FSD Outdoor Blog

Great content for the great outdoorsman.

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5 Bow Hunting Tips For The Fall

Fall is here and the months of eagerly waiting with anticipation have been replaced with preparation and focus.

But if you want to start your fall off right, you need to nail the basics from day one. Bow Hunting isn’t a game, it’s a season. Get off to a running start and you’ll have a good one and you’ll get to the postseason (I think this metaphor is a bit lost, but that’s okay).

Let’s get right to it.

Practice

I hope you’ve been practicing. And if you haven’t, it’s time to start now. And if you have, you best keep doing it. You’ll never be good enough of a shot. And that’s okay. Keep at it.

Keep this in mind though: most people get better the longer they get into a practice session; their first shot might be their worst. But when you’re actually hunting, how often do you get to fire 3 or 4 shots at a single buck?

Don’t just practice shooting. Practice making your first shot as good as your tenth.

Patience

There are two elements of patience if you want to be a good bow hunter.

The first one is when you’re up in your tree stand, waiting for that special buck to arrive. Too often are hunters quick to leave their spot after just a few hours.

While fishing, you might be able to predict that an area won’t have too much activity by earlier action. Or lack thereof.

But as a bowhunter you have to let yourself have enough time to succeed.

The second element of patience is that bow hunting is a season, as we said. You’re not going to win every single game, you’re going to have days when you come back empty handed. If you want to have a winning season, though, you have to take the lessons that each game offers.

Even if you don’t bag a buck on your first day out, you can still learn the land around you, how the wind and the trees are, where the deer are coming from. All this information is vital to having a good season.

Camo Rope

If you’re using a rope to take your bow up to your tree stand, and you should, make sure you don’t use bright yellow or white rope and instead choose something more muted and brown.

Same goes for any harness you might be using, again, which you should use.

White or yellow rope in the wind is something that will easily spook a deer. Nothing is more frustrating than having a perfect shot at a 10 only to have it sprint away because of some white rope dancing in the breeze that you failed to tie down.

Scent Control

Using a deer spray is pivotal for having a successful hunt. Yeah, there are some hunters that certainly over spray. But to not use it will, eventually, cost you a buck or two. It’s safer to use some every time out, especially on your boots before you stroll to your stand.

Be Present 

Our last tip is a simple one in concept, but everyone falters here a little bit. When you’re at the tree stand, be present. Don’t be on your phone, don’t be day dreaming. This is where you want to be, act like it.

You never know when you’re deep in a rut that you might have a chance at glory, and it may just be present for a few seconds. You’ll have to be present, too.

Start off your fall right with these 5 tips. While many might start the season slow, you can hit the ground running by simply being more ready than anyone else out there.

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7 Tips For Planning A Deer Hunting Trip

If you’re planning a deer hunting trip for the first time or are trying to plan one that was better than last year’s disaster (it happens) then you’re in the right place!

Planning a trip takes a lot of effort, research, and thought. What might work for one person may not work for you. It’s important to take in account your own preference and skills and apply them when applicable.

After all, only you can truly know exactly what you want from a deer hunting trip. But these 7 tips should help!

Not All States Are Equal

The first thing most people do when planning a deer hunting trip is pick the state to visit. Which state? Well, usually it’s Illinois, Iowa, or Kansas. Why?

Because those states are renowned for having big bucks and great places for hiking and camping.

You know what else they’re renowned for?

Big prices!

If you can find a good deal for a week’s stay in these states, that’s great. But for most of us we should look at Indiana, Kentucky, or Wisconsin. These states have comparable bucks, comparable feel, but a very different price tag!

For some of us though, the things that makes a state expensive aren’t important to us. If you can find yourself a great plan in a state that is absurdly cheap, then it’s even better!

Crossing The Border

If you want to cross the border and do some hunting in Canada, you’ll need to do a little bit of extra planning.

First off, you’ll need to have all the proper paperwork, like your passport and a Canadian Firearms Declaration Form. You can save time by printing this off at home and filling it out. But do NOT sign it at home, you’ll have to do that with the right people as witnesses.

