Hunting rabbits is a fun and challenging pursuit that is great for hunters of all ages, and it provides an opportunity to hone skills that you will use for other types of hunting. On this episode I talk about how to find rabbits along with the guns, ammo, tools, strategies, and info you need to get out there and be successful in the woods.
Like hunting anything else, rabbits require certain core fundamentals:
Finding Rabbits
Scouting is the first priority. To hunt rabbits you need to find them. A nuance with rabbits is not just finding them, but finding a location where they live and are huntable. Since they are small ground animals, you need low brush and good visibility to be able to take one.
So you need to identify rabbit habitat, food sources, cover sources, and open areas for hunting. Even large hairs can easily disappear in grass or brush that is just a foot tall. Realistically you want to be able to see the ground to hunt them effectively.
Strategies
Rabbits are primarily hunted with a few strategies like sniping, walking and spotting, walking and flushing, and with dogs. There is no right or wrong way to do it. It depends both on your preferences and on the rabbit habitat available to you.
But contrary to popular belief, you absolutely can hunt rabbits successfully without a dog, A dog can help and make certain things easier, but unless they are well trained, they can also be a liability.
Firearms
The ideal weapons for rabbit hunting are a shotgun or rimfire rifle. People tend to debate if it should be a 12-gauge or 20-gauge shotgun. The truth is, you can load both shotguns to similar specifications for rabbit hunting, it makes little difference. Use whatever shotgun you have handy and focus on getting ideal loads for rabbit hunting.
Almost any rimfire rifle can also work. The 22 L.R. is the most common and works great, but you can use almost anything, just be mindful that you use loads that are not overpowered. Your average high velocity 22lr ammo is going be just fine. Ultra-high velocity is overkill, as are heavily loaded 22 magnum rounds.
Ammo
The main caution for rabbit hunting is to keep from using ammo that is overpowered. It can be easy to overly damage the meat at close to mid-range. It is also easy to spend way more money than you need. Light loads are often all you need. I recommend #7.5, #7, or #6 lead shot for rabbits. Often 1 to 1 1/8 ounce of shot traveling around 1100-1200 fps. That is all you need.
For 22 L.R. I think something similar to a 40-grain hollow point traveling at 1200 fps is plenty. There are rabbits after all, not coyotes. Higher power magnum loads are fine, but only necessary if you are taking long range shots. They can cause too much damage at 10 yards, but at 100 yards, they can be just fine. Knowing where you plan to hunt can help you make the best ammo decisions. Even subsonic bullets can be enough, here is a video I did on the subject:
Cleaning & Cooking
How you clean and cook a rabbit is less important than having a plan to do so. Spend some time watching videos and reading articles on field dressing and cooking rabbits. This way, when you bring home your first limit of rabbits, you will have an idea of what to do next.
This little step helps keep you from wasting game because you are not sure what to do and thus never get around to doing anything. Just having a plan can do a lot to help you take the next steps well.
Listen to the podcast episode to hear much more detail about how beginners can start rabbit hunting!
Squirrel hunt is fun, the season is long, and there are many ways to go after these little critters. On this episode I talk about how you can get started hunting squirrels. This is a beginners guide to start squirrel hunting.
The first thing you should do is figure out what you are going to do with the squirrels that you take. Read, study, and think first about how to dress, skin, store, and cook your game. You do not need to spend hours doing this but have a basic plan so nothing goes to waste when you do bring your first limit of squirrels home.
How do you find squirrels to hunt?
Sometimes it seems like squirrels are everywhere when you are hunting deer, turkey, and ducks. And that is for two main reasons. Those animals tend to be drawn to things that squirrels like, so there is overlap in habitat. Second, when you sit for half a day or a whole day motionless in one spot waiting for a deer, its common to see and notice a couple squirrels, but people rarely hunt that long and patiently for squirrels. So they go to the same spots hunting squirrels and it seems like there are none there, but the truth is, they are not just hunting as patiently.
To find squirrels you most typically are looking for large mast producing trees. Acorns, chestnuts, walnuts, almost any kind of mast or nut that falls from a tree will attract squirrels. The more trees and the older the trees the better. The squirrels will then spend their days looking for food, burying food, and digging food up.
How do you hunt squirrels?
There are two main strategies. First, go into an ideal location and sit down for an hour or two and wait for squirrels to move around. You hunt with your ears first and eyes second. The other strategy is essentially still hunting, walking slowly and quietly through the woods looking for movement in the trees.
What is the best time of day to hunt squirrels?
Typically the first two hours of the day are best, and the last two hours are second best. But squirrels move all day long and its possible to hunt them at all hours. But a sunrise hunt is most ideal. However, squirrels can move even more right after a big rain storm ends, it is also easier to move quietly at this time. But you also won’t hear the squirrels much because they will make less noise on the wet ground as well.
What is the best gun to hunt squirrels with?
People typically use rimfire rifles like a .22 LR or shotguns. Either work great but I much prefer shotguns due to safety. Firing a rifle into the air is very risky. Even a .22 Long Rifle bullet can travel a quarter of a mile or more. If you hunt with a rifle make sure you are able to shoot into a hillside or other safe area.
If using a shotgun, almost any shotgun will work. Squirrels are not hard animals to take. Light loads that are #7.5 shot or #6 shot are most typical, be it with a .410, a 12 gauge or anything in between. Cheap ammo is ideal to help keep the cost down. High velocity is not needed because you are not shooting birds in the air, these are relatively stationary targets. The best advice I can give is hunt with what you practice with.
What is the most important element to hunting squirrels? Safety and stealth, hands down.
Listen to the whole podcast episode to learn how to hunt squirrels!
