Are you a bow hunting beginner looking to master this unique and ancient method of hunting game? The sport of bow hunting has gained a lot of popularity over the last fifty years. Many sportsman like the greater challenge of hunting an animal with a bow, rather then with a high powered hunting rifle. To get the most from this style of hunting here are some tips for bow hunting beginners.

Have the right equipment. Longbows, recurve and compound bows are the three most common types with compound bows being the bow of choice by the vast majority of hunters now. The cams and pulleys of a compound bow increase the force and power of the arrow as it is shot. When the bow is at full draw there is a significant decrease in the tension needed to hold at that position. This assists the archer in aiming as he can relax slightly at full draw. In hunting he can also hold the position longer which can be necessary to get the best shot at the game animal. This explains why the compound bow is by far the top choice of bow hunters today. Selecting the correct size bow for the individual is important to allow for the best shooting performance. Be sure to select the arrows that are correct for the bow you are using. Since different bows have different draw lengths it is vital to select the arrows that match up with he draw length of the bow. To short or too long will obviously not work well.

Makes certain you are well aware of all the applicable hunting regulations for the area you plant to hunt. Each state or province will have its own set of laws and regulations. Some areas have specific rules for broad head arrows to be used for hunting big game animals such as deer, bear and elk. Expensive fines can be levied for using the wrong type of arrow head. It is the hunter’s responsibility to know and follow all local laws.

Here is something to think about for all bow hunting beginners. Are you a hunter who uses a bow? Or are you an archer who also goes hunting? Regular archery practice is the best way to become a successful bow hunter. Do not put away your bow at the end of one hunting season, and then only take it out the following year and expect to be very proficient. For maximum skill learn the proper technique and practice on a regular basis, ideally year round. Remember – Practice makes perfect!

If possible take trips to the woods that you are expecting to hunt and do this throughout the year, not just right before hunting season. This will give you an opportunity to really learn the area and also to practice your stalking abilities Stalking skills can be very important since the effective range for a bow is only about 50 to 70 yards and a shot of about 30 yards is considered ideal. While becoming familiar with the potential hunting area you can also find where you might want to put a stand.

Consider using scent neutralizers when you bow hunt. The sense of smell of game animals should not be underestimated. This sense is so far superior to the human sense of smell it can be hard for us to comprehend. Their senses of hearing and sight are also significantly developed. This can make it very difficult to get in position for a good shot at an animal. When you hear a deer snort he is actually smelling the scent in the air. Remember the effect the wind can have in carrying your scent to the animal.

By combining good archery skills, knowledge of animal movement and stealthy movements in the woods you will greatly increase your chances of success when you go bow hunting.

Are you a bow hunting beginner looking to master this unique and ancient method of hunting game? The sport of bow hunting has gained a lot of popularity over the last fifty years. Many sportsman like the greater challenge of hunting an animal with a bow, rather then with a high powered hunting rifle. To get the most from this style of hunting here are some tips for bow hunting beginners.

Have the right equipment. Longbows, recurve and compound bows are the three most common types with compound bows being the bow of choice by the vast majority of hunters now. The cams and pulleys of a compound bow increase the force and power of the arrow as it is shot. When the bow is at full draw there is a significant decrease in the tension needed to hold at that position. This assists the archer in aiming as he can relax slightly at full draw. In hunting he can also hold the position longer which can be necessary to get the best shot at the game animal. This explains why the compound bow is by far the top choice of bow hunters today. Selecting the correct size bow for the individual is important to allow for the best shooting performance. Be sure to select the arrows that are correct for the bow you are using. Since different bows have different draw lengths it is vital to select the arrows that match up with he draw length of the bow. To short or too long will obviously not work well.

Makes certain you are well aware of all the applicable hunting regulations for the area you plant to hunt. Each state or province will have its own set of laws and regulations. Some areas have specific rules for broad head arrows to be used for hunting big game animals such as deer, bear and elk. Expensive fines can be levied for using the wrong type of arrow head. It is the hunter’s responsibility to know and follow all local laws.

Here is something to think about for all bow hunting beginners. Are you a hunter who uses a bow? Or are you an archer who also goes hunting? Regular archery practice is the best way to become a successful bow hunter. Do not put away your bow at the end of one hunting season, and then only take it out the following year and expect to be very proficient. For maximum skill learn the proper technique and practice on a regular basis, ideally year round. Remember – Practice makes perfect!

If possible take trips to the woods that you are expecting to hunt and do this throughout the year, not just right before hunting season. This will give you an opportunity to really learn the area and also to practice your stalking abilities Stalking skills can be very important since the effective range for a bow is only about 50 to 70 yards and a shot of about 30 yards is considered ideal. While becoming familiar with the potential hunting area you can also find where you might want to put a stand.

Consider using scent neutralizers when you bow hunt. The sense of smell of game animals should not be underestimated. This sense is so far superior to the human sense of smell it can be hard for us to comprehend. Their senses of hearing and sight are also significantly developed. This can make it very difficult to get in position for a good shot at an animal. When you hear a deer snort he is actually smelling the scent in the air. Remember the effect the wind can have in carrying your scent to the animal.

By combining good archery skills, knowledge of animal movement and stealthy movements in the woods you will greatly increase your chances of success when you go bow hunting.

