Finding a modern hunting rifle without a scope is rare. Once considered a luxury, advances in technology and decreases in cost have resulted in scopes becoming the norm. Even specialty scopes for muzzleloaders or shotguns can now be purchased over the counter rather than custom made. Regardless of what you shoot or why you are shooting it, chances are you can buy a quality, affordable scope to help you do it more accurately. But there is a downside to the increased use of scopes, and that is the decreased ability by sportsmen to use open sights.

Open sights, or iron sights, are the most fundamental of sighting systems and their use should be part of every shooter’s skill set. However, many current gun owners not only do not know how to use open sights they do not even have them available on their firearms. An increasing number of firearms are sold without open sights installed, due in part to the manufacturers knowing they are likely to be removed. Let me explain, as a hunter and firearms instructor, why this is a mistake.

Using open sights is a fundamental shooting skill that sets the foundation for the most proficient use of any firearm, including one with a scope installed. While having a scope can help new shooters become more accurate with less practice it also means that a shooter never learns the real importance of such skills as sight alignment and sight picture. They can just point and shoot, almost like a video game. By learning the basics, such as open sight shooting, before moving into more advanced techniques, a shooter can increase their ability, increase their confidence and become a better overall marksman.

Open sights also offer a critical real-world application, a backup system for when the scope cannot be used. There are many situations during which a shooter will not being able to use a scope, not the least of which is a malfunction. Like any mechanical device, scopes are prone to damage or needing adjustment. A slip on a wet rock or fall down a steep bank can quickly loosen a scope mount or knock prism out of alignment. Even being transported in a poorly designed case can cause the best scope to become less accurate. Without open sights and the ability to use them a hunter might as well guess where his or her shots will go. There are also times when conditions make a scope impractical, such as close quarter shots or during heavy rain & snow. This is why almost every big game guide will ensure their backup gun, the one they use when the wounded game turns on the client, is equipped with open sights.

So, if you are looking to purchase a new firearm make sure it is equipped like the professionals – with open sights. If not, I recommend making this your first addition; it only cost a fraction of the other bling you will be tempted to buy and is well worth the investment.

The time between when hunting season ends and the fishing season begins can be torture for sportsmen. Stuck indoors with no game to chase or fish to hook can make a few short months seem like many long years. If only you had a reason to get into the woods.  Why not give shed hunting a try?

For those of you familiar with the term shed hunting is exactly what it sounds like – hunting for shed antlers. In the past few years, the practice has sky rocketed, going from a hobby enjoyed by few to one which now even has enthusiasts training their dogs to assist in the search. Some do it to find antlers for use in craft projects, others to better understand the patterns of deer on the property or simply to get outdoors during this otherwise blank period. Regardless of your motivation, let me provide some basic information and tips to get you started.

The first thing you need to do is locate a potential hunting area. All you need is somewhere deer can regularly be found. Although your normal hunting grounds will certainly do you could just as easily start in your backyard – if deer are seen there regularly.  Remember you are not looking for the same qualities as a potential hunting area such as shooting lanes, good approach & exit avenues or trees to hang a stand.   You are just looking for the deer.

Once you have located a potential property you need to narrow your search to specific areas. Start by locating possible sources of food, water and cover. Next, look for the area where the three merge or are as close as possible to one another – this is the most likely area to find late season deer and the antlers they have dropped. Finally, narrow the search even further by identifying where the deer spend the most time – bedding or feeding areas, south facing slope & travel routes. When searching, travel routes focus on obstacles that cause sudden movement or jumping to navigate such as fence lines, steep stream banks or even downed timber- something that may be just enough to dislodge a loose antler.

Once you have located a hunting property and narrowed your search area all, you need to do now is look. Of course, looking for antlers (or anything else) in the vast outdoors is far harder than it sounds. They are naturally camouflaged and appear much smaller when lying in a winter field than when they sat atop a potential trophy. The best advice is to go slow and look then slow down even more and look again.  Remember how hard it can be to see a buck bedded in front of your stand or sliding through the briars near your blind? Same thing only now you are looking for a very tiny part of the buck. Avoid searching large areas all at once; instead, scan small sections piece by piece. Like putting a puzzle together in reverse.