The Super Slam of North American Big Game 29 is the ultimate quest for a big game hunter. Are you that hunter who has what it takes? The Super Slam of North American Big Game takes serious dedication and years to accomplish. First, a hunter must register the legal taking of 29 big game animals native to North America. The official archives are kept through the Grand Slam Club/Ovis (GSCO). A hunter must register with GSCO, pay the $25 membership fee and submit the trophy hunt online. The membership and submission of your trophy hunt can be found here:

SLAMQUEST

Here is a list of big-game animals for the Super Slam on North American Big Game 29 and the hunts we have available.

North American Big Game 29 Species

Alaska Brown Bear –

• The Alaska brown bear is the largest bear in the world, larger than brown bears of Europe and the grizzly bear. Brown bears in Alaska live off of a protein-rich salmon diet and can be found along the Alaska coast and near spawning salmon runs.

Alaska Brown Bear Hunt

Black Bear –

• The Black bear is found in the western United States and has the largest population of any bear in the world. Black bears are found in Alaska, Canada, Florida and Gulf Coast areas.

Black Bear Hunts

Grizzly Bear –

• The grizzly bear is found in a range of areas in North America but the largest populations of grizzlies are seen in Alaska and Canada. Grizzlies like to wander and can kill animals as large as a moose; however, these bears eat a lot of berries, roots, nuts and different types of grasses to survive.

Grizzly Bear Hunts

Polar Bear –

• The polar bear populations are mainly found in the southern part of Hudson Bay and James Bay in Canada. They can be seen on the shores and pack ice of the Arctic Ocean. Polar bears spend years out on the ice but the pregnant females will come ashore to den.

Cougar –

• The cougar is a solitary, silent large cat and are entirely carnivorous. It has many common names such as mountain lion, panther and puma. They are the second-largest cat in the western hemisphere and only North American cougars are allowed to take for the Super Slam quest.

Cougar Hunts

Columbia Blacktail Deer –

• Columbia Blacktail Deer are found in the North American Pacific Coast region to the southern part of Monterey County of California. These deer have similarities to the mule and Sitka deer but can be distinguished by antlers, overall coloration and tail.

Coues Deer –

• Coues deer are found in southwestern Arizona and a little bit of New Mexico. They are often called little desert dwelling siblings of the whitetail deer. Top End Adventures offers a few Coues deer hunts.

Coues Deer Hunts

Mule Deer –

• Mule deer are found all over in the western United States, western Canada and adapt to a wide range of habitats. Bucks can range from 150 – 300 lbs and will migrate to the high mountainous country by themselves to lower ranges during the winter to avoid deep snow levels.

Mule Deer Hunts

Sitka Blacktail Deer –

• Sitka Blacktail deer are located in the wet coastal rain forests of north-coastal British Columbia and Southeast Alaska. Averaging from 90-120lbs, this subspecies of mule deer is the most common deer in Alaska.

Whitetail Deer –

• Whitetail Deer are one of the most common deer you will find in North America. They average in weight from 100-200lbs. A very easy way to identify this species is simply in its name, check the underside of the animal’s tail.

Whitetail Deer Hunts

Rocky Mountain elk –

• The Rocky Mountain Elk is commonly known for having the largest antlers of all elk subspecies. They are found in the Rocky Mountains and many adjacent ranges. An average weight for a bull is 700lbs and their antlers can weigh up to 40lbs alone.

Rocky Mountain Elk Hunts

Roosevelt Elk –

• Weighing in from 700-1,100 lbs, Roosevelt Elk are the third largest mammal in North America. Roosevelts are a subspecies of elk found in western Oregon.

Best Elk Hunting States

Tule elk –

• Tule elk are the smallest species of elk found in North America. These smaller elk are mainly located in the state of California. Females often average 370-430lbs while the males can weigh anywhere from 440-550lbs.

The Best Elk Hunting States

Barren Ground Caribou –

• This medium-sized caribou is mainly found in the Canadian territories of Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. The Barren Ground Caribou are smaller and lighter-colored then the boreal woodland caribou.

Central Canadian Barren Ground Caribou –

• Living in the tundra and Arctic islands, these caribou can vary in size dramatically depending on where they are located. Mature bulls can weigh 250 to 450lbs and antlers for the CCBGC score around the same as the Quebec Labrador caribou.

Mountain Caribou –

• Very similar to Woodland caribou, this is an endangered species. They reside in British Columbia and western Alberta. In early 2019, the remaining southern mountain caribou were taken and put into maternity pens.

Quebec Labrador Caribou –

• This medium-sized tundra caribou is very similar to the CCBGC. Hunts for this subspecies can start at about 10,000 USD.

Woodland Caribou –

• Mountain caribou, or in other names, Boreal woodland caribou are one of the most endangered mammals in North America currently. These caribou live in the mountain ranges of British Columbia, Alberta, and parts of Idaho and Washington.

Alaska Yukon Moose –

• The Alaska Yukon or in other names, the giant moose, is a subspecies of moose native to ranges from Alaska to western Yukon. This moose is the largest subspecies of moose to roam the boreal and deciduous forests.

Alaska Moose Hunt

Canada Moose –

• There is an estimated 500,000 to 1 million moose in Canada. These moose are mainly located on the hillsides of the western mountain ranges. A mature bull’s antlers usually range between 120 and 150cm between the widest tips.

Canada Moose Hunt

Shiras Moose –

• Measuring over six feet at the shoulder and weighing up to 1,000lbs, the Shiras moose is Colorado’s largest big game animal. Colorado has one of the fastest growing populations in moose in the lower 48 states.

Moose Hunts

Bison –

• Mostly found in conservation areas, bison can be found in the US, Canada, and Mexico. Bison are commonly called buffalo in the US and Canada but are only distantly related to the true buffalo. Adults can grow up to 6ft and 7in in height and 11ft and 6in in length.

Muskox –

• Muskox typically weigh in from 500 to 800lbs. These huge mammals have inhabited the Arctic for thousands of years, and their long shaggy hair is well adapted to the frigid climate.

American Mountain Goat –

• These hoofed mammals are endemic to North America and commonly found on cliffs and ice. Mountain goats will weigh from 90 to 300lbs and are protected by their woolly white double coats.

Mountain Goat Hunts

Pronghorn Antelope –

• Pronghorn Antelope are mainly found in North America. Their natural ranges are most commonly extended from southern Canada to northern Mexico. The pronghorn is the fastest land mammal in the western hemisphere with running up to speeds of 42 mph for one mile.

Antelope Hunts

California Bighorn Sheep –

• Known for its large horns, the Bighorn sheep is native to North America. California is home to tell different subspecies of sheep, the desert Bighorn and the Sierra Nevada Bighorn.

Dall Sheep –

• Dall sheep, or in other names, the thinhorn sheep can be found in northwestern North America. Both male and female sheep carry a huge set of horns, but the females are often shorter and more slender.

Dall Sheep Hunts

Desert Bighorn Sheep –

• This subspecies of bighorn sheep is native to the deserts of the intermountain west and southwestern regions in the US. With rams weighing up to 250lbs, Desert bighorn sheep are the largest native animal in the Grand Canyon National Park.

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep –

• Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep are the largest wild sheep in North America, the males can weigh up to 300lbs while just their horns alone can weigh up to 30lbs. The females, or ewes, are about half this size.

Stone Sheep –

• Native to northwestern North America, the Stone sheep is a southern subspecies of the Dall or Thinhorn sheep. These sheep can be found mainly in British Columbia seen licking minerals at Summit Lake or other Provincial Parks.

We asked our hunters what their Top Five Dream Hunts would be. Some of their answers were… well, no brainers to be honest, but a few of them took us by surprise. If you would like to have us help you make one of your dream hunts a reality, one of our hunting consultants would love to help you out.

Cape Buffalo Hunting Safari

#1 in our Top 5 Dream Hunts survey, Cape buffalo hunting has drawn more people to go hunting in Africa than all the other Big Five combined.

