that suits your hunting style and the terrain you will be hunting in. Whether it's a tree stand, ground blind, or elevated platform, ensure it provides good visibility and concealment while offering a comfortable and stable shooting position.

Practice Shot Placement:

Understanding shot placement is vital for ethical and effective hunting. Study the anatomy of your target species and practice shooting at various angles and distances to become proficient in making clean and humane shots. Focus on vital organs and avoid taking shots that risk wounding an animal.

Be Patient and Persistent:

Bowhunting requires patience and persistence. Be prepared for long hours of waiting and stalking without guarantees of immediate success. Avoid rushing shots or taking unethical shots due to impatience. Stay focused, maintain a positive mindset, and embrace the process of the hunt.

Plan for Shot Opportunities:

Anticipate shot opportunities by positioning yourself in areas with high animal activity. Set up near trails, feeding areas, or known bedding locations. Be aware of wind direction and other environmental factors that may affect your shot opportunities.

Understand Hunting Regulations:

Familiarize yourself with local hunting regulations, including season dates, bag limits, and any specific requirements or restrictions for bowhunting. Adhere to ethical hunting practices and respect the laws and regulations governing your hunting area.

Track and Recover Game Ethically:

After making a shot, be patient and wait for a sufficient amount of time before attempting to track the animal. Use blood trailing techniques and follow sign indicators to track wounded game. Ensure you have the necessary skills and tools to recover and process the harvested animal properly.

Stay Physically Fit:

Bowhunting can be physically demanding, requiring endurance and strength. Engage in regular physical exercise to improve your overall fitness level. This will help you navigate challenging terrain, carry gear, and draw your bow effectively.

Continuously Learn and Improve:

Embrace a learning mindset and continuously seek knowledge and improvement. Stay updated on the latest hunting techniques, equipment innovations, and conservation practices. Participate in workshops, seminars, and connect with experienced bowhunters to expand your skills and understanding of the sport.

...

Remember, bowhunting is not just about the harvest but also about immersing yourself in nature and enjoying the challenge and connection with the environment. By following these tips, you can enhance your bowhunting experience and increase your chances of success while maintaining ethical and responsible hunting practices.

Optional Equipment for Crossbow Enthusiasts

Note - Many of the items below are more for hunting, and not necessary for someone who is just into shooting a crossbow recreationally.

And yes, some people do shoot recreationally with no intention of going hunting.

Bipod: A detachable or foldable bipod that provides stability and support when shooting from a prone or seated position.

Bolt/Arrow Puller: A tool or device that assists in gripping and removing arrows/bolts from targets, reducing the risk of damage or injury.

Bolt Case: A dedicated case or container for safely storing and transporting crossbow bolts, keeping them organized and protected.

Bolt Fletching Jig: A tool used to repair or customize bolt fletchings, allowing you to replace damaged or worn vanes.

Bow Hanger: A portable or screw-in hook or hanger that provides a convenient place to hang your crossbow when hunting or practicing.

Bow Press: A tool used for string and cable maintenance, including installing or changing strings and cables. Note that you can also get a Crossbow Press: A more advanced tool than a bow press, specifically designed for maintaining and servicing crossbows, including limb adjustments and string replacement.

Bow Press Stand: A dedicated stand that holds the crossbow securely while using a bow press for maintenance or repairs.

Bowstring Wax: A specific type of wax used for lubricating and protecting the crossbow's bowstring, preventing fraying and improving longevity.

Broadheads: Specialized hunting arrowheads designed to deliver efficient and lethal shots.

Camouflage Clothing: Apparel designed for hunting or camouflage purposes, providing concealment and blending into the surroundings.

Camo Wrap: Self-adhesive camouflage wrap that can be applied to the crossbow for better concealment in hunting scenarios.

Chronograph or Shooting Chronograph: A device used to measure the velocity of crossbow bolts, enabling precise adjustments and tuning for consistent shooting.

Chronograph App: A smartphone application that uses the phone's camera to measure the velocity of crossbow bolts, eliminating the need for a separate chronograph.

Chronograph Stand: A stand or tripod specifically designed to hold the shooting chronograph in place, ensuring accurate velocity measurements.

Cocking Device or Crossbow Cocking Aid: Tools or devices that assist in cocking the crossbow, reducing the effort required and ensuring consistency. Aids providing mechanical advantage and ease of use. There are many different types, including:

• Crossbow Rope Cocker: A rope-based device that aids in cocking the crossbow, distributing the effort evenly between the hands.
• Crossbow Rope Sled: A mechanical device that simplifies the process of cocking the crossbow by utilizing a pulley system and reducing effort.
• Crossbow Crank Cocking Device: An accessory that replaces manual cocking and uses a crank mechanism for easier and consistent cocking.

Crossbow Bolts/Arrows: Additional bolts or arrows to expand your ammunition supply for extended shooting sessions or hunting trips.

Crossbow Broadhead Wrench: A specialized tool to securely tighten or remove broadheads from bolts.

Crossbow Case: A protective case or bag to store and transport the crossbow, bolts, and accessories safely.

Crossbow Sling: A strap or harness that allows you to carry the crossbow comfortably while keeping your hands free.

Crossbow Stand: A freestanding stand or rack for securely holding the crossbow when not in use, providing convenience and organization.

Crossbow Rail Extension: An accessory that extends the length of the crossbow rail, allowing for the attachment of additional accessories such as bipods or foregrips.

Crossbow Targets: Specifically designed targets for crossbow shooting practice, often featuring high-contrast aiming points.

Custom Arrows/Bolts: Specialized arrows tailored to the shooter's preferences, including weight, fletching, and material.

Custom Grip or Stock: Upgraded or custom-made grips or stocks that enhance comfort, ergonomics, and shooting experience.

Grip Wrap: A wrap or tape designed to enhance grip and comfort on the crossbow's handle, especially in wet or slippery conditions.

Lighted Nocks: Special nocks that contain LED lights, providing better visibility of the bolt's flight path, especially during low-light conditions.

Light Kit: Attachable LED lights or light strips that provide illumination for low-light shooting conditions or night hunting.

Limb Covers: Protective covers that shield the crossbow's limbs from scratches, debris, and other potential damage.

Limb Dampeners: Attachments placed on the limbs of the crossbow to absorb and dampen vibration and noise generated upon firing.

Limb Tips: Replacement limb tips that offer customization options such as color or design and can enhance the aesthetics of the crossbow.

Optics: Upgraded scopes or red dot sights that offer enhanced visibility and accuracy during aiming.

Quiver: A device used to hold and transport bolts securely, typically mounted on the crossbow or attached to a belt.

Range Finder: A device that uses laser technology to measure distances accurately, aiding in estimating shot distances.