I have accumulated and worn a lot of base layers from synthetics to merino wool and I think the First Like Kiln 250 is the single best base layer I have ever used. I have some heavier base layers and some lighter ones, all of which have their place when they are the ideal choice for that day. But the Kiln is the most versatile and usable on the most days under the most conditions, making it perhaps the most important and thus best base layer in my collection.
I have hunted with the Kiln Crew and Kiln Long John across multiple seasons. I have use them on cold days, warm days, dry days, and wet days. Hunts where I sat still in a blind the entire time, and hunts where I was on the move most of the day. I have worn them to camp and lived in them almost nonstop for three straight days and nights. I ate, drank, cooked, cleaned, slept, and hunted in them for days. All that to say, I have done far more than just try them on at a store and then presume to do a review on them. I have put some real miles on my set of Kiln’s and I am here to tell you all the details.
Why The Kiln?
The longer I hunt, the bigger a fan I become of merino wool for most base layers, (more about that later), and I eventually ended up getting the First Lite Furnace 350 for ultra cold weather hunting. I did afull review on the Furnace 350as well. I really liked the Furnace a lot, but I wished I had something lighter that I could use in more typical hunting conditions. The Kiln 250 is exactly that.
So about a year after I purchased the Furnace, I bought the First Lite Kiln also, with my own money. I have similar weight synthetic base layers from high dollar brands as well, but I wanted the Kiln because it is merino wool and I find First Lite is leading the industry for merino wool hunting gear in most areas. I find the Kiln is good for just about all hunting between 30-60 degrees Fahrenheit. First Lite rates it at being capable down a few degrees colder than that and it is, if you are moving.
But I should note that this base layer is not very bulky, and it can be worn with another layer over top of it, even the First Lite Furnace. If it is cold enough and you are sitting still, you could easily wear the Kiln 250 with the Furnace 350 over top as a mid-layer, and I have indeed done it. That totals 600 g/cc of merino wool, and it’s still not bulky enough to cause any hindrance.
But where the Kiln shines brightest is as an all-purpose all weather merino base layer. That is why I wanted it, and it performs that role exceptionally well.
Merino Wool Overview
Merino wool isn’t magic, it is just an ideal material for base layers. It is simply the wool of the merino sheep. But God designed these sheep with wool perfectly adapted to their needs. This wool has finer fibers than most common wool. This gives it several unique advantages:
The finer fibers make merino wool less itchy, so it can comfortably be worn as a base layer. Regular wool is not comfortable enough to be worn next to skin in most cases.
These fibers enable the wool to take up less volume for the same amount of weight. Which means a 250 weight garment can be thin enough for an ideal base layer whereas a shirt of similar weight regular wool would be more akin to a sweater. So you get the same amount of warmth that bulkier wool would provide but in a much smaller package.
The fine fibers also enable merino wool to wick moisture away and evaporate it faster than regular wool which tends to hold on to moisture. This enables these base layers to dry much faster.
Like all wool, merino is also odor resistant due to anti-microbial properties. In short it is less prone to stink during a long hunt, weekend, or over the course of years, where synthetic layers are more likely to pick up odors over their service life.
Wool is also thermally regulating, which means it helps you remain comfortable across a wide range of temperatures. These sheep were designed to stay warm on fridged nights while not overheating on warm days.
And like all wool, merino retains the majority of its insulative properties when wet, so it keeps you warmer even if you get saturated. Here is a video I did going into a little bit more depth on merino wool.
Features & Specs
Merino Benefits – The Kiln is essentially First Lite’s merino wool flagship garment. They leverage all the benefits of merino that I just spoke about to create the best base layer possible. It is warm, even when wet, thermally regulating, good for sitting or hiking, fast drying, and substantial enough to help you weather significant cold without adding bulk. It is the best-case scenario of all the merino wool base layers I have owned and seen.
Composition & Comforts – These are 95% merino wool and 5% spandex. You are getting what you pay for, unlike with some other brands that are only half wool for the same cost. But not all merino is created equal. The way these are woven and built makes them the most comfortable merino garments I’ve ever seen. They fit so nicely, so soft, they feel like they disappear after you put them on and get outside, despite being so substantial.
Weight & Durability – These are both 250 weight merino, which means the weight of the fabric is 250 grams per square meter. So for every square yard of fabric, you have around half a pound of weight. The First Like Kiln Crewweighs in at 12 ounces, and the First Lite Kiln Long Johnis about 10 ounces. These things are pretty durable also. They are less delicate than I was expecting for something so soft. I would not wear them as an outer layer, but mine are showing no signs of wear yet at all.
Colors, Camo Patterns, & Versions – First Lites makes the Kiln in a variety of solid colors and camouflage patterns. You pay a little more for the patterns, but some, like the Typha look amazing. I went with conifer green to save a few dollars, but the new Tera brown looks way better. They also come as a crew, quarter zip, and hoody. I went with the crew because it seems the most intuitive for a true base layer with nothing to get in your way. But you do you.
Fit & Mobility – I wear a large in pretty much everything and got a large in these and they fit perfect. Plenty of room, but not too loose either. I am a big fan of the fit. I don’t like skintight base layers, and these would easily let me wear another layer under them if I wanted. I am also able to wear another layer over them. So, I call the fit perfect. The range and ease of movement is perfect. And they do not bunch up or put strain around your knees or elbows.
May have the sheepy smell when new, before washing
Do not place them in the dryer!
Care Tips
Like all merino wool gear, there is a good chance that not all of the natural oils of the wool are cleaned out thoroughly during the production process. Which means, when the garments get wet they might have a sheepy smell. This could range from barely noticeable to terrible. I was startled and confused the first time this happened to me. But it is normal, I even asked First Lite about it.
