Hunting and Fishing News Blog Articles
Unique Hunting Terms
Tracking and Game Sign
Term | Definition | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|
Spore | An archaic term for a track, often referring to the print left by a deer or other large game animal. | The hunter examined the deep spore in the mud to determine the direction of travel. |
Brocade | The fresh, crisp impression of a track in the ground. | A sign of a very recently passed animal is the fresh brocade of its hoof print. |
Droppings | Feces, used to determine the diet and freshness of a game animal's presence. | The size and consistency of the droppings indicated a healthy buck was nearby. |
Rub | A location where a deer has scraped its antlers on a sapling or tree to mark territory. | We found a large rub on a pine tree, suggesting a mature deer is in this area. |
Scrape | An area of bare earth pawed by a male deer and often urinated on, used for scent-marking. | The buck returned to the scrape before first light. |
Term | Definition | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|
Covey | A small flock of game birds, particularly quail or partridge. | The bird dog pointed toward the hidden covey. |
Spring | A small group of woodcock. | We flushed a spring of woodcock from the thicket by the creek. |
Gaggle | A flock of geese on the ground or in the water. | A large gaggle was feeding in the field before migrating south. |
Skien | A group of geese or swans in flight, typically flying in a V-formation. | We watched a large skein pass overhead at sunset. |
Decoy Spread | An arrangement of artificial waterfowl used to attract live birds. | Setting up the decoy spread properly is critical for a successful morning duck hunt. |
Term | Definition | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|
Still-Hunting | The act of hunting by moving very slowly and deliberately, stopping often to scan the surroundings. | He prefers still-hunting through the woods to sitting in a blind. |
Blind | A camouflaged shelter used to conceal a hunter from game. | We waited in the natural blind made of cedar branches near the field. |
Jump-Shooting | A technique of walking up on game (often waterfowl) and shooting when they "jump" or take flight. | They were jump-shooting ducks along the riverbank. |
Ghillie Suit | Specialized camouflage clothing designed to resemble heavy foliage. | The sniper wore a ghillie suit to disappear into the undergrowth. |
Term | Definition | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|
Venison | The meat of a deer. | They planned to process the venison after the hunt. |
Rack | The antlers of a deer. | That buck has an impressive 10-point rack. |
Velvet | The soft, furry covering on growing antlers. | In the early season, the deer's rack was still in velvet. |
Wallow | A mud or water-filled depression used by animals, particularly elk or boar, to cool down and remove parasites. | We checked the wallow and found fresh prints of a large boar. |
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