THE COMPLETE HUNTER'" THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO Basic Techniques for Gun & Bow Hunters Gary Lewis Creative Publishing international Minneapolis, Minnesota Gary Lewis is an outdoor writer, speaker and photographer. He has hunted and fished in five countries on two continents and much oft he American West. He is a past President oft he Norrhwesr Ourdoor Wrirers Associarion (NOWA) and is Associate Editor for Hunring rhe Wesr magazine. Lewis is the author or co-author ofs even books, including Creative Publishing International's Black Bear Hunring with Lee Van Tassell. Four ofh is books have won NOWA's Excellence in Craft awards and he has received numerous awards for his newspaper columns and magazine articles. His stories have appeared in many prestigious outdoor magazines such as Sporrs Afield, Rifle, Successful Hunrer, African Sporring Gazene andTradirional Bowhunrer. He lives in Bend, Oregon. Creative Publishing international Copyrighr © 2008 Bill McRae, Wyman Meinzer, Arrhur Morris/Birds as Arr, Crearive Publishing inrernarional, Inc. William H. Mullins, Doug Murphy, Scon Nielsen, Jerome B. 400 Firsr Avenue Norrh Robinson, Lynn Rogers, Leonard Lee Rue, Ill, Dwighr R. Schuh, Suire 300 Ron Shade, Jerry Smirh, Dale C. Sparras, Ron Spomer, Norm Minneapolis, MN 55401 Srrung, Syl Srrung, Ken Thommes, Charles Warerman, Chuck Chanhassen, Minnesora 55317 Wechsler, Ron Winch, James Zacks, Gary Zahm 1-800-328-0590 Conrriburing IlIumaror: Jon Q. Wrighr www.crearivepub.com All righrs reserved Library of Congress Caraloging-in-Publicarion Dara Lewis, Gary President/CEO: Ken Fund The complere guide ro hunring : basic rechniques for gun and VPISales & Marketing: Kevin Hamric bow hunrers / Gary Lewis. Publisher: Bryan Trandem p. cm. Acquisition Editor: Barbara Harold ISBN-13: 978-1-58923-373-7 (hard cover) Production Managers: Laura Hokkanen, Linda Halls ISBN-lO: 1-58923-373-5 (hard cover) 1. Hunring. I. Tide. Creative Director: Michele Lanci-Alromare SK33.L49 2008 Senior Design Managers: Brad Springer, Jon Simpson 799.2--dc22 2007033514 Design Managers: Sara Holle, James Kegley Book & Cover Design: Danielle Smirh Prinred in China Page Layout: Danielle Smirh 10987654321 Contributing Photographers: Phil Aarresrad, Grady Allen, Charles Alsheimer, Erwin Bauer, Craig Blacklock, Les Blacklock, Tom All righrs reserved. No parr of rhis work covered by rhe Brakefield, Browning, Glenn D. Chambers, Tim Chrisrie, copyrighrs hereon may be reproduced or used in any form or Herberr Clarke, Daniel]. Cox, Gary Kramer, John Ebeling, by any means-graphic, elecrronic or mechanical, including Michael Francis, Michael Furrman, Eric J. 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CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ......... 4 Black Bear .................. . .............. 82 Wild Boar .................... . .. . .... .... . 84 Chapter 1 Chapter 5 ALL ABOUT WILD GAME ... 6 HUNTING SMALL GAME ... 86 Three Senses ................................ 8 Wildlife Habitat ............................ 12 Cottontail Rabbit ... .............. .......... 88 Jackrabbit ........ .. .......... ... .......... 92 Chapter 2 Snowshoe Hare ........ ..... .... ............ 93 Gray Squirrel. .............. ...... .......... 94 HUNTING SKILLS Fox Squirrel. ............... ...... .......... 95 AND EQUIPMENT ....... 20 Prairie Dog ................................ 99 Ground Squirrel ........................... 100 The Hunting Rifle ............... ........... . 22 Raccoon ........ ... ..... ..... ............ 10 1 Rifle Ammunition ........................... 24 Coyote .... ... ..... .... .................. 103 Sights .................................... 26 Sighting in Your Rifle .............. ...... .... 28 Chapter 6 Shooting a Rifle .................. ....... .... 30 Shotguns .............................. .. .. 32 HUNTING UPLAND Bowhunting ............................... 35 GAME BIRDS .......... 106 Muzzleloaders .............................. 40 Hunting Safety ...................... ..... .. 42 Ring-necked Pheasant ........... ... ......... 108 Bobwhi te Quail. ........................... ll4 Chapter 3 California Quail ........................... 117 Gam bel's Quail. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ll8 HUNTING STRATEGIES ... 44 Mountain Quail ........ ................ ... 119 Scouting for Game .......................... 46 Scaled Quail ..................... .... ..... 120 Still-hunting ............................... 48 Ruffed Grouse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121 Stand-hunting .... .. ..... .. ..... ..... ....... 49 Sharp-tailed Grouse ......................... 124 Stalking ................................... 50 Sage Grouse ................... ...... ...... 