All you need to do is wash the layers, dry them, use them, and repeat. I washed them maybe 3-4 times in a row and got most of the smell out of them. Then after using and washing them a few more times, it was essentially completely gone. I have had some base layers where the bottoms were completely fine, and the top smelled really bad when wet. It is unpredictable. But all you need to do is wash them, use them, and wash them.
Caring for these is easy, wash them on cold with a mild soap and hang them up to dry. And that is it. Very easy. They hold up to washing really well too, do not hesitate to do it. Just do not put them in the drier or they will likely shrink on you. In the off season they say you can better protect them from moths by placing them in an airtight container. I have not yet done that and haven’t had any issues for a few years running now.
Are They Worth The Money?
Is the First Lite Kiln worth what they cost? As someone who has owned dozens of cheaper base layers and never been satisfied with any of them, I am going to say yes. Let’s be realistic though, a full set of these is about $200. That is not cheap at all. They are among the most expensive base layers out there. But yea, I think they are worth it.
It took me about 5 years to buy other more important gear before it made sense to save up and buy these. These should not be your first base layer ever, you likely need to save your funds for other bigger hunting priorities, but eventually I think it is worth finding a place for these in your budget. I may eventually get a second pair in other colors just to wear them more when not hunting. I am very happy I have them.
Conclusion & Recommendation
Overall, I think theFirst Like Kiln Crewand the First Lite Kiln Long Johnare some of the best base layers money can buy. They are everything I wanted them to be. They are great for hunting, hiking, and camping. Probably my first choice in base layers. They are useful for so many things in so many conditions that I think they are the best layer I have for all around use. Check out the Kiln and watch for sales. You can find them on sale a couple times a year.
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.
Hunting is more than just a hobby or a means to put food on the table, and I believe America needs it today like never before. On this episode I talk about the science, psychology, philosophy, and more about how hunting not only grounds us in the real world but also better equips us to overcome the complicated but very real problems our nation is facing as we grow more and more immersed in digital reality.
Today we have both an experiential shift and a culture shift caused by technology and spending more and more time in the digital world. More and more of our pursuits, emotions, and relationships are being experienced digitally, in a type of synthetic reality. The way we feel and relate is very real, but the way we are interacting is unnatural to how we are wired to experience life. There are many consequences to this, and they are real consequences and real problems felt by real people.
We were created to interact tangibly. to invest ourselves in others’ lives over the process of time through sharing experiences, thoughts, feelings and more while getting real time verbal and nonverbal feedback that affirms and builds connection. When this is replaced with text messages, video messages, and avatars interacting over days and weeks instead of months and years, true problems emerge.
Our ability to process reality with proper context and safeguards is compromised. Emotional trauma, loneliness, depression, and even suicide rates are soaring in an age when we are the most connected, we’ve ever been.
We were designed to live in tangible, tactile, hands-on reality. And hunting anchors us to the real world, to nature, to a benchmark that is mostly unchanged for thousands of years. It gives us a pursuit, a challenge, and a reason to experience nature in a very focused and strategic way that is not preprogrammed with machine learning, odds, or manipulatable outcomes.
Hunting also creates social structures and relationships based on shared experiences, time spent together afeild or fellowshipping around shared passions. Hunting also impacts our physical fitness, our diet and the quality of food we consume. It sparks creativity, inspiration and innovation.
Hunting also creates opportunities for reflection, introspection, and to simply sit and soak in beautiful moments for a day at a time. Something unheard of in the fast paced, instant gratification centered world of digital entertainment and social media relationships.
There is also no digitally induced equivalent to the to the physical and emotional high points that hunting can provide. The rush of adrenaline that causes hands to shake as you raise your rifle to take aim at a deer that has suddenly come into view after a season of waiting. The overwhelming satisfaction that flows for days, weeks, even a whole year of a big success and leaving the woods with not just a trophy but a supply of food that is untainted by the supply chain.
In one sense hunting acts as a type of therapy, in another it provides context and perspective to help us remember what is real and what isn’t. It also forces us to exercise the most strategic parts of our mind and prompts tremendous focus around a positive and rewarding pursuit.
Are there other ways to accomplish these same things? Yes of course. There are ways. But hunting is one way that enables us to do it all at the same time. Or at least it creates the opportunity to do so. Our nation needs hunting today like never both, amongst our youth but also in all age brackets.
The turkey tail mount is one of the greatest memorials of a turkey hunt, it can be done at home for virtually no cost and very minimal effort. It is the perfect beginner project. But there is a lot more you can do to make a turkey trophy, some things you can do at home and others require a professional taxidermist. On this episode I talk about most of the options available, what they cost, and what a brand-new turkey hunter with no experience can do for free.
When I take a gobbler or any turkey for that matter, after the meat, the tail fan mount is my favorite part. I think turkey tail fans are one of the most beautiful things God made in the animal kingdom. Did you know that turkeys are distance cousins of the peacock? It is no wonder they are so beautiful. No two turkey tail fans are the same, and each one tells the story of an exciting hunt that I will never forget.
Many people often mount the beard with the fan, and lots of modern mounting kits come setup for that. My favorite mounting kit that I buy season after season is theTaxidermists Woodshop Black Walnut Kit with Beard Plate.This kit is utterly beautiful, comes with everything you need, and even includes a packet of borax to help dry out the fan. There are cheaper kits out there but none I’d rather have on my wall.
