table of contents preface introducton 1 safety 2 far chase 2 healthy actvty 4 famly orentaton/mentors 4 multple opportuntes 5 barrers 6 turkey hunting 8 habtat 8 tps 9 cleanng 11 recpes 2 12 squirrel hunting 14 habtat 14 tps 15 cleanng 17 recpes 2 18 dove hunting 20 habtat 20 tps 21 cleanng 22 recpes 2 24 deer hunting 25 habtat 25 tps 26 cleanng 28 recpes 2 29 rabbit hunting 31 habtat 31 tps 32 cleanng 34 recpes 2 35 where to go basic hunting
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a successful team effort is possible with desire and practice will give the mentor and the family of the hunter a high sense of accomplishment multiple opportunities hunting like all activities offered for families will become an anticipated activity when there are multiple opportunities to hunt or shoot hunting begins with practice and everyone in the family can enjoy target-shooting opportunities hunting for multiple species will also provide more enthusiasm for hunting one female hunter reported a family rule that no member can hunt deer or turkey until that hunter has brought home a rabbit and a squirrel that he or she has harvested this encourages skill development and the simple joy of being in the outdoors together even after younger family members have advanced to deer or turkey hunting it is important to return to small game hunting regularly here they can sharpen skills introduce a friend to hunting and renew the thrill of seeing many game animals in a short period while a go
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hunter may be in the area and an unsafe hunting situation could develop in addition as stated earlier turkeys have extremely good eyesight if you are moving the odds are good that the turkey will see you before you see the turkey rather than trying to stalk a turkey that you see out of range make a mental note and be prepared for future hunts cleaning when a turkey is taken with a head/neck shot they typically fall immediately but may thrash their wings this can damage feathers for your mount you will want to get to the bird quickly to preserve the feathers or to prevent a stunned/wounded bird from escaping if the bird is still alive be careful to avoid its feet as toms can cause painful wounds with their spurs place your foot firmly on the head and neck and hold the bird still this will dispatch the bird that is still alive and minimize feather damage on one that is thrashing field dressing your turkey is much like cleaning a chicken split the skin on the belly between the tip of the
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squirrel soup found in recipes no source kentucky department of fish and wildlife resources young squirrels can be fried or broiled this is recommended for older squirrels 3 squirrels cut in serving pieces 3 qts of water ¼ cup diced bacon 2 cups diced potatoes 2 cups lima beans fresh or frozen 2 cups corn fresh or frozen 1 cup chopped onion 2 large cans of tomatoes drained ¼ tsp cayenne ¼ tsp black pepper place squirrel pieces in a large kettle add water bring slowly to boil then reduce heat and simmer 1 ½ to 2 hours or until squirrel is tender skim surface occasionally remove meat from bones and return to liquid add cayenne bacon salt pepper onion tomatoes potatoes and lima beans cook 1 hour add corn and continue to cook ten minutes spoon into soup plates and serve with cornbread and cole slaw makes 6-8 servings sound the alarm 18 basic hunting
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deer hunting habitat white-tailed deer find all their life needs closely associated with the forest as with many animals they are known as creatures of the edge with a love for green plants waste grain and tender shoots that they often find in the edge of cultivated fields therefore in early season the knowing hunter looks for heavily used trails within 50 yards or so of the edge late in the season however it is the forested land that provides their hiding cover much of their food and space for movement now you may want to move your stand to more secluded areas if you choose to hunt on the side of a ridgeline within the forest look for trails that lead to the lowest point on the ridge deer moving over a ridge will typically look for a trail at a low point that costs them the least amount of energy to get from one side to the other deer also prefer a forest that is undergoing secondary succession to a forest that is mature shrubs bushes and plants such as poison ivy provide both food
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rabbit hunting habitat rabbits are known as an edge species they are animals that are most comfortable when they can find food cover and space all in a reasonably small area by hunting in areas with corners between field and forest fence lines and overgrown building sites hunters will have the best opportunities for multiple rabbits rabbits use a variety of escape techniques first they sit very still where they think they cannot be seen when they do run they are very good at darting in and out of cover to prevent any predator from having an easy meal when running they may include long 30 basic hunting
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agers estimate the number of birds for the following season after the birds mate frequency of spring rains becomes important when the nest is flooded hens will normally attempt to nest again if their first attempt fails however once hatched the chicks are reasonably small creatures and a cold rain can chill them to the point where they do not survive like several other animals quail are known as an edge species they prefer reasonably dense cover within walking distance of food during hunting season the primary food for quail will be weed seed and waste grain in the field if the landowner has planted food plots quail may have all food and cover requirements in one convenient area early in the season birds may still be including insects from the grasses but after the first hard freeze insects will be eliminated with this in mind the best areas to find a covey of birds will probably be within 25 yards of the edge between cultivated grain fields or food plots and weedy or grassy field norm
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casionally birds are found in trees but they typically hide on the ground in heavy snow they will create burrows in the snow to conserve body heat grouse normally stay within a mile of where they are hatched in springtime males drum to attract females and therefore have a smaller home range females travel to the drumming male to breed then travel again to find a suitable nesting site her brood typically disperses in fall with individual birds seeking suitable habitat however it is not unusual to find several birds using the same area due to prime habitat features in northern states grouse are considered to be a cyclic species these cycles are not as prevalent in kentucky as they are in northern states the trend in kentucky and other appalachian states has been steadily down since the early 1990s as is true with most wildlife good habitat will consistently have grouse a dedicated grouse hunter will continue training his or her dogs and alter the harvest during those periods with low gro
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practiced on targets going away however through practice shooters will not only become better at moving targets they will also be more aware of appropriate range for an effective shot early season versus late season ducks in the early part of the fall wood ducks and teal are available in kentucky as the season progresses these smaller birds may leave with any given cold front the smaller ducks are fast flyers turn quickly and take advantage of nearby cover the birds that arrive from the north early in the season will primarily be hens with their broods the young of the year birds are smaller and are more drab colored mallards and other large ducks that arrive from the northern nesting areas later in the season will consist mainly of drakes and hens that did not nest successfully these late season birds will usually be the most colorful the larger ducks tend to be slower and steadier every group of waterfowl offers the hunter unique challenges in wing shooting land based blinds all blin
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wise the brow tines two tines closest to the base of the antlers are also equal to the length of the mature bull s face or longer heavier loads for sure kill if you are hunting elk with the same gun you use to hunt deer you should plan to find cartridges with heavier loads while the lighter load may kill the elk you may be tracking the animal a greater distance the desire is a quick and efficient kill and a heavier bullet will do more damage at the point of impact think of travel routes restoration elk do not migrate in kentucky as they do in western states however they do have daily habit patterns and through scouting a hunter can establish points on the travel routes where he or she can intercept the herd the travel route will include the primary feeding location source of water and bedding area calling listening for bugling bulls in early morning and late evening hours is one of the best ways to locate bulls during the rut period a bull elk bugles to establish and maintain his harem
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firearm safety tips · properly store firearms and ammunition when they are not in use · treat every firearm as if it were loaded every time · when handling firearms keep them pointed in a safe direction whether they are loaded or not · point firearms only at objects that you intend to shoot this does not include televisions · when hunting know the location of all hunting partners and others in the field this includes canine partners.
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