Scent elimination!!! I try to be as scent free as possible when WHITETAIL hunting. When prepping for a hunt, wash your clothes, take a scent free shower, use scent free storage, and always spray down when headed out to the FIELD. - Derek Slocum
Hunter Bio:
I am an avid hunter/outdoorsman. My dad introduced me to hunting when I was 10 and I have been hunting ever since.
Don't become complacent with shooting your bow once season starts. Shooting one arrow a day will help you maintain consistent form and stay mentally sharp. This will build confidence when the opportunity to draw back on an animal presents itself. - Sean Curran
Hunter Bio:
Sean is an avid bowhunter, waterfowler, below-average turkey hunter, aspiring photographer and the Vice President of Membership and Corporate Partnerships for Sportsmen’s Alliance. Family traditions rooted in the outdoors can be traced back to Sean’s earliest years where spending time with his Grandpa camping, fishing, and learning the ways of the woods was a summertime ritual. Later in life his uncle taught the hunter education course which lit the hunting fire that has been burning hot ever since. Bowhunting for rutting whitetails and chasing migrating waterfowl with his faithful Chesapeake Bay retriever, Timber, are at the top of list for Sean’s favorite hunting pursuits. However, without a doubt, the top priority is passing on those same family traditions to his own children and those he teaches as a hunter education instructor.
Sit still. It's seemingly simple advice that modern deer hunters sometimes forget because of all the distractions we bring to the stand. Whitetails have excellent eyesight, and if you're moving at the wrong time—to glass, call, spray doe pee, or check your cell phone—they will see you. Plan your movements before you make them. - Will Brantley
Hunter Bio:
Will Brantley is the hunting editor for Field & Stream magazine
Don't over hunt your best spots too early in the season. During the early season, hunt the fringes of your property like field edges and foodplots. Save those prime hunting spots like travel corridors between bedding areas and food sources for the rut. You can't hunt that big buck if you blow him out of your area in the early season! - Derek Dirnberger
When hunting whitetails away from home, I spend a lot of time hunting public ground that requires walk-in access. Through unfortunate experience, I have learned the true benefit to being able to employ the lashing systems and meat shelves in packs like the Traverse-X or new Hybrid-X, to get all of my whitetail hunting necessities in deep while maintaining capacity and reducing fatigue. These western-based ALPS designs offer many benefits to the whitetail hunter, so don't overlook them when looking for a new deer hunting pack. - Laden Force
Hunter Bio:
An avid bowhunter and outdoorsman from northern Missouri, Laden is the associate publisher of North American Whitetail Magazine and a team member of North American Whitetail TV.
Begin training several months before your actual hunt. Train in the gear that you will be using on your trip so you can break in your shoes to avoid blisters and know how much weight you can handle in your pack. Big game hunting is usually done in high altitude which is going to make your training even more important. - Adam Brune
Hunter Bio:
If you are going rifle hunting be sure to practice shooting at the upper distances you have the potential to shoot at. Most times you will be stretched to your limits when hunting out west and being comfortable shooting long distances will help make sure you make an ethical shot. - Adam Brune
Hunter Bio:
Adam is a Product Director at ALPS OutdoorZ. He enjoys hunting for whitetail, big game, waterfowl, and turkey.
Minimalize your decoy setup while remaining effective by using only a jake decoy. Your hen calling is a "Hen Decoy" that the gobbler can not see and the lone, non-aggressive jake decoy will lure that gobbler in close for a fight. - Shane Simpson
When aiming your shotgun at a wild turkey, put your sights on the middle or base of the neck, not the head. Wait until he comes out of strut before shooting so more of the neck is vulnerable to your pattern. - Matt Lindler
If you hunt an area devoid of big trees, like West Texas, try a layout blind it works like a champ for turkey, plus it's really comfortable, easy to transport and low profile. - Darren Jones
Hunter Bio:
Darren works in the industry and is a former hunting and fishing guide
A right handed shooter has a greater range of motion when swinging left, and a left handed shooter has a greater range of motion swinging right. So, when setting up on an approaching gobbler, a right hander should position for a 10 o'clock shot and a left hander should position for a 2 o'clock shot. These positions will provide the greatest range of motion if that gobbler doesn't come out exactly where you expected. - Derek Dirnberger
Concealment, concealment! This is one of the most important factors to consider when waterfowl hunting. whether your hunting in layout blinds, water or timber make sure that you are staying well hidden and blending into the surrounding terrain. - Zach Scheidegger
Hunter Bio:
My name is Zach Scheidegger and I have been working at Alps Outdoorz for over 10 years now. I have been passionate about the outdoors since I was a child. I was shooting a BB Gun as soon as dad would let me and that quickly lead to me sitting in the deer stand with him at 6 years old. Throughout the years I began to hunt most everything Missouri had to offer. I'm blessed now to be able to share this passion with my wife while both of us pass the appreciation for the outdoors to our 3 children.
Take the first couple hunts of the season and focus on the dog. All that work training over the summer can unravel very quickly when the uncontrolled variables of the live hunt come into play. Taking the first couple hunts to make sure the training transfers to the field is well worth the time and will make for a smoother overall season. - Josh Miller
Hunter Bio:
Josh is the owner of River Stone Kennels and http://www.britishlabradors.com/
Practicing your shot for upland hunting is just as important as making sure your deer rifle is sighted in. When I practice for upland season I like to use a hand thrower. This allows different angles/directions of flight for the clay bird, which is more life like than an automatic thrower. - Colby Smith
Hunter Bio:
As you physically prepare for the upcoming season, don't forget about your four legged hunting partner. The average hunting dog runs 2-3 times as far in a hunt than the owner walks so it is important that we get them off the couch and back in shape before opening day. - Josh Miller
Hunter Bio:
It doesn't matter if you are using a mouth call or an electronic call, using correct call sequences can make or break your day. All predators can be different, so best thing to do is keep a log of what worked on what type of predator and what didn't, how long your sequence was, and wind direction. - Colby Smith
Hunter Bio:
I am lucky enough to have grown up in a house where dad taught me how to hunt, and mom cooked what we harvested. I have been hunting with my father since I was a child, and learned a great deal about not only the game we chased but the environment we hunted in. Hunting for me has been more about the LESSONS that I have learned in the timber, than the kill. I am glad that one day I will be able to pass down the same lessons to my children that my father once taught me.
When coyote hunting, being completely still is a big part to making it a successful hunt. Coyotes have the ability to pick up movement FASTER than you can reach down to crab your candy bar. - Derek Slocum
Hunter Bio:
My name is Derek Slocum and I am on the Product Development team at ALPS OutdoorZ. I have been an OUTDOORS-MEN/hunter since I was 10, when my dad introduced me to hunting. since then I have ACTIVELY hunted small game to big game, upland to waterfowl, and the spaces in between. I look forward to the day when I am able to pass down the passion and obsession with the outdoors to my kids, as my farther did to me.
