How to Get Rid of Fleas When Skinning Coyotes and Other Furbearers

Whether you’re a novice trying to skin your first coyote or a seasoned expert, there are always new methods to learn when it comes to fur handling. There are usually several ways to reach the common end goal of a clean, well-groomed skin at maximum potential. But before even considering actual skinning and fleshing methods, there is often one obstacle that needs conquering.

Many furbearers like foxes, coyotes, lynx, and bobcats are sometimes infested with fleas. It’s not the most appealing thing to part the fur and find it crawling with these jumping parasites. And you definitely do not want to get them yourself. I “picked up” a few off of a lynx once. Fortunately, and because I didn’t have any pets, they died off in a few days. Most fleas found on furbearers cannot survive on human blood, but even a couple can still chew you up pretty good, and I had the paranoid itch for quite a while. You want to be careful about how you handle the animals because as soon as they’re dead, the fleas will want to migrate to the closest warm body. And that’s you. So avoid carrying them over your shoulder. Sometimes the animal is so infested that you should consider using a length of rope to drag them instead.

Fleas can turn into a nightmare if you get them, but they’re relatively easy to eliminate before that happens. The best method I’ve found is gassing them. I’ll hang the animal up by a hind leg in the shop and spray it down with Raid flea killer (most insecticide sprays work just fine). Then I pull a large trash bag up over the animal completely, spray some more in the bag, and tie it off with the whole animal inside. After letting it sit for 15 to 20 minutes, most of the fleas will have died. Those that haven’t will be well on their way. Be careful not to inhale the stuff and wash your hands afterwards, but overall it works great and doesn’t harm the fur. 

Before bug killer sprays, trappers had to find other methods to purge their hides. The native trappers here in Alaska would use the warm rabbit hide trick. They would bring a lynx inside and lay a warm rabbit skin on the floor next to it. Most of the fleas then crawled from the lynx to the warm hide. After a spell, the trapper tossed the rabbit hide in the wood stove. Freezing for a long period of time will kill fleas, but it takes a long time. I’ve seen fleas that are frozen solid begin crawling all over a lynx as soon as it was brought inside and begin to warm up.

Skinning is a lot easier when you’re not constantly worried about fleas crawling up your arm, or frantically scratching because you thought you felt one creeping down your neck. You (and your family) won’t fully appreciate this extra step unless you actually get fleas, so trust me: It’s worth it.

An Open Letter to My Bird Dog

Today, when I told you I was taking my shotgun to “show a friend,” I wasn’t.

And later, when I brought home that limit of roosters, it wasn’t the whole truth when I told you I had “found them on the side of the road.”

We’ve known each other long enough that I need to be honest. I went pheasant hunting without you. I think you knew that by the long, pitiful look you gave me as I drove away from the house, leaving you alone in the driveway, sad as a single sock.

I felt as bad as you as I drove down the road, but here’s the thing. I kind of forgot about you as I shot one bird after another, almost all at close range. I retrieved them without any drama or shouting. And they didn’t have any canine-teeth marks on them when I tucked them into my bird vest. I kind of felt relieved at the end of the hunt to not have to reach under your private parts to lift you into the pickup because you were too fat and lazy to jump up on your own.

I guess what I’m saying is something I’ve been thinking for awhile, or at least since last week, when you lost two birds and flushed dozens more out of range and then wouldn’t come when I called: I think it’s time we spent some time alone. I think maybe we can be better without each other.

It stabs me like a cattail frond in the nose to say those words, but we’ve been hunting buddies for nearly all of your 11 years, and we’ve always been honest with each other. Well, most of the time. Thinking it over, I guess I wasn’t completely honest when I said “Good Girl!” when you brought back that mangled mallard after 15 minutes of searching, when it was in full view for the entire time. And I didn’t really mean, “You’re a real sweetheart!” when you rolled in that rotten carp and then wanted to snuggle and lick my face.

But this harmless deceit goes both ways. When you indicated that you would “Stay!” we both knew you sneaked over to the neighbor’s house where he gave you a ham bone. And when I said, “Give!” for the hundredth time, we both knew that you would drop the bird wherever you felt like it, and never in my outstretched hand. I was okay with that, because I always knew that you’d do all the other things perfectly and with good humor.

But I never knew until this fall that Dog Years was real, and that the seven-times factorial would start to accelerate so swiftly. I know it’s not your fault that you get out of breath in the first quarter mile, or that you fail to hear my command to “Get That Bird!” when the brush where it fell is so dense and thorny. I almost feel guilty taking you hunting, because you are so stiff and stove up the next day that you can barely move out of your bed.

