EP207 How To Create A Deer Sanctuary On Your Land For Free

If you want to have more deer and more mature bucks on your property, then creating a deer sanctuary is key. And while the sky is the limit on what this can cost, if you understand the principles, you can get much of the benefit for free. On this episode I talk about what a deer sanctuary is and the strategy that goes into developing one.

Take Aways

  • A deer sanctuary is as a much a strategy as it is a physical place. You, the hunter, make an area a sanctuary by virtue of what you do or do not do. Sure, modifying the habitat can help, but it cannot serve as a substitute for how you manage and hunt the land.
  • It is amazing how cheaply you can create a sanctuary when you understand the concept and what makes an area ideal habitat.
  • Remember that mature bucks need to almost be treated like a different animal from does and young bucks. They are much more wary, strategic, and mindful. This is why they are prized to hunt, because they are the hardest member of the heard to take.
  • Even if you spend a fortune on habitat improvements, you undo it all if you are not mindful of your access points, walking areas, and stand locations. Hunting smart will always yield more results than spending money.
  • Listen to the episode to learn about what a deer sanctuary is and how to build one.

EP206 Hunting Elk Solo vs. A Guide Or Outfitter

Should you hunt elk solo or pay for a guide or an outfitter? That is an easy question to ask but the answer depends greatly on the many variables that are unique to your situation and goals. On this episode I provide some insight which can help you make the best decision for you.

Take Aways

  • Guides are people you pay who know the land and the game and are able to help put you in an advantageous hunting situation.
  • Outfitters are companies that make your hunting accommodations, often including ground transportation, lodging, meals, guides, butchering, and transporting your meat back home.
  • Guides usually have a day rate.
  • Outfitters usually have a trip rate that varies based on the number of days.
  • A guided elk hunt is not someone taking you to an elk ranch where you pick your elk, shoot it, and have your antlers sent back home. That isn’t even hunting.
  • A guide is someone who shares their experience, knowledge of the land, and insight into the game to help you locate and get close to elk. They don’t hunt for you; they mentor you through the hunt.
  • The best time to use a guide or an outfitter is when you are investing a lot of time and money into travel and want to position yourself for the most enjoyable experience and best chance of success.
  • The best time to go solo is when your investment or risk is limited. If you can drive to the area to hunt, and make regular weekend excursions, you can easily and cheaply work at it until you learn.
  • Since so many people travel great distances and invest so much to hunt elk, guides become a very important part of the process. 
  • Always do your homework, research a guide or outfitter, look for reviews, talk to past customers if possible, make sure they are legit and that people enjoyed their experience.
  • Listen to the episode for all of the info.

EP205 Elk Hunting Guns & Gear

Elk hunting requires a specialized approach, but the guns and gear used are not uncommon. You may need to buy a little gear, but chances are you already own a capable rifle for the job. On this episode I talk about the equipment you need to hunt elk.

Take Aways

  • A magnum rifle is certainly fine for the job, but many hunters shoot worse with a bigger gun.
  • Do not just go out and buy a heavy caliber for elk hunting, you need to train with big calibers for years, mastering how to use them effectively. Else you are better off with less gun.
  • The most common range for taking a shot at an elk for most hunters is 100-200 yards. You should train for that.
  • Practice shooting off hand, after hiking or climbing, and in various positions and circumstances.
  • A 308, 30-06, and 270 are very common calibers that are all ideal choices for elk with the right bullets.
  • Use high quality bullets rated for game of this size, a Nosler Partition is a great place to start.
  • When it comes to gear, boots make all the difference. YOU MUST have good boots, and two pairs of them. You must break the boots in well in advance, hiking miles and tens of miles in them regularly.
  • Base layers are the next very important piece, you need something that doesn’t itch, that will keep you warm when wet, doesn’t stink and wicks moisture and evaporates it quickly. Merino wool is the best option. I recommend the First Lite 150 wick or 250 kiln base layers.
  • Good socks also make a world of difference, again merino wool is the best. I recommend Darn Tough socks because of their lifetime guarantee.
  • You should bring 4 pairs of hunting socks. One to wear into the field, one to change into at mid-day, and two for the next day. So you can rotate and your socks will always have a day to dry, just like your boots.
  • Beyond that, you need some pants, nothing fancy, just something ripstop that can take walking through brush.
  • Coat wise, you will want something windproof, because it will be windy, but it doesn’t have to be too fancy.
  • Then it is just a matter of layers, adding them and taking them off throughout the day. Keep extra room in your pack for when you take layers off.
  • Depending on the weather, a good pair of gators can help keep your feet and pants try and free of debris, snow, and wear.
  • Have multiple hat options so you can adjust over the course of the day. And of course you’ll need some gloves, binoculars, a knife, food, water, etc.
  • The biggest thing you should do is ask your guide, outfitter, or local friends what to expect weather wise and what gear you should bring.
  • Do not go based on the forecast of the closest major city, in the country and at higher elevations, the conditions can be very different.
  • Listen to the episode for more info!

