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The best deer hunting rifle

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7 Must-Haves You Cannot Forget on Your Next Hunting Excursion

If you’re looking for the things that will take your hunting to the next level, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve found the 7 must-haves you cannot forget on your next hunting excursion.

How We Chose Our Gadgets

We won’t take too much of your time explaining how we found the gear we’re reviewing. Just know that we did a lot of research and took the advice of experienced hunters who had used the items extensively in the field. Without further ado, here are the 7 must-haves you cannot forget on your next hunting excursion.

Tactical RUSH72 Backpack

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The RUSH72 is more than just a backpack. It was designed to hold at least 72 hours-worth of supplies and equipment, with pouches and compartments created with hunters and campers in mind.

The front compartment is fleece-lined to protect your valuable documents, as well as your phone or other electronic devices. The main body of the bag has mesh storage compartments with zipper and elastic closures, allowing you to keep your supplies organized and easy to reach.

Between the front compartment and the main body of the bag is an expandable compartment that’s big enough to stow a jacket, blanket, or helmet. A rear hydration compartment features hose ports and routing so you can stay hydrated on the go.

The Tactical RUSH72 backpack is the highest-rated hunting pack on Amazon. Hunters, campers, and outdoorsmen rave about the size and durability of the pack, and the comfort of the shoulder and waist straps. The backpack has made it through baggage handlers, survival training, cross-country motorcycle trips, and more.

RUSH makes other sizes of tactical backpacks as well if you need something smaller. The RUSH24 has the same features, but with the capacity for shorter trips. If you’re a serious hunter, though, the RUSH72 is the perfect pack for you.

Garmin Xero A1

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The Xero A1 is an auto-ranging, digital, laser bow sight from Garmin. A quiet, single-button trigger allows you to range targets at rest or full draw. The laser rangefinder automatically measures the distance to a target, adjusting for the angle. The sight then projects a virtual LED pin over the target that’s only visible to you.

The LED pin adjusts its brightness depending on the ambient lighting. You can customize the settings to allow multiple pins to be placed at a time, or to place the pins yourself manually. The size of the pins is adjustable as well.

The version we reviewed is for right-handed hunters, but there are lefty and ambidextrous versions as well. The laser sight mounts directly to your bow, so you don’t have to mess around with your rangefinder one-handed.  It uses two lithium AAA batteries, which aren’t included, and has a battery life of one year.

Some states or parks have restrictions on using automatic rangefinders while bowhunting, so you should check the regulations in the state in which you’re planning to hunt.

Xplat Reloading and Ballistic App

Xplat developed an app for Android phones that gives you all the ballistics information you could possibly need at a very low price. The app is designed to work with hand-loading ammunition, providing an archived data bank that can determine the velocity, sectional density, ballistic co-efficiency, and trajectory of your cartridges.

Using the powder charge, bullet weight, and other details about your ammo, the Xplat app can tell you the maximum range limits on specific animals based on their size and can help you hit your target by knowing the drop and wind drift.

You can buy single-purpose handheld devices or books that give you the same information, but they’ll cost you ten times as much as this app, plus you’ll need to pack an extra device. With the Xplat app on your phone, you don’t need to worry about carrying the extra weight.

There is both a lite version and a pro version of the app. The pro version comes pre-loaded with the data entered by other users, making it even easier for you to find the exact information you’re looking for.

ThermaCELL Portable Mosquito Repeller

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Mosquitos and other biting insects are the banes of any outdoor excursion. ThermaCELL’s lightweight, portable mosquito repeller keeps the insects at bay without alerting your game to your presence with telltale smells of something unnatural in the field.

Odorless butane gas cartridges heat a repellent pad, which is available in scentless and natural earth scented varieties. The device creates a 15-foot protection zone around you or your blind. Each fuel cartridge lasts for 12 hours, and the scent pads each last four.

When you buy the ThermaCELL, you’ll receive three free scentless repellent pad refills in addition to the fuel cartridge. You can purchase refill packs at extremely reasonable prices.

