ARTICLES

How To Use Natural Clues To Read The Wind

As with all aspects of shooting, particularly at long range, learning to properly read the wind requires practice and familiarity with the basics.

How can you use natural environmental elements to help read the wind and make adjustments?

Mirage, which refers to the way light rays are bent due to the heat difference of the ground and the air, can be used, if they’re moving, to help illustrate wind direction and intensity. Read the full article to get a better understanding of how to use Mirage to assess the wind.

Grass, leaves, tree branches and other flora are good indicators of wind speed and direction. Read the full article to learn how to use these natural clues.

If you’re hunting in a foreign environment, use a windmeter to measure values and their effects on flora; then, you can estimate wind values at range based on the amount of movement of that particular plant. Read the full article for the benefits of a windmeter.

Canyons can prove particularly challenging, especially if compound winds are present. Make sure you understand how canyon walls affect wind currents.

Wind is a predictable effect, assuming the values are known and things are constant. Making correct adjustments to overcome those effects — that’s the key to successful shooting.

Read the full article at GunDigest.com for a more detailed explanation of how to use these environmental elements

Special thanks to GunDigest.com for providing this insightful content.
GunDigest.com is a shooter’s opportunity to keep up with what’s going on in the world of the gun.

In this video, former Army Ranger sniper team leader Ryan Cleckner explains how to estimate wind speed, shares a formula for calculating wind drift, and explains how ballistic charts and empirical data gathered at the range can help hunters and target shooters properly compensate for the effects of wind.

See more videos from NSSF

H U N T I N G

How Archery Helps Fund Conservation Through Excise Taxes

New “Partner with a Payer” Video Highlights Important Collaboration with Archery Manufacturers and Wildlife Agencies

NSSF^®, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, in partnership with TenPoint Archery, Archery Trade Association, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, has released another film in the “Partner with a Payer^®” series—a collection of videos highlighting the importance of wildlife conservation and management. The Partner with a Payer Program connects the dots from how excise tax dollars are generated to how they are used to sustain healthy wildlife populations.

https://youtu.be/4Y1mCr8Kcoo

The latest video, “Conservation Success at the Crossroads of Collaboration,” highlights the work being done to continue providing public access to target ranges, hunting opportunities and other outdoor experiences within the United States.

Funding Conservation: A Collective Effort

In the heart of collaborative efforts between firearm industry leaders, archery manufacturers, and wildlife conservation agencies lies an important component for hunters and target shooters alike – the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, also known as the Pittman-Robertson Act. This act mandates excise taxes, a financial contribution by firearm and ammunition manufacturers on their products, as well as archery equipment manufacturers, to fund wildlife conservation and management programs across the United States. Representatives from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, National Shooting Sports Foundation, Archery Trade Association and USFWS came together to tour the TenPoint Archery Facility, where they learned what it takes to generate the excise tax revenues supporting wildlife populations across the country. Throughout the tour, state and federal agency staff discussed specific projects and key instances where funds provided opportunities for the public to hunt, target shoot and enjoy the diverse wildlife in the United States. [caption id="attachment_53686" align="aligncenter" width="550"] Partner with a Payer - Conservation research

Partner with a Payer - Conservation research

Excise taxes fund wildlife research for the sustainable maintenance of healthy wildlife populations.[/caption] The excise taxes established under the Pittman-Robertson Act have been a driving force, contributing over $16.4 billion (over $25 billion adjusted for inflation) to individual states. In this video, Peter Novotny, Deputy Chief of the Ohio Division of Wildlife, highlights how these funds, combined with hunting and fishing license dollars, fund essential wildlife research. This research enables a deeper understanding of how wildlife populations adapt to a changing environment, ultimately leading to the maintenance of healthy and sustainable populations.

The Ripple Effect for Hunters and Shooters

For hunters and target shooters, the implications of excise taxes are far-reaching. The funds derived from these taxes play an important role in maintaining shooting ranges, archery facilities, and wildlife habitats, ensuring a rich and diverse outdoor experience. The collaborative efforts between industry leaders, state agencies, and federal organizations exemplify the commitment to sustaining the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. [caption id="attachment_53687" align="aligncenter" width="550"] Healthy Ohio Deer

“We feel comfortable and confident that the excise tax dollars are helping keep healthy deer herds out there across the United States,” said Phil Bednar, President and CEO of TenPoint Crossbows.[/caption] As hunters and target shooters, your passion and participation directly contribute to the preservation of the outdoor experiences you cherish. These excise taxes not only support wildlife conservation but also create a legacy of responsible and sustainable outdoor recreation for generations to come. Understanding and appreciating this cycle of giving back ensures that the great outdoors remains accessible for all. More info and resources at https://www.nssf.org/partner-with-payer/ See other Partner with a Payer Videos: https://www.letsgohunting.org/resources/articles/game-birds/osprey-restoration-understanding-excise-taxes-wildlife-conservation/ https://www.letsgohunting.org/resources/articles/explore-hunting/how-do-excise-taxes-benefit-hunter-education-clark-county-shooting-complex/

How to Pattern Your Shotgun for Turkey Hunting

By Vin T. Sparano, as excerpted from Complete Outdoors Encyclopedia: Camping, Fishing, Hunting, Boating, Wilderness Survival, First Aid Turkey

Turkeys make a tough target. They are difficult to see and even harder to harvest. The head and neck are the only vital areas that ensure a fast, clean hunt, but this will only happen if your shotgun throws a tight, dense shot pattern. The best shotgun choice for turkeys is a 12-gauge magnum, though the 10 gauge is gaining some ground among turkey hunters. The best shot sizes are No. 2, 4, 5, or 6. The best shotgun chokes are Full, Extra Full, and Super Full. Learn more about the Different Shotgun Gauges here.

