> Introduction to the Critters

Physiology, behavior, life cycle, seasonality, traits, food, habitat

• Deer

• Hogs

• Turkey

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> Introduction to the Georgia Woods

Notable flora and fauna and the role they play.

• Squirrels, hawks, buzzards, whip-o-wil, owls, coyotes, otter, raccoon, box turtles, copperheads, rattlesnakes, black rat snake, kingsnake, coral snake, yellow jackets, wasps, poison ivy & oak, lady slippers, white and red oak, hickory, pine, persimmon, apple, peaches, blackberries, clover, fescue, rye

• Weather...wind speed & direction, barometric pressure, temps, fog, different kinds of rain & cold.

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> Fall Hunting Season/Deer

• Anatomy

• Food type and timing

• Behavior

• Early season

• Mid-Season

• Rut

• Post Rut and secondary rut

• Crepuscular behavior

• Moon phases

• Weather

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> Winter Hunting/Hog

• Anatomy

• Food type and timing

• Behavior

• Weather

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> Spring Hunting/Turkey 

• Anatomy

• Food type

• Behavior

• Mating rituals

 

> Licenses

• Hunting

• Big game

• Georgia hunter safety course

 

 

> Clothing, Foot & Head gear

• Hot, cold, wet, protective

• Snake boots, snake pants, snake guards

• Base layer

• Wool vs cotton (death cloth)

• Instant Hot pads

 

 

> Day Pack inventory

• Flashlight(s)

• Compass

• Water/food

• Fire

• Mirror

• Knife with gut hook

• Toilet paper

• Stocking cap

• First aid kit

 

 

> Basic first aid - What’s in the kit

Taking a Wilderness First Aid Course highly recommended

• Bandages

• Clot aid

• Compress

• Ace bandage

• Tweezers

• Benedryl

• Candy bar

• Tourniquet/belt

• Whistle

• Mole skin

• Hand wipes/alcohol pads

• Aspirin/advil/tylenol/antacid/salt tabs/anti-diarrhea

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> Dangers in Hunting

• Weapons

• Stands

• Other hunters

• Elements

• Critters

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> Cel phone usage & software tools, batteries and apps

 

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> Insect control

• DEET

• Themacel

• Gnat hat

 

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> Public land vs Private land

• WMA

• Leased property

• Pin in systems 

• First come,first serve vs dedicated stands

• Food plots

• Bait

 

 

> Where and when - advantages/disadvantages

• Safety

• Ladder stands

• Box stands

• Hang on stands

• Climber

• Ground blind

• Walk and stalk

 

 

> Cover scents & Scent lures 

• Timing

• Type

 

 

> Calls

• Rattling

• Grunts

• Waiting and seeing

• Walk and stalk

• Movement

 

 

> Weapons

• Bow...compound bow, crossbow, air bow

• Safety

• Mechanics & construction, physics, unique dangers

 

 

> Black Powder

• Safety

• Flintlock vs percussion 

• Construction/mechanics/physics, unique dangers

 

 

> Centerfire- Rifle/Shotgun/Pistol

• Safety

• Single shot/Bolt Action/Lever action/Semi-auto

• Caliber/ballistics/cartridge construction/physics

• Misfires/failure-to-feed/failure-to-eject/ricochets/unique dangers

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> Optics/benefits and risks

• Scopes - front vs rear focal planes

• Magnification/eye relief/field of view

• Red dot

• Prism

• Iron sights

• Holographic

• Night vision

• Unique considerations and limitations

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> Taking the Shot

• Identification

• The four quadrants

• Moving/running shots

• Placement

• Tracking

• You made a bad shot...now what?

 

> After the shot

• Field dressing

• Getting it out of the woods

• Keeping it cool

• Report your harvest

• Processors

• Hides and mounts

 

> Woods to Table/Being a Provider/Food

• Food Prep & safety

• Storage

• Ground

• Loins

• Ground

• Stew meat

• Sausage & brats

• Bone broth

• Brining (for hog and turkey)

• Knives, cookware and techniques

• Sous vide

• Smoking

• Sausage

• Jerky

• Recipes and links

 

> Non-Deer Hunting Seasons

• Winter - scouting, blinds, shooting lanes

• Spring - scouting, weapons practice, planting

• Summer - scouting, weapons practice, salt

 

 

> Stewardship of the land

• Food plots

• Biodiversity

• Invasive species

 

> Ethics

Hunting

Harvesting

Quota Hunts

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