When doing a mount, you want to make sure you have salt and/or borax on hand. I typically just use salt and lots of it. I have used borax before and I cannot tell any difference. Some people mix them, I have also done that and noticed no difference. Borax is a laundry soap booster, it helps draw moisture out of the meat and fat and bug proofs it. You can buy it cheap at the grocery store, just make sure it is 100% pure borax and no added scents.Here is a good boraxyou can order online.
The most common turkey mounts include:
Tail Fan. Everyone should do at least this every turkey they take. I have two videos at the bottom showing you how to do this, both the easy way and the hard way for you over achievers out there. This costs nothing, except for some salt and/or borax.
Turkey Rug. This is the tail fan and the back feathers. These look amazing on a wall. They are more of an intermediate taxidermy project though, something I tend to leave to the professionals. But it can be done at home with a little time and care.
Whole Turkey. If you are new hunter, you probably are not going to be able to tackle a whole turkey mount at home, especially if you want it to look good. Professional taxidermists charge between $500-$1,000 for these and they can include many different poses. I recommend new hunters stick with the free tail fan mount, but this is always an option for a great bird if you have the funds.
Beard. The beard is super easy and just takes a little salt, most people mount it with a tail fan.
Feet with Spurs. Some people love foot mounts, I am not a huge fan myself, but more power to you if you like them. They are also very easy to do and just require salt and time.
Turkey Wings. These look pretty cool when done well and are often mounted with a tail fan to make a very impressive mount. They can be done at home and are somewhere between a tail fan and turkey rug in difficulty.
Listen to the podcast episode to hear all the details! In addition to looking cool, a mount is great to preserve the memory of the hunt. I can look at every mount from every turkey I’ve ever taken and instantly recall the hunt, the thrill, the details, how it all came together and what a great day it was hunting gobblers.
The Easy Way
Here is the quick and easiest to mount a fan. I use pins on cardboard instead of staples on wood but either way works.
The Hard Way
Here is the more exact, professional taxidermist approach. This is great if you have the time, focus, and tools. I never go this far and have never had an issue.
I have hunted with the new Tetra CustomShield Multi-Pursuit with Bluetooth for the past two seasons. I was honored to be one of the first people ever to buy this model as soon as it was released. You read it right, I bought it with my own money. These are the most advanced digital hearing augmentation and protection devices on the market that I am aware of.
I have been an active and avid Tetra user and did areview of the Tetra AlphaShieldlast year. I can tell after using the AlphaShield for nearly 3 years at this point that they lack nothing and have changed my life as a hunter. But the CustomShield adds so much that I didn’t even know could be added, they are truly impressive and deserved their own review.
Tetra makes various grades of both the AlphaShield and CustomShield with different features, prices, and technologies. For the sake of simplifying this review, unless I specify otherwise, I am talking about the Multi-Pursuit version of each product.
Tetra does make single pursuit devices, optimized just for one type of game, such as waterfowl or turkey hunting. Those are good if you only hunt one thing and want to save some money. I hunt ducks, turkey, deer, pheasants, and more, so for me the Multi-Pursuit is key. If you are considering the single pursuit version of either device, everything in this review is still relevant to you, just keep in mind you will only have devices set for one type of game.
Main Features
The Tetra CustomSheild does everything that the AlphaShield does and more. You can visit myAlphaShield reviewto see lots of detail, or watch this video:
But I can summarize the key features of the Tetra’s into three main points and then a few secondary point.
First, they are calibrated to support your current hearing. You take a hearing test before ordering the devices, so they come set for your ears. They can compensate for varying levels of hearing loss in each order to help restore lost hearing and balance your hearing. It is as if you are wearing perfectly calibrated hearing aids, because you are. You put these on, and you can hear everything happening around you as well or better than with your naked ear.
Second, the moment you pull the trigger on a firearm, the devices detect sound levels above the safe range and shup off the sound going to your ears. They become instant hearing protection. They reduce the sound of a magnum shotgun with a ported choke tube to something that sounds about as loud as a BB gun. And if you have other sounds that are unsafely loud like high volume calling, power tools, you name it, they lower the volume of those things to safe levels also.
Third, Tetra has developed patented audio algorithms that can recognize the sounds of the game you are hunting and amplify those sounds while filtering out sounds you do not want. If you are hunting ducks, it can amplify the sounds of quacks, whistles, flapping wings, splashes in puddles, etc while filtering out sounds that are unhelpful, like squirrels running across dry leaves.
So, whether you are hunting waterfowl, turkeys, deer, elk, upland game, and more, you pick that setting and you can hear your game more clearly and from further away than with the naked ear. The Multi-Pusuit devices can be set for up to six different types of game that you can easily cycle through with the tap of a finger.
Even if your hearing is perfect to start with, I wholeheartedly believe that the Tetras give you a significant hunting advantage being able to hear game from further away. And if you have any hearing loss at all, their impact in this area is greatly increased.
Secondary Features
The Tetras also do a great job at filter our wind noise. Often, I do not even know it is windy unless I feel the wind. People ask about this all the time because many other similar types of devices do terribly with wind. Tetra nailed it here.
They can either be rechargeable or use disposable batteries. I personally prefer disposable batteries because I can always just change them and have full power. I do not have to worry about forgetting to charge them. And the disposables are not very expensive and last for several days of straight hunting, and weeks if you just leave them in the devices on the shelf.
The CustomShield comes with adjustable volume controls while the AlphaShield has preset volume options. At first, I preferred the presets to adjustable volume. But only until about halfway through turkey season. Then I realized the adjustable volume is superior. For walking in, I can set the volume to a low or middle level, so I am not annoyed at amplifying the sounds of everything, like my shoelaces bouncing on top of my boots. Then once I reach my spot and get setup and completely quiet, I can crank up the volume to hear birds from impossible distances. They are smartly designed so you can adjust them while in your ear and wearing a hat doesn’t change the volume level on you unwittingly.
