tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69945996040551100282024-03-13T17:18:55.102-05:00OUTDOOR EXPERIMENTExperimenting in the outdoors, hunting, DIY, Bushcraft & survival.IsaiahChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15091190648627249833noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6994599604055110028.post-51449012746532888352015-02-02T21:13:00.000-06:002016-07-23T14:10:06.012-05:00Hunting the Wind for White-tailed Deer: Seven Tips to Smelling SilentMost hunters will only be successful a small percentage of the time if they ignore the direction of the wind. As a hunter, it is essential to know what direction the wind is blowing. White-tailed deer, coyote, fox, elk, especially bear and even birds can easily detect a hunter’s scent, especially when they are downwind.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jrWg2rurwfU/UyHyKsxg2tI/AAAAAAAAEB4/yhMiY9Fd9O8/s1600/bucksLeaving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Detecting human scent, bucks flee!" border="0" height="424" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jrWg2rurwfU/UyHyKsxg2tI/AAAAAAAAEB4/yhMiY9Fd9O8/s1600/bucksLeaving.jpg" title="Detecting human scent, bucks flee!" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Detecting human scent, bucks flee!</td></tr>
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The following blog post contains techniques on how to avoid being detected by the game animals you are hunting. While this blog post is applicable to all game animals, I will be focusing on white-tailed deer in particular.<br />
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<b>1. Hunt the wind!</b> Determining the direction of the wind is the first thing you should do in the morning before you begin hunting. You want to be sure that you can hunt in your spot without the wind blowing your scent towards the animals you are hunting. <br />
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If you pay close attention, many times you will notice that the wind is moving in a distinct direction. If you cannot easily determine the direction of the wind, there are other means of figuring out what direction the wind is blowing. For example, I usually carry a small feather with me, tethered to my bow by a thread. Or, if it is cold enough, simply watch what direction your breath moves through the air. Lastly, simply checking the weather channel will provide you with what direction the wind will be traveling.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7LAFw8iBzOQ/VMQAFXhVuKI/AAAAAAAAEWM/SbkMrPcXhdo/s1600/leeward_wayward.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7LAFw8iBzOQ/VMQAFXhVuKI/AAAAAAAAEWM/SbkMrPcXhdo/s1600/leeward_wayward.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Figure A.</b> <span style="color: #0b5394;">Upwind</span> (Windward) vs. <span style="color: red;">Downwind</span> (Leeward) </td></tr>
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Now that you know how to determine the direction of the wind, use it to your advantage! Travel to your hunting spot from a direction that allows you to approach it from a downwind (leeward) direction. In other words, walk to your hunting spot so that the wind is blowing your scent away from the location you will be hunting. For example, assuming you are walking bearing towards your hunting spot this usually means the wind should be blowing into your face or pass one of your sides but definitely NOT onto your back towards your spot.<br />
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Think of the wind as a spray gun pushing the scent away from your body. If you walk the side of a field and allow your scent to be blown across it as you go. The whole field will be filled with your scent and animals may easily detect your presence and become startled.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>With the wind they go, with nothing to see or show.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>~ Hunter Proverb</i></div>
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Even in conditions where there’s no wind, your scent permeates the air around you. Your scent may not travel in one particular direction but it will still infiltrate the air around your location. Second by second, the amount of scent you leave behind increases, making your precise location more and more detectable from further distances. While hunting, this type of scenario may be worse than if there was a slight breeze.<br />
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Without any wind, your precise location becomes very apparent to white-tailed deer and they can quickly and easily detect your location by simply sniffing the air. In contrast, a slight wind in one direction will push your scent away. Even though a white-tailed deer downwind from you will still be able to detect your scent, a white-tailed deer upwind of you will find it more difficult to smell you and will be less likely to locate you. This can and should be used to your advantage.<br />
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The night before or the morning of, I always look up the weather online or listen for a forecast on the radio before I go hunting. Wind direction is about as basic as most weather predictions and usually the local forecast is relatively accurate. My handheld Midland GMRS/FRS radio picks up the local weather service channels and they are usually the most accurate forecasts.<br />
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When you are scouting prior to the hunting season and looking for hunting spots, bring a compass so you know which direction your hunting spots are oriented in relation to the direction you will be traveling from. Before you head to your spot, you should check the direction of the wind so that you will know what direction you should approach it from. You can park your vehicle in a different spot if need be. Most of my hunting spots have at least two different access points to them and different parking locations so I can best hunt the wind and use it to my advantage! <br />
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Keep in mind, <b>judging approximate wind direction is an art</b> in of itself. I use any means available to give a best guess estimate. No method is perfect but a good estimation comes with an increased chance of seeing white-tailed deer. <br />
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Sometimes watching the weather channel is better than using a feather and sometimes it’s not. Sometimes you can easily misjudge the overall direction of the wind by using a feather. On the other hand, wind direction can change throughout the day. Not to mention, the weather channel does not account your precise location in terms of wind direction. Will you be on a hill, next to trees or in a valley? There are drafts everywhere, especially when the wind strikes a stationary surface. Use your best judgment! Your judgment will get better over time and you will learn by experience which conditions white-tailed deer are more likely to pick up your scent and when they won’t.<br />
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<b>2. Reduce and suppress your scent.</b> Although, it can seem daunting to try and remove your scent, something that you yourself cannot completely detect most of the time (unless it’s been a few days between showers), scent removal does indeed lower your profile and makes it harder for white-tailed deer to detect you. <br />
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Many hunters do not make any effort to reduce their scents and leave it all up to hunting the wind because they feel it is a lost cause or a waste of time. For these hunters, I use the “Waste Basket” analogy. For the most part, unless trash is overflowing from the waste basket in your kitchen, you don’t notice the smell of the garbage from another part of your house. The only time you start to notice the smell is when you get within three or four feet of the waste basket. <br />
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Now, a dumpster. Even from 40 feet away, the smell of a dumpster is pretty distinct: a faint, lingering aura of rancid-ness and unique compilation of decaying gar-bage. The closer you get to the dumpster, the stronger its odors become, permeating the air surrounding it. Walking by the dumpster, you may walk a bit more hastily and hold your breath until you’re past it.<br />
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Finally, imagine you’re driving down a county highway, 55 mph, on a mid-summer afternoon. Even with the windows rolled up and the AC on, you start to notice a horrendous odor infiltrating your car. You glance around and see nothing but corn fields and alfalfa slightly swaying. Then, a couple seconds later, you pass a muddy pasture of grazing cows. Even though you’re probably a few hundred yards away, you can still smell the cow pies.<br />
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Stink like the waste basket! Even though a hunter will never be able to completely remove his scent, it is still in his best interest to try and stink less like the cow pasture or the dumpster and a little more or less like the waste basket. <br />
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I can smell someone smoking a cigarette upwind of me from over 100 yards away. Imagine how far away a white-tailed deer can smell that cigarette. When you smoke a cigarette, wear smelly/dirty clothes or are perspiring alcohol, you stink like the cow pasture. Now, if you’ve washed your hunting clothes in scent removal laundry detergent, keep your hunting gear in scent-free containers, a white-tailed deer may still be able to smell your deodorant or the bacon and eggs your wife made you for breakfast, but your chances are still pretty good of smelling more like a waste basket.<br />
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<b>3. Go where the wind takes you!</b> If the wind direction is not in your favor or other conditions (e.g., rain and temperature) become adverse, be willing to relocate. It's foolish to keep hunting in the same spot if you no longer have an advantage. Don’t stop hunting but, perhaps, consider other options. Be willing to move to a more strategic spot, one that may be more advantageous to you (e.g., the other side of a field or even a different area all together).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vi7HD9OBZQY/VMP_expNNjI/AAAAAAAAEWE/K-1F7ruuQCU/s1600/TOE_8023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="White-tailed deer detects scent and becomes wary!" border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vi7HD9OBZQY/VMP_expNNjI/AAAAAAAAEWE/K-1F7ruuQCU/s1600/TOE_8023.JPG" title="White-tailed deer detects scent and becomes wary!" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-tailed deer detects scent and <br />
becomes wary!</td></tr>
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Just a little after sunrise, I silently waited as rays of sunlight pierced the horizon, warming the nearby trees. A slight fog rested over the valley I had snuck into an hour earlier. With a small subdivision to my back, I patiently waited, lifting my binoculars every now and then in the direction I could expect a white-tailed deer to walk pass. It was opening morning of bow hunting season and all I had to do was be patient and sit quietly and still until a deer was in range. As the sun started to rise overhead, a steady breeze began blowing at my back. I could feel the warm breeze whisking my scent off the back of my ears, neck and hands. No doubt my scent was spreading throughout the field in front of me. My heart began to smolder, disappoint etched in my face. I knew my chances of getting a deer this morning were pretty low, considering the wind was not in my favor. Sighing, I considered Plan B. My other hunting spot was a mere 30 minute drive away but it would be late morning/early afternoon by the time I got there. With resignation, I gathered my gear and made for the truck, hastily leaving my warm sunlit but breezy valley for another morning.<br />
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There is no point in being stubborn. If you know white-tailed deer show up from a certain direction around a certain time and the wind is blowing your scent right to them, you might as well wait until the conditions change in your favor. I'll admit, it took many years to get around my stubbornness and realize that I was much better off relocating, even if it was only 100 yards away from my original spot. <br />
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<b>4. Walk in from a good direction</b> that does not cross the path of the white-tailed deer you are hunting. This is an easily overlooked mistake made by many hunters. White-tailed deer can pick up your scent almost immediately as they are walking over your path. Furthermore, your scent can linger in the surrounding area, alarming white-tailed deer for days after you’ve been there.<br />
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Good scouting can take care of this issue. When you go scouting for white-tailed deer, keep track of which direction the white-tailed deer are traveling in relation to where your hunting spot is. This will require that you follow footprints and even spend some mornings sitting and simply watching the white-tailed deer’s movements before the hunting season begins. This way you will know how to get to your spot without crossing their paths. It’s also worth mentioning that this is also why you should NOT travel on a white-tailed deer trail you are hunting. If a white-tailed deer picks up your scent, he may switch where he roams and you won’t likely see him again.<br />
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<b>5. Use a tree stand.</b> I know it’s cliché but nothing seems to give a hunter a better advantage than using a tree stand. Tree stands give you three basic advantages while hunting. <br />
<ol>
<li>You are out of the deer’s line of sight. </li>
<li>You can see much further, giving you more time and better shot placement. </li>
<li>Probably the most overlooked advantage of a tree stand is that being up in a tree seems to dissipate your scent, making it harder for a deer to smell you. If you’re in a tree stand, more often than not, a white-tailed deer will approach closer to your location and be less leery.</li>
</ol>
A tree stand stifles your scent because less of your scent particulates are reaching the ground and the scent that does reach the ground travels a greater distance from you by the time it can be detected by a deer. This dissipates your scent into a greater mass of air and inevitably throws a deer’s ability to detect your scent (and location) off by quite a bit. In contrast, many times while using hunting ground blinds, I’ve had deer wheeze at me long before they approached within shooting range and usually before I get a chance to see them. It’s because they picked up my scent and knew approximately where I was. This is much less likely to happen while hunting from a tree stand.<br />
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<b>6. Use natural barriers.</b> Hills, trees, valleys and land formations can create barriers and reduce the distance and amount your scent travels. These types of physical land features are good for concealing yourself as well as gaining vantage points to spotting white-tailed deer.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tJ6VzJ6Tiz0/VNAsHjQzsJI/AAAAAAAAEXE/Y68EdiVXGnQ/s1600/Hunt-The-Hill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Bowhunting the crest or side of a hill" border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tJ6VzJ6Tiz0/VNAsHjQzsJI/AAAAAAAAEXE/Y68EdiVXGnQ/s1600/Hunt-The-Hill.jpg" title="Bowhunting a hill" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Figure B.</b> Bowhunting the crest or <span style="color: #6aa84f;">upwind</span> and side or <span style="color: red;">downwind</span> direction of a hill.</td></tr>
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For example, approaching leeward (into the wind) to a hill and setting up your hunting area to overlook the upwind direction or on top of the hill's crest <span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">(</span>Position 1.<span style="color: black;">) </span></span>can be as advantageous as being up in a tree stand. You’ll be able to see further and being up on a hill, your scent will get dissipated the same as if you were in a tree stand.<br />
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When the wind is blowing in a steady direction, you can even hunt the leeward side of a hill with the hill to your back and the ridge/crest above you (<span style="color: #6aa84f;">Position 2.</span>). When you sit on the bottom on the hill with it to your back, as the wind blows over the crest or ridge of the hill, you will be out of the wind. A white-tailed deer may approach you unknowingly. This area of the hill should remain relatively calm from wind and can throw a white-tailed deer off from detecting your scent. Ultimately, your scent is not being pushed into the wind with all the other scents in the area.<br />
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Another land mark to consider hunting is small ditches or low areas. Your scent tends to fall down with gravity and linger in the bottom of these low areas. A ditch can actually trap and prevent your scent from traveling. It also keeps your body out of the path of any drafts or wind that would push your scent around. Keep in mind the tricky part of hunting from a ditch is really setting up a shot from a low vantage point without being seen by a deer.<br />
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Sometimes valleys, degrades in the land or dense woods can allow wind to pass far overhead and create large areas of forest relatively calm and free of wind. White-tailed deer may stay active in these areas even when the wind is blowing elsewhere.<br />
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<b>7. Bad wind = Quality Downtime.</b> Wind dictates how far, fast, which direction and where your scent spreads. Sporadic or heavy wind can make detecting your scent very difficult. It also makes distracting noises and causes foliage to move, making it more difficult for white-tailed deer to detect predator movement. Heavy winds, usually greater than 12-15mph, will slow if not stop most white-tailed deer movement. They become too leery to travel or move as they may inadvertently travel too close to or expose themselves to predators.<br />
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If you can't figure out what direction the wind is moving, you might as well keep hunting. Use windy days for hunting as well as scouting future hunting spots and locations. Hunting in a 20 mph wind is actually a solid prospect if you know approximate locations of where white-tailed deer tend to take cover and, of course, have the prowess to move through the woods undetected. Many times white-tailed deer will be alarmed when they smell your scent but they may also have a hard time locating you because of sporadic air movement. This has worked to my advantage many times. Even if the wind is unpredictable, after you start hunting, many times, the wind will pick up or settle down with the beginning of a sunrise or sunset.<br />
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It should go without saying that it is probably not a good idea to stalk your best hunting stands or blinds on windy days. You don’t want to lose any advantage you have at these locations by scaring white-tailed deer off. Use the time to discover new locations and spots. And if you are lucky, you might just step on a nice white-tailed deer that may have been hiding during the day.<br />
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<b><u>Bibliography</u></b></div>
<br />
Johnson, G. (2003). <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0914124048/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0914124048&linkCode=as2&tag=theoutdexpe0d-20&linkId=A25GR3RX7N64S4MN">Tracking Dog: Theory & Methods</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=theoutdexpe0d-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0914124048" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i> (5th ed.). Mechanicsburg, PA: Barkleigh Productions.<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Experimenting in the outdoors, hunting & bushcraft. </div>IsaiahChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15091190648627249833noreply@blogger.com4Fairchild, WI 54741, USA44.6002391 -90.96292770000002344.577628600000004 -91.003268200000022 44.6228496 -90.922587200000024tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6994599604055110028.post-63898300738154390082014-10-02T09:18:00.001-05:002014-10-02T09:35:14.709-05:00DIY - Homemade Parkerizing Solution - How To Etch a KnifeIn
this video I share my homemade parkerizing recipe, which will put a
dark manganese phosphate coating onto steel, providing a protective
metal finish. It is similar to solutions sold by some major sporting
goods retailers for a fraction of the price. <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/V7SQeW9PtqE" width="640"></iframe><br />
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Parkerizing is very much like rusting a piece of metal except that
the acidic corrosion process, if done correctly, leaves a more durable
phosphate coating/layer on the steel that can be impregnated with oil.
The oil will then protect the steel from rust and other types of
corrosion. This is the intended purpose of the parkerizing process.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;">Disclaimers</span></span></b></div>
<b>Safety first.</b>
Use rubber gloves and safety glasses in a well ventilated area when
handling chemicals. Although phosphoric acid may be considered mild
compared to other acids, it can still burn your skin, eyes, lungs and
clothing. It will also stain your skin yellow and strip off a layer of
most metal surfaces it comes in contact with. Use caution and be sure to
never bring any of your ingredients to a full boil. <br />
<br />
Parkerizing can get messy, if you can do the process outside, you will be better off.<br />
<br />
<b>Results
may vary</b> depending on preparation, solution, steel, ingredients and
many other factors. We recommend testing for desirable results on a
non-precious item first. Practice makes perfect.<br />
<br />
Parkerizing can
be re-done but the changes are permanent. Although parkerizing is an
effective way to coat firearms, knives and other steel parts, it may
change the function of such steel parts. Parkerizing strips off a layer
of metal from the steel parts and turns it into a phosphate coating.
