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It seems that too many hunters have developed unrealistic expectations for the whitetail woods. I blame myself, the rest of the hunting industry, the internet and outdoor programming for making it this way. People watch hunting shows on TV or online and think they should have the same success as the outdoor stars they see in videos. Are these improbable outlooks? Is it even possible for “Joe-hunter” to experience the same success on any property? Isn’t it really all about what makes you, your

It’s the peak of the chase-phase and you somehow made enough phone calls to free up your evening schedule so you could spend a few hours in your treestand. You develop a stand entrance game plan on your way to your property and execute it perfectly. As the sun sinks to touch the horizon you can sense deer moving toward you and then, out of nowhere the woods erupts with an unseen deer snorting and stomping. You cringe and possibly mumble under your breath that your position has been compromised

One of the most apparent trends in the hunting industry is the use of cellular game cameras. For the past few years, I have been using a variety of cellular cameras for scouting and as a tool to help myself improve as a hunter. I now understand why this newer tactic is often referred to as a must-have when hunting deer. Throughout the few years of using cell cameras, I can honestly say it is one of the most addicting things I have ever experienced as a hunter. When digital game cameras first hit

"Just hang on tight, and keep climbing." Those were the words my buddy said to me as he sent me up the tree ahead of him at one of his tree stand locations several decades ago. He already had screw-in steps in place for the first 25 feet up the giant oak tree. My long-legged friend had purposefully spaced the steps much too far apart to deter other hunters from climbing into his stand. It was more than my legs could reach. I had to use a pull and lunge technique to hop from step to step. The

USE PROPER GUN POSITION, LEARN WHERE TO POINT AND FIND THE BEST LEAD I never attended a dove shoot until I was a sophomore in high school. However, I started hunting doves in an abandoned area close to my neighborhood from the time I was 12 years old and received my first J.C. Higgins’ bolt-action .410 shotgun. Today there are few dove hunters but plenty of outdoorsmen who attend large field annual dove shoots. USE PROPER GUN POSITION: One dove hunter who’s excelled in taking doves on dove

HOW TO LEAD A DOVE AND HOW TO MOUNT YOUR SHOTGUN FOR DOVES WITH MARTY FISCHER Editor’s Note: Marty Fischer is a professional wingshooter, a National Sporting Clays Association Level III shooting instructor and a longtime Mossy Oak ProStaff member, is known as America’s leading gun-club designer, having designed more than 150 sporting-clay facilities. In preparation for dove season, Mossy Oak has asked Fischer to give us 10 tips for taking more doves. Tip 1: How to Lead a Dove I believe the most

1. USE THE RIGHT CHOKE Most people tend to over-choke themselves when hunting doves. They either use modified or full chokes, believing that with tighter chokes they can bag doves at greater distances -- perhaps out to 50-60 yards. However, for every bird they bag at those distances, they'll miss five or six birds out of 10 that will be at 25 yards or less. Many dove shooters believe the best all-around choke for dove hunting is the modified. I prefer 3 drams of powder with the equivalent of 1-1

Finding a place to dove hunt in September can be difficult. There are public dove fields in some areas, but on opening morning they are invariably over-crowded. If you have the funds you can join a private hunting club that caters to dove hunters, but all you really need to start shooting limits on your own land is a little time and effort, by planting a productive sunflower field you can bag your limits of birds day after day. WHAT MAKES FOR GOOD DOVE HUNTING? As settlers began clearing forest

Mourning doves are one of the most exciting and challenging of all game bird species to hunt. In many parts of the country, the dove season opener marks the beginning of the fall hunting season. Dove hunting is a family affair, a time for generations of hunters to gather in the grain fields and test themselves against the speed and aerial agility of passing birds. Unlike other native upland game birds like bobwhite quail and grouse, doves have enjoyed a marked increase in overall numbers, thanks

Over the last ten years, I have increased my fishing time annually. In the spring, I fish for striped, white, and quality largemouth and smallmouth bass with friends on the lakes. In the summer, I enjoy fishing a variety of small rivers or creeks for smallmouth bass. However, my biggest bass catches always occur while fishing small community lakes and local farm ponds. It is easy for fishermen to forget about fishing small lakes and ponds when they have a bass boat sitting in the garage, ready