Well the time has come in my state to stand and be counted as a successful bow hunter. It is time for all that practice and preparation to pay off. I always say that I enjoy getting out there so much that if I get one it is just icing on the cake. I do mean it but I also really enjoy eating venison and elk meat.

Now it will take some skill, properly functioning hunting equipment, a dose of good luck and a winning attitude. To increase my chances, I am checking all my hunting clothes. Good camouflage clothing is an absolute must for me. Bow hunting for deer and elk requires a certain amount of stealth. If they see you but don’t smell or hear you and even sometimes when they hear you as well, you may still get a clean shot. I’ve had a large buck deer see me at 150 yards and by walking very slowly and deliberately towards the animal I got a clean shot at 60 yards. Every time I saw his ears stand up or his head pull up I stopped any motion. I held that pose until he went back to grazing and then I slowly inched forward very gently landing my feet so as not to crack a branch or twig. At 60 yards the buck turned 180 degrees and started to walk away from me. I aimed and released at 65 yards. After my shot, the deer ran over a small ridge and disappeared. I had just spent over one hour sneaking up on it and I was mentally and physically drained. The large deer had looked at me several times, but did it see me?

I had maneuvered myself in front of a stand of trees before attempting to walk up to the mule deer. I did this because of the great camo clothes I had on that would break up my silhouette. Deer and especially elk have very good eyesight but they react to movement. When bow hunting deer or bow hunting elk, you stand a better chance at filling a tag if you have hunting clothes that allow you to blend into your environment. I have been buying camouflage hunting clothes from Cabela’s for many years now and have been very pleased. They hold up well in the dense undergrowth of the Pacific Northwest. Also, I am built like your standard stump and I always find a good fit.

I especially appreciate Cabela’s micro tech camo shirts and pants for the early bow hunting season. They provide great concealment and they breathe so I am not sweating when walking uphill for any length of time. By the way, when I walked over the ridge, I spotted a downed mule deer that was huge. Not a large rack, only a 3 pointer, but a huge body. My arrow had pierced the heart and a lung. It ran about 75 yards before it dropped.I was immediately pumped up again even though the real work was about to commence.

Hunting elk has never been considered an easy task but bow hunting elk can offer that highest level of challenge that many hunters are looking for.

Assessing the terrain, getting close, bugling and getting a good shot all have their place for those who choose this method of hunting.

One must be able to combine a number of variables in a very short period of time in order to ensure success. For example, knowing how to quickly choose an appropriate location from which to take the perfect shot requires great skill.

One must also know the capabilities and limitations of their equipment. They must devote many hours of practice to making the particular broadside shot that will bring down this massive animal.

The hunting of elk with a bow requires that hunters get much closer to their quarry than those hunting with a rifle. While some hunters prefer to move in toward their target, others like to get close, bugle and then move away, mimicking a cow on the move and leading a bull into a certain location.

Many find it is easier to set up and wait for the animal to make an entrance than to sneak up on this creature known for its ultra sensitive ability for detecting danger. The shot must be made with special arrows strong enough to pierce the thick hide, cartilage and into the internal organs of large game animals.

Because one must get so close when hunting elk with a bow, being able to recognize a solid location in which to take a shot becomes extremely crucial.

Many hunters do not realize just how large an elk actually is until the animal is upon them. Not only are elk larger than life, their behaviors, mating rituals and distinctive bugle have been known to outright intimidate even the most experienced hunters.

Whether the animal is timid or aggressive, it is important to never put oneself in a bad position just to get close. The unpredictability of hunting is the number one reason safety plays such a major role in this sport.

The hunting of elk with a bow requires that one understand the necessity of what is called a broadside shot. Although an elk may bolt for a number of yards, this type of shot placed just behind the shoulder ensures that both lungs will be pierced eventually taking the animal down.

Many seasoned bow hunters decline the straight on chest shot for fear of hitting only one lung and losing their quarry when it bounds off. When this happens, many find that by the time the elk is tracked down, the meat is of no use.

All of the above is why so many bow hunters find that the use of a bow in hunting elk may be the greatest challenge they have ever faced in hunting.

Believe it or not, many people enjoy bowhunting. Most people enjoy bowhunting because the season runs longer than it does for gun hunting. In addition, people like it because of the challenge it provides. You have to be skilled to shoot animals at a fairly close range. In order to get close to your prey, you have to practice being extremely quiet and still. If you are just beginning to practice archery, this may be something you want to try. If so, you are going to need some bowhunting equipment.

The most important piece of bowhunting equipment is the bow. If you plan on hunting big game such as deer or elk, then your bow should have a draw weight of at least 50 pounds. In addition, you need to be able to distinguish between the different types of bows. The most commonly used bow for hunting is the compound bow. This modern bow uses as a levering system composed of cables and pulleys. It is energy efficient and insensitive to temperature changes allowing for greater accuracy, velocity, and distance. If you are looking for an energy efficient bow that is easy to use, you may want to try a composite bow. When used for hunting, the longbow can kill game as big as an elephant, but it is difficult to handle. Although it isn’t as popular as the other bows, you can also use a crossbow when hunting.

