Rubs

Rubs, you know, the rubbing that you see on trees that deer make?  Here is a few things you should know about them.

1. Bucks rub to get the velvet off their antlers and to mark the tree with that particular buck's scent.
2. Sometimes you are able to tell what the size of the buck is depending on the size of the tree.  Any buck can rub on a small tree (as in a couple inches in diameter).  But only larger and more mature bucks can rub on large trees (trees that are a foot or more in diameter means it was a really big buck!).
3. The rubs can help you monitor your herd that you have in your area.  You can see the sizes of your bucks,  and help you figure out what their patterns are.

Pre-Season Scouting

Scouting before the season starts, even when it is still spring, is a great thing to do.  Set up trail cameras, feeders, and other things.

Cameras
Put cameras next to feeders, food plots, water sources, trails and other deer hotspots.  If there is a place that has a bunch of deer tracks that you can consistently find fresh ones, look there with trail cameras.

Feeders
Put them where deer will feel comfortable and not scared.  As said above, you could put a camera there to see how many deer are visiting it and how often.  When it needs to be filled, sneak in as quietly as possible and have yourself scentless.  Depending on where you live, deer may be used to the scent of people and not get scared as easily.  Or they may not return for days if they see and smell you while filling the feeders in a rural area.

Look For Signs
Tracks, beds, and eventually rubs and scrapes, are all great things to see where deer activity has been and where it is.

Popular Fishing Baits and Cover Spots

It is helpful to know what types of baits and cover fish like.

Baits

Sunfish
Small live baits work best for sunfish and artificial's also work.  Preferred baits are: worms, cut up nightcrawlers, crickets, and other small baits.

Bass
You can fish small or large baits for bass.  Popular baits include: jigs, soft plastics (plastic worms, crawdads, etc.), spinners, poppers, and divers.

Catfish 
Catfish will eat just about anything that has a smell, though artificial's will sometimes work.  Give them cut up baitfish, stinkbaits, a chunk of a bar of soap, anything that can have a scent.


Cover

Fish congregate near these things:

• In lakes- Docks and bridges work well for fish as shade. Piles of sunk logs protect small baitfish and fallen trees with many branches also do the trick in helping you find fish.  Weeds hide many small fish and protect them from predators.  Clutter, such as tires, cinder blocks, and other object create cover for fish.
• Streams and rivers- Points in the river block the current, look there.  And, like lakes, fallen trees also provide a great source of cover for fish in rivers.  Large ricks break up the rivers current, making the water a few feet behind it calm; to find rocks beneath the surface, look for a V's on the surface.

Airgun Hunting Part 2

Today we will cover airgun hunting.
Airgun hunting is pretty simple.  You just hunt with it like what you would with a rifle.  Except you won't be shooting long distances.

Here is a list of animals that I would recommend to hunt with an airgun:

• Squirrels: They are the most popular small game species in America.  Place the shot in the chest or head area.  Try to bag squirrels on the ground, so if you miss, there is no deadly pellet still flying.   
• Rabbits:  They can be hunted, but they are tricky to shoot with an airgun.  Personally I hunt them with a shotgun, so I don't know much about it, but all I know is that it can be done.
• Crows:  These wary birds can be taken with an airgun.  But check with state laws before you hunt them with an airgun.

I hope you have enjoyed our look into airgun hunting.  It is cheap, cool, and fun.  I hope you will try it!

Airgun Hunting Part 1

Airgun hunting is a very fun sport.  For the most part you can only hunt small game with them, but its fun anyway.
I will go into the basics of airgun hunting: guns, ammo, and tips on hunting.  For now, we will cover guns and ammo.

Guns

Types, Actions, Power Plants

• Main Actions: Break barrel, Underlever, Bolt-Action
• Main Power Plants: Spring Pistion, PCP (Precharged Pneumatic), Pump Action, Co2

Brands

I would recommend Ruger, Benjamin, Beeman, Remington, and Browning.  Basically any of the brands that make good big game rifles and shotguns should most likely make good airguns (if that brand makes airguns).

I personally have a Ruger Airhawk that I have had for a little over two years, still working great.

Calibers

.117, .20, .20, .25 are the main calibers for airgun hunting rifles.

Ammo

Types and Info

• Hollow Point: Does a lot of damage with increased pellet expansion.
• Wadcutter: Very accurate.  They are fine for hunting at short ranges, about 25 yards, which isn't much.
• Round Nose: Round tip reduces wind resistance.  Use for long range shooting
• Pointed: A great hunting pellet that provides maximum penetration of game.  Very accurate.

Next time in part two I will talk a little about hunting small game with an airgun.