W
hen field judging mule deer, take a picture through the spotting scope on your digital camera then review the picture and make yourself a “rulerto-scale” from a small stick or piece of paper. Put your stick or paper up against the screen and make it the size of the deer’s ear. This will represent approximately eight actual inches (may vary from area to area). You can measure the circumference of the antlers by using the deer’s eyes. Make a “circumference ruler” by making a stick the same size as the on-screen deer’s eye ball, this will represent approximately 1.3 actual inches. Since you can’t see all the way around the antler in a photo, compare the “circumference ruler” to the deer’s antler – a 1.3” diameter equals a 4”circumference (if the antler is larger than the ruler its circumference is greater than four inches, if it’s smaller it is less than four inches). For the width measurement, the natural alert position ear span is 20-22 inches (depending on age and body size). Once you have made your “rulers” use them to measure the antlers on the screen. It can be extremely accurate if you are able to get good pictures. Hint: You must make a new “ruler” for each new picture or zoom level since you will be making them to scale.
A
garbage bag can be used not only as a game bag to keep blood from soaking your pack, or a poncho in the rain, but also as a mattress. For a good night’s sleep and added insulation from the cold, stuff the bag with pine needles then top it off with either fir boughs or ferns to keep it soft. Hint: lay on it to pack it down and then add more padding until full. For a larger bed use two bags. Get creative, whatever looks soft generally will work. By putting the foliage inside the plastic garbage bag you can use damp or wet material without soaking your sleeping bag.
D
id you forget your spotting scope tripod, shooting sticks or camp stool? No worries, three sticks of the same size wrapped together with rope or parachute chord is a great fix. Put the three sticks in a bundle and wrap the rope four to eight inches from the top, making sure to wrap in between the sticks as well. Tie the rope off and spread the legs apart. It is steady and works in a pinch. Forget carrying shooting sticks all the way to the top of the mountain, this solid rest can be made on the spot and is adjustable so you can shoot standing up. Hint: when making a stool, a flat rock works great as a seat.
N
eed fishing tackle in a pinch? Parachute chord, shoelaces, or nylon cord can be unraveled to create fishing line. The center of most parachute cord is white, this works best as the line closest to your hook, while the outside strands are stronger and colored and should be used to extend the line. Licking the loose fibers or getting the fibers wet helps keep the new strands together. Unravel the cord to thin strands and tie each thin strand together with a simple knot to lengthen the line. For a hook, take a small stick and carve it down to look like a short toothpick. Tie your line to the middle of the stick. Place the stick inside of your bait parallel with its body (grasshoppers work the best). The hook works by getting pulled sideways and lodging in the fish’s throat. Hint: This method can be very effective for catching fish, but it is important to remember these are not regular hooks so you don’t want to set the hook right away. Let the fish take and swallow the bait. The fish will generally grab the bait then go to the bottom to fully swallow, so make sure there is plenty of slack. Once the fish has swallowed the hook, give it a quick pull to set it and bring the fish in.