Once you’ve chosen a bow, the next piece of bowhunting equipment you need to choose from are arrows. If you are going to be hunting smaller game, fiberglass arrows may be for you. They can be fitted to draw weight and length. Although fiberglass arrows are consistent and reliable, they tend to break easily. Although they are expensive, hunters can also aluminum or carbon composite arrows. In addition, many hunters use broadhead arrows. Broadhead arrows are designed to inflict massive bleeding. The two types of broadhead arrows to choose from are fixed blade and mechanical. Fixed blade arrows keep the blades rigid and immovable, while mechanical arrows deploy blades when they hit their target.

In addition to bows and arrows, there are several other pieces of bowhunting equipment you can buy. When bowhunting you should wear clothes to protect your skin and that match the color of the environment. Pliers, allen wrenches, spare arrows, release aids and adhesives are also good to have in case you need to tune your arrow while you are hunting. You may also want to invest in a first aid kit in case any accidents happen while you are hunting. Good luck.

Elk are members of the deer family which comprises ( from largest to smallest ) moose, elk, caribou and deer. The bulls weigh from six hundred to eight hundred pounds or more. Elk have eyes on the sides of their head which lets them see in about any direction except behind them. Elk are large ungulates found in Europe, North America, New Zealand, and the Far East. They are highly flexible, prospering in a large range of environments. Elk now live as far east as Pennsylvania, where they were reintroduced in the early 1900s, and now more than seven hundred elk wander thru forests in the north-central part of the state. Elk populations are also growing in other states where they had virtually vanished.

Elk can be pale grey, tan, or brownish to reddish in color, depending on the species. Bulls have a tendency to be lighter colored than cows. The pale rumped American elk called “”wapiti”", which is Shawnee for “”white rump”", are found in the woods, mountain meadows, foothills, plains, swamps, and coniferous forests of western North America. Elk are powerful and muscular. Bulls are some twenty five percent bigger than cows at maturity. Elk are one of the largest land animals in North America, and are the most common larger mammal found in Yellowstone National Park. They are herbivorous animals who can find lots of food in places where deer typically can’t. They consume an average of 20 pounds of food every day. Elk are ruminant animals, similar to cows, and therefore regurgitate their food and remasticate to help in digestion.

Elk grow antlers that provide a method of defense, as does a powerful front-leg kick, which is performed by either sex if incited. Antlers are made from bone which can grow up to one inch each day. Antlers that are in the growing stage are soft and workable and covered with hairy skin, which is called velvet. Elk shed their antlers starting in late February for the largest males, extending to late April and even early May for the younger ones. Every year they start growing new antlers again in summer. These antlers can weight up to 40 pounds and be up to 5 feet wide.

Elk also lose and replace their hair twice yearly, once in the spring and again in the autumn. They often roll in mud wallows to loosen their dead winter coats and help dislodge annoying parasites. Elk are best viewed at a distance, using binoculars or a spotting scope for close-up viewing.

Elk are primarily crepuscular, most active early in the morning and late in the afternoon. They are timber-oriented animals, preferring to be in the cool shade. Elk are social creatures. They live in summer herds with as many as four hundred others. Elk can live twenty years or longer in captivity, but average 10 to 14 years in natural habitats. Bulls often don’t live as long as cows, seldom exceeding twelve years.

Cows
Starting in the second autumn of their lives, cows generally give birth to a single fawn 8 1/2 months after mating. Calves are precocial, walking right after birth. They are born in late May or early June, and weigh between thirty and forty pounds when born, and 225 to 275 pounds when weaned about six months later. Calves are born with a protecting coloration of light spotted areas on the back which act as camouflage. They grow quickly and lose their spots by summer’s end. Cows often leave their newborn calves vulnerable while they go off to feed, and they fall prey to bobcats, coyotes, and the like.

The Rut
Elk are generally passive animals and though human attacks are rare, they do happen. Elk are big, wild animals and can be deadly, particularly during rut. Antlers are an indication of strength and dominance among males and are used to lure females in the breeding season. Bulls are only territorial during the mating season and are otherwise not assertive toward other elk. Bulls pack on the weight in summer, then show small interest in feed and lose up to 40% of their body weight during the rut. Bull elk that enter the rut in poor condition are less certain to make it thru to the peak conception period or have the strength to survive the severity of the approaching winter.

Bull elk are only capable of breeding from about August to January, and the cows cycle only in that same period. Bulls do not enter actively into the rut till they are about three years old, although they can breed for the 1st time as yearlings, at roughly sixteen months of age. Elk are harem breeders and can mate with as many as 50 cows in a season. There is some evidence that the females select the male. Elk by nature are gregarious at all seasons, but in spring and summer the old bulls often are solitary or in bachelor herds, and typically live apart a lot of the year.

Elk are the noisiest member of the deer family in North America. Bulls have a loud vocalization composed of screams known as bugling, which can be heard for miles. They vie for dominance through bugling, sparring, and chasing wannabe rivals away.

Elk Hunting
Elk are hunted as a game species, and are often subject to limited, legal sport hunting. Hunting has been utilized as an elk management system to keep the amount of elk in balance with their habitat. Hunting license charges make a contribution to elk research, and the acquisition of additional vital elk habitat.