This changes the actual physical size and/or dimensions as well as the
texture and chemical structure of the outer layer of the steel parts.
Additionally, parkerizing may ruin springs, fine threads and factory
tolerances on steel parts. Heed this warning before you start
parkerizing anything expensive or anything that cannot be replaced.<br />
<br />
Sandblasting
will also take a small layer of metal from steel parts and <b>cannot be
undone</b>. Don't bead-blast your metal parts. This dings metal and will
leave a noticeable texture (unless you prefer that). Black aluminum
oxide abrasive is really cheap and works great. I used a homemade
blasting cabinet with a $15 sprayer from Harbor Freight. Be sure to take
all safety precautions as getting sandblasting dust in the air is hell
in a hand basket and can cause disease in the lungs if inhaled.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Ingredients</b></span></div>
<b>Distilled Water (several gallons): </b>Use only distilled water for impurities in tap water can cause staining on your parts and inhibit the chemical reaction.<br />
<br />
<b>Klean Strip Phosphoric Prep & Etch (1 gallon): </b>Phosphoric
acid is the active ingredient in parkerizing. Prep & Etch contains
enough phosphoric acid to create an effective parkerizing solution. Prep
& Etch itself is typically used to etch metal prior to
priming/painting. Concentrated phosphoric acid can also be substituted.<br />
<br />
<b>000 or 0000 Steel Wool Pad (1): </b>Steel
wool comes oiled from the factory to prevent it from rusting. Before
using the pad, you will need to degrease it by washing off the oil with
dish soap or other cleaners (i.e., acetone and lacquer thinner). I
prefer dish soap.<br />
<br />
<b>Manganese Dioxide from (2) D-Cell Alkaline Batteries: </b>You
will need to retrieve manganese dioxide or "the black stuff" out of two
D-cell alkaline batteries, which should be enough for one batch (about 2
gallons) of parkerizing solution. You will need to use a hack saw to
cut through the outer metallic case of the batteries. Then, separate the
manganese dioxide from the white inner core.<br />
<br />
<b>Stainless Steel
Pots or Containers:</b> Use only stainless steel containers to heat up the
parkerizing solution because stainless steel will not corrode from the
acid in the solution. Aluminum, steel, cast iron and copper will corrode
from phosphoric acid and you risk running a leak and/or destroying your
pots or containers. Don't let your wife catch you using her stainless steel pots and pans. She will not be happy about it! <br />
<br />
<b>Gun Oil:</b> Gun oils that contain
PTFE (Teflon) work well and provide long lasting protection on a
parkerized surface. But, in all honesty, any oil that will effectively
displace water should work to prevent rusting. You will want to make
sure that the oil (most common is gun oil) you use has
molecules that are small enough to soak into the parkerizing surface.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Surface Preparation</b></span></div>
You
will need to remove all
dirt, grease and oil from the surface of your steel/parts. Lacquer thinner and a rag works great.<br />
<br />
You
will need to get your steel down to bare metal for the parkerizing
solution to work properly and uniformly. The easiest and best way to do
this is to sandblast your parts with black aluminum oxide abrasive. This
will create a smooth, even and bare metal finish. Additionally,
sandblasting will remove any remaining residue from the surface of the
steel, leaving it very clean for the parkerizing bath. An alternative
method involves sanding the metal surfaces by hand with sandpaper.
However, getting a smooth, even finish using this method can be very
difficult.<br />
<br />
Keep in mind that once steel has been
sandblasted it may flash, rust or corrode from moisture in the air
within minutes. Therefore, it is recommended that you have the
parkerizing solution ready so that your steel parts can be placed in it
immediately after they are sandblasted.<br />
<br />
Lastly, and perhaps most
importantly, do not touch your metal parts with your hands/fingers or
anything else after sandblasting. Only handle them with a clean, dry
piece of cloth. Your fingers have salts on them that will corrode the bare steel after you've touched it.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Mixing the Parkerizing Solution</b></span></div>
To
create the parkerizing solution, you will need to mix 1-2 cups of Klean
Strip Phosphoric Prep & Etch per gallon of distilled water used. Then, add 1-2 D-cell batteries worth of
manganese dioxide per gallon of solution. The amount of amount of solution will depend on how much water is needed to
completely submerge your parts.<br />
<br />
Once mixed you may begin heating the solution over the stove.
Slowly heat the solution until it gets to about 180°F. Use a candy
thermometer to maintain the temperature of the solution between 180°
to190°F. Do not boil the solution. <br />
<br />
Once the solution
gets to about 180°F, drop the degreased pad of steel wool into the
parkerizing solution and allow it to begin dissolving. This primes the
solution for your metal parts. Maintain the temperature of the solution at around 180-190°F.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Adding Your Metal Parts to the Parkerizing Solution</b></span></div>
Once
the steel wool is most of the way
dissolved, add your steel parts. Maintain the temperature and allow
your parts to begin the transformation. You should see bubbles where
your parts are laying in the solution. The phosphoric acid will
literally corrode your steel while mixing with the manganese dioxide to
form a dark phosphate layer/coating over the steel. This is the
parkerizing process. It is very similar to rusting but, if done
correctly, will be beneficial to your metal.<br />
<br />
You should
check your steel parts every few minutes to see how far along it is in
the parkerizing process. Eventually the parts should begin to bubble
less as the parkerizing layer actually inhibits further corrosion from
the acidic solution.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yyJg-r7DnmA/VC1gEeBD1dI/AAAAAAAAES0/_l5U4yq3uz0/s1600/parkerizing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Parkerizing tray, solution and boiling water pot on stove." border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yyJg-r7DnmA/VC1gEeBD1dI/AAAAAAAAES0/_l5U4yq3uz0/s1600/parkerizing.jpg" height="180" title="Parkerizing tray, solution and boiling water pot on stove." width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parkerizing tray, solution and boiling water pot on stove.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
You may need to remove your parts to
clean off the dark surface created by the process and then re-dip the
parts in the parkerizing bath to continue the parkerizing process. The
longer and more frequent you dip your parts, the darker and thicker the
coating on them will become. However, it is important to understand that you are also stripping more metal off the surface of your parts.<br />
<br />
<b>Warning: </b>Do not leave your
steel parts in the parkerizing solution unattended for extended periods
of time as the acid will literally eat away at them until your steel is
destroyed. This is the part where you have to use some common sense. The
longer the steel parts sit in the parkerizing solution, the more steel
will be removed.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Remove, Clean and Hose Down Your Steel Parts With Oil!</b></span></div>
Once
you are content with the parkerizing layer formed on your steel parts,
you will need to remove them from the parkerizing bath and neutralize
the parkerizing solution. To do this, I simply washed my steel parts in a
pot of boiling water for a minute or so. This should remove most of the
phosphoric acid as well as keep the parts hot.<br />
<br />
Remove
your steel parts from the boiling water. They should air dry within
seconds. Once dry, you will want to immediately submerge your parts in a
quality water displacing oil. I highly recommend using a quality gun oil
that has PTFE in it.<br />
<br />
Let your parts soak in the oil for
several days. You need to give your newly parkerized parts time to soak
up the oil. Once the oil is absorbed into the newly porous surface of
your steel parts, the parkerization process is complete! Be sure to
regularly oil the steel parts you just parkerized and you should be able
enjoy a long lasting, durable protective coating on your knife, gun or
other steel parts. <br />
Please share pictures of your parkerized goods in the comments section.<br />
<br />
You may get several uses out of your parkerizing solution. When done
dispose of leftover parkerizing solutions properly. Do not just dump it
down the drain or toss it in the trash. You may neutralize your solution
with baking soda but keep in mind your going to get a foaming reaction
so doing it slowly in a large open bucket is probably best. <br />
<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Experimenting in the outdoors, hunting & bushcraft. </div>IsaiahChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15091190648627249833noreply@blogger.com0Milwaukee, WI, USA43.0389025 -87.90647360000002742.6676395 -88.551920600000031 43.4101655 -87.261026600000022tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6994599604055110028.post-44673732353997958652014-09-11T08:56:00.001-05:002014-09-16T20:40:18.168-05:00AMD-65 Profile Affordable Survival, SHTF or Bug-Out Rifle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yl3H_judARo/VBGkNq7ltNI/AAAAAAAAEQo/hwJrz5MR6rc/s1600/AMD-65.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="AMD-65 (AK-47 Variant type rifle)" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yl3H_judARo/VBGkNq7ltNI/AAAAAAAAEQo/hwJrz5MR6rc/s1600/AMD-65.jpg" height="155" title="AMD-65 (AK-47 Variant type rifle)" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AMD-65 (AK-47 Variant type rifle)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<b>Rifle: </b>AMD-65 7.62x39 <br />
<b>Barrel: </b>Chrome-lined Muzzle including barrel and permanently attached break extends 16.25"<b> </b>barrel extends only 14"<br />
<b>Receiver: </b>FEG Made in Hungary<br />
<b>Handgaurd:</b> UTG MTU010 Quad Rail<br />
<b>Grip:</b> Magpul MOE AK pistol and fore-grip<br />
<b>Muzzle break:</b> Custom order from member of a firearms forum<br />
<b>Magazine Release: </b>TAK Latch (ambidextrous)<br />
<b>Cheek Rest:</b> Customized added by me onto side folding stock. This was necessary because the side folding stock on an AMD-65 just doesn't give a good cheek weld. Was cut from steel tubing and mounted using stainless steel pop rivets.<br />
<b>Worthy Mention:</b> I pinned some East German military surplus night sights on it. They are basically glow-in-the-dark sights that can be put on and off when needed. <br />
<br />
<b>Intended Use/Purpose: </b>This is a
relatively inexpensive rifle for SHTF, Home defense, Bug-Out, Survival or WROL type scenarios. It is reliable, shouldn't break the bank and fun to shoot.<br />
<br />
The overall cost when purchased was around $900. It is worth mentioning
that some of the accessories added to this setup are unnecessary for a
functioning reliable rifle, although they do make it nicer.
Unfortunately, the prices are trending upwards on rifles like these and
with today's market, even shortly after this rifle was put together, costs
will probably be significantly higher. <br />
<br />
It may also be used for hunting medium to small sized game such as white-tailed deer. For this you would need expanding type bullets. I use <i>Hornady 123Gr SST</i> and have taken two white-tailed does with excellent performance. Both deer were shot in the vital area from 40-60 yards and fell shortly after the shots. Stopping power is more than adequate with a well placed shot. Though one deer did require a second shot to dispatch. I would caution against using this rifle on larger game. For white-tailed deer sized game and smaller it should work just fine at reasonable distances, which brings me to the next point.<br />
<br />
<b>Accuracy: </b>Accuracy on the AMD-65 leaves a bit to be desired. Though it is worth mentioning that if used for it's original military designed purpose it works just fine. Engaging targets past 150 yards would be difficult at best. You can expect about 5-6" MOA shooting from and upright position. From a rest 4" MOA was the best I was able to accomplish once or twice out of about 1,000 rounds... which is more than adequate to make the firearm useful but definitely not a tack driver. Considering most white-tailed deer shots in Wisconsin are shorter than further away it's not a huge loss to use an AMD-65 while hunting. <br />
<br />
<b>Reliability: </b>99% no failure to fires in over a 1,000 rounds of surplus steel cased wolf ammunition and 19 rounds of Hornady SST ammunition. We had one or two failure to fires, more than likely because of the cheaper ammunition we were using and was nothing out of the ordinary not attributed to the overall function of the rifle.
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<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" style="width: 200px;">
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<td><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qvb95iItSuU/VBGk8d7YDPI/AAAAAAAAEQw/lDKOB-wGGfo/s1600/TOE_4619.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="AMD-65 Side Folding Stock!" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qvb95iItSuU/VBGk8d7YDPI/AAAAAAAAEQw/lDKOB-wGGfo/s1600/TOE_4619.jpg" height="131" title="AMD-65 Side Folding Stock!" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AMD-65 Side Folding Stock!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
<td><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fp7S3ybsA6U/VBGlNR1hwiI/AAAAAAAAEQ4/arNwOxMUI_o/s1600/TOE_4617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="AMD-65 Rifle " border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fp7S3ybsA6U/VBGlNR1hwiI/AAAAAAAAEQ4/arNwOxMUI_o/s1600/TOE_4617.jpg" height="131" title="AMD-65 Rifle " width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AMD-65 Rifle <br />
(Bulgarian AK-47 Variant)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mgVr6GErR9w/VBGlTnwAZOI/AAAAAAAAERA/E3PmP5CeZkU/s1600/TOE_4626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="AMD-65 UTG Quad Rail" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mgVr6GErR9w/VBGlTnwAZOI/AAAAAAAAERA/E3PmP5CeZkU/s1600/TOE_4626.jpg" height="131" title="AMD-65 UTG Quad Rail" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">UTG MTU010 Quad Rail & MOE Grip</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
<td><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G4CB9QKr7SY/VBGlZvx-ztI/AAAAAAAAERI/wQw-YFh5Ceg/s1600/TOE_4623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="AMD-65 Magpul MOE Grip" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G4CB9QKr7SY/VBGlZvx-ztI/AAAAAAAAERI/wQw-YFh5Ceg/s1600/TOE_4623.jpg" height="131" title="AMD-65 Magpul MOE Grip" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Magpul MOE AK Pistol Grip & TAK Latch Magazine Release</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5_hYzdg-9Uc/VBGleux9PRI/AAAAAAAAERQ/OSl-Ugx6nGM/s1600/TOE_4621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="AMD-65 Custom Cheek Rest" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5_hYzdg-9Uc/VBGleux9PRI/AAAAAAAAERQ/OSl-Ugx6nGM/s1600/TOE_4621.jpg" height="131" title="AMD-65 Custom Cheek Rest" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DIY Custom Cheek Rest</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
<td><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QLktcg7RHqA/VBGljWvTWzI/AAAAAAAAERY/a6PZyrHC01M/s1600/TOE_4624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="AMD-65 Muzzle Break Custom" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QLktcg7RHqA/VBGljWvTWzI/AAAAAAAAERY/a6PZyrHC01M/s1600/TOE_4624.jpg" height="131" title="AMD-65 Muzzle Break Custom" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pinned and Welded Custom Muzzle Break</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Experimenting in the outdoors, hunting & bushcraft. </div>IsaiahChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15091190648627249833noreply@blogger.com1Milwaukee, WI, USA43.0389025 -87.90647360000002742.6676395 -88.551920600000031 43.4101655 -87.261026600000022tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6994599604055110028.post-77305240980204681572014-09-01T10:41:00.000-05:002014-10-03T07:26:05.159-05:00Deer Spotting: Pre-season Scouting for White-tailed Deer (Part 1 of 3)<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/tSzACdrabJs" width="640"></iframe><br />
<br />
Every year, before the bow hunting season even starts, we go deer spotting. Deer spotting is an essential step in <a href="http://www.outdoorexperiment.com/2013/01/macro-scouting-definition.html" target="_blank">macro-scouting</a>
for white-tailed deer. It allows you to find the deer before the
season begins and to pick a good hunting spot for opening day. It will also greatly increase your chances of getting a deer early in the hunting season. <br />
<br />
In this video we take you along as we scout out this year's hunting spots three weeks before the Wisconsin bow hunting season begins. The best time of day to go scouting is in the evening, roughly an hour or so before sunset. The deer will be hungry and eager to head to nearby farm fields to browse for food.<br />
<br />
Deer spotting is just one of many things (more videos to come) we do to prepare for the bow hunting season every year. How do you prepare for opening day? <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OcL4Ub23E9g/VASWupnZBSI/AAAAAAAAEOs/MjnMkgV1BHs/s1600/TOE_0706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OcL4Ub23E9g/VASWupnZBSI/AAAAAAAAEOs/MjnMkgV1BHs/s1600/TOE_0706.jpg" height="132" width="200" /></a></div>
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Experimenting in the outdoors, hunting & bushcraft. </div>IsaiahChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15091190648627249833noreply@blogger.com0Wisconsin, USA43.7844397 -88.78786780000001538.0145452 -99.115016300000008 49.5543342 -78.460719300000022tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6994599604055110028.post-25721201286307367742014-08-19T21:29:00.001-05:002014-08-25T21:58:57.833-05:00How to Make a 2-Point Tactical Sling - DIY<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/6o26EI2Y1Ac" width="640"></iframe><br />
<br />
A 2-Point Tactical Sling is a staple for a fast, efficient and effective hunting rifle set-up. In this video I show you how to make a 2-Point Tactical Sling. A list of materials along with specific dimensions and a diagram of how the sling is put together are provided below. Let's get started! <br />
<br />
The 2-Point Tactical Sling will accommodate most rifles, is quickly adjustable and costs less than $10 to fabricate. For these reasons, it is a great addition to any hunter's collection. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0PKNiqIOuu0/U_QGjGu-BAI/AAAAAAAAEOY/gF2dxH-M4SE/s1600/2pointsling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="2-Point Tactical Sling Diagram" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0PKNiqIOuu0/U_QGjGu-BAI/AAAAAAAAEOY/gF2dxH-M4SE/s1600/2pointsling.jpg" height="246" title="2-Point Tactical Sling Diagram" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2-Point Tactical Sling Diagram</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Materials Needed: </b><br />