125 Driving ..... ......... . .............. ...... 52 Chukar Partridge ............ ...... ......... 126 Flushing .................. . . ... ........... 53 Hungarian Partridge ............... ....... .. 127 Hunting Dogs ......... . ................... . 54 Wild Turkey .............................. 128 Float-hunting ................. ....... ...... 55 Mourning Dove ........................... 135 How to Find Downed Game ................... 56 Woodcock ............................... 137 Chapter 4 Chapter 7 HUNTING BIG GAME ..... 58 HUNTING WATERFOWL ... 138 White-tailed Deer ........................... 60 Puddle Ducks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142 Mule Deer ... .................. ......... ... 68 Diving Ducks .... ... .............. .... .. .. 146 Black-tailed Deer. ........................... 71 Geese ............................... .... . 149 Elk ....... ........... ...... .. ........... . 74 Moose ............ ............ .... ........ 78 INDEX ............... 155 Pronghorn ................................. 80 INTRODUCTION W hether the hunt takes you after Rocky strategy to the terrain and time of day. It also Mountain elk along the western skyline or provides valuable tips for recovering game. into a Carolina swamp behind a pack of beagles, the chase offers a unique challenge. Rabbit, deer, The final four chapters acquaint you with North elk, moose or bear, whatever the quarry, the America's most popular game animals. Hundreds hunter must outsmart a wild animal with a better of informative how-to photos, along with a knowledge of its environment and keener senses. fact-filled text, give all the information needed to locate, pursue and bag each of these species. This challenge, along with the camaraderie of the hunt, accounts for the sport's tremendous Astounding photography puts you in the scene. popularity. And a successful hunter can enjoy a Face-off with a huge bull moose; walk a fencerow year-round supply of lean, nutritious meat. and see a ring-necked pheasant burst from cover at your feet; experience the nerve-wracking The Complete Guide to Hunting is intended to anticipation of waiting for a wild turkey to strut make the reader a better hunter. Each section of close enough for a shot. the book deals with a different facet of the sport. Together, they will help you develop the skills and The hunting techniques found in this book are savvy needed to consistently bag wild game. those considered most effective by the nation's top hunting authorities. Hunting regulations and legal The first chapter, "All About Wild Game," provides equipment differ in every state and province, so it an understanding ofw ildlife behavior and helps you is possible that some of the procedures described recognize good habitat. By knowing how animals are illegal in your area. Baiting bears, for instance, sense danger, react to threats and find food, water is a popular method in some states, but is against and cover, you can improve your chances of being the law in others. Check the local hunting laws in the right spot at the right time. before going afield. Chapter 2, "Hunting Skills and Equipment," In addition to the proven high-percentage provides all the information needed to select rifles, hunting methods, this book also reveals dozens of shotguns, bows and muzzleloaders. Learn how to little-known but effective tips that help the experts choose the best ammunition for the game and take their game. You will learn how to attract how to become a proficient shooter. This chapter diving ducks by waving a black flag and how to goes far beyond the basics, explaining complex imitate a scolding squirrel by clicking quarters. principles of bullet and shot performance with descriptive photos and easy-to-understand charts. This book is a unique blend of straightforward writing and captivating photography. Never before The third chapter, "Hunting Strategies," teaches has so much how-to hunting information and so how to plan the hunt and how to scout a potential many dramatic wildlife photographs been packed spot to make sure it holds game. This chapter into one volume. The Complete Guide to Hunting details the most popular hunting techniques, from is sure to make your days afield more enjoyable stalking to driving. Learn how to tailor a hunting and more successful. 