Elk Farming
Although elk are regarded as pests by many farmers, some farmers raise them commercially for hunting, meat production, and velvet collection. The beef for meat production is leaner and higher in protein than meat or chicken, but is typically tougher requiring marinating, grinding, or stewing. Bulls produce velvet each year with an average two-year-old male producing 9 pounds of velvet. The velvet is considered by some cultures to be an aphrodisiac. Western North America, and New Zealand are the home of many commercial elk farmers.

Whether you relish hunting them, eating them, or simply enjoying their majesty, magnificence, and beauty, all must admit that they add depth of appreciation to our lives.

Moose are generally associated with northern forests in North America, Europe, and Russia. These forest-loving animals, prefer home with thick timber and numerous lakes and swamps. Moose are well-suited to, and at there best in the water. Despite their staggering bulk, they are very strong swimmers, and have been known to dive underwater to depths of 13 feet in search of aquatic plants from the bottom. They are primarily cud chewing vegetation browsers.

Winter is a time of hunger for the moose. Their winter diet is needle bearing trees, hardwood bark, pine cones, buds, twigs, and branches, while in summer they feed on the leaves of trees and shrubs, on aquatic plants, forest grasses, and diverse herbs. They are strictly vegetarian, and often seek out the young saplings, and tender bark, but are able to adjust to a vast variety of available forage. Deer, elk, and even rabbits and beaver contend with the moose for food. An adult in winter eats 22 to 30 lbs of food a day, and more than 66 lbs a day during the summer and spring seasons. During the summer months, bulls spend about 25% of their energy growing antlers. In preparation for winter a moose will increase body weight by about twenty-five percent. As winter draws close, moose grow a thicker coat.

Moose are the largest of all the deer species, and one of the largest mammals in North America. Bulls grow to over 9 feet long, six feet tall at the withers, with typical weights well over 1,000 pounds. They are a cloven hoofed mammal with a broad, drooping muzzle that overhangs their mouth. Moose also have a beard-like flap of useless skin under their chin called a dewlap or bell. They have a dark brown, shaggy, course coat, and are long-legged with a short neck, massive shoulders, a sloping rump, and a short tail. The front legs are longer than the hind legs. Bull moose have a dark brown to black muzzle, while the cow moose’s face is light brown. During the winter they turn a grayish color, helping to camouflage them in the snowy expanse. Males produce heavy grunting sounds that can be heard from up to 1000 feet away, while females produce high pitched sounds. Most moose make periodic movements for calving, rutting, and wintering, and are most active from dusk to midnight.and again around sunrise.

Moose are distinguished by the “”palmate”" (flattened like a hand) antlers of the males. They initially have a soft fuzzy skin called “”velvet,”" which is shed once the antlers become fully developed. This velvet has nutrient rich blood vessels in it that help the antlers grow. Moose antlers take three to five months to fully grow. They may grow as much as three-quarters of an inch per day, making them one of the fastest growing animal organs. By late summer when the antlers reach full size, the nutrient rich blood supply dries up and the velvet begins to drop off. After the antlers are completely developed, they are solid bone, and may weigh as much as 50 pounds, and have perhaps more than 30 points.

These antlers can eventually span more than 6 feet. Antlers from mature bulls are dropped after the mating season as early as November, but mostly in December and January, and as late as April. This helps the bulls to conserve energy for the long winter. They are regrown each spring. Typically the next rack being larger than the previous rack. Antlers are a sign of male fitness and health, and are primarily used to demonstrate mating supremacy. If a bull moose is unsexed, either by accident or chemically, he will rapidly shed his current set of antlers and then straightaway begin to grow a new set of malformed, or deformed antlers that he will wear the rest of his life, never shedding again. After antlers are shed, they usually are gnawed or devoured by woodland rodents for their rich calcium content.

Moose are for the most part solitary, and are generally quite docile animals, They have a deep call and a strong scent. They are less gregarious than elk, so one moose may simply mean one moose. But particularly during the rut and through the winter months they commonly form small family groups. Moose are not usually aggressive towards humans, but can be provoked or frightened to behave with aggression. While a male may use its antlers to hold off a predator, a moose’s sharp hooves are its first line of defense. They are able to kick out in all directions, but generally use their front feet.

Moose are fun to watch, but safety while watching is essential. Always watch from a safe and respectful distance. They are bigger and faster than any person, capable of running up to 35 mph, and give little warning before attacking a sensed threat. Bulls thrash brush and bark with their antlers, marking their territory, and if they think you are a threat, they will charge you even if they seem tame or passive. Moose are likely to treat dogs just as they do wolves.

Moose are hunted as a game species in many of the countries where they are located, and are typically hunted from an hour or so before sunrise until sunset, when they are most active. The trophy sized bulls are stalked by venturesome hunters who lure them by imitating their calls with birch bark horns. Moose generally start to produce trophy-size antlers when they are about 6 or 7 years old, with the biggest antlers produced at between 10 to 12 years of age.

The beginning of the rut in August is apparent by the broken brush and stripped bark as the bull moose scrape the velvet off from their antlers. By September and October, bull moose bellow loudly to attract mates. They build rutting pits that also serve to attract the females by splashing urine around in the pit. The females are greatly attracted to bull moose scent. As the bulls prepare to mate, their antlers stop growing. They do not eat much during the rut and lose significant weight.

