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If you think there is nothing to hunt during the summer months that can possible hold your interest until deer season, think again. In the next couple of weeks, Live Outdoorswill be featuring five prolific animals that you can hunt during the summer. Even if you live in a state that offers access to some of these animals, the chances are good that a short drive will take care of that small detail. Today, wild hogs are on the menu.

Did you know that most states have viable wild hog populations to hunt? It’s true. And most of those states consider feral pigs a nuisance quadruped and allow hunters to shoot them year round. A lot of states also allow night hunting for hogs, and that fact alone can add some diversity to your hunting portfolio that you might not otherwise get to experience on other game animals.

Traditionally, the South has been the gateway to hunting wild hogs, but they have existed in other places for decades, if not centuries. Hawaii and California are often overlooked and under-mentioned when it comes to wild hogs but they have large populations just waiting to be hunted. Would it surprise you to know that wild hogs are also located throughout the Midwest, and can even be hunted in states like Colorado, Minnesota, Nevada, New York and Oregon? Michigan does not allow hunting of wild hogs, but their numbers are spreading and several counties have agreed not to prosecute people who kill them. The one constant when it comes to feral pigs is; they need to be hunted and controlled.

Hunting them is not that difficult either. Most state wildlife management agencies boldly provide information on feral pig’s exact population locations. This is also one of the few big game animals where hunters and landowners are glad to give strangers access and intel so that they can help whittle down their numbers.

Methods for hunting them are not difficult. You can spot and stalk low-lying swampy areas with heavy cover and occasional openings and meadows. You can set up tree stands or blinds at water holes and hunt them in the heat of the day, or you can bait them (where legal) and enjoy hunting in the cool of the morning or evening. There are also people who like to night hunt with night vision or infrared scopes, or by the old fashioned method of spotlighting.

There are tons of opportunities for hunting wild hogs, so don’t stop hunting just because it is summer.

For more information regarding this post, please visit LiveOutdoors.com.

Every hunter knows that coyotes are just about everywhere, and most hunters agree that they need to be controlled. Due to the decline of modern fur prices, trapping has become a rare practice, and as a result, coyote numbers are rising.

But what about the quality of the fur, you ask? During my almost 35 years of hunting and witnessing around a hundred coyotes being shot by me, my friends or my clients, very few of them actually took their coyotes to their taxidermists, and even fewer sold their pelts for money. You can still display a summer coyote as a wall hanger even if it does not have ‘prime’ fur. It is still covered in hair and it is technically still your trophy. Don’t let the traditional idea of fur quality limit your time afield hunting coyotes.

The only ethical issue involving summer coyote hunting is that some people are bothered by the fact that some coyotes are raising pups during the summer. Coyotes are hearty animals, but if you are bothered by the thought of killing a coyote with a litter of pups, check state wildlife management department and find out specifically what time of the summer pups can fend for themselves. Coyotes live an average of five years and pups are eating solid foods at around eight weeks.

Calling coyotes in winter months might seem like an easier task than hunting them in the summer, but all predators need to eat and drink every day so there is really no calling advantage during the winter months over the summer months. In fact, coyotes that live in cold climates often need to rebuild muscle mass and regenerate their endurance after expending their winter energy reserves, giving a slight advantage to spring and summer hunters.

Calling at night or in the morning and evenings is usually more productive than midday, for obvious reasons, but coyotes can be called in shaded areas not far from water. Hunters that call coyotes in the summer need to remember that ‘yotes have heavier cover to hide themselves in and having good situational awareness is required to stay as safe as possible.

Don’t let summer stop you from honing your predator hunting skills.

For more information regarding this blog, please visit LiveOutdoors.com.

When using or storing a gun, always follow these NRA gun safety rules:

