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VOL 2 ISSUE 6 Nov/Dec 2016
Appreciation of the Harvest with Candy Yow
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Articles Appreciation of the Harvest By Candy Yow................................................................................................4 Feral Hog Wild By Lisa Selner................................................................................................6
Roxy the Recurve By Candace Hubble..........................................................................................8 Attacks on Hunters in Social Media By Joni Marie Kiser.......................................................................................12 Lifestyle not a Hobby By Kimberly Snyder......................................................................................16 Children Are the Future For The Wildlife & Outdoors By Christy Turner.........................................................................................20 Deer Hunting Tips
By Judy Erwin Branham................................................................................24
Judy’s Reviews
Flambeau’s Heated Vest Judy Erwin Branham....................................................................................27 My Hunting Homes By Sharlene Todd.........................................................................................28
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Appreciation of the Harvest By Candy Yow
I frequently get asked if I am a trophy hunter, that is a hard question to answer as I, like anyone else would love to shoot a monster mule deer or a 400 class bull, but in reality that is not always an option. If I have to answer that question I would say I am a meat hunter because that is always first on my list, not that I will not hold out for a larger animal in some instances but even in a great unit filling my tag is more important than getting a trophy. To me it’s all about the hunt, the challenge of putting a spot & stalk on a buck or shooting 350 yards on a great bull. The challenge of hiking for hours in the dark with just a head lamp to get further back in the back country where there are more animals and fewer people, the challenge of becoming one with Nature and learning the animals patterns. This is what the hunt is really all about. The thoughts of whether I will mount the animal and
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add it to the living room wall never enters my mind until after the hunt is over. Not saying I have not had some great animals because I have, our living room is pretty full as a matter of fact, but I have never pulled a trigger with that in mind. I think the most important thing for me in hunting is that moment you walk up on your animal, that special minute between you, the animal and God. That moment of appreciation, respect and utter Thankfulness. I usually shed a tear or two; for sure I am shaking with excitement and adrenaline. It seems the more challenging the hunt, the more overwhelmed I feel. You could definitely say I have a case of Buck Fever and I hope that never goes away. It’s funny how the sore feet, and aching muscles I have felt for the past few hours no longer seem to hurt as much!! The same could be said about the units we hunt, we all put in for the #1 unit dreaming of shooting a whopper, but in reality there are great animals in all the units. Maybe not the quantities of them but take for instance the famous Bend Buck! He lived in downtown Bend, Or. All the units have good genetics and produce quality animals; we just have to hunt a bit harder for them. If you do your homework and get some scouting in, you will probably harvest a nice animal. We believe the further away from roads and people, is where the animals prefer to be, hence the hiking in the dark for so many miles.! Yes it takes more work and a few blisters and curses along the way, but it is always worth the effort in the end. And remember you will not always shoot an animal, that is why it is called hunting and not killing, that is also what keeps us humble and helps us appreciate it when we do harvest a nice animal. With the world the way it is today we are constantly under attack for hunting and eating what we hunt. That is what these animals were created for, our consumption and the true circle of life. I respect and appreciate each and every animal that I harvest. Eating healthy is very important to our family and nothing is leaner and healthier than wild game, or more delicious. Prepared properly wild game is every bit as good as processed meat and much better for you. We purchase very little meat throughout the year, our freezers are full of good healthy wild game and everyone loves to come to our home for dinner. So I guess in reality I am a trophy hunter, as my freezer full of meat is a trophy, my memories with family and friends in the backcountry is a trophy, my appreciation for wildlife and for the animals taken are trophies. The aching muscles, sore joints and stronger muscles from the long hours of hiking mountains are a trophy. Raising our grandchildren to appreciate and know their way around the outdoors, helping women overcome insecurities, reaching out to Wounded Warriors or Hunt of a Lifetime and helping them achieve their dreams, those are all trophies! Each and every smile, pat on the back and high five’s are all trophies! And much more important than that buck on the wall, longer lasting than a picture on face book, and more memorable than anything you could do. So if you ask me now if I am a Trophy hunter I will answer yes with a huge smile on my face. Candy Yow
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Feral Hog Wild By Lisa Selner
Not long ago, my dad summed it up perfectly in one sentence: “Hunting is something you’re born with.” It entails the pursuit of game for food, recreation, or trade. Though it was once a necessary means of survival, and still is in some parts of the world, many outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen in this country continue the tradition as a pleasurable pastime. As a hunter myself, I can understand the intensity of emotion and respect for the outdoors when engaging in such a pursuit. The experience of a hunt is simply beyond words. It is enriching both mentally and physically to be reminded that I am a part of the great web of life. Hunting confirms a sense of deep-rooted, almost instinctual desire to be immersed in my natural surroundings. A successful hunt stirs a flurry of adrenalin and emotions in me. I am always grateful when another life form has provided me a special opportunity to continue with my sustainability through its own sacrifice. Even the butchering of the meat can generate an innate recollection of times past, in a simpler era, where the feat was a way of life as much as a state of mind. It is truly a soul-cleansing sentiment. I savor the entire process, from the hunt itself, to the butchering of the meat and preparation of the hide for tanning, to the time it’s on a dinner plate. Though cooking is by far not my forte, the overall experience of a hunt fulfills me. While I favor hunting members of the deer family especially, in recent years, I’ve also learned to appreciate feral hog hunting as well.
