EP19 Everything You Need To Know About Hand Warmers

Show Notes:

There is no less expensive and more effective way to make a hunt more comfortable than $1 worth of hand warmers.  You can overcome poor boots, poor gloves, and unexpected conditions with these simple little items. In this episode we talk about the main types of warmers and the best ways to use each one.

Take Aways:

Gloves. The regular size warmers fit well inside of most gloves, some even come with a pocket for them. This lets you use with lighter gloves that allow more dexterity for operating a firearm.

Pockets. A set of warmers in your pockets can enable you to keep your hands warm and avoid gloves in some situations.

Full Day Boots. Nothing beats a good set of large 12+ hour warmers, lightly taped over your socks above your toes in a good set of insulated boots. You can survive just about any conditions comfortably with these.

Half Day Boots. Both toe and insole warmers have adhesive backs that make them very easy to stick to your sock before putting your foot in your boots. The trade off for ease of use is only a half day of warmth though. These shine for morning hunts or evening hunts, when you don’t need a full day’s worth of warmth.

Body. If you have to sit on something cold, or have a cold piece of gear pressing against you, a body warmer that sticks to the inside of your clothing can be a great way to warm up a cold spot.

Warmers Mentioned In The Show:

EP18 The 3 Basics Of Scent Control For Deer Hunting

Show Notes:

When it comes to managing scent for deer hunting, you are talking about a massive field of study and an entire industry. But if you follow a few basic principles, you can significantly improve your chances of being successful in the deer woods without spending any extra money or getting another college degree.  In this episode we cover the 3 basic principles for scent control when it comes to beginners and regular deer hunting.

Take Aways:

  • Scent Trails: When you walk through the woods, you leave an invisible trail of scent. You will greatly increase your chances of getting a deer if you pretend that every place you walk is a place that no deer will touch for the rest of the season.
  • Wind Management:  The wind is your friend or your enemy, if you can just keep it from being your enemy then that is good enough.  The big thing is making sure the wind is not blowing by you into the area you are hunting.  If the wind blows sent behind you or beside you, you still have a chance, if it is blowing it right into your shooting lane then you need to change spots or at least angles.
  • Extra Scent: Most deer are used to regular people scent, just make sure you aren’t bringing extra scent with you. Don’t leave your hunting clothes in the kitchen before frying food or in the garage before staining wood.  If you can just keep from bringing extra scent into the woods, it will go a long way.
  • There Are Always Exceptions: These principles are “rules of thumb” they are true 80% of the time, but there are always exceptions. Wild animals don’t play by anyone’s rules but their own. Sometimes scent won’t bother them at all, and sometimes you could wear a pressurized space suite and they will still smell you and snort, stomp, and run. Get into the woods and get your own experience so you can learn what works for yourself.

EP17 3 Beginner Deer Hunting Strategies

Show Notes:

The best way to hunt is going to depend on your experience, preferences, local terrain, weather, budget, and the properties you have permission to hunt on. The three strategies that we talk about in this episode are the most likely methods that new hunters will use to successfully hunt whitetail deer. The one that is best for you will depend on your situation. 

Take Aways:

  • Tree hunting gives you the best chances for success most of the time, but you need to know your spot really well, have the budget and energy to get set up well in advance of the hunting season, and pick a limited area to hunt.
  • Ground hunting with a good cushion is the most versatile and cost effective way to hunt. It requires the least preparation and you can move spots as easily as you can stand up. It does however put you right in the middle of a deer’s sense of sight, smell, and sound as you are in the same place as their predators.
  • Ground hunting with a blind gives some concealment but limits you to a specific area, and adds additional cost. It can be a good option if you need to hunt areas without good trees to climb or lean against.
  • Still hunting, or walking and hunting is an advanced technique, but it is possible to have some success if you play the weather and terrain just right.
  • The best thing you can do is get into the woods and hunt. Experience will inform you about where to invest your time and resources. Don’t spend too much your first year, focus on getting experience so you can make informed decisions next time around.

Gear Mentioned In The Episode:

 

EP16 Where To Take A Deer For Processing – Everything You Need To Know

Show Notes:

Before you step foot into the deer woods you need to have a plan for what you are going to do if you are successful. Most newer hunters are not ready to process or butcher their own deer. Learning to hunt, getting equipped, scouting, and field dressing absorbs all of their focus. I recommend you save processing a deer for a future hunting season, if you are interested in trying it. 

Finding a good deer processor is key and will relieve a lot of anxiety when it’s time to hunt because you will have a solid plan. This episode will help you learn everything you need to know about finding and vetting a good deer processor and what you need to do before and after.

Take Aways:

  • Get your deer to a processor as quickly as possible. Field dress it within minutes of the kill and then go straight to the processor to minimize chance of spoiling.
  • If you are able, wash out the animal and pack it with some ice. Nothing else is needed after you field dress it, and even these steps are optional.
  • Make 100% sure the processor you find will give you back the meat from the deer you brought in, not just meat from the last deer butchered. 
  • Ask the processor for a nice variety of meat items back, even if it costs a little more. Get steaks, roasts, ground, sausages, sticks, jerky, and any other options they have. It may cost a little more but it will help you learn what you like and you will enjoy the animal to it’s fullest.
  • Expect to only get back meat that is 60-70% of the weight of the deer after it is field dressed, if everything on the animal is perfect. There are many things that could result in you getting back less meat, and some things that could help you get a little more. 

 

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