Hunting is an exciting sport that some people enjoy doing. It’s a sport that gives you an adrenaline rush.
Night hunting can be even more exciting because of the activity levels of animals. You are more likely to be successful when hunting at night.
However, night hunting can also be challenging. You need to hunt in poor visibility conditions that could make it hard to detect animals and identify their whereabouts.
Here is a simple guide if you are wondering how to be a better night hunter.
How To Be A Better Night Hunter – Simple Guide To Follow
Follow this guide to ensure that you become a successful night hunter. Night hunting indeed comes with many challenges. However, when done correctly, night hunting can be a rewarding experience.
Remember to follow the below tips to ensure you get the best night hunting experience.
Speak With Other Experienced Hunters
Experience can always help you see things from a different angle. It’s the same with hunting. Those with a lot of experience in night hunting will be able to give you an insight into this whole subject.
Experienced hunters will also have unique stories of their hunting trips in the past. Their encounters will teach you a few lessons on hunting successfully at night.
They will give you tips and advice which you will not be able to learn otherwise. You can join them on their hunting adventures and learn the techniques and a few tricks they use to become successful.
Equip Yourself With The Right Gear
Night hunting is ideal for stalking your prey in the dark and getting close enough for a clean shot. However, none of this is possible if you don’t have the right hunting gear.
Here are some of the essential hunting gear that you should have.
The right ammunition
As much as you need a good air rifle for hunting, you must also use the correct ammunition. For instance, you might need to use a heavy bullet that will penetrate through the animal’s hide, especially when hunting deer.
On the other hand, a lighter bullet will be sufficient if you’re hunting animals like rabbits and squirrels.
A good light source
Will help you see the path ahead. However, it could also alert the prey of your presence.
Therefore, you need to use a light source suitable for night hunting. Examples are red-dot sight or night vision sights – more on this later. These lights give you good vision at night without giving away your position.
Other hunting gear
Here is a list of hunting equipment you should carry at night.
Weapon – Rifle or crossbow with ammunition or arrows
Quiver
Knife
Rangefinder
Flashlights or night vision lights
Food and water
First aid kit
Night vision binoculars
Camera
Find A Suitable Location And Have Patience
At night, it’s difficult to see your prey. Therefore, you need to find a suitable location with a good view of the open terrain. A clear and broad view will be advantageous in your search for prey.
Even after finding a good spot, getting your first prey could take a long time. That is why hunters need to have patience.
Another critical fact to note is to know when to go hunting. There are times when large numbers of animals roam around, while at other times, there are fewer. So, it’s vital to plan your hunting trip at a time when there are a lot of animals out there.
Use The Correct Lighting
Lighting plays a vital role in night hunting. You can’t use just about any light source available. For best results, you need to use the correct lighting, apt for night hunting. Animals are very swift runners; you can easily miss the game due to insufficient lighting.
Many hunters make the mistake of using white light due to its sharpness. However, white light is inappropriate for hunting as it scares away the game, including foxes, bobcats, and coyotes. Therefore, these animals won’t come close enough for you to get a good shot.
The recommendation is to use red light, which softens the bright light and reflects a soft glow that illuminates the animal’s eyes. Target the light a little above the animal’s head so it won’t run away.
Use Night Vision
There are several night vision scopes in the market if you can afford them for your hunting trip. These include night vision scopes, riflescopes, or thermal imaging devices.
These are devices that are specifically designed for night hunting. These devices make things clear and bright in low-light conditions.
However, these devices are costly, so many hunters avoid buying them. However, if you are a frequent night-hunter, you should consider investing in these devices.
The thermal scope is ideal to use if you are chasing the game. The thermal heat mapping in these devices increases your visibility.
The rifle scope is perfect when the hunter and prey are both static. It needs only a tiny amount of light to increase the visibility of the game.
The night vision scope gives you a large field of view and is tough to withstand heavy recoil.
Hunting Call
Hunting calls are an excellent way to attract prey. It is a method that has been in use for thousands of years. In hunting calls, hunters mimic the sound of other animals to call the game.
It is an excellent technique for hunting at night due to limited visibility and concealed prey. Traditional methods use mouth calls that professionals used at the time.
However, now you also get digital call devices that are useful in this regard too.
The right call will bring the game closer. So, as soon as it is in sight, all you need to do is to aim and shoot.
Dress Appropriately
Dressing appropriately is crucial for successful night hunting. You need to wear dark clothing that will blend with your surroundings.
You could also wear camouflage face paint to conceal your identity even more. It will keep you from being noticed by animals, thereby not signaling your presence.
Ensure you wear comfortable clothes and shoes, so you don’t make a noise while stalking prey.
Use Scent-Free Products
Animals are extremely sensitive to smells, more so than humans. It is their way of detecting predators. Therefore, you must ensure not to hide your position while hunting at night.
You can use scent-free soap to remove all traces of human scent in your body. You can also use scent-free detergent to reduce odor when washing your clothes.
Another product is a scent-free deodorant that you can apply to your underarms to reduce your scent further.
Final Thoughts
Hunting at night is an excellent way to catch prey, as it is when you’re most likely to see them. Becoming a better hunter at night is not challenging if you follow this simple guide.
Make sure you are well-equipped with gear specifically meant for use when hunting at night. Using the correct equipment with the right tactics will help you be successful in your night-hunting trips.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Better To Hunt At Night?
It’s better to hunt at night as it is when you’re most likely to see animals and get most of your kills. Many hunters recommend nighttime as the best time to hunt specific prey, including deer.
Why Do Hunters Use Red Lights At Night?
Red lights are suitable for hunting at night as they provide better eyeshine, which helps locate animals better than other colors.
Have you ever seen a moose in person? If not, you might not realize just how HUGE these creatures are! Moose make humans look tiny in comparison. In this article, we’ll explore how moose size stacks up to the average person.
Moose Height vs. Human Height
First, let’s talk about moose height versus human height. Bull moose, which are the males, stand a whopping 6 to 7 feet tall at the shoulders. That’s before you even count their antlers! Cow moose, the females, are just slightly shorter at around 5 to 6 feet tall.
Now let’s compare that to the size of a typical human. The average adult man is about 5 feet 9 inches tall. That means a bull moose can be over 2 feet taller than a man! If an average man walked up to a bull moose, he would just reach the moose’s shoulder. A cow moose is still at least several inches taller than a man.
Already from the height alone you can tell that moose are huge compared to us. But it gets even crazier when you look at their weight.
The Immense Weight of Moose
Bull moose tip the scales at 800 to 1,600 pounds on average. Cow moose weigh between 600 to 800 pounds usually. How much does a typical grown man weigh? Around 180 pounds.
So if you did the math, you’d find that one bull moose outweighs an average adult male human by 8 times! Picture 8 grown men standing on a scale. Then picture one moose on the other side. The moose side would drop way down with all that weight!
The Incredible Length of a Moose
The moose’s giant body isn’t just tall and heavy either. They also have an incredible length. From their nose to their tail, moose measure between 6 to 8 feet without the tail included. Add another 1 to 2 feet with the tail, and you get a moose length of 7 to 10 feet. How long is the average man? Around 5 feet 9 inches tall.