<ol>
</ol>
<br />
<b>1. Nylon Strapping (84 inches of 1.5 inch wide </b><b>17337 nylon strapping): </b>It is very important to use nylon strapping on the sliding portion of a 2-Point tactical sling. Polyester tends to be softer, more plyable and folds and/or jams in the glider/slider when adjusting. Nylon should be stiffer than polyester straps and will easily slide without jamming or yawing making for quick reliable adjusting. For the rest of the sling, you may use polyester strapping as it will be durable, resistant to rot and sunlight, softer and is typically just as if not more available. But...<br />
<br />
To make things simple we would suggest just using 1.5" <strong>MIL-W-17337</strong> Nylon webbing. <strong>MIL-W-17337</strong> should be around .038 – .050" thick, just thin enough to slide through the glider/slider but stiff enough to not jam. It can also be used on the rear portion of the sling as well. Tensile strength should be around 1,800 Ibs so realistically way stronger than it needs to be for a rifle sling.<br />
<br />
<b>2. Quality Composite 1.5" Glider or Slider (1): </b>Don't cheap out on the glider as it is probably the weakest part of the whole sling <i>but </i>also the part that will see the most mechanical use. I recommend a thick hard plastic glider. <br />
<br />
<b>3. H&K Quick Detach (1): </b>I prefer the Heckler & Koch style quick detach but you may use any type of quick detach that you prefer. You can even substitute the detach with para-chord but keep in mind that anything attached to the barrel of your rifle must be able to withstand the heat of the barrel. For this reason, I prefer a strong steel quick detach mechanism. If you have an AR there are a lot of options that clamp right onto the rails or whatever setup you may have.<br />
<br />
<b>4. Tri-glider (1 glider that is 1.5 inches): </b>Composite or polymer gliders are the standard but if you can find stainless steel they are the best<b>. </b>The one I use is also round metal versus flat which helps the strap slide back and forth through it.<b><br /></b><br />
<b>You will also need Various Tri-gliders: </b>Since buttstocks come in a variety of configurations, you will have to figure out how which method is best for attaching the rear end of your 2-Point Tactical Sling to your specific buttstock. You can use para-chord, 1" nylon straps, ALICE pack shoulder straps or any other quick detach mechanisms. <br />
<br />
<b>5. Sewing Machine: </b>Don't make your wife, mom or girlfriend sew your sling for you. Sewing is manly, handy to know and relatively easy to do. Remember, perfection is not the goal here. Functionality is what's important. As you can see in the video, the stitches I make are less than perfect but are durable and, most importantly, they get the job done. I would recommend borrowing a sewing machine from a family member or friend if you don't own one, especially if you don't plan on sewing a lot. <br />
<br />
<b>6. Dual Duty Heavy Polyester Thread: </b>This is strong multipurpose thread that is resilient to rot and UV radiation. It creates strong, durable seams with greater resiliency. I purchased mine at <a href="http://www.joann.com/" target="_blank">Jo-Ann Fabrics</a> but you can also purchase it at <a href="http://www.michaels.com/" target="_blank">Michaels</a> or <a href="http://www.walmart.com/" target="_blank">WalMart</a>. Jo-Ann Fabrics and Michaels will have greater color selections and they usually have 40% or 50% off coupons (online).<br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b><div class="blogger-post-footer">Experimenting in the outdoors, hunting & bushcraft. </div>IsaiahChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15091190648627249833noreply@blogger.com5Milwaukee, WI, USA43.0389025 -87.90647360000002742.6676395 -88.551920600000031 43.4101655 -87.261026600000022tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6994599604055110028.post-40456750165792538002014-04-24T15:41:00.000-05:002014-04-24T22:39:44.109-05:00Micro-Scouting: Hunting White-tailed Deer<table border="1" cellpadding="7" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; text-align: left; width: 500px;">
<tbody align="left">
<tr>
<td><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Micro-scouting</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">mic·ro-scout·ing</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>noun</i><b> </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>micro-scouting</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">1. the activity of gathering information about game animals in a small area.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> "Micro-scouting is necessary preparation for locating good hunting spots."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>micro-scout</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>verb</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">1. the act (or process) of looking for signs of animals in a small area, field, or trail.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> "He micro-scouted for deer in a small patch of trees."</span></span></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l8fYL37nxW8/UzSM09v1C2I/AAAAAAAAEDQ/crRmDTY2o2E/s1600/Whitetail_Does-5_30_2012.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Doe and Yearling White-tailed Deer Concealed in the Forest." border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l8fYL37nxW8/UzSM09v1C2I/AAAAAAAAEDQ/crRmDTY2o2E/s1600/Whitetail_Does-5_30_2012.jpg" height="195" title="Doe and Yearling White-tailed Deer Concealed in the Forest." width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doe and Yearling White-tailed Deer Concealed in the Forest.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;">The ultimate goal of scouting is to set up your golden opportunity: a well-placed shot at your game. Micro-scouting is how you figure out how to get close enough to your game to get the perfect shot. Most game animals, especially white-tailed deer, will leave unique and noticeable signs of their daily behavior, including feeding patterns, movement, and even population density. Micro-scouting involves literally following their trail and finding these pieces of evidence that the animal you are hunting has left behind. For this reason, every hunter should spend time micro-scouting before and during the hunting season. In general, the more time you spend scouting, the better and more confident you’ll become at picking quality hunting locations. Scouting will also motivate you to get outdoors, enjoy nature, appreciate your natural environment, exercise, and learn about the animals you love to hunt.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">We've come up with three basic steps for micro-scouting that every hunter should be doing. While micro-scouting applies to almost all types of hunting, it is especially useful when hunting white-tailed deer. The rest of the post will focus specifically on micro-scouting white-tailed deer.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">1. <b>Tracking</b> – Begin the micro-scouting process in areas you macro-scouted and spotted significant amounts of white-tailed deer activity. Literally hike to the location(s) where you saw the deer. Start with tracking their movement through fields, paying close attention to signs which includes tracks, trails, scat (droppings), habitat, beds, and feasible food sources.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.outdoorexperiment.com/2013/01/macro-scouting-definition.html" target="_blank">Read about Macro-Scouting First →</a></span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yQK5JwvSyiQ/Uf6k0aiq6QI/AAAAAAAADJs/WgFhdcV6354/s1600/Deer-Prints-Dirt.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="White-tailed Deer Tracks In the Mud" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yQK5JwvSyiQ/Uf6k0aiq6QI/AAAAAAAADJs/WgFhdcV6354/s1600/Deer-Prints-Dirt.jpg" height="320" title="White-tailed Deer Tracks In the Mud" width="249" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-tailed Deer Tracks In the Mud</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When you see a set of tracks, look for multiple sets and try to approximate the age of the tracks. If the tracks are old, check for newer ones. You may need to canvas a larger area. It’s important to differentiate between new versus old tracks and find regularly used trails versus trails used only a few times.<br />
<br />
Next, begin looking for other signs. Inevitably, you are looking for high-traffic areas. When you find high traffic areas, you will notice significant alteration of the surrounding environment. For example, white-tailed deer tend to leave numerous tracks, scat, trails, beds, scrapes/rubs, and even antlers behind. Any area where you find all of these signs in abundance is likely to be an excellent location to hunt white-tailed deer.<br />
<br />
Remember to not get over-excited over the first sign of deer activity. If you only see one set of tracks, scat, or other sign, the deer traffic in that area may only be sporadic. Check for trails and more prints nearby. If a deer has been through an area once the entire year, you may find a single set of tracks and even a bed but may never see the animal again for months. Don't waste time in an area where you cannot verify heavy deer traffic.<br />
<br />
2. <b>Canvas the Area</b> – To hunt successfully, you need insights as to what time of year, season, and day the deer will be at specific hunting locations. The best way to do this is to broaden your search by canvassing the area. This will help you figure out which directions they are coming from, why they are in specific areas, and what times of day you can expect to see them.<br />
<br />
For example, if you find a deer trail that is located between a nearby farm field and an adjacent section of woods, obviously, you've found a trail between their sleeping and eating areas. Not only is this the best type of trail for the early season, it may also become a low activity area later in the season. This may happen for numerous reasons but two basic reasons come to mind.<br />
<br />
<b>a</b>. Shortly after the field (food) is harvested in the fall, there will be less food and less cover for white-tailed deer. Activity may dwindle shortly afterwards.
Stalking and watching deer in ghillie suit with Nikon binoculars.
Stalking and watching white-tailed deer with ghillie suit and binoculars.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TzQG0p9C6u0/Uf6k2mzr3VI/AAAAAAAADKI/yZX18RWOTBA/s1600/Nikon.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Stalking & watching deer with ghillie suite & Nikon binoculars" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TzQG0p9C6u0/Uf6k2mzr3VI/AAAAAAAADKI/yZX18RWOTBA/s1600/Nikon.jpg" height="209" title="Stalking & watching deer with ghillie suite & Nikon binoculars" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stalking & watching white-tailed deer with ghillie suit and binoculars.</td></tr>
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<b>b</b>. Later in the fall, the rut will begin. White-tailed deer priorities will shift from eating to breeding. Although they will maintain certain eating habits, they will spend much more time searching and chasing their mates. So, a location like this will work well as an early season spot but, later in the season, you will need to re-evaluate your hunting location and/or continue tracking and following the herd.<br />
<br />
3. <b>Stalking & Watching</b> – Bow hunting requires close proximity to your game. Animals like white-tailed deer can be difficult to get within range of a bow and arrow. Stalking and watching them will give you clues as to where you will be able to see and make a clear shot.<br />
<br />
Sit and wait just like you are hunting. Watch and study the deer that come by. From this, you will learn how to be quiet, hold still, and move without alarming them. Most importantly, watching will teach you a great deal about the deer (or any type of game animals) you are hunting. You will also understand why, when, and how the deer are moving through.<br />
<br />
For example, not all deer trails are created equal. Some are used for moving between feeding grounds while others are used for escaping predators. The only way to know which type of trail you’re looking at is to sit and watch. If the deer are walking too far from your spot, change your location. These specific details and habits of deer are only known through micro-scouting.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.outdoorexperiment.com/p/hunting-main.html">← More On Hunting →</a></span></span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr align="center"><td><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d8Q7_Ss7Fsw/Uf6j_yPbTkI/AAAAAAAAC-E/H_RWj7AOEZw/s1600/deer.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Macro-scouting whitetail deer in southern Wisconsin." border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d8Q7_Ss7Fsw/Uf6j_yPbTkI/AAAAAAAAC-E/H_RWj7AOEZw/s1600/deer.jpg" height="355" title="Macro-scouting whitetail deer in southern Wisconsin." width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">M</span>icro-scouting whitetail deer in a soybean field. </td></tr>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Experimenting in the outdoors, hunting & bushcraft. </div>IsaiahChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15091190648627249833noreply@blogger.com0Fond du Lac County, WI, USA43.689185220049872 -88.12319494843751543.321341220049874 -88.768641948437519 44.05702922004987 -87.477747948437511tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6994599604055110028.post-55726725040624515522014-04-12T15:05:00.000-05:002015-02-28T21:04:29.348-06:00Macro-scouting: Hunting White-tailed Deer<table border="1" cellpadding="7" style="width: 500px;">
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<td><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Macro-scouting</b></span></span><br />
mac·ro-scout·ing<br />
<i>noun</i><b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>macro-scouting</b><br />
1. the activity of gathering information about game animals in a large area.<br />
"Macro-scouting is necessary preparation for a good hunting season."<br />
<br />
<b>macro-scout</b><br />
<i>verb</i><br />
1. the act (or process) of looking for signs of animals in state, county, and regional locations.<br />
"He macro-scouted for deer in early fall."</td>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dj2RJoKnlus/VPKBmbxfHPI/AAAAAAAAEYA/v4V3O9ctaVw/s1600/TOE_0746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Deer-spotting White-tailed deer in Soybean Field (Wisconsin)." border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dj2RJoKnlus/VPKBmbxfHPI/AAAAAAAAEYA/v4V3O9ctaVw/s1600/TOE_0746.jpg" height="265" title="Deer-spotting White-tailed deer in Soybean Field (Wisconsin)." width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Figure A. </b>Deer-spotting White-tailed deer in Soybean Field (Wisconsin).</td></tr>
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Macro-scouting consists of searching, scouting, and observing large areas of land with the use of vehicles, binoculars, and maps in search of game animals. It is the first step in successful hunting and one of the
best methods of finding white-tailed deer. Macro-scouting is an essential part of every good
hunt and increases the likelihood of a successful hunting season.<br />
<br />
We've spent countless hours macro-scouting before hunting and have come to two
definite conclusions.<br />
<br />
<b>a.</b> Certain types of
geographic differences play a big role in where deer concentrate. There
is a bigger picture to take into account when looking for a good place
to hunt, including a larger area of land as well as its geographic and
environmental features. We've dubbed the term “macro-scouting” for
finding these features and locations.<br />
<br />
<b>b.</b>
Typically, for every deer hunting season, a hunter should have at least
five to six different hunting spots (more if possible). You will
constantly need to find new hunting locations. For this reason,
macro-scouting is perhaps one of the most essential aspects of deer
hunting. Macro-scouting consists of many different ways of finding good
hunting locations. The following are just a few.<br />
<br />
1. <b>Word of Mouth.</b>
Now, this may seem like a no-brainer but people tend to talk about
their hunting exploits and even brag about big bucks they've seen, where
they've seen them, and how many other deer they've seen in the area.
This is probably the easiest way for someone new to hunting to find a
decent location. However, there are some disadvantages to hunting where
other hunters frequent.<br />
<br />
When using word of mouth, you
must be careful because of what we call the "fishing hole phenomenon."
That is once someone hunts a location or even talks about it you will
see an increase of hunters in that area. Funny how that works! This is
similar to what you see when someone is fishing in a boat in one area of
a lake. All of a sudden, you see three more boats parked next to the
first boat. Hunters get excited, feel the angst of possibly “missing
out,” and do the same thing. They literally want to shoot your deer or
catch your fish rather than spending time finding one on their own. It's
important to not get caught up in the competition. <br />
<br />
Secondly,
usually trophy bucks are rare and once it's bagged and bragged, your
chances of finding an excellent spot in the same place may dwindle.
Following other hunters’ advice means you will always be a season behind
the braggers, which doesn't get you nearly as far as you might hope.
Take heed to what others tell you and don't rule out the area, maybe
just use word of mouth as a starting point. This brings us to another
important method of macro-scouting.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_28JxUBHu24/Uf6kt3uuu-I/AAAAAAAADIc/FsKJ8dJkwcU/s1600/ScoutingBLckRivGoogle.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Google map search Necedah, WI to search for hunting land." border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_28JxUBHu24/Uf6kt3uuu-I/AAAAAAAADIc/FsKJ8dJkwcU/s1600/ScoutingBLckRivGoogle.jpg" height="244" title="Google map search Necedah, WI to search for hunting land." width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Figure B.</b> Google satellite view of hunting land (Necedah, WI).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
2. <b>Open Up a Map</b> and start looking for where
you think the deer might be in terms of state, county, sections of a
county, and habitats. Most of the time, macro-scouting consists of
locating counties or large areas in your state or province that might
have a bigger deer population and/or that could allow for extensive
hunting opportunities. <br />
<br />
Many times we basically open up
a web browser or Google Earth window and search known wildlife areas,
like the map (right) in Figure B. Use maps to select areas that you may
be searching while macro-scouting from your vehicle. We avidly read maps
and make a point to look for inconsistencies in different maps of the
same area. When doing this, we find the search can be just as
interesting as the hunt.<br />
<br />
You will find some locations
may be next to each other or a great distance apart. It all depends on
what locations are plausible to be hunting in terms of distance, time,
and budget. Do the math and consider which the best options for you are.