The device can be mounted to a tree or blind, or clipped on to your pack or jacket. They’re available in a variety of colors and patterns to match your camo or environment.

The ThermaCELL device is one of the most highly-rated mosquito repellers on Amazon. Customers confirm that the repellent pads don’t spook deer or other animals, while still keeping the area mosquito-free. It works very quickly, and though it does heat up a bit, it wasn’t enough to cause discomfort. Many customers described it as the best invention ever.

Burris Eliminator

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The Burris Eliminator is a professional-grade rifle laser scope by one of the most trusted names in the business. It takes all of the guesswork out of aiming and ballistics.

The scope has a rangefinder and ballistic calculator built-in. You can preprogram it with the information for your rifle and ammunition to get precise information. The targeting information compensates for wind speed and direction for the highest level of accuracy possible.

The lightweight design of the scope won’t add any bulk to your rifle at only 1.8 pounds. One press of the button projects a virtual red dot within the scope. All you have to do is move the dot over the target and squeeze the trigger—the scope has already made all the necessary adjustments.

Customers rave about how easy the Eliminator is to set up and use. Even an ex-Special Forces Sniper Instructor was pleased with the accuracy and found it much more convenient and precise than anything he’d used before.

Firefly Wind Detector

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The Firefly is the most advanced and accurate hand-held wind detector, which is why so many hunters know the brand name.

This handy little device can detect air movements so slight they’re undetectable by human senses, down to one inch per second. It’s capable of sampling over 512 readings per second and will report its findings in three seconds. The Firefly weighs less than three ounces, even with batteries, and is only four inches tall.

Despite the small size, the Firefly is durable enough to operate in temperatures between -35 degrees and 110 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s worth the investment. The batteries will last up to 500 uses.

The model we reviewed came in a camo pattern that will keep it from drawing attention, no matter how close your game is. You can activate the Firefly with just a single button-press, minimizing your movements. Happy customers reported that the Firefly works great and couldn’t be any easier to use.

Ozonics Scent Eliminator

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Last but certainly not least, the Ozonics Scent Eliminator is one of the most essential gadgets this hunting season.

This little machine converts oxygen molecules to ozone and then projects those molecules downwind. When they bind with scent molecules, they completely erase any smell you put off to the surrounding animals.

The Ozonics comes with a mount, so you can attach it to the tree or roof of your blind, or set it on the ground. It only weighs 1.6 ounces, so it won’t weigh down your pack or destabilize your blind. Both the switches and the machine itself are virtually silent, and the 12-volt rechargeable battery can last up to five hours.

Customers were shocked by how well the Ozonics machine works. There were many anecdotes about deer and other game coming within a few feet of the hunter without detecting his scent. There were even pictures of victorious hunters with their trophies to prove it!

Conclusion

While some hunters still prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, there’s no reason not to take advantage of these gadgets. All of the gear we reviewed was designed for hunters, by hunters. Giving yourself an extra edge over your prey is well worth the cost.

While we only reviewed one specific model of each gadget on our list, most of them come in multiple styles at different price points. You can choose the version that fits your needs and budget.

Now that you know the 7 must-haves you cannot forget on your next hunting excursion, there’s nothing stopping you from having a successful hunt!

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5 Tips to Maximize Your Success This Hunting Season – Learn From The Expert

Whether you’re a newbie hunter, or you’re just looking to brush up on your skills, we’ve got everything you need in our 5 tips to maximize your success this hunting season.

Bring the Right Gear.

The gear you need to bring with you will be dependent on the type of game you’re hunting, and the location and time of year. Packing the right kit is essential to maximize your success this hunting season.

Standard Gear

There are some items you should bring with you regardless of when, where, or what you’re hunting.