Regarded as one of the most ill-tempered animals on the face of the earth, Cape buffalo hunts in Africa are extremely popular. We offer cape buffalo hunts in Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. What is great about an African Safari is the amazing amount of plains game species available to hunt in addition to dangerous game. If you want to hunt “Black Death,” be sure to have the right gear, research the best calibers. If you’re a bowhunter, take your archery gear very seriously. These animals are no joke!

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Shooting Doves in Argentina

Dream Hunt #2 kind of surprised us.

We thought that Argentina dove shooting would probably be in the top 10, but scoring #2 on our dream hunts survey?… didn’t expect that. That being said, dove hunting in Argentina is AMAZING! You can very easily shoot between 1,000 and 3,000 rounds per day!

If you’ve been thinking about doing an Argentina dove hunt, we have some great wingshooting for you. From the moment they pick you up at the airport, they do their best to make your trip to Argentina a safe, incredible and unforgettable experience. If you’d like to stay a little closer to home, we have some spectacular dove shooting in Mexico as well.

*While you’re in Argentina, you should check out the Golden Dorado River Cruiser. Just trust us on this one.

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Brown Bear Hunt

Brown bear hunting was #3 in our Top 5 Dream Hunts survey and they are available in Alaska, Kamchatka, and there are even Eurasian brown bear hunts.

Alaska brown bear hunting is at the top of most hunters’ lists, for good reason. Two of our favorites are an Alaska coastal brown bear hunt out of a luxury yacht, and the fall bear hunts (odd years) on the Alaska Peninsula.

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Trophy Elk Hunt

Elk hunting being dream hunt #4 on our dream hunts survey really didn’t surprise us.

Elk hunting is awesome, and if you haven’t experienced it, you should. We offer many different types of elk hunts including land owner tags, bow hunts, trophy hunts, hunting leases, private ranches, corporate hunts with large groups, and drop camps. There are so many cool options with elk hunting, it’s hard to choose a favorite hunt. If you would like to experience elk hunting for yourself, be sure to talk to one of our consultants.

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Moose

It was no surprise that moose made our top five dream hunts.

Moose hunting can be incredibly fun, and are one of the most sought after big game animals in the world. For beginning moose hunters, the most important thing to keep in mind is that moose are huge and can be VERY difficult to pack out of the field. Finding the right moose hunting outfitters is critical, both for your success and for the enjoyment of your hunt. We have LOTS of good moose hunts to choose from and you should talk to a consultant to see which one fits your needs best.

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What are your Top 5 Dream Hunts?

Ask Us About a Hunt Request pricing and availability

Knowing when and how to hunt over scrapes is a pivotal part of being a successful whitetail deer hunter. These markings are utilized by bucks in a way that acts as a calling card for deer in a specific area and they can be extremely productive for hunters who know how to use them.

There is an element of mystery associated with scrapes as hunters can’t always tell what type of buck created the marking without the aid of a trail camera. Nevertheless, hunting scrapes at the right time can be the ticket to bagging a mature buck when all other methods of approaching the deer prove to be fruitless.

In this article, we’ll cover how bucks utilize scrapes in relation to the specific time of year, as well as certain times of the day during deer season. I hope to provide some insight as to the best ways to approach hunting over a scrape, and also give hunters an idea of when to lay off and stay away from them as well.

When Will Bucks Start Making Scrapes?

Scrapes are one of the most talked-about aspects of whitetail deer hunting. While there is plenty of great information that can be found online regarding scrapes, there are a lot of instances where misinformation is spread and sometimes advocated by what most hunters would deem to be reputable outdoorsmen and women in the hunting industry.

Seeing a fresh scrape is certain to inspire a sense of excitement in hunters of all skill levels as it is a sure sign that a buck has been in the area—and that he is likely to return on a semi-regular basis to check the scrape again at some point. So this begs the question, when is the best time to hunt over a scrape?

Hunters should start seeing more signs of buck activity in the form of scrapes on their given hunting location around early to mid-October throughout much of the United States. While bucks are known to make scrapes at virtually any time of the year, this kind of activity will increase when the bucks’ testosterone levels are increasing just before the rut goes into full effect.

This is a time when bucks are becoming more active and preparing to draw a line in the sand, so to speak, when it comes to their own personal territory. Bucks will start to create these kinds of markers as they instinctively know that the rut is set to kick off in a matter of a few weeks, depending on where you’re located throughout the country.

Determine the Freshness of the Scrape First

One of the key aspects to focus on when it comes to scrapes and how you should approach them is freshness. If you come across a scrape in your hunting land, take your time and look it over thoroughly to determine whether or not it is a fresh scrape, or if it has been made more than a few weeks ago. Focusing your efforts on hunting over an old scrape will likely turn out to be a huge waste of time as bucks may be on the move in your area and turning most of their attention towards their female companions instead of scrapes.

Be sure to look at the overhanging branches above the scrape to see if they have recently been chewed or twisted. Most skilled hunters are able to tell when a small tree branch was worked by a buck and make a fairly accurate assessment as to when the buck chewed on the ends of the branch or used its antlers to twist and break the ends.

It’s also important that you closely inspect the ground where the buck has pawed at the scrape and pay attention to whether there are any leaves and other debris that have fallen into the scrape area since the buck made the marking. A fresh scrape will have very few if any leaves in the scrape and an old one will have a decent amount of debris in the area.

When to Start Looking for Scrapes?

The most important question any hunter can ask pertaining to scrapes is likely going to be “when is the best time of year to hunt over scrapes?”

However, it can be just as important to understand when you should start looking for scrapes on your hunting land. If you are able to find scrapes or scrape lines early shortly after they’ve been created by bucks in your area, you can usually work to stay one step ahead of the buck you’re after.

You should start looking for scrapes on the property you are hunting in early October. Once you find the first scrape or scrape line, you should work to connect the dots and try to make an assessment as to where the buck is headed and what two points of interest the scrape is made to connect.

In most cases, scrapes are made in areas very close to where a buck is either feeding or bedding. If you are very familiar with the specific area you’re hunting, you should try to look for areas where bucks might bed down in thickets and other sections that offer good amounts of cover and a higher vantage point than the land surrounding the bedding area.

In addition to finding and pinpointing the particular bedding area in your neck of the woods, it’s also important to try and search out the various food sources nearby. If you can locate the bedding areas and determine which food supplies a buck is likely to be using in early to mid-October, you’re very likely to find scrapes along the trails or edges of thick cover and hardwoods.

Best Time of Year to Hunt Over Scrapes

According to most experienced whitetail deer hunters, hunting over scrapes is an excellent strategy just before the rut starts to kick in. For most of the United States, bucks will start to engage in behavior that is consistent with their usual rutting patterns around the beginning of October or toward the end of the month.

When it comes to hunting over scrapes, freshness is the most important aspect of the entire conversation. If you find a fresh scrape in early October or near the middle of the month, the best time to hunt over this particular buck sign is sooner rather than later. A buck that takes the time to create a scrape is likely to come back and check it within a few days, or sooner in some cases.

It’s a mistake to think that you can simply make a note of this scrape and hunt over it once the rut is truly beginning. Bucks typically make scrapes just a few weeks before they will begin to chase after does as a means to tell other bucks in the area “this is my turf.” Once they begin to go into estrus, bucks will mostly lose interest in scrapes as they will focus most of their efforts on finding these does that are in heat and mating with them.

Bucks will, however, come back and check these scrapes if they are in the area. Most hunters swear by the process of creating their own mock-scrapes in order to draw the attention of bucks. There is little scientific evidence to back up the idea that mock-scrapes are just as productive as naturally occurring scrapes.

Most hunters will have the most success hunting over scrapes in the month before the peak of the rut in their particular area.

Best Time of Day to Hunt Over Scrapes

Most scrapes are going to be worked by bucks under the cover of darkness. Obviously, hunters can’t legally hunt during this time, so the next course of action is to catch an unsuspecting buck at or near a freshly-made scrape in the early morning hours. If you plan to hunt over a particular scrape or a scrape line, it’s best to do so in the early morning.