Rangefinder Scope: A specialized scope that incorporates a built-in rangefinder, allowing you to measure distances to your target and make precise adjustments.

Scent Eliminator: Products designed to reduce or eliminate human odor, helping to minimize the chance of being detected by game animals.

Scope Level: A small bubble level that attaches to the scope, helping ensure proper alignment and level shooting.

Shooting Glasses: Protective eyewear designed for shooting sports, offering impact resistance and enhancing visibility in various lighting conditions.

Shooting Glasses with Magnification: Shooting glasses that include magnification lenses, providing enhanced visibility for aiming and target acquisition.

Shooting Gloves: Gloves specifically designed for crossbow shooting, offering improved grip, comfort, and finger protection.

Shooting Mat: A padded mat that provides comfort and cushioning while shooting from a prone or seated position.

Shooting Rest: A stable platform or rest for supporting the crossbow during target shooting or sighting in, promoting steadiness and accuracy.

Shooting Stick or Bipod: Stabilizing devices that provide support and steadiness while aiming and shooting.

Sighting-In Rest: A specialized rest or bench designed for sighting in a crossbow, providing a stable shooting platform.

Silencing Kit: Various accessories such as limb dampeners, string dampeners/silencers, and bolt suppressors that reduce noise and vibration generated by the crossbow.

Stabilizer: A weighted attachment that attaches to the front end of the crossbow, reducing vibration and enhancing stability during the shot.

Storage Rack: A wall-mounted or freestanding rack designed to store and display crossbows, keeping them organized and protected.

String Dampeners: Accessories attached to the crossbow's string to reduce noise and vibration, enhancing shot consistency and comfort.

String Replacement Kit: A kit containing all the necessary tools and materials fo replacing the crossbow's string and cables.

String Wax and Rail Lube: Lubricants used for maintaining the crossbow's string and rail, ensuring smooth and reliable operation.

Wind Checker/Indicator: A fine powder or liquid solution used to detect wind direction and speed, helping shooters compensate for wind drift.

DIY Turkey Broadheads, Part I

So I went on Amazon.ca today and decided to browse Turkey Broadheads. Which are... ahem... Expensive. As shown in the image below.

 

And if someone has lots of money to burn, sure, why not.

But consider this...

During December 2022 (the holiday season) the average turkey in Canada was selling for $1.89 CDN per pound.

So for $70 CDN you could get approx. 37 lbs of turkey from the grocery store, which is way cheaper than even the cheapest of the three options listed above from Amazon.

Are there cheaper options available on Amazon? Yes.

Are there cheaper options available in hunting/fishing stores? Yes.

But an idea had been sparked so I decided to do some research. What about DIY turkey broadheads? That would certainly be way cheaper.

Yes, turkey broadheads are waaaaaaay bigger than normal broadheads, but if a teaspoon can be turned into a regular broadhead, certainly there are ways to make a turkey broadhead out of something else?

Certainly someone else has made their own DIY turkey broadheads? After all, what did people used to use before the advent of mass production? They made their own, or hired a blacksmith to make them.

There are unusual broadheads out there in this topic too, but the only ones I seem to be able to find are those made in factories

I haven't been able to find a single DIY / homemade turkey broadhead.

As far as I can tell nobody is making them, or if they are making them, they're not bragging about them and showing them off online.

Plenty of fancy ones to choose from, but I haven't found a single example of a homemade DIY turkey broadhead.

So I guess I have no choice. I need to make one myself.

The good news is I do have some cold chisels with which to do the job. I just need the metal and to come up with a suitable design for cutting and then sharpening my own DIY turkey broadhead.

So stay tuned for Part II, because this may take awhile before I have something worth showing (and bragging about).

Siberian Tiger got revenge on Hunter who injured it

The story in the video below took place in Siberia (Russia) over a decade ago, but it is an unusual story in which a local hunter injured a tiger and the tiger tracked him 11 km to his home, waited 2 days for him to return, and then got its revenge.

What I find interesting about this particular story is that it is very clear that the tiger went out of its way, despite its injury, to track down the hunter who shot it, wait 2 days for the hunter to return home, and then presumably waited for the man to come outside at which point it stalked him and killed him.

That is a level of patience and dedication that comes from hunters, and to some extent fishermen.

And also apparently... Vengeful elephants who kill people AND show up at their funeral to make sure they are dead. Check out the video below which demonstrates that elephants don't forget.

So yeah... Stay away from vengeful tigers and elephants. Or any animal smart enough to get revenge.

In a related story, I went fishing in High Park (Toronto) yesterday with my family (Father's Day) and I gave up after a short time because I was getting zero bites. Plus it was windy and the water was murkier than usual, so I couldn't even see any fish.

So I lacked the patience to stick it out, partially because it was a family outing, but also partially because I suspected that it was just the wrong time of year to be trying to catch fish there.

A previous time I caught lots of fish in the same location, with the same bait (frozen shrimp), same hooks, same equipment... But that was on August 31st 2018. So I suspect that I just need to be patient and go back in August and/or September and try again.

See the video from the previous time I went fishing in High Park below:

Worried about the Coronavirus Pandemic?

Are you worried about Coronavirus?

Well you should be, but not because of the health hazards. The virus typically only kills people over the age of 50, and even then only kills roughly one in ten people over the age of 50.

The bigger issue seems to be the economy which has currently gone into a tailspin nose dive.

Eg. In the past 26 days the Dow Jones has fallen from 29,551 to 23,581. A drop of over 20% in less than 1 month. Other markets are also similarly effected.

If the economy also continues to head in this direction and the virus becomes a widespread pandemic we will see global economic chaos.

In which case there are some things you should probably do to prepare.

#1. Double Check your Bug Out Bag

Now is a good time to double check your Bug Out Bag. If the economy collapses, wars break out or other problems that cause a societal collapse now is a really good time to make sure your Bug Out Bag is full of everything you need to escape from the rest of society and go off grid completely.

See my older post on Filling Your Bug Out Bag.

If you don't have a Bug Out Bag maybe it is time you finally prepared one?

You will also want a tent, transportation, a plan for getting out of the city (eg. a route and possibly backup routes), and a heading so you know where you are going. Eg. I know a swamp where the deer and wild turkeys are plentiful. Plus it is a swamp, so privacy should be assured.

#2. Self Defense and Hunting

"Speak softly and carry a big stick." - Theodore Roosevelt.

You should have multiple options for self-defense in the event you need to leave the big city and head to the countryside to wait out the chaos. The preppers have the advantage here, many of them have been ready for this sort of thing for years. Still you should definitely invest in something to protect yourself.

Having more than 1 weapon or skill to potentially protect yourself is beneficial, as certain weapons/skills are more suitable for certain situations.