Adjustable volume also means you do not need to use up your limit of 6 audio programs with boost modes for your regular game resets. You can save all 6 slots for different game animals. I did an entire video on the subject ofHow To Pick Your Audio Programsfor the AlphaShield if you want more info.
BlueTooth is a big deal for some people. I do not use it much in the field while hunting. But this feature empowers you to use the CustomShields for more than just hunting. This feature is vital for when working outside with machinery, cutting grass, running a chainsaw, loud equipment, etc. You can wear the devices for hearing protection and use the blue tooth to listen to music, audiobooks, and podcasts just like mine interviewing Dr. Bill Dickenson, the founder of Tetra Hearing. It is also nice for slow lonely days in the blind or in a tree.
There is a lot to say about the custom fit, more than I expected, so that gets its own section.
Custom Fit Makes A Huge Difference
The biggest question I had is does the custom fit really matter? Isn’t the universal fit AlphaShield good enough? Yes, it is good enough, and yes, the custom fit really does make a big difference. They say the AlphaShield fits 95% of ears well. They always fit me good. They were a little tight early on but eventually they felt fine. I often forgot I was wearing them. But after long days of hunting, it did feel good to take them off.
The CustomShield is molded to fit your exact ear, to have a perfect seal, and to be perfectly comfortable. They do three. They feel so good in your ear that you could wear them all day, every day, and not even know you have them on. The level of comfort is surprising. When the end of the day comes around my ears are not tired, stretched, irritated, or fatigued from having them in. There is no other ear protection I’ve ever used that I can say that for. Nothing feels that good after entire days of use. If you hunt often or long, the CustomShield is worth every extra penny.
They also give you more security that they are fully sealed against your ears. Which isn’t a huge deal, but it is appreciated. Using the CustomShield is a different experience, it is a whole different level of comfort and performance. Also, I should note that from the pictures, I could not understand how these things would stay in your ears and not fall out. But they do a great job of staying in your ears. I have total confidence in them. The design is excellent.
Durability & Serviceability
It is easy to think of these device as being more fragile and high risk than they really are. They are a significant investment, but they are also fairly rugged. According to Tetra they are “hunting proof” which means they are built to stand up to any weather, temperature, conditions, or use you may encounter responsibly hunting any of the game they are designed to hunt. You should not drop them in the water but you can wear them in the rain.
All of the Tetras are also very easy to service. If something breaks, chances are they can fix it at little or no cost. If the microphone breaks, they have new ones they can put in. If a circuit board gets fried, they can replace it relatively inexpensively. Broken battery door, cracked casing, put them through the wash cycle and drier… Tetra can often repair them very reasonably.
So, while it is a significant investment, it is not some fragile thing you may accidentally damage and be out all of the money. So long as you don’t run them over with your car int he driveway, Tetra can likely get you back in the game at little to no extra cost.
Cons & Concerns
I want to say that the Tetra’s are utterly perfect. But like anything, there are some cons to be aware of.
The Squeal. If a sideways pressure is put on the devices while in your ears, like a lanyard that is stuck in your shirt when you turn your head, the impacted side makes a bit of a squeal sound in your ear if the volume is turned up. It’s not a problem, it’s easy to correct by getting the lanyard unstuck, and game can’t hear it, but it can be annoying. Especially if you don’t know what I just told you about why it’s happening and how to fix it.
Volume Overload. If you turn them up all the way or almost all the way, they can be way too loud. So loud that a sparrow landing on the ground 20 feet away sounds like an elk walking through the woods. On one hand it’s kind of cool that you can crank them up that far, on the other hand, you almost never want to do that, you will always think game is approaching.
Bluetooth Wire. The Bluetooth is not wireless, you have to plug a wire into both devices that kind of works like a lanyard with volume controls on it. It’s totally fine, but I was expecting wireless Bluetooth. The devices are wireless for their regular functions.
Ordering Process & Ear Molds. It takes a bit of time to get these. You have to schedule an appointment to get ear molds done at a hearing center, clinic, or doctor. I did it at Sam’s Club and they didn’t charge me anything. But often you’ll have to pay something out of pocket. Then you mail in your molds, email your hearing test results, and put in your order. Then it takes a few weeks for them to build the devices to fit your ear, program them, and send them. It takes about a month from the moment you decide to get the CustomShields to them arriving to your house. The AlphaShield’s come much quicker, within days.
What To Buy First?
If you are new to Tetra, what should you get first? The AlphaShield or the CustomShield? This is a big question that people ask, and understandably so because the CustomShield costs a chunk more. There are alot of factors to consider, like your budget but also your situation. Do you only hunt ducks and nothing else on a shoestring budget? Then get the AlphaShield single-pursuit waterfowl model. But if your budget has room in it, I would go right for the CustomShield, most of the time.
Another thing to keep in mind is who else do you or may you someday hunt with. If you have a young a child that will eventually go hunting with you, then you lose nothing by getting the AlphaShield today and the CustomShield down the road because you can give the universal fit AlphaShield to your child once they grow into them. But if you are not in a situation where you may foreseeably buy more than one model over the next few years, then I go right for the CustomShield if you can.
Why Upgrade From AlphaShield to CustomShield?
Why would someone with perfectly good AlphaShields upgrade to the CustomShields? That is a significant additional investment. But there are several good reasons to consider it.
The custom fit is wonderful, and you are hunting more days and/or longer days now.
You have a child or friend you want to be able to use your old ones.
The Bluetooth can be a big factor.