Then, slowly narrow down what spots you would like to frequent and
others that you want to try. Most of this can be started with maps
(Google, DNR, or state maps), previous hunting experiences, and
macro-scouting. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yY7tfFuRaxw/Uf6k1Ng54wI/AAAAAAAADJ0/e4Qm7hd_5DU/s1600/Tacoma-2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Truck parked to get out and take a photo seen below." border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yY7tfFuRaxw/Uf6k1Ng54wI/AAAAAAAADJ0/e4Qm7hd_5DU/s1600/Tacoma-2.jpg" height="209" title="Truck parked to get out and take a photo seen below." width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Truck parked to get out and take photo in <b>Figure A</b> above.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
3. <b>Deer Spotting! </b>Cruise around and look for
deer (best done in the mornings or evenings). It's that simple. This is
probably one of the most fun parts of hunting. We enjoy the opportunity
to cruise around in our truck while listening to music, ready with a
camera and a pair of binoculars. You're basically checking plausible
deer habitats and watching for deer while you are driving these areas.
This also gives you the opportunity to take photographs of wildlife as
well.<br />
<br />
Later on, you're going to try and pattern the
deer. So, make note of where you see the deer, what they were eating,
how many there were, which way they went, and what times of day they
were active. After taking note of the deer you see, continue
macro-scouting the area. Go back later that day or the next day to scout
in closer detail. This is called <b><a href="http://www.outdoorexperiment.com/2014/04/micro-scouting-for-white-tailed-deer.html" target="_blank">micro-scouting!</a> </b><br />
<br />
<u>Hint</u>:
Keep in mind you should be careful not to disturb game animals too
much. Typically, before the hunting season, waterfowl, small game, and
deer are pretty relaxed but if you scare them away, they may change
their patterns. <br />
<br />
4. <b>Scouting for white-tailed deer</b> is not quick or easy but it <b>is rewarding</b>.
It takes a long time and should be done all year round. In its most
basic form, you are trying to spot and pattern the animals.<br />
<br />
Streams,
lakes, roads, hills and even hedge lines can all bottleneck deer traffic
into a specific trail or area. It would be almost impossible to see or
know this information from the road or by looking at a map. For
this reason, it is necessary to get out into the field and begin the <b>micro-scouting </b>process. For
more on macro-scouting and micro-scouting, check our <a href="http://youtu.be/dGy3fuxJtLc" target="_blank">Scouting: Hunting Wisconsin White-tailed Deer Video</a>.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.outdoorexperiment.com/p/hunting-main.html">← More On Hunting →</a><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Experimenting in the outdoors, hunting & bushcraft. </div>IsaiahChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15091190648627249833noreply@blogger.com0Necedah, WI 54646, USA44.0260775 -90.07401809999998943.9804035 -90.154699099999988 44.0717515 -89.993337099999991tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6994599604055110028.post-39809403227243991792014-03-17T16:05:00.001-05:002015-01-08T13:40:42.704-06:00Traditions Buckstalker Review - Muzzleloader Hunting Rifle<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9QtbVi2Hu6g/UzXw1A7OcpI/AAAAAAAAEEU/dGtWEBtwNio/s1600/shootingbuckstalker-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Target Shooting the Traditions Buckstalker" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9QtbVi2Hu6g/UzXw1A7OcpI/AAAAAAAAEEU/dGtWEBtwNio/s1600/shootingbuckstalker-02.jpg" height="211" title="Target Shooting the Traditions Buckstalker" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Target Shooting the Traditions Buckstalker</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Traditions Buckstalker is an excellent black-powder rifle for
hunting medium to large game. Accuracy, knockdown power, and an extended
hunting season are all benefits this firearm offers for the budget
minded hunter, especially in areas where high-powered rifles are
restricted. With a MSRP (manufacturer’s suggested retail price) of $218,
it’s a hard deal to beat. Just add a scope and you have a rifle that
can easily take white-tailed deer within the 150 yard range. So, let’s
get started right off the bat with some pros versus cons and then I'll
give you some tips & tricks on my system of hunting with the Traditions
Buckstalker. <br />
<br />
<b>Pros: </b><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R67mY_C9GTo/UzXwzd2qbnI/AAAAAAAAEDs/ilOCjoo4YwY/s1600/crack-open.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Crack open design for cleaning, breech plug removal and inserting primers." border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R67mY_C9GTo/UzXwzd2qbnI/AAAAAAAAEDs/ilOCjoo4YwY/s1600/crack-open.jpg" height="211" title="Crack open design for cleaning, breech plug removal and inserting primers." width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crack open design for cleaning, breech plug removal and inserting primers.</td></tr>
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<b>1. Practical -</b> The Buckstalker uses a proven breach crack-open design similar to the
majority of other muzzleloaders on the market. It has a threaded breach
plug that screws in/out for cleaning. This allows for a pretty standard
mode of operation. The breech plug is made of stainless steel and
accepts shotgun primers. The rifle comes tapped for mounting a scope
from the factory, no gunsmith required. All you need to do is purchase
the correct scope mounts (approx. $9).<br />
<br />
<b>2. Simple & Reliable - </b>The barrel is thick and has a nice blued finish. The barrel rifling is
visually outstanding (brand new from the factory) and can be easily
inspected by simply removing the breech plug. As long as the firearm is
kept clean and coated with appropriate products (I use bore butter.), it
should function and last quite well. You will get plenty of practice
cleaning the Buckstalker as frequent barrel cleanings are recommended :)<br />
<br />
<b>3. Accurate -</b> On its clean shots, the Buckstalker is capable of considerable accuracy.
I’ve experienced three shot groupings of two inches at 100 yards (2"
MOA). This was with a thorough cleaning between each shot and quality
bullets. The trigger weight is ready to shoot right out of the box. The
pull was light enough that alterations for better accuracy weren’t
really necessary. Again, no gunsmith required. It also has a standard
push-button type safety.<br />
<br />
<b>4. Knock Down Power - </b>I’d go as far to say that my Buckstalker will more reliably knockdown
deer than any of my 7.62mm rifles. Yeah, that’s right! Nothing compares
to the raw knockdown power of a .50-Caliber bullet, similar to that of a
12 gauge slug. That is pretty good considering the Buckstalker is more
accurate and pleasant to shoot than any 12 gauge I’ve ever gotten my
hands on. I’ve shot several deer with a Traditions Buckstalker and have
never had one run more than a few yards. I cannot say the same for any
of my other modern rifles. For this reason alone, the Buckstalker
deserves at least an 8/10 on the "boom-stick" scale.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-maoK6uUfTqA/UzXyMrnrszI/AAAAAAAAEEY/-MESMcyPReU/s1600/target-shooting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Shooting Traditions Buckstalker at Multiple Ranges" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-maoK6uUfTqA/UzXyMrnrszI/AAAAAAAAEEY/-MESMcyPReU/s1600/target-shooting.jpg" height="211" title="Shooting Traditions Buckstalker at Multiple Ranges" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shooting Traditions Buckstalker at Multiple Ranges</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Cons: </b><br />
<b>1. </b>The <b>factory iron sights are plastic</b> so the rear sight can get jammed or
wedged frontwards/rearwards even if it’s tightened. Admittedly both stay
well aligned regardless of how many times they’ve been whacked in
either direction. After dragging the barrel over tall grass and foliage,
the front fiber optic bead cracked off the site post, which can be
expected. Although the front fiber optic bead cracked, I can still use
the front post with accuracy. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q5zCPOm_Rsc/Uf6kVWocLdI/AAAAAAAADCo/bx4mmC6xr2c/s1600/Buck-STalker-Full.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q5zCPOm_Rsc/Uf6kVWocLdI/AAAAAAAADCo/bx4mmC6xr2c/s1600/Buck-STalker-Full.jpg" height="171" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traditions Buck Stalker .50 Caliber Muzzleloader Rifle - A Budget Hunters Dream! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Steel iron sites would’ve been better. Better yet, if they offered a
rear peep site, In either case I may not have put a scope on my rifle to
begin with. This is undoubtedly Traditions’ method of keeping costs
down. Because I use the scope almost exclusively, even at close ranges,
this is not a deal-breaker. I have yet to miss the front fiber optic
piece that cracked off nor have I replaced it. Recently, I removed the
sights altogether and installed a lower profile scope mount. (Just a
scope for aiming now!) It gives the firearm a lower profile and prevents
the barrel from catching on foliage while walking around in the woods.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-37rFY5L8JtY/UzXwz8SObNI/AAAAAAAAEEQ/qCwscYhx7Bo/s1600/dirty-patches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-37rFY5L8JtY/UzXwz8SObNI/AAAAAAAAEEQ/qCwscYhx7Bo/s1600/dirty-patches.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dirty Cleaning Patches - Fouling From 1 Shot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>2. Fouling</b> The firearm suffers from significant fouling every shot. I debated
whether or not it was fair to mention fouling in a review on a
muzzleloader since fouling is an inherent problem for all firearms using
black powder. For this reason, I do not fault the Traditions
Buckstalker but it is still worth mentioning for individuals considering
purchasing or using the Traditions Buckstalker or any muzzleloader for
the first time. <br />
<br />
<i><b>Factoid!</b> </i> <i>During the Civil War black powder muskets and rifles were made with
atypical larger bore diameters in order to address the issue of barrel
fouling on the battle field. For this reason, accuracy suffered. Today’s
modern muzzleloading firearms are still prone to the same issue. In
modern muzzleloaders, the bores are appropriately sized for accuracy
versus repeated fire. As soon as the barrel is fouled (usually one
shot!) accuracy begins to decline. </i><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e9q4s0AUHig/Uydh8hD-CcI/AAAAAAAAECU/Mv5iHmCCdAI/s1600/accessories.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Muzzleloading Accessories" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e9q4s0AUHig/Uydh8hD-CcI/AAAAAAAAECU/Mv5iHmCCdAI/s1600/accessories.jpg" height="288" title="Muzzleloading Accessories" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Muzzleloading Accessories</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Tips & Tricks:</b><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6oJchuoLfs4/UzXwzT2PL6I/AAAAAAAAEDw/8tcGenrNwwU/s1600/borebutterthompsons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Bore Butter & Thompson Center Cleaner" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6oJchuoLfs4/UzXwzT2PL6I/AAAAAAAAEDw/8tcGenrNwwU/s1600/borebutterthompsons.jpg" height="200" title="Bore Butter & Thompson Center Cleaner" width="130" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bore Butter & Thompson Center Cleaner</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Cleaning -</b> Even after one shot, most of the breech area, barrel, plug threads and
firing pin plate will contain significant fouling. As far as the barrel
is concerned, you can usually expect one excellent shot from a
thoroughly clean rifle. The following rounds will begin to incrementally
suffer in accuracy if the barrel is not thoroughly cleaned after each
round. With the Buckstalker, you may still accomplish decent accuracy
into the third round by swabbing the barrel with a wet patch between
re-loading. When doing this, the second and third rounds should shoot
accurate enough to make fatal hits on a white-tailed deer center mass
out to 100 yards. Unfortunately, after three rounds, the barrel will
need to be thoroughly cleaned with the breech plug removed.<br />
<br />
To prevent gaseous expanding particles from jamming the threads
during firing, the breech plug threads need to be coated with some sort of
grease. Also, the breech plug will need to be removed, thoroughly cleaned, and
lubed every three to five rounds without exception. Otherwise, removing
the breech plug may be very difficult. I used to use a special purpose
grease for lubing the breech plug but have since switched to using bore
butter with moderate success. Bore butter is cheaper too!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gG-OGGT5mKM/UzXw0sKPoLI/AAAAAAAAEEA/NocBhCa7U1Q/s1600/gorilla-greese.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Gorilla Grease for Breach Plug Threads" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gG-OGGT5mKM/UzXw0sKPoLI/AAAAAAAAEEA/NocBhCa7U1Q/s1600/gorilla-greese.jpg" height="131" title="Gorilla Grease for Breach Plug Threads" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gorilla Grease for Breech Plug Threads</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Loads</b> - With the Buckstalker, I use 100 grains of Pyrodex in the granular form. I
like it better than the nuggets (personal preference). You can
precisely adjust the amount of black powder you are using to optimize
recoil and accuracy. One hundred grain loads seems to be my
Buckstalker’s sweet spot. I store the Pyrodex in plastic, air tight
beakers as shown in <b>Figure A</b>. They keep the powder dry and I can carry
several pre-measured loads with me along with bullets, primers, and
cleaning patches while hunting.<br />
<br />
Let’s be honest though. Reloading in
any decent amount of time requires American Civil War era practice. I
could probably perform a single reload in a two minutes including running a wet patch
after my first shot. So, when hunting, you will need to be thinking along the lines of
. . . one shot, one deer!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DtvwnztmK0U/UzXw0wDQ6oI/AAAAAAAAEEM/zL6xzI6UOOI/s1600/pyrodex.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Black Powder 100 gr. loads stored in air tight beakers." border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DtvwnztmK0U/UzXw0wDQ6oI/AAAAAAAAEEM/zL6xzI6UOOI/s1600/pyrodex.jpg" height="211" title="Black Powder 100 gr. loads stored in air tight beakers." width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Figure A</b>. 100 grain loads of black powder stored in air tight beakers.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Using 265 grain Powerbelt slugs is a given. The rifle is designed to
take a sabot, Powerbelt, or other hybrid type bullet. The Buckstalker
barrel rifling has a 1:28 rate of twist. <br />
<br />
Therefore, it’s worth mentioning that you can actually load a .50
caliber patch and ball into the firearm but this is a bad idea. Although
it can be done, it takes an ape to push it down. You will more than
likely bend or break your loading rod (We had to try!). More
importantly, the lead balls will fly sporadically because the patch will
not catch the rifling as the rate of twist is too aggressive for a
patch and ball. You need the plastic lip or sabot jacket offered by a
more modern round to achieve desirable and safe shooting results. <br />
<br />
<b>Shooting </b>- Relying on the gun’s first shot accuracy, I typically aim for the neck.
The bullets themselves are large, heavy and at close ranges you can
expect the bullet to fly clean through meat and other tissue. You will
not likely achieve the high velocities of a modern high-powered rifle
but you should have no problem killing a deer. Remember, high-powered
rifles rely on wounding channel, proper penetration, expansion and
fragmentation of the bullet to accomplish fatal tissue damage. With the
.50-Caliber round of the Traditions Buckstalker, you are relying mostly
on the wide wounding channel the bullet produces as it passes through.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lXsxSl_si28/Uydn1aTxrYI/AAAAAAAAECk/5KN3GfWw3Zo/s1600/Sabot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt=".50 Caliber Muzzleloading Bullets" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lXsxSl_si28/Uydn1aTxrYI/AAAAAAAAECk/5KN3GfWw3Zo/s1600/Sabot.jpg" height="184" title=".50 Caliber Muzzleloading Bullets" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">.50 Caliber Muzzleloading Bullets</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When hit with your bullet, the target is going to have a half inch hole
punched in it. Over-penetration becomes a non-issue because the bullet
itself is already large enough to create a fatal wounding channel
without expansion or fragmentation. But it's also worth mentioning that
with the higher velocities of a this modern muzzleloader, the bullet
usually fragments or expands anyways. Because of this, <b>performance at
modest ranges is outstanding!</b><br />
<br />
<b>Things to consider!</b><br />
<b>Stainless Steel </b>- With all the fouling and required cleaning, some amount of corrosion is
almost guaranteed. The stainless steel version should help prevent much
of that and is still moderately priced.<br />
<br />
<b>Scoped </b>- You can find deals with 3x9 scopes already installed on these rifles.
Although I’d venture to say that I prefer a low zoom scope (like 1x5) on
this type of firearm because it's not typically purchased for long
range shooting. A 3x9 scope should still work quite well.<br />
<br />
<b>Final Thoughts: </b><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MlJvrHNAs6U/Uf6kWeefvfI/AAAAAAAADC4/xsAxBOTvKUY/s1600/Traditions-Close.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Traditions Buckstalker .50 Caliber Blackpowder Rifle" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MlJvrHNAs6U/Uf6kWeefvfI/AAAAAAAADC4/xsAxBOTvKUY/s1600/Traditions-Close.jpg" height="209" title="Traditions Buckstalker .50 Caliber Blackpowder Rifle" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traditions Buckstalker & Barska Shotgun Scope </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I’ve shot three white-tailed deer directly in the neck and spine
with my Traditions Buckstalker. The bullets passed right through and
completely shattered the vertebrae as well as leaving massive exit
wounding channels (tennis ball sized) through the neck. The <b>deer
literally fell dead in their tracks!</b> This is an excellent advantage when
hunting in areas that don't allow the use of high-powered rifles. In
Wisconsin, due to line of site, heavy trees and brush, the Traditions
Buckstalker proves to be tactically sound. This puts it at the top of
the list in terms of effective shooting during drives, in a tree-stand,
or even waiting point at the edge of a field with some yardage to cover.