Adult males, contend for the females, during the rut by bringing their antlers together and pushing or jousting other bulls. A bull in poor health is unable to grow large antlers, and in this way antlers are a dependable indication of his fitness and mating superiority. After one to two days together, the cows leave, and the bull begins searching for another female. Bulls may mate with five or six females during the rut. Bull moose are able to breed as yearlings, but most do not until they are older and can compete with other larger bulls. After the rut several bulls may be seen eating together to fatten up for the upcoming winter.

Cow moose have no antlers and are about 25 percent smaller than the bulls, and they appear even more bony and clumsy. Cows give birth to one or two calves in the spring. New mothers typically birth only one calf. Three calves, or triplets are not common. Newborn calves have a reddish brown coat, with no spots, that will darken with age. They are born any time from the middle of May to early June weighing 20-25 pounds after a gestation period of about 8 months. A newborn calf will start tasting different foods within a few weeks of their birth, and by early August they eat large amounts of vegetation. Moose calves can stand in a day, and swim within a couple of weeks. These calves grow rapidly and can outrun a person by the time they are five days old. A bull calf may develop button antlers during its first year. By late summer or early fall the antlers are fully developed and are hard and bony. Year old bulls usually have spike antlers, and the antlers of two year olds are bigger and usually flat at the ends. Calves are weaned after about six months and stay with their mother for the first year of their life, or until her next young are born. Shortly before the mother cow gives birth again, she will drive her yearling calf away.

Moose are susceptible to a tiny parasite known as brainworm that infects the nervous system and usually causes death. Deer, elk and goats also host the parasite, but they are unharmed because their blood vessels are narrow, keeping the worm from doing damage. Moose also die from severe infestations of winter ticks.

Moose are attracted to salt licks caused by winter road management, so it is not surprising to see them on or very near the road. Moose are very hard to see at night. The coloration of their dark coat makes them nearly invisible after sundown, and extremely difficult to see in the roadway. They are so tall that an automobile will usually pass under the body, causing it to come over the hood into the windshield and roof. Their eyes are usually above the reach of car headlights, and do not reflect back to the driver unlike the eyes of a deer.

Other than man, the main predators of the moose are wolves, and black, brown, and grizzly bears. The bears feed off from the very young calves and the older adults. A mature, healthy moose has few enemies, but a pack of wolves can still be a menace, especially to cow moose with calves. Protective cow moose have been known to kill wolves, grizzlies, black bear, and people in defense of their calves.

Cow moose have been known to live for as long as 20 years, however bull moose generally don’t live longer than 15 years. In spite of the “”not very handsome”" reputation they have, and probably deservedly so, there is a certain intrigue that follows this “”Monarch of the Forest”".

Visit Wet Jet Precision for Wildlife silhouettes, pictures and additional information.

The Medicine Bow National Forest is located in southeastern Wyoming. It ranges from south of Rawlins to the Wyoming-Colorado border, and eastward to just shy of Cheyenne. There are prepared trails to hike and bike, and trails for snowmobile and ATV use. There are campgrounds where you need to pay for a Forest Service permit, and there are areas where you can just throw up a tent. Most Forest Service roads are well marked, and finding your way around is not a problem. Campgrounds are marked, as are points of interest, and spots for watching wildlife. There are many locations where camps had been set up when the railroads were cutting trees for railroad ties, and the shells of the log cabins are still there. There are also many reservoirs for boating and fishing, such as Turpin, near Elk Mountain, and Rob Roy, about 40 miles outside of Laramie.

The biggest reason that I like to camp in the Medicine Bow National Forest, is because I originally come from the Pacific Northwest, having lived in both Washington and Oregon. I like lots of trees. While I was growing up, trees were plentiful, even in the cities. Up here there are trees only where water accumulates. That means in valleys, gullies, ravines, washes, and so on. Not all of Wyoming looks like Yellowstone, or Grand Teton National Parks. There are mountain areas with trees, wildlife, and snow, but much of Wyoming is also wide open, high-country prairie. You will find miles of prairie grass, sage brush, and not many trees.

Because of the high altitude, overnight temperatures are cool, to cold. Some of us who live here even forget that from time to time. At home we can sleep comfortably with only a sheet on the bed, but when you go up into the mountains, you are going up another 1,000 feet, or so, in elevation, and so you may need a long sleeved shirt, a (thicker) jacket, or some extra blankets for your sleeping bag, if not more, depending on the time of the year. During the fall, you may be able to get by with wearing a long-sleeved shirt while hunting mule deer, or antelope, but after night fall, you will need warm clothing.

Larger recreational vehicles are not encouraged during the fall and winter months, when there is typically large amounts of rain, or snowfall. There are those who use RVs for hunting and camping, but they are not the larger ones. The roads are narrow, and slick, when wet or snow covered. The Forest Service also discourages vehicle use during the wetter Spring months, so that roads will not be ruined with tire ruts, or other vehicular damage.

Wyoming is typically a windy state, but while you are up in the mountains, you hardly notice it. There are plenty of trees for cover, and finding a sheltered area for camping is easy.

