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Archive for November, 2009

Where Did Duck Decoys Come From?

Posted in Hunting  by
November 30th, 2009

The first record of hunting duck decoys goes back as far as the early as 20th century. Those records show that 11 hunting duck decoys were found in a cave while mining back in 1911. They were found along with ancient artifacts in a Nevada mountain cave that was used by indigenous Americans for probably nearly 3500 years according to archaeologist.

The hunting duck decoys were made from marsh bulrush mainly but had real duck feathers attached to them. They were dated back as far as 200 A.D., and carefully buried in individual wrappings in a pit dug into the floor of the cave. These are still recorded as the oldest known duck decoys in history.

The first decoys to be made in mass quantity came from Salt Lake city, Utah and they were made mainly of rubber although earlier decoys were carved from wood, which was hard to keep a float as they would either tip over or become water logged.  A newer invention for a duck decoy was having them carved from cork, which would float without a problem, and they were lighter to carry out hunting then the traditional wooded decoys. The only problem with cork decoys was that they didn’t last very long. Nowadays these cork decoys can be worth allot of money to antique dealers and decoy collectors.

As we walk down memory lane there were another type of hunting duck decoy made from Urethane Foam and Styrofoam but they both were easy to damage and not very durable.

With a need for realism and more detail the next type of decoys had to be made to last, be light, durable and detailed with an exact resemblance to waterfowl. Blow molded decoys made of high-density polyethylene now fit the bill and with the many different variations on the market you have many to choose from. Variations now include: Motorized decoys, Wind motion decoys, floaters, resters and magnums (Larger then normal) hunting duck decoys that last allot longer then any other decoy in history.

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Archive for November, 2009

Where Did Duck Decoys Come From?

Posted in Hunting  by
November 30th, 2009

Soccer Coaching Tips

Has it struck you ever that some youth soccer coaching tips can put your team on winning ways? The answer is most likely No because you think that it takes years of practice and experience to become a good coach. In this article, we share some important kids soccer drills that will put the kids on a winning track.

The game of soccer demands being healthy, quick, and strategic. As a coach, it is important to make the kids understand that. Start with the basics. Make them understand what soccer is all about, everything from agility to fitness, to food, and discipline. It is necessary that you are not the only one talking always. Encourage the kids to be more communicative also. There is only one way to make the kids love soccer and it is to be friendly to them.

Be very cautious executing youth soccer coaching drills. Before each practice session, give the kids instructions. The instructions should not be very long. For a half-hour long session, keep the talk time to 10 minutes. In order for kids to benefit from the drills, leave them on their own. When the practice drill ends, collate the issues that you wish to talk about. Interrupting the kids in between the session will kill the enjoyment, the only exception being the players making a blunder. These soccer coaching tips are time-tested and proven to be effective.

Frame the feedback carefully. The kids may take things to heart. A dialog with them should be undertaken considering their sensibilities. Do not be rude in your language. Your dialog with the kids will be more fruitful when you understand their psychology. It is important that you pay attention to what others have to say. Sometimes, even kids have raw ideas that have great potential.

Parents naturally have a great interest in how their kids are progressing. Make a plan by including them in your scheme. This is mainly because they will not be spending the whole day with you. For the kids to succeed in each endeavor, their parents play a major role by directing their life in the right direction. It’s always beneficial to exchange viewpoints with them to have alternative ideas to select from. Conduct these get-togethers prior to or post teaching sessions to gain maximum advantage out of these. Kids can be excluded from these meetings to save time and their energy. Update the parents about your vision and strategy and seek their cooperation.

Kids must stay motivated to continuously work towards the stated goals and it depends on how well their hard work is recognized. It will bring positive results in form of greater confidence levels by being accepted for their work. Once the kids reach a certain level of complexity, go ahead and increase it. It is a healthy practice in soccer conditioning to keep the body and mind of the kids in an active state by exposing them to ever challenging tasks without overdoing it.

Make no mistake about it! Many sportsmen feel that youth soccer is not as popular as other sports for they don’t have the requisite information, suffer from inadequacy of understanding and fail to look beyond their area of expertise. Make it a policy to never underestimate the value of a simple piece of information presented in the form of soccer coaching tips and go uninterrupted on your way to success. Now, take a bigger leap and sharpen your coaching skills by joining our youth soccer coaching community where you will learn and reach even higher in your coaching career.

