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How to Choose Hunting Ammo & Broadheads
As a rifleman, choosing the best ammunition to do the right job is just as important as choosing the best broadhead is for an archer. You want to make sure and choose the right broadhead, or bullet, that is designed to do the job that you want it to do. Of course, if you're shooting targets with a bow, field tips are effective. But if you're going to shoot an animal, you want to use something that is devastating, that will take them down in a hurry. The key is to choose a broadhead that flies well out of your bow, and on your arrows. Make sure to spend plenty of time at the range and practice to find out that perfect broadhead that is tuned with your bow and with your arrow.
As far as a rifle goes, they make lots of different ammo. What I recommend is to choose an ammunition that your rifle likes. Every rifle has a favorite round, and the only way that you're going to find out what your rifle likes is to spend plenty of time at the range. Make sure to choose a bullet, just like you do with a broadhead, that does the job that it's intended to do.
How to Shoot from a Tree Stand
Here's a little tip that will help you be more successful when you're in a hunting situation. Right now, I'm hunting for Black Bear in an elevated tree stand, about 16 to 18 yards away from the bait. The wind's blowing, which is camouflaging some of my sound and certainly my scent, which is a good thing. Because I'm hunting in such a tight area, I won't see an animal until it's right up on me. I always want to make sure I have everything prepared, so when the animal does show up, I don't have to move much. That way, I can get a better shot.
For example, here you'll see we have the bait down below us; I have the crossbow set up here. If the bear that I'm looking for comes in, all I have to do is pick the crossbow up, aim, put it on fire, and release the arrow. So prepare before the animal comes in with a tree stand, especially in tight quarters.
How to Hunt with Shooting Sticks
If you're a spot-and-stalk hunter, odds are you need a good pair of shooting sticks. I like to use shooting sticks that are a tripod. The reason why, is that their nice and firm. I do a lot of spot-and-stalk hunting, much of it at nighttime. I've got to be very accurate with my shots. I'm going to show you a technique that I use when shooting with shooting sticks that helps me be more accurate.
I always carry my rifle with a good rifle sling. I bring the rifle up and put it on top of the shooting sticks. Then, I'll use my hand and hold the sling down to the shooting sticks. By doing so and spreading my legs, it helps minimize any wobble and helps me be a much more accurate shot.
Why to Use a Rifle Sling for Hunting
I love hunting with rifle slings. The reason why is not because it makes my rifle easier to carry – it's because of the location of my muzzle when I carry my rifle. You'll notice it's pointing straight up. Always have your muzzle pointed in a safe location. Many times, I'll hunt with guys, especially with shotguns, that do not have slings. The problem is without a sling, guys will wind up carrying their shotgun like this, and they sweep around, not pointing the shotgun in a safe direction. A sling, when used properly and over your shoulder, will help you always point your barrel in a safe direction.
Hunting Bears with Bait
Hunting black bears over bait is a controversial way to hunt bears, but it is extremely effective, where legal. The reason why I like hunting black bears over bait is that you want to make a good shot when you kill it so that it expires quickly. The good thing about a bait situation is that it provides more time to look at the animal and determine whether you want to take it or not. Many times, a sow and cubs will come in, and many times, you can use the bait, or the barrel itself in this particular instance, to gauge how big the bear really is. Often times, with variable powered scopes, people will throw up a rifle scope, and when you don't have anything to compare the size of the bear to, the bear really shrinks after you get up to it. The magnification of the scope really blows the bear up out of proportion.
So, hunting bears over bait is an effective way to do it. The reason I like it is because is because I can watch bears, I can make sure I get the best shot possible, and I can make sure I'm always shooting the right bear.
Ethical Shot Placement for Hunting
If one comes in at this angle, it's going to be tough to make a good shot. An ethical hunter is one that wants to dispatch an animal quickly with one shot. In this instance, you can see we've got a really steep angle to the bait below, which is where an animal should be. With that in mind, we have to consider where the entrance and exit is going to be on every shot.
Whether you're shooting a rifle or crossbow, like in this case, it's important to be able to think about where the entry is going to be and where the exit is going to be. At an ultra steep angle, many times it will wind up undershooting or overshooting. What I like to do is place the arrow just slightly above center on the uphill side. On the downhill side, or far side, the shot exits slightly below center. What that does, when you get a clean pass through; you've got a hole in the middle on the entrance side and a little bit below the middle on the exit side. You want two holes. If you can get an entrance hole and an exit hole, whether it's with a bullet or an arrow, the animal "springs a leak on both sides." It's easier to track it, and it won't go far.