And you’ll also need an Export form for bringing home anything you bag. These are pretty easy to fill out and only have a small fee attached.

Get Permission

You’ll also need the right permissions, whether it be a permit or verbal, to hunt where you’re hunting. Every state and every location is different, so you’ll need to do a little bit of digging first.

Hunting in an open area in one state will require different permissions than hunting on your friend’s private property in your home state, so much sure you know exactly what you need before you head out.

Pack Accordingly

Every single state during each season will warrant a different collection of gear, clothes, and food to enjoy it as much as possible.

If this is your first time going to this location during this season, make sure you do some research to figure out what kind of weather, temperatures, and landscape you can expect.

Some might be tempted to pack for all occasions, just in case, but you will quickly find yourself with way too much gear and nowhere near enough room, or muscle, to carry it all.

Also, you want to make sure you’re prepared to bring home your big buck should you score it. It would be a real tragedy to make your shot only to realize you can’t bring it home.

Hire A Guide

A lot of popular places will offer guides you can hire. This obviously has pros and cons. A few pros are you’ll be better prepared, have a better chance of bagging a big deer (especially if you’re new to this), and you’ll feel safer the whole time.

A few cons would be it’s more expensive, you’re now sharing your vacation with a complete stranger, and you won’t have the freedom that many of us desire.

It’s up to you, of course, whether a guide is worth it. In general, if this is your first time doing a hunting trip like this, a guide might offer you a safe way to experience it and then, after this, you won’t need to hire another one again.

Practice

No matter what you’re using for hunting; gun, bow, crossbow, etc. you’ll want to make sure that you’re practicing before you go. 

Nothing is worse than hitting the trails, camping for days, and finally lining up a shot to bag a big buck and then you miss.

You’re never going to 100% sure you’ll hit every shot, but hunting is a muscle. The more you work that muscle the better you get at it, so make sure you practice.

Exercise

Much like practicing for your big shot, you also want to make sure you have plenty of time to exercise before your trip. Sometimes the best spot to bag a big buck is miles and miles away from where you’re camping.

If you’re not in proper shape, this can ruin your trip completely and reduce your accuracy when you do finally try to take a shot.

Every hunting trip will be unique. The location, the season, the people, the game, the mood, and so on will always be a little bit different. But planning the right amount will allow you to enjoy this unique experience without missing out or stressing.

So allow yourself to take the time to make a good, solid plan, follow it through, and then have yourself one hell of a vacation!

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5 Rifle Cleaning Mistakes People STILL Make

It seems like once a week you find out about some idiot that accidentally fired off their gun while cleaning it.

It can be easy to separate from these ‘idiots’ but you’re only one mistake, one second of not paying attention to be grouped with them.

So, to keep yourself from becoming one of them, here are 5 mistakes people keep making… so now you won’t!

Mistake 1: Not making sure the gun is unloaded

Before you start cleaning your rifle, or any gun, you must make sure it is unloaded. Completely. There shouldn’t even be any ammo in the room where you’re cleaning. There’s no reason for it to be nearby.

Now, you must be sure the gun is unloaded. Not a friend. Not your dad. Not the pope. It’s up to you and no one else to make sure a gun is unloaded and stays that way.

Mistake 2: Rushing

Rushing while cleaning a gun is a great way to make sure you make mistakes. Now, maybe the mistake won’t be hurting anyone, but you’ll probably have a very bad time on your hands.

Not only will you be likely not to fully clean your rifle, but you’ll also be more likely to break it.

Cleaning a rifle should be a timeless activity. There is not a time or deadline set to the event. It takes as long as it takes, let yourself take the time.

Besides, most find the cleaning of their rifle to be a zen like experience, one where worry and panic fade into relief and happiness.

Mistake 3: Pointing The Muzzle Around

Sure, you made certain that the gun was unloaded. But that doesn’t mean you should be pointing it at anything you want. You should, always, treat a gun as if it were loaded. Never point it at anything that you don’t want to shoot.

Always keep the muzzle down and always know what or who is on the other side of every wall. A few inches of sheetrock and wood will not stop a bullet.