Overall, I would highly recommend the Traditions Buckstalker .50
Caliber Muzzleloader Rifle!<br />
<br />
What are your questions, comments, or experiences with the Buckstalker? Please share or comment in the comments box below.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DmITLV34u50/U0PhgiMnqLI/AAAAAAAAEEo/hL90xZR0GeI/s1600/traditionsondisplay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Traditions Buckstalker On Display At Retail Store" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DmITLV34u50/U0PhgiMnqLI/AAAAAAAAEEo/hL90xZR0GeI/s1600/traditionsondisplay.jpg" height="240" title="Traditions Buckstalker On Display At Retail Store" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traditions Buckstalker On Display At Retail Store<u><br /></u></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Experimenting in the outdoors, hunting & bushcraft. </div>IsaiahChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15091190648627249833noreply@blogger.com27Milwaukee, WI, USA43.0389025 -87.90647360000002742.6676395 -88.551920600000031 43.4101655 -87.261026600000022tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6994599604055110028.post-46799946442700558452014-03-07T09:02:00.001-06:002014-03-07T11:56:23.464-06:00 Scouting: Hunting Wisconsin White-tailed Deer (Part 1 of 3)<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/dGy3fuxJtLc" width="640"></iframe>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<b>1</b>, <a href="http://www.outdoorexperiment.com/2014/03/bowhunting-season-hunting-wisconsin.html">2</a>, <a href="http://www.outdoorexperiment.com/2014/03/the-kill-shot-hunting-wisconsin-white.html">3</a>) <a href="http://www.outdoorexperiment.com/2014/03/bowhunting-season-hunting-wisconsin.html"> next →</a> </div>
<br />
In this video, we go over the first steps of hunting whitetail deer
in Wisconsin, including some basic methods of finding deer, locating
them in a broad area (macro-scouting) and narrowing our search to
specific areas (micro-scouting). Finally, we end with some tips and
strategies for setting up hunting spots.<br />
<br />
Be sure to watch the next video <a href="http://www.outdoorexperiment.com/2014/03/bowhunting-season-hunting-wisconsin.html">Part 2: Bowhunting Season →</a><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGy3fuxJtLc" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGy3fuxJtLc" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zRTDz-mf1Ao/UxoDfVUx_8I/AAAAAAAAD-0/jB2S2TLZR8k/s1600/video_scouting.jpg" height="141" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watch it on Youtube.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Experimenting in the outdoors, hunting & bushcraft. </div>IsaiahChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15091190648627249833noreply@blogger.com0East Troy, WI, USA42.857805753393357 -88.40334631562507242.811228253393359 -88.48402731562507 42.904383253393355 -88.322665315625073tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6994599604055110028.post-74385367591841054222014-03-07T09:02:00.000-06:002014-03-07T12:04:23.419-06:00Bowhunting Season: Hunting Wisconsin White-tailed Deer (Part 2 of 3)<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/FcyPkXY_c0Y" width="640"></iframe>
<a href="http://www.outdoorexperiment.com/2014/03/scouting-hunting-wisconsin-white-tailed.html">← previous</a> (<a href="http://www.outdoorexperiment.com/2014/03/scouting-hunting-wisconsin-white-tailed.html">1</a>, <b>2</b>, <a href="http://www.outdoorexperiment.com/2014/03/the-kill-shot-hunting-wisconsin-white.html">3</a>) <a href="http://www.outdoorexperiment.com/2014/03/the-kill-shot-hunting-wisconsin-white.html">next →</a> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
In this video, we go bow hunting on opening day in Wisconsin! We build on our scouting skills from the first video by trying to call in a buck. Throw in some amazing scenic views
while we are hunting and life doesn't get any better than this!<br />
<br />
Be sure to check out the next video <a href="http://www.outdoorexperiment.com/2014/03/the-kill-shot-hunting-wisconsin-white.html">Part 3: The Kill Shot →</a><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcyPkXY_c0Y" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcyPkXY_c0Y" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qPbfP3kC2AI/UxoFJhs2B2I/AAAAAAAAD_A/SwQgnF0Qn2A/s1600/video_bowhunting.jpg" height="141" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watch it on Youtube.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Experimenting in the outdoors, hunting & bushcraft. </div>IsaiahChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15091190648627249833noreply@blogger.com2Mukwonago, WI, USA42.862346323419864 -88.38912095703130942.815799323419867 -88.469801957031308 42.908893323419861 -88.308439957031311tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6994599604055110028.post-60107716363096291282014-03-07T09:01:00.000-06:002014-03-07T11:56:11.847-06:00The Kill Shot: Hunting Wisconsin White-tailed Deer (Part 3 of 3)<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/S0kGsK9vOIs" width="640"></iframe>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.outdoorexperiment.com/2014/03/bowhunting-season-hunting-wisconsin.html">← previous</a> (<a href="http://www.outdoorexperiment.com/2014/03/scouting-hunting-wisconsin-white-tailed.html">1</a>, <a href="http://www.outdoorexperiment.com/2014/03/bowhunting-season-hunting-wisconsin.html">2</a>, <b>3</b>)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
In this video, I take you bow hunting with me, building on the
scouting and hunting techniques we learned from the first two videos. Watch as the Lumenok gives a clear view in slow motion of my arrow finding its target!<br />
<br />
Be sure to watch the rest of the <u>Hunting Wisconsin Whitetail Deer</u> series, "<a href="http://www.outdoorexperiment.com/2014/03/scouting-hunting-wisconsin-white-tailed.html">Part 1: Scouting</a>" and "<a href="http://www.outdoorexperiment.com/2014/03/bowhunting-season-hunting-wisconsin.html">Part 2: Bow Hunting Season</a>" to learn more about hunting Wisconsin whitetail deer! <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0kGsK9vOIs" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0kGsK9vOIs" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TvKKM2-4ndg/UxoIBQgDGwI/AAAAAAAAD_M/YjIWKzbEZWM/s1600/video_killshot.jpg" height="141" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watch it on Youtube.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Experimenting in the outdoors, hunting & bushcraft. </div>IsaiahChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15091190648627249833noreply@blogger.com0Mukwonago, WI, USA42.854526983033161 -88.40732536035159242.807961983033159 -88.488006360351591 42.901091983033162 -88.3266443603516tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6994599604055110028.post-7625346175477090672014-03-06T11:50:00.002-06:002014-03-07T16:12:44.046-06:00First Camp: Adventure in the Porcupine Mountains (Part 1 of 4)<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/nxngDlwRt9k" width="640"></iframe>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<b>1</b>, <a href="http://www.outdoorexperiment.com/2014/03/adventure-in-porcupine-mountains.html">2</a>, <a href="http://www.outdoorexperiment.com/2013/01/adventure-in-porcupine-mountains-big.html">3</a>, <a href="http://www.outdoorexperiment.com/2014/03/adventure-in-porcupine-mountains-lily.html">4</a>) <a href="http://www.outdoorexperiment.com/2014/03/adventure-in-porcupine-mountains.html">next→</a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
An enthusiastic, overly outdoorsy boyfriend whose dream is to
backpack/hike the Porcupine Mountains (real dream: to survive the wild
with just a knife and ... maybe ... a loincloth) but has, over many
years, failed to recruit any of his friends to partake in his wild
adventure. <br />
<br />
A girlfriend (barely five months of dating)
apprehensive about being adventurous, especially in the wild, but ... also
willing to make her boyfriend's life-long dream come true.<br />
<br />
How will they
fare as they venture forth with only their backpacks into this
wilderness, otherwise known as the "Porkies" located in the Upper
Peninsula of Michigan in Ontonagon, Michigan? Watch as they hike for
three days in the largest pristine, uncut hardwood forest in the Midwest.<br />
<br />
If you like this video, be sure to watch the next video in the <u>Adventure in the Porcupine Mountains</u> series, <a href="http://www.outdoorexperiment.com/2014/03/adventure-in-porcupine-mountains.html">Overlooked Falls → </a><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxngDlwRt9k" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Watch First Camp on Youtube.com" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Izb0Z6ysZlw/UxoLyjjOwzI/AAAAAAAAD_k/AGqHJNZ7kAg/s1600/thumbnail_firstcamp.jpg" height="141" title="Watch First Camp on Youtube.com" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watch it on Youtube.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Experimenting in the outdoors, hunting & bushcraft. </div>IsaiahChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15091190648627249833noreply@blogger.com1Gogebic County, MI, USA46.7554875781993 -89.89818022596432546.7554875781993 -89.898180225964325 46.7554875781993 -89.898180225964325tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6994599604055110028.post-41144397898107745332014-03-06T11:45:00.001-06:002014-03-07T16:14:16.240-06:00Overlooked Falls: Adventure in the Porcupine Mountains (Part 2 of 4)<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/AssXoMt8m18" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<a href="http://www.outdoorexperiment.com/2014/03/adventure-in-porcupine-mountains-first.html">←previous</a> (<a href="http://www.outdoorexperiment.com/2014/03/adventure-in-porcupine-mountains-first.html">1</a>, <b>2</b>, <a href="http://www.outdoorexperiment.com/2013/01/adventure-in-porcupine-mountains-big.html">3</a>, <a href="http://www.outdoorexperiment.com/2014/03/adventure-in-porcupine-mountains-lily.html">4</a>) <a href="http://www.outdoorexperiment.com/2013/01/adventure-in-porcupine-mountains-big.html">next→ </a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Overlooked Falls was definitely one of the nicest parts of our trip. It was simply WONDERFUL to be able to take a break and take off our shoes, sit down on a rock with our feet in the water and RELAX from an hour or more of hiking through straight, dense forest with hordes of mosquitoes hovering overhead (and finding lots of juicy spots all over our bodies). While the weather was beautiful, not terribly hot, there was a heavy, more humid feel in the forest, which instantly cleared up to cooler, breath-freshening air once we came out of the forest and into waterfall clearing.<br />
<br />
Waterfalls are just one of the many beautiful things the Porcupine Mountains has to offer. For our next trip to the Porcupine Mountains, we will definitely be spending more exploring the park's different waterfalls. However, other parts of the park have just as much to offer. It just depends on what you like to do and what you want to see. We saw people fishing, probably for brook trout. We might even bring our fishing poles on the next trip, depending on whether we're straight backpacking or doing more of a light backpacking/camping combo.<br />
<br />
If you like this video, be sure to watch the next video in the <u>Adventure in the Porcupine Mountains</u> series, <a href="http://www.outdoorexperiment.com/2013/01/adventure-in-porcupine-mountains-big.html">Carp River Trail →</a><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AssXoMt8m18" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Watch Overlooked Falls on Youtube.com" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-czXUO772LiM/UxoQXJ7Ce_I/AAAAAAAAEAA/N25mI9Y-9P4/s1600/thumbnail_outlookfalls.jpg" height="141" title="Watch Overlooked Falls on Youtube.com" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watch it on Youtube.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Experimenting in the outdoors, hunting & bushcraft. </div>IsaiahChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15091190648627249833noreply@blogger.com0Porcupine Mountains State Park, 33303 Headquarters Rd, Ontonagon, MI 49953, USA46.720150509333038 -89.82448899101564246.709264509333039 -89.844658991015635 46.731036509333038 -89.804318991015649tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6994599604055110028.post-15127390702298619082014-03-06T11:43:00.000-06:002014-03-07T16:16:38.190-06:00Big Carp River Trail: Adventure in the Porcupine Mountains (Part 3 of 4)<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/xo1i4jde7Vg" width="640"></iframe>
<a href="http://www.outdoorexperiment.com/2014/03/adventure-in-porcupine-mountains.html" target="_blank">←previous</a> (<a href="http://www.outdoorexperiment.com/2014/03/adventure-in-porcupine-mountains-first.html">1</a>, <a href="http://www.outdoorexperiment.com/2014/03/adventure-in-porcupine-mountains.html" target="_blank">2</a>, <b>3</b>, <a href="http://www.outdoorexperiment.com/2014/03/adventure-in-porcupine-mountains-lily.html">4</a>) <a href="http://www.outdoorexperiment.com/2014/03/adventure-in-porcupine-mountains-lily.html">next→ </a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
One of the challenges of hiking was making sure we had a steady supply of clean, fresh water so that we stayed hydrated and could keep going. We brought four stainless steel water bottles, two for each of us, on the trip. To keep our backpacks light, we replenished out empty water bottles from clear streams and lakes. We made sure to get water from streams and lakes that looked clear and clean and the water was constantly moving. Then, we sanitized the water using a Steripen, which we brought along for that purpose. Honestly, we weren't sure whether or not there were any chemicals or waste in the rivers or lakes. But we didn't get sick from the water and, for the most part, the water tasted okay. It wasn't spectacular and we could taste some iron and ... well, let's just say river water has a unique taste. Although, Lake Superior water tasted quite good.<br />
<br />
If you like this video, be sure to watch the next video in the <u>Adventure in the Porcupine Mountains</u> series, <a href="http://www.outdoorexperiment.com/2014/03/adventure-in-porcupine-mountains-lily.html">Lily Pond →</a><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xo1i4jde7Vg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="See Big Carp River on youtube.com" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rEe79xWQRHk/UxoNcWNy1VI/AAAAAAAAD_0/ErRX8UKglFM/s1600/thumbnail_carpriver.jpg" height="141" title="See Big Carp River on youtube.com" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watch it on Youtube.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Experimenting in the outdoors, hunting & bushcraft. </div>IsaiahChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15091190648627249833noreply@blogger.com0Porcupine Mountains State Park, 33303 Headquarters Rd, Ontonagon, MI 49953, USA46.759854435640094 -89.857962959521546.757134935640096 -89.8630054595215 46.762573935640091 -89.8529204595215tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6994599604055110028.post-1804659083310143172014-03-06T11:35:00.000-06:002014-03-07T16:11:02.420-06:00Lily Pond: Adventure in the Porcupine Mountains (Part 4 of 4)<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/YMfettx9tvw" width="640"></iframe>
<a href="http://www.outdoorexperiment.com/2013/01/adventure-in-porcupine-mountains-big.html">←previous</a> (<a href="http://www.outdoorexperiment.com/2014/03/adventure-in-porcupine-mountains-first.html">1</a>, <a href="http://www.outdoorexperiment.com/2014/03/adventure-in-porcupine-mountains.html">2</a>, <a href="http://www.outdoorexperiment.com/2013/01/adventure-in-porcupine-mountains-big.html">3</a>, <b>4</b>)</div>
<br />
While our adventure in the Porcupine Mountains was fantastic and we really enjoyed ourselves, the mosquitoes were overwhelmingly horrible and almost ruined the trip for us. The mosquitoes were the worst part about our backpacking trip. Even though we were hiking for hours with heavy packs and sometimes the weather was uncooperative (raining on and off with some humidity and heat thrown in), we had a lot of fun and broke up the long hikes with breaks playing in the different streams and lakes, relaxing by the waterfalls we came across. Our only complaint involves the thick hordes of mosquitoes hovering overhead, following our every move while we hiked through the forested areas of the park.<br />
<br />
We were prepared with hats, a mosquito net and an endless supply of 100% deet sprays but nothing worked. Nothing really, other than hiking as fast as we could through the heavy forested areas until we broke into a clearing. That was the only way we got any relief from the mosquitoes. It was just horrible because the hiking trails wound through large forested areas and we couldn't keep a leisurely pace or stop to rest because the whole time, mosquitoes just kept feasting on our flesh. We were constantly smacking mosquitoes off ourselves and each other. The mosquito net was pretty much useless as were the 100% deet sprays. Even the anti-itch ointment was useless with that many mosquito bites. The combination of everything, the exhaustion that came with carrying heavy packs, the constant mosquito bites, itching skin where the bites were, and having to move at such a hurried pace without much rest, was just tolling. At one point, one of us (we're not going to say who) broke down and cried. It was that bad.<br />
<br />
If you are planning on visiting the Porcupine Mountains, be
prepared for mosquitoes with either full mosquito proof clothing or
netting. We thought 100% deet would work but it didn't. It couldn't keep up
with entire days and nights outdoors. The only things that worked were being in clearings next to waterfalls, seeking shelter inside our tent and
being right next to a burning fire at night. So, we would highly recommend just going before or after the mosquito season. That way, you won't suffer as we did. That's probably going to be the most
important factor in planning our next trip to the Porkies.
