A bright patch of exposed wood on a sapling can be one of the most noticeable signs in deer country. But what is a deer rub, and what can it really tell you? A deer rub is bark damage made when an antlered deer presses and works its antlers and forehead against a tree, shrub, … Read more
If a taxidermist asks whether you saved the cape, they are not talking about a piece of hunting clothing. In taxidermy, a deer cape is the skin and hair preserved from the front portion of a deer for use on a shoulder or pedestal mount. It normally includes the hide from well behind the shoulders … Read more
What is a deer bedding area? It is a place where one or more deer regularly lie down to rest, ruminate, conserve energy, avoid disturbance, and monitor their surroundings. A bedding area may be a small patch of thick cover, a broad hillside, a marsh island, a brushy field, or another secure part of the … Read more
If you have seen a special hunt listing and wondered, what is a controlled hunt? A controlled hunt is a hunting opportunity in which a wildlife agency or land manager limits participation or places special controls on the hunt. Limits may apply to the number of tags, hunters, dates, locations, species, sex or age class, … Read more
If you are comparing elevated hunting setups, you may wonder, what is a climbing stand? A climbing stand, also called a climbing tree stand or climber, is a portable two-piece tree stand that a hunter uses to move up and down a suitable tree trunk. The lower section supports the feet, while the upper section … Read more
If you are new to hunting property, you may ask, what is a box blind? A box blind is an enclosed hunting shelter with rigid or semi-rigid walls, a roof, a floor, and shooting or viewing windows. It may sit directly on the ground or on a purpose-built tower, and hunters commonly use it to … Read more
A rain suit that stays buried in the truck because it is too bulky cannot help when a ridge disappears behind gray weather. The opposite mistake is just as common: packing the lightest disposable-feeling shell, then pushing it through briars until a snag turns weather protection into wet insulation. The best lightweight hunting rain suits … Read more
If you are new to upland or waterfowl hunting, you may wonder, what is a bird dog? A bird dog is a dog bred or trained to help locate game birds and, depending on its role, point, flush, track, or retrieve them. The term describes a working purpose rather than one specific breed. Pointing dogs, … Read more
If you are studying a topographic map or listening to experienced mountain hunters, you may wonder, what is a bench in deer hunting? A bench is a relatively flat or gently sloping strip of ground on the side of a steeper hill, ridge, or mountain. It resembles a step in the terrain, with a steeper … Read more
If you are planning a mountain trip, backcountry hunt, or multi-day outdoor project, you may ask, what is a base camp? A base camp is a main temporary camp that serves as the group’s operational hub. People sleep, store permitted supplies, communicate, recover, and begin shorter trips from that location before returning. A base camp … Read more