About The Author:

Andre Botelho is known online as “The Expert Youth Soccer Coach” and his free ebooks and reports have been downloaded more than 100,000 times. Learn how to skyrocket your players’ skills and make training fun in record time. Download your free soccer coaching ebook at: http://www.soccerdrillstips.com - Youth Soccer Training Drills.

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Archive for November, 2009

Where Did Duck Decoys Come From?

Posted in Hunting  by
November 30th, 2009

Coaching Youth Soccer

If you are Coaching Youth Soccer, there are some things every youth soccer coach needs to consider and be aware. You may say that some of these are just simple common sense, but they are not for sure common practice:

1. Don’t make speeches. This may not seem important but kids really get bored and distracted when coaches have the habit of making incredible long speeches and instructions. Whatever you have to say to your player during a training sessions on game, just make sure you keep it simple and short.

2. Don’t complicate things. If you’re demonstrating an exercise, try to break it down to its basics. Complicated things never work and this is not different. It’s really easy for the kids to lose interest and attention when a coach tries to implement and demonstrate drills with lots of diagrams and instructions.

3. Don’t be a ball boy- this is essential. If you want to keep your players’ respect, don’t run after balls. This can affect your authority and control over the players and severely damage the respect they have for you. They need to go get it.

4. If you do have special ball-boys on hand to help out, make sure they don’t join the practice. This simply signals a laxity in discipline- ball boys are just there to get the ball. If they want to join in the practice, they have to join the team like everyone else.

5. Never, ever criticize the player. Never blame a player for missing a goal or a shot. Point out the flaws in their technique or skill and do that calmly. Screaming at a player for being ’stupid’ is a great way to make them want to leave your team.

6. While Coaching Youth Soccer, explain it clearly and as briefly as possible. After that it’s time to show the kids how it’s done. They will understand it if you do it properly. Conversely, don’t try and demonstrate something that you can’t do.

7. Health and safety should always be foremost in a coach’s mind. This means making sure that the ground and the equipment are in good shape before your soccer training session starts. Remember that if a kid sprains his ankle because the ground was slippery, then it’s technically your fault.

8. Don’t leave the parents out in the dark. Meet with parents regularly and always keep them up-to-date when it comes to the team’s problems and challenges. Remember that parents can be a powerful and useful ally for any youth soccer coach.

When Coaching Youth Soccer, these are important aspects that every coach should consider. You can discover how to improve the soccer skills of your players really fast and make training more fun and exciting at SoccerDrillsTips . com.

About The Author:

Andre Botelho is a recognized authority in youth soccer coaching. If you want to learn how to explode your players’ skills and make practice more fun and interesting, get your free Soccer Coaching guide at http://www.soccerdrillstips.com - Coaching Youth Soccer Drills.

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Archive for November, 2009

Where Did Duck Decoys Come From?

Posted in Hunting  by
November 30th, 2009

Youth Soccer Coaching Tips

Do you wish to accelerate your team’s growth using proven soccer coaching tips? Do you feel frustrated that your team is not performing well, or does not carry out your instructions as intended?

These 5 guidelines are sure to make victory a habit with your kids and also keep the momentum going.

1. Design your procedures meticulously: Ensure that your plans are in tandem with your objectives or they will fail miserably. Before you set out to draft one, sit and have discussions with your players, set your goals and objectives as well as timelines. Timing of results is a crucial factor and if your plan does not talk of achievement of goals within a specific time-frame, it is sure to have a negative impact overall. Rigid planning can only make matters worse and therefore leave room for changes, if required. There is every possibility that unexpected interruptions may hinder your goals at the last minute and therefore ensure that you can quickly change them when such instances do arise.

2. Help your kids look forward to practice sessions: Many players tend to skip the sessions when they feel that they don’t enjoy them. As a coach, this is your biggest failure. There are several interesting methods to sustain the interest of the kids. For example, once the regular drill is done with, you can divide them into smaller groups and introduce fun games that not only relax their mind but also promote team spirit among them.