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Hunting feral hogs is something I started taking real interest after relocating to California from the East Coast for work. I’ve had some experience with feral hogs as a pest species in the southern part of the country, but not enough to really appreciate them as a game species. They can actually be quite a thrilling creature to hunt, while also providing another great source of meat. In California, domestic hogs were introduced by Spanish and Russian settlers in the 1700s. The European wild boar was introduced to central California in the 1920s by a rancher. Over time domestic hogs roaming feral eventually bred with wild boars, creating a wild boar and feral pig hybrid, resulting in today’s wild pigs in the state. Feral hogs are classified as a game species in California, and may be hunted year-round. Their physical characteristics vary greatly, depending on which part of the state you’re in, and can show any number of features derived from their wild boar and domestic hog ancestry. Their coat colors can be just as varied, with markings grizzled, solid, spotted and striped in appearance. As is the case in all other states where feral hogs are a menace, they are quite destructive in their search for food, as they root up the soil with their snouts. They are present throughout most of California, and can be found in a variety of habitats. Boars especially, can be quite fierce, and very dangerous when cornered. So far, all of my feral hog hunting ventures in California have taken place in the central region, right in the middle of pig country! A majority of the feral hog population resides on private ranchland. Feral hogs are best hunted during the spring and summer months, when they are attracted to grain fields (alfalfa and barley). Areas where there is a constant water supply are great, too. They may be active throughout the day, but in areas where hunting pressure is high, they can revert to being entirely nocturnal, or move out of an area completely, as is the case with many game species experiencing a lot of hunting pressure. With moderate pressure, hunting is best very early in the morning, and again late in the afternoon or evening. Traversing rugged terrain in search of feral hogs is always very exciting! You never know when you’ll happen upon a herd of hogs. Sometimes they seem to just run out of nowhere and surprise you. Because of the feral hog’s high intelligence and extreme agility while maneuvering in brush and open terrain, they make for quite the chase. They are always on the move and seldom pause, so you don’t have much time to get your weapon ready. Sometimes, when no feral hogs have been spotted, their presence is quite obvious, when happening upon an entire hillside with rooting damage. It looks as if somebody had been through it with a rototiller. While engaging in mostly one- or two-day hunts, I often come home empty-handed. It is not uncommon to return from a hunt covered in a layer of dust, and pulling brush debris from my hair and clothing. But sometimes coming home empty-handed and not “bringing home the bacon” isn’t all for nothing. The draining hikes along the hillsides allow for some excellent shed hunting opportunities. During one of my hunts in the foothills of the Santa Lucia Mountains, we happened upon several tule elk sheds deep in the canyons or along creek beds, where elk were seen bedded down under thick cover, and I thought I hit the jackpot! I’ve wanted to add a tule elk shed to my antler collection for some time. The landscape views are also very beautiful, and the wildlife abundant. I’m always on the lookout for black bears, or even an elusive mountain lion, as well. Happy Hog Hunting!
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Roxy the Recurve Candace Hubble
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She is simple, beautiful, primitive and traditional. Her mission is direct with very little to complicate the process. Wood, strings, muskrat fur, and an arrow; no sights, no cams, no mess but she creates a frustration within me of the best kind. It is not for everyone and it might not even be for me when it is all said and done but the journey to find out is part of the my life now. There is much to learn but my heart and mind are open for a new relationship and her name is Roxy.