EP204 Three Beginner Elk Hunting Strategies

There are different ways to hunt elk based on the terrain, habitat, and what your opportunities are. In this episode I talk about how to hunt less than ideal areas, unconventional tactics, and the most common way elk are pursued. 

Elk are most often hunted on foot, hiking, covering ground, glassing big areas, and pushing through rough terrain. But that is not the only way to hunt them, it is just usually the best way.

Elk are sometimes ambush hunted. If you have limited property or access points, you can scout for the freshest sign in pinch points, travel corridors or near food, study the wind, and settle in to an ambush point.

Believe it or not, elk are sometimes hunted from fixed position tree stands or hunting blinds. This typically works best in more wooded or rural areas where there is less migration and big heard movement and the elk have become more accustomed to living around people. I would say this is less than 5% of all elk hunts though. In big spaces, this doesn’t work.

There are many more strategies but they are often tailored to your specific area. Search those out, study them, and get ready.

Listen to the episode to learn more.

EP203 Elk Hunting 101 – How To Get Started

Elk hunting is a slippery slope because it can become all-consuming for those who develop a passion for it. On this episode I talk about the basics of elk hunting and how to get started planning and preparing for your first hunt.

Beginners Checklist:

  • Determine where you want to or are able to hunt and what the seasons are in that area.
  • Figure out how much it costs to get a tag to hunt there and if you can readily purchase one or have to enter a drawing.
  • Create a strategy for scouting that area, be it through a guide, preliminary trip, or coming in early for the hunt.
  • Study the tactics that are most effective to hunt in that area, I share some in the episode.
  • Have an exit strategy to get you and the meat out of the woods. Elk are big animals; they can be upwards of 700 pounds.
  • Start a regimented and growing fitness routine to get you ready for the rigors of all day hikes, carrying gear, and hunting in high elevation as needed.
  • Prepare yourself physically, health wise, and mentally for the challenges you may face. I cannot overstate how hard it can be to hunt elk in high elevations no matter how good of shape you think you are in.
  • Decide if you will hunt DIY, with a guide, or using an outfitter. There are benefits to each. But it is very hard to hunt elk in an unfamiliar state without someone who knows the land and the heard.
  • Begin to assemble your gear based on the season you plan to hunt in.
  • Elk are masters of the wind, far beyond whitetail deer. They can smell you a mile away, literally, and disappear before you knew they were there. You must plan for the wind.
  • Do not waste your time, money, or energy on elk calls if you are new to the sport. You will likely cause yourself more problems than anything else. Leave calls to those who are experienced.
  • The average first or second elk hunt is usually planned a year or two in advance. That much time is needed to nail down everything on this list.
  • Do not expect to just show up with a gun and expect to take home a great elk. It doesn’t work like that unless you are hunting a farm.
  • The best guide and outfitter does not do the work for you, they simply make it possible for you to put in the hard work and have a chance at finding an elk.
  • Listen to the episode for all the information. 

EP202 The Iconic Hunting Guns of John Moses Browning

Perhaps no other single person in history has done more to advance firearms technology than John Moses Browning. His innovations laid the groundwork for almost all hunting firearms in use today, and many military firearms as well. On this episode I talk about his patriotic contribution to the world of hunting.

Before there were semi-auto rifles and shotguns, before there were pump actions, lever actions, and so on, John Moses Browning invented the comprehensive mechanism breech loading single shot rifle. No one had seen anything like it, it earned him a visit from the top brass at Winchester who came to buy the patent rights for an astronomical sum of money in those days and started a long and fruitful relationship.

Not only did John invent a masterful way to operate a single shot rifle, but he also pioneered the repeating rifle, invented the pump action shotgun, went on to invent the automatic shotgun, created the automatic pistol from thin air, and would go on to invent the machine gun.