For example:

• Archery is quieter and stealthier than rifles.
• Arrows can be reused, but bullets are one time (the shells can be recycled however).
• Black powder rifles are less likely to run out of ammo because it is easier to make your own.
• Martial arts is more portable than swords.
• Axes and knives are both tools you will end up needing in the wild and to protect yourself.
• Your best defense is to stay hidden. Nobody can threaten someone who cannot be seen.

Archery has an advantage as it is both quieter and can be used for both bowhunting and defense, but an archer is unlikely to run out of ammo as they can easily make more arrows once they know how.

The real trick to archery is that a person really needs lessons to get good at it. In the video below for example a new archery student hits a target ball at a distance of 37 yards/111 feet, and she manages to do it on her first lesson.

An amateur trying to teach themselves archery would struggle to hit a similar sized target at HALF that distance. So getting archery lessons makes a big difference.

Toronto Archery Lessons

Someone who chooses to arm themselves with a bow, axe, knife, and learns some martial arts / how to be stealthy will have an advantage over people who are using rifles and are not stealthy. The rifle hunter will eventually run out of ammo. The exception to this of course is the black powder rifle or anyone who knows how to recycle/make their own bullets, but those are very rare skills.

And even if Coronavirus doesn't become pandemic at least you learned archery and other useful skills. We can always hope that the economy doesn't collapse and everything turns out just fine.

#3. The Five Meter Rule

If possible try to stay at least five meters away from strangers and avoid public places. Why five meters?

Cough droplets carrying the coronavirus can float in the air up to five meters and infect people who are 17 feet away.

Health officials have been telling people to keep a distance of 2 meters, but this is very difficult to do on sidewalks, public transportation, in stores, etc. Let alone 5 meters, which is more ideal.

Worse, the coronavirus can survive on surfaces for up to 1 hour. So if you touch something and then touch your face you could become infected by someone who coughed into their hand, touched an object, and then you touched it less than an hour later.

So you really want to stay 5 meters away from strangers / anyone possibly infected, and if going anywhere public you should avoid touching anything that hasn't been cleaned first. This whole fist-bumping / elbow-bumping idea is actually too risky.

#4. Soap, Soap, Soap

Ironically Purell and similar anti-bacterial products don't actually kill the coronavirus. What you really need is good old fashioned soap and water.

#5. Stop touching your face so often

The average person touches their face at least 20 times per hour. It isn't bad if you are at home all day, but if you go out to a public place you should avoid touching your face.

Old Fashioned Wood Treestands

Building an old fashioned wood treestand is a bit like building a treefort or a treehouse. You really just need a ladder and a platform to stand on.

Modern treestands (made of aluminum or various alloys) are usually designed with safety and convenience in mind. But they are also stolen easily.

You set up your hunting location, install your fancy $400 treestand in the nearby tree, you come back a week later and... someone stole it. Or lets pretend you got a super cheap $60 treestand, and someone still stole it.

Another hunter saw your fancy treestand, took a liking to it, and since it is so easy to install and takedown, and transport, they stole it and used it somewhere else.

Old fashioned treestands don't have this problem. You build them with wood, nails, screws, etc and they are literally attached to the tree. "Stealing it" would be a lot of work and thieves are lazy.

You have 7 factors to consider when building a treestand:

1. Durability
2. Weight
3. Safety
4. Cost
5. Convenience
6. How Hard is it to Steal
7. Comfort

#6 is taking care of because you are building it out of wood (usually), and it is attached to the tree at multiple points with nails. The effort of taking it down and rebuilding it just is not worth it for most people. (Especially if the would-be thief finds a fancier treestand elsewhere and decides to steal it instead.)

Wood is durable, but in theory you could also purchase aluminum or other materials that will also be durable. You could even use aluminum siding to make a roof for your treestand, which would keep the rain / snow off of it, increase your comfort, and increase the durability of the wooden bits below.

You will want something that is lightweight to build / transport / install. Again wood and aluminum make sense here. You will want to avoid any materials that are heavy. Large wood logs may be durable, but they are also very heavy and not needed. You are building a treestand, not a log cabin.

Handrails are a good idea for safety. They are also convenient for hanging things on. Your platform should be durable enough that you can jump on it with full gear and there is no worry about it breaking.

Wood and aluminum are relatively cheap. Or even free if you know where to get and recycle materials. The real cost here is the time required to build the treestand and the assumption you are handy with tools. (If you are not handy with tools maybe you should stick to ground blinds.)

With respect to convenience you really want a design that is easy to construct, easy to install / connect to the tree, and doesn't take too much time. A minimalist approach, plus a few safety features, should suffice.

Comfort... sitting in a treestand for hours can get really uncomfortable. So you want to be able to sit or stand and move around a bit without any worries.

And there are lots of designs to consider. Including freestanding designs that aren't actually attached to trees, or designs where that ladder also doubles as a support structure.

The last one is really minimalist, but takes a long time to make. ;)

An Alternative Pin Setup for Compound Bow Sights

Whether you are using a 3 pin sight, a 4 pin, or a 5 pin sight on your compound bow a common theme is to setup the pins in the following order, with 20 yards being the pin most often used:

1. 20 yards
2. 30 yards
3. 40 yards
4. 50 yards
5. 60 yards

Even though most compound shooters when bowhunting rarely use the 40, 50 or 60 yard pins because it is generally accepted to be unethical to take a shot at long distances when you cannot guarantee the accuracy. It is more likely for a bowhunter to end up needing a 10 or 15 yard pin setup as bowhunters often end up being that distance from the deer (or similar game) when hunting anyway.

The general rule of thumb is that an ethical hunter should only be shooting at any distance they know they can consistently hit a target the size of an apple (roughly the size of a deer's heart).

Thus a more useful (and ethical) pin setup is:

1. 10 yards
2. 15 yards
3. 20 yards
4. 25 yards
5. 30 yards

The 3 distances most likely to be used are marked in a dark bold green.

Thus the bowhunter gets added accuracy by setting their target pins to the distances they are more likely to be using.

If someone actually had 6 or 7 pins they could potentially add 35 and 40 yards to their pin setup, but with the realization they might never use them.

Any experienced bowhunter will also tell you that you usually first see the deer at 25 yards or less anyway. At further distances they are usually obscured by brush or trees.

And once they are spotted you still have to wait until you have a clear shot at its heart and lungs, so they will usually end up wandering closer to the hidden bowhunter who needs to be patient to get a good shot at the heart area, which means the deer might only be 5 to 15 yards away by the time they take the shot.

Protecting your Ears while Hunting

It is September, which means bowhunting season for whitetail deer in Ontario is upon us and rifle hunting season is soon to be here too. (And black powder hunting too, lest we forget!)