3. Maintain a balance between control and frankness: it is important to keep a tab on your kids so that they understand authority. Try the soccer coaching tips for maximum results.
Leave the kids to themselves and you will be amazed by the results. Human nature demands that we introspect, talk to ourselves and do things we like. It is also a good idea to take them out for camping or any other excursion for a day.

4. Be there for your kids: It is essential that the players try out new strategies to succeed and it is imperative that when they do so, there will be failures. Ensure that you are available to motivate them to try again or try something new in such situations. Keep a close watch on the activities and if you need to pitch in to correct a potential blunder or a silly mistake, do it without resorting to punishing ways. When the players know that you are always in favor of figuring out new strategies, they will not shy away from trying them. That will make your team and players grow.

5. The balancing act: Training fields and sessions are the best places to recognize and acknowledge talent. A good team is always a healthy balance of different skills and capabilities. You can use your strong players to bring the ones who aren’t up to the mark to the desired level. Every player has something to give to the team. However, you can always uplift the performances of some of the players in the team by helping them learn from their peers. Grouping the players is a great idea so that they can learn from each other.

Coaching youngsters is not easy and demands a lot of innovation and good thinking. It is well-known that inspiring the people to perform when there are great expectations is a difficult task. However, these soccer coaching tips will help you get the best out of your players and the team. Make optimum use of these tips to further your coaching career. Your kids will appreciate it, benefit from it, and become a team to reckon with. For more such tips, knowledge, and experiences, subscribe to our community of soccer professionals.

About The Author

Andre Botelho is a recognized expert in youth soccer coaching. He’s the creator of the “Ultimate Soccer Drills System” and influences well over 35,000 youth coaches each year with his unique coaching style. To download your free soccer coaching guide visit: http://www.soccerdrillstips.com - Youth Soccer Coaching Drills.

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Archive for November, 2009

Where Did Duck Decoys Come From?

Posted in Hunting  by
November 30th, 2009

While following basic deer hunting tips may seem far too simple and obvious for most hunters, these tips should act as a guide for both the beginner and experienced hunter. If you want to have a successful deer hunt, you need to do more than simply go into the woods and expect the deer to come to you or expect to simply walk around and find the trophy deer you have always wanted. A certain amount of preparation is required, a level of discipline is necessary, and certain safety rules to be learned and applied, but the tips discussed here will help you have a truly enjoyable and prosperous hunt.

1. Tips For Safety:

· Never consume any alcoholic beverage before or during a hunt.

· Never depend on your gun’s safety - act like it’s loaded and ready to shoot at all times.

· Be sure to unload your gun before you climb a tree, get into a stand, jump a ditch, or cross a fence.

· Do not pull the gun’s trigger unless you are completely certain that you are aiming at a deer. If there is any doubt about your target, do not fire.

2. Tips On Getting A Deer:

Be willing to start early - sunrise and sunset are the best times to find game, even if some hunters are willing to hunt all day. The fact is deer will come out to feed in the early mornings or the later hours just before dusk. Be sure to be in your deer blind or stand prior to dawn in the morning and prior to dusk during the evening. Arriving early is vital, in order to properly set-up prior to the arrival of deer. It is truly agonizing to watch that trophy winning buck dart away due to you arriving a little too late, not giving yourself ample enough time to finish any preparations.

· Eliminate Scents - It is important to remember that deer can smell scents very easily, so do what is necessary to eliminate any human or unnatural odors. Things that would smell good to a human are usually signs of danger for a deer. This means you do not want to use deodorant, cologne, perfume, after shave, or soaps that are scented or meant to deodorize. Be sure you wash whatever clothes you plan to wear with unscented laundry soap or just plain water before going on a hunt. Due to how sensitive a deer sense of smell is, they will be frightened off by the slightest scent.

· Remain Still - While in a blind or stand, refrain from moving and do so very carefully when you must move. One of the hardest things for me to learn to be a successful hunter was how to slowly look from side to side as I sat for hours in a deer stand in the freezing cold. Sudden movements quickly attract the attention of deer and can easily scare them away before you even get to see them.