You want to upgrade the audio technology from the 60-Level to the 90-Level for better sound clarity and noise cancelation.
You need to upgrade from single-pursuit models to multi-pursuit so you can use them to hunt more things.
Overall, you have gotten used to “good” and you are now ready to step up to “great”.
Or like me, you have been a hearing enthusiast and wanted every tactical advantage the new technology could give along with the added comfort and long-term wearability. And yea, after years, part of me wanted to see first-hand how good the CustomShield really is so I could know and be able to tell you about it.
Pricing & Discounts
As of this writing the Tetra CustomShield starts at about $1,100 and the fully loaded versions go for much more. The AlphaShield starts at around $750 with various higher levels. Lots of people, including me initially recoil at the price. However, lots of people will spend much more than that on a new factory shotgun that will do very little to improve their hunting effectiveness. And lots of people will spend drastically more money on vehicles to haul their decoys and gear and get them better trail access. They will reason those purchases away because they use the truck or the ATV for “other things”, but they bought it for hunting.
But the cost is significant, which is why I reached out to Tetra and asked them for a discount code that you can use to get 10% off your order, for the CustomShield, AlphaShield, or anything else they sell.
Go toTetra’s website and use the code: NHG2410 at checkout for a 10% discount.
I whole heartedly believe that we could change the lives of every hunter if instead of their next gun upgrade they instead got a pair of Tetras, and put the gun purchase off for another season or two. I fact, that is exactly what I did. I spent money I could have used on a fancy shotgun to get this pair of CustomShields, and I have no regrets. The shotgun will come in time, but I think the Tetra’s actually help me take more game than the shotgun would have.
It is also worth noting that you can apply HSA (Health Saving Account) funds towards buying a pair of Tetras. And depending on your situation, the Tetra’s may possibly be tax deductible as well. But please seek expert counsel on that for yourself, I am not a tax specialist by any means.
The Danger
Did you know that about 86% of hunters do not use any kind of hearing protection? That is 86% of hunters who are losing a measure of their hearing with every trigger pull, season after season. That is 86% of hunters who will likely end up with at LEAST moderate hearing loss, which puts them at a 300% higher risk of Altheimer’s and dementia. Not to mention all the other complications caused by hearing loss, like decades of spending thousands of dollars every few years for new hearing aids…
Lots of folks that have hearing loss from shooting also experience ringing in their ears that never goes away, white noise, pain, and other uncomfortable issues for the rest of their lives. Protecting your hearing is exceptionally important.
Every shot you take without hearing protection has a cost, and the next shot could be the one that costs more than you ever thought possible. That is sometimes how it goes, minimal damage from years of hunting then one shot takes half of your hearing or worse. Other times people think it’s not affecting them, then after years they all at once realize they can’t hear very important sounds, like a child calling their name. Don’t believe it? Ask a doctor of audiology who has been seeing patients for a long time.
Conclusion & Recommendations
I am very obviously a big fan of the new Tetra Custom Shields. They are head and shoulders above all other hearing technology I have yet seen on the market. I also think they make me a better more effective hunter. If it is at all possible for you to get a pair, get them. If not, find something you can use for hearing protection in the meantime. Nothing here is more important than protecting your ears when hunting.
There are lots of cheap options on the market that will still enable you to hunt with some sound and protect your ears. If that is where you are financially, then use those until you are in a position to get some Tetras. If you do nothing just because you can’t have the best, it is a lose-lose. But if you protect your hearing today, you can easily upgrade your technology tomorrow.
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.
The end of the turkey season brings unique challenges. But you can still absolutely take a turkey, even on the last day. You will need to change your strategy and tactics, however. On this episode I give you tips to adjust your hunting style for maximum late season turkey hunting success.
Late season gobblers do a whole lot less gobbling than they do in the early season. But they are still out there, still interested in hens, and still huntable. You will have to break your dependence on gobbling to be able to hunt them successfully though. You will need to become more patient as well and be slower to move. The only way you will have the confidence to do these things is if you are reasonably sure there are gobblers around.
Scouting is the most important part of late season hunting. It is the only thing that will give you the confidence to sit and wait even when you do not hear anything. It gives you the mental fortitude and motivation to endure silent days and always be on guard ready to shoot at the first sign of a long beard. Late season hunting without scouting is like a role of the dice, you might get lucky but usually you will lose.
For some hunters the late season is their favorite time of the year to be in the woods, and depending on what state you are in, that time can be more productive than others. But some like it because fewer hunters are out and because gobblers are often more lonely and more likely to come in to a call. In some states though the birds are past that point by the end of the season and the urge to mate has begun to fade and birds begin to start to flock back up into small groups. But even then, you can still hunt them.
Even post mating gobblers will come to check out a call from time to time. They are also looking for other birds to join up with. They likely will not do much gobbling, but they may still come in to take a peek.
Regardless of where you hunt and what phase of the breading cycle your season ends during, you need to adjust your tactics for hunting quiet birds. But can absolutely still hunt them and take them home. Scout hard and hunt strong.
Very rarely do you come across something that is really innovative in the hunting industry. When I first saw theTideWe See Through Hunting Ground BlindI thought it was too good to be true. How could you really see through a blind that appeared solid from the outside while maintaining any durability at all? Well, TideWe found a way.
This thing is impressive all the way around. It really has no major weaknesses. Even the things I was the most skeptical about, are now areas I am fairly impressed with. This blind may not be for everyone, but it is certainly for most people, including me. It is perfect for deer hunting, turkey hunting, and I am sure much more.
I had been watching and thinking about these see through blinds for a year or two, slowing warming up to the idea of giving them a try. One of my older large, rugged year-round hunting blinds was wearing out and needed replaced so I decided this was the right time to give it a try. And I am very glad I did!