If you love hunting then you know that having a keen ear is one of the hunter’s most important assets when it comes to finding the elusive whitetail.

And you also know that it is essential to protect your hearing against sudden gunshots or other hunting-related noises. Studies have found that men over the age of 48 who hunt regularly are statistically more likely to experience high-frequency hearing loss – the type associated with damage from sudden loud explosions and similar loud noises. At the same time, the evidence shows that many hunters fail to take precautions to avoid serious hearing problems. Many of us think we are invincible, but we clearly are not.

How can you protect your ears while out stalking your prey? How can you keep your ears in great shape while out hunting so you can even hear the prey in the future? In short...

How do you protect your ears while hunting?

The first thing to do if you are worried about your hearing is to understand the risks. Even a single loud gunshot can permanently damage your hearing. Just one. I personally have hearing damage dating back to an incident when I was 12 years old.

It doesn’t have to be a couple of feet away, either. Shots from twenty to thirty yards away can also degrade your auditory abilities, particularly if heard repeatedly and/or over a long period. Generally, experts report that noises of 85 decibels or more can cause permanent hearing issues, and gunshots are usually in the range of 120 to 130 decibels – more than enough to damage your hearing for good. (And black powder rifles... they are often in the 150 to 160 decibels range.)

For reference a Boeing 747 during takeoff is 140 decibels. Guaranteed severe hearing damage.

So remember those numbers in your mind before you head out hunting: There is a constant risk when using firearms of permanent hearing damage, and you need to take precautions. But what are the specific precautions you need to take?

The most important thing to do is to wear protective gear that muffles sound and vibrations from gunshots such as earplugs and "game ears" (ear muffs designed to dampen noise). This is easily the most important fix you can make that will prevent hearing damage. Fortunately, there are a number of items hunters can use to achieve that outcome.

Different types of ear protection for hunters to consider

The most common form of ear protection for hunters is earplugs. Generally made of foam and ridged to ensure they remain securely in place.

There are also specialist hunting earplugs are available from brands like Sportear or Auritech. These earplugs have been designed with firearms users in mind.

Not all hunting stores sell such things, but not worry. If you visit a local audiologist / hearing centre they can usually order specialty items for you that cannot be found in hunting stores. eg. Omni Hearing in Vaughan (not far from the Bass Pro) has a wide variety of hearing aids and ear plugs. And if they don't have them, they can order them for you.

So even if you cannot find what you are looking for at a hunting store like Bass Pro, just visit a hearing centre and they can usually order whatever you need. (Or recommend products you didn't know existed.)

Auritech Earplugs

When you choose a pair of earplugs, you will likely come across a metric called the "noise reduction rating."

To find out how much your earplugs actually reduce gunshot noise, take this number, subtract seven, then divide it by two, and that will give you a rough estimate of the percentage value.

However, there is a catch: earplugs cannot reduce the impact of vibrations from gunshots, and they are a blunt instrument, blocking out all ambient sound, which can be a big problem for serious hunters who also want to hear their prey.

This means that many hunters avoid earplugs and prefer ear muffs instead.

However when practicing shooting, you should probably just wear both. Earplugs and earmuffs. And then during the actual hunt, use just the earmuffs.

Brands like Peltor or Honeywell manufacture hunting headsets that muffle the sound and vibrations of gunshots by blocking out the louder sound wavelengths. At the same time, they actually amplify other noises via sophisticated detection systems, allowing hunters to remain aware of what’s going on in the brush without risking their hearing. If you intend to hunt regularly, it’s definitely worth checking out these smart ear muffs, which fortunately are not much more price wise than standard models.

But wait, there is also a 3rd option!

Electronic ear plugs. The great advantage of these devices (which are worn like hearing aids) is that they can be tuned to block out specific frequencies. The disadvantage is that they provide little protection against vibration, but for hunters who need to remain alert and mobile, this is often a sacrifice worth making.

What about hunting with hearing aids?

If you are a hearing aid user, you might assume that hunting is a thing of the past, but that doesn’t have to be the case. There’s no doubt that hunting poses some challenges for hearing aid users. Most importantly, rapid, loud noises like gunfire can overload the microphones on many hearing aid models, rendering them ineffective. And hunters can also fall into the trap of assuming that their device’s noise cancellation function will protect them against gunfire, when that’s not usually the case.

Abrupt noises can be too fast for many devices to detect, delivering every single decibel to your inner ear. So, what is the solution? A hearing aid that is made specifically for hunting. As we touched upon earlier, there are electronic ear plugs that resemble hearing aids. But there are also hearing aids that feature highly sensitive noise detection and cancellation that can handle gunshots. eg. Starkey’s SoundGear.

The point is that there are a wide range of options out there for people who want to hunt and want to protect their hearing / preserve their current hearing if they already have hearing damage.

Rifle Hunting Vs Bowhunting

Hearing damage is a good argument for learning how to bowhunt honestly. Or spearhunt. Getting close enough to your prey (25 yards or less is normal for bowhunting) is an extra challenge for a hunter, but the benefit is that you don't have to worry about hearing damage. No, you only need to be a good enough shot to get the whitetail in the vitals at 25 yards or less.

You also benefit (usually, varies on province or state) from a longer hunting season for bows and crossbows.

For rifle hunting and black powder hunting there are definitely risks. Few know these risks better than Elmer Keith or Nash Buckingham - professional hunters - who didn't take the hearing damage warnings seriously and became almost deafened by their love of firearms.

And you don't have to be frequent shooters like they are. A single shot that is louder than normal can make all the difference.

Ask yourself:

Is protecting my hearing worth paying a few dollars in order to keep it?

Why not just make every shot count by making certain your ears are protected too? For a tiny investment in earplugs and/or earmuffs it is certainly worth it.

Personally I already own earmuffs that I use when operating my bandsaw and other machinery in my workshop. It is bright yellow, so I probably won't use them for hunting at any point. But I have them to protect my ears.

And since I prefer bows and crossbows I don't really need them.

Snake in the Grass Archery Target, Snake Hunting

Some people like to hunt snakes.

Possibly because of pest control. Or possibly because some people also like to eat them. They really do taste like chicken.

Myself, I like to "practice hunting snakes" on fake rubber toy snakes, like the kind you can find at the dollar store.

Why?

Because it makes for very good archery practice and it is fun. The snake makes a very thin target, so to hit it you need a good deal of precision. Thus as an archery target, it is a hard one to hit.

For extra fun, tie a string or cord to the fake snake's head and ask a friend to drag it closer to you, thus you now have a moving target which is both skinny and a moving target.

Also if you can feel free to prank a few friends when you arrive to see if they jump at your fake snake. Always good for a laugh when someone jumps away when they think a snake is real.


