Georgia’s Triple Threat Muzzleloader Hunt for Coyotes, Wild Hogs and Turkeys

Backyard deer hunting

An unusual hunting possibility is present in the Spring in Georgia where it is legal to simultaneously hunt turkeys, wild hogs and coyotes using muzzleloading firearms. Although we were not successful, this video illustrates the possibilities of a Triple-Threat hunt on the Blue Ridge WMA and adjoining National Forest lands. Carson Miller and I also recorded some hunting tips, including two for older hunters.

Night hunting techniques and equipment is shown for coyote and wild hog hunting which are legal tools  in Georgia on private lands, but are NOT LEGAL on Georgia’s WMAs and National Forest Lands.

On this hunt we made several trips to hunt at various times on the Blue Ridge WMA and also tried our hands on turkey hunting on nearby Chattahoochee National Forest lands. This is all steep country, and in the Spring is populated by both hikers and even more trout fishermen/women. Hunting on these…

View original post 201 more words

Pinterest allows easy option for driving traffic to books, blogs, videos and creative projects.

 

 

    One of the problems with trying to publish affordable books is the fact that only black and white interior images are allowed. One way to compensate is to publish color images in another format, and Pinterest can accomplish this objective. I just posted 93 images and captions in four catagories  or “Boards” as Pinterest calls them. These are: “Guns & Game,” “Wild Game Cooking,” Crossbow & Game” and “Bowfishing.” If this link does not work you can also try http://pinterest.com/hoveysmith.

  One aspect that I like is that these “boards” allow you to arrange according to four subject headings and change/modify the photos or captions at any time as well as to make additions and deletions to the boards. There may be a limit on the number of boards or the number of photos per board, but I have not discovered that yet. Pinterest may also be linked to your Facebook or Twitter accounts.

  A caution is that once these photos are published they should be considered “free use” with the originator using these as ads to attract traffic back to his website, books, products or activities. One way around this is to degrade any images that could be commercially important.

  In our increasingly visual culture, Pinterest has exploded in traffic and user numbers. Using Pinterest is easy, cost nothing and can result in significant exposure for you and your products. It also provides you with a significant incentive to upgrade your photographic skills.

Pinterest offers no-costs exposure for photos, products and activities

    One of the problems with trying to publish affordable books is the fact that only black and white interior images are allowed. One way to compensate is to publish color images in another format, and Pinterest can accomplish this objective. I just posted 93 images and captions in four catagories  or “Boards” as Pinterest calls them. These are: “Guns & Game,” “Wild Game Cooking,” Crossbow & Game” and “Bowfishing.” If this link does not work you can also try http://pinterest.com/hoveysmith.

  One aspect that I like is that these “boards” allow you to arrange according to four subject headings and change/modify the photos or captions at any time as well as to make additions and deletions to the boards. There may be a limit on the number of boards or the number of photos per board, but I have not discovered that yet. Pinterest may also be linked to your Facebook or Twitter accounts.

  A caution is that once these photos are published they should be considered “free use” with the originator using these as ads to attract traffic back to his website, books, products or activities. One way around this is to degrade any images that could be commercially important.

  In our increasingly visual culture, Pinterest has exploded in traffic and user numbers. Using Pinterest is easy, cost nothing and can result in significant exposure for you and your products. It also provides you with a significant incentive to upgrade your photographic skills.

A’Fixing to Get Ready to Go Bowfishing, April 25, On Hovey’s Outdoor Adventures

Bondo Boat in Washington State when the author was on one of his cross-country bowfishing trips.

  Although “The Backyard Sportsman” on VoiceAmericaSports Radio has been discontinued, I am now broadcasting over WebTalkRadio.net. This is one of my current shows. To listen click on the live link here: To go directly to the radio show page and listen to the hour-long show, go to:  http://webtalkradio.net/shows/hoveys-outdoor-adventures/.

 

  Part of the “A’fixing stage” of bowfishing for the author is looking  at some of  his videos.  One of the best is “Impale a Scale”  that was produced by Muzzy in 2003 and provides a fast-paced overview of the sport. Mark Land and some of his buddies bowfish in three states for fresh and salt-water species using a custom bowfishing boat outfitted with both outboard and fan engines. (The fan engine works like a tiny airboat engine that provides mobility in very shallow water.)

Mark Land shooting fish from a photo used on the cover of my book.

  Land commonly participates in tournament bowfishing, which the author seldom does, and between the two of them they review the sport from the author’s taking fish strictly for his table to high-volume, high-excitement bowfishing at night in a Louisiana swamp. Included are discussions on the equipment, boats, fish, participants, locations, techniques with a strong emphasis on utilizing the take.

  Because bowfishing can be done with relatively inexpensive equipment, almost anywhere in the country, almost anytime of year, take some of the best-eating fish that exist in unlimited numbers and improves the fishery at the same time; this sport is gaining increasing appeal as a sporting activity as well as a means of  providing food for the family.

