When I married Tj it didn’t take a very keen eye to notice how much of complete opposites we were in the world. He was a hunter, a baseball fan, and the perfect definition of an extrovert. Me; on the other hand- was the opposite; a hunting virgin in a sense. I wasn’t sure what hunting would entail but boy did I get I learn quickly.

Since our recent relocation took us to the valleys of South East Idaho, Tj found that he could go turkey hunting for a fairly cheap price; and since Coronavirus made all our normal dating activities void we decided to give hunting a chance.

My previous experience of watching a turkey drown itself in rain gave me the illusion that turkey hunting would be easy, the birds were practically begging for death already, so I figured one or two hunting trips and we could pin a nice fan to the wall. Already had contacted a custom woodworking shop to make the plaque for me. However- Turkeys in captivity are not a fair comparison to turkey found in the wild.

My morning began at 3 o’clock when my son woke up for a feeding. Figuring the time for him to eat, change his diaper, and everything else involved with a tiny child it was pointless to end up going back to sleep. At four is when I would wake up to and get him ready to go, and we would try to be out by 4:30 am in order to get to the Pocatello area by 5:45ish. By 6 we had our blind set up, the gun loaded, and would start our morning with turkey calls.

I’d settle down and read a book, looking up every once in a while to see if there were any turkey’s present. Every once in a while we would get excited to hear something with wings flutter, and we would always assume that it was a turkey. Tj was excited to hear gobbling, but it seemed that the turkeys would get farther and farther away.

By ten in the morning, my stomach would protest in hunger and though I had a plethora f snacks, those would be gone by eight. With no turkeys in sight and very little hope left of getting one, we left most of our hunting trips.

One day on a swath of private land I went up ahead and scouted where this elusive turkey might have gone. Were they going down farther into the valley where some cows were? was there a pond or a random grouping of trees they were nesting in? Where could those elusive birds have gone?

With a friend, Tj got fairly close to shooting one before a deer made them all runoff. Disappointed, this spring we got no turkey. Turkey’s are a lot smarter than you think.

However, I am looking forward to the fall hunt. With my research, I have found out that turkeys in the fall are less interested in getting with the hens, and are thinking with their stomachs. Which would put us on the same thought process. They are thinking about their territory and little seeds, and I am thinking about putting one of them on my table for thanksgiving.

In short, if you are brand new to turkey hunting like I am, please don’t make the mistake of thinking that they would be easy to hunt. I have learned a lot since the spring and with a good amount of luck, hopefully, Tj will get us a good turkey this year.

David Borg has been diagnosed with a degeneration disease called Stargardt’s since he was 14 years old. Stargardt’s, also known as Stargardt macular degeneration, is a genetic eye disorder that causes progressive vision loss. It especially affects the retina and the specialized light-sensitive tissue that lines the back of the eye. David doesn’t let his loss of vision stop him from living his life to the fullest. 

Introduced to the world of hunting by his in-laws; Ladd and Kelby Kendall he learned all that he could! Even by getting a job at Cabela’s. He also gives a lot of credit to Scott Clawson, an archer for Martin Bows,  who taught him everything that he knows about archery hunting! Since then David has gotten his own bow and is working on getting his first animal! 

David also wants to help others get involved in archery hunting and has become an ambassador for the Athens archery. He uses this platform to inspire and teach others the same passion that was ignited in his soul. We gave him a simple interview and here are some of his responses to your curious questions! 

1. What accessories do you use to help you shoot if any?

          I use a scope and clarifier system on my setup to help me see the target better but it also makes target acquisition difficult at times. I currently use a single pin because it is easier to make out for me. 

2. You mentioned your In-laws hunt and that sparked your initial interest, but what keeps you hunting, what do you like most about it?

          I enjoy just being outside and getting to spend time with family and friends. I love the challenge of bowhunting and the thought that I out that meat on the table through my own efforts. I enjoy learning and growing and every time I go out I learn something new. 

3. What would you say to somebody that is like you that may be interested in hunting with low vision?

            I never thought I could do hunting or archery but I was persistent and kept trying. You can do whatever you put your mind to. I have even been lucky enough to pick up sponsors and have had great teachers take time to help me become better and understand my equipment and how it works and how to fix it. I now can tune and set up anyone with a bow that works excellent. 

4. What do you think your purpose is in this life?

          My purpose in this life is to help others succeed and grow in all areas of their life. Of course, my purpose is to support and to love my wife and family and to be a motivation to others in the community. 