Bowhunting for Snakes - the Real Ones

Now there are people out there who do hunt snakes - and eat them. And they use the snakeskin for a variety of leather products.



Tips for Bowhunting Snakes

#1. Make sure any venomous snake is dead before you interact with it. Sometimes snakes can play possum, so if in doubt chop its head off with a machete or an axe before picking it up.

#2. Wear gloves when interacting with any venomous snake's head. Even though it is dead, if you accidentally pricked yourself with the fangs you could still get poisoned. (Some people even collect and preserve the snake venom, which is useful for hunting bears, wolves and large predators. To do this you have to milk the venom glands, which can be done by massaging the glands manually while the snakes fangs are grasping a glass jar, or you can do the same thing using electricity instead of massaging the glands.)

Note - Milking a venomous snake is also a method for creating antivenom. Venom also often has multiple medicinal uses.

#3. Beware of other snakes in the vicinity. Where there is one snake, there is often many more of them - all gathered in one spot because of an ample food source, a great location for making dens, or because they are breeding.

Alternative Ways of Hunting in Ontario

So in Ontario you can hunt using the following methods:

• Firearm
• Bowhunting
• Crossbow
• Spearhunting

But there are other ways of hunting that are, shall we say, a little unusual.

For example there is the Stone Crossbow (or Pellet Crossbow) which shoots a marble sized pebble (traditional made of ceramic so they were an uniform size and weight). That still falls into the category of being a crossbow.

Likewise there is also the Stone Bow (or Pellet Bow), which works on the same principle. Shown below is a traditional Paraguayan Pellet Bow.

It is basically a giant slingshot.

Another option is slingshots, which I personally find to be silly, but whatever.

There is also the sling, which is an ancient weapon that can be incredible powerful and accurate in the hands of a person who regular trains with it. (Goliath actually didn't stand a chance against David, as the sling is actually a very powerful weapon. It doesn't look like much, but the amount of kinetic energy it can release is actually pretty impressive.)

Ballista and Windlass Crossbows...

So check out the video below of a man shooting a 1,250 lb windlass crossbow. Like you, I also went "1250 lbs? What?!" but then I saw how thick the steel bow on that crossbow was and I realized, wow. I had no clue they could be that powerful.




Ontario Hunting Laws and Legal Grey Zones

So there are specific laws in Ontario governing what you can hunt with and what you cannot.

For example, if hunting with a crossbow, you must use a crossbow with a minimum of 150 lbs of force.

So that 1,250 lb windlass crossbow definitely is strong enough, but it also means there is no limit on how powerful the crossbow could be.

You could technically hunt in Ontario with 2,500+ lb ballista that shoots giant spears, and it would be totally legal.

And that is what I mean by "legal grey zones". There is no law expressly forbidding the use of ballista.

Just like there is no laws forbidding the use of Stone Crossbows, Stone Bows and various other types of unusual weapons that fall into the classification of an approved type of hunting tool. For example a slingshot can be modified to shoot arrows like a bow, thus it is basically classified as a bow.

Even though I am not a fan of slingshots, whatever, it counts.

Spearhunting, harpoons, atlatl throwers for throwing spears or darts, blowguns, spear-guns, gas-powered crossbows, harpoon guns, and more.

So for example...

You could go bowhunting, but instead of a regular arrow be shooting a giant arrow roughly the size of a spear. Does it count as an arrow or as a spear?

Upsetting the Vegans with "Primitive" Hunting Tools

Now the problem within all this is the animal lovers who hate everything to do with hunting, and if it were up to them they would ban bowhunting, spearhunting and indeed ban all forms of hunting and fishing. There is no pleasing people who are diametrically opposed to something.

So to the anti-hunters, the idea that someone could build their own ballista and go hunting with it really sticks in their craw. To them that is a reason to write angry letters to the government, to protest, to harass people via email and twitter, etc.

In various parts of the USA vegans have been trying to ban bowhunting for example, arguing that it is less accurate than firearms, and arguing that guns are more humane. (I would argue the opposite honestly. I have seen some people shoot and firearms are actually horribly inaccurate, or at least the people shooting them are horribly inaccurate.)

Mankind has been hunting with bows and spears for tens of thousands of years. It was perfectly adequate and accurate back then, and it is perfectly accurate and adequate now - more so in fact, thanks to modern materials and designs that increase both accuracy and penetrating power.

More so, traditional or "primitive" archery actually surprises researchers who study the effectiveness of such weapons.

Flint for example is actually harder than steel, and flint arrowheads are sharper than any razor honed steel arrowheads you can find. In tests flint arrowheads actually cut deeper than any steel arrowheads you can purchase. (Don't believe me, go browse YouTube.)

Fun Trivia Fact - The reason why flint and steel make a spark is because the flint is taking off tiny pieces of the steel, thus forming a hot spark that can be used for starting a fire.

So-called "primitive" weapons are far more powerful and accurate than people give them credit for.

So when vegans see someone hunting with a longbow with flint arrowheads, they look at that and think "Oh we need to ban that!" But their reasoning isn't sound because they are ignorant of the fact that flint arrowheads are actually very efficient for killing deer.

Anthropologist Comment - So my wife, the anthropologist/lawyer, would probably also want me to point out that using the word "primitive" is actually racist, because it implies that other cultures are more savage and lack technology. This is why I have been using the word "primitive" with quotations around it, because I wanted to bring up this topic of how people should stop using that word primitive in a derogatory way.

So when a vegan says that a certain hunting tool is "primitive", they are actually being derogatory and racist.

Ever noticed how most vegans are white? Well, I have.

Sure, a lot of them are also liberal-minded and would deny being racist, but I do believe that racists come in all kinds.

Vegans often believe they have a moral superiority and think that gives them the right to be elitist snobs. This then results in a horrible habit of them looking down on other cultures, people who prefer other kinds of food, and claiming to have some superior vision of how people should eat.

Except it is all nonsense.

They don't have any moral superiority. Half of them are wearing leather clothing and shoes. They're hypocrites.

Not all vegans are crazy people flouting their assumed superiority. I have met a few who are actually very nice people. Sure, they try to introduce me to new veggie dishes, but they don't push their beliefs on me.

Sadly those vegans are few and far between.

So here is the thing. If you find a new way to hunt using a hunting tool that is within a legal grey zone. Keep it to yourself! Don't go blabbing about it on the internet. You are only going to upset vegans and get them protesting outside the Ontario Legislature.

Personally I like the Ontario hunting laws just fine. Just the right amount of vagueness so that people can interpret what counts as a bow or crossbow or spear.

I see nothing wrong with an individual wanting to hunt with a ballista. Nobody is going to claim that deer or moose didn't die quickly and humanely when hit by a ballista bolt. A ballista would kill the moose AND the moose standing behind it with ease. A 2-for-1.