Be sure to get into your stand well before daylight in order to avoid disturbing any bucks as they make their way along the trail where the scrape is located. It is very likely that the buck has spent the night roaming around the general area, checking scrapes, and feeding on various food sources.

The time for hunting over scrapes successfully is actually a shorter window than most hunters realize. Bucks will make scrapes in the early portion of the hunting season, but they will quickly turn most of their focus toward chasing after does in estrus once the rut kicks in full force.

Buck Behavior Around Scrapes

The subject of buck behavior around scrapes is one that could be discussed in an article of its own as there are many different points to consider. Bucks will react in a variety of ways to other deer visiting their scrapes and many mature bucks are known to make use of scrapes more heavily than younger bucks.

Bucks will begin to make scrapes more aggressively once their testosterone levels increase as the rut comes closer. Scrapes will begin to appear more frequently in October and you can expect other bucks to leave their scent in an already-made scrape in most cases. Some hunters can draw bucks in and keep their attention for a few days through the use of a mock scrape and the right combination of buck urine or doe estrus.

What is a Scrape Line?

A scrape line is one of the biggest signs that bucks are living in a specific area and that they’re also frequently using a certain lane of travel back and forth from their bedding area to their chosen food source. Bucks will create scrapes along the way from their bedding area to a particular food source in intervals of about 20 to 50 yards in most cases.

Bucks will usually create a scrape line sometime around early to mid-October and will continue to use and check these scrapes up until the rut kicks into high gear toward the middle of November.

How to Hunt a Scrape Line

If you plan to hunt over a scrape line, it’s best to do so during the morning hours as most bucks will work their scrapes during the night and move toward their bedding area shortly after the sunrise. In some cases, mature bucks will actually show up during the mid-morning hours to check their scrapes during late October or early November.

It’s best to hunt over a scrape line in the few short weeks just before the rut begins in your specific area. For much of the United States, the rut fully begins in the middle of November, so it’s best to hunt over scrapes and scrape lines in the month before the rut kicks off.

Conclusion

There is a lot of information related to scrapes that can be found online and wildlife biologists are still working to understand the subtle nuances of just how whitetail bucks utilize scrapes in a way to communicate their presence with one another. Regardless of your level of understanding when it comes to scrapes and when to hunt over them, the information in this article should help you get off to a productive start as it relates to scrape hunting in the next season.

Thank you for reading my article! I hope you enjoyed it, and if you have any questions or feedback, please send me an email at [email protected]. If you want to learn more about me or Omega Outdoors, visit my About Page. Otherwise, I hope you have a great day, and check out some of my other articles while you’re here!

This year, we decided to breed our sow, Boo, with Duroc genetics. Boo is a mixture of Tamworth and Berkshire genes, which in the past has led to piglets that are fast-growing, vigorous, and, I might add, quite cute to look at!

We wanted to give a new breed of pigs a try this year, however. We decided to go with Durocs. Durocs have a reputation for being some of the hardiest and quickest-growing pigs around.

Here’s what you need to know about the Duroc pig breed. That way, you can decide whether it’s right for you and your farm.

About Duroc Pigs

A red pig with drooping ears, the Duroc is a wonderful breed to consider if you are interested in raising market pigs.

It is the second most common breed of pig in the US.

Most Durocs will be a deep mahogany color, as ours were, but you might also find some that are a pale yellow or gold color.

History of the Duroc Pig Breed

They were first bred in the early 1800s in New Jersey and New York. The original parents of the Duroc were red pigs from either state.

The pig is believed to get its red color from the Berkshire pig. The Berkshire is a breed that is now black but was once a rust color, similar to the modern Duroc. Some people also believe that the Duroc contains genetics that can be traced to the Guinea coast of Africa.

A very large pig, the Red Hog quickly rose to popularity for its massive size and its ability to produce large litters of piglets that grew exceptionally fast.

These Red Hogs were eventually bred into the Duroc-Jersey and what is today known as the Duroc. However, the breed wasn’t renamed until 1823.

In 1823, a man named Isaac Frink of Milton, NY raised a red boar of this lineage. It was prized for its carcass quality, growth rate, quiet disposition, and broad shoulder and ham areas.

Though smaller than many of the earlier pigs in this line that came out of New Jersey, it ultimately had a much better carcass quality. He named the breed the Duroc in honor of his famous Thoroughbred stallion, Duroc.

Eventually, the original Jersey line and this new Saratoga-based line were crossed to create a hog that was well-suited for the vast majority of farmers.

It was formally recognized in the creation of the American Duroc-Jersey Association in 1883 (renamed the United Duroc Swine Registry) in 1934.

The breed of choice for a large percentage of American farmers, the Duroc is also a good choice for the modern homestead.

Characteristics of Duroc Pigs

Although the Duroc is not the largest breed of pig you will find to raise on your farm, it is still nothing short of impressive. The average weight of a fully mature boar is close to 900 pounds, while a sow will be around 800 pounds.

With drooping ears, it’s easy to pick this pig out of a line-up of other pigs, most of which have erect ears instead.

As I mentioned earlier, most Duroc pigs will be a deep red in color. However, some are much lighter or even golden or orange in their appearance. Durocs are usually medium-length and have a slight dish of the face. They have large snouts and short, curly tails.

Benefits of Raising Duroc Pigs

1. Great for Outdoor Raising

Raising pigs outdoors, whether on pasture or in a woodland setting, is a great idea for so many reasons. This can really cut down on the amount of barn cleaning that you need to do. It also helps when it comes to improving the health of your animals.

Durocs are perfect for an outdoor environment because they are covered in dense, coarse hair that they shed come summertime. They also have tough, hard skin.

These pigs can tolerate both cold and warm weather with ease.

You don’t have to worry about them becoming sunburned, something that is all too common with other kinds of pigs. The Duroc can, in fact, tolerate most weather conditions without a problem.

As long as you have a muddy area for them to cool off, some rich pastures, and plenty of food and water, your Durocs will have everything they need.

2. Tender, High-Quality Meat

If you ever take a glance at a Duroc pig, your first thought will probably be, “blocky!” The Duroc has a stocky build with plenty of meat in the ham and shoulder area.

We found that the meat ended up being a bit more of a dark red in color, too. This was a testament to their diet as well as the fat distribution and leanness of the meat.

3. Fast Growth Rate

Durocs grow quite quickly, especially when compared to other breeds of pigs. In fact, we conducted a bit of a pseudo-experiment this year. In so doing, we raised both Yorkshire and Duroc piglets for the market.

The results impressed us.

The Yorkshires were slightly older than the Durocs – yet the Durocs reached market weight nearly a month sooner. Anecdotal, but something I saw echoed in many other farmers’ reviews of what it’s like to raise Durocs.

4. Large Litters

Duroc sows are great mothers. They can take care of their young with very few problems.

This is great news considering that the litters can be extremely large. Some say that Durocs can give birth to litters of nearly 2 dozen pigs. This is exceedingly rare, but litters can easily contain around 10-15 piglets if you’re lucky.

Not only that, but Durocs have a long life expectancy – up to 20 years when cared for properly. If you are raising breeding animals, that’s an important factor.

5. Minimal Aggression

Although some people find the Duroc breed to be somewhat aggressive, this isn’t usually the case. There will always be some variation in a breed.

Mostly, though, Durocs raised with other pigs and used to socializing will be quite mild-mannered.

6. Good for Breeding

Because of the reasons listed above, Duroc pigs are some of the best when you are trying to breed certain features into a new line of pigs. In fact, they are often crossed with Tamworths, Yorkshires, and other breeds to create superior pork.

Challenges of Duroc Pigs

1. Extremely Curious and Mischievous

One of the major benefits of raising Durocs is that they are extremely intelligent. In fact, Durocs are so smart that many people wonder whether they can be raised as pets. In short – I don’t recommend it.

