Outdoor Tips
Simplify your life on the land with some helpful tips provided by our editors and readers.
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Food plot diversity
When I plant cool-season food plots for wildlife, I try to stagger my planting dates and plant in strips. This allows the forage to mature over a longer period of time with a better chance of long-term food plot survival, even during droughts or flooding. When I plant strips, I leave one strip in taller forage for wildlife travel corridors and bedding. The other strips stay in low-profile forage. |
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The skinny on skinning
Considered by some to be a primitive tool used only for decorating the walls in Cracker Barrel restaurants, the draw knife serves many useful purposes today. My favorite use for the knife is skinning logs and saplings. If you need rafter poles for a shed or want to create a log mantel over the fireplace, the draw knife is useful for skinning the bark and shaping the wood's rough corners. You'll find many Internet sites that sell draw knives in every size and price range. |
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String up supplies
A wire, clip-style fish stringer is handy for more than stringing your catch. I attach the stringer between two trees and have a convenient holder for the lantern and other useful campsite tools. Clipping the tools on the stringer near the lantern gives me quick access during the night. Take two stringers on your next camping trip. Use one for the fish and the other for your belongings. |
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The perfect plant
Sunflowers are one of the most beautiful and practical plants that can be used as forage in a food plot. The gigantic, flowering seed heads turn toward the sun-soaking rays throughout the day. The head-high stalks make ideal, protective travel corridors for deer. Once the seed heads mature, a multitude of birds—dove and wild turkey—as well as deer can feast late in the season on sunflower seeds. Even after the plants die, I leave the dead stalks standing in strips to provide food and travel protection into late fall and early winter. |
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An all-purpose oil
I apply mineral oil to just about anything metallic that needs lubrication, such as multi-tools and knives. I also apply a light coating to my gun to repel rain and prevent rust. The mineral oil is odorless, so I don't have to worry about spooking wildlife. Since it can be ingested, I don't worry about eating apples I peel with my mineral oil-coated knife. |
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Easy entrance
I often plant food plots in remote areas of the farm. Usually, there is a pasture fence bordering one side. Even though deer have no problem clearing the 4-foot fence, I create a path of least resistance for the deer by raising the lower strand of barbed wire with a forked stick. In no time at all, deer begin using this easy entrance into the pasture or food plot, and it allows me to funnel their movement. |
Illustrations: Ralph A. Mark Jr.