Hunting Blog

Elk hunting with black powder cartridge rifles is a popular option for those hunters who like to experience hunting like their ancestors did more than one hundred years ago. While some consider this method too smoky and untidy to be of any use, it is also known to be a most precise and efficient method for hunting many different types of game

Successful elk hunting with black powder cartridge rifles takes a good amount of time and skill to master. Those who choose this method of hunting will no doubt spend hours in practice. Yet with every step of improvement, there will be greater satisfaction when a hunt ends with success.

Those who opt for elk hunting with black powder cartridge rifles will find that they have a number of options to consider. There is much to learn to be successful in this hunting endeavor. Not only does one have to choose the type of rifle they will use, decisions must be made on caliber, butt stock, rifle length, sights and component selection. One must then learn how to hand load ammunition. While this may sound like a daunting task, with practice it becomes quite routine. It is not unheard of for hunters who use this method to also cast their own bullets.

When elk hunting with black powder cartridge rifles, most hunters spend hours not just in practice, but also out in the field learning how to efficiently handle this type of firearm. It is quite different than the conventional weapon of modern day hunting and requires some adjustment. Elk are not only elusive creatures; they are massive, with thick hides and large internal organs. It is no secret that any firearm and its ammunition used for hunting elk must be strong enough to bring down big game. This is especially true when hunting in this manner as there is no automatic reloading option.

Another aspect of elk hunting with black powder cartridge rifles is that of cleaning. The great amount of powder has a tendency to make things really messy for some hunters. Proper care and cleanliness is key to maintaining equipment that remains in good condition. Powder has a tendency to collect on certain areas of the gun and harden. Should this happen, the accuracy and precision of the firearm can be affected greatly. It is not uncommon for a shooter to use a blow tube to keep powder from hardening in the bore until a more thorough cleaning can be completed. There are many kits available for the cleaning of black powder cartridge rifles.

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The author of this article is Verlyn Ross, the owner of http://hunting-success.com  Copyright provisions apply.  However, this article may be published , if done 100% in it’s entirety  including this author’s acknowledgement.

Elk are considered to be one of the largest of quarries for a hunter, making elk hunting a special type of activity. These large animals also have larger than life calls and mating rituals. They can be blatantly aggressive or relatively timid. Those who participate in hunting elk on a regular basis are likely to have quite a story or two of coming in close contact with these majestic creatures. A male elk, or bull, can reach seven to eight hundred pounds easily. Regardless of size, many hunters enjoy the challenge of hunting elk because they are extremely cunning and it takes great skill to get close to them.

Successful elk hunting relies on several elements. One of those elements is timing. Many elk hunters plan their hunt in the fall during mating season. The seasoned hunter also understands what time of the day elk are most active and when they are not. They also know how temperatures can affect a hunt. Those who are just beginning their interest in elk hunting would do well to hire a guide their first few times out. Elk can be found in a range of areas. Not only will a guide know the area well, he or she will be able to better ensure a successful hunt with valuable tips and advice.

Another element of successful elk hunting is called bugling. Bugling is something the male elk does during mating season to locate females and challenge other males. Hunters who bugle for males find it is the one delicate aspect of a hunt that can have disastrous effects when used either too much or too little. The effective use of this kind of call requires the hunter to have enough experience to know where the boundaries of using such an instrument are. Most calls on the market often come with manuals or recordings that demonstrate how to properly and effectively use the instrument. 

There are also calls that mimic female elk, or cows. Many hunters also use these instruments during elk hunting to lure a bull closer. Upon getting the bull into an advantageous spot, one can move in for the final shot. However, as with the male elk call, vocalizing too much or too little can cause elk to stop calling or move out of an area altogether. When using such an instrument, many hunters find the better the quality, the better the results. Elk are well known for their ability to instantly discern danger in an area; therefore, it is necessary to sound as realistic as possible.

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The author of this article is Verlyn Ross, the owner of http://hunting-success.com  Copyright provisions apply.  However, this article may be published , if done 100% in it’s entirety  including this author’s acknowledgement.

Author’s Note:  I have personally experienced many Iowa pheasant hunting seasons.  It’s a tough bird, certainly not an easy hunt.  What a great experience!

The ring-necked pheasant, native to Asia, was introduced to Iowa about 1900 after being successfully introduced to the North American continent in 1881.

Their introduction to Iowa was the result of a storm that destroyed the pens of breeder William Benton of Cedar Falls, freeing about 2,000 pheasants into the wild.

In 1910 the Department of Natural Resources began stocking the birds and today the ring-neck pheasant has become the premier game bird of Iowa

The combination of Iowa’s grasslands and croplands makes the state one of the top pheasant harvesting areas in the country.  Many refer to Iowa as the pheasant hunting capitol of the nation, making Iowa pheasant hunting an important part of the state’s economy

For any hunter wanting an Iowa pheasant hunting experience, the state offers classic pheasant habitat featuring cornfields with wide, grassy draws, large tracts of Conservation Reserve Program grassland, and thorny brush–excellent for shielding the birds from predators.

The future success of Iowa pheasant hunting depends on maintaining the pheasant habitat, which currently varies from generally improved on public lands to frequently ideal on CRP acres. A lack of uniformity characterizes conditions on private land, where farmers remove habitat and acres to enlarge fields thereby diminishing its value as habitat for pheasants and decreasing their numbers.

The north-central area of the state has, over the years, offered the best Iowa pheasant hunting opportunities, thanks in part to the actions of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources both on public and private land.

However, efforts on public lands, including planting of native grasses, wildflowers and grain crops, have been offset by farming practices on private land. New farming techniques as well as structural development, residential and commercial, have eliminated more acres than have been replaced by the IDNR–thereby affecting future Iowa pheasant hunting prospects.

Information important to the hunter interested in Iowa pheasant hunting can be found from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, which undertakes a yearly, roadside survey the first two weeks of August, when an attempt is made to assess the pheasant population. On cool, sunny mornings with heavy dew, hen pheasants bring their chicks to the roadside to dry off before they begin feeding. While the pheasants are on the roads conservation officers and biologists have an opportunity to count the number of broods and their size as they travel 6,300 miles of gravel roads. Other species of wildlife are counted as well as pheasants and the information is used to produce Iowa’s small game distribution map.

Although helpful in estimating pheasant numbers, the August survey numbers don’t always reflect the number of pheasants hunters report finding. Discrepancies could be due to the timing of the survey and the timing of the spring hatch, and lower populations reported in August don’t always translate into lower harvests during hunting season.

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The author of this article is Verlyn Ross, the owner of http://hunting-success.com  Copyright provisions apply.  However, this article may be published , if done 100% in it’s entirety  including this author’s acknowledgement.

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