Because they are so smart, they are also extremely curious – and extremely mischievous, too. They learn quickly. While they can be trained to be obedient over time, in most cases, if you’re raising market hogs, this isn’t something you’ll have the time to do.

Durocs can be challenging to raise if you don’t have the time or money to invest in some serious infrastructure. By that, I mean these pigs need fences – not just any old fence, but a good fence.

When raising other breeds of pigs, like Tamworths and Yorkshires, we didn’t have to worry about them getting out very often.

A 3-strand electric fence was satisfactory in keeping them contained, even on the occasions when the electricity would be knocked out (they still didn’t test the fence).

Our Durocs, however, seemed to escape regularly. They learned how to lift a gate off its hinges and did this repeatedly. That was along with pushing dirt up and around the electric fence and page wire fence so they could wander wherever they felt obliged to do so.

Duroc pigs are not animals that are well-suited to confinement. Even if your barn is lock-tight, raising these pigs in a sequestered environment is not a good idea. They will not be allowed to root and explore as they please if you do.

2. Skittish Personality

Durocs are known for being extremely independent. Even when raised with other pigs, these smart little buggers aren’t terribly fond of human interaction. They will bolt away at the first touch.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing when you’re raising pigs for meat. However, keep in mind that it might make them more challenging to handle.

My husband and I have always joked that you can’t force a pig to do something it doesn’t want to. Pigs aren’t like other livestock, such as sheep. These aren’t species that can more or less be manipulated or coerced into doing what you need them to do.

That’s doubly true for Duroc pigs!

However, I have also read that this breed is often used for the show ring. I think that, with a bit of training, you could easily have a Duroc that is friendly and docile enough to be handled. It’s all in how much time you want to commit to it.

3. Must be Raised in a Social Environment

Pigs like to be around other pigs – and that’s true for Durocs. Duroc pigs enjoy other pigs and will get lonely if left to their own devices.

Not only that, but they’ll also get curious! That translates to more pigs trying to escape – not good news for you or your fences.

Therefore, do whatever you can to keep your Duroc pigs entertained with the company of other pigs. Yes, even if they’re pigs of another breed.

How to Raise Duroc Pigs

Duroc pigs should be raised just like any other breed of market pig. Although they can handle most weather conditions, provide them with appropriate shelter like a 3-sided barn. This will help them get out of driving wind and heavy precipitation, along with the burning sun.

A pig will eat an average of 6-8 pounds of feed per day, though this of course varies depending on what you are feeding and what age of pig you are raising.

The average pig will eat up to 900 pounds of food. That is after being weaned from its mother until it is ready for slaughter.

Many farmers use a mixture of corn and soybeans to feed their Durocs. You can also feed any kind of fruit and vegetable, scrap, dairy products, etc.

Don’t forget water as well.

Pigs need a minimum of a gallon of water per day per pig, but potentially more if it’s a larger pig or the weather is warm.

They also need a muddy spot in which to wallow. Be sure to provide this for your pigs when the weather is hot. When it’s cool, a bit of straw bedding will suffice.

Durocs are known for being exceptionally clean animals. They will usually only do “their business” in one corner of the barn, sleeping in the other.

Therefore, the amount of straw you will need is minimal. They have no unique health needs that you would not encounter in other pig breeds, either.

Are Duroc Pigs Right For You?

There are plenty of pig breeds out there for you to choose from, including Yorkshire, Tamworth, Berkshire, Gloucestershire, and more. Why should you choose the Duroc, with all these other options to choose from?

To be fair, the Duroc might not be the perfect breed for everyone.

Take the time to read the information above and to make sure that this is the ideal pig for your small farm or homestead – and if you’re looking for a good meat producer that is smart and stocky, look no further than the Duroc.

Mushroom foraging has dramatically increased in popularity in the last few years. More and more people are passionate about getting outside and learning about the land they live and work in. Harvesting wild fungi is one way to participate in your local ecosystem, and if you live in Michigan, you are in a prime mushroom-hunting zone. Mushrooms prefer temperate climates with clear seasonal divisions.

Michigan is a great state for mushroom foraging because it has an abundance of forests, regular rainfall, and well-defined seasons. There are over 2,500 wild mushroom species that live in the state, and between 60 and 100 are edible.

Keep reading this article to learn about edible and toxic mushroom species in Michigan. We’ll talk about their growth habits, the conditions necessary for their flourishing, and, if they’re edible, what you can make with them.

14 Mushrooms in Michigan

This list contains both edible and non-edible mushrooms. When foraging is your responsibility to ensure that you properly identify the mushrooms on this list. They are clearly labeled and described with pictures and indicators of whether they are edible.

If you believe you have ingested a poisonous mushroom, seek immediate medical attention. Some poisonous mushrooms have slow-acting toxins.

Edible Mushrooms

The mushrooms in this section are safe for human consumption. Remember that all mushrooms must be cooked before eating, and that it’s your responsibility to properly identify a mushroom. If you’re in doubt, don’t eat it!

1. Hen-of-the-Woods

• Scientific name: Grifola frondosa
• Average size: 6 to 15.5 inches in diameter
• Can be found: in oak forests
• Edible: Yes

The hen-of-the-woods is a tree-growing mushroom species that shares some traits with its relative, the chicken-of-the-woods. They are two different species, however.

In Michigan, go hunting for hen-of-the-woods in oak and hardwood forests during late summer and fall. They live on dead, dying, and living trees.

The cap of the hen-of-the-woods ranges from 6 to 15.5 inches across. It’s wavy and multi-layered because the caps are clustered.

The texture is smooth and dusky brown. When cut apart, the flesh is solid and white.

2. Oyster Mushroom

• Scientific name: Pleurotus ostreatus
• Average size: 1 to 6.5 inches in diameter
• Can be found: in aspen groves
• Edible: Yes

The Oyster mushrooms are highly visible edible mushrooms that grow in the forests of Michigan. In the state, you’re most likely to see them in aspen forests. They have barely any stem and look like a cap is simply growing right out of the tree’s bark.

The light brown or white cap is 1 to 6.5 inches in diameter and they are relatively smooth to the touch. After harvesting this mushroom, don’t eat the stem. The flesh is white and tastes neutral.

They grow in clusters on living trees. Cooking these mushrooms is a simple task. They make a great side dish, especially as the weather gets colder.

3. Honey Mushroom

• Scientific name: Armillaria mellea
• Average size: 1¼ to 4¾ inches in diameter
• Can be found: hardwood forests
• Edible: Yes

The honey mushroom is a hardwood-reliant, tan or white mushroom that grows in forests. Michigan is the honey mushroom’s western range limit. It grows most often near the Great Lakes region in prolific clusters shaped almost like floral bouquets.

The mushroom’s cap measures between 1¼ to 4¾ inches across. The size changes depending on what part of the cluster the individual fruiting body grows in.

They are mild-tasting and have very pronounced fibrous gills on the underside of the caps. Notice a ring around the stem to identify them.

4. Bear’s Head Tooth Mushroom

• Scientific name: Hericium americanum
• Average size: 6 to 7¾ inches long
• Can be found: on living and dead deciduous trees
• Edible: Yes

In Michigan, the bear’s head tooth mushroom can be found in undisturbed forests. It grows directly from dead trees, stumps, and even living trees. While most recorded specimens were discovered on deciduous trees, others have been found on evergreen trees.

Bear’s head teeth have no circular caps like other mushrooms do. Instead, they grow in a linear pattern similar to a tree branch. Most average between 6 to 7¾ inches long.

On the ‘branch’ are hundreds of tiny frondlike spines. The full effect was similar enough to appear like the jawbone of a bear, which is how the mushroom got its name.

5. Golden Chanterelle

• Scientific name: Cantharellus cibarius
• Average size: 1 to 4 inches in diameter
• Can be found: in forests and near recently burned areas
• Edible: Yes

The Golden chanterelle mushrooms are a great starting point if you’re learning to forage. In Michigan, golden chanterelles grow in forests with abundant deciduous trees, such as the upper peninsula and the northern lower peninsula.

