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Hunting Articles:
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Hunting Articles
African Hunting Safaris Are Not All About Killing Animals, Some Of Which Are ProtectedBy: Low Jeremy The African hunting safari will take you to some of the most primitive as well as modern places all across Africa. From the lush forests to the expansive savannahs to the tumbling waterfalls to the lofty mountains there is a land of beauty as well as magnificence that awaits you providing you with the opportunity to hunt the best magnificent trophy animals in complete safety. No Shortage Of Choices The choices of African hunting safaris are many and you would like the South African safari that has a very spectacular landscape that is much appreciated all across the world. The plateaus of Zimbabwe and its intertwined hills and valleys provide hunters with good gaming opportunities. There is also Botswana with scrubby savannahs and sandy basins as well as the great Kalahari Desert to provide varied game. The last frontier in Africa is certainly Tanzania which has the Rift Valley as well as vast plains that add a different dimension to the African hunting safari. And, if you wish to go great cat hunting, then take the African hunting safari in Zambia which has flat hills as well as huge valleys that have many of these creatures waiting for you to aim at. You can shoot with your gun, or with your camera and the African hunting safari gives you the opportunity to shoot different big game including the lion, elephant, leopard as well as antelopes, hippos, giraffes and a whole lot more. You will also find the aardwolf as well as zebra in your sights on an African hunting safari. You will certainly love the African hunting safari as you bounce on the back of an old jeep in your search for big game including elephants, tigers, gazelles as well as rhinoceroses. Since these animals are usually not found in captivity seeing them live is a big thrill in itself. Also, African hunting safaris have undergone a sea change and they are not all about killing animals, since many of them are protected. The photographer is more welcome and the excitement is the same. You might choose to go for a night African hunting safari so that you can catch nocturnal animals such as lions, or you may choose to go in a small group aboard a jeep, or be one amongst a large group. You may have to spend the nights in tent villages which mean that often you don't have to venture too far out to see the animals graze. In any case, your guide would know all the watering holes as well as places where to track animals that you are interested. Check with them and they'll most willing to give you good advice. Author Resource:-> safari.articlekeep.com contains other articles relating to African Safari like vacation tips for African Safari. This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included. Article From World Class Articles Back to the list of Articles : Hunting Article Index
Hunting: Be Sure to Get the Trophy You're Looking ForBy: Jimmy Cox There are few things more disappointing than for a hunter to wait all year for an expensive hunt, spot his game, estimate it as a prize, shoot it, and then come up to find that he has downed a scrawny trophy. Game Size and Hunting Area Perhaps the biggest difficulty in assessing the size of big-game animals has to do with the area which produces the game. A game animal is largely a product of what it eats. With many species, the ranting of the young produces later adult animals of small size. This is especially true of deer. Antler development is determined by the incidence of certain minerals found in the game area. Deer need forage from a region high in limestone deposits if the antlers are to reach prodigious size. Methods of Judging Game Despite the difficulties, there are ways of appraising game before it is shot. With observation and practice, these ways will pay off, and any hunter can become reasonably adept in using them. Two of the best tools for estimating game are binoculars and a spotting scope. With them solidly set up, the hunter or guide can often make a fair judgment of the size and desirability of game at great distances. This not only saves time spent in wasted stalking, but prevents disappointment after the kill. Such pre-assessment should, if possible, be done in advance of the stalk. Game will be farther away, it is true, but will often be standing or slowly moving. It is hard to estimate game breaking cover at close range. Under such a situation, the hunter has to make up his mind awfully fast. Antelope Antelope are among the smallest of North American big game. There is a basic rule in antelope estimation - horns always measure less than they appear. This illusion is augmented by the habitual appearance of mirages in antelope country. Mirages, by their very nature, tend to extend any standing animal's height. The basic method for