Also, never play around with the gun. Sometimes when you’re cleaning a gun with a friend, it may be fun to mess around. This is a big no. Horseplay will result in either you likely to break your gun or you’ll end up pointing it somewhere you shouldn’t.

Mistake 4: Thoroughness

There are numerous steps to cleaning a rifle. Slowly taking apart each piece, laying it out in order, cleaning each piece meticulously, and then slowly putting it back together.

Thoroughness on each step is needed if you’re going to have a better weapon on your hands after cleaning.

Most of the time people have a good idea about taking the rifle apart and cleaning the pieces. It’s the reassembling that tends to be the problem.

Each piece should fall into place with little difficulty. When you do face resistance, take a second to clear your mind. Take the piece out and try it again. Most of the time this blockage is a sign that you should not apply more force, something important is not right. Resetting is a great way to put yourself in the right mindset and it usually figures itself out.

Mistake 5: Make it last

I think we were all surprised by how much lubricant we used the first time we cleaned our rifle. It takes a lot of help to keep this pile of metal pieces working efficiently and for many years to come.

Don’t limit how much lubricant you need to use in order to get your rifle right. Have plenty on hand and treat each piece as its own thing. As long as each piece is ready, when you put it together, you’ll have a gun that is ready to use and ready to last.

These five mistakes are the most common ones people keep making when cleaning their rifle. Cleaning your rifle is as serious as shooting your rifle. While these people may act extremely careful, prepared, and diligent when firing their gun, they don’t always have the same respect when it comes to cleaning it, as they should.

A rifle is always a weapon. And it always demands respect.

Happy cleaning!

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Super Simple Tips For Making A Campfire Every Time

Every person has a unique strategy they swear by when it comes time to start a fire. For some, it is a methodical process, rich with science and understanding.

Others go from the hip, they trust their gut and they do what they think will work.

To be an expert fire starter, you have to balance the head and the heart, the science and the art. Here are a few tips that will help you the next time you’re making a campfire.

Wind

The wind, either a burst or a sudden flow, can reduce your chances of making a successful campfire down to zero.

The first thing you want to do is figure out what direction the wind is coming from. After that, you’ll want to build up a wall to intersect the wind.

It doesn’t need to be massive, you’re just trying to get your first few sparks enough time to grow. You can dig a pit for this, form a wall with rocks, or you can even pile up your firewood in the way of the wind.

Finally, when you’re applying spark to your tinder, make sure you block as much as you wind as you can with your free hand.

Rotting Wood

Rotting Wood is not usually useful in a fire. It is eaten up quickly and gives us very little energy. But Rotting Wood is good for one thing, tinder. And in most locations it is plentiful.

Use a small hatchet to cut chips from the rotten wood. To make a place for chopping, you can place a good piece of wood flat on the ground and use that as a cutting table. These chips are great for starting a fire and you can almost always find enough to use.

Pile

How your place the tinder is as important as the type of wood it is. Don’t just make a pile and hope it lights. You want to build a little teepee or create a stack of wood in a square.

Pick any shape, but the idea is that you want as much space in between as possible. Space means air and air means a fire that isn’t struggling to eat.

Feed It

Ideally, you’re not just going spark, either from a match or flint, to tinder. You need to light something else. Things like dried leaves, dried grass, some moss, shreds of cloth, and so forth are ideal here.

Place this material in between your pile of tinder and light the material. Slowly add more material to it as the fire needs. This will grow slowly and slowly until the tinder is lit. From there, it’s easy.

Seasoned or Green

All wood is not the same. When you cut down a tree, the wood is often called Green Wood. This means there is a lot of sap in wood. This means when it is burning, the sap is taking the heat instead of the wood, making it burn worse. With Seasoned wood, all that sap is dried out and the wood burns much better, producing more energy than Green.

When you are looking at wood you want to check out the grain. If it is rich with cracks that radiate from the center of the log, then you are looking at a good piece of wood, one that will burn very well.

The more campfires you create the more you can trust your gut. Building that gut feeling takes time. But with time, you’ll have the perfect balance of experience and knowledge that will fuel every fire you make.