Thinking back on today, when all my shots brought down birds and I had the unusual experience of blissful silence while I flushed one rooster after another, I started to wonder: Do I really need a bird dog? Do I really need all the work and the frustration that goes into training and owning a Lab?

Then I remembered, and the flood of memories came back to strong that I had to sit for a spell. I remembered your first duck retrieve, when you tentatively nipped just the tip of one wing and dragged the bird—which was as big as you were—over to me. And when you wouldn’t let me call you off that wounded rooster, even though I knew you were going in exactly the wrong direction. It was only when you chased it a half mile across the open prairie and then brought it back to me that you proved your point: always trust your nose and not my eyes. And I remembered when you got in the fight with the crippled honker that tried to drown you, and how you kept circling it and grabbing its neck until it died, and then you retrieved it, so tired you could scarcely walk with that giant bird in your soft mouth. I remembered how excited you got when you heard the snick of the safety on my gun. And I recalled the hundreds of grouse and roosters that you flushed, found, and retrieved. And how you slept on my hunting gear the night before a trip.

And I thought about what it’s like to get old, and how you are showing me a version of my own future, when I can’t walk so far, or smell so well, or jump up in the bed of a full-sized pickup.

Where I really missed you was on the walk back to the truck, a limit of warm roosters weighing down my vest, the last light of a November evening pulling the shadows out of trees and fence posts, that silent, satisfying stroll of a couple of hunters in such complete harmony that no words need to be exchanged.

My walk back to the pickup tonight was, frankly, sort of lonely. On the drive back to the house, I missed scratching your ears. And when I walked in the house with that heavy bird vest, I couldn’t look you in the eyes. It says a lot about our relationship that you couldn’t look at me, either.

So let’s be adults about this. Let’s go our separate ways for awhile until you lose some weight and get that fire back in your belly. And learn to come when I call you. And stop sniffing other dogs’ butts. And stop wagging your tail every time you see a shotgun. And stop rolling in it… For my part, I just may hang up my shotgun until you come around again. Because, if we’re being honest, it’s just not as much fun hunting without you.

Photograph by the author

11 Bargain Hunting Knives for Less Than $50

My favorite everyday carry knife is a Ka-Bar Lightweight Folder. And any job that lock-back, drop-point folder can’t handle, my replaceable-blade Havalon Piranta can. Both are constant companions in my pocket or my hunting pack. Both cost under $50. Which made me wonder: What other hardworking knives can be had for a song? Turns out, there are plenty of options. But just as the world of affordable hunting blades is full of great deals, it’s also littered with junk.

I spent a season with the crop of knives you see here, field dressing, skinning, and butchering deer and game birds. This roster is not intended to be comprehensive, but rather representative of the sort of blades available at this price point.

1. W.R. CASE CAMO CALIBER RIDGEBACK
$44 / wrcase.com
It’s a rare knife that retails for under $50 and is made in America, but W.R. Case has delivered a stout, useful drop-point hunter with the classic “Case XX USA” proof mark. The deep-bellied, 4 ¹⁄₈-inch blade is large enough for big jobs like splitting the pelvis and sternum of a deer, but it’s also nimble enough for precision work like skinning and jointing birds.

2. BEAR & SON BIRD & TROUT
$45 / bearandsoncutlery.com
My favorite of this crowd of knives, this 3-inch clip-point is a hard-wearing caper and meat-trimming marvel. The synthetic Delrin stag handle is easy to grip and adds a nostalgic look to this made-in-America knife. A well-executed rendition of a classic belt knife, the 440-steel blade is configured for precision work, and the oiled leather sheath is first-rate.

3. BROWNING MODEL 111D
$39 / browning.com
The best thing I can say about this knife is that its lock-back action is super strong. But the 3 ¼-inch blade is also overly heavy and too bulky for a walkabout folder. The Ross Kommer–designed blade, though its metal is Sandvik 12C27, is nothing special. The handle’s black G-10 synthetic scales offset the silver of the metalwork nicely. Comes with a nylon sheath.

4. CAMILLUS TIGERSHARP
$49 / camillusknives.com
Camillus has worked around one of the liabilities of the replaceable-blade systems—which is that the flimsy, flexible blades are prone to breaking—by shrouding the surgical blade in a heavy support sleeve. The replaceable blades are held in place by the thumb screw. Loosen it, pivot the blade up and out of the shroud, and you can trade in a fresh, sharp blade.

5. CRKT FREE RANGE HUNTER
$45 / crkt.com
Another Kommer-designed blade, this super-light (2 ounces) and super-strong drop-point skinner fit my hand comfortably, and it quickly became my sheath knife of choice for the deer season. Its high-carbon blade held an edge through four deer before needing a touch-up. The knife’s nylon sheath comes wrapped in paracord and includes a pocket for a whetstone. 