So lets not advertise that Joe Smith is hunting with his ballista. I think it is awesome, but the vegans will get their panties in a knot.

Conclusions

Yes, there are alternative ways to hunt in Ontario. Don't think of what is allowed as restrictions. Just use some imagination and you can see how the vagueness is actually an indication of what is allowed.

For example nobody said you can't hunt using a portable cannon or a "Punt Gun". Are Punt Guns ridiculous? Sure, they are. But good luck claiming that the ducks being shot weren't killed humanely. (Punt Guns were traditionally used for hunting flocks of ducks, killing a whole flock of ducks at once. But they could in theory be used for bear hunting or moose.)

This is actually a small Punt Gun.

Antler, a good place to try venison in Toronto

Antler Kitchen & Bar
★★★★★
4.8 Star Rating on Google
4.5 Star Rating on Yelp (although to be fair, a lot of Yelp reviews are fake)

Where
1454 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M6J 1Y6

Website
antlerkitchenbar.com

Reservations by Phone
(647) 345-8300

Hours
Sunday 11a.m.–2:30p.m., 5–10p.m.
Monday Closed
Tuesday 5–11p.m.
Wednesday 5–11p.m.
Thursday 5–11p.m.
Friday 5p.m.–12a.m.
Saturday 11a.m.–2:30p.m., 5p.m.–12a.m.

"Antler" is a local Toronto restaurant and bar which serves up a variety of options on its menu, including vegan and vegetarian dishes, as well as locally sourced ethical meat such as beef and venison. Venison, for those who don't know, is deer meat.

Venison is tastier than beef, but also more nutritious. Deer thrive in the forest, which also means that consuming venison has a significantly lower carbon footprint than conventional cattle livestock.

As such if a person is curious about trying venison, wants a healthier / more ethical alternative to beef, then venison is certainly an option. Also since Antler does source a variety of other ethically grown meats, it is also a good place to try those too.

Myself I have had both venison and moose meat. Both are very tasty, and I would definitely eat them again.

Antler has both a brunch and a dinner menu with a variety of options on both, and I am currently thinking of taking my wife there as a celebration for her graduating from law school. (We might end up going somewhere else, as it will likely come down to my wife's decision. It is her graduation after all, not mine. But maybe I can go to Antler next year for my birthday or some other event.)

Might even take our son with us. He needs to be trying new foods. (He will be be 10 months old a week from now.)

Antler Brunch Menu
http://www.dine.to/menus/menu_177773_document.pdf

Antler Dinner Menu
http://www.dine.to/menus/menu_177774_document.pdf

While browsing the dinner menu I also noted the wild boar. Ooooooo! Something I haven't had before, sounds like something to try.

IN THE NEWS

Antler recently got a lot of media attention because of vegans protesting outside of the restaurant. One of the owners, who doubles as a chef/butcher, got frustrated with the vegans constantly and repeatedly protesting outside his restaurant and decided to butcher a leg of deer in the restaurant window for the vegans to watch - you know, to spite them and to send the message that he and his business partner are not about to change their ways.

The vegans, who were effectively trying to extort the business, recorded the butchering and it went viral online and in the news media. And it backfired on them. "Antler" is now more popular than ever and as mentioned above, now requires reservations.

It is so popular I hope they end up opening a second restaurant. The vegans will be truly upset if it comes to that.

Personal Note - I have nothing personal against vegans myself, but I do wish they would mind their own business when it came to promoting their beliefs and not be all Hitler (Hitler was a vegetarian) on trying to force their beliefs on to others. In fact, I have a personal rule that every time a vegan tries to force their beliefs unto me I go out and eat a rabbit, a duck or some other cute tasty animal.

So here is the video, as posted on WatchMojo (which tells you how viral the clip became).



Later the owner/chef/butcher Michel Hunter became internet famous and has since done a number of interviews. Like the following interview with Joe Rogan, who is pro-hunting.



Seeing as I am also trying to build Project Gridless as a YouTube channel, I am also going to reach out shortly to see if we can organize a video interview. So check back in a few weeks and we shall see if I managed to score an interview with Michel, who is really busy these days thanks to all the extra publicity.

UPDATE

So I did get a response, but they are no longer doing interviews and apparently waiting for the fuss to die down.

So here is my thought... wait a few months, contact them then and see if an interview can still be arranged - and perhaps focus on a specific topic such as "The Proper Way to Butcher a Deer" or some similar useful topic.

Food Wars vs Revenge Food

Okay, so here is the deal.

I am really tired of hearing people argue about food and fur.

Yes, we get it. Vegans don't like it when people hunt for food, trap for food/fur, or use leather/antlers or other animal byproducts.

I personally have no problem with people eating what they kill and using the fur, leather, antlers, bones, and anything else they can salvage. eg. Deer sinew is handy for bowmaking.

But I do have a problem with having to hear about it from nitwits who are trying to force their beliefs on to other people.

So the deal I have made with myself is that every time someone annoys me with their whole "fur is evil" or "hunting is evil" arguments, I go and eat a cute fuzzy animal. I call it The Revenge Food Principle. Every time someone annoys me, I go eat a cute animal as revenge.

The more annoyed they make me, the cuter the animal is.

Rabbits, lambs, deer... they are all on the menu.

I even found several lists of places where I can go eat locally here in Toronto:

Lamb
https://foursquare.com/top-places/toronto/best-places-lamb-shanks

Rabbit
https://foursquare.com/top-places/toronto/best-places-rabbit

Duck*
https://foursquare.com/top-places/toronto/best-places-roast-duck

* I decided to add duck to the list because I personally find them to be really cute. The meat is really greasy, but I will just have to deal with it however. I think on a cuteness scale however, a nice young lamb is still cuter however. Rabbits also very cute, so ducks will only be eaten if I am mildly annoyed.

Look how cute this duck is? And tasty! I very much want to eat it.

So here is the plan.

Every time a vegan treehugger pisses me off I am going to eat one of the above mentioned food items. Or maybe I will finally get my hunting license and get into small game hunting. Either way, more food for my belly.

Also, every time they piss me off I am also going to add their names here. In the Hall of Cute but Tasty Food Shame. And to prove that these are real people I will be posting links to their Facebook profiles / etc.

I might even go a step further and post photos of any animals I kill with me holding up a sign that says "I killed this rabbit for you Jenny Patterson."