  Powerful, hard to pull, bows are not needed for any but the largest species allowing entire families to participate ranging from grandpa to grandson. Some women are aggressive  participants in bowfishing and often outshoot their husbands and boyfriends.

 

  One of the host”s most requested recipes is for carp salad which is given below.

A carp salad is made the same as a tuna-fish salad, but does not have the oily or metallic aftertastes frequently derived from canned tuna.

 

2 1/2-cups of baked, picked carp meat (remove brown and red meat)

1 cup finely chopped sweet relish

2 tablespoons mayonnaise

1 tablespoon dill weed

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper 

(options include 1/4-cup finely-chopped onions, 1/4-cup finely chopped celery and 1 hard-boiled egg)

 

  Mix the ingredients by hand in a large bowl feeling and removing any bones. Add additional salt and pepper to taste. This can be eaten immediately, but is better if refrigerated in a covered container overnight. This may be served over fresh lettuce or spread on crackers. For decorative effects it may be pressed in a fish mold and adorned with olives speared with the clean, washed rib bones of the carp.

 

  Now out of print, Practical Bowfishing, sells in the used book market for between $50 and $200. I purchased the remaining stock and offer the book for $20. It may be ordered by visiting my website, www.hoveysmith.com, and clicking on the Pay Pal button. Wholesale rates on this title are also available for retail stores.  

 

  Bowfishing equipment and supplies may be obtained from a variety of sources. Cabela’s and Bass Pro stock bowfishing materials including starter kits. However, always purchase some extra arrows.

 

  Muzzy has a complete catalogue of bowfishing supplies and these, including the “Impale A Scale” video, may be ordered from: www.badtothebone.com.

 

   Backyard Bowfishing is the successor to Sully’s Bowfishing Stuff and their on-line catalogue is at: www.backwaterbowfishing.com. They also have a retail store in Gurley, Alabama.

 

  American Bowfishing is located in Bemidji, Minnesota, and their on-line contact is www.americanbowfishing.com.

 

  AMS Bowfishing is the manufacturer of the Retriever Reel and safety slide system (recommended for compound bow users). The products may be obtained from www.amsbowfishing.com.

 

The Backyard Sportsman Rado Show Now Removed from VoiceAmericaSports

  The 13 Episodes of  “Hovey’s Outdoor Adventures” have now been removed from the VoiceAmericaSports channel. This show was a content-driven show and never attracted sufficient sponsors to continue production. Some of the same topics, materials and guests that appeared on these episodes have been, or will be, used on my present radio show, “Hovey’s Outdoor Adventures” on WebTalkRadio.Net. This new show is more entertainment-driven, although it still has a high informational content and new slants on outdoor activities. Recent shows include, “Viva Las Vegas, Shot Show, 2011” which was taped live at the event and contains more than 20 interviews with makers of new, exciting outdoor products; “All about Dogs,” and “The Hunting Buddy.”

  A blog about these shows “Hovey’s Outdoor Adventures Blog” is available from my website, www.hoveysmith.com, and a full-page view can be obtained by clicking on the live link at the very bottom of the welcome page.   

A live link to the new radio show appears below. To check past topics, activate the archive tab at the top of the page and that will bring up a list of shows.

To go directly to the show page  and hear the new show click on the following URL :  http://webtalkradio.net/shows/hoveys-outdoor-adventures/.

Starting Your Home Business: How to Do It.

 

  

Could your backyard business start like this? Tony Knight's did.

 

Starting Your Backyard  Business: 21 Steps to Success 

This is the outline of 21 Business modules presented as part of my radio shows, “The Backyard Sportsman” and “Hovey’s Outdoor Adventures.” An expanded version of this outline will be written up as a White Paper in 2011 and made available from my website, www.hoveysmith.com. I will also produce 21 short videos expanding on these themes.  

I. Why start your outdoor business?

    Control own destiny

    Enjoy nature

    Income

      Financial security

    Productive use of time

    Social interaction

      Improve family life

      Meet interesting people

      Social mission

    Learning experience

      Yourself

      Family

    Psychological comfort

      Maintain mental acuity

    Hone skills

    Satisfy life goals

      Leave a legacy

 II. What is your passion?

      Can your hobby be your business?