5. Who is your hunting role model if any?

       I really look up to my father in law and brother in law Ladd and Kelby Kendall who got me started. I look up and thank Scott Clawson who currently shoots for Martin, he taught me all my bow technician knowledge while I worked with him at Cabelas. He also got me into target archery and encouraged me to get sponsors. 

6. What are your favorite things to hunt?

      I have really enjoyed hunting for elk and deer. I have yet to get an elk but would love to get one with a bow. No matter what size of a bull or even a cow. 

We personally wish David good luck on all his future hunts! We also hope that you enjoy this blind hunter spotlight! Send in your own inspiring stories by emailing blindhunterorg@gmail.com today! We look forward to hearing about your adventures! 

Waterfowl Hunting can be tricky business and hunters need the skillful knowledge of how to use their duck and goose calls to be able to return overloaded with waterfowl game.

How long have calls been around? The first duck calls were simple woodwind instruments that emitted duck-like sounds and these have been discovered in the far east as far back as 1678! However, the first patent for a duck call was awarded to Elam Fisher in 1870. After this David Fuller applied for a goose call patent in 1885. Changing the entire waterfowl game and causing an explosion of marketable duck and geese calls for an entire decade!

Now that we have a bit of knowledge you can use to impress your fellow waterfowlers, you may have noticed that Tj uses three different calls.

The first, His duck call- is no longer being manufactured. But you can get a very similar product called the Mankoff double reed duck call. Though Tj’s is complete plastic- this has both!

The second is the Zink Mallard Drake whistle. This allows Tj to make the whistling calls a little easier, and anybody who knows Tj, also knows that he swears by Zink’s calls.

The last and most expensive call is Tj’s Money Maker goose call, also by Zink. Made of Acrylic and designed to be as loud as possible this call is perfect for attracting Canadian geese!

We hope that you fall in love with these calls as much as Tj has!

But in all my time with loving dogs, I have learned that there are some dogs that are just talented at retrieving and others are just adorable fluff that stare at you when you tell them to fetch.

So, in an order to give some information; that way you can avoid having the difficult realization of why your Greyhound is good at retrieving a tennis ball, but won’t go into the water to save his own life. Here are a few dog breeds that are excellent hunters.

Labrador Retriever

Interesting fact: The most popular dog in America was not bred for waterfowl hunting- it was bred for fishing first! They have a special water-resistant coat that doesn’t get weighed down and it also allows them to keep really warm!

Labs also are amazing swimmers and sprinters, dropping from a sitting position to a 12 MPH run in order to retrieve prey! If you are looking for a hunting companion, the Lab is a great addition to your hunting party!

Golden Retriever

Much like the lab, this family-friendly pup has roots in hunting history, originally being called “Yellow Labs” and started hunting with early waterfowlers in Scotland!

Their loyal personality and high levels of intelligence make them super easy to train!

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

Want a dual-purpose animal? This pup doubles as a decoy! No joke! This dog lures in ducks with their energetic personality and ever wagging tail to bring in ducks within range. Check out the video below if you doubt me.

Vizsla (Hungarian Pointer)

This ancient breed spans a hunting legacy that goes back to the time of the Austro-Hungarian empire, around 1867. Quickly recognized for their hunting abilities in the United States the Vizsla became a welcome addition to hunting families.

This dog is great for hunters that live in apartments as they are known for adapting well in city living and apartment conditions! As long as they get an hour worth of activity (like most dogs) these dogs keep their cool in small living spaces!

As a general rule, I was always taught that the deeper you go out in the woods- the more first aid you should bring. As a camper my first aid kits are simple, basic bandages, wound management, and medications. But as exploring hunting and realizing that there is a fair amount of risk involved in the hobby. I have managed to find some suggestions to advance a basic kit into a first aid kit suitable for hunters.

Wound Management:

Flesh wounds are one of the more dangerous occurrences while hunting. From getting cut on rocks, or branches, to accidental knife wounds. These wounds can cause some serious pain, and depending on the severity of life-threatening outcomes.

One of the lesser-known wound management products is Celox or Quickclot products. These products, also called hemostatic agents, quickly help to clot up blood until medical help can be found.

In the case of more serious injuries, like a gunshot wound, your top priority should be stopping the bleeding, before going out in the wilderness I would suggest getting training in tourniquets as well. There is the myth that they are too dangerous to use, however- knowing that a victim of a gunshot could bleed out within 5 to 8 minutes puts the phrase “Life over Limb” to good use.

Also, when used properly tourniquets not only save lives but don’t always mean amputation. Most victims that receive help within two hours do not need to have a limb amputated.