• A safety orange hunting vest to keep you from being accidentally shot by another hunter.
• A headlamp allows you to stay out into the evening, and some versions use dim lights to avoid being noticed by animals.
• Even if you only plan to be out a couple of hours, you should pack food and water. A reusable water bottle is both environmentally friendly and quieter than cheap disposable plastic bottles. Power bars make a great, portable snack that will give you enough energy to make it through the hunt.
• A battery pack that can charge your GPS, cell phone, and car battery should be another standard piece of kit you bring on hunting trips.
• A good set of binoculars will help you spot hidden game from further away, reducing the chance of them seeing you first.
• If you’re going to field-dress the animal, you’ll need a rope and at least one knife (though many veteran hunters recommend bringing two).

Deer/Autumn/Winter Hunting Gear

For cold-weather hunting, you’ll need gear that will keep you from freezing to death.

• Warm camouflage clothing and thick warm socks will be your best defense against the cold.
• High-quality waterproof boots are mandatory, even if you don’t plan on walking through water. You never know when the weather might change and you get caught in a rainstorm.
• A facemask and gloves will protect you from the cold, and you can get them in camouflage patterns to help you stay hidden.
• Scent elimination spray will help you mask your smell from scaring off the deer. Experienced hunters recommend spraying yourself and your blind every couple of hours.

Spring/Summer Hunting

If your region has game hunting seasons in the spring or summer, your gear list will be a little different.

• Sunscreen is a must, even if you don’t typically get sunburns.
• A lightweight poncho or rain jacket will protect you from sporadic spring rains, and there are many versions designed to compress into a tiny pouch for easy packing.
• An ample supply of insect repellant is the only way you’ll stay sane in the woods, especially if you’re out past dark or overnight.

Physically and Mentally Prepare Yourself.

Hunting involves much more than standing in one place and firing a gun. Hunters often hike for miles through the woods while tracking an animal or finding a good blind spot. Before you go out on your hunt, work on your walking endurance by taking hikes or running on a treadmill. If you can hike in the same area you’ll be hunting in, that will build your endurance and get you used to the terrain.

Physical Preparations

If you’re hunting medium or large game like deer or elk, you have to prepare to carry that animal out of the woods and back to your vehicle. Lifting weights are one way to increase your carrying strength, or you can do bodyweight exercises like pushups.

If you’re traveling into the wilderness to hunt, you’ll need to do a lot more to prepare yourself. For instance, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game recommends that you begin a physical conditioning program at least four to six months before your hunt.

Hunting in a place like Alaska typically requires you to be able to carry a pack weighing ¼ of your body weight, plus the weight of your kill. You’ll need to be able to carry this stuff up and down mountains, through extremely rough terrain, and possibly even through streams or rivers. It could storm or snow, areas could flood, or sections of the trail could be washed out.

Mental Preparations

In addition to the physical demands of hunting, you need to prepare for the psychological strain you could face out on your hunt. Even if you’re only traveling a couple of miles from your home, if you’ve never hunted or killed before, you can’t be sure how you’ll react.

You’ll also need to prepare for the possibility that you’ll miss your shots—a lot. How will you react if you’ve spent several days tracking an animal, then when you finally have it in your sights, your bullet or arrow misses the mark? A successful hunter will shrug off the disappointment and keep going.

The mental fortitude needed to survive a wilderness hunt, particularly in rough weather, can’t be overstated. What will you do if you’re trapped in your tent for several days by a blizzard or torrential downpour? Do you have the willpower to keep going after walking for miles and miles in cold temperatures and driving winds?

Choose Your Weapon Wisely.

It’s crucial that you choose the right weapon and ammunition for the type of game you’re hunting. If you’re going out with more experienced hunters, follow their lead and use whatever arms they suggest. If you’re hunting alone or with fellow newbies, do some research to find out what works best for the hunt you’re going on.

Game Size and Type

A smaller game requires smaller ammo, for the most part. The speed and habitat of the animal will also affect the type of weapon you should use. A .22-gauge rifle or even a powerful air gun can be used on small game, and won’t destroy the meat by filling it with lead or blowing it to pieces.

Hunting Style

If you’re hunting from a blind or tree stand, you might want to choose a weapon that allows you to hit your target from far away. You’ll also need something that packs a big enough punch to take the animal down in one shot, so you don’t have to climb down and chase after it. A medium to large caliber rifle should do the trick.

