Gather 'Round the Stove
Hunting Hints
Click on the following to move down the list:
Adjusting Beaver
Traps «
Deer Hunting Map «
Deer Scents
«
Dusting for Tracks
Slate Call «
Still Hunting Seat
«
Tracking Game
« Using
Rifle to Measure Tracks
Beaver traps need to be precisely adjusted in order to function properly.
Careful bending of the trap cross-member is necessary for the jaws to lie perfectly flat.
See the arrows in the figure for the location of the bends. Then the dog must be filed
until it holds the pan level too. Finally, the pressure required to spring the trap is
regulated by bending the end of the trap downward very slightly. Do not make the mistake
of filing the pan notch as this can ruin a good trap.
Beavermen do not want a very sensitive trap that might be tripped by
muskrats. Of course, whenever possible, the traps should be wired so that trapped beaver
will drown quickly, as these powerful animals are capable of escaping strong traps given
the opportunity.
-Robert Freeman, Ancorage, AK, SO91.
Make a diagram or map of your deer
hunting area for greater success. Mark the deer trails, feeding and bedding
areas, rubs, rub lines and scrapes. Mark the location of your tree stands or
ground blindes and mark the areas where you have observed deer. Plot deer
movement on your map with arrows showing the direction the deer were going and
not the time (am or pm).
Soon a pattern of deer movement will appear. This will allow
you to put yourself in the best position for a good accurate shot, a close range
shot needed to insure a good, humane kill with a bow or muzzleloader. Those of
us who have accepted the challenge of a one-shot hunt owe this to our game. A
well-plotted map will be one more valuable tool to help put venison on the table
and hides in the tannery.
Using a diagram of my hunting area, I was able to take a nice
eight-point buck on a past season's opening day.
-Ron Stresing, South Milwaukee,
WI.SO92.
Plastic 35 MM
film canisters and Q-tips cut in half make a good way to carry and distribute
deer scent. Place several of the cut Q-tips head down in the container and pour
on your favorite buck scent. When you get to your stand, flip the scented Q-tips
wherever you want them.
If you want to stay primitive, make your container out of a
piece of tree branch like those in Charles Hanson's Mountain Man's Sketchbook,
Volume Two. You might want to coat the inside with wax.
A word of caution: Mark the film canisters so your wife
doesn't dump the contents into her palm expecting film. All hell will break
loose; I speak from experience!
-Dave Wade, Elwood, NE. N/D 90.
In my pursuit of period
hunting, I found myself wanting to use period-type game calls. Since I hunt
turkey, I needed a companion slate call for the wing bone I'd already made.
To make a slate call, by a child's chalkboard and make sure
it is real slate. Cut to the dimensions shown with a coping saw. Take a horn tip
and cut it to the approximate size in the drawing. Cut a 1/4" hickory dowel
about 3" long and slightly taper one end. Drill a 1/4" hole in the end
of the horn tip and pin the dowel in place. This is the striker. Simply cup the
slate in one hand and scrape the striker across.
Please note that the horn tip is reversed from some originals
you might have seen pictured. After a lot of messing around, I've found that
this is the only way you can get the proper vibration from the striker.
--Mike
Harmon, Ankeny, IA S/O 90
This item will keep your
seat dry and warm while still hunting. Simply sandwich a piece of wool blanket
between 2 treated pieces of canvas. Using the belt loop allows freedom of
movement and is ready anytime you need to sit down.
TRACKING GAME
If you ever come
across a track and are uncertain of how fresh it is, try planting your own track
right next to it. With that side-by-side comparison, checking the sharpness of
the edges and the softness of the ground, it will give you a place to start.
--Ron Kil,
Santa Fe, NM J/A 99.
DUSTING FOR TRACKS
If
you’re hunting a game trail or water hole and want to see just what animals are
moving around and how often they’re traveling, cut a small tree branch and sweep
the trail. By dusting the tracks one day and checking them the next, you’ll see
what kind of traffic you’re getting.
--Ron Kil, Santa Fe, NM M/J 99.
USING RIFLE TO MEASURE TRACKS
If you've ever
had trouble following tracks, you can use your rifle to help you. You'll need to
find one clear set of tracks, both front and back, or the equivalent of one
stride. Measure the length of that stride with your rifle, noting just where on
your rifle the tracks match. Then when you get to a point where you can't find
the next track, lay your rifle down at the last track you can see and measure
where the next one should be. It may be no more than an upturned stone or a
partial track, but finding this sign may help you find the next clear set.
However be aware of the change in stride, as this will necessitate a new
measurement.
--Ronald Kil, Alameda, NM J/A 98.
MUZZLELOADER is not responsible for any accidents of any
kind that may occur from the use of published loading data or
from recommendations by it writers. The opinions expressed herein are those of
the authors and do not necessarily reflect the policy of MUZZLELOADER
or Scurlock Publishing Co., Inc. These hints are from the back issues of
MUZZLELOADER.
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Gather 'Round the Stove
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ADJUSTING BEAVER TRAPS
DEER SCENTS
SLATE CALL
STILL HUNTING SEAT