If you have been hunting for any length of time you have likely picked up some bad information along the way. On this episode, I cover a number of topics to help you determine what is fact and what is fiction. Thanks to Tetra Hearing for sponsoring this episode. Get your FREE Tetra Hearing 2-Year Extended Service Plan when purchasing a device. Simply add this Service Plan to your cart and use this code at checkout: NEWHUNTERSGUIDE. When you use my link or discount code to make a purchase, I earn a small commission, thanks for your support.
You do not need to be a gun expert to be a good or even a great hunter, but a little bit of knowledge goes a long way. On this episode I talk about the difference between caliber and cartridge as well as gauge. There may be many cartridges that use the same caliber but have very different levels of power and impact. Choosing the right catridge for your hunt can help you maximize effectiveness.
Hunting across state lines can be much more complicated than you might think. On this episode I talk about many of the things you need to plan for to be successful, such as acquiring tags for the game you want to hunt, finding the seasons you are able to participate in, getting your gear ready, and coming up with a strategy to find your actual spot. This episode is sponsored by Midwest Gun Works, use the code NHG25 at checkout to get free shipping on your first order at www.MidwestGunWorks.com, some exclusions apply, see website for details.
This is a very interesting podcast topic! Is it ok to eat unclean game animals? What does the Bible have to say about eating unclean animals? Are there health concerns related to biblical dietary rules and ancient vs. modern-day food processing? I answer these questions and more for hunters on this episode.
If your wife, spouse, or significant other does not eat game meat there are always going to be reasons why. Some may be obvious, some may be harder to understand. But on this episode, I am going to help you systematically diagnose and change this unwelcome scenario. Yes, it is possible to get your wife onboard. No, it will not happen without effort. But you absolutely can get them to eat it and enjoy it, much of the time.
Do you really need camouflage gear for every hunting situation? Are there times when buying gear that isn’t camo is actually better? Is black, green, or brown hunting gear just as good as camo? On this episode I am going to share some things you won’t hear in the marketing that can help you save some money.
What are the warmest hunting socks? And what are they made of? On this episode I interview Kim Brooks, the creator of Warrior Alpaca, one of the most innovative sock companies out there. She designed the warmest hunting sucks I could find anywhere. These socks beat every other brand. Alpaca Wool is incredibly warm and retains more heat when wet than even merino wool.
You can also find Kims other Alpaca clothing brands here: Inca Brands.
You can also find Kim’s Alpaca wool hoodie here.
What is the number 1 thing holding people back from becoming great hunters? It is a question that can be answered, and in this episode, I go in depth to help you not just realize the biggest thing holding hunters back, but also what you can do to overcome it!
Get your FREE Tetra Hearing 2-Year Extended Service Plan. Simply add this plan to your cart and use this code at checkout to make it free: NewHuntersGuide
Should you pay for a hunting guide, or should they be avoided like the plague? There are legitimate hunting guides and there are scammers, just as in any profession. And just like anything else, there are good and bad times to pay for services. On this episode I help you understand when it is a good idea to pay for a guide and how to get the most out of the experience.
Hunting guides and outfitters are not the same thing. An outfitter may be a hunting guide, or may supply a guide, but the outfitters’ role is much broader. They help furnish everything you need for a hunting trip from transportation to lodging, food, entertainment, gear, etc. A guide is someone who takes you into the woods, leveraging their expertise and scouting to help find you game.
Guides provide a valued service, and it’s an honorable profession. But you will always want to try and vet a potential guide before employing them. Look for reviews, contact past customers, search their name and credentials, do anything you can to verify their legitimacy, or at least check to see if serious complaints have been lodged against them.
There are two main times when getting a guide is a good use of resources.
The first is educational purposes. If you are trying to learn how to hunt something new, somewhere new, or someway new, then a guide may be the fastest way to get a crash course in how to do it right. Watch them, take mental notes, ask questions, analyze everything. Do all that you can to take in as much as possible. Your goal is to learn from a master how it is done under these circumstances.
The second big time is for unique experiences. If you have a once in a lifetime or once in a blue moon opportunity to go somewhere really fun or hunt something really unique, a guide can help you maximize the enjoyment of that opportunity. It’s not so much about learning because you aren’t planning to do it again, or often enough to be able to master it, you are just out to have fun. It is also not about taking a large set of antlers that you can show everyone you ever meet for the rest of your life and tell them how amazing of a hunter you are. You boasting about your accomplishments that are the fruit of a guide’s skills is a bit slimy, and not a great reason to get a guide.
Listen to the whole podcast episode to hear all the juicy details!
Ticks are a common enemy almost all hunters face. Thankfully because of this there are numerous ways to fight them. On this episode I talk about five strategies to help you win the battle against ticks.
No one wants to encounter ticks in the woods, there isn’t a good thing to say about them. They are small sneaky blood sucking bugs that are hard to detect, and worst of all they can carry serious disease. First things first, if you get bit by a tick that has been attached for any length of time seek medical advice. If you have any symptoms of tick-borne illness, whether you have evidence of a bite or not, seek immediate medical attention. Often times tick-borne illnesses can be effectively treated if caught early. The more time that passes the harder it may be to help.
Fighting ticks happens on three major levels, chemically, materially, and visually. The first has become very popular. There are many sprays that can be used to repel ticks. Some strong tick sprays can only be sprayed onto clothing because of how harsh they are while others can be sprayed on clothing or skin. The harsher the chemicals the better things typically are at killing ticks, sometimes when they make contact with the garment. However, we are also alive and will be wearing these chemically treated garments, so I am a little bit weary of that.
The milder sprays can be used on skin and clothing work fairly well at repelling ticks, but they are not generally able to kill them on contact. However, they may be a little safer for the wearers. The main thing to consider is there are pros and cons for each approach and product. The most effective products smell strongly and are highly toxic. You need to balance this with how often you will use repellants and if you want to regularly engage with these kinds of chemicals. And there are all natural approaches and oils people use to combat ticks.
There is also tick repellant clothing. Garments that ticks cannot penetrate if they were to try and dig through them, and garments that have repellents built into the materials or are in some way treated with them. There is a lot to like about this approach but for every strong pro there is also a considerable con to be weighed as well, such as cost, longevity, and how comprehensive the protection really is.
In this podcast episode I talk about five ways to combat ticks and stay safe while you hunt.