If you’re hunting from close range or firing into shrubs or trees, you’ll want a short-range weapon or one that shoots in a spread like a shotgun.

Skill Level

Bowhunting is popular with outdoorsmen and hunting enthusiasts, but it requires a lot of skill. If you’re a first-time hunter, you probably won’t want to use a bow unless you’ve trained in archery before.

There are also hunting handguns, which are more powerful than self-defense handguns. They require a lot of practice and skill to use accurately, though.

Overall Best Choice

If you want something versatile, that you can use for multiple types of the game without spending a ton of time training on it, a hunting rifle is your best bet. Bolt-action rifles are great for beginners, and you can find ammo and accessories for them in any hunting or sporting goods store.

Be Quiet.

You’ll never catch anything if you scare the animals away by crashing through the woods. There are specific techniques for walking quietly through different types of terrain without alerting game to your presence.

Practice standing absolutely still for long periods of time—at least five minutes. If you accidentally make a loud noise during your hunt, you’ll want to stop everything and wait several minutes while standing as still as possible. A lot of game has poor eyesight, so even if your noise alerts them, they may not be able to see if you if you stand still.

Take short, light steps when you’re walking through dead leaves or thick underbrush. If you’re in a hurry, such as when you’re chasing down an animal, sprint for 10-20 yards at a time, taking those light steps, and pause for a few seconds in between sprints.

Use Your Tracking Skills.

Scouting can make all the difference. If you’re able to scope out the area ahead of time, it could provide useful information about where the animals gather. If you can’t spend time scouting, you should at least research the location and look for scouting tips from other hunters who have been there.

If you’re planning on stalking your game, rather than using a blind or stand, some simple tracking skills will serve you well. Learn how to determine how fresh an animal’s tracks are, and what other signs to look for.

When you find fresh tracks, move cautiously. Animals are always aware of their back trail, so they’ll be looking, smelling, and listening to what’s behind them. Move slowly, with frequent pauses so that they won’t see or hear you, and stay downwind.

Whether you’re stalking, driving, or hunting from a blind, you need to watch the animal for as long as possible before taking your shot. Learn how the animal moves and try to anticipate where and how fast it’ll be moving. Don’t just shoot where the animal currently is; shoot where it will be.

We hope our 5 tips to maximize your success this hunting season help you get out there and start hunting!

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How to Make a Laser – Assisted Blowgun An Effective Weapon and Hunting Tool

It is hard to track when and where blowguns actually originated but historians believe that it was already used by primitive tribes during the old times to hunt small animals and to protect themselves from bigger wild animals. It is a good weapon for hunting small games like birds and rabbits because it is silent and will not alert your target. Many types of blowguns can be purchased in the market but you can also make your own for a cheaper price. You can even make a laser-assisted one which gives both power and accuracy. Making your own laser-assisted blowgun is quite easy and the materials you will need can be found in your household. Do you want to try and make your own laser-assisted blowgun? Let me help you with that. In this article I have made easy step by step instructions on how to make a laser-assisted blowgun. But before we proceed let us first know some basics.

What is a laser-assisted blowgun?

A blowgun is a simple ranged weapon which consists of a pipe and a projectile like darts, seeds, or pellets. It works by putting the projectile inside the pipe and blowing into it. How powerful your blowgun can be will depend on the strength of your respiratory muscles and the vital capacity of your lungs. For the laser-assisted blowgun, you will just need to attach a laser into your pipe that will point to your target so that you will fire with more accuracy.What is a laser-assisted blowgun?

The basic parts of a laser-assisted blowgun

Knowing the basic parts of your blowgun will make it easier for you to understand how to make a laser-assisted blowgun. Here are the parts and some simple descriptions.

Pipe

This is the main body of your blowgun where your projectile will go into and out. In the ancient times, it is usually made of bamboo, wood, or cane but now, you can also make it using a PVC pipe. When using bamboo or cane, the wood is heated and carefully bent to straighten them while for the woods which are not hollow inside, they are cut in half, carved a hole inside, and then put back together. Blowgun pipes’ length may vary but longer ones tend to propel your projectile faster.