I’ve only been bow hunting with a compound bow for 9 years and recently purchased a Samick Sage recurve bow. I shot it a few times but never put in the work necessary to build that connection. After traveling to Colorado, Kansas and across my home state of Texas bow hunting over the last few years, I started this year with a goal to put in the effort and dedication to not only shoot my recurve regularly, but to take a small game animal with it; maybe a raccoon or varmint of the like.
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I drowned myself in videos from Jeff Kavanagh and other traditional hunters attempting to learn proper form, release, and any bits of information I could force into my brain. Every afternoon was spent shooting 100+ arrows through Roxy’s 25 pound limbs to gain repetition and muscle memory. I knew I would have to increase the weight before attempting to shoot an animal but starting out and learning form was fine with 25 pound limbs. I began to build a relationship with Roxy and my confidence grew to 8 yards. Instinctive shooting is tricky and learning it can only come with practice. There isn’t a step by step video that shows you how to throw a baseball exactly 50 yards, when to release, how much force to put behind it, or how much arc to put on it; you just figure it out as you practice…too far, too much, too little, too short. So goes the learning of shooting a traditional bow and nothing ever comes easy for me. So I shot…every day the weather would allow, until I was
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happy with my progress, until it was dark, until life priorities yelled louder and until my body said no. Roxy and I were in a committed relationship now. Just as I had started building a bond with Roxy, I was sidelined with a foot injury, stuck in a walking boot and forced to rest more than I wanted to. I would still try to shoot but my form was out of balance without putting weight on my left foot, standing for lengthy periods of time made it swell more and my frustration got the best of me. Roxy was left alone for a while. My body lost strength over the next few months and I lost the drive to put in the time for Roxy. Finally I was back on my feet or at least I had run out of patience and decided 75% healthy was good enough for me and I started shooting again. It was almost like starting over but I was determined and having fun shooting. The spark lit up and died out quickly when I was shut down with finger surgery from an inconvenient cactus
that forced 3 spines into my ring finger knuckle and refused to come out on their own. Fast forward 2 months of recovery and physical therapy (my finger is still only about 80% healthy) and I have once again wrapped my hands back around the beauty of Roxy and started shooting. The difference now is I have switched my 25 pound limbs for 40 pound limbs and moved out to 10-12 yards with 3 end results in mind; build strength, make progress, and hopefully taking my first animal with a recurve. I was hoping this would happen by the end of the year and although I will still try for that, I know this year’s injuries may not allow. I switched to 40 pound limbs out of respect for the hunt and the animal and the challenge has already been rewarding in my back yard. I am once again practicing as much as I can and re-learning the few things my body forgot since the start of the year. The relationship with Roxy is serious again and I hope to stay committed for as long as my body will allow.
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Attacks on Hunters in Social Media Joni Marie Kiser
I rolled out of bed and started to get ready for the day. I picked up my phone off the charger and noticed that I had over 100 comments on my Instagram account. Instantly I knew without even looking at the first comment what had happened. Overnight I had gotten targeted by an Anti-Hunting group. This has happened to me before, many times actually. So often in fact, that I’ve gotten “used” to it. I started scrolling through the comments left under my photos, lots of cuss words, threats to kill me or saying that others should, comments about how evil, disturbed, mentally ill I am etc... Filled my screen. No one should get “used to” waking up to this. Yet today, as hunters - and ESPECIALLY as a female who hunts; this is becoming “normal”. I used to report every single comment on Facebook and Instagram; but noticed that nothing ever got done. Reported comments on IG would disappear for about 30 minutes and then come right back. On Facebook I would get notices from them that the “comment does not violate our community standards”. How can a comment threatening to
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kill me or a member of my family not violate a community standard? If I was to go on the page of a politician or someone from a well-known religion and cut and paste these comments as my own; I assure you they would not go unpunished. Why is it ok to bully one person but not another? Yes, I said BULLY. The amount of anti-hunter bullying that now takes place on social media has risen dramatically in recent years. These hateful and often violent comments are meant to intimidate hunters. Why am I calling it bullying? One definition of bullying says it is “unwanted, aggressive behavior with the intent to influence to intimidate (someone)” Hmmmm.... isn’t that exactly what these Anti Hunters are doing? They want to intimidate hunters into removing their hunting photos, into being afraid to post anything about their hunts online. Online bullying has gotten a lot of attention in recent years due to bullying behaviors of students towards each other, parents to other students, etc... Facebook and Instagram have strict Anti-Bullying policies! So why aren’t these Anti Hunter bullies being swiftly dealt with? Most hunters are not calling it what it is. Bullying. I think as hunters we need to re-define how we talk about Anti Hunter online behavior and how we report it. I have had family friends ask me, why put yourself through the drama? Why even post your hunting pics online? I will admit that these comments, day after day, year after year, have worn on me. I have thought on many occasions about deleting my accounts or no longer sharing my adventures. It seems simpler. But it also seems like they “win” - their bullying worked. Additionally I love sharing my