appraising any big game's headgear is to compare the antlers or horns with the beast's body size. The antelope hunter who does this, and knows in advance the dimensions of an adult antelope, will come fairly close in his estimation of horn length - as long as he doesn't let the factor of desire affect his judgment. Adult male antelope average 34 inches long and stand 36 inches high. Hog-dressed bucks will lose an average of twenty-seven per cent in weight. As an example, two of the biggest bucks checked at a nearby station for a 1960 Idaho special antelope hunt weighed 90 and 95 pounds respectively. That meant a live weight of 123 and 130 pounds. In today's hunting, a 15-inch antelope is considered mighty good. Most good trophies will be in the 13-inch class. A 13-inch buck should have horns which appear to be at least one-third the animal's body length. Mule Deer Because of their variation in size between areas, deer are hard to estimate as to antler dimensions. First, the hunter should predetermine if the general run of animals in the region he wishes to hunt is large or small for the species. Then, as with other game, a comparison of the headgear may be made with the beast's body size. One thing I've come to look for when sizing-up trophy mule-deer bucks is the amount of width between the antler and the body, as seen when the beast faces either away or towards me. Big muleys in many western areas will have a rump width of around 18 inches, hair and all. If, as the animal faces away, there appears to be half that much width between antler-and-body on the outside, then it is in the 30-inch class. This trick is most useful when hunting in snow, as such a space shows up well. Sizing the game you are hunting should be made a lot easier with these tips. Good hunting! Author Resource:-> Who Else Wants My Best Hunting And Hunting Gun Secrets Guaranteed To Increase Your Hunting Skills Almost Immediately Click Here For Free Online Ebook http://www.huntingguns.net/ Article From World Class Articles Back to the list of Articles : Hunting Article Index
Rifle Shooting Tips: Choosing the Right Time to FireBy: Scott Peters You should choose your shot carefully. Ideally, you want to drop your target with the first shot. But you also need to decide when a shot is good enough you may wait for the perfect shot that never comes and you'll miss out entirely. Of course, everyone would love to get that perfect broadside shot, where the deer stands perfectly still, giving you a lot of time to set up your shot before squeezing the trigger and downing the deer with a perfect shot through the lungs and heart. Unfortunately for hunters, this situation is extremely rare, if it happens at all. If you can get a quartering angle, where the deer is at a three-quarters angle, still giving you a decent shot, go for it. As long as you have a good shot of hitting the target in the heart/lung area, the shot is good enough. Don't aim for the head, it moves with no warning, and more often than not results in an escaped animal or an injured animal that you will lose. The same goes for neck and spine shots. These areas are small, and the chances of hitting them just right are too small to gamble on the majority of the time. A good heart/lung shot will take the animal down quickly. If your animal is only giving you a quarter view this type of shot will still accomplish your goal. When you are practicing, visualize the animal from different angles and line up your shot accordingly. Study the anatomy of the animals you'll be hunting, and you'll soon be able to know at a glance whether you can make a good shot or not. The ability to make the decision to shoot is important to your success in the field. Animals certainly aren't going to wait for you to feel comfortable. Knowing when a shot is good enough to risk it will enable you to bring home more venison than if you hesitate too long or shoot without assessing your shot. Avoid going-away shots on an unwounded animal, chances are if you do hit it, the animal will just run off and you'll never find it. Straight-on shots are similar, though you have a better chance with this angle than you do on a target that is moving away from you. Another obstacle to the perfect shot may be your surroundings. While it is preferable not to shoot through brush, sometimes it is unavoidable. Line up your shot as best you can. If possible, practice shooting through brush, twigs, foliage, anything you would encounter while you are hunting. This will make you comfortable with these difficult shots. Practice shooting from a blind, up in a tree, or anywhere else you may decide to hide. This will make you a confident hunter that will be more successful in the long run. Now you know what you need to do to improve your judgment on when to shoot at your target. As with everything else in life, practice makes perfect. The more comfortable you are with your abilities, the better off you'll be in the woods. Author Resource:-> Scott Peters is an avid outdoorsman and hunter. For more informaton please see Nikon Buckmaster Rifle Scopes. Article From World Class Articles Back to the list of Articles : Hunting Article Index