The Hall of Cute but Tasty Food Shame

Jenny Patterson so far has killed 2 cute widdle animals.
https://www.facebook.com/jenny.patterson.982

Andy Niko has killed 1 so far. I am thinking a rabbit. I have never had rabbit before.
https://www.facebook.com/andy.niko.31

Updates

December 27th 2017
Aleah Hall of Toronto has killed 1 duck and 1 lamb so far by annoying me. If she annoys me again I am thinking I will add pork to the menu.
https://www.facebook.com/aleah.hall


So yeah... go ahead. Annoy me. I have 34 bows, an untold number of arrows, and I keep telling myself I should get my hunting license. So if going out to restaurants to eat rabbit, lamb and duck gets too expensive I will just get my hunting license and add venison to the menu.

Tonight my wife and I are going out to dinner at a restaurant. Some place that serves lamb. I have a sudden hankering to eat lamb for some reason. You can thank Jenny Patterson for that.



Comments?

Absolutely, feel free to post annoying comments. I will respond by killing another cute widdle animal. Go ahead. Make my tasty food.

My Bowhunting / Archery Magazines Collection

Okay so I have quite a few archery books, but honestly - I have waaaaaay more magazines on the topic, mostly pertaining to bowhunting.

So I decided today to make a list of all my magazines thus far. (I have a subscription to one of them.)

I should also note that an article I wrote years ago was published earlier this year in Archery Focus Magazine. Which is ironic because I have never even SEEN that magazine in person in Canada. No stores in Canada seem to sell it. I managed to do this small feat of archery thanks to knowing the editor socially, he is a fellow archery instructor I have consulted with in the past. (I do have a great book of his though, "Precision Archery", which I totally recommend buying, regardless of what style of archery you practice.)

So back to the topic at hand... Let me grab a pile of magazines and lets get this Archery Magazine list started.

Note - In the future I want to add more notes to this page about articles I found to be particular useful / interesting. For now I just want to make the list. I can add detailed notes later when I have more time.

Traditional Bowhunter Magazine
2018 Dec-Jan - Food Plots, Hawaiian Quiver, Arctic Gear (they send out upcoming magazines well ahead of schedule. It is November and already I have received the Dec-Jan issue in the mail.)

2017 Oct-Nov - Flemish Twist Bowstring

2017 Aug-Sep - Better Anchoring, the Crescent Arrowhead

2017 Jun-Jul - Obsidian Arrowheads, Archery Golf

2017 Apr-May - Refurbishing Wood Arrows
2017 Feb-Mar - Two Piece Recurve Bow
2017 Dec-Jan - Brain Tanned Knife Sheath, Aesthetics of Hunting

2016 Oct-Nov - I really love the cover painting on this one. I even wrote emails back and forth to the editor about it. 
* I seem to have misplaced Jun-Jul and Aug-Sep 2015, I cannot find them.*
2016 Apr-May - Backing a Bow with Turkey Feathers

2016 Feb-Mar -  Backing a Bow with Snakeskin
2016 Dec-Jan - Restoring Old Bows

2015 Oct-Nov - Stone Points, History of the Deflex-Reflex Bow
* I seem to have misplaced Aug-Sep 2015, I cannot find it. *

2015 Jun-Jul - Brain Tanned Quiver, Part 1

2015 Apr-May - Dogwood Arrows

2015 Feb-Mar - Paper Tuning
2015 Dec-Jan  - Repairing 3D Targets

2014 Oct-Nov - Lovely painting on the cover
2014 Aug-Sep - Simple Spine Tester
Notes - So Traditional Bowhunter is the only one of the magazines that I have a subscription for. So I know the magazines that are missing are *somewhere*, I am just not sure where. Possibly tucked into a bigger archery book. Perhaps under some other book, alone and forgotten. Maybe all 3 of the missing magazines are hiding some place together. Won't know until I find them.

As you may have guessed Traditional Bowhunter (aka TradBow) publishes 6 times per year. I forget what the subscription cost is, but it is well worth it.

TradArchers' World Magazine
Fall 2014 - Plains Indian Sinew Backed Bow, Part 1
Winter 2014 - Plains Indian Sinew Backed Bow, Part 2
Spring 2015 - History of the Steel Bow
Summer 2015 - Laminated Recurve Part 1
Fall 2015 - Jerry Simmons Obituary (Master Tracker and Hunter), Laminated Recurve Part 2
Winter 2015 - Laminated Recurve Part 3
Spring 2016 - Building a Bow Quiver, Scottish Longbows
Fall 2017 - Longbow Ground Blinds, Accuracy Tips by Bob Wesley

Note - For people who are into bowmaking, TradArchers' World is good magazine to be reading. Published 4 times per year this is a magazine I should probably get a subscription to, but I have not bothered as of yet to do so. Probably a good idea to get it as it has more articles about bowmaking and equipment making than Traditional Bowhunter does.

Bowhunting World Magazine
Jun 2015 - 2015 Equipment Guide, #3
Sep 2015 - 2015 Equipment Guide, #4
Mar 2017 - 2017 Equipment Guide, #1

Note - Bowhunting World Magazine (BWM) publishes equipment guides multiple times per year. I really only buy it for the equipment reviews, which are mostly related to compound bows. I do however wish that they only published one big guide only once per year instead of splitting it up. I wouldn't bother getting a subscription to this one. I usually only try to buy a compound bow equipment guide once per year.

Petersen's Bowhunting Magazine
Mar 2014 - 2014 Equipment Guide
Jan-Feb 2015 - Practice Hunting by looking for Shed Antlers
Jun 2015 - Clutch Shots, Practicing Tips, Target Durability Tests
Jan 2016 - 2016 Equipment Guide
Jun 2016 - How to Paper Tune, Cam Synchronizing, Boosting Accuracy using Tuning Tricks

Note - While Petersen's Bowhunting (PBM) does offer annual equipment guides (usually during the winter), they also sometimes have useful articles about bowhunting skills and tuning compound bows. (Maybe someday I might publish something in their magazine about compound bow repair, as it seems like a topic many compound shooters could learn about.)

If I had to choose, I think the PBM's equipment guides are better. They also have more actual useful archery tips when compared to BWM. It might make some good sense for me to get a subscription to PBM.

Ontario Out of Doors (OOD) Magazine
Aug 2015 - includes article "Way of the Bow"

Note - I normally don't buy OOD Magazine. I made an exception because of the title article being promoted on the front cover. Most of the time the magazine is about rifle hunting and fishing, so I usually skip it. I probably should read more articles about fishing however, so there are some benefits to that I suppose.


Publishing in Archery Magazines

A little goal for me to do... try to publish articles in all the magazines listed above. I have already scratched off Archery Focus Magazine from the list, so might as well try and see if other people like my writing.

How to Befriend a Squirrel + Tips on Squirrel Hunting

This post is a two parter and I admit, the first part is seemingly opposed to the second part - but when you read the 2nd part you will realize why the two are linked.