I requested a special discount code for my readers so you can save 18% off even sale prices if you use my code GK18 at checkout on TideWe’s website for the See Through Hunting Ground Blind. I share more about the pricing and durability later in this review.
Can You Really See Through This Blind?
So, the obvious question is can you really see through the blind? Does it work like the marketing says it does? Well, surprising, yes. It really is see through on three entire sides from top to bottom. But it is not crystal clear “see through”, it is very similar to closing the mess on a regular hunting blind and looking through that, except the whole blind is that mesh.
The blind does have windows which so easily slide open up and down so you can have a clear unobstructed view and shooting window. The slides for the mesh around the windows are really good quality and well designed. They work better and are more durable than on other blinds I have used. Opening and closing the windows is great. I did hunt with the windows open, but I wanted a crystal-clear view and wanted to be able to see some distance.
Is the blind really a solid shape from the outside? Yes and very yes. It looks just as firm and solid as the old solid wall hunting blind that it replaced. If you are more than a foot or two away, this blind looks very solid. From a few yards back, it is like a wall. When I showed it to people they could not believe how clear it looks from the inside while appearing completely solid from the outside.
Can You Shoot Through It?
Could you shoot through the mesh walls or window panels? I think so. In fact, normally when I’m hunting deer, I leave the mesh on a blind closed and shoot through it, even with a bow. I think you could do that with this TideWe blind just fine, and if the deer or turkey is within archery range, you will be able to see them very clearly and can shoot right through the mesh. Here is a review of the Rage Hypodermic Broadheads I normally use when shooting through mesh.
I was hunting with a gun and wanted to be able to see further so I opened the mesh on every hunt this past season. I also did not want to shoot a hole in the window mesh of my beautiful new ground blind. The window mesh is the same material the walls of the blind are made of.
What is so great is that you open your windows slightly so you can see and shoot far, but then you can still see all the way around you because the blind is see through. So many times, I have had a deer or a turkey in my blind spot, sometimes just a few feet away and could not see it. I waited and waited for a look and then either it walked off or did not cross into my field of view long enough to make a decision and take a shot. With this blind I can see the animals sooner and even shoot right through the blind if I want to.
So how does the see through effect work? It must be some kind of optical illusion impacted by how close you are to the fabric along with the relative darkness in the blind vs. light outside. I don’t really know, but that is my best guess. But even cameras do show it as clear. A still photo shows it as much less clear than the human eye does, that is for sure. The see through effect is much more impressive in person but it still shows up via photo somewhat.
Does it really work? Yes. Can you shoot through it? Yes. Is it magically crystal clear enabling you to see and shoot 100+ yards, no its not that good.
How Deer & Turkey Perceive It
Sure, the TideWe See Through Hunting Blind looks perfectly solid and concealing to people, but what do animals think? That is all the matters after all. Well, I had deer and turkeys within a few feet of me multiple times. Neither had any idea I was there. Eventually some of the deer did sniff me out and get spooked, but that will happen when they walk all the way around you feeding. No hunting blind will stop that, nor is it a reasonable expectation. I do not think this blind created any disadvantage when it comes to scent control. I could have easily shot those same deer multiple times before they winded me.
The turkeys cared less than the deer, in fact I sat there watching turkeys feed, scratch, and preen for the better part of an hour before they finally moved along. I even sat there and called to them some and they were not at all alarmed. I was perfectly concealed, even with the mesh windows open.
A personal note here, most people wear back inside a hunting blind. I wear camo with a loose camo mesh face mask. I think it provides concealment that is just as good as black if not better when you are dealing with mesh. And I never know when I may opt to leave the blind to hunt on foot and value that flexibility. I’ve never had an animal spooked by wearing camo inside of a camo blind. And with this blind, wearing camo inside feels all the more appropriate. Here is a podcast episode I did on When Ground Blinds Are Great For Deer Hunting.
Here is a video review I did showing the TideWe blind and talking more about it:
Setup & Durability
I find that pop up hunting blinds are like consumable products. They have a shelf life. Not that they spoil or rot, but they are kind of like a cell phone, they only last for so long. And a 2–3-year service life is about all you can expect because they are seemingly designed to begin to fail at that point.
In my own experience I find I do more damage to the blind by setting it up and taking it down than if I just leave it up year-round. Half of my blinds have been damaged or broken during setup or take down. That is when there is a lot of stress placed on the joints, rods, and fabric. I have been through some of the toughest hunting blinds on the market, and I’ll probably start building my own wooden ones eventually. But very few blinds are what I would consider very durable and can be setup without risk of damage.
To my great surprise, this TideWe see through hunting blind is among the toughest blinds I have used. The setup is also among the easiest and I never felt like I was going to break it. Not something I can say about some of the blinds on the market that build their brand around how tough they are. The perforated mesh fabric is very thick and robust.
Now I have not left this blind in the woods for a few straight years yet, but once I do, I’ll come back and edit this post to let you know how it is doing. TideWe does not recommend doing that, no one does, except a company I once spoke with at a convention that said they left one of their blinds in a field for five years and it never faded. I bought one, and it faded faster than any blind I’ve ever had! It was white within a year! I am sure the TideWe will do better than that.