6. GERBER VITAL FIXED BLADE
$43 / gerbergear.com
Featuring perhaps the smartest, safest blade-transfer mechanism of any of the newer replaceable-blade systems, the Vital also has a comfortable, non-slip handle and ships with six extra blades (but no sheath). Depress a tab behind the blade to disengage the locking block, push the blade forward, and remove. No more pliers or sliced fingers.

7. KERSHAW LONEROCK 1895
$50 / kershaw.kaiusaltd.com
If you’re shopping for Kershaw blades online, be aware that the Lonerock name covers all kinds of different models. I tested two: the replaceable-blade RBK (below) and this fixed-blade version. With wonderful balance and a deep-bellied, 3.2-inch nitride-coated blade that can handle gutting, skinning, and butchering chores, this is a quality tool.

8. KERSHAW LONEROCK RBK
$40 / kershaw.kaiusaltd.com
The RBK is a decent alternative to the Havalon. It features scary-sharp surgical blades that can be traded out when they dull. The blade is held in place by a strong, simple mating block, though it requires pliers to remove safely. An additional 15 blades and an extra skeleton “buddy” handle add value to the package.

9. RAPALA CLIP-POINT KNIFE
$35 / rapalaclassicbirch.com
Rapala’s birch-handled fillet knives have been fixtures at fish camps for 80 years, but the Finnish company that makes them introduced Rapala-branded hunting knives just this year. I caped, quartered, and butchered a Wyoming mule deer with the 4 ½-inch clip-point model and marveled at its sharpness and ability to retain an edge.

10. REMINGTON CUTLERY 3-PIECE BIG-GAME SET
$40 / remingtoncutlery.com
This unlovely set promises much more than it delivers—namely, that each of the three knives will handle a different part of the big-game dressing process, from skinning to caping. Unfortunately, the blades are poorly balanced and configured, and the black-oxidized 420 stainless steel dulls easily.

11. SOG FIELDER XL
$35 / sogknives.com
Finally, an affordable knife that has organic material in its handle! So many budget blades rely on synthetics for scales that the open-grained wood of this SOG looks almost extravagant. The clip-point, liner-locking blade is a little big for everyday carry, but the 4.13-inch blade made with 7CR17 steel is sized right to take apart game animals.

Gun Stories of the Week: Washingtonians Told They Don’t Need Guns to ‘Take Out’ Terrorists

TOP STORY
Obama Thanksgiving menu: Dyspeptic delusion

Hopefully, as you passed the cranberry sauce and slathered gravy on your stuffing, you were a good American this Thanksgiving and regaled family and friends with your views on gun control.

It’s okay. You were only following the President’s orders, as conveyed by White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest on Nov. 23 when he encouraged righteous blowhards to turn Thanksgiving into a table-pounding forum of divisive rhetoric.

Yes, Earnest said, President Obama wanted every American to sit around the Thanksgiving table and, instead of counting blessings, ask each other why Congressional Republicans won’t pass the ”Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act of 2015.” 

“As people are sitting around the Thanksgiving table talking about these issues—as they should and I’m sure they all will across the country—I hope that is a question that will be raised and asked by members around the table,” Earnest said in reference to a bill to ban people who are on the terror watch list from purchasing guns, The Blaze reports.

According CNSNews.com, Republicans should go along with a Democrat demand to bar people on a secret government list from buying guns, he said.

“One obvious thing that Congress can do is pass a law that prevents somebody who is on the terror watch list from—from being able to buy a weapon. That— that—there's no reason—I’m not sure why that's even controversial. I'm not sure why it hasn't been done so far.”

One reason why it hasn't been done yet is that tricky problem with "secret lists" and the Constitution. And especially secret “terrorist” lists. As noted by Susan Jones of CNS News, even the late Sen. Ted Kennedy ended up on a terrorist watchlist in 2004—and he's not the only American to be surprised by their inclusion on a secret government list of "known or suspected" terrorists.

On the other hand, Jones continues, the man who tried to detonate an underwear bomb on a U.S.-bound airplane on Dec. 25, 2009, was not on the list —even though the government had been warned about him.

“That's the problem: It's not always clear why people are nominated for inclusion on the terrorist watchlist or if their name is ever removed from it,” she writes. “Just having the same name as a terror suspect apparently can land a person on the list.”

The bill was proposed earlier this year by—who else?—Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.).

According to Sean Davis in the Federalist, the proposed law would allow the attorney general to deny a criminal background check clearance to any individual whose name appears on the national terror watch list. 