Most of the Forest is close to populated area, so if equipment is forgotten, or supplies are running short, you are within an hour or two of finding a grocery or convenience store. In the Laramie area, the small communities of Albany and Centennial are in the foothills, and are well stocked. Towards the Rawlins end of the Forest, are the towns of Saratoga and Encampment. Saratoga not only has grocery and convenience stores, but is quite famous for their free hot springs.

We have only camped in the Forest, as a family, a couple of times, but our family has always had fond memories of our trips. I have camped up there frequently, with one son, or another, and whether we come back with any game, or not, we always enjoy our time camping in the Medicine Bow National Forest.

Private elk ranches are scattered all across the United States and Canada. You can get to hunt on one of these ranches and are guaranteed to catch yourself an elk. Many offer meals, places to stay, and a guide. Some outfitters can even offer you a choice of a cabin or room. You can go from a regular bed and breakfast type trip to luxurious hunting cabins that have their own private kitchens and even a hot tub or two! You don’t have to worry about going hungry if you fail to catch anything, you can rest assured that you will get your meals and food to carry with you on the hunt.

Hunting on a private ranch offers you the use of four wheel drive vehicles, ATV’s, horses, or simply foot travel. Since these ranches are stocked with so many wild animals, you are sure to get your kill. Some ranches offer you a state-licensed guide, sometimes this guide is for one or two hunters.

Private ranches are full of different terrain. You can experience hills, thick bush, and wooded areas. Private hunting land helps relieve the pressure caused by the amount of hunting done on public land. The game, that leaves this public land, travel to the private ranches. This makes for thousands of square miles of wilderness land.

Private ranches offer you a package that includes food, accommodation, and guides. The fees for elk hunting [http://www.deerelkhunting.com/equipment/Buying-Used-Hunting-Rifles.html] are fair compared to the costs of many equivalent outfitters. If you choose to go for a week long hunting trip, the cost will be under $1500. You should be careful because you really do get what you pay for with these packages. You will more than likely get five days to hunt, in these five days you will have access to your guides, meals, pack horses, place to stay, and help with recovering any game you kill. The money made from these private ranches goes to help maintain the land and herds.

The internet, magazines, travel agents, or any hunting media can help you find any information you need for your trip. They can show you the best ranches to visit so you can enjoy your elk hunting sport.

TOPIC: The true sportsmen object to “”canned hunts,”" where people pay to kill an animal that is usually docile and lured by “”guides”" into the client’s gun sights.

Ralph A. Saggiomo is an affable sort of fellow, one you probably wouldn’t mind having a couple of beers with, swap a few tales, and discuss just about anything.

He grew up in one of the most rural, most remote parts of the country, and considers himself to have the same values as the Colonials who lived in Pennsylvania more than two centuries earlier. But, he’s also lived in urban America. He was a Philadelphia firefighter for 33 years, the last few in command positions.

After retirement, he moved back to his 75-acre family farm in Sayre, Pa., and continued his work in local civic organizations, becoming president of both the Greater Valley Emergency Medical Services and the Sayre Business Association. He’s a member of the Pennsylvania Governor’s Advisory Council for Hunting, Fishing & Conservation; and was president of the Unified Sportsmen of Pennsylvania, an association that claims about 20,000 members.

For 60 years, Ralph A. Saggiomo has proudly been killing fish and game, both small and large. Name a domestic species, and he’s probably shot at it, wounded it, or killed it.

He says he was told one of his more recent kills was a Dall Sheep; more likely, it was a Texas Dall ram, a lucrative target because of its thick curly horns. The rams, a hybrid of Corsican and Mouflon sheep, are primarily bred to look like the Dall Sheep, native to the mountainous regions of Alaska and the northwest part of Canada. Dall sheep are a challenge to hunters because of their adept ability to escape into the steep mountainous slopes. Domesticated Texas Dall rams pose no such problems.

Whatever he killed–”"dispatched”" and “”harvested”" are the terms hunters euphemistically prefer–Saggiomo didn’t have to go more than 3,000 miles to the subarctic mountains, he only had to go about 50 miles from his home to the Tioga Boar Hunting Preserve. Saggiomo’s day of killing, a gift from his family, was in a fenced-in area.

“”It was a wonderful experience,”" Saggiomo told the Pennsylvania House Game and Fisheries Committee, which was holding a hearing in equally remote Towanda, an hour’s drive east of Tioga, away from the major media and in an area not likely to bring many protestors. The Committee was in Towanda to hear testimony about a bill to ban what has become known as a “”canned hunt.”" For a few thousand dollars, Great White Hunters–complete with rented guides, dogs, and guns or bows–can go into a fenced-in area and shoot an exotic species. In most canned hunts, the animals have been bred to be killed, have little fear of humans, and are often lured to a feeding station or herded toward the hunter to allow a close-range kill. In some of the preserves–Tioga denies it ever used these techniques–animals are drugged or tied to stakes. Some of the “”big cats,”" recorded in investigative undercover videos by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Fund for Animals were declawed, placed in cages, and then released; the terrified and non-aggressive animals were then killed within a few yards of their prisons; some were killed while in their cages.