Like all quality ground blinds this one comes with stakes and tie down cords so you can anchor the blind at about 8 points with the ground. And I can say that it is very tolerant of bad weather. I hunted though some pretty heavy rain and was totally dry. Likewise, no windstorms caused any concerns, damage, or even slack in the cords. I was expecting this blind to be a flimsy vanity piece but it is strong, durable, and holds up really well. This was the greatest surprise in my book. This thing will definitely help you put venison in your freezer. And along those lines, here is a helpful video I did on 10 Reasons Deer Meat Tastes Bad & How To Fix It
Size, Noise, & Pricing
According to TideWe, the dimensions of this blind are as follows: Height: 65″, Hub to Hub: 75″x75″, Floor Space: 58″x58″ This design allows you to comfortably accommodate two or three hunters. I did not measure the blind, but I feel confident it is sized properly. However, like all ground blinds, if you want to know how many people will really fit inside, take the number of people it is rated for and subtract one. So, this is really a 1-2 person blind.
As a solo hunter, I had all the room in the world. Room for gear, backpacks, calls, etc., and plenty of room to use a long gun. It was just the way I like it. It could comfortably accommodate another hunter, but not two more. The only way to fit three people is if they are children. But this is true across the entire hunting blind industry. Every company overestimates this.
The blind is also surprisingly quite. I am not fan at all of a zippered door, but this zipper is quite quiet if you open and close it slowly. Much quieter than my zippered door blind this TideWe is replacing. The windows is where it works great, you can open them without hardly any sound at all. They are exactly what I like, and you can open and close them easily from inside and outside of the blind.
TheTideWe See Through Hunting Ground Blindretails for $239.99 but TideWe seems to always have it on sale on their website. Its normally available for around $140. Sometimes less. I requested a special discount code for my readers so you can save 18% off even sale prices if you use my code GK18 at checkout on TideWe’s website.
Final Analysis
I really am impressed with this hunting blind. The see through effect is a great feature, but it is also just a really solid and well-constructed hunting blind. It is smartly designed and good quality. Is the see through effect an amazing life changing feature? No, but it is helpful and makes the hunting experience more enjoyable and effective. I would not hesitate to get one of these, in fact I may end up getting another one or two because of how much I like it compared to other similarly priced blinds on the market.
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, TideWe gave me these waders to do this review, thanks to them for their support.
Turkey hunters often find themselves in situations where a gobbling tom will not come any closer. There can be many reasons for this, but an overlooked factor could be that they are faced with a subordinate turkey that will not behave the same way as dominant bird. On this episode I talk about how to recognize and hunt these turkeys.
Subordinate turkeys want to breed, they will gobble, they may strut, they will show interest, but stop short. This happens when they are afraid of the dominate tom in the area. Turkeys have a pecking order, and the strongest more aggressive bird is usually at the top and may try to get exclusive breeding rights at times. These birds may attack subordinates if they try to breed a hen in their presence.
Subordinate birds may be afraid of the boss tom in the area and will not breed hens if they think the boss tom is around or if that hen sounds like one that usually comes to the boss tom.
However, there are still ways to hunt these turkeys, but they require different tactics. You will have to change what you are doing if you recognize you are face-to-face with a subordinate bird.
It should also be noted that subordinate turkeys are no less a trophy than any other bird in the woods. They may indeed be as big or bigger than the dominant turkey, they could be smarter or even order, they just may be less aggressive and are not interested in fighting against the dominate bird. Every turkey is a trophy.
Listen to the podcast episode to hear about how to recognize and hunt subordinate turkeys successfully.
Most turkey hunting failures result from three main issues. If you can fix these, you will start taking turkeys. Some take experience to overcome but there are some shortcuts you can take. On this episode I give a very focused strategy to help new hunters overcome their biggest weakness and get their first gobblers.
The three main issues that ruin turkey hunts are:
No Turkeys. No matter how good your gear is or how impressive your calls may be, if there are not turkeys in the area you are hunting then it is all for nothing. There must be turkeys around to have a chance at turkeys. And if you want to take home gobblers, you cannot leave this up for chance. You must scout and figure out where the turkeys spend their time. Look for tracks, droppings, scratches, strut zones, feathers, trail camera footage, or listen for early morning gobbles. Employ any and all means possible to find out if there are turkeys around. This makes all the difference in the world.
Not Stealthy Enough. Turkey hunters are too often careless. Talking while they walk in, breaking branches, pushing through heavy brush, taking phone calls, loudly charging their shotgun in the woods, etc. Stealth is absolutely critical for keeping turkeys unaware and off guard. And then, even once finally situated, many hunters cannot sit still, they move and stretch and open loud candy wrappers. Turkey hunting is a game of stealth, you need to disappear. One movement or sound at the wrong moment will cost you a hunt. Never assume a turkey will gobble far away to alert you to be on guard. So many times, a bird came in, noticed you, and disappeared without you even knowing they were near.
Poor Calling AKA Overcalling. I think that you can get 80% of the benefit of calling with 20% of the skill. The basics are all you need to get turkeys to come in. Do not play with fancy or exotic calls that you are not comfortable with. Stick with the basics, call sparingly and stop calling when a tom is on his way to you and is closing distance. People often mess up a hunt by overcalling. They get so excited that they just call back every time the bird gobbles. Every now and then this will work but you need experience to judge that effectively. Toms want hens to come to them, they are gobbling to let the hens know where they are so the hens can come over. If you are close by and constantly calling, then a gobbler knows where you are and will likely just keep working to entice you to come over for a visit. He will get hung up too often. This is another reason I caution against decoys and did the article: How To Hunt Turkeys Without Decoys.
Each of these issues can ruin a hunt but each can be addressed. You can scout in advance and find good places to hunt. And there are ways to amplify your steal capabilities if you have identified a good hunting location. Ground blinds for example can mask your movement and minimize your sound. They can help you overcome core weaknesses that most new hunters take years to improve.
Listen to the full podcast episode to hear it all!