adventures and more so - I love connecting with other hunters and hearing about their adventures. I have developed an amazing community of men and particularly women who hunt all over the US and the world - whom I never would have met without social media. Hunting is in my blood and it is who I am. I don’t want to have to hide that or feel like I can’t be myself just because someone else doesn’t approve. Many groups have taken it farther than just some isolated comments. There are entire Facebook pages (with tens of thousands of followers) that are dedicated to attacking hunters. They pick a specific hunter online and then tell their followers to go after the person, instructing them how to get around Facebook reports and the best ways to get their photos or their entire pages removed. There are Facebook groups, some public and some private that are dedicated to the same thing. Names like Hunt the Hunters, or
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Kill (insert name of hunter) etc... Should send up an immediate red flag for bullying but somehow seems to fly under the radar. In recent news this fall, Aryanna Gourdin, a 12 year old bowhunter was viscously attacked by anti-hunters online. Thousands of comments and death threats were written on her page. The horrible things that people wrote to a child were appalling. I cannot understand someone who is upset that you have legally hunted an animal that would then turn around and talk about killing a sweet young girl. It was horrific to watch. About a month before the attacks on Aryanna started I had gotten fed up with all of the hate and decided to let my voice be heard in the hunting online community. I started up a slogan through my clothing company Rockstarlette Bowhunting that has really seemed to resonate with both bowhunters and gun hunters alike. “Stand Up to Anti Hunter Bullying” I’m hoping that through this campaign it will get people thinking and talking about what it means to be bullied on social media. If bullying is not allowed; then that should protect EVERYONE - not just certain people. Hunters should be safe from bullies in the same way that anyone else is. I was beyond flattered that Aryanna and her
father Eli both wore my T shirts when they were interviewed on Live TV by Piers Morgan on Good Morning Britain. Piers who is clearly Anti-Hunting; proceeded to ask her “how would you feel if I killed your cat” comparing that to her hunting legally in Africa. He had her on the show to discuss the bullying that she had received online and then turned around and bullied her there on Live television. I had a bunch of Anti’s from England find me after the interview, by looking up who made the shirts - and send me all sorts of nasty awful messages; but I didn’t care! I felt proud that my message resonated with her and I felt extra proud to support her and her father and what they stand for. They showed real strength in how they stood up for all hunters rights in their interviews. If you are interested in letting your voice be heard too we have T shirts for men, women and youth on our website at http://www. rockstarlettebowhunting.com and you can use my personal coupon code joni10 and get an extra 10% off your entire order. Joni Marie is the owner of Rockstarlette Bowhunting, an avid hunter and a Pro Staffer for Xpedition Archery, HHA and Prois
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o t n a e l H y o t s b e b f i y L By Kimberly Snyder
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Almost all of us have a Facebook, Twitter, Instagram; some sort of social networking connecting us with the rest of the world. A world for many of us wouldn’t even be possible to view without social media. We make friends/acquaintances all over the world. We can share our moments, our needs, our success as well as our failures. But let’s take a moment and look at what the internet/social media has done for hunting. Let’s look back at hunting in 1980, who was out there hunting? Well it was the dads, the men, it was not considered cool, trendy or even had much notoriety to it. It was a family lifestyle, filling freezers, and passing along traditions of hunting/trapping/ fishing to our generations and enjoying moments of bonding and learning to appreciate the outdoors. The gear wasn’t top notch, it worked, but the pressure on the animals also didn’t require the technology to be state of the art. Think about it, if animals adapt to their surroundings, don’t you thing they learn to adapt to the pressures, tricks and the practices of hunters? Back in 1980, I would even say going into the 1990’s hunting still stayed with the good ole’ boys. Some people even called hunters rednecks, where I am from at least. If you wanted to hunt a piece of land, well you just asked and the farmers welcomed you. There was no need to play the cut throat game