“The huge problem with this expansive new power is that there are precisely zero statutory criteria for inclusion on this massive list. In fact, when statutory authority for the centralized government database was first codified into law via the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, Congress gave all authority for determining criteria for inclusion in the watch list to unelected, unaccountable government bureaucrats,” Davis writes. “If some faceless Beltway bureaucrat decides you might be a terrorist, then you’re a terrorist. End of story.”

If you can do away with due process in the legal system, doing away with due process legislatively is a snap. That is why 24 Senate Democrats urged Obama on Nov. 23 to circumvent Congress by using executive action to expand background checks to cover private gun sales.

The effort is being pushed by Sens. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Tim Kaine (D-Va), Chris Coon (D-Del.) and Tom Carper (D-Del). 

“This is an insidious way to secure all the new regulations on gun shows that Democrats have pursued, but failed to secure, for nearly two decades,” writes AWR Hawkins in Breitbart.com. “It is also a devious way to take another step toward a national gun registry, which would have to exist for all new gun purchases in order to know whether a private gun owner keeps a firearm for longer than a year before selling it.”

Not to be outdone, Sen. Chuck “Chucky Cheeze” Schumer (D-N.Y.) said on Nov. 20 that he would be proposing a boatload of go-nowhere gun control bills in 2016.

“We are going to bring the universal background check bill to the floor of the Senate early next year,” he vowed, “and with your help we’re going to win!"

For more, go to:

WH: Americans Should Talk About Gun Control 'Around the Thanksgiving Table'

White House: Americans Should Talk About Gun Control This Thanksgiving

24 Senate Democrats Urge Obama To Sidestep Congress For Gun Control

Schumer: Senate Dems Will Push Major Gun Control Bill Early in 2016

With Congress deadlocked, Conn. senators press Obama on gun checks

Carper, Coons push for gun control measures

EXCLUSIVE: De Blasio pens letter to Paul Ryan, Mitch McConnell urging Congress to pass bill barring suspected terrorists from buying guns 

This Top Democrat Vows to Push New Gun Controls in 2016

Sorry Democrats, But There Is No ‘Loophole’ That Allows Terrorists To Legally Buy Guns

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D.C. LOGIC
Washingtonians told they don’t need guns to ‘take out’ terrorists

You live or work in Washington, D.C. The city’s crime rate already makes it scary to be in certain places at certain times. Now ISIS re-iterated threat to attack you in the wake of the Paris massacre makes it a bit spookier.

Therefore, it’s good to know Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Chief Cathy Lanier has given you the green light to “take out” Paris-style terrorists or criminals if you have the chance.

Of course, you really won’t have much of a chance because the city’s strict gun control laws make you a sitting duck, but it’s good to know the police chief wants you to know it’s OK to defend yourself even if you’ve been disarmed.

“If you’re in a position to try to take the gunman down, to take the gunman out, it’s the best option for saving lives before police can get there,” Lanier told Anderson Cooper on CBS’s “60 Minutes” on Nov. 22.

Of course, the district has some of the strictest gun laws in the nation and very few people are legally allowed to carry guns. Lanier has the final say on who gets to carry guns in the city, and only 48 people have been approved for concealed carry permits in the past year, according FOX News reports.

The department began accepting permits Oct. 23, 2014, and of the 233 applications, 185, or roughly 80 percent, have been denied.

Alan Gottlieb, Chairman of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, said Lanier’s suggestion to “take out” terrorists is “sound advice” only if there are sound gun laws in place.

“Considering the draconian gun laws in the District, it will remain difficult, if not impossible, for most private citizens to do what the chief is suggesting,” Gottlieb said. “Millions of honest Americans are licensed to carry all over the country. But in the District of Columbia, they’ve written laws to discourage citizens from exercising their Second Amendment right to keep and especially bear arms. That prevents people from defending themselves and their families outside of the home, which is where such an attack would happen.”

In mid-November, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) introduced legislation that would require D.C. to acknowledge concealed carry permits issued by other states and begin issuing concealed carry permits to residents.

It will also eliminate existing local laws that severely restrict the ability to own firearms and ammunition and allow for the carrying of firearms on some federal property not considered to be a “sensitive area.”

Until then, Washington residents, good luck.

“Your options are run, hide, or fight,” Lanier said. “If you’re in a position to try and take the gunman down, to take the gunman out, it’s the best option for saving lives before police can get there.”