So a moose is longer than a full grown man is tall! If a man lay down head to toe next to a moose, the moose would be spilling over extra on both ends. These creatures are absolute giants!
Visualizing the Size Difference
Now that you know the basic height, weight and length of moose, let’s imagine what it would look like if a moose and human stood side by side. Picture it: a 6-foot-tall moose shoulder towering above the man’s head. The massive moose weighs 8 times more than the human. And the moose’s body is so long it’s spilling over the man by several feet in both directions.
When you visualize the size difference, it really paints a picture of how small we are next to these giant animals. If you ever saw a moose in the wild, you would have to crane your neck back just to see to the top of its back. And you could stand between its legs with plenty of room to spare.
Comparing Measurements
Another way to get a sense of scale is to think about specific measurements. For example, a bull moose can have an antler spread of up to 6 feet wide. That’s wider than some bedrooms! Their huge antlers alone could cover an entire person underneath.
Or consider that a moose’s shoulder is often 6 to 7 feet high. That’s the same height or taller than a basketball hoop! Imagine a creature the height of a basketball hoop but much, much bigger. That’s a massive moose!
Respecting the Size Difference
Now I know some of you might think, who cares how big moose are? Why does it matter if they’re so much larger than us? Well, the size difference has some important impacts on how we interact with moose.
For one thing, the immense size of moose means they need to be respected. Because they are so giant and powerful, moose can be very dangerous if they feel threatened. They do not run away from humans like deer often do. Instead, their size makes them confident enough to stand their ground if they perceive a confrontation.
There have been instances where moose have seriously injured or even killed people when they felt cornered or provoked. Given their gigantic stature, it’s easy for a moose to view a human as a pest rather than a threat. So people must be mindful to keep their distance and never purposefully approach or chase moose.
The huge size of moose also determines how we have to hunt them. Special rifles and ammo are required to successfully and ethically hunt such enormous game. And once they’re harvested, the meat and antlers are so bulky that machinery is needed to transport them. It takes serious manpower and equipment to hunt an animal as big as a moose!
Conclusion
So in summary, moose are massive creatures, especially in comparison to us humans. A bull moose can stand over 7 feet tall, weigh up to 1,600 pounds, and span almost 10 feet long. That makes them taller, bulkier, and longer than any person.
The next time you see a picture or video of a moose, take a moment to appreciate their immense size. It takes seeing one in person to fully grasp just how much they dwarf us humans. We must respect the incredible stature of these giants whenever we share their wilderness habitat. So think how tiny and fragile we are relative to these mammoth mammals roaming the northern forests!
FAQs
How tall is a moose compared to a human?
An adult bull moose can stand 6-7 feet tall at the shoulders, not including antlers. Cow moose are slightly smaller at 5-6 feet tall. The average adult human male is around 5 feet 9 inches tall. So a bull moose can be over 2 feet taller than a man.
How much does a moose weigh versus a human?
Bull moose weigh 800-1,600 lbs on average. Cow moose weigh 600-800 lbs. The average adult human male weighs around 180 lbs. A bull moose can weigh over 8 times more than a man.
How wide are moose antlers compared to humans?
Bull moose antlers can span 5-6 feet from tip to tip. That’s wider than some door frames and bedrooms! Moose antlers alone can cover an entire human underneath them.
Popularity of this tuna among recreational fishing community growing.
I’m sure everyone knows how to set a trotline, but there could be some easy tricks you’re missing out on that will put more fish in the boat. I’ve been setting trotlines all my life but, through the years, my methods have improved immensely through trial and error.
To begin, think big catfish don’t taste good? Then think again. It’s all about the way you cook ’em up. Even at most restaurants when you think you’re eating small catfish, its usually big ones sliced thin. The most important factor is to cut out all the red meat.
After filleting I like to soak them in a half vinegar, half ice-water solution, and then rinse thoroughly with water before packing.
For pan frying in olive oil or deep frying, slice them really thin and marinate them with olive oil and seasonings. Baking them in the oven coated with Panko bread crumb crust works well, too.
My favorite way to eat them is in a good, spicy, slow-cooked catfish courtbouillon along with a few pounds of crabmeat and other seafood thrown in as well. If cooked down, the catfish will fall apart and blend perfectly with the crabmeat.
So try these methods before throwing that tasty fish back in the water.
The first step for a trotline is cutting your pickets. I like to have one around 10 to 12 feet and another around 15 to 18 feet depending on the depth of the water. The best way to position your pickets is to find the back of a bend in a bayou where the current cuts the bottom deep within just a few feet of the bank. The catfish are usually on these hard drop-offs.
Don’t waste your time putting the line across the canal, because as soon as a big log drifts with the current your line will break, plus you won’t have as many hooks in the prime spot.
Put the short pole close to the bank and put the longer one about a third of the way out toward the middle, stretching the line up and down the canal bank. A benefit of some of the shallower hooks is that you can catch choupic, garfish and softshell turtles, as well.
After the first few runs you’ll see if you’re catching near the deeper or shallow end of the line, and then you can reposition a picket so the majority of the line is in the most-productive area.
You may be pleasantly surprised when nearly all your hooks have a catfish on them just because of proper depth placement of the line.
I like to keep the line around 20 to 40 yards long so you keep a good, solid tension. Longer lines tend to lose their hook-setting power.
I also like to keep hooks about 3 to 4 feet from one another. I don’t like to space them too far apart in case a fish steals one bait; another bait will be close, and you’ll probably have many hooks in the best drop-off position instead of only a couple.
Tie the main line about halfway down the picket before setting it in the mud so that the line is suspended instead of too high or on the bottom. I find a bait on the bottom will be less productive because the fish won’t pull downward like with a suspended hook. When a fish takes the bait on a suspended hook and flees downward, it becomes hooked.
Next, a pull string makes checking the line a breeze. Since the main line is tied down the picket, forget trying to reach under the water with a paddle, just tie a line to the top the picket and connect it a few feet down the main line before or to the swivel leaving some slack. This quick tip will save tons of time reaching for the main line.
Always remember to set the main line before putting the hooks on.
I use a 5/0 trotline hook, which is strong enough to hold a monster fish if my pickets have enough give. But it still can straighten if I pull on a main line that is caught on a log; that way, I don’t have to cut the line.
Forget using too much terminal tackle and swivels on every hook. I use heavy rope for the main line, using a quick loop knot. For the hook line, I use a smaller nylon rope with a loop knot on the end. You quickly put the hook-line loop through the main-line loop and pull the hook through the hook-line loop, and the hook is on in a second and can be taken off just as quickly.
To keep the fish from twisting themselves on the line, I tie a big heavy-duty swivel to the main line about 3 to 4 feet away from each picket. Nothing can get twisted this way, and it makes removing the main line a breeze. I use a floating noodle to put all of my hooks on so nothing ever gets tangled.
Everyone knows catfish eat just about any bait, but what is the best? In my experience, cut mullet and perch catches big ones but not as many, while small poggies and other oily shad catch the most.