By the way, Lily Pond was totally beautiful.<br />
<br />
If you liked our <u>Adventure in the Porcupine Mountains</u> series, be sure to
check out our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/colorsoluble" target="_blank">YouTube channel</a> for more information on enjoying the great outdoors!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMfettx9tvw" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Video Lily Pond" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XKgxK1YpPQ4/UxoLIMt5y4I/AAAAAAAAD_Y/dmSEJwdMkUE/s1600/thumbnail_lilypond.jpg" height="141" title="Watch Lily Pond on Youtube.com" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watch it on Youtube.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Experimenting in the outdoors, hunting & bushcraft. </div>IsaiahChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15091190648627249833noreply@blogger.com0Porcupine Mountains State Park, 33303 Headquarters Rd, Ontonagon, MI 49953, USA46.73935434371171 -89.79594271663825146.736633843711708 -89.800985216638253 46.742074843711713 -89.790900216638249tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6994599604055110028.post-41654792366892030662014-03-01T14:44:00.001-06:002014-06-30T13:02:39.956-05:00Save The Milwaukee Rivers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i>By Isa C. </i><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oQ5PLLSfpxg/UxJGKw0FwII/AAAAAAAADlU/JfU7LIkw1ns/s1600/garbagecanyuck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Garbage can yuck sticker!" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oQ5PLLSfpxg/UxJGKw0FwII/AAAAAAAADlU/JfU7LIkw1ns/s1600/garbagecanyuck.jpg" height="320" title="Garbage can yuck sticker!" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Garbage Can Yuck!</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The good news is many people have been putting a lot of time and effort into bringing the Great Lakes back to a tolerable level of natural ecological growth. The bad news is that it the battle is long from over. For more information related to the health and growth as well as the pollution of the Great Lakes, please visit
<a href="http://waterwiki.net/index.php/Welcome">http://waterwiki.net/index.php/Welcome</a><span style="color: black;"><b>.</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><b>Why Us</b></span><b>?</b><br />
<br />
We believe it is the responsibility of every human being to keep their environment clean, safe and functioning for future generations to come. Whether you believe the planet is six thousand or 4.5 billion years old, it doesn't matter to us. We are here to try to contribute to our environment in the most positive way we can. We hope that is a goal that many people share and are willing to participate in even if it means simply passing the word along. Anyone and we hope everyone can help!
Millions of people take it for granted that the earth has been able to "self repair" itself since the history of man. Although many may consider the effects of environmental issues such as global warming, air and water pollution to be "out of our control" or unimportant, we do not share that common attitude towards our earth. We firmly believe that there are a lot of ways in which literally everyone on the planet can help to set goals, contribute and maintain our natural environment as best as possible.<br />
<a name='more'></a>It may come to no surprise to you that our natural environment is quite important to our health. Many different aspects of our earth have provided for early human beings without the aid of modern technology for thousands of years. Quite simply, we cannot survive without nature. Scientists as well as patrons of the planet, normal, average or common, all observe the benefits nature has to offer us. Regardless if you appreciate using the environment for recreation or commercially, it is generally accepted that without trees, plants, air and water, we would not be able to survive.
Our environment contains basic items/elements that have and are still considered renewable resources. However, we would contend our commonly accepted elements of life are on the verge of losing their inherent ability to function as they need to provide us with life. Us, being the primary antagonists towards nature in its pristine state, would argue that it is our responsibility to make sure that this situation does not spin out of control. The most logical manner we can do this is to educate the patrons of our planet and become advocates and activists of cleaning up and protecting our environment.
This brings us to our mission of cleaning the river waters of Milwaukee, including the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinnickinnic_River_%28Milwaukee_River%29">Kinnickinnic</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menomonee_River">Menomonee</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milwaukee_River">Milwaukee</a> Rivers. The Kinnickinnic River is among one of the most polluted rivers in the United States today. This disturbs us and we feel that it is our responsibility to address this problem.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><b>How to help?</b></span><br />
<br />
There are many ways to help, including but not limited to the following suggestions. In general, they will not only help the Milwaukee Rivers but also Lake Michigan and Wisconsin water as well. <span style="color: black;"><b> </b></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black;"><b>Donate Money:</b></span> For many people <a href="http://www.milwaukeeriverkeeper.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=1">donating money</a> is the best way to help because it simply requires writing a check. <a href="http://www.milwaukeeriverkeeper.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=1">Milwaukee Riverkeeper</a> is a great organization that strives to "protect water quality and wildlife habitat in the river corridors and to
advocate for sound land use in the Milwaukee, Menomonee, and
Kinnickinnic River Watersheds." </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black;"><b>Conserve Water:</b></span> There are many ways to conserve water.
Milwaukee, specifically, has an enormous strain on water waste when it rains. Many Milwaukee residents may not realize that when it rains a lot of water needs to be drained from the streets, yards, buildings etc. This water has to go somewhere. Most of the time it's drained into the sewers. Unfortunately, this puts a lot of strain on the system. The water that we use in our toilets, showers and sink also strain the system. Although most of the time our water system is able to deal with the amount of water that is being discharged from the city, when it rains a lot the strain on the system worsens. In order for the water system to remain functioning, the city is required to dump a large amount of unfiltered/untreated sewage into Lake Michigan.
Although there are measures in place to make sure the sewage doesn't wash up on shore, it still does. Even if it doesn't, it's still contaminating large amounts of fresh water with raw sewage. I'm sure people don't want to go swimming in raw sewage, let alone eat fish or live around it. So, logically, a good way to address this problem is by making sure that every bit of water that goes down the drain counts. We suggest that during times when precipitation is in excess that Milwaukee residents literally conserve as much water as they can. This should allow the sewage system to better handle the volume of water it needs to deal with.</li>
</ul>
To learn more about how to conserve water, even if it's just making small adjustments to your everyday life, you'll make a big impact, check out <a href="http://www.wateruseitwisely.com/100-ways-to-conserve/index.php">100 Ways to Conserve Water</a></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Experimenting in the outdoors, hunting & bushcraft. </div>IsaiahChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15091190648627249833noreply@blogger.com0Milwaukee, WI, USA43.0389025 -87.90647360000002742.6676395 -88.551920600000031 43.4101655 -87.261026600000022tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6994599604055110028.post-61371608832785025542014-01-14T22:09:00.000-06:002014-03-12T09:36:00.668-05:00Winter Hiking: Wisconsin<i>By P. </i><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zhtGT3fHMRo/UtX-GSAk6bI/AAAAAAAADhs/9eXttNvocG4/s1600/WAT_0912.NEF" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zhtGT3fHMRo/UtX-GSAk6bI/AAAAAAAADhs/9eXttNvocG4/s1600/WAT_0912.NEF" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm sooo bored.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Winters in Wisconsin can be pretty cold but we still love to go winter hiking, especially our Mu. Mumu (or Mu for short) is our two-year-old multi-breed (Australian cattle dog, border collie and husky mix) puppy. Mu is very energetic and loves to be active. In the summer, we enjoy biking and running with her. But, by far, her favorite activity is hiking off-leash with us. During the winter, even long walks around the neighborhood can be difficult because of the weather. So, our poor puppy usually only gets two 15-20 minute walks a day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-03yasajExx4/UtYBQtzSkuI/AAAAAAAADiE/hf54hHqlP3Y/s1600/TOE_1376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-03yasajExx4/UtYBQtzSkuI/AAAAAAAADiE/hf54hHqlP3Y/s1600/TOE_1376.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at that big smile. She's so happy.</td></tr>
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But when we can, we love to take her winter hiking. This is a great family adventure. Not only does it make our Mu very happy (and very tired) but it also forces us to be more active in the winter.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LGvVl-r7NHA/UtYBBW-9RpI/AAAAAAAADh4/i_HObqRn3yA/s1600/TOE_1396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LGvVl-r7NHA/UtYBBW-9RpI/AAAAAAAADh4/i_HObqRn3yA/s1600/TOE_1396.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Going uphill is quite the workout!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Needless to say, with a nature/deer hunter enthusiast Papa, we learn a
lot on our hikes and we usually find an interesting thing or two as
well. On this hike, we came upon some deer beds nestled within a huddle
of pine trees. Towards the end of our hike, we discovered deer rubs on some of the young trees in the woods. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E4kM4QSptKw/UtYE95jjPII/AAAAAAAADiw/wNFSbS2jpPQ/s1600/TOE_1409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E4kM4QSptKw/UtYE95jjPII/AAAAAAAADiw/wNFSbS2jpPQ/s1600/TOE_1409.JPG" height="320" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deer Hoof Print</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0PqQqVCATpk/UtYB7_x2gDI/AAAAAAAADic/Ud7ZPKTZ-Ic/s1600/TOE_1415.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0PqQqVCATpk/UtYB7_x2gDI/AAAAAAAADic/Ud7ZPKTZ-Ic/s1600/TOE_1415.JPG" height="320" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deer Rub</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KaRf6DdWbek/UtYFs5v2WyI/AAAAAAAADi4/ZFPJF6Zuvkk/s1600/TOE_1407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KaRf6DdWbek/UtYFs5v2WyI/AAAAAAAADi4/ZFPJF6Zuvkk/s1600/TOE_1407.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deer Bed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Even after an hour long hike, our Mu is still going. When she was younger, we usually had to trick her to come to us so we could put her leash back on in order to get her in the car. She gets into the car on her own now but she's always reluctant to go home. There's just so much sniffing and digging to do in the snow!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jRrWk0gO9sk/UtYHUC-vALI/AAAAAAAADjE/jQN3283_f0Y/s1600/TOE_1412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jRrWk0gO9sk/UtYHUC-vALI/AAAAAAAADjE/jQN3283_f0Y/s1600/TOE_1412.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Experimenting in the outdoors, hunting & bushcraft. </div>IsaiahChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15091190648627249833noreply@blogger.com0Nicolet Airport, Green Bay, WI 54311, USA44.5083269 -87.86065300000001318.9862924 -129.169247 70.0303614 -46.552059000000014tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6994599604055110028.post-86783147717270450472013-05-22T20:53:00.000-05:002014-03-07T13:11:09.633-06:00The Waterfalls: Porcupine Mountains Take Two! (Day 1)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i>By P.</i><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center; width: 220px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BBUd8z-AUtU/UawAAPYZYwI/AAAAAAAAACU/4arQW-8GENU/s1600/TOE_8508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BBUd8z-AUtU/UawAAPYZYwI/AAAAAAAAACU/4arQW-8GENU/s1600/TOE_8508.JPG" height="210" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Agate Falls </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Since our first backpacking trip to the Porcupine Mountains three years ago, we've been wanting to go back (despite being eaten alive by mosquitoes). Of course, one reason or another prevented us from doing so. And now, it's three years later and we decided to just go for it and started planning our second trip.<br />
<br />
Taking a few lessons we learned from our first backpacking trip, we made a few adjustments when planning our second trip (four days and three nights of wilderness adventures!). We planned a trip early in spring, hoping to beat the start of the mosquito season (since mosquitoes ruined our first trip). Instead of backpacking the entire trip, we decided to camp and just do day hikes. Along with us this time were my two sisters and our dog Mumu.<br />
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<b>Day 1 -</b><i> May 17, 2013</i><br />
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<tr align="center"><td><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6fr4yz7NTVA/Uav841JpzpI/AAAAAAAAABo/Bw06KzxrWJM/s1600/TOE_8430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6fr4yz7NTVA/Uav841JpzpI/AAAAAAAAABo/Bw06KzxrWJM/s320/TOE_8430.JPG" height="320" width="210" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
On Bridge Overlooking Agate Falls </div>
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</tbody></table>
I loved taking rests along the mini waterfalls and rivers during our first backpacking trip. So, this time, on our way to the Porcupine Mountains, we planned a driving route to see two waterfalls along the way, which was totally worth the extra hour or so of driving. <br />
<br />
<i>First Stop: Agate Falls </i><br />
<br />
Our GPS took us on a slightly different path so we actually ended up on a bridge overlooking <a href="http://www.gowaterfalling.com/waterfalls/agate.shtml" target="_blank">Agate Falls</a> rather than down by the actual falls.<br />
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<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IvZ52Czm-jk/UeyOnMF7_NI/AAAAAAAAAF8/Ry8eqAorTIU/s1600/TOE_8440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IvZ52Czm-jk/UeyOnMF7_NI/AAAAAAAAAF8/Ry8eqAorTIU/s200/TOE_8440.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></a></td>
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<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mumu did not like being on the <br />
bridge overlooking Agate Falls. </td>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IvZ52Czm-jk/UeyOnMF7_NI/AAAAAAAAAF8/Ry8eqAorTIU/s1600/TOE_8440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"></a></td></tr>
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<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JfUYQYyEawU/Uav9nT-QPRI/AAAAAAAAABw/OvjCiyFD6AY/s1600/TOE_8470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JfUYQYyEawU/Uav9nT-QPRI/AAAAAAAAABw/OvjCiyFD6AY/s200/TOE_8470.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></a></td>
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<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking Down to Get a Closer<br />
Look at Agate Falls</td>
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<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-unMKPUKJ5Jo/Uav-htaxUXI/AAAAAAAAAB8/3W8k55ayNo8/s1600/TOE_8483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-unMKPUKJ5Jo/Uav-htaxUXI/AAAAAAAAAB8/3W8k55ayNo8/s200/TOE_8483.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mu was much more adventurous<br />
than Mama liked ...</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-unMKPUKJ5Jo/Uav-htaxUXI/AAAAAAAAAB8/3W8k55ayNo8/s1600/TOE_8483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"></a></td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>
;</td>
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<tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nwXy6aakLhE/Uav-h6VUj0I/AAAAAAAAACA/CJv_9ue85ZM/s1600/TOE_8499.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nwXy6aakLhE/Uav-h6VUj0I/AAAAAAAAACA/CJv_9ue85ZM/s200/TOE_8499.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">but she was so happy. </td>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nwXy6aakLhE/Uav-h6VUj0I/AAAAAAAAACA/CJv_9ue85ZM/s1600/TOE_8499.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"></a></td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CXbzCo6tEIE/UawALm0XAZI/AAAAAAAAACc/J1Gd1TeHjVA/s1600/TOE_8474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CXbzCo6tEIE/UawALm0XAZI/AAAAAAAAACc/J1Gd1TeHjVA/s200/TOE_8474.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Agate Falls</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CXbzCo6tEIE/UawALm0XAZI/AAAAAAAAACc/J1Gd1TeHjVA/s1600/TOE_8474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"></a></td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
<td><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QlV7hH_12j4/UawDAH0d6oI/AAAAAAAAAC4/0qVTiXmc0io/s1600/TOE_8654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QlV7hH_12j4/UawDAH0d6oI/AAAAAAAAAC4/0qVTiXmc0io/s200/TOE_8654.JPG" height="130" width="200" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wolf Print</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QlV7hH_12j4/UawDAH0d6oI/AAAAAAAAAC4/0qVTiXmc0io/s1600/TOE_8654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"></a></td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<i>Second Stop: O Kun De Kun Falls</i><br />
<br />
To reach <a href="http://www.gowaterfalling.com/waterfalls/okundekun.shtml" target="_blank">O Kun De Kun Falls</a>, we had to hike for a bit. Along the way, we found some interesting things.<br />
<br />
First
was a wood tick. These little insects like to jump onto you from nearby
leaves and other forest foliage then dig into your skin for a meal.