Canned hunts attract not only ethics-challenged pretend-hunters, but ethics-challenged celebrities as well. Among celebrities who have participated in canned hunts, and who mistakenly believe they are hunters and not cold-blooded killers, are Vice-President Dick Cheney, who has been on several hunts in which the kill was assured; and Troy Gentry of the country-rock duo, Montgomery Gentry.

In December 2003, Cheney and nine of his friends–including former Naval Academy and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), and some Texas high-roller Republican party donors–went to the exclusive Rolling Rock Club in Ligonier, Pa., about an hour’s drive east of Pittsburgh. The owners of the country club, being the good hosts they were, released 500 domesticated and penned-up ring-necked pheasants in the morning. Bird Dog and Retriever News reports that about 40 percent of all domesticated pheasants, if not shot by pretend-hunters, either starve or are killed by predators within the first week of their release; about 75 percent die within a month.

At Ligonier, starvation wasn’t a problem. A game keeper told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that Cheney alone killed about 70 of the 417 killed that day. In the afternoon, having hardly raised a bead of sweat, the good ole boys slaughtered dozens, perhaps hundreds, of equally tame mallards that had been hand-raised and shoved in front of waiting shotguns for the massacre. No one kept score, but by the time Cheney flew out of the area, the mallards were plucked and vacuum-packed, according to the Post-Gazette, ready for flight aboard the taxpayer-funded Air Force 2. The pheasants the hunting party didn’t keep, according to the Dallas (Texas) Morning News, were donated to a local food bank. However, no one involved indicated which food bank, nor did they acknowledge that preparing pheasant is cumbersome, and that such a donation, if it did occur, was probably more of a public relations ploy or a tax-deduction to justify their killing orgy than community service. Nor does any “”donation”" alleviate the reality that people in these non-challenging fenced-in grounds kill because they like the excitement of killing a live animal, often mixed with the sheer joy of watching their prey die. After awhile, the animals are seen only as things to be blasted, essentially living clay pigeons; it is an attitude that true sportsmen abhor.

The owners of the country club didn’t say how much, if anything, the Cheney Pot-Shot Safari paid, but others who go to the exclusive country club/canned preserve pay for each bird or duck killed. It’s in the financial interest of the owners to make sure there’s easy prey.

Even easier prey was a black bear named Cubby. In October 2004, Troy Gentry, who had paid about $4,650 for the tame bear, killed it on a private “”preserve”" in Sandstone, Minn., and then tagged it as if the bear was killed in the wild. There was even an edited videotape of the “”stalking”" and killing by the singer who envisions himself to be an expert archer. There is no law against the murder of animals if done on private property. But, in August 2006, Gentry was in federal court to defend himself against a violation of the Lacey Act, which forbids the false tagging of any animal.

Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), with 10 co-sponsors, introduced a bill (S. 304) in February 2005 to ban the interstate transport of exotic animals for the purpose of them being killed on private preserves. “”There is nothing sportsmanlike or skillful about shooting an animal that cannot escape,”" said Lautenberg at the time he introduced the bill, and emphasized, “”In an era when we are seeking to curb violence in our culture, canned hunts are certainly one form of gratuitous brutality that does not belong in our society.”" That bill is buried in the Senate’s Subcommittee on the Judiciary. A companion bill (HR 1688), introduced in the House of Representatives by Sam Farr (D-Calif.), with 39 co-sponsors, is buried in the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. Under the Republican-controlled Congress, neither bill is likely to emerge from committee.

For his part, President Bush wants to amend the Endangered Species Act to allow trophy-hunting Americans who kill endangered species in other countries to import them into the U.S. The proposal has roots in the Safari Club International; its political action committee has given about $800,000 in campaign contributions, mostly to Republican candidates, since 2000, according to an investigation by the Humane Society of the United States. The plan has the support of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, whose former deputy director was chief lobbyist for the Safari Club before his appointment by Bush. He is now with the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.

Many of the animals on canned hunts are surplus animals bought from dealers who buy cast-off animals from zoos and circuses; the animals sold to the preserves are often aged and arthritic. Dozens of preserves have bought black bears, zebras, giraffes, lions, boars, and just about any species of animal the client could want, solely to be killed, photographed, and then skinned, stuffed, and mounted. Ralph Saggiomo’s sheep may have come from a breeder in Missouri. The proprietors at Tioga, said Saggiomo, “”were gracious, humane and helpful.”"

Those “”humane”" proprietors are the Gee family, which believes their “”preserve”" is really a private farm. Like ones that grow alfalfa and corn. A 1,550 acre private farm–with a fenced-in area of about 150 acres to make that “”sure shot”" more probable. And, while people “”from all over the world”" are killing animals at Tioga, the “”farm”" operation provides significant “”economic benefits”" to the community, according to Michael Gee. There are 14 Pennsylvania farms and about 1,000 in the nation that the proprietors believe are the poster children for the Chambers of Commerce and, most certainly, the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service.