The problem is that these poggies fall off too easy, so I use the best of both worlds. I hook a small piece of cut fish, making sure to go through the tough skin, and then I take a small poggies and bury the point of the hook in it. Even if the poggie gets nibbled off that chunk of fish will remain until one bites.
Two or three throws with the cast net will usually land me several hundred small poggies. I precut the fish chunk and poggies, and freeze them in Ziplocs so my bait is always ready to go. If catching perch or mullets is a problem, I recommend cutting belly meat into 1-inch chunks, leaving the skin on, while cleaning fish. This normally wasted portion of the carcass can help you catch many catfish.
Try setting out a few trotlines this way, and your freezer can stay full of catfish filets all year long. And don’t forget to bring the landing net with you!
Sighting an adjustable three-pin archery sight on a compound bow will ensure success on early-season hunts. The windage and elevation are covered, as well as adjusting the sight for longer ranges in the field for longer shots. Pin gaping will also be explored to ensure the best results for a three-pin sight.
In this article, we’ll walk you through the process of sighting in a bow with three pins. We’ll explain how it works, and then take you through a detailed step-by-step process.
How Does Sighting in a Bow with 3 Pins Work?
The three-pin archery sight takes the guesswork out of the arc an arrow flies after leaving the bow. The bow sight pins’ distances are set at exact distances, letting the hunter concentrate on technique while drawing and releasing the arrow.
By sighting the pins in the archery sight during the off-season, target acquisition is faster and more accurate for the hunter. Sighting the three pins on a bow takes time, patience, and practice, but the payoff is a successful hunting season.
How to Sight in a Bow With 3 Pin Bow Sight Distance: Step-by-step solution
Step 1: New three-pin bow sight
If this is a new three-pin bow sight, mount it to your bow. Check your attachments and hardware if you already have the three-pin sight mounted. When the three-pin bow sight is mounted, it is time to go to the practice range.
When you mount the three-pin bow sight to your bow, you must expose it to various conditions so the bolts stay tight. After your mount it on the first day, leave the bow in the garage overnight, then tighten the bolts if needed. The next day leave it in the house, and so on until the bolts do not back off their tension.
Step 2 : Set up your own range
It is best to set up your own range, if possible to sight in the three-pin bow sight. You are going to spend many hours and multiple visits to get the three-pin bow sight squared away. Start your sighting at the ten-yard line. Before you set the pin height, you need to get the windage set correctly.
Step 3: Aim at the target
Aim at the target, but leave the bowstring in place. Point the arrow shaft directly at the center of the target, sight along the arrow for this part. Look at the end of the three pins in the sight. The end of the pins must be aligned with the arrow’s shaft. If the end of the three pins is off the midline of the arrow shaft, the shot will go right or left accordingly.
Adjust the bolt to move the pins left or right until they align perfectly with the arrow shaft.
Step 4
Now, it’s time to shoot. Pull the bowstring back, sight with the top pin end in the center of the target, and let it fly. At this time, do not worry about the elevation; you are making sure the windage, the left and right are correct.
This is the part where patience will be your best tool. Since this is not a bench rest rifle, you must shoot this target at this range twenty times. You will see if the arrows are grouped in the correct windage or not.
If you have to move the three-pin bow sight to adjust the windage, always remember if the arrow is shooting left, move the three-pin sights to the left. The same goes for arrows shooting to the right.
Step 5 : Set the bow sight pins distance
Once the windage is dialed in, it is time to set the bow sight pins distance.
Step back to the 20-yard line. This is the standard three-pin bow sight distance for the top pin. Take an initial sighting, and make sure the three-pin bow sight distance will not shoot over the target.
Place the end of the pin right in the middle of the target, and let loose. If the arrow hits a little high or low, that may be the shooter. Take a short rest, let the muscle fatigue relax, then take another 20 shots.
When the 20 shots are finished, you will know the average grouping of arrows, and the three-pin bow sight distance can be adjusted.
Step 6
When you get the top pin of the three-pin bow sight distance at 20 yards and all of the arrows land in the bullseye to your best ability, it is time to move back to the 30-yard line.
The middle pin is the one you use now to square away the three-pin bow sight distance at 30 yards. The yardage is automatically adjusted for the arrows arc by the manufacturer of the three-pin bow sight.
Again, shoot the twenty shots into the target; after twenty shots, you will know the three-pin bow sight distance at 30 yards is dialed in.
Step 7
Now back up to the 40-yard line. This is the same drill as the other two distances, so I will not repeat it. The 40-yard pin is the bottom pin, which is a bit different. The sighting is the same, but the bottom pin is the only pin in the three-pin bow sight distance used when adjusting the sight in the field for a longer shot.
If your three-pin bow sight can adjust, the sight will have a scale along the mounting plate. The three-pin bow sight will adjust downwards, the scale will show the new distance; this distance is only good for the bottom pin.
The top and middle pin for the three-pin bow sight distance use is gone when moved from the original set point. To use the top and bottom pin again, return the sight to home and you are good to go.
Pin Gap
This is not a true pin or aiming point in the three-pin bow sight, it is the “pin gap.” This means you use the gap between the pins of the three-pin bow sight for a distance shot of, say, 25 yards. Since the top and middle pins are set for 20 and 30 yards, put the target right between the two, and let the arrow fly.
Pin gap shooting will take even more practice than sighting in the pins, but you don’t want to miss the target due to lack of practice.
FAQs
Conclusion
In this article, we walked you through a detailed step-by-step guide explaining how to sight in a bow with three pins.
When you use a three-pin bow, sight distance will become less of a hurdle, so you can focus on other archery hunting skills, like stalking, calling, and camouflage.
Sighting in a three-pin bow sight will take many trips to the range, and long days of practice, but it will pay off in the end.
Paul Bastean, managing director at Ultimate Defense in St. Peters, Mo., said the ammunition market is shifting for dealers. Larger retailers are getting the ammunition they need, he said, but smaller retailers still are having a difficult time.
“If you have the capacity to buy a pallet, you can get ammo,” he noted. “If you only have the capacity to buy three cases, you don’t get it. If a wholesaler or manufacturer can put a label on 360 cases of ammo and send it to one place, or send 360 cases of ammo to potentially 100 different places with 100 different mailing labels, both for the same amount of markup, they’re going to send it to the one place.”
Because Ultimate Defense has been buying ammo by the pallet, Bastean said they have developed a new and different relationship with other retailers around them.
“We get along with a lot of the local gun shops in our area,” he shared. “We are now their ammunition distributor.”
According to Bastean, ammunition prices are finally starting to come down from what they were during COVID.
“U.S. manufacturers are fighting with importers now, and they’re losing,” he observed. “Importers are driving the price down.”
Bastean thinks this will continue to drive prices down, and if imported ammunition remains as available as it is now, smaller retailers will start to be able to buy lesser quantities of ammo again.
“But it may not happen,” he cautioned. “We’re not in an election cycle yet, but we can kind of see it from where we are, and this election cycle is going to be a doozy.”