Pattern Your Shotgun for Turkeys

Patterning Target on Adult Turkey

Patterning your shotgun for turkey hunting is simply a matter of shooting your shotgun with various shot sizes at different ranges to determine the most effective combination. To pattern your shotgun, you will need two loads of each shot size and six targets that show the full-size head and neck of a gobbler. Start by taking one shot at each target at 15, 25, and 40 yards.' With each load and choke combination, count the number of pellets in the vital area of the gobbler’s head. Opinions vary on the number of pellets you will need in a vital area to put a turkey down, but you will need at least six to harvest a turkey. Some experienced hunters, however, claim that a turkey hunter will need up to 30 pellets in a vital area to harvest a gobbler quickly and cleanly. After you have tried all the different loads at 15, 25, and 40 yards, analyze your targets and count the pellets in the vital area. Determine which load gives you the densest pattern in the gobbler’s head and neck. That’s the load to use.

Remember that 40 yards is about the maximum shotgun range on gobblers, regardless of your choke and load combination. Any turkey farther than 40 yards is not in pursuing range and you should not take the shot.

Check out this Turkey Chokes Tip From NWTF

https://youtu.be/L6TamAxpoqw?feature=shared

Wild turkeys are tough animals to harvest and a tight-patterning shot to the head and neck area is required to seal the deal.

Turkey Hunting Safety Reminders

There was a time when duck hunting was considered the most dangerous form of hunting. That’s no longer true. Turkey hunting now accounts for most accidents. There are some good rules for turkey hunters to keep in mind:

Never wear red, white, black, or light-blue clothing that could be visible to other hunters. These are the colors of a spring gobbler. Wear full camouflage, but avoid white socks or T-shirts, which might look like the white part of a gobbler.
Use your turkey call in terrain where you can see at least 50 yards in every direction.
Keep your back against a tree trunk, stump, or boulder that is higher than your head.
If you see another turkey hunter approaching, stay still and whistle or shout loudly.
Never sneak in on a turkey that is gobbling, and avoid using a call when hunters are nearby.
If you use a decoy, position it so that you are not in any possible line of fire with it. Position the decoy so it can be seen from the sides, not from in front of or behind you. Use only hen decoys, never a fake gobbler.
If you plan to hunt from a ground blind, read these safety considerations.

About the Author: Vin T. Sparano is the author of Complete Outdoors Encyclopedia as well as three other guides for Rizzoli. He has been an outdoor editor and writer for more than fifty years. He is editor emeritus of Outdoor Life, and has written and edited more than fifteen books about the outdoors. In 2013, he was inducted into the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame. Special thanks to StepOutside.org for providing this insightful content. You may also be interested in:

https://www.letsgohunting.org/resources/articles/game-birds/five-must-haves-for-turkey-season/

Check out these delicious Turkey Recipes

https://www.letsgohunting.org/resources/articles/recipes/wild-turkey-buffalo-cheese-dip/ https://www.letsgohunting.org/resources/articles/recipes/wild-turkey-schnitzel-recipe/

Celebrate National Hunting & Fishing Day

National Hunting and Fishing Day is this Saturday, September 23, and NSSF, as a major sponsor, encourages all sportsmen and sportswomen to participate.

Celebrating National Hunting and Fishing Day!

On the fourth Saturday of every September, NHF Day recognizes generations of sportsmen and women for their contributions to the conservation of our nation’s rich sporting heritage and natural resources. One of the main goals of National Hunting and Fishing Day is to recruit new hunters and anglers by encouraging participation and increasing public awareness of the connection between hunting, angling, and conservation. Through self-imposed fees and excise taxes, sportsmen and women have raised more than $57 billion--that’s more than $100,000 every 30 minutes being raised for conservation. Now on its 51st year, NHF Day is the largest, most effective grassroots movement ever undertaken to promote outdoor sports and conservation. Launched by Congress in 1971 and heavily promoted by NSSF for decades, NHF Day is now administered by Wonders of Wildlife Museum and has consistently recognized hunters and anglers for their leadership in wildlife and conservation. Find national, state, regional and local organizations hosting related events.

Get Started

Hunting, Fishing, and Shooting Sports are not just great American pastimes – they are the very foundation that supports the model of wildlife conservation created more than a century ago in this country. By introducing new audiences to these activities, we ensure that wildlife and wild places will be protected for generations to come. Hunting is a useful and beneficial wildlife management tool that ensures and maintains the health and abundance of game species and the balance of our natural resources. There are a number of species, from upland birds to big game animals to hunt. Learn more about these species from game bird and game animal organizations.

Take the Pledge

Take the pledge to take someone hunting, fishing, or shooting this year and be entered into the NHF Day Giveaway!

Share Your Images

Upload an image of you hunting, fishing or target shooting and tag @NHFday on social media using the hashtag #GuideToOutside or Upload an image to be featured here!

Get Involved in National Hunting and Fishing Day 2023