Hunter Education Course

Chapter 8: Hunting Techniques

Not every hunting style will be effective in all situations. You will need to adapt to your surroundings and the particular game that you are hunting. Some techniques are more suited for hunting alone, while some are used when hunting with a group.

Still Hunting

This is a technique in which a hunter moves slowly through a hunting area looking for game animals. By moving slowly and stopping frequently to look and listen, there's a greater chance of spotting game. It works very well on windy or rainy days. A hunter must take great care with every step. Game animals are alerted quickly by unfamiliar sounds and could run away if they sense danger.

Hunters take advantage of all trees, blow downs, thickets and undergrowth to hide movement and to break up their outline in the woods. They are also mindful of wind direction. Remember the old saying about keeping the wind on your face. It's true. Because if the wind is blowing against you, your scent will be behind you rather than in the path of the game you wish to spot and harvest.

Stalking

Unlike still hunting, stalking is used when a hunter is following fresh game, or animal signs or has seen game in the distance. These signs might be fresh tracks in the dirt or leaves; they could also be scat or rub lines along a known game trail. If a hunter spots game animals in the distance, the stalking technique helps him or her to move closer and set up for a safe shot. Stalking requires the same approach used by still hunting. A hunter moves very slowly, facing the wind and being mindful of footing to avoid breaking twigs or slipping.

Ground Blinds

These are temporary structures that a hunter sets up before hunting season begins. Ranging in size from a single-person blind to a miniature shed-like structure that can house up to three hunters, ground blinds can be a lot of fun to use. The advantage of a ground blind is that a hunter can sit inside it and be hidden from the sight of game animals. They are very effective when set up in areas of known game travel lanes and on the edges of crop fields and overgrown areas. Pop-up or manufactured ground blinds that are enclosed with a roof are good anytime. If it rains or is windy, a hunter is protected from the elements. The disadvantage of a ground blind is if the game animals cannot see the hunter, neither can other hunters. For your safety, it is important that any ground blind be clearly marked with blaze orange to let others know that someone is inside or around the ground blind.

Man Drives

In this technique, a gang of hunters splits into two groups. One group lines up along the edge of the game cover - they're called the stages, and they don't move from their assigned positions. The other group are the drivers. They position themselves on the opposite side of the game cover and walk toward the stages. While walking through the cover, the drivers flush out game animals to the stages. If the drivers move slowly, the animals will also move slowly out of the cover. Usually drivers do not shoot at the animal.

This technique is quite effective for cover that is not too thick. Each of the stages must clearly identify the animal they want to target before shouldering their firearm. The stages have to be careful and know their zone of fire. It's important to wear a blaze orange hat and vest and know where the other stages are located. Always Check local laws before you hunt.

Hunting With Dogs

Dogs are used in many areas for hunting. There are many breeds of hunting dogs, and the type of game animal you are hunting will determine what type of dog to use. When hunting with a dog, a hunter has to be aware of where the dog is and adhere to both vertical and horizontal zones of fire, as well as identification of the target and beyond. Any leashes or tethers that you might be using to transport the dog MUST be removed from the dog while hunting.

Blaze orange vests made out of cloth and neoprene can be purchased for the hunting dog to wear.

For large and small game animals, beagles and hounds are used to run game animals in the direction of a hunter. When released, the dog travels through the cover and moves the game towards the hunter or hunters staged at certain locations. This technique works well in thick cover or a swamp that a driver cannot walk through.

Pointers are used for upland bird hunting (e.g., quail and pheasants). As the name implies, when a pointer smells and locates a bird, the dog will set up and point in the general direction of the bird. When the pointer is set up, a hunter can get in range and set up for a shot. Pointing breeds cover a large range, pointing the game when located, allowing the hunter to approach and flush the game. Flushing breeds such as Spaniels and Setters seem to have a native ability to locate, point and flush game birds.

Retrievers are used in waterfowl (e.g., duck or geese) hunting, as well as other hunting situations. A retriever gets its name from its ability to retrieve game birds that have been harvested by a hunter. The retriever sits and waits patiently for the hunter to give the command to retrieve the bird after the shot is fired. It swims to and retrieves the game bird, bringing it back to the hunter.