Almost every hunter does or has carried a gun into the field that John Moses Browning invented or influenced, even though almost none of his firearms were sold under his name. He invented guns like Winchester Model 94 in 30-30, the Browning Auto-5, the Colt 1911, the BAR, the M1 and M2 Machine guns, so much more. Some 120 patents were credited to his name, many of which were built into innovative firearms that changed the course of hunting, and the world.

Listen to the episode to hear more.

To learn more, this book is an excellent read:

EP201 Wild Turkey Cooking Secrets

Every time I hear someone laboring to try and make wild turkey meat palatable, it blows a fuse in mind. While turkey is delicious! On this episode I share secrets, that shouldn’t be secrets, for how to make wild turkey taste great.

Take Always

  • Here is the meat thermometer I mentioned in the episode.
  • Unfortunately, most hunters are not great cooks and most people’s approach to cooking game lacks some basic principles for preparing it well. 
  • Just because someone else says they like it and it tastes good does not mean they have any idea how to cook well. But that also doesn’t mean the meat cannot be cooked well.
  • Wild turkey is not chicken, don’t try to cook it like chicken!
  • Wild turkey is not store-bought turkey, don’t try to cook them the same!
  • Most people have no experience whatsoever cooking any turkey outside of thanksgiving style. There is a big knowledge gap!
  • Wild turkeys are lean well exercised birds. They MUST NOT be overcooked and dry out quickly.
  • Listen to the episode to hear the wild turkey cooking secrets. 

EP200 Why Do Hunters REALLY Hunt? – Special Milestone Episode

Some people hunt for pragmatic reasons, others are spurred on by much deeper things. On this episode I delve into the heart and mind of a hunter to examine why people hunt. Not only is this encouraging but understanding your personal motivation can help you better align your hunting style and pursuits to get the most possible enjoyment out of the sport.

This episode is also a bit of a celebration of 200 episodes, that is 200 weeks of teaching, encouraging, and helping people get into the woods and enjoy their time there as much as possible. Please leave some feedback on this one!

EP199 Never Give Up On A Turkey Hunt Until The Bell Sounds

It is more exciting to hunt turkeys early when they are most vocal, but you can have just as much success later in the day. On this episode I talk both about the reasons and strategies to never give up on a turkey hunt.

Take Aways

  • A turkey’s morning tends to be cyclical, and if you understand the cycle, you can kill them even later on even if they don’t gobble.
  • You have turkey hunters, and you have turkey killers. The biggest difference is not experience or skill, it is mindset. 
  • If you hunt with other people, you want them to match your goals and level of enthusiasm. 
  • Turkeys can be completely silent and still come in. You need to always be alert.
  • Your odds are better when hunting around sign than with the unknown. Don’t be quick to abandon a good spot.
  • If you are in the woods you always have a chance, if you are hunting near sign you have a better chance, and if you are stealthy and still, you have the best chance.
  • Listen to the episode to hear the reasons and strategies for hunting after the birds quiet down. 

Tetra AlphaShield Review – Hearing Protection for All Hunters

Disclaimer: Tetra Hearing kindly gave these devices to do this review, they also gave me gear and a discount on my Custom Shields, and I am thankful for their support. They are also a sponsor of The New Hunters Guide, and I earn from qualifying purchases using their links and code.

Whether you are hunting ducks, geese, pheasants, turkeys, deer, elk, or anything else, the Tetra Alpha Shields and Custom Shields are a game changer. They are much more than hearing protection. They actually make you a better hunter.

Before I go on, I should say this review is not sponsored nor requested by Tetra. These opinions are my own. And I have indeed used the Multi-Pursuits AlphaShields on every hunt I have been on for last 1.5 years or so. I have even used them for frequent shooting hunts like waterfowl and upland birds, for hunts that involve less shooting like turkey and deer, and also while archery hunting. Why do you ask?

You Can Hear Better

Tetra has done far more than just make hearing protection. In fact, hearing protection is not complicated, you can protect your hearing by putting your fingers in your ears or using foam ear plugs. The Tetra’s preserve the experience of the hunt, allowing you to hear like normal. Actually, better than normal.

Tetra studio recorded thousands of different game calls and sounds and digitized those sounds to develop complex audio algorithms. So when a duck quacks or a turkey gobbles the Tetra devices recognize those sounds as game sounds and amplify them for the hunter. So whether it is the whistle, quack, or honk of waterfowl, turkey calls, pheasants flushing out of the bushes, or even the sounds of deer walking through the woods, you will be able to hear them more clearly and from further away by using the Tetras.