Bastean said the imported ammo he’s seen is primarily from Magtech and Sellier & Bellot.
“That’s a lot of what we’re getting offered,” he said. “We’re seeing a lot of it not only from our wholesaler reps but also on emails. It’s also a lot of what my competition is advertising.”
Domestic manufacturers are struggling with price, Bastean observed.
“Winchester just came to us and they’re not even in the realm of being price competitive in 9mm,” he said. “We haven’t had a box of 9mm Winchester in here for two years or so.”
One thing affecting ammunition sales, he contends, is the effect the economy is having on disposable income.
“The guy who’s been a gun guy for more than five years has a cache of ammo he’s sitting on,” he said. “It’s never enough, but it’s at least enough that he feels comfortable he has some. The new shooters we’ve seen in the past two or three years still buy a box here and there, but inflation and disposable income are going to squeeze everything a little bit tighter. We’ve seen a slight reduction in training and memberships and from year to year, we’ve seen a pretty substantial reduction in ammunition sales.”
At one point, Bastean recalled, Ultimate Defense was the only retailer in the county with any ammunition. During that period of time, they saw a massive increase in the amount of ammunition they were selling because they were the only game in town. Then in the middle of 2022, some of the big-box stores started getting ammunition, and the store’s ammo sales decreased.
For centuries hunting blinds have been used to hide the presence of hunters,enabling them to virtually melt into their surroundings and go unnoticed by passing animals. Be it piling sticks, logs, and rocks together or using a modern-day pop-up blind, these things work. And we can assure you, they aren’t stopping anytime soon.
We’ve been lucky enough to sit in our fair share of blinds and have taken away a few key ingredients in what makes a good blind. Without question, it needs to be easy to set up and durable, with adequate shooting windows and enough room for you and your gear. Lastly, it needs to have a quiet operation. We don’t want to alert an animal with the violent rip of separating Velcro.
If you still want to learn more about picking out the right hunting blind for you, as well as some setup/blind hunting tips, be sure to check out our Buyer’s Guide, FAQ, and comparison chart. Otherwise, you can scroll through or jump to whatever category matches your needs.
What was once a casual once-a-year pursuit has now turned into a lifestyle for me. Hunting is something I think about every day, and in light of getting better, critical thinking is at a high. In other words, if something on a hunting blind doesn’t work in my favor, it gets canned.
Through inclement weather, being hauled through the woods, and spending countless hours in them, hunting blinds are a tool I’ve used at full tilt. Be it alone or with a partner, I appreciate the advantages of these blinds, but always remember the disadvantages of certain designs.
When testing a hunting blind, I’m paying attention to setup time, durability, and if it’s both practical and functional. It can’t just work. It needs to work in my favor. Failure points need to be brought to light as they can mean the difference in the stars aligning or not aligning when an animal is in front of me.
Along with my personal experience, I also took into consideration the experience and opinions of seasoned hunters alike and respected hunters around me. With that, I paid attention to the top-selling blinds on the market and a variety of price points.
The hunting blinds listed above will fit the needs of a wide variety of hunters. If you’re reading this, and need a blind, there is something for you within it.
(Photo/Josh Kirchner)
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Hunting Blind
A Few Good Practices for Hunting in a Blind
Hunting in a blind isn’t just about setting it up anywhere, sitting, and shooting a deer. It’s more than that. Here are a few things to keep in mind when planning to hunt from a blind.
Brush It In
Blinds are no doubt in the business of making us disappear to passing by critters. They do a fantastic job of making movements and blending into our surroundings. However, the fact of the matter is, animals are smart. They can spot something out of sight, even if it looks natural. For instance, I’m sure you’re very familiar with the furniture in your house. But, if someone came in and put the coffee table in the bathroom, you’d notice.
With that in mind, while our blinds are helping us disappear, it’s a good practice to try and make our blinds disappear too. This is known as “brushing it in.” Basically, it’s when you place your blind where you’d like to be hunting and either cover or tie the native vegetation to it to help it blend in even more. Not only will this help break up the overall outline of the blind, but it will add natural scents and give the blind more of a 3D look. Some blinds have preattached tie-downs for this very purpose.
(Photo/Josh Kirchner)
Make Sure You’re Comfortable
To hunt in a blind is to ambush hunt. And to ambush hunt is to sit in one place for sometimes what are 13-14-hour days dark to dark. So, we need to make sure that we are comfortable for the long haul.
Make sure you’ve got a comfortable chair. This is a big one for me. I’ve spent a lot of time sitting in minimalist chairs inside blinds, and I promise you it isn’t worth it. Get something that is going to provide back support, and that won’t make your legs fall asleep. On that note, a chair that isn’t noisy is also a plus. Remember, hunting. If you’re worried about weight, check out some of the ultralight backpacking chairs on the market. They pack down small, are lightweight, and you can sit in them all day long.
Another branch of staying comfortable is food. Staying all day in a blind is tiring, and the less movement in and out of the blind, the better. So, pack a full day of food in there with you, along with enough water. These are a few things that will drive folks to leave. No need to go grab a sandwich if it’s already in your pack.
Lastly, we’ve established that ambush hunting involves a whole lot of not moving around. A byproduct of that is you’re way more likely to get cold. Because of this, you’re dang sure gonna want to have warm clothes with you to ensure you can last in the blind. Not only that but if you’re bowhunting, you want to be able to physically pull your bow back. I’ve been in the situation of being so cold I couldn’t draw my bow. That’s my bad and easily remedied with forethought.
(Photo/Josh Kirchner)
Test Shooting/Aiming Beforehand
Perhaps the number one thing folks fail to do when purchasing or about to hunt out of a blind is making sure they can actually shoot out of it, particularly with a bow. For a gun, it’s pretty straightforward. A bow is different. Some bows are longer than others, requiring more headspace. Some people have longer draw lengths than others requiring more internal space. And some folks run longer stabilizers which are great at getting caught on the windows of a blind.
At the very least, if you’re at the store, see if you can get inside the blind and mock draw inside to get a feel. In the field, make sure to draw your bow back and turn your body from one side to the other, ensuring you’ve got clearance. With a gun, ensure your shooting rest is set and ready to go at the proper height. Practice aiming at various things in front of you to try and cover all of the angles you might need.
TYLER, Texas (KETK) – Lea Anne Powell, out of Lake Jackson, went out on a fishing trip with one of her fishing guide friends where she might’ve landed the world record for a largemouth bass in her line class.
Powell told KETK News that her fishing journey began after her parents passed away in 2015. She shared that her parents loved to fish and she found peace after a friend asked her to go fishing and then continued that tradition by diving into that world herself.
“I lost both of my parents in 2015 and I actually found peace within fishing. A friend of mine kept asking me to come fish and I had a natural knack for it and it just stuck,” said Powell.
Since then, Powell has been heavily involved in the tournament trails for the past 5 years but nothing prepared her for the fishing trip she took towards the end of February.
Powell said that her friend Dalton Smith, owner of Dalton Smith Guide Service and fishing guide at O.H. Ivie Lake near San Angelo, had a few days off and invited her out to go fishing. The evening of Feb. 27, the first day of their trip, Smith was using a tool called Livescope that serves as an underwater sonogram to help anglers see the fish and tell what’s big and what isn’t.