• ALWAYS keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.
  This is the primary rule of gun safety. A safe direction means that the gun is pointed so that even if it were to go off it would not cause injury or damage. The key to this rule is to control where the muzzle or front end of the barrel is pointed at all times. Common sense dictates the safest direction, depending on different circumstances.
• ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
  When holding a gun, rest your finger on the trigger guard or along the side of the gun. Until you are actually ready to fire, do not touch the trigger.
• ALWAYS keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.
  Whenever you pick up a gun, immediately engage the safety device if possible, and, if the gun has a magazine, remove it before opening the action and looking into the chamber(s) which should be clear of ammunition. If you do not know how to open the action or inspect the chamber(s), leave the gun alone and get help from someone who does.
• Know your target and what is beyond.
  Be absolutely sure you have identified your target beyond any doubt. Equally important, be aware of the area beyond your target. This means observing your prospective area of fire before you shoot. Never fire in a direction in which there are people or any other potential for mishap. Think first. Shoot second.
• Know how to use the gun safely.
  Before handling a gun, learn how it operates. Know its basic parts, how to safely open and close the action and remove any ammunition from the gun or magazine. Remember, a gun’s mechanical safety device is never foolproof. Nothing can ever replace safe gun handling.
• Be sure the gun is safe to operate.
  Just like other tools, guns need regular maintenance to remain operable. Regular cleaning and proper storage are a part of the gun’s general upkeep. If there is any question concerning a gun’s ability to function, a knowledgeable gunsmith should look at it.
• Use only the correct ammunition for your gun.
  Only BBs, pellets, cartridges or shells designed for a particular gun can be fired safely in that gun. Most guns have the ammunition type stamped on the barrel. Ammunition can be identified by information printed on the box and sometimes stamped on the cartridge. Do not shoot the gun unless you know you have the proper ammunition.
• Wear eye and ear protection as appropriate.
  Guns are loud and the noise can cause hearing damage. They can also emit debris and hot gas that could cause eye injury. For these reasons, shooting glasses and hearing protectors should be worn by shooters and spectators.
• Never use alcohol or over-the-counter, prescription or other drugs before or while shooting.
  Alcohol, as well as any other substance likely to impair normal mental or physical bodily functions, must not be used before or while handling or shooting guns.
• Store guns so they are not accessible to unauthorized persons.
  Many factors must be considered when deciding where and how to store guns. A person’s particular situation will be a major part of the consideration. Dozens of gun storage devices, as well as locking devices that attach directly to the gun, are available. However, mechanical locking devices, like the mechanical safeties built into guns, can fail and should not be used as a substitute for safe gun handling and the observance of all gun safety rules.
• Be aware that certain types of guns and many shooting activities require additional safety precautions.
• Cleaning
  Regular cleaning is important in order for your gun to operate correctly and safely. Taking proper care of it will also maintain its value and extend its life. Your gun should be cleaned every time that it is used.

A gun brought out of prolonged storage should also be cleaned before shooting. Accumulated moisture and dirt, or solidified grease and oil, can prevent the gun from operating properly.

Before cleaning your gun, make absolutely sure that it is unloaded. The gun’s action should be open during the cleaning process. Also, be sure that no ammunition is present in the cleaning area.

Information from NRA.org

The launch of Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign in April set the stage for high drama — not that there hasn’t been plenty of political antics before the no-surprise announcement. This would almost be fun to watch, if there wasn’t so much at stake for the future of our country.

The Clinton announcement added an extra dose of anti-Hillary commitment on the closing day of the 2015 NRA Annual Meeting gathering in April. More than 70,000 packed the Music City Center in Nashville, Tenn., to handle thousands of firearms and related products, and to begin the battle for the White House.

A host of Republican presidential hopefuls took the NRA stage to present their pro-gun message, along with plenty of criticism for the Obama administration’s attack on guns, gun owners and the Second Amendment. Clinton’s presidential run was also noted.

“This weekend Hillary Clinton is announcing for president. Well, I’ll tell you, if Hillary Clinton is going to join with Barack Obama and the gun grabbers and come after our guns then what I say is ‘come and take it,’” said Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), in addressing NRA members.

Yes, there’s going to be plenty of high drama between now and November 2016.

Morale Booster

The NRA’s annual gathering is a tremendous morale booster. The crowded booths and hard-to-navigate aisles reinforce the strength of the consumer market and American’s passion for firearms, gun ownership and the Second Amendment.

And the NRA event is fun. It’s a delight to see all types of consumers swarming booths, eagerly handling products and asking endless questions of exhibitors.

From seasoned gun owners to young families with infants in carriers, they all had a seemingly unquenchable desire to visit every booth to make purchases — and collect pins, patches, hats and other branded free-bees.

There were also many celebrities in attendance, providing plenty of handshaking, autographs and selfies. The speeches, concerts and rallies are unabashedly red, white and blue — a celebration of Americana.

The takeaway from the 2015 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits: The consumer base is strong and passionate about the Second Amendment — and hang on, because it’s going to be a wild ride to the White House.

Slight Recovery Signs

From an industry standpoint, there were a lot of positives at the NRA gathering. Many companies are beginning to see signs of a recovery from the downturns of 2014 and earlier this year. It’s not significant. In fact, in most cases, it’s very slight. But given the significant downturn, any increase is encouraging.

In March, NICS conducted 1,187,823 (NSSF-adjusted) background checks, a 3 percent decrease compared to March 2014. However, the total number of background checks for this year’s first quarter was the second highest first quarter in the history of the NICS system. The 3,521,089 (NSSF-adjusted) background checks during the quarter were a 1.8 percent increase over the first quarter of 2014. Not surprisingly, the most checks conducted in a first quarter took place in 2013, with 4,926,193 (NSSF-adjusted).

Visit www.nssf.org/research

Credits:  http://www.shootingindustry.com/the-battle-of-2016-begins/