Whether, it was the bolt or the deer that triggered the camera (had to be the deer) this kind of photo (click photo for larger view) racks up some confidence in a Spypoint Camera.

The view from the 2nd shooter: a Spypoint ir-c camera

After seeing this photo, I wondered how infared sensors worked. I ‘googled’ the topic and found several articles regarding their function. A quick scan of 2 articles I read (Article 1 and Article 2), shared that the sensors worked by being able to detect changes in temperature within the detection zone of the sensor. How that actually works was not clearly said.

It would appear that more expensive cameras tend to have better sensors. This rewards the user with less ‘mis-fires’ and an increase in detection range.

The After Shot - Allen and his Renfrew County Buck

He’s the new buck in town.

Buck Photo by David McDougall

Unfortunately for me, my long range scanners needed some re-calibrating as I noisily made my way down the large hardwood hill towards the nebula. Bella, our hound of debatable ability, was ranging somewhere to the right of the unfamiliar anomaly and appeared to have no interest in its existence. To cover more ground, I thought it might be advantageous for me to explore and enter the heart of the evergreens. So, I changed my course and started moving towards the trees at approximately half impulse.

Long range sensors picked up nothing. Neither did, Bella.

Within seconds of entering the initial picket of thick tamarack branches, I heard the snap of twigs about 30 yards ahead of me. I could have reacted faster, but my hat and rifle were in the clutches of the various evergreen branches that surrounded me. In frustration, I managed to scan ahead of me (with my hat stuck in the tree behind me) and watched a thick main beam and a brown deer flank cloak into the depths of the organic nebula.

There was no time for a shot or even a look into my scope. Of course, it would have been pointless anyway. Cloaking devices always helped those pesky Romulans on TV.

The deer’s technology was so effective, that Bella barely whimpered when she scurried past his last known location. I don’t think she’s calibrated to pick-up tachyon emissions.

The thing that stands out to me is that this buck was quite content to stay bedded down in the middle of these out-of-place evergreens. He would not have moved if I had skirted around the dense ‘swath’ of land. When you do your own deer drives, make sure you find a way to enter the thick cover-even if it seems to small to be of any value.

Bring your tricorder or Starfleet Engineer.

*My reloaded blog posts are some of my favorite previous posts made current again.

This blogger has been fortunate enough to enter the forest realm of these game birds twice this fall. Both trips have proven that the grouse still has a significant home-field advantage. A third, upcoming, trip could prove to be the end of the bird’s current advantage.

I will be armed with these ‘unofficial’ tenets of grouse hunting:

1. Where there is one grouse, there is more. Do not get frustrated when you scare one grouse out of cover. Shoulder your shotgun and scan the tree (or ground cover) it flew out of. Chances are there is another bird waiting and watching for you to make the next move.

2. Grouse can be bunkered when wet. Not sure where to start your hunt? Look low and under evergreens when hunting for grouse in inclement or cloudy weather. The branches offer protection and dry hiding spots.

3. Grouse can be sun strutters and roosters. On my last grouse hunt, the grouse were invisible until the clouds rolled out and sunny skies moved in. This was when we caught glimpses of them strutting across logging roads or roosting in sun-kissed hardwood branches.

4. Grouse have cloaking technology. When you see a grouse walking into cover, time becomes limited for the hunter. The moment you are sure of your target and what is beyond, waste little time pulling the trigger. Waiting gives the stealthy chickens time to spool up their forest-cloaks hyperdrives and the bird you thought would materialize on the other side of the log will have vanished.

5. Grouse will fly erratically into thick cover. Unless you are hunting grouse along the tree lines of large fields, expect a spooked grouse to fly in a way that makes it difficult to anticipate much lead time. Tree branches will snap, crackle and pop when a grouse flies through them to evade your shotgun’s bead. Try to get them on the ground before they launch.

6. Grouse react to a hunter’s stop. If you see a grouse on the ground, resist the urge to stop, look and raise your gun. Instead (with practice) be fluid in raising your gun while walking and stopping only to aim your bead at the bird’s feathered body. It has been my experience that the grouse become more alarmed by becoming motionless when you suddenly stop and prepare your shot. They will wait until you begin to raise your gun to take off for a more difficult shot.

A cloaked grouse

* My tenets are only generalizations. Tenets may vary in your area

With an upcoming moose season, I hope we will snap a few more pictures of these wary animals. For some game camera set-up tips follow this link from Moultrie Game Feeders.

Have you captured a buck or doe (on your camera or game cam) that has reached the top of your Most Wanted List for 2010? Why not enter the Muskoka Outdoors Most Wanted Deer Photo Contest?

The increase in velocity speeds should equate to an 8-inch lead distance at 40 yards if you shoot as you normally would. This will help insure that your shot hits more of your flying target’s vital areas.

A patent pending Xelerator Wad is the key behind this breakthrough in firepower. Developers from Remington explain the science this way:

“The primer ignites a small portion of the powder charge captured in the “Ignition Chamber”, this captive charge accelerates the wad and payload forward until the remainder of the powder charge is ignited. The increased volume behind the wad allows for the remainder of the propellant to burn, driving the shot to 1700 fps without causing excessive pressure – all in just a fraction of a millisecond.” Kevin Cross  – Remington Researcher

You can download the official press release here

In the meantime, Remington will be making this hot new ammo available soon. Visit Remington.com for more details.

The seminar starts at 10 AM and ends at 2 PM. The admission is free with a donation of canned good item that will be used for local food share programs. Follow this link to register

Rackstacker is Proudly Canadian!

Rackstacker is a Canadian company that provides a special Canadian blend of seed to better suit our Canadian ground chemistry. If you have been disappointed in an American equivalent – it is probably because it was not designed for our northern locales.

Regrettably, I will be attending a turkey seminar in Haliburton and will not be able to attend this event.

1 of DU's Free Wallpapers

The article written by, Keith Sutton, is worth checking out. His recommendations are simple and straight forward. For example, his first tip is:

“Duck caller reeds sometimes freeze or stick in frigid weather. Prevent gum-ups by using a product such as Rain-X or Aquapel that�s made to deter rain, snow and ice buildup on windshields. A few drops rubbed on the reed with a cloth make the reed less likely to stick in the heat of a cold-weather hunt.” Entire Ducks Unlimited Duck Hunting Article Here

I wonder if that tip would work on fly fishing rod line guides? It might mean I could start the season earlier…

Ducks Unlimited also has a Canadian Site Here

*Thanks to KevinBOneill on Twitter for finding this article.