“They’re doing all this research and you can see the fish. You can tell what’s big and you can tell what’s small and we got into this area where [Smith] was seeing a bunch of big fish,” said Powell. “I casted out and I caught a 10.58 pound [fish].”
Powell said at the time that was her personal record for a fish, but then came the next morning.
The following morning, they went back out and Smith was telling her to cast out in the same area as him. At this point, Powell said she was still trying to figure out how to use the Livescope to locate the bigger fish.
“So he casted out about 50 feet from the boat and about 55 feet slightly to the left of where he was,” Powell said. “I was trying to learn this whole Livescope sonogram and I was like okay I think I have a follower.”
Smith didn’t believe her at first, but once she hooked the fish, they both realized they had a battle ahead of them to reel it in.
“Once I set the hook he was like, ‘oh my God, you caught a giant’. But what was crazy is we were both freaking out because it was hooked 45 feet from the boat and 15 feet down on 10-pound line with a spinning rod,” said Powell. “Which if anybody knows fishing at all, that’s a very hectic situation and anytime I would get her close to the boat, she would start taking off and kept nosing down so I was having to adjust the drag when she would take off running.”
Once the fish was in their net, they knew they had to quickly take it in to get weighed at the Elm Creek RV Park and Gas Station down the street from the lake where they have an International Game Fish Association (IGFA) certified scale.
“She was 12 pounds 3 ounces, the biggest fish ever! Before I went to O.H. Ivie with Dalton, I literally had only caught a 7 pound 8 ounce largemouth. And I was like, cool, if I get an 8 pounder I’m happy.” said Powell. “But I broke my personal best twice in under 17 hours.”
Powell shared that the IGFA has different line classes that include 4, 8, 12 and 16-pound line classes. Powell’s fish was caught on a 10-pound Seaguar Red Label line but Powell shared, “the way that line actually tests, it actually tests up to 12 pounds.”
She said that her application is still pending and shared what all goes into the judging of a fish for a record.
“It is still pending. You have to have witnesses, you have to have proof of what it was caught on, rod and reel make and then you also have to submit a line sample into IGFA,” Powell said. “Once it goes in to the IGFA they will actually go through and test the line and make sure it was legitimately up to 12 pounds and then it will go through a panel internationally and then once that’s done, I’ll know.”
Powell shared that she has been working closely with them and just last week they tested the line so she is still waiting anxiously on an official answer.
“I’ve been working with them really closely because I’m really anxious I’m like ‘I hope I get it’. So, fingers crossed. It is still pending but from what I was told it has been a very long time since they’ve had a nice fish like that go across their desk.”
The record that Powell said her fish is going for is “a female record for a 12 pound line class for largemouth [bass].”
Powell wanted to share some words to lady anglers out there that might feel like they don’t fit the mold of a traditional angler.
“I’ve had so much discouragement being a lady angler and I don’t let that stop me. For every no I’m getting told and every word of discouragement, it pushes me and drives me to go harder and go faster and deeper into my tournaments. You can’t make a record, you can’t catch a fish unless you have a line in the water and do what you can to not let any negativity get you down. Turn those negatives into positives and let them motivate you to get out there and fish and just catch ’em up!”
To keep up with Powell on all of her fishing adventures and check out other fish that she has already caught you can find her socials below:
Deer urine: A versatile tool in hunting and gardening. Discover the hidden potential of this natural resource, as we explore its uses in attracting deer during hunting season and as an organic fertilizer for your garden. Learn how deer urine can enhance your outdoor experiences and benefit your plants, all while staying environmentally friendly.
The Role of Deer Urine in Hunting: A Comprehensive Guide
Why Hunters Use Deer Urine
Deer urine is a popular tool used by hunters to attract deer and mask their human scent. This is because a deer’s sense of smell can be up to 1,000 times stronger than that of a human. By using deer urine, hunters can increase their chances of success by enticing deer to come within shooting range.
Types of Deer Urine
There are different types of deer urine that hunters use depending on the breeding season and specific hunting goals. Standard doe urine can be used at almost any time of the year to attract deer. Buck urine is typically used during the breeding season or leading up to it, as it attracts local bucks who may challenge intruding bucks. Doe estrous urine, collected from does ready to breed, is used during the peak of the rut to attract reproduction-focused bucks.
Restrictions on Natural Deer Urine
It’s important to note that natural deer urine products are banned for hunting in some regions due to the potential spread of chronic wasting disease through deer urine. In these areas, synthetic scents are allowed instead. Hunters should familiarize themselves with local regulations before using any type of deer scent.
Other Scents Used by Hunters
In addition to deer urine, some hunters also use scents derived from other animals such as raccoons, foxes, or skunks. These scents are used to further mask their own scent and increase their chances of remaining undetected by deer. Some hunters also utilize scents derived from interdigital glands (on a deer’s hooves) and tarsal glands (on the inside of a deer’s back legs) to simulate deer activity in an area.
Scent Suppression and Cover Scents
Hunters not only use scents to attract deer but also employ strategies to suppress their own human scent. Scent-free clothing made with charcoal liners or antimicrobial fabrics is popular among hunters. Additionally, scent-suppressing sprays, wipes, and ozone-generating machines are used to alter scent molecules and make a human’s smell undetectable by deer. Some hunters also use cover scents that mimic natural smells in the environment, such as trees, acorns, corn, vanilla, or berries.
In conclusion, deer urine plays a significant role in hunting by attracting deer and masking human scent. Hunters have various options when it comes to choosing the right type of urine for different hunting scenarios. It is essential for hunters to be aware of any restrictions on the use of natural deer urine in their region and consider alternative synthetic scents if necessary. Additionally, employing scent suppression techniques and utilizing cover scents can further enhance a hunter’s chances of success in the field.
Harnessing the Power of Deer Urine: How Hunters Use It to Their Advantage
Deer urine is a powerful tool that hunters use to attract and deceive deer. With a deer’s sense of smell being up to 1,000 times stronger than that of a human, using scents derived from deer urine can greatly increase a hunter’s chances of success. Natural deer urine products are collected from farm-raised deer during different reproductive cycles to capture specific scent profiles associated with breeding conditions. These products are typically marketed as attractants or calming scents that entice deer to come within shooting range.
Hunters have various ways of using deer urine in their hunting strategies. They may pour a few drops on their boots, sprinkle it on leaves, drag it on a cloth as they walk, pour it onto the ground, or use saturating aerosols to present the smell of deer near their hunting locations. Different types of deer urine are used depending on the time of year and the behavior of bucks. Standard doe urine can be used almost any time, while buck urine is typically used during the breeding season or leading up to it. Doe estrous urine, collected from does ready to breed, is used during the peak of the rut to attract reproduction-focused bucks.
It’s important to note that natural deer urine products are banned for hunting in some regions due to concerns about chronic wasting disease. In these areas, synthetic scents are allowed instead. Additionally, some hunters also use other animal urines such as raccoon, fox, or skunk urine to further mask their scent. They may also utilize scents derived from deer interdigital glands and tarsal glands for additional deception.