         Creative work

            Writing

            Acting

            Fine Arts

            Crafts

         Agriculture

            Crops

            Livestock

            Pets

         Mechanical skill

            Mechanic

            Alterations

         Business facilitation

            Revitalization

         Trading and speculation

         On-line facilitation

         Marketing

            Re-packaging

              Knowledge

              Physical objects

            Own works and skills

III. What are your skills?

         Long-term project tolerance

         Mental

           Professional training

           Communications

             Language

               Written

               Verbal

         Mechanical

         People

           Family

 IV. Weighing your objectives

         Income game or loss

            Tax consequences

         Material accumulation

         Stop-gap employment

           Resume enhancement

           Income producing

         Supplemental income

         Learning enhancement

         Advancing towards life goals

V. Market Reach

         Local

         Regional

         National

         International

 VI. Prototyping your business model

         Time required

         Financial return

           Risks

           Loss tolerance

         Physical facilities

           Communication

           Storage

           Accessibility

         Transportation

         Supporting activities

         Inventory costs

         Advertising and promotion

         Equipment needs

         Break-even point

         Return on Investment

 VII. Judging the competition

         Local

           Who

           What

           Where

         Regional

            Who

            What

            Where

         National

            Who

            What

            Where

         International

            Who

            What

            Where

 VIII. Fire in the belly

       Time commitment

         Enthusiasm quotient

         Stamina

         Overcoming nay-sayers

         Association with a culture of winners    

 IX. Partnering

        Gathering people with complementary skill sets

         Recognition of excellence in a field of knowledge

         Barter skills

X. Gathering Resources

       Physical plant

       Equipment

       Electronics

       Personal comfort

XI. Training

       Independent study

       Community colleges

       On-line

       Spouse and family

       Colleges and Universities

         Special courses

         Continuing education

       Seminars, teleconferences

 XII. Naming your business

       Personal

       Product

       Generic

       Poor names

         Alphabet soup

         Cute, but meaningless

 XIII. Legal issues

      Registering your brand

       Registering your business

       Deciding legal framework

 XII. Financing

       Self financed

        Bank loan

        Credit cards

        Small business loans

XIV. Launch

        Local

         Paid advertising

        Public Relations

 

 

           Local newspapers radio and TV      

       WWW

            National

            Press Releases

            E-blasts

            Radio talk shows

            TV        

            Own Radio Show

            Private video-TV productions

              YouTube

 XV. Evaluation

          Bottom line

           Sales vs. expectations

         Analysis

            In house

            Outside

            Tweaking

XVI. Launch II, Expanding your reach

       Expanding market to next level

          Regional

          National

 XVII. Going global

        International opportunities

 XVIII. Liquidation

         Selling your successful business

         Liquidation of assets

 XX. Restarts

      Starting a second business

        Related

        Noncompetitive

 XXI. Legacy

       Passing on your business

          Partners

          Spouses

          Family

          Non-profit groups  

Tony Knight started a successful business from a tin workshop and store after he lost his railroad job. This business became a world-famous maker of muzzleloading sporting rifles.

Holiday Show, 30-min Christmas Story, Two Adventures, Song

To listen to this or any other show go to the following  VoiceAmerica Sports show page and select the month and episode you want to hear “The Backyard Sportsman” with Wm. Hovey Smith. 

 

A Visit from Auntie Thresa Claus

Auntie Thresa Claus, Santa's Not so Nice Sister

 

An uninterupted reading of  the Premier Broadcast of an original Christmas story, “A Visit from Auntie Thresa Claus,”  by Wm. Hovey Smith will be featured in this Holiday Show. Thresa Claus visits six families on Christmas day, and should hospitality be refused to Santa’s sister, she has the power to take everything related to Christmas away. She has been inadvertently summoned to the Jay’s family home by Jennifer, the youngest daughter, who must find a way to prevent a disastrous outcome.  Through Jennifer’s action, a bad outcome is narrowly averted, and the family has an enjoyable Christmas.

  This story is available as a 30-min one-act stage play as well as a screenplay. Copies of the play and script may be obtained from www.hoveysmith.com and more information is available at the Auntie Thresa Claus Blog at the bottom of the WebSite’s welcome page.

————

Christmas at Copper River

  This is an adventure story of me as a young Second Lt. of Engineers blowing holes in an ice-clogged river to prevent damage to a vital bridge across the Copper River at  Copper Center, Alaska.  Engineer officers get to do some interesting things, and this included me crashing down on top of 1,000 pounds of lit explosives when our helicopter decided to quit, a civilian aircraft being nearly being knocked out of the sky by ice chunks and me having a very cold Christmas dinner thawing World War II C-rations out in a tin shed at 26 degrees below zero – all good training for a young Army officer.

—————–

Armadillo Safari

Tanegashima, or Tagie for short, is a Japanese matchlock that the author felt obligated to take hunting and try to kill something with.

 

Matchlock shooter readying his gun.

  Because matchlock guns have been in use longer than any other type of firearm, I felt that it was vital that I get one and learn to hunt with it. After all, these were considered perfected in Europe by the 1500s and were used on all classes of game, including waterfowling. I did not have access to any European replicas, but I could get a Tanegashima-style matchlock that was, at that time,  made in Japan.

  Getting the gun to shoot at all was the first challenge, but I ultimately did manage to hunt with it and kill game. My conclusion was, “A matchlock gun is ideal for someone who wants a maximum hunting experience, but does not want to be bothered to clean much game.

——————

  A sincerely rendered, but badly sung, song from an unexpected source concludes the program.