For more, go to:

DC police chief admits a gun is best protection against attack… just too bad you can’t have one

DC Police Chief Wants Citizens To ‘Take Out’ Terrorists, But Issues Few Gun Permits

D.C. mayor's reason for gun-control: 'I don't like guns'

Gun group to Chief Cathy Lanier: D.C. firearms laws make it hard to take down active shooter

Police Union chairman: Lanier's active shooter comments contradicts city's position on guns

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STATE ROUNDUP
Michigan Democrats demand stand-down from 'Stand Your Ground'

Michigan Democrats want to scrap the 2006 Self Defense Act—or “Stand Your Ground” law—and limit armed self-defense within the scope of the Castle Doctrine, which allows for defense inside the home against an aggressor there illegally but not off one’s own property.

The Michigan 2006 Self Defense Act withstood a 2012 repeal attempt in the state House by urban Democrats from the Detroit area. Michigan is one of more than 20 states that have enacted similar laws in the decade since Florida’s model law was adopted.

The Michigan ‘Stand Your Ground’ law passed in 2006 with significant bipartisan support and was signed by then-Gov. Jennifer Granholm, a Democrat who had before served as the state’s attorney general. It extended legal protections to those who use deadly force when threatened by death or severe injury without having an obligation to retreat if possible.

Now, Democrats say, individuals are using the law as a reason to take someone’s life and say the law is dangerous.

“Emergency room physicians and folks are just honestly worried about the prevalence of gun violence in our communities and frankly pretty nervous about the fact that there is no duty to retreat and substantial immunity from both criminal and civil liability under these statutes,” Sen. Rebekah Warren (D-Ann Arbor) sponsor of the proposal to repeal the law, told the Associated Press.

Three other Democrats, including Senate Democratic Leader Jim Ananich, have signed on as co-sponsors of the legislation. Warren told the AP that high-profile court cases such as that of George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin in Florida are among the reasons why Michigan needs to rethink stand your ground.

“People are using this lack of duty to retreat as a reason to inflict harm and are sometimes not held liable for taking someone’s life. And I want to set that right in Michigan,” she said.

Warren’s legislation, SB 611, was introduced earlier this month.

For more, go to:

Michigan Democrats seek to repeal ‘stand your ground’ laws

Texas — Guns in parks? AG gets 5th request to clarify new gun laws

OUR VIEW: CHANGES IN OHIO LAW COULD INCREASE GUN RISK; BROADENING CONCEALED-CARRY SITES INCREASES RISK OF VIOLENCE

Florida — Oregon college shooting was on a gun-free campus, lawmaker says

South Carolina Senator to File Gun Restriction Bills

Texas — Gun carry law spurs competing interpretations for city halls, court buildings

California — On gun control, Newsom draws on Bloomberg’s strategy

Illinois — Physicians Asked to Help Curb Children's Access to Guns

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IN THE COURTS
Alabama Supreme Court upholds ruling that open-carry ban was unconstitutional

The Alabama Supreme Court in mid-November refused a request by the City of Jacksonville to revise its ruling that declared state law banning open carry of a gun on someone else's property is unconstitutional.

The Alabama Supreme Court in September overturned the state law when it upheld an appeal by Jason Dean Tulley, who had been convicted in Jacksonville for violating a law that prohibited "carrying a pistol on premises not one's own or under his control."

Tulley was arrested for openly carried a pistol on his hip while inside the First Educators Credit Union on March 31, 2011.

In overturning his conviction and declaring the law unconstitutional, the Alabama Supreme Court found that there was not a punishment provision for the crime under state law.

Cities can adopt state laws as part of their city codes and prosecute them as municipal violations. However, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled, because state law was unconstitutional, the prosecution by the city under that law is improper.

The City of Jacksonville asked the Alabama Supreme Court for a rehearing on the case. The city, in a written brief to the court, agreed with the justices that the law is unconstitutional. But the city still wanted Tulley’s conviction upheld in a somewhat bizarre twist of logic.

For more, go to:

Alabama Supreme Court won't revise 'open-carry' gun law ruling

TULLEY v. CITY OF JACKSONVILLE

Jason Dean Tulley VS The City of Jacksonville

Court Of Criminal Appeals Jason Tulley v Jacksonville

Arrested for open carry. Waiting for a ruling from the Court of Criminal Appeals

Gift Guide 2015: What to Buy Hunters for the Holidays

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  If you have a hard-core hunter on your gift list, I’m betting you’re feeling a little bit of despair right now. What do you get someone who already has everything he or she wants? No worries. The world of hunting gear is as diverse as the people who participate in it. Here are some items that even the most gear-obsessed hunter on your list will enjoy.

