18 Age-Old Hunting Tips

Each month for several decades, H.G. “Tap” Tapply provided a wealth of fishing and hunting information in his renowned Field & Stream column, “Tap’s Tips.” His expansive knowledge entailed everything and anything outdoor-related and was first published in the 1960s and 70s. They proved to be useful to the readers and subscribers of Field & Stream, giving Tap the status he earned as an encyclopedic resource for fishing and hunting. Although many of the tips and tricks he provided were considered very archaic and old school, eighteen of them still hold to be true in today’s world just as effectively. LAX Ammo, an ammunition supplier with exceptional ammo sales, goes over some of Tap’s helpful advice.

Staying Dry

If hunting out in poor weather such as rain or snow, wear a pair of cheap plastic rain pants between your inner layer of thermal underwear and outside pants. This will keep your legs dry, and prevent any wet shine or loud noises from being wet, which can spook the deer or ducks away.

Duck Deterrence

If ducks disperse from your post without reason, it could be the reflection of your gun barrel when positioning to shoot. An easy solution is to find some simple black tape and apply a small strip on the top of the barrel, which is easily removable after hunting.

Dent Removal

Dents in a firearm are never fun, though they’re easier to fix than you may think. A seamless solution is to cover the affected area with a damp cloth and press it with a hot Iron. The steam from the Iron will lift the dent out. Then take some sandpaper and smoothen out the surface, and finish with steel wool before refinishing.

Double Barrel Shotgun Technique

Pay attention to those who hunt with a double barrel shotgun. What separates an experienced gunner from the others is when they hold the barrels by the fore end and raise the rear of the gun up so the two parts click together, and never bang the gun shut for any reason.

Sighting In

When sighting in a rifle, the ammunition you use to sight it in should be the same one you use while hunting. It sounds like common sense or practice, but a few hunters try to cut corners by using old ammo to sight in their gun and then use new and distinct ammo for hunting purposes.

Still-hunting Deer

When you are still-hunting for deer, check your surroundings frequently — particularly what’s behind you. Bucks which remain camouflaged and stationary when you approach may step out and reveal themselves to get a better look at you after you pass them, granting you a good standing shot at close quarters.

Hunting Done Right

Contrary to popular belief, many deer hunters who successfully shoot a buck on opening day in the early hours of the day are more than just lucky. These hunters spend a considerable amount of time in the summer and early fall months to find crossings or runways frequented by deer, thus knowing where to find them on opening day.

Binoculars

When using binoculars, the pulse from your heartbeat gives a jittery feeling which affects the picture from your point of view. Your perspective can be secured by pressing both index fingers onto your forehead, giving a clearer picture.

Bird Cleaning

Dry plucking game birds is easier to do soon after being shot. The feathers of several upland birds, such as dove, quail, and pheasant are easier to remove after their bodies become stiff and temperatures drop.

Gun Cleaning

Oil should only be used in moderation when cleaning a rifle or shotgun. Any lubricant applied onto moving parts can negatively affect the action in cold weather. In addition, too much oil can permeate into the foreend or stock which will result in rotting. A little goes a long way.

Smelly Boots

The whiff of the inside of your hunting boots can be toxic from the odors of foot sweat and swamp water. An easy solution to alleviate these offensive odors is to sift the inside of the boots with borax, which you might have a box of in your laundry room.

Crow Hunting

Crow hunting is at its peak during May and June. They are very spread out and even a beginner can easily fool a young bird with crow calling. On your next trout fishing outing, bring a crow calling and gun with you. If the fishing is on the slow side, chances are the crows will respond more willingly.

Bird Hunting Safety

When bird hunting, partners and other hunters can be easily spotted when wearing blaze orange hats and/or vests. The bright and noticeable color might stop one hunter from shooting at a bird if it goes in front of another hunter or their dog.

Compact Binoculars

A set of small binoculars which can fit into your pocket is easier to use and tend to be used more frequently than a bigger and longer range one. In most applications, a mid-range level binocular using a 35mm objective lens is ideal.

Gauge Sizing

For shotgun calibers, ‘gauge’ is a direct reference to the diameter of round lead balls which fire within the bore of a shotgun. For instance, a 12-gauge bore would fire a ball weighing 1/12 pound, a 20-gauge bore would fire a 1/20-pound ball, and the only omission is a .410 caliber — which is a measurement of the bore at .410 inch.

Geese

If you hunt geese and successfully take one, it’s not uncommon for the meat to be firm and uneasy to cut and chew. Geese have the longest lifespan out of all game birds, which increases the likelihood of taking an older one. Geese can live for a few decades in prime conditions.

Cooking Venison

The one misconception about venison that numerous experienced cooks think is that it should be cooked thoroughly until entirely brown, which is false. Overcooking dehydrates and hardens the meat and takes away the natural flavor. Instead, it should be cooked the same way we do beef: brown on the outside and red or pink on the inside.

Homemade Fox Caller

A young, 11-year-old boy named Brad Ludwig from San Antonio, Texas assembles a fox caller with two, 6-inch plastic rulers and rubber bands. Extend a rubber band lengthwise on one ruler and clamp the flat sides of both rulers together with rubber bands on each end. Blow into the cracks like a harmonica.

About LAX Ammo

LAX Ammo is an excellent resource for ammunition in Los Angeles, CA. Their large supply of ammo covering a range of brands, as well as their unbeatable prices provide the best ammo sales in California. As the year draws closer to an end with the impending new restrictions on ammo coming soon, LAX Ammo strives to continue being a valuable resource for gun owners and shooting enthusiasts.