Make sure you can provide your dogs with clean water to drink. Inspect the pads on their feet for any signs of cuts or thorns that might hurt them. Also, check their coats for scratches or cuts from briers. In hot conditions, give dogs a break under shade and provide clean water. In cold and wet locations, keep the dogs warm and dry. If a dog starts to shiver, that means it is cold and needs to be warmed up. Hunting dogs can experience hypothermia and overheating, just like humans.

Game Care

Once a hunter is sure that the downed game animal has expired, it is time to tag the animal. Take your time at this stage. A hunter's main concern at this stage is to cool down the game animal; otherwise, there is a good chance that the meat will spoil.

Three factors can spoil meat and make it unsafe to eat:

Heat

Bacteria may start to grow if the meat is not cooled. Start the cooling process by field dressing the game animal as quickly as possible. The warmer the weather, the sooner this has to be done.

Dirt

When dragging or moving the game animal to a pickup point or a vehicle, keep it as clean as possible. If you are hunting in an area that has livestock, ensure the game animal is not dragged over manure in the field. Avoid getting dirt or vegetation inside the cleaned-out body cavity.

Moisture

Water on exposed meat breeds bacteria. Carry the game animal over small streams or creeks. Use paper towels or a clean rag to dry the body cavity if it gets wet. Protect your harvested game from rain, snow and ice when transporting it.

Field Dressing

Field dressing is the act of removing the entrails from the body cavity of a downed gamed animal. It is the best way to cool down a game animal in the field. Make sure you wear some type of latex or rubber gloves. This not only keeps your hands cleaner, but also protects you from getting scratched. Most big game animals have scent glands on their hind legs. The glands excrete a penetrating odor or musk. Avoid touching exposed meat if you touch these areas. Leave the glands on and skin them off as you skin the entire hide. Be careful with knives - a good field-dressing knife is sharp.

Take your time cutting the entrails from the backbone. When done properly, the entrails should come out as one large mass. Be careful not to cut into the intestines or the stomach area as urine and other bacteria can cause contamination.

Dispose of the entrails in a way that will not offend others. Place them in a shallow depression and cover with leaves, or in a trash bag for later disposal. When transporting any game animal, place it in the back of a truck or on a vehicle rack with a cover over it to protect it from dirt and debris.

Do not strap the game animal to the hood of a vehicle. Not only is it offensive to others and disrespectful to the game animal, the heat from the vehicle's engine will spoil the meat. When you return to camp, hang the game animal from a tree or a specially designed rack. This allows the air to circulate, cooling the meat quicker. It also helps you to skin the animal. The best place to hang the game animal is a shed or refrigerator box that is kept at an optimum temperature. During hunting seasons, there are butchers that will skin and process game animals for you - all you need to do is field dress and transport it to their premises.

Once the animal is skinned, wash any dirt or blood from the meat. Next, dry the meat with paper towels or clean, dry rags. Let it air dry thoroughly. If the game animal is to be hung outside, wrap the animal in a game bag or cheese cloth to keep insects from landing on the meat. If a game animal is quartered, the meat can be placed in waterproof bags and placed in ice coolers.

Turkey Hunting

The wild turkey has the designation of being the largest upland game bird. Adult males are known as Toms or Gobblers and usually weigh between 15 and 25 pounds. Females are known as Hens and weigh between 7 and 11 pounds. Unlike the female, the male sports a beard that hangs down from the breast and can be 10 to 12 inches long.

Most turkey hunting accidents occur when a shooter does not properly identify their target; firing at movements or sounds, or fires at another hunter who is calling turkeys. These incidents would be greatly reduced if hunters would properly identify their target first.

All hunters should follow these simple rules for safe turkey hunting:

• Always identify your target and beyond.
• Do not wear red, white, blue or black.
• Sit with your back against a tree at least as wide as your shoulder.
  
• Do not shoot at sound.
• When another hunter approaches do not move. Call out loudly to identify yourself
• Carry your turkey out of the woods in a bag or wrapped in blaze orange cloth.
• Never stalk a turkey. Call them to you. The sounds you hear might be another hunter.
• Do not place decoys where you may be in the line of fire of another hunter.
• Mark your blind or hunting spot with blaze orange.

Hunter Education Course