The AlphaShields can amplify the sound of a birds wings flapping while simultaneously filtering out sounds that you do not want, like wind noise. In fact I never notice the wind blow while I am wearing these, not something I can say for any other electronic hearing protection I’ve used.

You can either buy the Tetra device that fits the game you want to hunt, or pay a little more to get the Multi-Pursuits and have them programed with multiple game sound profiles. For example, You can just tap side of the Alpha Shield Multi-Pursuits to cycle between the sound profiles for deer, waterfowl, turkey’s and more.

Customized To Your Hearing Level

The other things the Tetras do is fix your hearing. When you order them, you take a brief online hearing test to determine how well each ear hears. If your left ear is weaker, then they will turn up the volume in the left unit so you can hear perfectly with both ears. If both ears are bad they can turn them both up so someone with very poor hearing can walk into the woods with perfect hearing.

Tetra’s are giving so many hunters new life and passion. Like those who never again thought they would hear a turkey gobble, or a deer walk through the woods, or a wood duck whistle. 

They essentially work like hearing aids, because they are. They use state of the art hearing aid technology coupled with Tetra’s patented game sounds recognition and amplification technology to create the most amazing piece of hunting equipment I’ve ever seen.

The hearing aid technology alone costs around $6,000 per pair if you were to buy medical grade units with the appropriate inspections, certifications, and insurance paperwork. Since Tetra’s devices are classified for sporting use, not medical use, they can produce them much cheaper using the same components. Did I mention that the company was founded by a Doctor of Audiology who became nationally renowned for treating hunters who injured their hearing?

Remarkable Hearing Protection

And as amazing as all of that is, it is not the most important part. The best part is when that flight of ducks come in which you heard from a mile away, you hear their wings flapping on their final approach and you hear your buddy whisper “shoot now”, you draw your shotgun loaded with magnum shells using a ported choke tube and pull the trigger… What do you hear next?

I can only relate it to the sound of a BB gun, a pump action air rifle. With every trigger pull the muzzle roar is reduced to the plink of a child’s toy. But then immediately the full volume comes back and you hear those ducks hit the water with a big splash. You then realize, you’ve never heard that sound before. Your ears were always in shock from the shot, you may have heard the bird hit the water in the past like a wet thud, but never the clear subtle sounds of the splash.

Whenever the Tetras detect a sound above safe volume range, like a gun shot or just as dangerous, excessively load calling, they dial back the volume to safe levels. They become instant ear plugs when you pull the trigger. And you would be surprised how much better you can shoot when you are not distracted by the crack of a shotgun over and over.

Why It Matters So Much

Alot of hunters do not think they need to protect their hearing while hunting. They feel invincible somehow. But what they do not realize is with every shot you take you are potentially knocking off a bit of your hearing. It may not be perceivable for awhile, but often there comes one shot that changes their hearing forever.

The doctors told me that the proteins that make up the hearing structures in every person’s ears vary in strength. For some people they fall apart easier than others. For other people they are much more robust and can take more of a beating. But what tends to happen is the more a person abuses their hearing the closer they are to the brink of loosing it.

Often it occurs when shooting a new gun, or from a new blind, to with a new choke tube, or perhaps sitting next to someone with a new gun. Or there are at a bad angle relative to another person shooting. One shot, then half of their hearing is gone. They hear ringing in their ears thereafter, and there are endless headaches, migraines, and worse.

Historically the only option was ear plugs, which just ruined the experience of being outdoors. Then some electronic options emerged but they were woefully lacking in preserving the sounds of the hunt and did nothing to improve the experience. Tetra came on the scene and began to change peoples lives. The were like the answer that everyone, myself included had been longing for.

My Journey To Find Tetra

I will never forget the day that I came back from a waterfowl hunt having shot half a box of shells at geese and ducks of all types. I was nearing my car when a flight of mallards flew overhead. As a hunter I wanted to shoot, but I really didn’t want to shoot. My ears were ringing, and I felt terrible about it.

I realized that day that I could not do this anymore. Something was going to have to change or I was going to have to stop hunting waterfowl and other game, if I wanted retain my hearing. So I began searching for something, anything, that could help me. I had already ruled out ear plugs, they sucked the fun out of hunting.