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  1. Hydrapak Stash Water Bottle 
  www.hydrapakpr.blogspot.com / $23 for 1-liter bottle, $18 for 750ml bottle
  Who needs another water bottle when the world is awash in those disposable plastic containers? You do. For starters, this flexible, durable bottle is collapsible, so the more you drink the less space it takes in your pack. But because you can squeeze out all the air, there’s no sloshing, a key consideration when you are making a super-silent stalk on wary game. The light bottle has welded seams and comes with a 2-year no-leak warranty. Its best attributes: it doesn’t impart a plastic taste to its contents, and the more you use it, the less you’ll use those bothersome disposable bottles.

   

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  2. Coleman FyreChampion Hyperflame 2-Burner Stove
  www.coleman.com / $180
  For me, the best part of hunting is cooking on my pickup’s tailgate. Whether it’s morning coffee, a toasted sandwich for lunch, or a one-pot meal for supper, the heart of my alfresco kitchen is a portable propane stove. This unit from Coleman features twin 12,000 BTU burners that are resistant to the wind, and the recessed burners and integrated griddle make clean-up fast and easy, making frying an egg as simple as it is to boil water. The stove packs flat for easy storage and travel. 

   

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  3. Cabela’s X-Bionic Energizer First-on-Skin Underwear 
  www.cabelas.com / $180 for each piece
  I hesitate to call this underwear, but that’s what it is: the first layer on your bottom and top halves. It’s possibly the most technical underwear I’ve ever worn, and I admit to scoffing at its claims that it would regulate my temperature, whether in hot or cold conditions. Then I wore it on a Wyoming mule deer hunt, riding horses in the pre-dawn chill and then hiking in the heat of the day. The stuff works, keeping me warm in the saddle and cool on the slopes. Its “adaptive climate control” not only keeps you comfortable, but it minimizes odor and wears like iron. It’s made in both nylon and merino wool. Opt for the wool. It’s a little more expensive ($200), but worth it. 

   

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  4. Sportsman Vintage Field Watch
  www.bertucciwatches.com / $120
  Who needs a wristwatch when you have a mobile phone to tell the time? C’mon. Every real hunter needs a reliable watch, and this classy field watch from Bertucci looks as good as it performs. It features a Japanese-made all-metal quartz movement and a hard-wearing military-grade nylon strap. It’s water-resistant to 100 meters and the mineral-glass crystal is scratch resistant, even if you're field dressing a deer and your wrist is deep in the chest cavity.

   

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  5. Outdoor Life Clothing Line at Sears
  www.sears.com / Price varies
  Now your clothes can wear the same label as your favorite magazine. Sears is the exclusive distributor of Outdoor Life branded clothing, including casual shirts and pants for kicking back at deer camp or handling weekend chores like splitting firewood or smoking ribs. The lineup includes outerwear and footwear, as well as traditional favorites such as fleece hoodies and button-down denim shirts.

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  6. Gen-XTM Bow
  www.genesisbow.com / $200 for bow; $300 for bow kit (includes carbon arrows, rest, quiver, sight)
  If you are a young archer—or you have one in your household—you should take a look at this newest bow from Genesis. Like its previous models, Genesis has produced a compound with a universal draw length that fits archers of just about any size, but this version has more adjustability and more premium components. Draw weights are adjustable from 25 to 40 pounds, and Genesis has developed a “Build-a-Bow” capability that allows users to add custom colors to the bow’s hardware. At its lowest draw weights, the Gen-XTM (which comes in right- or left-handed models) is a little light for hunting, but the bow will move a beginning archer from the target range to the field.

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  7. Fjallraven Down Shirt Jacket
  www.fjallraven.us / $350
  Who says hunting gear has to be either stiffly utilitarian or printed in non-descript camouflage. This stylish jacket from Scandinavia is a great mid-weight coat, but when you throw a rain jacket or windstopper layer over it, the down insulation becomes a furnace that will sustain a hunter in windy, wet, and cold conditions. The coat is cut for shooters, and even has ammo holders inside the large bellows pockets. Best detail: you can wear it from the treestand to town (or even church) and not worry about getting off-putting looks from non-hunters you might encounter.

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  8. Viking Solutions Jack Rack 
  www.vikingsl.com / $180
  We’ve all been there: a successful hunt culminates in dread at having to load a heavy deer (or elk, or antelope, or hog) into a pickup by yourself. This hitch-mounted hoist is designed to turn that moment into a happy one. The rotating tower and easy-turning winch can handle 300 pounds with very little effort, thanks to bind-free cables and machined pulleys. The unit deploys quickly in the field, or you can buy an optional kit that allows it to stand freely on the ground, eliminating the need for your pickup’s receiver hitch.