This specific tick is a wood tick and for the most part harmless though
some ticks spread disease and could possibly cause infections. Best to
check yourself regularly and remove them before they get a chance to
make you a meal.<br />
<br />
We heard the falls a far ways before actually reaching them.<br />
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<td width="202"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--HznhDJV_fk/Uf6x-iTXQjI/AAAAAAAADVM/Blo94K-_YIc/s1600/TOE_8592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--HznhDJV_fk/Uf6x-iTXQjI/AAAAAAAADVM/Blo94K-_YIc/s200/TOE_8592.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nature Lessons</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
<td width="335"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fdckgd06ij8/Uf6yA4o-eGI/AAAAAAAADVU/u0hQZTT_fuM/s1600/TOE_8604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fdckgd06ij8/Uf6yA4o-eGI/AAAAAAAADVU/u0hQZTT_fuM/s200/TOE_8604.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">O Kun De Kun Falls</td>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
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<td><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7nMYfYN2n4w/Uf6yFUmKgmI/AAAAAAAADVs/VqJqSqlIfQs/s1600/TOE_8629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7nMYfYN2n4w/Uf6yFUmKgmI/AAAAAAAADVs/VqJqSqlIfQs/s200/TOE_8629.JPG" height="200" width="131" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">O Kun De Kun Falls</td>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
<td><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0rLYTX3ag3k/Uf6yDxCL83I/AAAAAAAADVk/ERql39RZmxU/s1600/TOE_8620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0rLYTX3ag3k/Uf6yDxCL83I/AAAAAAAADVk/ERql39RZmxU/s200/TOE_8620.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" height="120" style="text-align: center;">O Kun De Kun Falls</td>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EyNxiyqLr_A/Uf6yCg_5v1I/AAAAAAAADVc/oXjlZPXHtKQ/s1600/TOE_8615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EyNxiyqLr_A/Uf6yCg_5v1I/AAAAAAAADVc/oXjlZPXHtKQ/s200/TOE_8615.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">O Kun De Kun Falls</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
<td><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tDwKixxU2Ww/UeyFKUgvTzI/AAAAAAAAAEM/Vls2vsNuKmE/s1600/TOE_8659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tDwKixxU2Ww/UeyFKUgvTzI/AAAAAAAAAEM/Vls2vsNuKmE/s200/TOE_8659.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Setting Up Tent </td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>Setting Up Camp </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
With a wet dog in tow, we made our way to the <a href="http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?id=74&type=SPCG" target="_blank">Union Bay Campground</a>, which is a modern campground located right along Lake Superior. It's ideal for RVs and there were yurts available as well but we found it too crowded. Okay. There were plenty of spots to pick from among the yurts and other campers but we didn't want to be around other people. We wanted to be one with nature! So, after some driving around, we ended up at the Union Bay Rustic Campgrounds.<br />
<br />
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<tbody>
<tr>
<td><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XkBW2AFrtkA/UeyFMYUKnQI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/kLYC5n5W1u8/s1600/TOE_8661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XkBW2AFrtkA/UeyFMYUKnQI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/kLYC5n5W1u8/s200/TOE_8661.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Setting Up Tents </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
<td><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-07av6BpxwFs/UeyGDnIr-lI/AAAAAAAAAEc/7vwPAQMmGyc/s1600/TOE_8660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-07av6BpxwFs/UeyGDnIr-lI/AAAAAAAAAEc/7vwPAQMmGyc/s200/TOE_8660.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mu busy exploring.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
After setting up camp, we decided to take a short hike to explore our surroundings. While the girls and Isa were setting up the tents, I started preparations for dinner.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Dinner Menu: Campbell's Chunky Classic Chicken Noodle Soup and Baked Potatoes<br />
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<tbody>
<tr>
<td><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AWV0jjkfQDA/UeyHM0Ut7MI/AAAAAAAAAEs/Rir_HUXlZmc/s1600/TOE_8662.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AWV0jjkfQDA/UeyHM0Ut7MI/AAAAAAAAAEs/Rir_HUXlZmc/s1600/TOE_8662.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Noodle Soup Boilin'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
<td><table border="0" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VQini80IMHc/UeyHPO0cmcI/AAAAAAAAAE0/eu_FXNZS1mo/s1600/TOE_8664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VQini80IMHc/UeyHPO0cmcI/AAAAAAAAAE0/eu_FXNZS1mo/s1600/TOE_8664.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taters Cookin'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
Our food theme for this trip was <i>SIMPLE </i>and<i> EASY</i>. Nothing is more simple and easy then opening a few cans of soup (three to be exact) and pouring the contents into a stainless steel pot to be heated over an open fire. Surprisingly, it didn't take more than 15 minutes for the soup to come to a boil. <br />
<br />
After washing the potatoes, I simply double wrapped each spud in aluminum foil and tossed them into the fire. While we waited for the potatoes to cook, we enjoyed the soup (Delicious! Especially after a long day of hiking.) and even had time for a quick hike to explore the area surrounding our campsite.<br />
<br />
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<tbody>
<tr></tr>
<tr>
<td><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y5f72qcBZJo/UeyLSVDSoWI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/lH4fd4u8XIk/s1600/TOE_8674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y5f72qcBZJo/UeyLSVDSoWI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/lH4fd4u8XIk/s200/TOE_8674.JPG" height="200" width="130" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We were amazed to find patches of snow in the middle of May!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
<td><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w2XdLXBt3Vg/UeyM2ttgclI/AAAAAAAAAFw/NYYV_bxrFCY/s1600/TOE_8676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w2XdLXBt3Vg/UeyM2ttgclI/AAAAAAAAAFw/NYYV_bxrFCY/s200/TOE_8676.JPG" height="130" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There are streams and little waterfalls everywhere!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
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</tbody></table>
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<td></td>
<td></td>
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After exploring the area around our camp, we came back to cooked baked potatoes! [Bring an oven mitt. It will make things much easier.] To add more flavor, we topped our potatoes with butter and Oscar Mayer Real Bacon Bits, adding a bit of salt and black pepper to season. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fXNFQeR-JIY/UeyHQ3twD2I/AAAAAAAAAFA/B5Q0KtrVHws/s1600/TOE_8710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fXNFQeR-JIY/UeyHQ3twD2I/AAAAAAAAAFA/B5Q0KtrVHws/s640/TOE_8710.JPG" height="210" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easy, Simple and Delicious!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Experimenting in the outdoors, hunting & bushcraft. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Trout Creek, MI 49967, USA46.4821663 -89.01180690000001115.793532800000001 -130.3204009 77.1707998 -47.703212900000011tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6994599604055110028.post-61750138442885760042013-01-17T14:23:00.001-06:002014-03-27T14:41:25.933-05:00What Deer See - Whitetail vs. Hunter<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R5dBXCDEITw/UxI3uPE595I/AAAAAAAADlA/mj_z8g-W-3s/s1600/What-Deer-See-Main.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="What Deer See!" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R5dBXCDEITw/UxI3uPE595I/AAAAAAAADlA/mj_z8g-W-3s/s1600/What-Deer-See-Main.jpg" height="235" title="What Deer See!" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What Deer See!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<i>By Isa C.</i><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ever
wonder what white-tailed deer see? Many times hunters overlook critical
aspects such as deer vision, causing them to be ill-prepared and
ineffective hunters. Additionally, the studies regarding deer vision in
relation to deer hunting get mentioned in popular hunter culture but
rarely is there a decent
explanation citing facts and, more importantly, not related to some sort
of consumer marketing.
</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">First,
in order to understand deer vision, we need to start with the basics.
The visible light spectrum consists of a frequency range approximately
380nm to 750nm. This frequency range can be
broken up into smaller sections. These sections of light frequency
appear
differently to our eyes. Furthermore, there are different types of
sensory cells in our eyes capable of perceiving different frequencies.
As a result, we are able to differentiate these frequencies as multiple
colors. The colors of the visible
light spectrum are violet, blue, green, yellow, orange and red (Figure
1-A).</span><br />
<br />
Humans as well as deer have two major types of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photoreceptor_cell" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">photoreceptor</a> cells in the retina of their
eyes called <b>cone cells</b> and <b>rod cells.</b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KpanUsw6zO4/Uf6k88kT3gI/AAAAAAAADLg/Bz-lX01WAzw/s1600/605px-Linear_visible_spectrum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KpanUsw6zO4/Uf6k88kT3gI/AAAAAAAADLg/Bz-lX01WAzw/s320/605px-Linear_visible_spectrum.jpg" height="60" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Figure 1-A.</b> Human Visible Light Spectrum</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<b>Cone cells</b> are responsible for color vision and are
most effective in well lit conditions. <b>Rod cells</b> are more effective in low light conditions and,
for the most part, don't allow for color vision. This is why discerning colors can be difficult when it gets dark,
even if you can still see an object. <br />
<div class="separator" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
Most humans have <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trichromatic" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">trichromatic</a> vision,
which means we have three different types of cone cells functioning in
our eyes. Each type of human cone cell is sensitive to either a red,
blue or green part of the color spectrum, giving us the ability to
perceive what we know as full color. With the exception of colorblind
individuals, most of us can see the full <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visible_light" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">visible light spectrum</a> accurately (Figure 1-A). This is where the similarities between humans and deer become few and the differences many.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cXMZoBqMSng/Uf6mlHoV4VI/AAAAAAAADRk/mguipvZGMB8/s1600/What-Deer-See.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="187"><img alt="Deer vs. Human Vision." border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cXMZoBqMSng/Uf6mlHoV4VI/AAAAAAAADRk/mguipvZGMB8/s400/What-Deer-See.gif" height="320" title="Deer vs. Human Vision." width="160" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deer vs. Human Vision.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
1.<b> Two Color Vision: </b>Deer have two types of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cone_cells" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">cone cells</a> in their eyes and function with two color vision, known as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dichromacy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">dichromatism</a>, versus humans who have three color vision. Deer can sense mostly blue and some yellow hues. For the most part, everything
in between these two hues appear only to them in terms of luminosity or as a black and
white image, also known as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grayscale" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">grayscale</a>. Because of this, we can assume deer cannot sense the colors red and
green. Since the cone cells in a deers eye are sensitive to
blue and yellow light it would be prudent to not wear clothing or have
items that have these colors on them.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fAro2YDCcmo/Uf6k94F2IvI/AAAAAAAADL8/AHphQjoCWUY/s1600/Visible+light+spectrum+Deer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Figure 1-B. Visible Light Spectrum as Seen by Deer." border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fAro2YDCcmo/Uf6k94F2IvI/AAAAAAAADL8/AHphQjoCWUY/s320/Visible+light+spectrum+Deer.jpg" height="68" title="Figure 1-B. Visible Light Spectrum as Seen by Deer." width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Figure 1-B.</b> Visible Light Spectrum As Seen by Deer.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
2. <b>Robust Night Vision: </b>Compared to humans, deer have greater amounts of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_cell" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">rod cells</a>.
These additional photoreceptor(s) allow them to see quite well in the
dark. Essentially, the more rod cell type receptors there are in the
eye, the more image data there is being sent to the brain during low
light conditions. This allows deer to effectively function and remain
active during full night conditions, making them nocturnal or <span class="st">crepuscular</span>
animals. However, rod cells don't account for color variation. So,
while deer can see well at night, they cannot differentiate between
colors (other than blue and some yellow hues) like humans can. <br />
<br />
3. <b>Ultraviolet (UV) or Infrared (IR) Light Sensory:</b> For humans, infrared and UV light passes out of our
visible light spectrum, hence the name <i>ultra</i> (<i>above</i>) violet and <i>infra</i> (<i>below</i>)<i> </i>red.
Humans can see light wavelengths form approximately 390-700nm. Just
like humans, the cone cells in a deers eye cannot perceive the color
variance in the ultraviolet or infrared spectrum (Jacobs et al., 1994).
However, unlike the rod cells in human eyes, the rod cells in deer eyes
are more sensitive to light in the ultraviolet spectrum. For this reason
it is important to consider what types of camouflage, blaze orange
clothing and flashlights you use when hunting.<b> </b><br />
<br />
In
contrast, deer eyes are not as sensitive
to the red or infrared spectrum of light. This is because the cone
cells in their eyes do not see
hues of red and their rod cells stop responding to light stimulation at,
approximately, the 600nm wavelength. Human eyes, on the other hand, are
still sensing
light until about the 700nm wavelength. This difference in light
sensitivity between human and deer eyes can be used to a hunter's
advantage. Red
light can be used to aid human vision in low light conditions without
alarming
deer. Another advantage of red light is that it allows the human eye to
stay
adjusted in the dark. Thus, a red
flashlight is invaluable while hunting. However, keep in mind that red
light will
not allow the same visual clarity as a bright white light.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4rTZN-gbDfw/Uf6lHIbncDI/AAAAAAAADOQ/ylPwGBzdf-0/s1600/BlazeDeerVission.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Blaze Orange & Camouflage: Human vs. Deer Vision." border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4rTZN-gbDfw/Uf6lHIbncDI/AAAAAAAADOQ/ylPwGBzdf-0/s400/BlazeDeerVission.jpg" height="301" title="Blaze Orange & Camouflage: Human vs. Deer Vision." width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blaze Orange & Camouflage: Human vs. Deer Vision.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
4.<b> Optical or Ultraviolet Brighteners: </b>Undoubtedly,
clothing can make a difference in how well a deer can see
you. Typically any camouflage pattern can aid in breaking up your
outline, assuming it does not contain the colors blue or yellow,
optical brighteners or reflective materials. Ultraviolet brighteners
commonly used in laundry detergents have an effect on how hunting
clothing appear to deer. For the most part, both humans and deer are
able to perceive the variation in brightness that ultraviolet
brighteners make. Marketing for popular hunting products often appeals
to knowledge that average hunters lack on this subject. See <i>Ultraviolet Brighteners and Deer Hunting </i>(Not yet posted). to learn more about this topic.<b> </b><br />
<br />
5.<b> Larger Eyes and Pupils:</b>
Deer have a larger maximum pupil diameter than humans. Deer pupils can
dilate from 3mm to 12mm. In contrast, human
pupils can only dilate an average of 7mm and a maximum of 8mm. In
essence, the more a pupil dilates, the greater the amount of light that
passes into the eye creating a brighter image. A good
comparison is the effectiveness in different types of binoculars.
Generally,
binoculars that have a larger exit pupil diameter and bigger objective
lens will allow for better clarity
during low light conditions. The same thing happens in the lens of an
eye. In this case, bigger = better.<br />
<div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h_3lc3Mg5D8/Uf6lIZ7a19I/AAAAAAAADOo/p8EKQqa2CCw/s1600/glare-eye-deer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Tapetum lucidum creating a noticeable reflection in the deer's right eye." border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h_3lc3Mg5D8/Uf6lIZ7a19I/AAAAAAAADOo/p8EKQqa2CCw/s400/glare-eye-deer.jpg" height="178" title="Tapetum lucidum creating a noticeable reflection in the deer's right eye." width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Tapetum lucidum</i> creating a noticeable reflection in the deer's right eye.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
6. <b>Reflective Tissue: </b>Deer have a
layer of tissue in their eyes that reflect light back towards the photo-receptors. This tissue layer is called <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tapetum_lucidum" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">tapetum lucidum</a></i> and
helps deer see better during low light conditions (e.g, dusk and dawn)
and makes their eyes appear to
glow when reflecting light (e.g., headlights). Many other animals have
this tissue layer as
well. Luckily for deer, shining and shooting at night is illegal in most
places. It does, however, help motorists spot deer crossing the roads
at night.<br />
<br />
7. <b>Different Lenses: </b>The
lens in
a deer's eye are optimized for different advantages. According to G. J.
D'Angelo et al. in their study of the influence of "visual
specializations" on white tail deer behavior, "Large lens causes the
optical center of the eye to be closer to the retina, which decreases
the size of the image projected onto the retina. The projection of a
smaller image increases brightness at the expense of visual acuity."<br />
<br />
In
essence, deer do not have 20/20 vision. Deer vision is likely to be
significantly less acute, comparable to a human who has maybe 20/40
vision. As anyone with glasses can tell you, discerning objects with
less <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_acuity" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">visual acuity</a> than 20/20 vision is not all
that easy. For this reason alone, it is advantageous for hunters to hold still and add camouflage to their hunting gear.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jGiW0vF-2hM/Uf6lKErVT5I/AAAAAAAADPI/cxUfbVeJqvw/s1600/eyetest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Visual Acuity Test." border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jGiW0vF-2hM/Uf6lKErVT5I/AAAAAAAADPI/cxUfbVeJqvw/s200/eyetest.jpg" height="192" title="Visual Acuity Test." width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Visual Acuity Test.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
Camouflage will help to break up a hunter's
silhouette, making it harder for a deer to spot him. In general any
camouflage that breaks up the body's silhouette or outline is worth
wearing. My top recommendations for camouflage patterns are Realtree,
MultiCam, Flecktarn (German), ARPAT and Tigerstripe. Good camouflage
also includes other forms of concealment such as a ghillie (yowie) suit
or 3-D camouflage. I prefer 3-D camouflage as it conceals the body much
better than standard camouflage clothing but is not as cumbersome and
more practical than a ghillie suit. For more information on good hunting
clothing see <i>Scientific Camouflage & Blaze Orange Research </i> (Not yet posted).<br />
<br />
Even
in plain clothes, if a hunter holds still and breaks up his silhouette
and eyes, some deer may approach within yards
of him in their line of sight without recognizing him as a threat.
However, in the same conditions, a hunter can be a 100 yards away, move
his hand and be spotted by deer. That's
because their ability to sense motion and focus on the moving object is
still quite effective, similar to T-Rex in Jurassic Park, only not as
extreme (or scary).<br />
<br />
8. <b>Eye Placement: </b>Due to
their eyes being on the sides of their heads, deer have a much wider
field of view unlike humans and most predators who have eyes on the
front of their heads. This means that deer have an approximate 280º
field
of view compared to humans who only have an approximate 120º field of
view (see Figure 1-C).