that exists today of what land can I acquire? How much can I offer the farmer or land owner for rights for years to come and undercut the hunter that has been there for 20 years? There are outfitters popping up every month, selling hunts, trying to grab the next group of folks because money has turned into the driving force for many of them. Now don’t misread this article. I have hunted with some outfitters that have been around for over 15-20 years, some of these great men (or women) that have built a place to hunt, a home, not a money pit. And even some of these huge/top notch outfitters, well they have earned their place among the industry, they have put the money into acquiring the land, time into managing it and building it to be a hot hunting ground and they have earned their place among the great spots to hunt. But let’s be honest, what average middle class hunter can afford to go to these locations, let alone take their wife or child along. But you also have the solo hunter guys that give themselves a “group” name, they hashtag their lives and now they are the guys that
are building some dynasty among what? They are building it on a social network to gain likes and to grab attention or to be Famous. Now let’s fast forward this entire thing to 2007-Present….. ENTER the age of Social networking. In the past 6 years I have seen more hunting groups, more “Bragging” of what they have harvested, the Glory shots, the modern day Glamour Shots…… look at me, LOOK AT ME! The pressure that never existed in my life even 8 years ago when I hunt-
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ed is beyond control now. The pressure to find locations to hunt is mind blowing. I have watched men come into locations and make deals behind others backs to snatch a location and now they have rights. All for WHAT! The pride that has consumed the hearts of so many who hunt has taken away what hunting is‌ A lifestyle not a HOBBY! As with all fads, this too shall pass, and one day we will be back to the days of hunting for conservation, for bonding with family and for our genuine love of the tradition. To my friends, my fellow women and male hunters, take a moment: Question yourself as to why you are hunting? Are you getting into hunting so that you can pose in a new Glamour shot, become the next model on a magazine, maybe the next TV star or an internet Fame sensation that everyone adores. Or are you the male hunter, who thinks you have some new business adventure that can build you money doing what you love to do? Are you hunting for the right reasons or are you out there taking a life without the knowledge or the heart behind the hunt to do it ethically and with a humble heart. If you want to be famous, find another hobby. Hunting isn’t a hobby it is a lifestyle, a lifestyle
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that brings joy, happiness, and peace to many of us. It consumes our lives, it lives in our hearts and it is not just for the hero shots, not for the likes on a post on FB, not for the amount of money we are making (because trust me, we are usually broke from trying to afford all our decoys, shells and gear), not for a new profile picture, and not to fill some fantasy to be liked, accepted, told we are beautiful or to be famous, it is the appreciation when we sit in a blind, close our eyes, thank God above for our moment to breathe in his air and experience all his gifts he has given us. Capture your moments on camera, hold them dear to your heart, share your moments with your loved ones, but just remember when you are sharing those moments, your sharing because of your lifestyle not for validation of self.
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Children Are the Future For The Wildlife & Outdoors By Christy Turner
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Genesis 27:3 Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and they bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison; 4 And make me savory meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die. If you have never been taught about wildlife conservation or have ever been around people who hunt, I understand you might not understand a hunters view or perspective. We are not cold hearted killers. We have compassion and respect for the wildlife and the outdoors. This is what I am trying to teach and pass down to my kids. With the experiences they have already had, they have learned confidence, respect, ethics and how to provide for the family and they are only 10 years old. For over the last 20 years I have enjoyed hunting with my husband, kids, and friends. Sometimes
it’s a social type of setting and sometimes I’m off by myself in the middle of nowhere with just my thoughts and God. We spend countless hours practicing shooting our bows and rifles so when we do have that opportunity, we will make that perfect heart shot. With that perfect shot I feel the animal doesn’t suffer and has a good quick death. Also with a perfect heart shot, they usually do not go far at all and you find your animal. I don’t go out in the field and just start blasting away and hope to knock them down after shooting them several times. But I have made a poor shot before and could not track my deer and lost them. It made me so upset and I was totally beside myself. One because I made the animal suffer and I knew it would eventually die from the injury, and two because I lost the
