The Field & Stream Tips Blog

Sit on Bubble Wrap to Stay Warm and Dry

Steve Wolfe

When I deer hunt, I like to carry a 1/4-inch-thick sheet of plastic bubble wrap to sit on. Not only does it keep me dry, but my body temperature warms up the air in the bubbles, which helps keep me warm—even on wet, cold ground. And, no, the air bubble don't pop as soon as a buck appears.
Steve Wolfe, Camas, Wash.

Release Deer Scents With a Nasal-Spray Bottle

I had an empty nasal-spray bottle, and I boiled it to remove the smell. Then I filled it with some deer lure. Now, when I want to release just a mist of scent, I catch a breeze and squeeze the bottle. It works great, and I don't waste as much deer lure.
Chris Thompson, Elkins, W.V.

Power-Spray Your Skull

When I'm cleaning a skull plate, after I boil it for 20 minutes, I go over it with a pressure washer. This does a great job of cleaning the skull in a short amount of time, plus I don't have to use bleach or peroxide.
John Baggett, Frisco City, Ala.

Carry Candies to Hunt in Stealth Mode

When still-hunting for deer, I used to worry if I was walking too fast. So to make myself slow down, I started keeping a half-full Tic-Tac box in my pants pocket. This way if I can hear the candies jiggling, I know I need to slow down.
Tom Charlton, Muscatine, Iowa

Track Your Kill with a Compass

Whenever I hunt deer from a tree stand—with either a bow or a rifle—I always keep a compass handy. After marking a kill on a deer, I keep my eyes fixed on the last spot where I saw the deer, then I take the compass bearing in degrees on that location. I climb down and follow the compass bearing to the blood trail. This helps me recover deer in thick cover or as foul weather approaches.
Thomas Paquin, via e-mail

Waterproof Your Primer with a Valve Stem Cover

When heading back to a vehicle or to camp after a day muzzleloader hunting, put a rubber tire valve stem cover over the nipple and primer cap of your gun. Then, lower the hammer onto the rubber cover to keep it in place. It's waterproof, and works as a saftery, but allows you to fire a quick shot if a deer should appear.
Marlan Larsen, via E-mail

A SCUBA Solution to Foggy Scopes

To make sure your scope does not fog up due to temperature change, stop by your local outdoor sports shop and purchase a small bottle of SCUBA mask anti-fogger. Put a couple of drops on each scope lens and then wipe the lenses clean. You will never get fog on your lens, even if you breathe lightly on it on the coldest morning.
--Darrin Paxton, Curtis Bay, Md.

Keep Your Paperwork Organized Around Your Neck

When hunting, I find myself carrying over a dozen licenses, tags, and stamps. I use a travel neck pouch, like the ones for passports, to store everything. The pockets provide a space for everything, and it stays dry and secure underneath my shirt or sweater.
--Larry Lee, Stafford, Va.

Chew Gum to Cover Your Scent

Some sources claim that the majority of human scent is due to our breath. When deer hunting, chew apple flavored gum to help mask the breakfast burrito you scarfed down on the way to the field. It's a natural scent that can even serve as an attractant.
--Matt Boden, Hickman, Neb.

Reader Tip of the Day: Grunt Bucks With a Garden Hose

When your dream buck comes into sight, but is just out of range, grunting can close the distance, but calling from your stand can bring the buck’s eyes right to you, spooking him. Avoid that problem by tying a garden hose to your tree. Instead of grunting into the air, grunt into the hose, which will take your call to the forest floor. Your buck will look down at the ground, instead of at you.
--Norm Confer, Troy, Mich.