New! check out John Beath's halibut fishing site.

Hunter Ethics 101

Regardless of what weapon you use, rifle, bow or muzzleloader, always practice before season and only take shots within your range.

Wait before pursuing the animal. With a bow wait 1 hour.

Mark the spot where you last saw the animal and where it was shot.

Don’t destroy the signs by having to many people stomp over the clues.

Difficult trails require marks with surveyors tape. By placing tape at the level where the blood is found, you can determine many things including; type of hit, location of hit and the direction the animal is most likely to travel.

When you loose the trail, crouch down and look back, to the bread-crumb trail of surveyors tape you left behind. Often times you can see patterns of travel to determine the most likely direction to pick up the trail again.

If you don’t find the trail, carefully criss-cross the trail, first starting at 180 degrees and then working out to a 360 degree circle.

Also stop, sit down facing the direction of travel and listen and look for clues.

Noisy blue jays or crows will often give away the downed animal’s location. Also look for other signs including broken spider webs and small swarms of insects or bees.

Look under leaves for blood and never give up on a trail. Always be prepared.

Tracking/Survival Kit

Compass

Wind proof lighter & waterproof matches

Fire starter (commercial product Esbit tablets or a candle)

Mini stove (MPI markets the Esbit, a super small, inexpensive compact stove.

Metal cup

Water and purifying tablets

Knife

Two survival blankets

Twine (at least 20 feet)

Signal mirror

Flashlight and Trophy Torchestm to mark the trail

First aid kit or prescription drugs

Garbage bag

Surveyor’s tape

High protein bars

Topo map of the area

Whistle

Toilet paper – never leave home without it!