The cap of the golden chanterelle is between 1 and 4 inches across. It has wavy edges and the whole mushroom is funnel-shaped.

When foraging for this fungi, you will probably smell it before you see it. Its primary trait is its strong smell. Observers say the mushroom’s aroma is of apricots and citrus.

6. Dryad’s Saddle

• Scientific name: Polyporus squamosus
• Average size: 2 to 12 inches across
• Can be found: in hardwood forests
• Edible: Yes

The dryad’s saddle is a creatively named mushroom that sprouts from the trunks of dead or living trees in early spring. It’s one of the first mushrooms you’ll see when foraging for fungi in Michigan. While looking for morels, it’s a great idea to keep an eye out for the dryad’s saddle too.

Most of this mushroom consists of a large cap that ranges from 2 inches to up to a foot across! The external texture is scaly and its color is light brown or warm tan. They are pretty thin like a pancake and the flesh is white when cut apart.

7. Black Morel

• Scientific name: Morchella angusticeps
• Average size: 1 to 3 inches tall
• Can be found: in forests near dying hardwood trees
• Edible: Yes

If you aren’t looking for a golden chanterelle, chances are you’re probably looking for a morel. Morels are great mushrooms to cook with. They add a wild, nutty flavor to dishes, not to mention a little luxury too.

In Michigan, hunt for morels in the spring. They grow in high-moisture environments near dying hardwood trees.

The caps are taller than they are wide. Most caps measure about 1 to 3 inches tall, but only 2 inches wide.

They are dusky brown and dark inside all of the folding and honeycomb patterning. The stem is chunky for how small the cap is, and sometimes it looks disproportionate.

8. Short-stemmed Russula

• Scientific name: Russula brevipes
• Average size: 2 ¼ to 7 ¾ inches across
• Can be found: under needles in coniferous forests, esp. Douglas Fir
• Edible: Yes

The short-stemmed russula is a mushroom of variety. It adapts to different tree types, can grow alone or in groups, and grows from summer into late fall and even winter, if it’s warm. In Michigan, it can be found underneath piles of pine needles.

The caps measure from 2 ¼ to 7 ¾ inches in diameter. They’re usually tilted in a saddle-like shape. They’re thick and well supported by a robust stem.

While these mushrooms are edible, they need a lot of seasoning because they can sometimes be bitter. Mushroom hunters often let them alone until they transform into lobster mushrooms thanks to infestations of another fungus.

Non-edible Mushrooms

These mushrooms cannot be eaten. Some are inert and can’t be eaten, but some are toxic and have the potential to cause hallucinations or even death. Do not eat any of the mushrooms on this part of the list.

9. Death Angel Mushroom

• Scientific name: Amanita bisporigera
• Average size: 1 to 4 inches across
• Can be found: growing from the ground in mixed forests
• Edible: No. TOXIC

The death angel mushroom is aptly named; it’s one of the most deadly mushroom species in the world. Consumption of this mushroom results in poisoning from amatoxins, which attack the liver and kidneys. In Michigan, find this mushroom during the summer and fall in coniferous or deciduous forests.

Death angels have a cap averaging 1 to 4 inches in diameter. It is smooth and white, as is the rest of the mushroom.

However, there is a baglike volva around the base of the fungus and a small, scarflike ring near the top. They grow in groups and have many closely spaced gills.

10. Panther Mushroom

• Scientific name: Amanita pantherina
• Average size: 1 to 7 inches in diameter
• Can be found: near conifers and pines
• Edible: No. TOXIC

The Panther mushrooms are common throughout the northern United States, including Michigan. Unfortunately, they’re extremely toxic so they should never be harvested or handled. They grow in Michigan’s pine forests because they have a symbiotic relationship with the fungi in the trees’ roots.

A panther mushroom’s cap feels scaly and measures between 1 and 7 inches across. The small scales fall off when touched. They are somewhat bulbous and form a squat figure against the dirt from where they grow.

11. False Morel Mushroom

• Scientific name: Gyromitra esculenta
• Average size: 2¼ to 6 in diameter
• Can be found: underneath conifers
• Edible: No. TOXIC

The False morel mushrooms look similar to true morels so they were named to tell the two species apart. Unfortunately, false morels are poisonous and pose a health risk to humans. In Michigan, you can find false morels in the springtime in pine forests.

Don’t be scared about telling them apart from true morels. It only takes a little practice. False morels have extremely wrinkled, ‘brainlike’ caps 2¼ to 6 inches across.

Their stems are proportionally very small compared to true morels. Lastly, they are reddish, not cool brown like true morels.

12. Eastern Jack O’Lantern

• Scientific name: Omphalotus illudens
• Average size: 2” to 4” in diameter.
• Can be found: in forests
• Edible: No. TOXIC

The eastern Jack O’Lantern’s creative name comes from its bright orange color. This is a sign for all mushroom foragers to stay away: this mushroom is highly toxic. It contains a poisonous compound called illudin, which destroys the human body’s ability to replicate DNA.

Eastern Jack O’Lanterns grow in highly layered shelf-like aggregates. An individual mushroom’s cap measures between 2 and 4 inches in diameter.

The outer edge is slightly frayed and darker orange. Lastly, the mushroom has another interesting trait: it glows in the dark!

13. Autumn Skullcap

• Scientific name: Galerina marginata
• Average size: ½ to 1 ½ inch in diameter
• Can be found: on dying conifers
• Edible: No. TOXIC

The autumn skullcap is known by many names, including the funeral bell and the deadly galerina. The names all describe the same mushroom, which is extremely poisonous. In Michigan, it can be found in dense forests, especially ones with a high percentage of conifers.

The cap is folded inward so that the outer edge is underneath the umbrella of the mushroom. This edge curls outward as the mushroom ages.

Normally, caps range between ½ to 1½ inches across. Be careful when searching for mushrooms similar to the autumn skullcap. Most deaths have been due to cases of mistaken identity.

14. Death Cap Mushroom

• Scientific name: Amanita phalloides
• Average size: 2.25” to 6” in diameter
• Can be found: Oak forests
• Edible: No. TOXIC

The Death caps are extremely toxic mushroom species that grow in Michigan’s oak-dominated forests. They can grow in groups or alone, but they’re almost always around oak trees. If you see one of these mushrooms, leave it alone.

The mushroom’s white or gray cap is about 2 ¼ to 6 inches across. It drapes down like a small umbrella.

There’s also a growth around the base that looks like a bag; this growth is called a volva. The stem also has a crumpled ring that is level with the outer edge of the umbrella.

We’re still dreaming of the day when suppressor ownership is legal in all 50 states. Thankfully, great progress has been made in recent years and it is now legal to own a suppressor in 42 of the 50 states.

Making suppressed hunting legal in states where it is legal to own a suppressor has been equally taxing, but also very rewarding. To date, it’s legal to hunt with a suppressor in 41 states.

The most obvious benefit of hunting suppressed is safety, particularly when it comes to protecting your hearing. Noise-induced hearing loss is the most common affliction for hunters. A lot of this comes from hunters forgoing hearing protection year after year for their entire hunting career so that they can hear their surroundings. After all, hearing nature around you is one of the best parts of hunting.

A secondary benefit is that it protects the hearing of your hunting companions. There’s nothing better than sharing an elk hunt with your friends or family, but it can easily be tainted by the sound of an unsuppressed gunshot. Maybe it won’t bother them right away, but over time, it will.

Animals like varmints or predators will go into hiding when they hear a gunshot, so a suppressor is almost a necessity in these instances. Some game animals like deer or elk may completely avoid an area if they are alerted to gunshots. We have seen this firsthand with small game such as ground squirrels that go into hiding for hours after the sound of the first shot and on other occasions not changing a thing because we were shooting suppressed.