How To Hunt Safely With A GunBy: John Myre Jack was the picture of health, even at age 75. He loved life, and all of his outdoor pursuits, especially squirrel hunting. It wasn't taxing, and he didn't have to travel far from home to do it. He arrived at his favorite oak tree at dawn and sat down. He knew the barrel of his shotgun had bumped the ground entering the timber, but there was no time for that now. He saw a squirrel! Jack fired, and his jammed barrel exploded, breaking his jaw and seriously cutting his right hand. He lost a good morning's hunt and a trusty shotgun. Luckily, he didn't lose more. In a recent year about 80 fatalities and 750 nonfatal injuries occurred to U.S. hunters, according to the International Hunter Education Association. If you are among the millions of Americans who take to the fields with a loaded firearm, keep these things in mind. Aim For Safety Begin by taking a hunter education course available in your area. These courses can be valuable whether you are a novice or an experienced hunter, and are required in most states. * A gun requires periodic inspection, adjustment and service. Check with the manufacturer or dealer for recommended servicing. * Keep firearms unloaded and keep the action open until you are hunting. Carry guns in their cases to the shooting area. * Always assume every firearm is loaded and dangerous. Treat it as if it could shoot at any time. A safety mechanism is not foolproof. * Never take someone else's word that a firearm is not loaded. Always check for yourself. * Never engage in horseplay with a firearm. Guns are deadly business and should be treated with a serious, cautious manner. * Always point the muzzle in a "safe" direction. A safe direction is one in which, if fired accidentally, a gun will not cause injury or damage. * Never point a gun at anything you do not intend to shoot. * Before loading (or shooting), be sure the barrel and mechanisms are clear of obstructions. This is best done by looking down from the breech end of the firearm. Even a small bit of mud, snow, or excess lubricating oil can cause increased pressures, and the barrel could bulge or burst on firing. * If the noise or recoil on firing seems weak or different, stop firing the gun at once and be sure the barrel is not obstructed. * Be sure you use the proper ammunition for the firearm you are using. And know the maximum range of your ammunition. * Do not hunt if you are using alcohol, drugs or medication which may impair your judgment and dull your senses. On The Hunt * Wear hunter orange or fluorescent clothing. * Wear protective shooting glasses and some form of hearing protectors while shooting. * When carrying a gun, follow these simple rules: - Keep the muzzle under control and pointed away from yourself and others. - Be certain the safety is "on." Don't play with the safety by putting it on and off. Leave it on until you're ready to fire. - Keep your fingers outside the trigger guard and off the trigger until you are ready to shoot. - Unload the gun as soon as you are through hunting or shooting. * Clearly identify your target before you shoot. If you are not absolutely sure of your target, do not shoot. * Know what's beyond your target. For example, if you cannot see what's in the distance, do not shoot at an animal standing on the horizon of a hill. Some bullets can travel several miles. * Never shoot at a sound or a patch of color. * When a shell does not fire, keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction for at least 45 seconds and then remove the cartridge. * Do not climb fences or trees, cross slippery areas, or jump ditches or creeks while carrying a loaded gun. Unload the firearm first. It only takes a few seconds, and it could save a life. If you are hunting with a partner, hand your gun to him before crossing the obstacle. * Never pull a firearm toward you by the muzzle. * Carry handguns in a holster. * Do not shoot at flat, hard surfaces, or at water. Bullets will ricochet off these surfaces out of control. Remember, a bullet or shotgun shell is your responsibility from the instant it leaves your gun. * Always shout to alert other hunters of your presence as they approach you. Never assume you are the only hunter in an area. * Be especially careful at the end of the day as you become tired and the firearm you are carrying becomes heavier. This fatigue can make you careless. If you feel tired, stop, unload your firearm, and rest. Author Resource:-> John Myre is the author of the award-winning book, Live Safely in a Dangerous World, and the publisher of the Safety Times Reproducible Articles.. Article From World Class Articles Back to the list of Articles : Hunting Article Index
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