HUNTING TIPS CREATED BY FINBAR O’NEILL

WHEN IT COMES TO HUNTING, BE AN AVID LEARNER

• One of the greatest things about hunting is that there are always ways to improve and work on your hunting techniques

• You can never truly stop learning

TIP#1: GO SLOW

• One of the most common mistakes hunters make while targeting their prey is that they move too quickly.

• A good way to practice moving more slowly is to use your watch.

• Time yourself in increments of five minutes and see how well you can keep near-perfectly still.

• This will help prepare you for moments when you will be forced to make as little movement as possible.

TIP#2: LEARN HOW TO COOK YOUR PREY PROPERLY• Offbeat prey like porcupines,

muskrats, raccoons, and beavers can be made into delicious food.

• First, be sure to remove any musk glands and fat.

• Then, cut the meat into chunks and soak them into a salt solution that consists of half a cup of salt and one gallon of water.

• Let them sit in this salt solution for twelve hours, then cook the meat slowly with lots of vegetables and spice to make the meat more flavorful.

TIP#3: KNOW YOUR ANIMAL

• Know that an animal has terrific senses, so stop at any noise.

• A human is not as prone to remember the sound of a snapped twig as an animal is.

• If you are in the circumstance where you make a loud noise on accident, stop and stand there as long as possible until you know if an animal is close by.

• Always be aware of your surroundings, and be sure to be still at any unusually loud noise you make or hear.

TIP#4: BUILD A BETTER FIRE

• Fire starters are key to bring on your hunt, and there are many kinds you can either buy or make at home.

• An at-home fire starter you can make is by combining about seven or so cotton balls with vaseline.

• Place these in a canister and bring them on your hunt and you’re good to go - each ball will burn for two to three minutes.

REMEMBER WHY YOU’RE HUNTING• Whether it’s for sport or for

feeding your family, animals should be respected and killed minimally.

• If you haven’t had any lessons in hunting, you should not be trusted in the woods.

• Make sure you know the proper ways to skin your prey and the right moment to shoot.

• You should be strategic about your hunt and well educated before you’re allowed to be a hunter.

TIP#5