Getting Fired Up

The heat of the summer is upon us in full force, but the heat of the predator hunting season is just about to start up! Now is a good time to look over your gear and make sure everything is in good working order - check the reeds on your hand calls, the batteries in your e-caller, the fit of your camo, and the zero of your rifle! In addition to going over your gear, it's also time to brush up on those skills that may have been collecting dust over the last few months.

First you'll need to practice those "rabbit eyes." Like most skills this is one that you can use for other things in your life, and that you should be utilizing everyday. But if you've gotten a little out of practice, a drive around your neighborhood at dawn or dusk, or a drive down a country road, can help you to revitalize your ability to spot movement and quickly identify the source behind it.

Next up on the list is your ability to sit still. Summer time finds us active and enjoying the outdoors, so sitting still is generally not something many of us do. But with hundreds of predator calling stands waiting for us in the coming months, it's time to remember how to go unnoticed. Take some time during the week, or everyday if possible, to sit by yourself and allow your body to relax. Now practice the movements you need to make on stand, whether manipulating a hand call, pushing buttons on an e-caller remote, or raising your rifle and getting a good cheek weld. Practice being swift and efficient, and minimizing the waste of movements.

Now it's time to work with those sounds that bring the predators running! Get back in tune with your hand calls by practicing the different sounds you plan to use (try not to drive your spouse crazy!). Check your reeds for wear or damage and replace them if necessary. If you are using an e-caller then it's time to make sure that the sounds you have loaded are the ones you will want to start the season with, and that your batteries are charged up and ready to go. You don't want to start the season and discover that your e-caller needs service by the manufacturer - find out now so that you'll be able to use your caller when you want to hunt, and not be waiting for UPS to bring it back.

If you haven't hit the range in a while, then now's the time! The sun shines longer this time of year so get out early or later in the day when the temperatures are cooler and you can schedule some trigger time around your job hours. Once you verify zero, practice shooting from different positions, and practice mounting your rifle quickly and shooting as fast as you can get on target. You should even spend some time shooting off-hand, as well as shooting from your support side. Check the patterning of your shotgun if you've changed your load or your choke, and make sure that all of your firearms are cleaned and functioning properly.

Think about the lessons that you learned from last season, how you plan to apply the new knowledge that you have, and some of the areas that you'd like to start hunting first. If this is your first season hunting predators then make sure you have gathered as much information as you can by reading books, watching good videos, talking with other hunters, and attending any local hunting club functions. But above all, get out there and get some experience!

Now is the time to plan out your season. Where would you like to hunt? Who would you like to hunt with? Do you have a specific goal in mind for this year? For example, if you haven't called in or killed a fox yet then you need to find out what sounds the fox you will be hunting respond to. Scout new terrain, set up some test stands, and map out other possible approaches or stand locations in the area. This is where keeping a small notebook handy can really help you get started when you are hunting a new area or a new species.

The most important thing is to remember to enjoy the time you have in the outdoors, whether scouting, hunting, or hiking back to the truck empty-handed. Best of luck to you this season, and please take a kid out hunting with you!


A young, late-summer coyote that came into the call back in 2007.

The most AWESOME pen that you'll ever own

I like to keep my blog as related to predator hunting as much as I possibly can. No politics, no current events, no religion. I'm going to stray from that a little today and tell you about an excellent gift that my broher-in-law sent both my father and I. It's a bullet pen made from two .308 cases, made by Junior's Bullet Pens.

But this isn't just any bullet pen - it has a fantastic and heartwarming story behind it, not to mention that it is very well-made with lots of originality. No parent should ever have to bury their son; however I believe that the greatest love a parent can give is not to spend the rest of their life mourning, but to remember and honor their son through their actions.

You can read more about SSG Falkel HERE and also read his Silvar Star citation HERE.
Spend $17 and purchase one of the most awesome pens that you'll ever own - give a few dollars to recognize the great sacrifice that this soldier made. Plus, 25% of each pen sold goes to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, which provides scholarships to children of fallen soldiers.