I found some cheap electronic hearing protection and tried that. It did protect my hearing but it was lousy at everything else. I could not hear things well, they constantly fell out, there was an unending hissing sound, and other issues. I was discouraged. And then I got my hands on a set of Tetras. It was game changing. They were everything I had wanted, everything I needed for duck hunting, turkey hunting, and so much more! 

Not only did they protect my hearing and preserve all of the enjoyable sounds of the outdoors. They helped me to be a better hunter. I became an instant advocate. I saw them as the answer. Something every hunter should invest in. Something that could protect new hunters so they could still have perfect hearing once they had hunted for 40+ seasons. And today, about a year and a half later, I believe that just as strongly, if not more.

How To Pick Your Audio Programs

You can have up to six audio programs on the Alpha Shield Multi-Pursuit or Custom Sheild for the different kinds of game you are hunting. These programs amplify the sounds these game animals make and filter out unhelpful sounds for those hunts. The programs include waterfowl, turkey, deer, elk, upland game, dangerous game, predators, sporting clays, land management, etc. Each program has a regular level and a boost level which further amplifies your hearing with that program. Both the regular and boost programs are great to have for your favorite game. But it can be hard to pick the best options for your second and third favorites, etc.

I made this video to help you better pick the programs that are best for you. And yes the discount code in the video is the same one listed further down on the page. I also did a full-length overall Tetra video review further down the page as well.

My Tetra Tips

I have used the Tetra’s to hunt everything, ducks, pheasants, geese, crows, deer, turkeys, etc. They are an indispensable piece of my gear, and I enjoy hunting so much more because of them.

When you first get a pair, they take a little getting used to. Mine felt like they fit too tightly, even with the smallest ear buds on. But after a few hunts I realized I didn’t even notice I was wearing them. The fit is exactly what I needed, to make sure they didn’t fall out in the field. My ears seemed to adapt to them size wise. They are very comfortable now.

When you first put them on, you will likely do so indoors. And fair warning, they do not sound great indoors. Their sound amplification technology is meant for use outside. At first I thought there was something wrong with them, wearing them in my dining room. But then I walked outside, heard a bird chip, and realized they are exactly what I wanted. That said, they do take a little getting used to. But it doesn’t take long, a couple hours or a couple hunts and you don’t even remember they are on anymore.

The foam or silicone tips that go into your ears do not last forever, and they make replacements for them, but they are actually compatible with many kinds of foam and silicone ear bud tips. You may already have some you really like that will fit and work perfect.

You can use HSA (Health Savings Account) funds to buy Tetra’s. So, for some people that could defray the cost or completely pay for a pair. I used to have an HSA and had to use or lose the funds every year. If I had that now, I would by a new pair of Tetra’s every year!

Tetra Hearing Discount Code

After I decided I was going to do this review, I reached out to Tetra to ask some questions and clarify some points. They were kind enough to provide me with a code you can use to get a Free 2-Year Service Plan. Which has a $275 value.

Just add this Service Plan to your cart when purchasing a device and use this code at checkout to get the service plan for free: NEWHUNTERSGUIDE

That stacks on top of any sales or discounts Tetra is running. The code only works when both the service plan and a set of Tetras are in your cart at the same time.

The Big Take Away

It is true that the Tetra’s are not cheap, they cost as much as a good firearm. But my advice to many new hunters has been this. When you are ready to upgrade your next rifle or shotgun, hold off on doing that for another season. Invest that money in a pair of Tetra’s first. A new gun can only do so much to help you hunt better.

Tetra’s can do more to make you a better hunter, and protecting your hearing today has lifelong value. If you buy Tetra’s to use when hunting now, you could save yourself from needing hearing aids every waking hour for the rest of your life. Check out my full review on the Tetra CustomShield to learn more about how to take things to the next level.

Be sure to listen to The New Hunters Guide Podcast, and check us out on YouTube. 

Till next time. God bless you, and go get em in the woods!

George Konetes Ph.D. – Founder and Host of the New Hunters Guide.

The New Hunters Guide is simply what George wishes he would have had when learning how to hunt; a single place to get practical hands on knowledge about different kinds of hunting, gear, strategy, and tips that can improve your comfort and fun factor in the woods.

As a note, Tetra kindly provided me with these devices to do this review, and I am thankful for their support. I have since bought my own Tetras. They are also a sponsor of my YouTube channel and I benefit from use of their affiliate links and discount codes.

 

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