This helps deer detect motion and danger from all directions.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dGFRNoppPsw/Uf6lAdofcbI/AAAAAAAADMs/GtO0o8eguNw/s1600/field-of-view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Figure 1-C. Human vs. Deer Field of View." border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dGFRNoppPsw/Uf6lAdofcbI/AAAAAAAADMs/GtO0o8eguNw/s640/field-of-view.jpg" height="223" title="Figure 1-C. Human vs. Deer Field of View." width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Figure 1-C</b>. Human vs. Deer Field of View.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
However, because of the location of their eyes, deer
do not have binocular vision. As a result, deer see everything as
relatively flat images because they lack depth perception. This is
disadvantageous to them as precise focusing is difficult, which hunters
can take advantage of by utilizing a natural blind. For example, if a
hunter stands next to a tree or foliage, it will help break up his
outline. If he stands behind the tree or foliage, it will hide him
almost completely.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
9. <b>Different Processors: </b>Another
thing
to consider how deer process information (in this case light) compared
to humans. Needless to say, each will process the information
differently. For more on this subject, see <i>What a Predator Looks Like and Hunting Camouflage</i> (Not yet posted).<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.outdoorexperiment.com/p/hunting-main.html">← Hunting Archives</a> </span></div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u>Bibliography</u></b></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">D’Angelo, G.
J., Glasser, A., Wendt, M., Williams, G. A., Osborn, D.
A., Gallagher, G. R., Warren, R. J., Miller, K. V. & Pardue, M.
T. (2008). <a href="http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/abs/10.1139/z08-050#.UQCWOr9njmc" target="_blank">Visual specialization of an herbivore prey species, the white-tailed deer</a>. <i>Canadian Journal of Zoology,</i>86 (7), 735-743.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Dougherty, B. and Wade, A. (2008, July 4). </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Deuteranope.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> <i>Vischeck</i>.com. Retrieved January 23, 2013, from </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.vischeck.com/" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">http://www.vischeck.com/</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">Jacobs, G. H., Deegan, J. F., Neitz, J., Murphy, B. P., Miller, K. V. & Marchinton,R. L. (1994). <a href="http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2FBF00217375" target="_blank">Electrophysiological measurements of spectral mechanisms in the retinas of two cervids: white-tailed deer (<i>odocoileus virginianus</i>) and fallow deer (<i>dama dama</i>)</a><i>. Journal of Comparative Physiology A</i>, 174 (5), 551-557.</span><br />
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Experimenting in the outdoors, hunting & bushcraft. </div>IsaiahChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15091190648627249833noreply@blogger.com2W12205 Galow Dr, Brandon, WI 53919, USA43.7844397 -88.787867840.8173637 -93.841578800000008 46.7515157 -83.7341568tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6994599604055110028.post-57620869680032684562013-01-15T21:33:00.001-06:002014-03-07T14:28:36.145-06:00Before the Great Adventure in the Porcupine Mountains...<i>By P. </i><br />
<br />
When finalizing a trip, it is<b> always</b> a good idea to let at least two people know where you are going, your plans while you're away, and when to expect you home. (I say at least two people because one of them might forget.) There are a lot of crazy stuff and a lot of crazy people out in the world (and just random acts of bad luck) and it is always necessary to put your safety first.<br />
<br />
So, as we wrapped up our plans for our first great adventure to the Porcupine Mountains, we sent out a mass email to all our close family and friends, letting them know exactly what our plans were and detailed descriptions of our planned hiking route along with a map and emergency contact info in case something happened to us. Better smart and precautionary than lying in a ditch with a sprained ankle unable to climb out, gnawing on tree bark for nourishment, hoping your sister somehow realizes she hasn't spoken to you in a week and gets worried enough to drive around to your place to realize you haven't been home in a while, and maybe calls the police who will, after the 24 hour waiting period, file you as missing and maybe a while later start looking through your computer files to see what your last activity was and ... okay. I think you get the point. Main point here, just let people know where you're going so they can send out a search party if you don't make it back in a timely manner. <br />
<br />
Email Sent:<br />
<br />
Tue, Jul 20, 2010 10:31 PM<br />
<a href="http://www.mobilemaplets.com/showplace/1118" target="_blank">1 attachment (Our Map into the Wilderness of the Porcupine Mountains)</a><br />
<br />
From: P.<br />
Subject: P. & Isa's Backpacking Trip in the <a href="http://porcupinemountains.com/" target="_blank">Porcupine Mountains</a><br />
To: Our Family & Friends<br />
<br />
Hi All!<br />
<br />
We are sending you all a copy of our itinerary in case *cross your fingers* something goes down and we need rescuing. We're leaving around 12:30pm/1pm Thursday, July 22 and returning late afternoon Monday, July 26. So, if you don't hear back from us after Monday, COME LOOK FOR US! (Please feed our babies before coming though.)<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZvS9kkzh0Nk/UPYWgaxaEZI/AAAAAAAAABA/GB1AgCxBqdc/s1600/16633_1150493692096_1520234449_30380732_254653_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="rabbits" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZvS9kkzh0Nk/UPYWgaxaEZI/AAAAAAAAABA/GB1AgCxBqdc/s1600/16633_1150493692096_1520234449_30380732_254653_n.jpg" height="150" title="two rabbits" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Puppy and Lilly, the babies.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This is a schedule of the trails we'll be hiking/camping along: We'll check into the ranger station at the park headquarters and register on Thursday (around 6pm) when we get there. Then we're going to drive down and park in the trailhead parking area near Section 17. Hopefully, we'll be able to start hiking for a while before setting up camp for the night. From there, we will hike along the Little Carp River Trail to see the Overlooked Falls and the Greenstone Falls. At the end of that trail is a rustic cabin called the "Little Carp." We plan to walk along the beach of Lake Superior to do some beach combing before getting on the the Big Carp River Trail. We will hike on that trail to the Lake of the Clouds and then get onto the North Mirror Lake Trail to see Mirror Lake. From there, we continue onto the Little Carp River Trail, past Lily Pond, and, eventually, make our way back to the trailhead parking area. We plan to leave after breakfast on Monday morning and then make the five hour drive back [home]. <br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>We plan to hike about six hours a day with a big break every two hours. We'll see how that pans out but we're optimistic. We plan to take tons of pictures and make a few video blogs along the way.<br />
<br />
P.'s friend Chris (***-***-****) will be checking in on the babies while we are gone. She will be given a list of all your numbers in case she needs to reach you for whatever reason. Also, the number for the ranger station is 906-885-5275. (We like to be prepared.)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
We will have our cellphones on us and they will be turned on in case we need to be reached. There's supposed to be good reception in the state park. Isa and I will take turns having our cellphones on throughout the trip. (Isa ***-***-**** and P. ***-***-****). We also have walkie talkies in case we get separated. We've prepared and practiced for this trip. We plan to have a GREAT time and can't wait to come back and share it with everyone!<br />
<br />
Much love,<br />
<br />
P. and Isa <br />
<br />
<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Experimenting in the outdoors, hunting & bushcraft. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Porcupine Mountains, Carp Lake, MI 49953, USA46.7666137 -89.75016049999999321.2445792 -131.0587545 72.2886482 -48.441566499999993tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6994599604055110028.post-30091253128446020942012-08-02T10:55:00.000-05:002016-03-20T12:55:00.419-05:00How to Get the Smell Off Rubber BootsAnother helpful hint for hunting!<br />
<br />
<i>By Isa C</i><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0vGBbR50H30/Uf6jcga1xZI/AAAAAAAAC4c/O95VZ3EzrOw/s1600/rubber_boots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Rubber Hunting Boots Air Drying After Wash." border="0" height="265" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0vGBbR50H30/Uf6jcga1xZI/AAAAAAAAC4c/O95VZ3EzrOw/s320/rubber_boots.jpg" title="Rubber Hunting Boots Air Drying After Wash." width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rubber boots need to be washed before use!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<b>The Scenario: </b>You just bought a new pair of rubber hunting boots and you notice the factory's new fumes permeating the air around them If you're like me, your next thought would go something like this . . .
<i>"I thought rubber boots were supposed to prevent my scent from being all over everything but these boots smell like I just walked through a chemical dump site. How is this NOT going to scare a deer away?" </i><br />
<br />
I'm sure it's safe to assume that if your rubber boots smell like a chemical factory right out of the box, the deer can probably smell them too.<br />
<br />
At one point in time, I had a pair of Northerner rubber boots that were odorless. I found them in a pile of junk on the side of the road; what luck. They fit well and they literally smelled like nothing. I never thought anything of having an odorless pair of boots until I finally lost them (They were stolen.) and found myself purchasing a new pair (on sale) at the local Farm & Fleet. Had I been more prepared and on the ball, I would have sniffed the new boots before purchasing them. If I would've done that, I probably wouldn't have purchased the new boots because of its excessive new chemical stench. Afterwards, in a state of turmoil, I decided to go back to the store to see if any of the other rubber boots had the same odor. What I found was that almost every pair of rubber boots or item on the shelf smelled of factory chemicals.<br />
<br />
Now, I know many o' hunters who went hunting with a new pair of rubber boots on their feet and never once considered whether they smelled or not. General conventional knowledge dictates that "rubber boots are good for hunting" and that's usually the end thought most hunters have.<br />
<br />
As for the new boots I purchased, they came with a big stinkin' problem. <i>How</i> the hell could I expect the deer not to smell my boots? <br />
<br />
So, I started my own little experiment called, "How the hell do you get the smell off rubber boots?" I started with my basic odor removal process I use on much of my hunting equipment: distilled white vinegar, regular dish soap and, of course, baking soda. These three key "ingredients" have proven quite effective in the past; however, they were not able to remove the stench from the new rubber boots.<br />
<br />
My next step was to try something a bit stronger. So, I upgraded to rubbing alcohol, which proved to be a total waste of time and resources. I didn't want to keep dousing my boots with stronger chemicals. I was stumped. Then, I remembered my old Northerner rubber boots and had a brainstorm. Perhaps, if I weather the boots, it would help reduce the factory smell. <i>So</i>, I placed them outside underneath a deck, exposing them to rain, cold, heat, leaves, dirt and nature's other gifts. About a month later, I pulled them out only to find the smell still strong and lingering. Yet, another fail. How was I <i>ever </i>going to remove the chemical odor form my boots?<br />
<br />
<b>The Solution:</b> Finally, after much turmoil and even more buyer’s remorse, I stood defeated. I could not, for the life of me, figure out how to get the chemical odor out of my rubber boots. So, I took them, soaking wet after a long rain, and hung them out on the clothes line to dry in the sun. I forgot about them for a couple of sunshine filled days before finally bringing them inside (before the dog made a new chew toy out of them). I picked up the boots and could not smell any trace of an odor. It finally happened! I had to sniff test. I checked and sniffed and sniffed and still, no odor! Then, it dawned on me. The only thing I had done was to leave them out in full sunlight for a few days.<br />
<br />
The sun is well known for its ability to deteriorate plastics and synthetic materials, fade inks, break down and decompose many things. And, yes, it worked on my boots. Placing my boots in the hot summer sun for a few days proved to be the most effective method of removing its factory chemical odor. I tested my new found method on other rubberized/nylon packs I had and it proved to be just as effective as before. Lesson learned! A simple wash will remove some of the factory chemical smell from your rubber boots (or gear) but the sun still needs to do the rest. So, make sure to lay your boots outside in the sun, let the sun heat those babies up for a few days, maybe turn them over, and you should be all set to go.<br />
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<b>My Theory: </b>Sunlight naturally breaks down materials. Now, it may wear a little on your boots but no more than you walking in them or leaving them outside all day. Not to mention, most of the residual smell is probably not the solid rubber so much as the chemicals and left over residual particles of rubber and other chemicals lingering on your boots after they hopped off the machine in the factory. The sun breaks these residual particles down just like the rubber on your boots. Keep in mind, the rubber on your boots will last an incredibly long time but the residual particles or cause of the odor does not.<br />
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<b>Another Suggestion:</b> Keep the boots outside and away from other odors once they are clean and odor-free. When placing them in your vehicle, I recommend putting them in a deodorized bin or on top of pine tree branches/leaves in the trunk. This should help minimize them coming into contact with other odors not found at your hunting spot. Do not put them before you leave your house and then stop at a gas station on the way to your hunting spot. You might as well just leave a gasoline trail to your spot.<br />
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<b>Worth Mentioning:</b> Sunlight also kills germs and may even sterilize odor-causing bacteria (just like freezing them in a plastic bag in your freezer will do). In essence, sunlight effectively kills the bacteria, which works great for removing stinky foot odor, assuming that you don't re-introduce the smell again afterwards. However, this may be hard not to do, especially for non-breathable type rubber boots that are used for walking through marshes or farm fields.<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Experimenting in the outdoors, hunting & bushcraft. </div>IsaiahChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15091190648627249833noreply@blogger.com2W12205 Galow Dr, Brandon, WI 53919, USA43.7844397 -88.787867840.8468832 -93.841578800000008 46.7219962 -83.7341568tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6994599604055110028.post-4835856277570448592012-05-30T11:32:00.002-05:002014-03-03T10:38:35.009-06:00Wisconsin Deer Hunt: 2012 Forecast<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>By Jake Lee</i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JNq2_DcVHbg/Uf6k4m0dgOI/AAAAAAAADKo/kMuMEZaqXIE/s1600/Doe-Fawn-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Two Whitetail Deer - Southeastern Wisconsin" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JNq2_DcVHbg/Uf6k4m0dgOI/AAAAAAAADKo/kMuMEZaqXIE/s320/Doe-Fawn-1.jpg" height="222" title="Two Whitetail Deer - Southeastern Wisconsin" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two Whitetail Deer - Southeastern Wisconsin</td></tr>
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It might be a little early to start making predictions regarding Wisconsin's 2012 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White-tailed_deer" target="_blank">white-tailed deer</a> hunt but I'm so excited! I just had to write post about it. I've been thinking a lot about nature, deer and wildlife in general because I love the outdoors. I realized the other week that I've been seeing tons and tons of deer. Actually, I've been seeing an unusually large amount of deer this year. So, I'm going to go out on a limb and propose a theory as well as make a few hypotheses about the 2012 Wisconsin Deer Hunt.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><b>This past winter was incredibly mild,</b> the effects of which can be a great bonus to deer hunters. Typically a harsh winter can significantly increase the over-winter herd population. A large number of deer don't survive the winter every year. The other pertinent point is that the majority of the deer population that don't make it through the winter naturally subtracts from the yearly deer population. At some point throughout the year, Wisconsin's deer herd has a much higher population than at the end of the year. The weather ties in with this because the majority of Wisconsin's deer herd mortality rate is attributed to our over-winter months. Many people may not know this but Wisconsin's potentially harsh weather can kill more deer than hunters, car accidents and predators every year. <br />
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<b><u>My Theory</u>: </b><br />
Because the 2011 winter was so mild, it is quite likely that <b>we will see a very large spike in the 2012 deer herd population</b>.<br />
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<b><u>My Hypothesis</u>: </b><br />
How do we prove the 2012 deer population spike? Now, I may not be completely accurate with my numbers but I will attempt to verify it with some sources listed below and do my best to throw out some possibilities. It is important to remember that not all factors and circumstances can be accounted for and results always vary.<br />
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From my understanding, a healthy pregnant doe is capable of producing up to three yearlings in one year. This means that in optimum circumstances, deer can have enough yearlings every year to increase their population and, yet, by the following spring, the number could be significantly reduced. This means that a deer herd with a size of 1.5 million could possibly have much more than that and then, throughout the year, decrease to the previous population levels or even increase from year to year. Now, in a year where the weather does not get harsh and the over-winter period is rather mild, like this year, it is safe to expect an increase in the deer herd.<br />
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For me, just watching deer while driving along the highway is enough to attest to an increase. Last week, I drove from Milwaukee, WI to Minocqua, WI and counted over 50 deer in various groups and sizes as well as almost hitting two along the way as they crossed the road. I don't think I've ever seen this many deer so frequently. <br />
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I hypothesis that 2012 will yield a very large amount of deer relevant to previous years. However, it is important to remember that this does not always translate into a large harvest for hunters. Other factors like warm weather versus cold, fog, wind and rain can effect the two week deer hunting season. Also, hunting methods can also play a role. But all circumstances bearing, I think it's safe to say that we are going to have a good hunting season this year.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><u><b>Resources</b></u></span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Wisconsin Deer Population Goals - DNR Website</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://dmureview.editme.com/files/dmuref/Chapter%204.doc" target="_blank">Chapter 4 - Deer population Goals</a></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://dnr.wi.gov/wnrmag/2009/10/deer.htm" target="_blank">Wisconsin Natural Resources Magazine</a></span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Experimenting in the outdoors, hunting & bushcraft. </div>IsaiahChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15091190648627249833noreply@blogger.com0700-706 N Milwaukee St, Milwaukee, WI 53202, USA43.0389025 -87.906473642.853215999999996 -88.222330599999992 43.224589 -87.5906166