Projectile

This is your blowgun’s “ammunition”. It can be darts, seeds, pellets, or other materials depending on what you will use it for. Smaller darts tend to propel faster and are easier to shoot while longer ones tend to penetrate deeper and do more damage.

Laser

This serves as the pointer of your blowgun which will help you in shooting your target with accuracy. For the laser that you will use in making your laser-assisted blowgun, you can purchase one from an office supplies store. You may also use one with a flashlight so that you can also use it in the dark.

Quiver

This is where you will keep your blowgun’s projectile. It is attached to your pipe so that it can be easily accessed.

How to make a laser-assisted blowgun?

Before we proceed on the steps on how to make a laser-assisted blowgun, here are some materials that you may need:

• PVC pipe/bamboo/cane/any straight, hollow wood

• Laser pointer

• Nails

• Glue gun

• Screw

• Scissors

• Saw

• Party hat or any cone

• Electric tape

• Duct tapes with designs

• Foam pipe insulation

• Paper

• Reducing coupling

Step 1. Prepare the pipe

Take a PVC pipe with a half inch diameter and cut it to a length that is comfortable for you to carry. Make sure that it is not too long that it will bend because this will affect the route and trajectory of your projectile. Next, get a reducing coupling with a smaller side that is fit to your pipe and attach it to your pipe. Tighten the attachment to secure it down by hammering it down. this will serve as the “mouthpiece” of your blowgun. For a great finish, you may design your pipe by using a decorative duct tape. Just cut a length the same as your pipe, lay the non-sticky side on the table, then place your pipe into the sticky side of the tape and roll the pipe into the tape. Secure the tape by pressing them with your fingers. You may also use paint to design your pipe.

Step 2. Make the darts

For the darts, you may use a party hat or any cone as a shape-reference. Wrap the paper in the party hat making a cone shape and secure it with tape. Cut the cone into a size that will fit into your pipe. Next, insert a nail or a screw through your cone. For the nail, the head must be inside the cone while for the screw, it should be outside since its purpose is for glass breaking. Also, you may use long or short nails depending on your purpose. Secure the nail or screw in the paper cone by applying glue inside using a glue gun. You now have two different types of darts.

Step 3. Create the quiver

For your quiver, you may use a foam pipe insulation that fits your pipe. Cut the foam crosswise to around three fourth of an inch thick. Make two of these doughnut-shaped rings. Next cover the outside part with electric tape to add to its durability. Bore holes on one of the rings using a hot nail. It’s up to you how many holes you want to make. Just make sure that there is enough space between them so that the foam will be able to hold the darts when they are placed.

Step 4. Attach the quiver

Attach the quiver by inserting the two rings into the pipe. Place them a bit more inclined to the side of your mouthpiece and make sure that the one with holes is on top of the other ring in reference to your mouthpiece. Place them around half of an inch away from each other. Lastly, put your darts in your quiver by inserting them into the hole and pinning them into the foam below to secure.

Step 5. Attach the laser

Using a hot glue, attach the laser on top of your pipe placing it slightly closer to the opposite end of the mouthpiece. Make sure that the laser is pointing away from the mouthpiece and it is aligned well with your pipe to ensure accuracy. Next, fasten the laser with plastic zips to make sure that it is steady. You may also use electric tape but remember not to cover the switch. Also take into consideration that your laser may ran out of battery after some time so attach it in such a way that you can easily change its battery.

Conclusion

A blowgun can be a good and effective instrument for hunting small game animals and attaching a laser to it is a good way to greatly improve its accuracy. Although blowguns can easily be purchased in the market, it can also be a good decision to make your own because it is cheaper and it is just very easy to make. To add to that, looking at your own piece of work can be very rewarding especially if it is well-made. So why not try? In this article, I have written steps on how to make a laser-assisted blowgun to guide you. I hope this helps!

Did you like this article? If so, please leave a comment below and share this with your friends. Thank you for reading!

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