In addition to using deer scents, hunters also invest in scent-elimination products and scent-suppressing clothing to minimize their human odor. Scent-free clothing made with charcoal liners or antimicrobial fabrics is popular among hunters. For those who cannot afford such clothing, there are scent-suppressing sprays or wipes available. Another innovative development in scent suppression is the use of ozone-generating machines that alter scent molecules, making a human’s smell undetectable by deer.
Some hunters prefer to use cover scents to mask their human odor instead of trying to smell like nothing at all. These cover scents come in various forms such as sprays, wafers, sticks, and gels. They provide hunters with the ability to mimic the smells of trees, acorns, corn, vanilla, anise, soil, berries, and other natural scents that may fool a wary deer’s nose.
In conclusion, harnessing the power of deer urine has become an integral part of many hunters’ strategies. By using different types of deer urine and other animal urines, hunters can attract deer and mask their own scent effectively. Combined with scent-elimination products and cover scents, these techniques significantly increase the chances of a successful hunt. However, it’s essential for hunters to be aware of regional regulations regarding the use of natural deer urine due to concerns about chronic wasting disease.
Exploring the Benefits of Deer Urine in Attracting and Masking Human Scent
Deer urine has been used for many years by hunters as a tool to attract deer and mask their own human scent. This is because a deer’s sense of smell is incredibly strong, up to 1,000 times stronger than that of a human. By using deer urine, hunters can increase their chances of success in harvesting a deer.
One of the main benefits of using deer urine is its ability to attract deer to a specific area. Hunters can use different types of deer urine depending on the time of year and the breeding cycle of the deer. For example, standard doe urine can be used at almost any time of year to entice both does and bucks to come within shooting range. During the breeding season or leading up to it, hunters may opt for buck urine to attract local bucks to the area. Additionally, doe estrous urine collected from a doe ready to breed can be used during the peak rutting period to attract reproduction-focused bucks.
It is important to note that natural deer urine products are banned for hunting in some regions due to the potential spread of chronic wasting disease. In these areas, synthetic scents are allowed instead. However, some hunters also use other types of animal urine such as raccoons, foxes, or skunks to further mask their scent while hunting.
In addition to using deer urine, hunters also have other options for masking their human scent. Scent-free clothing made with charcoal liners or antimicrobial fabrics is popular among hunters who want to suppress their odor. Alternatively, scent-suppressing sprays or wipes can be used as well. Some hunters even use ozone-generating machines that alter scent molecules and make a human’s smell undetectable by deer.
Overall, using deer urine and other scent-masking techniques can greatly increase a hunter’s chances of success in attracting deer and remaining undetected. These methods allow hunters to smell like the natural environment and reduce the chances of scaring away their target.
Understanding the Different Uses of Deer Urine in Hunting Strategies
Deer urine is a popular tool used by hunters to attract and mask human scent, increasing their chances of a successful hunt. The strong sense of smell possessed by deer makes these scents effective in luring them within shooting range. Natural deer urine products, derived from both does and bucks, are commonly marketed as attractants or calming scents. These scents are collected from farm-raised deer during different times of the year and reproductive cycles to capture specific scent profiles associated with breeding conditions.
Hunters use standard doe urine throughout the year, applying a few drops on their boots, leaves, or dragging it on a cloth as they walk. They may also pour it onto the ground or use a saturating aerosol to create the smell of deer near their hunting locations. Buck urine is typically used during the breeding season or leading up to it, with the hope that dominant bucks in the area will investigate and try to run off any intruding buck. Doe estrous urine, collected from a doe ready to breed, is used during the peak of the rut to attract reproduction-focused bucks.
It’s important to note that natural deer urine products are banned for hunting in some regions due to concerns about chronic wasting disease spread through deer urine. In these areas, synthetic scents are allowed instead. In addition to deer urine, hunters may also use urine from raccoons, foxes, or skunks to further mask their scent. Some hunters even utilize scents derived from deer interdigital glands (on hooves) and tarsal glands (inside back legs), which simulate deer walking through an area and provide unique scent signatures for communication.
To suppress their own human scent, hunters have various options available. Scent-free clothing made with charcoal liners or antimicrobial fabrics is popular among hunters. For those who can’t afford such clothing, scent-suppressing sprays or wipes are a viable alternative. A newer development in scent suppression is the use of ozone-generating machines, which alter scent molecules and make a human’s smell undetectable by deer. Cover scents are also used by hunters who aim to smell like something else rather than trying to eliminate their scent entirely. These cover scents come in various forms such as sprays, wafers, sticks, gels, and can mimic the smells of trees, acorns, corn, vanilla, anise, soil, berries, and more.
In conclusion, deer urine is a versatile tool in hunting strategies. It is used to attract deer and mask human scent through different types of urine collected from does and bucks during specific breeding conditions. However, it’s important to be aware of regional regulations regarding the use of natural deer urine due to concerns about disease transmission. Hunters also have options for suppressing their own human scent through clothing, sprays/wipes, and innovative technologies like ozone-generating machines. Additionally, cover scents provide hunters with the ability to smell like other natural elements found in the environment.
The Science Behind Deer Urine: Why Hunters Rely on It for Success
Deer urine has long been used by hunters as a tool to attract and deceive deer. The reason behind its effectiveness lies in the powerful sense of smell that deer possess. A deer’s sense of smell is up to 1,000 times stronger than that of a human, making it crucial for hunters to mask their own scent and use attractants that mimic those found in the natural environment.
One of the main uses of deer urine is as an attractant. By using doe urine, hunters can simulate the presence of a female deer in heat, which will entice bucks to investigate and potentially come within shooting range. Similarly, buck urine can be used during the breeding season to imitate the presence of a dominant buck, triggering territorial behavior in other bucks and increasing the chances of a successful hunt.
It’s important to note that different types of deer urine are collected at specific times of the year to capture different scent profiles associated with breeding conditions. This ensures that hunters have access to scents that closely resemble those produced by deer during specific periods, increasing their chances of attracting targeted deer.
However, it’s worth mentioning that natural deer urine products are banned for hunting in some regions due to concerns about spreading chronic wasting disease. In these areas, synthetic scents are allowed as an alternative. Additionally, some hunters also use urine from other animals such as raccoons, foxes, or skunks to further mask their scent and create a more realistic hunting environment.
In addition to using deer urine, hunters also employ other strategies to suppress their human scent. Scent-free clothing made with charcoal liners or antimicrobial fabrics is widely available and helps reduce odor detection. Scent-suppressing sprays or wipes can also be used to attack odors directly. More recently, ozone-generating machines have emerged as a new development in scent suppression, altering scent molecules to make a human’s smell undetectable by deer.
Overall, the use of deer urine and other scents in hunting is based on the understanding of a deer’s powerful sense of smell and their natural behaviors. By using these scents strategically, hunters can increase their chances of success by attracting deer and masking their own presence in the hunting environment.