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  9. Muck Boot Pursuit Shadow
  www.muckbootcompany.com / $265
  At just 1.5 pounds each, the tall version of this boot (there’s also a mid-height model) is the lightest performance boot on the market. Unlike most Mucks, which are molded, the Pursuit Shadow is a lace-up, which allows wearers to customize the fit. This footwear is designed for the treestand, but it’s also comfortable and nimble on longer hikes. The 5mm Neoprene boot features a scent-masking barrier inside the fleece lining that makes it a great choice for deer hunters in a wide range of temperature and moisture conditions.

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  10. Stormy Kromer cap
  www.stormykromer.com / $40
  It’s the classic, the head-covering shorthand for the American hunter. Isn’t that enough? No? Well, it’s also made in the USA, comes either in 100 percent wool or an 80/20 wool/nylon blend, and it belongs in deer camp, whether that’s in Wyoming or Wisconsin. It’s made in a variety of styles, but is there really any alternative to the red-and-black flannel original? No.

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  11. Thermacell Heated Insoles
  www.thermacell.com / $135
  You can wear a second pair of wool socks. Or you can stuff chemical heaters in your boots. Or you can get a set of these battery-operated insoles and brave the elements. Or at least while the power lasts. Thanks to three different settings, that should be at least five hours (on medium setting). The remote control allows you to turn the power on when your little piggies get chilly, and then turn it down or off when they warm up, without ever unlacing your boots.

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  12. Rinehart 18-1 Archery Target
  www.rinehart3d.com / $120
  Every bowhunter needs a target, and this self-healing foam block will take hundreds of arrows—even with broadheads—without losing its shape or shaft-blocking integrity. Light of weight and easy of carry, thanks to its handle, the Rinehart goes anywhere you do, from the backyard to the back 40. The best part, the company will replace the target for free if you shoot out all 18 sides within a single year. So what are you waiting for?

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  13. Sitka Whitetail Fanatic Jacket
  www.sitkagear.com / $400
  This may be the ultimate treestand layer. Designed to be both warm and quiet, the Berber fleece won’t rasp or slap on brush, branches, or treestand apparatus. Thanks to a windstopping layer combined with PrimaLoft insulation, the jacket is toasty. Bowhunter-friendly details include a safety-harness pass-through port in the back, a quiet magnetic pocket, and a zippered front muff that allows you to keep your fingers warm until you need them to draw your bow. 

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  14. Orion 65 Cooler
  www.orioncoolers.com / $500
  One of the happy recent trends in hunting gear is the availability of coolers that actually keep things cool, thanks to roto-molding of rugged polyethylene. Yeti coolers led the way in this category, but they have plenty of company, including a sportsman-targeted line of coolers from Orion. Models include rope handles, low-profile camming latches, a lockable, bear-proof lid, and such cool amenities as an interior light and multiple tie-down points (some of which double as bottle openers), and the best paint jobs in the industry. The 65-quart model is sized right for multi-day trips.

   

   

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  15. Chaheati Heated Chair Cover
  www.chaheati.com / $100
  File this one under a gift for the sportsman who really does have everything else, but also be aware that everyone will be placing dibs on this product. It is a battery-powered chair cover that toasts the back and butt of anyone sitting in it, whether that’s around a campfire, on the front porch of deer camp, or on cold afternoons at the football game. The cover is weather resistant and has four settings that range from subtly warm to tingly toasty. 

   

3 Old-Time Survival Tricks That Still Can't Be Beat

It’s easy to fall for the lure of new things. A new vehicle has that great smell. A new relationship has everybody on their best behavior. And a new piece of outdoor gear, well – it’s just begging you to take it outdoors. But let’s not forget that sometimes you can’t carve the wheel any rounder. Sometimes “new” doesn’t equate to “best.” There is much that we can learn from history, and for some things, the old ways are still the best.

1. Bring Bed Warmers
Before the advent of HVAC systems and electric blankets, folks had many creative ways to stay warm–even in the field. One of the best of these was the bed warmer. Styles varied, but basically it's an object that can be heated and placed in your bedding for remarkable warmth. A hot water bottle (tightly sealed, of course) or hot stone can make an incredible bed warmer, whether your bed is at home or in the middle of the backcountry. If you don’t believe it, try it. Pour very hot water into a leak-proof bottle and slide the bottle into a large sock. Stash it down into the bottom of your sleeping bag and tell me it’s not 20 degrees warmer in there. 

2. Wear Wool
Itchy and scratchy for certain (although Merino wool is pretty dang soft), yet few fibers stand up against wool for its warmth when wet, durability and fire retardant nature. Socks, pants, long johns, sweaters and coats can be made from wool and last for years, offering warmth and protection—no matter what mother nature throws at you.