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meat. I know a varmint will have dinner but I hate the fact I made an animal suffer. We try to manage our deer herd by using game cameras to discuss which ones are young, which ones are old, which ones look like they are thriving and which ones are poor. We don’t just shoot anything that walks in front of us. We like to try and shoot the management deer that we had discussed or a trophy buck. In hunting over 20 years I have never shot what one would consider a trophy buck. All the bucks I have ever shot have been management bucks but they are still trophy’s in my eyes. I worked hard and put in long hours every year. I also provide very good organic meat for my family and friends. I rarely buy meat at the grocery store. It is an amazing feeling and accomplishment to work so hard, usually in harsh weather conditions, and make a good shot on a great management deer. To provide my family with amazing organic, very healthy, and delicious venison. You can’t buy that feeling or accomplishment. I am so proud of my kids who have experienced this every year for the past five years since I let them start hunting. I’m so proud my kids try to explain these things to their friends and adults who don’t understand. It also scares me how so many people do not understand the reasoning to hunting and think it is cold hearted killing. We as hunters and outdoors men can only try to explain and educate. With so many families split up because of divorce, most kids live with the mom. Or the Dads have to work out of town. We need the women of the house to get involved in the outdoors. They will pass down and teach the children the respect and ethics to the outdoors and the reasoning to hunting and the benefits. Try to encourage
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women and promote to other ladies the benefits of the outdoors. It is easy to get involved even if you do not live on acreage. If you do not know another lady who can mentor you, go to the National Wildlife Turkey Federation website. They have a program called, Women in the Outdoors. They offer so many amazing activities and you do not need any experience to participate! I know here in Texas where I live, The Texas Parks and Wildlife has a program called, Becoming an Outdoors Women. Their goal is to provide an atmosphere where women feel comfortable learning new skills associated with hunting, fishing, and other outdoor activities, in a supportive and non-threatening environment. Wherever you are google and see what pops up in your state and what they have to offer close to you. It is very easy to just go to the grocery store and buy your steak or hamburger and never think about how it got into the package. I want my kids, family, friends, and community to understand and respect the outdoors. I want the future of hunting available to my children and grandchildren. Thank you for getting involved and promoting and encouraging women, and children to get in the outdoors.
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Deer Hunting Tips By Judy Branham
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Growing up in Northern Indiana then spending the past 30 years in West Central Indiana has been a wonderful experience. Northern Indiana hunters (or flatlanders) have the same fall beauty as do central and southern Indiana hunters only without the hills and hollers of the more southern part of the state. Great diversity of tree species such as maple, oak, beech, sassafras, poplar, and many more give fall colors of yellow, red, and oranges splendor to the eyes. This also makes for a very pleasant early fall archery season each year. I have enjoyed whitetail deer hunting for over 30 years now and have a few tips for the novice hunter. 1. Do not just trophy hunt: keep it FUN!
Most importantly to me is to have fun and enjoy God’s beauty of the woods. I began hunting because I was hungry and needed the meat for myself and my family. Once I experienced success I was hooked. Although I enjoy the meat and am very proud of my buck harvests I only trophy hunted one year ever. I archery hunted every day all day long for over 30 days only to have the buck I was after shot opening day by a rifle hunter. My heart sunk and the disappointment was soon returned to the joy of meat hunting while enjoying the fall woods. Enjoying hunting is the most important part. Without really enjoying anything it becomes work and ceases to be fun. If you have never meat hunted you should try it. Relaxing and watching the birds, squirrels and other wildlife is one of the greatest joys of my life. Sharing that joy with others is another. 2. Be SAFE! Treestand safety and hunting equipment (gun and bow) safety are of the utmost importance. According to the Indiana Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide for 2016-2017 there were 20 treestand falls in 2015 making the percentage of total hunting incidents due to falls 54.1. In 2014 this percentage was 78.3. Indiana Department of Natural Resources also suggests the following: We as hunters KNOW our equipment BEFORE season begins. These suggestions work for any hunting situation anywhere. • READ directions of the manufacturer of your treestand and safety harness. • CHECK your stands before each use for wear such as rusty bolts, rotting strap material, chains and cables. • PRACTICE at ground level before use with another person present. • LEARN how to use your full-body-harness (FBH). • SELECT a safe tree for your stand paying attention to the correct safe size of your stand. Use a straight tree. Check the tree for animal dens and insects. • AVOID using climbing treestands on smooth bark trees especially during wet or icy conditions. • CLEAR debris from underneath your stand in case of a fall to reduce chance of injury.