Maximizing Harvest Success with Deer Urine: A Closer Look at Its Applications
Deer urine is a popular tool used by hunters to attract and mask their scent from deer. With a deer’s sense of smell being up to 1,000 times stronger than that of a human, it’s no wonder that many hunters rely on these scents to increase their chances of success. Natural deer urine products, derived from both does and bucks, are marketed as attractants or calming scents that entice deer to come within shooting range.
Hunters use standard doe urine throughout the year, pouring a few drops on their boots, leaves, or cloth as they walk, or even setting off a saturating aerosol to create the smell of deer near their hunting locations. During the breeding season or leading up to it, hunters opt for buck urine to attract local bucks to the area. By using buck urine, hunters hope that dominant bucks in the area will investigate the scent and try to run off any intruding buck.
Another type of natural urine used by deer hunters is doe estrous urine. This urine is collected from a doe that is ready to breed and is used during the peak of the rut to attract reproduction-focused bucks. However, it’s important to note that natural deer urine products are banned for hunting in some regions due to the potential spread of chronic wasting disease through deer urine.
In addition to using deer scents, some hunters also use urine from raccoons, foxes, or skunks to further mask their scent. They dab a few drops on their boots while walking to their hunting stands in hopes of covering any scent left in their tracks. Other scents derived from deer interdigital glands (on the hooves) and tarsal glands (on the inside of a deer’s back legs) are also used by hunters.
To suppress their human scent, hunters have various options. Scent-free clothing made with charcoal liners or antimicrobial fabrics is a popular choice. For those who can’t afford scent-suppressing clothing, there are sprays or wipes available that attack odors. Another method is the use of ozone-generating machines that alter scent molecules, making a human’s smell undetectable by deer.
Lastly, some hunters use cover scents to smell like something else instead of trying to eliminate their scent altogether. These cover scents come in the form of sprays, wafers, sticks, gels, and other products that provide hunters the ability to smell like trees, acorns, corn, vanilla, anise, soil, berries, and more.
In conclusion, deer urine is a valuable tool for hunters looking to maximize their harvest success. Whether it’s using doe urine at any time of year or specific types of urine during the breeding season, these scents help attract and mask human scent from deer. However, it’s important to be aware of regional regulations regarding the use of natural deer urine products due to the potential spread of diseases. Additionally, hunters have other options such as using cover scents or scent-suppressing clothing to further increase their chances of success in the field.
The sleeping habits of a deer are probably some of the most interesting out of all the large land mammals. How deer sleep is so different from what we are used to as humans, that it makes them a very interesting topic to look into.
This overview covers a wide range of facts about how deer sleep, why they do it that way, and how it helps them survive in the wild. Let’s get right into it!
1. Some Deer Sleep Standing Up
Although it is not very common, some deer have been observed sleeping while standing up. The upright position is rare, because most adult deer sleep on their side with their heads up. Young fawns will lie down curled up, with their nose tucked under their legs.
Most individuals will not stand up because they lose muscle control while sleeping, just like humans do.
However, just like humans have the ability to sleep-walk, so can some deer! The main reason the animals might do this is to be extra alert about potential dangers in their immediate surroundings.
2. Deer Can Sleep With Their Eyes Open
Because a prey species like deer need to be on high alert at all times, it is not uncommon for deer to sleep with their eyes open. The animals fall into a daydream-like state for several seconds to minutes, lowering brain activity. The state is similar to what would be considered a sleep state.
Much like sleeping while standing up, sleeping with eyes open is an incidental occurrence for most deer. You might have even seen it while encountering them in the wild, without realizing it!
While bedding down, the animals are more likely to close their eyes for brief periods of time. Keeping their heads up and their other senses sharp, they never lose their ability to sense a potential predator nearby.
3. They Sleep In Super Short Intervals
Humans need about 8 hours of sleep every night to feel well-rested. Deer do it in a completely different way: the animals take incredibly short power naps and stay on high alert at all times.
How long deer sleep depends on how safe they feel bedding down. Most deer sleep 4.5 hours during the day, but will do so in extremely short intervals of about 30 seconds to 3 minutes at a time. During their sleep hours, deer will reach deeper REM sleep for about 30 minutes in total.
It is not uncommon for the animals to switch locations many times in a single sleep session. The short intervals wake them up often, but this is needed to keep them safe. Their resting brain is hard-wired for taking power naps, so to speak.
4. If Deer Sleep In Your Yard, They Feel Safe
Have you ever been blessed with the presence of some deer in your backyard? Then you have been chosen. If a deer shows up to take a nap on your property, it feels safe enough to be around you. They don’t see you as a threat and know they will not be harmed by you.
However cute Bambi might seem from a distance, be mindful of the fact that you’re still dealing with a wild animal. You should never feed wild deer for any reason, their survival should not depend on human feeding.
Especially in summer, fawns might end up in your yard to hide from potential predators. They are curled up and usually stay quiet in a hiding position, which makes a fawn relatively difficult to spot.
Be aware of any sleeping fawns before mowing tall grass
5. Returning To Sleep In The Same Spot
When deer have found a relatively safe bedding area, they are inclined to return to sleep in the same spot repeatedly. While the animals are known to change locations often (even during a single sleeping session), they will come back to a few good bedding locations to sleep in.
In order for a bedding area to feel safe enough to return to multiple times, the animals will have a few requirements for the perfect ‘sleeping spot’:
Sufficient cover so potential predators cannot easily spot them
Open view of a large area in order to spot any potential dangers
The ability to hide from the rain or other weather elements
Soft natural bedding like tall grass or a pile of leaves
6. Fawns Sleep With An Extreme Heartrate
Much like human babies, a newborn fawn is a natural-born sleeper. Compared to adult deer, a young fawn will sleep a lot more, about 95% of the time they are bedded. But don’t think the young animals are relaxed while doing this.
During their extensive bedding time, a fawn has an incredibly high heart rate of around 175 beats per minute. The senses of a baby deer are on high alert and shift immediately when potential danger is detected, dropping their heart rate to an average of only 60 beats per minute.
When the extremely high heart rate drops, the body of a hiding fawn is much more difficult to detect by potential predators. The animals breathe less, tuck their head into their legs, and pull their ears back to become as small and undetectable as possible.
7. Deer Don’t Usually Sleep At Night
People commonly think that deer are most active at night, but that’s not true. Deer are not considered nocturnal, but are instead crepuscular species, meaning they are most active during the twilight hours of the day (dawn and dusk).
While it is true that deer don’t often sleep at night, they are most active during the hours around sunrise and sunset.
The main benefit of being a crepuscular animal is decreasing the odds of getting preyed upon. During twilight hours (dawn and dusk), it is much harder for nocturnal and diurnal predators to track prey. This gives deer and other crepuscular wildlife the edge needed to survive as a species.
8. Winter Hibernation Is Not For Deer
While most deer species do lower their activity in the coldest months, the animals never go into hibernation. It is true that deer will hunker down for multiple days or weeks on end to avoid the cold, but they don’t fatten up enough before winter to survive going into full hibernation mode.