Part One: How to Befriend a Squirrel

1. Avoid making sudden moves. It only scares them away.
2. Feed them, regularly.
3. Keep an abundance of less tasty food nearby so that the squirrels are well fed, but will enjoy any food you have even more so.
4. Use a gentle hand in handling squirrels.
5. Make a soft chirping sound with your mouth, like in the video below.
6. Remember the squirrel's primary goal is going to be food, the tastier the better. You are not so much a friend as you are a source of food.

Part Two: Tips on Squirrel Hunting

• Always check your local hunting regulations before going hunting to make sure you follow the letter of the law.
• Learn how to befriend squirrels. See, I told you the two things were linked. Makes it much easier to get closer to them and they stand more still if they are not running away in fear.
• If bowhunting, use blunt arrowheads. Preserves the internal organs better, less messy and you can salvage the fur to use for other things. A normal broadhead basically rips right through the squirrel and can end up mixing the guts with the quality meat, ruining the taste. I recommend the rubber blunts as they do a better job of keeping the fur in good condition. The metal blunts sometimes have sharp edges which can tear through the fur.
• Also for bowhunting, large 2" fletching (sometimes called flu flu fletching) is easier for you to find your arrows in case you miss. Large brightly coloured fletching is easier to find in thick brush.
• If using a firearm, stick to low calibre ammo. Smaller the better. Anything too big is basically overkill and can end up ruining the meat.
• Practice shooting at random distances (eg. field archery) between 5 yards and 30 yards.
• Practice shooting uphill and downhill at targets placed at random distances. 
• Practice shooting at moving targets.
• Practice shooting at targets in trees. (This is actually harder than you think.) A good sport that hones this particular skill is Popinjay. Go Google it.
• If you are worried about losing or breaking arrows, use old arrows that are already slightly damaged that you are not worried if you lose them. As long as they are still reasonably accurate they will do the job. If you lose or break them, oh well.
• If you can catch the squirrel out in the open away from trees, your chances of hitting just improved dramatically. So if you can lure the squirrel out in the open, good.
• Try to get a good angle if there are trees or brush in the line of your shot so that you can avoid your arrow from hitting a tree or branch.
• Be patient. You may miss a few shots before you successfully hit one.
• Don't get frustrated.
• Avoid taking any really dumb shots because you think you might get lucky. A failed shot will just scare the squirrel away.
• Some people who hunt squirrels also carry a "stun stick", basically a small club for smacking an injured squirrel in the head in order to finish it off faster.
• Learn how to spot and listen for squirrels in thick brush. eg. Sometimes you can hear them chewing on a nut and rustling around.
• Do NOT wear sunglasses, they may defeat your ability to notice a squirrel and correctly place your shot.
• Later in the season the squirrels are more likely to be on the ground as most of the nuts will have already fallen, so that is a good time to hunt.
• Windy days are better. Squirrels cannot hear that well on a windy day.

Notes

Bowhunting squirrels is actually good practice for stalking deer and similar large game. A squirrel's main torso is roughly the same size as a deer's heart/lung area, and the distances you would be shooting at them are roughly the same.

Some people really LOVE the taste of squirrel. It apparently tastes a bit like rabbit, pork, lamb and chicken (depending on who you ask). The meat is very high in protein and low in fat, which makes it healthier than many meats you will find in your local supermarket too.

Fried Squirrel - "The Chicken of the Trees"

Pan Fried or Oven Fried Squirrel Recipe

Note, use only young, tender squirrels for frying – save old squirrels for making squirrel dumplings.

Serves 3 – 4 people.
Ingredients:

• 2-3 young squirrels
• 1 cup flour
• 1 tablespoon margarine
• 3 tablespoons bacon grease or vegetable shortening
• salt
• pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cut each squirrel into 6 pieces, using the 4 legs and the meaty part of back to fry (save the rib piece for making dumplings at another time).

Roll the squirrel pieces in the flour until well coated.

While oven is preheating, put a 10 to 12 inch cast iron skillet on top of stove. Using medium-high heat, melt margarine and bacon grease or vegetable shortening in skillet. Melted shortening mixture should be about 1/4 inch deep in bottom of skillet.

Place cut up squirrel in skillet in a single layer and salt and pepper to taste. Brown on both sides (approximately 3-4 minutes for each side).

After browning, cover skillet with lid or aluminum foil and place in the preheated oven. Bake for 20 – 25 minutes depending on how young the squirrels are.

Then turn the squirrel over and bake for another 20 – 25 minutes. Test with a fork to see if done. If fork slips easily into the meat it is ready to eat. If you feel the squirrel is not quite done, turn it over again and bake for 10 to 15 more minutes.

Skillet / oven fried squirrel is excellent served with a side dish of homemade biscuits topped with white milk gravy made from the squirrel drippings.

An Archer's Guide to Stump Shooting

Okay, so since some people don't know what a stump is, lets first define that.

A Stump is the rotting trunk of a dead tree. A stump is typically so rotten it is falling apart.

Stump Shooting therefore is the act of shooting at rotting tree stumps. Ideally the stump should be falling apart so that you can pull your arrow out easily. (Shooting at a normal tree or trunk is a great way to either break your arrow or spend half an hour trying to cut your arrow out.)

Stump Shooting is excellent practice for hunting in a woodland area. You shoot at the stumps from a variety of angles, distances, and even elevations.

Below are a few photos illustrating what Stump Shooting involves.

Stump Shooting Tips

1. Check to make sure what you are shooting at is indeed a stump. It would suck if it was a normal tree trunk.
2. If you are new to archery, perhaps stick to shorter distances for now.
3. If you are new to archery, perhaps use large colourful fletched arrows (aka Flu Flu Fletch) so you can find your arrows easily.
4. Don't use any fancy broadheads. Field points are better / less likely to break. Why use your good broadheads on a tree stump??? That is just a good way to dull the blade or risk breaking it if you miss the stump and hit a rock by accident.
5. Don't shoot near rocks if possible.
6. When in doubt, aim lower.
7. Aim small, miss small.
8. Practice, practice, practice.
9. Don't goof off or try to show off.
10. Bring mosquito repellent. Little vampires will kill ye...
11. Difficulty finding stumps? Find a forest that is a little marshy. Stumps rot faster if they are wet regularly.
12. Don't use the same stump all the time. Instead, make a trail that goes to different stumps so you can walk around from stump to stump like it is a golf course.

So what is the Big Deal about Stump Shooting?

Well it is popular for many reasons.

1. It is fun.
2. It is challenging.
3. It is great practice.
4. You can bring friends.
5. You can turn it into a contest.
6. You don't need to buy a portable target.
7. You get to enjoy shooting in natural surroundings.
8. You can really challenge yourself with some interesting shots.