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IDNR suggest DURING the hunt:
• WEAR a full body harness while in any treestand. • Make sure your FBH is ATTACHED to the tree before you climb. • When climbing KEEP THREE POINTS of contact with the ladder at all times. Either both hands and a foot or both feet and a hand. • When using a platform stand, always climb higher than the stand to STEP DOWN onto the platform. • Wear NON-SLIP soles on your footwear.
IDNR suggest while in the stand:
• Properly ADJUST your FBH to minimize the fall distance in case of a fall. • Always raise and lower your firearm with a HAUL LINE. • Make sure firearms are UNLOADED before attaching to the haul line. • STAY CALM if you fall. • Have EMERGENCY equipment on hand such as a knife, cell phone, flashlight, and whistle on your person. • Practice the three R’s: RECOVER, RELIEF, and RESCUE. Try to recover and return to your stand. If you cannot, exercise your legs by pushing against the tree or ladder or using the suspension relief device provided with your FBH until help arrives. DON’T TAKE CHANCES!
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3. SHARE your love of hunting with others: especially youth!
Nothing is more important than keeping our hunting heritage alive. The only way we can do this is to pass it on. Tell others about the joy you experience. Women and children are the key to this in today’s America. If mothers find the joy and meaningfulness in hunting they will want to share it with their children. If children gain these experiences as youth they will remember it always and come back to it as adults to teach their children. If each of us teaches one woman or child about the outdoors many will become outdoorsmen. Keep our heritage alive!
Judy’s Reviews: What to Choose By Judy Branham Flambeau’s heated vest is my new favorite piece of clothing for cool and cold weather activities. This light weight vest is convenient in fall, winter and spring either as a light vest or a warm heated vest. I wear it over a long sleeve shirt during early fall or spring days. When the temperatures lower in early morning or late evening I simply push the button for three different temperature settings. The vest heats my chest and back. Ease of use: • Battery charging – simply remove the battery from the vest inner pocket with Velcro closure and place in the charger. • Battery life – The compact 7.4V rechargeable Lithium-ion battery provides up to 6 hours of heat. • Camo pattern – Mossy Oak Break-Up Country • Quietness – Polyester and spandex with 260G brushed fabric exterior and a 2-Way stretch 250G lining. My favorite characteristics of the vest are it is: •
Light weight
•
Quiet
•
Versatile
In cooler temperatures I wear a jacket over the vest. Even in extreme cold I have gotten too hot with the setting on high. This vest could possibly save you from hypothermia in my opinion. I consider the vest a valued piece of safety equipment for outdoor activities. I don’t go to the woods without it from October through April. For men and women alike this product is awesome. The camo version sells for $179.99 and the Black one is $159.99. Check out Flambeau’s many products at: http://www.flambeauoutdoors.com/en/hunting/search
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My Hunting Homes BY SHARLENE TODD
“A woman’s place is in the home.” That quote could easily give away my age. Well, the pictures in this article will do that anyway! Women nowadays have many places we call home and yes, I am one of them in the NOW. You’ve seen the pictures and you see what’s coming. These are the places I call home during hunting season. These homes all have a story that come with them and it’s going to be fun to share them with you especially since opening day 2016 isn’t that far away. Our family hunts on 140 acres of farmland my Dad and Mom bought years ago. I began hunting in 2007. Back then my husband, Dick, set me up in a chair under a pine tree. I have taken down three deer from that spot and also missed a few from there as well. I prefer to focus on the positives not the misses!! My pine tree has since been given the touches a woman hunter likes thanks to my guy. Cover, lots of cover and brush trimmed and piled around my chair. I helped with that project. Dick then built a small fence and added more cover. He brought up an old bench that my brother and I bought several years ago for our parents’ 50th wedding anniversary. This only
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adds to the memories of this land they gave our family. To that bench I added the final touch - a soft camo cushion. Yes, all the comforts of home! A few years later my guy/guide put up a treestand for me. I didn’t mind the height but after using it a few times I had to be honest with Dick. I wasn’t that happy in it because I shoot left handed and it just was not comfortable for me to hunt the area. I’m not sure about other lefties, but for me, a shot to my right is a heck of a lot easier as I don’t have to turn my body only my trusty gun…a 6.8 Thompson Center G2 Contender. That gun holds one bullet so I have to make it count. Anyway, the few times I hunted from the treestand, I never saw a deer so I used the pine tree bench more often. I wrote in a July/August 2015 article in Huntress Life that in Feb of 2008 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I had to have a mastectomy and after that surgery it was possible I would have to have chemotherapy which could make it more difficult to tolerate the cold temps we have in Upstate NY! Son Jim, in the medical profession and always prepared for any scenario, gifted me with a hunting hut… just in case. Such thoughtfulness! My gratitude overflowed for that gift and the gift that chemo was not necessary. We put it up near my pine tree. I shot a very large doe out of my new “hut hunting home” and I must add I did not miss any…well, from where it was set up then! The hut story continues……. A few years later, Dick had to set the hut up in an area easier for me to walk to because I had to have knee surgery. Unfortunately, the discomfort occurred during hunting season prior to January when surgery was scheduled. It was just a simple meniscus repair. This hut came with a structure to get it off the ground and after the treestand attempt, I much preferred the hut plus I get to stay on the ground!!! Dick put the base together in one of our cornfields. I now have a “towerstand” complete with a short ladder just in case I want to get off the ground. I do enjoy it once in a while and so has my grandson but all our family agrees it has not been the best area to see deer. I think it is time to move it. Yet another job for Dick! I keep him so busy but all that he does for me is his special way of saying I love you.