Mule deer, moose, elk, and reindeer are more inclined to be active during the winter months than other species, such as white-tailed deer. These species have adapted to colder climates and will remain active for the majority of autumn, winter, and spring.
It is safe to conclude that hibernation is not for deer, but that doesn’t mean they enjoy being in the cold. Hunkering down and bedding longer is their preferred solution to the cold!
No hibernation, but they do hunker down on cold days
9. Bucks In Rut Rarely Ever Sleep
During the rutting season, bucks change everything about their normal behavioral patterns. A buck will generally not sleep or eat during the height of rutting season. Mals will be too focused on finding a mating partner and driving out competitors.
Only after the buck found a suitable female and has successfully mated, he will take some to snooze and find food.
However, he will spend most of his time defending his territory and female from other interested males that are roaming the area. There will be very little time for a quick nap if you want to have children as a buck!
10. Sleeping Beside The Road Is Common
There is a reason why deer-vehicle collisions are such a common occurrence, especially when the colder months are approaching. An elevated road gives a sense of protection and will be a source of warmth for the animals.
The false feeling of safety the road might provide (the asphalt retaining the heat after the sun has set is the main culprit) motivates deer to stick around and take some rest longer than necessary.
If you find a doe or buck near the side of the road, you might want to consider shooing the animal away when it is safe to do so. Alert oncoming traffic before you do so, because you want to avoid the animals panicking and running into cars.
11. Like All Mammals, Deer Are Able To Dream
Even though a deer won’t stay in the dream state very long due to their short-interval sleeping patterns, a deer is able to dream. Deer get about 30 minutes of REM sleep per day, which is the deeper sleep phase in which dreams are produced.
What deer dreams are made of, we can only guess. Probably about food, other members of their herd, or maybe even about running away from that predator.
Maybe it’s true that when deer dream, they visit us when we are in that dream state ourselves. After all, humans assign a lot of value to deer appearing in their dreams…
It is not uncommon for useful technical improvements in one arena to be adopted by and integrated into another. Materials and manufacturing processes originally devised for the aerospace industry are now commonly used to manufacture firearms. Pistol optics and triggers that began as competition upgrades have become standard options for many defensive handguns. Features developed for precision, benchrest-style rifles are being incorporated into bolt-actions suitable for harvesting big game.
In 2021, Winchester Repeating Arms introduced the Long Range MB version of the Model 70 as a contribution to the growing extended-range hunting rifle market. The features are configured to balance top-end accuracy and recoil management without the rifle being too heavy to be carried comfortably in the field. This Model 70 is available in eight short-action chamberings ranging from .22-250 Rem. to .300 WSM. The rifle tested for this review was chambered for the popular, flat-shooting 6.5 mm Creedmoor, which tends to generate only moderate levels of felt recoil.
The right-hand Model 70 Long Range MB sports the popular Pre-’64-type claw extractor with controlled-round feeding. One benefit of the design is that it locks onto the cartridge rim in order to properly align the cartridge with the chamber, thereby reducing the chances of bullet tip damage. The extractor also makes withdrawing the cartridge from the chamber more positive.
The bolt body is treated to a handsome jeweled finish, and the bolt knob features a knurled band to improve control. Of course, the assembly is fitted with Winchester’s classic three-position safety. In addition to the typical Fire and Safe modes, the lever has a central position that locks the firing pin while allowing the bolt to be cycled—a feature intended to provide added safety when checking the state of the chamber or when unloading the rifle.
The carbon steel of the Model 70 receiver and barrel are treated with a non-reflective, matte-blue finish. The top of the receiver is drilled and tapped to accept optic mounts. The 24″-long, free-floated barrel has a fluted light varmint contour, and a recessed target crown works to protect the rifling from being damaged at the muzzle.
The MB in this rifle’s name stands for muzzle brake; the end of the barrel is threaded 5/8×24 TPI to accept a variety of popular accessories, including sound suppressors, compensators and muzzle brakes. The rifle is fitted at the factory with a 2.5″-long removable muzzle brake contoured and finished to match the barrel. A knurled thread protector is also provided for those who wish to shoot without a muzzle device installed.
This rifle has Winchester’s MOA trigger group, which is marketed as having “triple zero advantages,” including zero take-up, trigger creep or overtravel. The trigger tested lived up to these claims; a smooth-faced, curved steel trigger exhibited an exceptionally clean trigger pull of 3 lbs., 15 ozs., with a short arc of travel and a crisp break with no overtravel. For those who prefer a single-stage trigger, this one deserves consideration. It is protected by a rounded aluminum trigger guard. A hinged steel floorplate supports an internal four-round magazine that is loaded through the ejection port.
Once again, Winchester has teamed up with Bell and Carlson to outfit this rifle with a well-made, weather-resistant composite stock. Using a proprietary molding system and a blend of fibers, resins and polyurethane reinforcement, the Extreme Weather stock maintains its shape in cold and hot environments. At the heart of the stock is an aluminum bedding block extending from the grip to the front sling-swivel stud for a firm, stable lock-up between the rifle’s action and stock.
The Model 70 Long Range MB’s composite stock is tan with a drizzled black “spider web” paint job to break up its outline. A set of flow-through cooling vents are cut into the fore-end that has a wide, comfortable gripping surface with a flat bottom for improved stability when shooting off sandbags. The grip has molded-in checkering to give the shooting hand added purchase. The shoulder stock is capped with a soft, textured rubber Pachmayr Decelerator recoil pad with a length of pull measuring 13.5″.
Our sample proved to be utterly reliable on the range, operating smoothly without any mechanical or ammunition-related issues. The fit and finish were top-notch throughout, with the bolt assembly and controls cycling smoothly. The composite stock provides reliable gripping surfaces with a more solid feel than an injection-molded polymer stock. The rifle balanced nicely with an easy heft that simplified standing shots.
The rifle was test-fired with the factory muzzle brake installed. As expected, the brake noticeably increases the volume of the rifle’s report, but, in conjunction with the recoil pad and the 6.5 mm Creedmoor cartridge, it made for moderate levels of felt recoil comfortable to work with in and out of a benchrest. Formal benchrested accuracy testing was conducted using factory match-grade loads fired at 100 yards. Groups were shot with a Leupold Mark 3HD 3-9X 40 mm optic secured by a Leupold scope mount ring set.
Winchester lists this rifle as being capable of one-m.o.a. accuracy, or approximately 1″ at 100 yards. This rifle did print a smallest single group of 0.87″, with a five-group average of 1.01″, using Winchester’s USA Ready load topped with a 125-grain OTM bullet. The average extreme spread across all three loads fired was 1.21″.
When attempting to blend two different types of platforms, finding a recipe that works can be tricky. In the case of Winchester’s Model 70 Long Range MB, however, the preferred elements of a hunting rifle mix with features that allow it to comfortably ride the bench for extended-range shooting sessions. This is a well-thought-out rifle with a variety of upgrades that make it stand out from the bolt-action rifle crowd—but it’s the MOA trigger system that unifies this rifle’s features and makes it an excellent option for those in the market for a firearm that fills a variety of shooting roles.