Along with not disturbing the game in a given hunting area, suppressors also let you avoid disturbing local residents. Remember, not all hunting is done in the vast majesty of elk country. It may be small in the grand scheme of things, but a decrease in noise complaints is a good thing for everyone.

In this guide, we’re going to dig into all things hunting with a suppressor, including why you need to have one on your next elk hunt.

WHY HUNT WITH A SUPPRESSOR?

As we mentioned, in addition to protecting your hearing, a suppressed firearm allows you to use your unencumbered ears to listen for elk bugling, communicate with fellow hunters, and avoid alerting predators. Quite simply, it allows you to be fully aware of your surroundings from a hearing perspective.

In 2015, Montana Governor Steve Bullock of Montana said it best in a letter to the Montana Speaker of the House, stating: “Suppressors mitigate the sound of a shot, but do not silence it. The use of suppressors for hunting, when hunters cannot wear ear protection because they need to be aware of their surroundings, can help protect against hearing loss. This is especially true for our younger hunters, even those who are not actually hunting but are accompanying their parents in the field.”

Hearing protection in the form of muffs or plugs is as effective but only while being worn. In the field, it is important to be aware of your surroundings, especially in bear, mountain lion, or rattlesnake country. The hunter can easily become the hunted without the situational awareness that hunting with a suppressed firearm offers.

BENEFITS OF HUNTING SUPPRESSED

In summary, suppressed hunting offers a number of benefits that you may have not considered. Here’s a list of those benefits:

• Protect your hearing
• Protect the hearing of others
• Maintain awareness of your surroundings
• Enjoy sounds of nature, like elk bugling
• Avoid disturbing other game
• Reduce noise complaints
• Reduce recoil

IS IT LEGAL TO HUNT WITH A SUPPRESSOR?

Suppressors are legal to own in 42 states. Only one of those 42 doesn’t allow hunting with a suppressor, and that’s Connecticut. So, if you’re a suppressor owner and a hunter in Connecticut, get in touch with your state legislators and let them know it’s time to join the other 41 suppressor legal states that also allow hunting. Hunters’ voices in the other states made the difference in the other states and they can make the difference in Connecticut, too.

WHAT CAN I HUNT WITH A SUPPRESSOR?

In terms of what you can hunt with a suppressor, the sky is virtually the limit so long as you’re in one of the 41 states where suppressed hunting is legal.

As with all types of hunting – suppressor or otherwise – it’s still a good idea to check with your state and local game laws every year to make sure that things haven’t changed.

ELK HUNTING

Part of the thrill of elk hunting is the challenge. These majestic animals can give even the best and most experienced elk hunter a run for their money season after season. Therefore, any extra leg up you can get on them is welcomed when you’re out on the hunt.

Using a suppressor will keep your sound signature down so that you don’t disturb the rest of the herd when making your shot. This is especially important if, for some unfortunate reason or another, you miss your first shot. The less noise your rifle makes, the better chance you’ll have of getting off a second shot.

Since most elk hunting involves carrying all of your gear with you on the hunt, many hunters try to pack as simple and light as possible. This means that hearing protection often gets left behind. It’s not that a pair of electronic muffs are heavy; it’s simply that they’re one more piece of equipment to carry around. With a suppressor on the end of your barrel, you can protect your hearing without having to keep track of an extra piece of equipment.

DEER HUNTING

Deer hunting is greatly enhanced when using your suppressor. This is because most rifle suppressors offer a reduction in recoil. You may not need a .300 Winchester Magnum for a whitetail deer on the east coast at 50 yards but in the western states, but mule deer are larger and often taken at greater distances. Therefore, a bigger caliber may be more beneficial. The same holds true for other game animals such bighorn sheep and caribou.

Even if you’re using a rifle with lighter recoil for whitetail deer and don’t need the recoil reduction, it’s still nice to have the reduced sound signature to protect your ears.

COYOTE HUNTING

Whether you consider them to be varmints or predators, coyotes are some of the most intelligent and cagey animals to hunt. They recognize gunshots for what they are and even the youngest or most naïve of these creatures will keep a smart distance in spite of your best predator calls once they hear one. To sum it up, like their cartoon namesake, they are wily.

FERAL HOG HUNTING

Another animal with excellent hearing and one that knows the sound of gunshots for what they are is the feral hog. These animals have bred to out of control numbers in the wild and are a pestilence when it comes to agricultural, property, and other forms of damage. Suppressed hunting rifles are a necessity when taking out large numbers of them to protect crops and other things that they like to destroy.

VARMINT HUNTING

Prairie dog and ground squirrel hunters often benefit the most from the use of a silenced hunting rifle while varmint hunting. Animals such as these are well aware of what gunfire means and a large group will retreat to their burrows until they no longer hear gunfire.

A suppressed hunting rifle will allow you to maximize your efforts when you need to take them out in a small amount of time. It will allow you to take shots at them for hours on end, if that’s your intent.

BEST SUPPRESSORS FOR HUNTING

There are a lot of suppressors designed with hunting in mind that all share the same characteristics. You want it to be quiet, but also lightweight. Versatility and the ability to share it among different host guns is always a plus. We took a quick overview of a few different centerfire suppressors.

If you want a suppressor that was purpose-built with hunting in mind, then the BANISH Backcountry is one you should give serious consideration. It only weighs 7.8 oz and is only 5.5” in overall length. It’s also rated for use all the way up to .300 Remington Ultra Mag (RUM), so no matter what your choice for elk hunting, the BANISH Backcountry can handle it. The goal is to pack in ounces and pack out pounds, and the Backcountry will help you do just that.

One of the most versatile suppressors in the world is the BANISH 30. A fully user-serviceable can, it works with all of your rifle calibers from .17 HMR to .300 Weatherby. Testing shows that BANISH 30 reduces the report of a .308 Winchester by as much as 34 decibels. It is made from a strong, titanium alloy for unmatched durability at an extremely light weight.

If you are looking for a suppressor that can handle pistol calibers such as .45 ACP as well as large rifle calibers such as .45-70 Government, give the BANISH 46 a look. Made of titanium and Inconel, the BANISH 46 provides the ultimate combination of durability and weight reduction. The BANISH 46 weighs only 16.3 oz in the short configuration of 7.9”, and 20.4 oz in its 10” configuration.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

As beneficial as suppressors are to the hunter, one would think that they would be easier to come by. Here are some frequently asked questions that may help you understand the buying process as well as their capabilities.

HOW QUIET ARE THEY, REALLY?

Actually measuring sound reduction with a suppressor can be tricky. We have all seen the various decibel rating charts, but they only tell a part of the story. The actual level of sound reduction and the sound meter, itself, can be affected by humidity, barometric pressure, altitude, and echo.

In general, hunting with a suppressor can lessen the sound of most gunshots by anywhere from 25 to 35 decibels, depending on the silencer and caliber in question. This is below the threshold for most hearing protection commonly worn in or over the ears. If you hunt with dogs, it protects their hearing as well.

The other item of note here is that the vast majority of elk hunting rifles (bolt-action, lever-action, pump-action, single-shot) make the best suppressor hosts because the sealed action means there is no gas leakage. A silenced elk hunting rifle will truly live up to its name in this regard.

HOW DO I BUY A SILENCER WITH SILENCER CENTRAL?

Silencer Central takes the formalities out of the paperwork with our digital process. You select the right suppressor for your firearm and let our expert compliance staff handle the paperwork which is emailed to you to digitally sign. With the fingerprint kit, taking your prints and passport-style photo can be accomplished from the privacy of your own home. To make it even easier, we offer a 4-month, eZ-Pay option so you can pay for your silencer in installments. Our free NFA Gun Trust (a $249 value) is set up for you to better protect the ownership of what is really a lifetime investment. Once approved, you receive notification via email and text message, and we ship the silencer directly to your doorstep.

Additionally, we realize that not all hunting rifles ship from the factory with threaded barrels to attach to your silencer. Silencer Central’s in-house machine shop can thread your rifle for you and ship the barrel straight back to your house.

