Navigation

Tag Archives | Hunting

A Ghillie Suit; a Paintballer’s Most Important Piece of Equipment

By on November 2, 2013 in BAD News

Everybody knows what camouflage is, but far fewer people have seen a ghillie suit. And unless you are looking very hard, you may not see it period. Barons would hire guys to go around their lands and hunt poachers in the beginnings of the ghillie suit. They were called ghillies and would make suits from rags and frayed materials to hide themselves in the brush and wait for poachers.

Today ghillie suits are implemented for a variety of activities from the lethal art of sniping to the much less deadly game of paintballing. The materials have changed but the concept behind the covering remains the same. Even when the enemy or target comes within a really close range to them, the modern ghillie suit wearer can stay undetected and look like a pile of brush in the woods.

Ghillie suits have been associated with sharpshooting because of their uncomplicated design and effectiveness. Around the time of the conclusion of the eighteenth century the act of sniping began. To defeat and break the spirits of the opposition, rebels would shoot at enemies from hidden areas. When rifles became more exact and were efficient from more than one-hundred meters, snipers became more prevalent in the battlezone.

The way battles were carried out was changed because of the implementation of shooters. Before sharpshooters were used officers would stand with battalions and give orders during battle. Infantry warfare went from face-to-face encounters to more covered, flanking techniques as more and more commanders were assassinated. Commanders had to attempt to blend in with the common soldiers to keep from being killed. covered spots such as woods and mountains became the preferred area over open areas as sharpshooting techniques became more popular. The rules of engagement that troops in the past held onto was abandoned as more vicious and hidden tactics were implemented to fight.

To pick off high-ranking commanders and to demoralize opposing armies during WWI, all sides had ghillie suits and shooter tactics. The same design used then is basically mimiced today; suits are made from textiles that hang down and give the sharpshooter the uncanny ability to remain hidden. Whatever climate they are in, there are so many different kinds of the suit that the wearer can blend in with their terrain anywhere. A desert ghillie suit, for example, would appear a lot different than a woodlands ghillie suit.

On imperative missions the ghillie suit is still implemented for safety and cover by the modern sharpshooter. Since a shooter often works solo or with one other man the talent to remain unseen is essential for a sharpshooter’s safety. Besides the rifle, a well-crafted ghillie suit to cover the sharpshooter is a sniper’s most critical asset. A sniper’s life would be severly compromised if they didn’t have the ability to stay unseen until it was time to take the shot. The getaway after a shot was taken is just as important to a sharpshooter as the actual shot. Many times during the escape the sniper will use the camouflage of the suit to get him out safely.

0

A Few Hints for Turkey Hunters

By on October 28, 2013 in BAD News

If you are a novice or intermediate turkey hunter, you might have discovered that it’s harder than it appears. The turkey out in the wild, even with it’s name, is a difficult bird for a person to pursue and hunt. It may have a humorous name, but the turkey has a surprising intelligence level and sharp eyesight. It can take a long time for a hunter to improve the qualifications it takes to close in on and creep up on a turkey. But you can really increase your chances in turkey hunting by having the advantage with an effective camouflage. This cuts down on visibility for the turkeys and allows the hunter to get in close enough to take a shot.

For the hunter on the field, the most effective type of camouflage available is the ghillie suit, which was developed over a hundred and fifty years ago in the highlands of Scotland. It is a suit that you can place over your normal clothes to significantly alter your form and significantly lower your visibility to animals out in the wild. Strands of fabric like jute or burlap hang down all over the suit, making it extremely hard for game to spot you. This makes the human blend in to their surroundings by blending the human pattern and form. Ghillie camo can be so efficient that it is possible for game to come right up to a hunter that is being really still.

A turkey’s fine vision is bewildered when human forms are broken up with the help of a ghillie suit. In order for a person to successfully hunt a turkey, they must get within a range to have a kill shot to stop an injured turkey from running off in the forests. A person stalking the turkeys can cut this distance between themselves and a gang of turkeys by moving slowly and staying low to the ground.

It is best to try and locate turkeys in the evening as they are getting ready to roost. Stalking a turkey is extremely difficult. In fact, there’s a good possibility it’s already seen you if you spot a turkey in the field. It is hard to stalk them because they not only can see a large distance but have a broad range to their eyesight. A gang of turkeys will often face each other in circles to see all sides of the field and prevent other animals from sneaking up behind them.

Staying in a single location and waiting in a heavily populated turkey area can be a somewhat slow process that takes a lot of time being very still. And then there’s the chance that before you get an opportunity to get a good shot the gang of wary turkeys will spot you the moment you move and be on the run. It may take patience and ingenuity, but it is possible to get within range of a group of turkeys. With a good gun, a ghillie suit, and an effective turkey call you could get those turkeys once and for all.

0

disease-and-hunters

By on July 7, 2012 in BAD News, Wildlife News

Disease and Hunters

There are many possibilities for hunters to get sick. Many critics consider these aspects to be nature’s defense mechanisms towards human interference. Whatever the case may be, care must be taken when outdoors at all times to avoid these diseases and these problems. There are many precautions one can take to avoid getting sick in the great outdoors, so attention must be paid at all times to the surroundings and to the natural habitat in which the hunt is taking place. Without proper due care and attention, there is no telling as to what type of affliction can set upon a camp.

