Hunting Terms and Nature Definitions
Beard:
A piece of hair under a male turkey's neck that determines how long he has survived in the wilderness. The longer the beard usually indicates the longer age of the turkey
Boar:
Male hog which has not been castrated.
Buck:
A Male deer which has reached the maturity to grow antlers and breed.
Busted:
When the hunter is spotted by the prey he is pursuing. A deer will sometimes stomp their feet and then run. This is the moment the hunter concedes he or she has failed.
Caping:
When a hunter is going to have the trophy he harvested mounted and when skinning the deer the hide will be cut from just below the front shoulders to the head, so the hide can be used for mounting. (At Wilderness Calls, if you shoot it, then it is your trophy and you will mount it!)
Climber:
A piece of deer hunting equipment used to climb trees without limbs. It consists of two pieces, one controlled by your hands and one controlled by your feet.
Cull Buck:
A Male deer that has less then desirable antlers, usually indicating bad blood line (possible inbreeding) or a very old buck past his reproductive prime.
Deer:
Four legged mammal that exists in the wilderness, with mature males having antlers.
Doe:
A Female deer once she has reached matuity to breed.
Fawn:
A female or male deer, newly born and sporting spots.
Feed time:
This time is controlled by moon phases and position. If the moon is straight up or down, rising or falling, the animals will feed. If the moon is visible or invisible the animals will still feed and tend to be more active when the moon is in these four positions. Many hunters will plan their hunting trips around the moon cycles.
Food Plot:
A portion of land that is cultivated and vegetation is planted to assist the wildlife to have a plentiful and nutrtious food source.
Guilt :
This is a young female pig until she is old enough to reproduce (8-18 months age) and has produced a litter.
Honey Hole:
This is a place where bucks congregate. Every hunter has that spot, where for some unknown reason deer will always visit. No one knows why the deer visit this spot regularly and no one will share this spot they know about while around the camp fire.
Hunting Ground Blind:
A hunting ground blind is located on the ground, that can be constructed of bushes or material that is camouflaged . This hunting ground blind is used where trees are not tall enough to climb or a lock on stand can't be used and also where the forest may not be thick.
Muzzle Season:
During hunting season a period where primitive weapons are used to hunt, requiring the gun to be loaded with powder, bullet and cap manually. This season occurs between archery and general gun season.
Nubbin Buck:
This is a yearling buck before he is mature enough to grow antlers. The name comes from the nubs on his forehead, which someday will be antlers.
Persimmon Tree:
This tree bears the persimmon fruit. The fruit appears green before it is ripe and is not suitable for consumption by animal or human. When green, the fruit is bitter and a human will most certainly pucker their lips like they desire to kiss! When it ripens and changes color it is much more tasty.
Processor:
An individual whose profession is to clean game and also packages the meat for the hunter.
Rub:
Where the bark on a tree or bush is rubbbed off by a Male deer. This assists the buck to remove the velvet from his antlers after the summer growth.
Rut:
When the weather changes and bucks become sexually active as the glands in their necks swell.
Scrape or Paw:
An area under a low hanging branch that a Male deer will mark by pawing the ground, in hopes that a doe will come along and leave her scent. This is part of the mating ritual.
Smoke House:
In early America before the invention of freezers, this structure was used to cure meat for the winter. It was a building constructed of wood and had a dirt floor without insulation or windows. The meat is hung by the rafters and smoked till it is cured.
Spike:
A male deer with one or two antlers that do not have points. The antlers appear to be straight with some curve. It may be a young buck or an older buck that has passed his prime.
Tag:
Some state laws require hunters to tag a deer they have harvested. This tag is dated and is placed on the ear of the deer.
Yearling:
Either sex of the deer, once the spots are gone from their coat but they have not reached maturity yet.