In addition to stocking popular brands, we also offer BANISH multi-caliber suppressors, a 100% titanium and user-serviceable line exclusively built to our demanding specifications.

SHOULD I PURCHASE A SILENCER USING AN NFA GUN TRUST?

At one time, it seemed like purchasing a suppressor by means of using an NFA Trust was the only way to go. This was mainly to avoid wait times from local law enforcement, obtaining fingerprints, photos and, in some extreme cases, chief local law enforcement figures would flat out refuse to sign any NFA paperwork. Much of this is no longer an issue due to an ATF ruling a few years ago that stated the CLEO only needed to be notified of silencer purchases.

However, an NFA gun trust is not a bad thing to have for estate planning purposes, particularly if firearms and silencers are involved.

HOW LONG ARE WAIT TIMES?

Perhaps the biggest drawback to buying a suppressor is the long wait time to go through the FBI background check. The background check is not long in and of itself, but the time it takes for the application to complete the entire ATF approval process is definitely longer.

At times, trusts can be quicker than individuals but at other times this dynamic can change. E-forms filed online are quicker than paper forms filed by mail. Over the years, we have seen approval times as short as 9 days and as long as 27 months. As of this writing, suppressor approval wait times are running about 270 days.

DO SUPPRESSORS AFFECT PERFORMANCE OR ACCURACY?

This is a bit of a mixed bag. In general, suppressors improve performance and accuracy. The right suppressor will lessen felt recoil and eliminate noise flinch, making your silenced hunting rifle more accurate.

However, attaching a suppressor will often change the rifle’s Point of Impact (POI). Often this shift in POI is minimal and can be corrected by adjusting the optic or iron sights. The important thing to remember is that if you sight your rifle in without a suppressor, you will need to re-zero with the suppressor attached.

Some suppressors will need this every time you reattach if they are the QD (Quick Detach) type that attaches to a flash suppressor or muzzle brake. If you are going the direct thread or thread over muzzle brake (TOMB) route, the shift will be negligible unless you are shooting at extremely long ranges ( greater than 1,000 yards).

WHY IS THERE A $200 TAX STAMP?

In 1934, due to concerns about high-profile bank robberies and interstate crime sprees from Depression-era criminals, Congress passed the National Firearms Act. This was the first major piece of gun control legislation passed in the United States.

Although the original intent was to outlaw specific types of firearms, including all handguns, legislators decided to tax them out of circulation by imposing a $200 transfer tax.

The reason why the NFA tax is $200 is because that was the retail price of a Thompson submachine gun in 1934. It was intended to be a 100% excise tax on a firearm that caught the public’s imagination. When adjusted for inflation, that tax today would be $4,500. This is a reason why silencer development languished for so many years until the 21st century.

Products affected by this tax were machine guns, short-barreled rifles (SBR), short-barreled shotguns (SBS), and, of course, suppressors. Firearms that were not quite short-barreled long arms and those that were disguised to not look like a firearm were classified as Any Other Weapon (AOW) and subject to a $3 tax.

The NFA has undergone some minor changes over the past nine decades, including raising the AOW tax from $3 to $5 and changing the SBR length from 18” to 16”. There have been a few attempts by lawmakers to deregulate silencers and remove them from the purview of the NFA, but as of this writing, there is still a $200 tax on this safety device.

READY FOR YOUR FIRST SUPPRESSED ELK HUNT?

Hopefully, by now you have a better understanding of what to look for in a suppressor for hunting. Weight and length are a factor especially if you must walk a few miles on your first suppressed hunt. You also want one that will reduce sound to a comfortable level and maybe even help in the recoil department.

Armed with the knowledge laid out here we hope we can get you ready for that first suppressed hunt. A suppressor is as important to a hunter as a quality firearm, skinning knife, or optic.

The key to having a great hunt is to do your research, hire experts and guides. Let Silencer Central be your suppressor “hunting guide” and redefine the way you buy a silencer. We deliver silencers the simple way. You select your silencer; we manage your paperwork, and your silencer is shipped directly to your doorstep. It’s the service that’s unheard of.

Call our silencer specialists at 888-781-8778 to get started on your next suppressor purchase or visit SilencerCentral.com to buy online.

“Backyard Air Rifle Shooting: Know the Rules and Regulations. Discover whether shooting an air rifle in your backyard is legal and safe. Get essential guidelines to ensure responsible and enjoyable shooting experiences within the comfort of your own property.”

can i shoot air rifle in my backyard?

Air rifles are a popular choice for recreational shooting and target practice. However, whether or not you can shoot an air rifle in your backyard depends on various factors such as your location, local laws, and safety considerations. Before engaging in any shooting activities in your backyard, it is crucial to research and understand the regulations specific to your area.

In many residential areas, shooting an air rifle in your backyard may be prohibited due to safety concerns. Backyards are typically confined spaces with close proximity to neighboring properties, which can pose risks if projectiles travel beyond the intended target. It is essential to ensure that you have a safe and suitable backstop or bullet trap to prevent any stray pellets from causing harm.

Additionally, familiarize yourself with local laws and regulations regarding firearms and shooting activities. Some areas may have restrictions on discharging any type of weapon within city limits or within a certain distance from dwellings. It is always advisable to contact your local law enforcement agency or relevant authorities to obtain accurate information about the legality of shooting an air rifle in your specific location.

In conclusion, shooting an air rifle in your backyard is subject to local laws and regulations. It is important to check with your local authorities to ensure compliance with any restrictions or permissions required. Safety precautions should always be taken, such as using a suitable backdrop and ensuring that the area is clear of people or pets.

The 2012 Kawasaki Teryx4 750 4×4 4-occupant Side by Side, looks very similar to its predecessor, the Teryx 750 4×4, but its outer shell is just about the only thing that remained untouched. The 2012 Kawasaki Teryx4 750 4×4 is actually an all-new model, with an entirely different chassis and a totally new and more powerful engine. Also different is the fact that it is available with or without electric power steering; a first for team Green on this type of vehicle.

Trail riding can be an extremely pleasant and enriching experience and our time with the guys and girls from Team Green at the Brimstone Recreation Area, in Huntsville, Tennessee, was exactly that. With their successful RZR4, Polaris was first to come forward with this new concept of gathering friends or family into one recreational intended vehicle, to further heighten the fun inducing capacity of trail riding and nature exploration. The mere idea is very strong and meaningful, with the potential to revive interest in this therapeutic activity that is the responsible use of maintained trails. Another OEM joining in was something to be expected.

Kawasaki’s Teryx model has always pleased us with its fun-inducing performance and by adding two extra seats; the fun can now be shared with loved ones and that is just awesome news. It comes in a basic form, and two others offering a new level of ease and comfort, with Kawasaki’s Electric Power Steering (EPS) system. The LE model, which comes in rich and deep red or yellow, and graced with the addition of superb looking wheels and a roof, was the most stunning of the trio, when arriving at our beautiful ride site. The weatherman had called for rain, but since when do we care what the weather is like, when going out for some fresh air, to enjoy laughter inducing slow and easy obstacle conquering, or responsibly controlled speed runs through puddles of splashing brown liquid. Before I got out there to discover yet another new place of beauty to ride in, eh I mean drive in; the very first walk around an all-new model is always extra exciting and revealing.

The very first thing that pops to attention is the presence of doors, which is an improvement I have hoped to see on as many Side by Side models as possible. Take the doors off if you need to, but these should be present all the time, as it only makes the entire vehicle feel more reassuring in character, without the frequent branch whipping your legs. I just think it is more logical to consider them an integral part of such a family oriented vehicle, and the ones who don’t want them in the way when working, can easily remove them. I gave one a wiggle and no rattling was discovered, as was also the case with everything else. This family buggy is superbly easy to get in and out of. Once inside, you’ll notice a concentrated effort to position everything just right. Despite the fact that Kawasaki doesn’t fabricate cars, they gave this interior quite a bit of auto flair.