A few years ago Dick bought me a chair with a canopy. I used it on one of our family semi-guided trips and shot a large doe from it. When my broken arms were healing I tried to use my field pod with the chair, which made it easier for me to shoot, but I never adapted to setting up the pod and using the canopy by myself. I felt so clumsy. I have used the chair many times now that I don’t need the pod. Yes, another comfortable ground blind. I just referred to my broken arms … but that’s another story. Oh wait - I already wrote that one.. HA! Huntress Life Nov./ Dec. 2015 issue but I did not include this story in that article. I now refer to my 2013 journal --- yet another huntress home.
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was they had trailered my Christmas gift and helped David unload it and that Trevor had also shot a deer before we arrived.
Dec.3rd Dick and I did not hunt this a.m. as my arm was very sore. I had done something to it a few days ago. (see article.) Mid-afternoon our son, David, calls to ask me about a dental appointment I had the next day. We talked a bit and I said is that what you called me about - my dental appointment? (A little woman’s intuition kicking in there.) He said, “No, Mom, I’ve been lying. I am at the farmland and dropped off your Christmas gift plus I was hoping you could come and hunt with me.” Dick and I donned our hunting clothes. From the pain, just to complete that task, I knew I would not be hunting, but he sure had my curiosity peaked plus we both wanted to see him. We knew from an earlier phone call from grandson, Trevor, that he and his friend Jake were going to hunt that afternoon also. What we did not know
David met us with a big smile on his face. The gift could not be missed! A SIX FOOT BY SIX FOOT ground blind. Hugs and more hugs for David. I was simply in awe when I saw it. Pictures Dick and I took, are worth a thousand words. I opened the door and went in. Yes, my new home had a door and five windows and a carpet. I later learned it would be complete with a heater on Christmas day! I saw a paper hanging from one of the window sashes (yes, it has those too!) Printed on it in red pencil ~ “Merry Christmas Mom. I love you, David.” I turned the paper over ... a women’s curiosity continues. His Christmas greeting had been written on the back of the sales receipt.
David, just outside with his Dad, heard my slightly raised Mom voice, “David Michael Todd!” His response without even looking in, “Mom, I did not pay that much. I got a good deal on it!” When I got over the “sticker shock” I went outside to join my guys and listen to the story of how much attention my grandson and his friend had garnered driving this STUMP (yes, it now has a name) on the flatbed down a major highway. There was no way of expressing how much the thought and planning that David had done to make this happen meant to me. David hunted and Dick stayed with me in the stump and yes, I did find I could hold my gun resting on the window and was grateful that this lefty had a sore right arm.
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Two days later I went to the doctor and my sore right arm was broken. But again I focus on the positives. The men in my life - my husband, our two sons and grandson as you can see have helped me continue to treasure a sport I so love. But there is more!!! I now look forward to sharing my homes with another woman hunter. My granddaughter, Julia, age 22, decided she wanted to join us. I was ecstatic when I heard this! Less than a month prior she was so proud to tell us she passed her hunter’s safety course and told me she “can’t wait for hunting season.” And I replied, “Neither can I!” Hopefully sometime, I will be by her side ~ under the pine tree ~ on the tower stand ~ in the Stump. Maybe she will even use the treestand! Yes, these two women are ready for opening day in one of these places WE will NOW call home!
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