Bandages:

On the topic of wounds, bandages are an important part of helping wounds clot up. Basic kits usually include a variety of band-aids. But with hunters needing to save as much space in their pack one thing that might be suggestable for smaller cuts and scrapes would be to invest in wound seal powder. This powder creates a simple seal that replaces a need for a typical bandage. Freeing up a lot of space within a first aid kit. However, it should be noted that pressure bandages, butterfly bandages, and gauze pads should still be within the kit.

Medications:

Medications are a must when talking about first aid kits, outside of prescription medications and Epi-pens. I would add Electrolyte tablets, cough drops, afterbite cream, burn cream, a painkiller, allergy meds, and Orajel.

Tools:

A multi-use pocket knife is vital to any hunters back, however- when considering wound care there is another vital tool that is not thought about nearly as often: A lighter. A lighter is a useful tool when paired with the knife in order to sterilize the knife, or any other tool if needed.

The other tool that is good to have in your kit is a water purifier, I like the Lifestraw because it is compact, easy to use, and it is affordable! The Lifestraw uses a hollow fiber filter that has holes smaller than bacteria and parasites, allowing it to trap 99.9% of all containments in the water. Giving you nice safe water to drink! You can check out Lifestraw by clicking this link here!

For the dogs:

A lot of hunters also have their animals with them. If you have your favorite hunting partner with you it is advisable to also carry needs for your furry buddy. These suggestions include pediatric Benedryl, buffered aspirin, and a travel-size bottle of Hydrogen Peroxide.

Knowledge:

Surviving in the wilderness is also based on what you know and understand. There are several books that one can study in order to learn survival skills and for the brave- classes are also available in many different states!

My personal favorite book is “Survival Medicine & First Aid: The Leading Prepper’s Guide to Survive Medical Emergencies in Tough Survival Situations” by Beau Griffin as well as “The Natural First Aid Handbook: Household Remedies, Herbal Treatments, and Basic Emergency Preparedness Everyone Should Know” by Brigitte Mars.

Note: This post is NOT intended to be a final or complete guide, or to serve as a replacement for any sort of formal medical advice. Above all: review, refresh and remain prepared. Also, this post contains affiliate links.

This debate is one of the most divisive arguments in our society today and seems to be more of a rights vs. security issue. It seems that most of society thinks that a completely blind individual owning a gun is not physically safe. Stevie Wonder is even reported to say that it was “Crazy” that the blind could purchase one.

The NFB in 2013 wrote this statement:

” The National Federation of the Blind, the oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind Americans, understands that guns are dangerous weapons and that anyone who owns, carries, or uses them must, therefore, exercise great care and sound judgment in doing so. Blindness has no adverse impact on a person’s ability to exercise due care and good judgment. State firearms laws must be applied in a nondiscriminatory manner to blind individuals. Recognizing that laws and regulations regarding the granting of permits to own and/or carry firearms vary throughout our country, our single position on firearms regulation is that a permit to own and/or carry a gun should not be denied to any individual solely on the basis of blindness. “

The Gun Control Act of 1968, it prohibits individuals from being able to purchase a firearm. These include felons, fugitives, people convicted of misdemeanors involving domestic violence, people subject to a domestic abuse restraining order, people who are unlawfully using or addicted to controlled substances, people dishonorably discharged from the US armed forces, people adjudicated to be “mental defectives,” and people “committed to mental institutions.”

Would new legislation add the Blind and Visually impaired to this same list, comparing them to the same degree as the mentally institutionalized and mentally defective? Yes. Which is why it matters so much to the blind community. Being blind has no effect on exercising good judgment and safety exercises.

So why is it the sighted and even members of the blind community find blind firearm users so much more risky than somebody who has their sight blocked by bushes, trees, fences, or other obstacles?

Greg Trapp posed the debate cleverly in the Braille Monitor:

“In other words, a sighted gun owner has the potential to shoot people he cannot see. This is exactly the same argument made against people who are blind. The only difference is that a blind person is presumed to be inherently incapable of exercising good judgment, whereas a sighted person is presumed to be capable of using good judgment. Conversely, the presence of sight does not bestow good judgment or infallible decision-making. Even highly trained law enforcement officers with perfect vision can misinterpret what they see and make a tragic error, such as the case of a child with a toy gun being mistaken for a criminal with a real firearm.”

The communities of disabled people should not be barred from their constitutional rights of gun ownership, concealed weapon carry, or hunting’ based purely on their physical or even mental capabilities. (i.e. Alzheimers, autism, down syndrome, etc.) But rather treated like everyone else, equality should be the prevalent culture in our nation and should the disabled be banned from firearms their constitutional rights and freedoms would be severely compromised.