There are many diseases that are spread by mosquito. These are called “arboviral” because they are spread by arthropods. Arboviral diseases are known to produce clinical illnesses in humans that require the attention of a medical professional. Arboviral diseases transmit what are called “alphaviruses” to the patient, causing typically mild symptoms but sometimes releases harmful after-effects. Another arboviral disease that is getting a lot of air time lately is the West Nile virus. This is also spread by mosquitoes, but originates in birds. Mosquitoes feed on the birds and then spread the virus to humans by feeding on the humans, mixing the blood types. For this reason, always bring bug spray and always ensure that mosquitoes are instantly swatted or squashed as they appear.

A bacterial infection that hunters can find themselves with is brucella. Brucella is a bacterial infection that is typically spread from animal to animal as they feed on one another. As hunters kill and eat animals, there is a potential for brucella to be present. Brucella are actually bacterial organisms that are highly infectious. The food is typically the highest source of infection and the most likely area of capturing brucella infection. Fortunately, there are very few incidents of person-to-person brucella transmission but it still is possible. Standard precautions should be taken at all times in dealing with hunted meat. The kill must be cleaned and cooked properly to professional specifications. Hand washing is also a must.

Lyme disease is a common disease for outdoors-people. This is an illness that may affect joints and bones, creating a possibility of skin and nervous system problems as well. Lyme disease can affect people of all ages and is considered to be the most frequently diagnosed of the outdoor afflictions, making precautionary measures especially important. This affliction is actually caused be a bacteria that looks like a corkscrew and is transmitted by the bite of a tick. Persons with Lyme disease will likely start feeling the symptoms around seven to fourteen days after the tick bite, starting with chills and joint pain. Precautions should be taken to keep ticks off of the skin at all times.

There are many other bacterial infections that can be caught in the great outdoors. With taking the proper precautions, however, most hunters can avoid having serious incidents and can simply concentrate on the hunt. Clothing should be kept relatively light but tight fitting, making it hard for bugs to get on the skin and easy to spot the bugs. Of course, the problem with light clothing on the hunt is that it also makes the hunter more visible to the animals. Compromises can be reached, however, and there are those that suggest the risk of disease is far too great to take a chance on not being prepared.

Regardless of the point of view, there are numerous afflictions in nature that should be avoided and considered when hunting. It may well be nature’s way of protecting itself, but these afflictions and diseases can spread from the hunter to the family members, making for a dangerous situation. When planning any kind of trip to the outdoors, research the area of travel and find out all there is to know about the possibilities for diseases and afflictions in that area.

 

0

turkey-hunting

By on May 19, 2012 in BAD News, Turkey, Wildlife News

Turkey Hunting

One of the most popular ways to hunt turkeys is with a bow and arrow. It is a tradition in North America, apparently, that relies on turkey calling and making the perfect shot. There are many agencies and organizations in place to both put a stop to turkey hunting and to support the tradition of turkey hunting. Like most warring factions, these two groups will stop at nothing to try to prevent the overtaking of their ideals. One cannot typically pick a side on an issue, however, without knowing the issue itself. It is important, therefore, to get as much of a foundation in the information on turkey hunting as possible to guide an informed decision.

Turkey hunting is all about luring the birds out into the open and plugging them with a bow and arrow or with a shotgun shell. Many people prefer the bow and arrow because it adds a great deal of tradition to the hunt, almost justifying it. The first notion of turkey hunting is finding a turkey roost. These are generally easy to find, though, because the roost is within a controlled environment in North America for the most part. Wild turkeys are also quite easy to find because they gather together in large groups. The idea is to not get too close to the roost of the turkey. It is recommended that the hunter stays about one hundred to two hundred yards away from the roost, leaving ample room to fire and to get set when the turkeys come running.

The next focus of the turkey hunt is to get the turkeys out of the roost, of course. For this, the hunter must begin a series of embarrassing but effective turkey calls. These consist of an array of clucks, clicks, whistles and hoots. It is important not to confuse the call of an owl or of another bird with a turkey call, lest the hunter is set upon by various predatory birds and the hunt becomes a lot less enjoyable. When turkey calling from a location, start with a series of clucks and yelps. If there is no return cluck or yelp from a live turkey, increase the sound volume and get more aggressive. This will make turkeys think that a turkey nearby is either aggressively approaching or is challenging territory. Eventually, a turkey should come out of the roost.

When this happens, it is a good idea to set the sight of the shotgun or the bow and arrow on the target. Prepare and continue calling the turkey, as this will draw them closer to the range of fire. If the turkey will not approach a suitable range, try to use very soft purrs or clucks. As always, watch out for the other predatory birds or cats that may latch on to the use of this sound. The clucks and purrs should, theoretically, entice the bird out and closer to the range of fire for the hunter. Turkeys can be stubborn at times and incredibly stupid at other times. They really do not have much of a distinction between knowing human calls and knowing actual turkey calls.

Nonetheless, the shot must be taken when the bird is close in range. The hunter should release the intellectual grasp on the clucking and purring for long enough to release an arrow or squeeze off a shot. The follow-through is important as the sound will likely send more turkeys scattering away or in all sorts of directions. The birds quickly will become disoriented, so it is important to remember to spot the kill and mark it before continuing. Resist the temptation to try to pick off another one of the scattering birds, as this may lead to a never-ending cycle of killing running turkeys without the freezer space to accommodate.

A turkey hunt typically results in a bird for Thanksgiving or Christmas. There are many countries and states, however, that do not allow wild turkey hunting anymore. The hunter is responsible for checking on local regulations before participating in any turkey hunt and learning the laws of the land in which they are prepared to cluck and purr.

 

0