Hunting

Bob Simek encouraged hunters to follow a few simple safety rules ("ACT Sure") that can prevent hunting related shooting incidents:

* Assume every gun is loaded. Unload guns when not in use, but never take chances with any firearm;

* Control the muzzle - keep it pointed in a safe direction;

* Trigger finger -- off the trigger until ready to shoot.

* Sure of your target and beyond.

* Wear Hunter Orange. Don't be a victim! Four out of five hunters wear hunter orange and, since 1992, not one of them was mistaken for a deer and killed. The experience of millions of hunters, as well as many scientific studies indicate that deer are not alarmed by hunter orange.

Safety-conscious hunters are reducing the number of firearms-related injuries, but falls from tree stands result in four-times as many serious injuries as shooting incidents. Hunters who use tree stands are reminded to follow the following safety rules:

* Strap in - use a safety harness that supports the legs and torso, with a SHORT tether to prevent falls;

* Climb up and down with your safety harness. Most falls happen while climbing or getting in and out of the stand;

* NEVER climb with a gun or bow; raise and lower them with a rope --UNLOADED; and

* Use sturdy, portable tree stands. Permanent stands can rot.

Hunting With Your Camera

Tips for Photographing Wildlife

By Wildlife Reporter Arch Rogers

1) Be Patient - Sometimes nature is on its own time table and you can not speed it up or or slow it down.

2) Nature Rules - Nature always wins. There will always be photo opportunities for you each day. You will never get them all because you weren't ready or you came by 2 minutes too late. In fact, you may still be talking about an opportunity that you didn't capture that occurred 5 years ago. Look forward to the next opportunity.

3) - Be There At The Right Moment And Be Prepared - If you have a camera in hand, always be prepared and ready. Plenty of opportunities are missed because of not being prepared.

4) Be Patient - Need I say more? No patience... no good photographs.

5) Understand The Language Of The Birds - Study the language of the birds (Bird Language Tab On Top) to help you identify photo opportunities.

6) Learn To See With Outdoor Eyes - Learn to see with Outdoor Eyes (Outdoor Eyes Tab On Top) to help you identify photo opportunities.

7) You Don't Have To Be Close To Large Wildlife - It's very simple. Large animals are big and they can be photographed from a farther distance away.

8) Photograph Wildlife In Normal Behavior A photograph of an animal in normal behavior is more interesting since many people have never seen wildlife in normal behavior.

9) Try To Photograph An Unobstructed Eye - When we view a photograph of wildlife, our eyes always look straight to the eye of the animal similar to the same way we establish eye contact with another person.

10) Learn The Safety Distance From Small Wildlife - By learning the safety distance to a small animal, you will frighten less animals away.

11) Small Wildlife Appear Even Smaller - Try to photograph small animals from a low camera position to accentuate their size.

12) Learn To Photograph Wildlife On The Move - Practice photographing wildlife that is moving in your backyard or at the park.

13) Wildlife Will Continue To Remain In Baseline If Not Perceived Threatened -
All wildlife that doesn't feel threatened will continue to go about their normal wildlife ways. Learn how to stop and remain still until the wildlife considers you safe.

Arch Rogers

Join legendary Outdoorsmen Bob Simek and Bill Rogers each week for the most captivating 30 minutes on television: American Outdoors. High Adventure, Fishing, Hunting and High-Tech Gear Reviews for the water, the woods and the wilds.