5 Chapter 1 ALL ABOUT WILD GAME From the moment of birth, a game animal faces threats from predators, weather, disease and competition. Only the strongest and wariest live long enough to reproduce. In this way, nature selects the best breeding srock to ensure that the species thrives. All game animals have the potential to produce many more offspring than the habitat can support. Reproductive rates are high among small game and upland birds. High mortality rates are nature's way of keeping game populations in check. When too many animals survive, the population explosion causes disease, stunted growth and eventually starvation. Among most upland birds, waterfowl and small game, 60 to 80 percent of the population dies each year. Individuals over one year old comprise only 20 to 40 percent of the fall population. Because young animals are more abundant and because they lack the savvy of older animals, they make up the bulk of the hunter's bag. Regulations are based on the concept that game can be harvested as long as breeding stock remains to produce another crop of similar size the following year. Seasons for small game, waterfowl and upland birds are usually long and bag limits generous. Liberal regulations are possible because of the high reproductive rates of these animals. Regulations for big game are stricter because the animals produce fewer young. Resource agencies monitor game populations and set regulations to achieve the desired harvest. Scientific wildlife management has eliminated the problems of mass slaughter associated with market hunting in years past. In fact, some of the continent's most popular game species, such as white-tailed deer and wild turkey, are more numerous today than at any time in recorded history. 7 THREE SENSES Game animals have an amazing ability to elude hunters. SMELL. Game mammals collect most of the Their keen senses of sight, smell and hearing enable information about their environment through their sense them to detect danger far in advance and take evasive of smell. In a laboratory test, rabbits were able to detect action. Many animals also possess unique survival the smell of acetone at a concentration of only 1150 of adaptations that far exceed the capabilities of humans. that detectable by humans. Hunters who pursue big or SIGHT. Game birds have color vision that may small game should try to approach from downwind to surpass that of humans. Their retinas have more keep their scent from drifting toward the animals. color receptors, or cones, than most other game Game birds have a poor sense of smell. In one animals. Colored oil droplets in the retina work like study, wild turkey were given two piles of grain, one of a camera filter, enhancing the visibility of certain which contained a highly repulsive scent. The birds paid hues. The cones also give them excellent visual acuity, no attention to the odor, feeding equally at each pile. To or sharpness. a bird in flight, a highly-developed sense of smell would Game mammals have retinas that contain mostly be of little value because odors produced by predators light receptors, or rods. The rods enable them to see quickly sink to the ground. well in dim light. The vision of most game mammals is HEARING. Because game birds lack external ears not as sharp as that of birds or humans and they have and because their ears have fewer small bones than those limited color vision, if any. of mammals, they are not as well equipped for detecting Most mammals have poor accommodation faint sounds. The range of pitches they can recognize is capabilities; they cannot change the shape of their slightly less than that of humans and substantially less lenses to focus on both close and distant objects. As a than that of many game mammals. result, images are often fuzzy. This explains why many In a test of their ability to detect various pitches, types of big game animals do not seem to notice a mallards recognized sounds up to a frequency of 8,000 stationary hunter. cycles per second (cps). Humans detected higher pitched FACTORS THAT AFFECT GAME POPULATIONS Big game populations can reach high levels despite low reproductive rates. Predators take only an occasional young animal. In areas with good habitat and little hunting pressure, herds may grow so large that food shortages result. Hunting regulations are set to control the harvest, yet prevent overpopulation. Game populations tend to remain stable if the habitat is not disturbed and hunting pressure is regulated In a study of a ruffed grouse population in New York state, there were 174 adult grouse at the beginning of the breeding season. These birds produced 935 fertile eggs. As the months passed, 24 adult grouse succumbed to predators and disease, 26 to hunting and 54 to severe weather. By the following spring, 70 birds remained to breed again. Of the 935 eggs, 374 were destroyed by predators. The rest hatched, but 337 chicks were killed by predators and disease. Hunters claimed 38 of the young birds, 81 perished in winter storms and 105 survived to the breeding season. These first-year breeders, combined with the 70 second-year birds, resulted in a total of 175 adult grouse, nearly identical to the breeding population of the previous year. 8 The Complete Guide to Hunting