The seats are amazingly comfortable and shaped to cup each leg for a more solid bond between the vehicle and its occupants. Hold on a minute here! When I think about it, these would make for awesome car seats! I might just try and bolt a pair down in my vintage Supra. I would later discover them to be so well made, that they blended in perfectly with the suspension’s smooth yet very communicating feel to it. Combined, they rendered the whole trail riding experience smoother to enjoy than usual. A heightened level of class is also present, with a nicely drawn car-like gear selector that still feels like most other Side by Side versions in operation. Other items in the center console, which by the way shield’s heat like no other I have had the chance to stick to, like the hand operated park brake and cup holders that are close enough to reach with an arm stretch and deep enough to hold your water bottle down, even when things get interestingly rough, add to the comfort level of this cool new play safe and work hard machine. For now, I just couldn’t find anything with room for improvement. Sitting on a back seat impressed me even more, as my knees were a good inch away from the back of the front seat and I felt just as comfortable there as in the front. Remember that I am 6’3″ tall and weigh about …eh, well, you know what I mean.

So we were off. A fun and quick pace was reached without having to slam the pedal, and wait for things to happen, I love this Kawa already! Their trusted 749cc engine was entirely revised to provide 15% more power, and I felt it right away. The vehicle’s most magical element is, of course, the suspension. No use having loads of power, if the vehicle just bounces around without keeping a good grip on the ground. High-performance, compression damping and preload adjustable Showa single-chamber gas-charged shocks were installed, to take care of that business, and they really did a great job, in conjunction with those awesome seats we talked about earlier, to render our first 2012 Kawasaki Teryx4 750 4×4 experience surprisingly pleasant, and more about what the area had to offer all-around us, than how the vehicle was behaving. The stability of the vehicle on flatter grounds is also really good, with a few very logical geometric choices made by those talented Japanese engineers at Kawasaki.

Inspired by sport quads and their high needs in control and stability, they kept the width of the frame at both ends as narrow as possible, so that the lower suspension arms could be designed nice and long, to minimize camber changes during the course of the suspension travel. I was also pleased to notice the positive camber in the rear wheels of our fellow media guys up front. This provides a much better feel to the rear, as the tire patch remains at full efficiency, while negotiating turns. I guess I managed to get a few Kawasaki guys worried, when we got to an open and flat gravel area, and I started doing donuts, which of course, I am aware, is a highly non-recommended type of manoeuvre in any Side by Side, but it was important for me to find out just how stable this vehicle really was. First thing I did, was to simply slowly turn around in circles, to discover a very practical tight turn radius. Then, I gradually picked up speed, keeping the steering turned at the maximum, until the back-end started to slide out, instead of having the interior wheels look to lift off the ground. Absolutely perfect! Almost impossible to roll this thing, on this type of surface anyway, a bit like Honda’s Big Red.

Team Green engineers went back to the drawing boards, to figure out what was needed to create a safe and highly capable four-seat rec/utility Side by Side. This pretty much meant redesigning the Teryx machine from A to Z, with an all-new chassis capable of handling the extra load and the new 749cc V-twin engine with an output shaft connected to a centrifugal clutch, to better protect the engine’s components, as well as enabling the drive belt to stay constantly under tension. This significantly improves its function, while riding through rock-filled sections and extends the life of the belt.

Through precise computer-assisted analysis and lots of testing in the toughest conditions imaginable, they ended up with a totally new approach to Side by Side chassis design, using a double cross-beam configuration as the main part of the structure. The Double-X frame design provides much more torsional rigidity, than the ladder-style frame of the two-seater Teryx and most other Side by Side vehicles.

Choose 2WD, 4WD or even more traction with a simpler front differential lock, than all other Kawasaki’s, which are all equipped with manually controlled versions. Just a simple “turn like a key” style electric switch does away with the need to control the locking action with a lever. Short-turning radius, perfectly sealed rear wet brake, and front hydraulic disc brakes that stop you on a dime, sport-inspired suspension, good power, plus room for four. Suddenly the Teryx name takes on a whole new meaning! One that can be truly desirable for people looking to upgrade their old golf kart shaped multi-passenger off-road vehicle or newcomers to the activity who find ATVs too challenging to operate.

If you already own an RZR4 from Polaris, then this one might not be so appealing if you like the racy feel and performance of your current ride. If you are among those who wished for something that would fall in-between the Ranger Crew or John Deere’s new XUV 550 S4 and that extra sporty RZR4, this reliable Kawasaki blends the best of both worlds in a very effective way. You can really have fun with your gang and the next day, enjoy this helpful vehicle to push, haul, and transport a surprisingly huge amount of stuff. One thing I’ve been telling some friends thinking of switching from ATVs to a Side by Side vehicle is to consider a 4-seater, if they want to really go for adventure trips and bring a tent and all necessities for a cool and romantic camping trip.

What I am getting at is that I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes if you are a trail ride loving couple, looking to buy their first Side by Side. The new Wildcat is cool, Polaris has many new choices also, Can-Am Commander vehicles are selling like hotcakes with good reason, and the list of choices will surely keep growing. Can-Am will almost certainly also have a 4-seater to offer soon. If it can be of any help, it is sometimes more important to analyse your true needs, before you travel to a showroom. Make an informed decision and learn about a few different models that you think might fit your bill, and try to experience as many as possible, before you sign anything! Call your dealer and ask if they have a demo model to try. At the very least if you can’t ride it, sit in it anyway and do everything like you would, if you were heading out for a ride. Buckle your seat belt, see how it feels, how the seat feels, where your feet end up, is everything within reach and confortable to operate?

Even sway your body around and get a sense of what would happen to your body, while travelling on rough terrain. Is your shoulder hitting something? For me, the 2012 Kawasaki Teryx4 750 4×4, felt superb in every way and since we are concentrating our efforts on this new vehicle right now, let me outline the biggest advantages it can offer its owner. The balance that the mid-ship engine placement provides, the high-grade suspension and efforts made by engineers in positioning the chassis’ centre of gravity as low as possible. The maximized cornering stability with the front sway bar, the front-end conception with its long A-arm design and adjustment possibilities on both the front and rear shocks. Plus, last but not least, the precision control felt with the smooth operating Electric Power Steering. I think it is also important to mention that the non-EPS base model is still very easy to steer in 2WD and you will only maybe miss it if you have tried an EPS or LE model beforehand. Nicely done Green team!

As I always mention when talking about a vehicle, which is specifically designed for multi-occupant use, the safety of your loved ones should always stay your first priority. So, if you do find some eager passengers make sure they always, without any exceptions, all wear the recommended gear and that their seat belt is securely fastened. Don’t ever attack obstacles or turns with aggressiveness, just to show off the vehicles high performance abilities. Always brake, before you turn! It is a basic rule of thumb that you might remember from your driving course, which becomes all the more important off-road. This vehicle has excellent brakes and safety conscious stability built into it, so there is no reason why your trail riding experience would turn sour.

In conclusion, I have to admit being thoroughly impressed with the performances of this new family-oriented Kawasaki. There is only that front passenger’s hand-hold on the roll cage, which I don’t approve of. The stick shaped handle for the front passenger’s left hand is perfect though, and I would replace the one on the roll cage with one on the dash, to encourage whoever sits there to keep arms inside the vehicle, in case of a rollover. If you do ever get in a situation where you are passenger and the ride does fall on its right side, however unlikely if the vehicle is properly used, I would strongly suggest that you grab that interior stick handle with both hands. A wide bar across the back of the front seats offers hand holds for the rear passengers.

This might have been just a one day experience, but it was one that included very true to life trail rider challenges that attested to the vehicle’s maker’s confidence in its product, like one particularly tough climb with a tricky hook around a big tree right in the middle of it. The 2012 Kawasaki Teryx4 750 4×4 handled absolutely everything like a pro! We can’t wait to get a unit to play with it some more!

For more information on the above mentioned models, please visit the Kawasaki Website

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