This particular “”farm,”" according to its website, “”features high success rate hunting, youth hunts, hunts with dogs, guided hunts, trophy hunts, Sunday hunting . . . virtually any type of big game hunt you can imagine.”" Whatever “”you can image”" costs $70 a day for food and lodging, plus a kill fee and supplementary costs for skinning and mounting. Pay $595 and you can kill a Texas Dall ram, rocky mountain ram, or Corsican ram. Buffalo are at least $1,250. Elk bulls come for $2,000. And, just in case you have trouble killing one of the nation’s 30 million white-tailed deer–1.6 million of them in Pennsylvania alone–during the bow, crossbow, muzzleloader, rifle, or shotgun seasons, just come to Tioga. For $1,000 “”and up,”" you can get that elusive buck, with a 10-point rack suitable for mounting in your very own trophy room in suburban America. Tioga’s rates are at the lower end of the scale. At other preserves, prices for white-tailed deer, with trophy-sized racks, can be more than $5,000. The costs for some of the exotic “”trophy”"-class animals, usually found only in sub-Saharan Africa, are well over $15,000.

Tioga, like most preserves, guarantees a kill. The clients are told they “”may hunt as long as you wish until you get what you wish.”" No hunting licenses are required, there are no limits, Sunday hunting is permitted, and “”kills are usually made from 25 to 100 yards.”" This “”farm”" even tells prospective clients, “”Wild goat and sheep with large horns are numerous. Hunting them is great sport for the hunter.”" The rocky mountain ram, with “”their big, sweeping, curled horns make a great trophy,”" the Gee family tells prospective clients. Of course, there are some restrictions. No one under the age of 10 is allowed to shoot.

Heidi Prescott, undoubtedly feeling like a peace activist in a convention of Army recruiters, was the only one at the House committee hearing who didn’t fish, hunt, or had close ties to the hunting industry. Prescott is senior vice-president of the Humane Society of the United States, which has a membership of 9.5 million, more than three times that of the National Rifle Association. Prescott showed members of the committee news stories and a separate undercover videotape of canned hunts. Before the hearing, Michael Gee had told a local newspaper that animal rights groups “”just try to bring up extreme cases to prove their point,”" and use it as a “”stepping stone”" to ban hunting. “”If she says anything in that video is from Tioga, that’s a lie,”" Pete Gee, Michael’s father, retorted to the undercover investigation by Emmy-winning investigative reporter Melanie Alnwick of WTTG-TV (Fox News), Washington, D.C. The news story–but not the videotape of the brutal killing of a boar, probably at another game preserve in Pennsylvania–was filmed in early May 2006 at Tioga, according to Aaron Wische, WTTG’s executive producer for special projects.

Most “”kills”" on the “”farms”" are from animals bleeding out. Animals suffer minutes to hours, says Prescott. Canned hunting, says Prescott, “”is about as sporting as shooting a puppy in pet store window.”" Most sportsmen agree with her. The concept of the “”fair chase”" is embedded into hunter culture. The Boone & Crockett Club and the Pope and Young Club (bowhunters), two of the three primary organizations that rate trophy kills, refuse to accept applications from persons who bagged their “”trophy”" on a canned hunt. The Safari Club does allow persons to seek recognition, but only under limitations that most preserves can’t meet.

Members of the committee weren’t convinced that canned hunts need to be banned. Rep. Tina Puckett (R-Towanda) told a reporter before the hearing she believed banning the canned hunt “”could be the beginning of an attempt to say ‘no preserve hunting,’ which then leads to no hunting.”" She said she wouldn’t favor the bill “”because of those down-the-road concerns.”" Rep. Thomas Corrigan (D-Bucks County) says he submitted the bill, which carries 38 cosponsors, for consideration because canned hunts are “”unsporting, cruel, and tarnish the image of all hunters.”"

The House committee kept throwing pointed questions to Prescott; she adeptly batted them back.

The bill that prohibits canned hunting would also be the first step to eliminating all hunting. Not so, said Prescott. Of the 22 states that already ban such practices, “”the hunting culture is still strong.”" She pointed to Montana, which has one of the nation’s strongest hunting cultures. In 2000, following a hunter-led initiative, it became the first state to ban canned hunts, reinforcing the values that true sportsmen believe in fair chase.

The state’s 900 deer and elk farms would be banned. The bill specifically excludes deer, elk, and all other cervidae.

The bill would prohibit farmers or butchers from killing livestock for food. “”No judge in his right mind would interpret it that way,”" retorted Prescott, who said the Humane Society “”would be happy to work with representatives to amend it if members were truly concerned about it.”"

Ralph Saggiomo, according to his official biography published by the Governor’s Advisory Council for Hunting, Fishing & Conservation, has a “”love for the outdoors,”" and has “”spent the greater part of his life enjoying the outdoors and has been able to pass his passion on to all of his children, who have become successful hunters, fishermen, and trappers. His grandchildren are now carrying on the tradition, which his father and grandfather passed on to him.”" Although still active in the Unified Sportsmen of Pennsylvania, if Saggiomo was a sportsman, he wouldn’t have shot a domesticated animal that was lured into his sights and had no way to escape. If he truly understood the beauty and grandeur of the outdoors, he would have allowed animals to live their lives without the intrusion of people who kill not for food or clothing but because their hormones are infused with the ecstasy they get from the kill and the resultant “”trophy,”" which he says now hangs in his den.

[Walter Brasch’s current books are America’s Unpatriotic Acts: The Federal Government’s Violation of Constitutional and Civil Rights and ‘Unacceptable’: The Federal Response to Hurricane Katrina. Both are available through amazon.com and other on-line sources.