3. Invest in Carbon
Maybe you’re a hard-core prepper investing in silver and gold. Or you’re investing in the other precious metals, brass and lead. Don’t forget to add a little carbon to round things out, such as a set of high carbon steel knives. High carbon steel has its drawbacks, chiefly the speed at which it can rust. But if we ignore that weakness for a moment and look at the benefits of this type of steel, we can see that this oldie is still a goodie. This type of steel is easy to sharpen in the field. It’s also very tough, able to take abuse that would break a more brittle blade. And if the tempering is just right, you can strike a spark from it, just as you would with a flint and steel striker. Can you spare a bit of char cloth?

Does your outdoor gear look more like a living history exhibit? Tell us which oldies you favor by leaving us a comment.

Why Deer Hunters Should Never Wear Blue Jeans, and Other Important Facts About Deer Vision

You’re sitting in a treestand watching the perfect buck walk into range, and he ducks behind a tree. As you lean to the side to get a better view, you hear a crinkle in your pocket from a food wrapper. The buck’s head pops up to look around. Does he see you? Can he tell where you are?

A number of researchers have been able to shed some light on what that buck can see, and what they’ve found can prevent you from getting busted by your quarry—even if your own stealth is less than perfect. Their work has identified three key differences between the vision of white-tailed deer and people: physical traits that influence how deer see, low-light vision, and color perception. Let’s look at each of these.

PHYSICAL TRAITS
If you have ever looked into the eyes of a live deer, you may have noticed that their eyes are shaped much differently than ours are. While a human has a round pupil, a deer’s pupil is shaped like a horizontal oval. This oval shape allows a deer to view a larger area to the left and right of it rather than what is above or below it. It is important to remember that a deer is a prey animal, hunted by other wildlife such as mountain lions, bears, and coyotes. Those predators are terrestrial (ground dwelling) like the deer, so the deer doesn’t naturally look up into the trees to detect danger.

Another physical trait associated with prey species is eye location on the head. While humans and other predators have forward-facing eyes, enabling us to focus on specific objects, deer eyes are located on the side of the head. This placement gives the deer a 310-degree arc of vision to more easily keep an eye out for predators (even those approaching from behind), while humans are limited to only 140 degrees. The combination of pupil shape and eye placement results in a large horizontal view window. However the deer lacks a high degree of focus, which is why when the buck heard you shift in your treestand he slightly bobbed and weaved his head in an attempt to get a better view of his surroundings.

LOW-LIGHT VISION
When you’re driving at night with your headlights on, you may notice that a deer’s eyes glow when hit with your high beams. Referred to as “eye shine,” this is caused by a dense layer of fibrous tissue called the tapetum lucidum, found in the back of the eye. The purpose of this specialized tissue is to reflect visible light back through the eye so that it can be picked up by photoreceptors. In this way, it’s almost like deer have built-in night-vision goggles. Deer are able to amplify the limited amount of moonlight during the darkest night to identify and move about their surroundings. This ocular adaption is not limited to deer; the tapetum lucidum is found in a number of mammals that are active at night, including cats, dogs, and raccoons.

COLOR PERCEPTION
Lastly, very few animals share the same perception of colors. Some animals have been documented as seeing only in black and white, while others can perceive colors that we humans cannot. The ability to see colors is controlled by the rods, which register dim-light vision, and cones, which detect color via three primary wavelengths of blue, green, and red. Subtle differences in the cones can greatly impact what an individual can see, which is why some people may suffer from color-blindness. In the case of deer, their ability to see blue is more amplified than that of humans, their green vision is similar to ours, and they lack definition of reds.

So what does all this mean for hunters? Well, when it comes to their field of vision, a deer can see the majority of its surroundings, but with limited vision above or below. The wide placement of their eyes comes at a cost: they lack the high degree of acuity that is associated with periscopic vision. When dusk comes, deer have the advantage. They can see their surroundings much more clearly than we can, which explains how they can run through the woods at night but rarely ever trip over a log. For color, there’s no need to be concerned about wearing blaze orange because the deer won’t be able to zero in on it like a fellow hunter can. Just don’t wear your blue jeans; you’ll stick out like a sore thumb. The best camo is one that blends in with the environment and doesn’t contain a lot of blues and whites (unless you’re hunting during snowfall, when whites will do just fine).

Just don’t move more than you have to, and for goodness sakes, remove those crinkly candy bar wrappers from your hunting pants.

For references, and a more thorough overview of deer vision, see:

VerCauteren, K. C., and M. J. Pipas. 2003. A review of color vision in white-tailed deer. Wildlife Society Bulletin 31:684-691.

Hewitt, David G. Biology and Management of White-tailed Deer. Boca Raton, FL: CRC, 2011. Print.