· Be Quiet - One of the most important things you can do to have a successful deer hunt is to remain silent. The incredible sensitivity of a deer’s hearing has amazed (and later on disappointed) me more than once. They are highly attuned to any unnatural noise, including a human voice. If you are involved in a hunting party and need to communicate, do so very quietly, substituting hand signals if you can. You also have to be careful not to hit you gun or binoculars or your metal stand or clang the two together.

There’s a lot of things to learn before you can use the word “expert” for yourself, but if you start out following these basic deer hunting tips they will definitely improve your chances of one day bringing home that trophy buck you’ve been dreaming about all this time.

We are hoping that you use these deer hunting tips during the upcoming deer hunting season.

And please visit us at www.Deer-HuntingTips.com to learn the secrets and deer hunting tips the pros know.

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Archive for November, 2009

Where Did Duck Decoys Come From?

Posted in Hunting  by
November 30th, 2009

I want to share my personal lucky duck decoy review as I just picked one up this season.

First of all I seen many websites with the lucky duck decoy advertised on them while I was looking for a realistic motion decoy. After checking with a few hunters I knew, not one person had ever tried this type of motion decoy so I started checking online as I didn’t want to buy one then find out it’s no good. After about 3 days of research and searching for the lowest price curiosity drove me into make the plunge so I bought the combo pack that gave me the remote and the carry bag.

I usually shop around for my hunting supplies so for those of you looking for the lucky duck also, I can save you some time, here is the price range and websites,

  • mydecoys.com – $107 – Lucky Duck with the Combo pack  $139 CHEAPEST!
  • Cabela’s – $129  – with the Combo pack  $169 (They didn’t have any combos left when I looked)
  • Walmart – $80 They didn’t have any either.
  • Duck hunter.net – They didn’t have any either.
  • dowdlesports.com – $100 – with the Combo pack  $150
  • edgebyexpedite.com – $139 – with the Combo pack  $189
  • academy.com – $80 No combo pack
  • milonajoenterprises.com  – $107 – with the Combo pack  $141
  • thefind.com – $106 – with the Combo pack  $141

I liked the fact that the wings rotated to give a more realistic look but I was a bit worried about it buzzing or just being too loud and surprisingly it is very quiet.  I control the wings with my remote witch is very handy and as for the rang, I was about 80 feet away and it was still working fine. One key thing I thought was nice was that it is very light and it came with a camouflage carry bag.

I would certainly recommend picking up the lucky duck combo pack if your considering the luck duck decoy because the remote and carry bag are very handy.

Another similar motion decoy I found was the MOJO Motorized Duck Decoy. One thing I always wonder was why they called it MOJO? The name is actually voodoo for magic and it like magic how the wings move. If your thinking about a motion decoy you should consider the lucky duck decoy as I am very impressed with mine.

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Archive for November, 2009

Where Did Duck Decoys Come From?

Posted in Hunting  by
November 30th, 2009

Using electronic predator calls is becoming more popular even though it is against the law in some States and Provinces. Before using one be sure to check hunting regulation in your area and I share some experiences  I have found about using a predator call.

Make sure you do some research as there are many different predator calls out there with many different frequencies and animal sound and styles like hand held predator calls.Most of this information should help save you some time when you see how well thing have worked out for me.

Some of the newer electronic callers come as an MP3 player and calls can be downloaded right off the net. so make sure you have enough space available.

One of the best electronic callers I have used was the FOXPRO Scorpion X1-A Digital Game Caller. Most you will have to buy addition memory cards but not with this one and it is very light and easy to carry. It a bit cheaper then the FOXPRO Fury Digital Game Caller which I would like to get because it comes with more memory not to mention a few other little goodies.

The FOXPRO Scorpion has a list of different accessories that I won’t get into as this is not the purpose of the post.

Most predators will recognize the sound of wounded or dying prey which is the whole idea behind using electronic predator calls. Now I have seen my Foxpro caller bring all different types of different animals in, like the day I was calling a coyote and the first animal to show up was a white tailed deer, sure wish it was hunting season. I have seen electronic varmint calls bing in a pack fo coyote before as they all could hear my sceery Jack Rabbit call clear as a bell.

The best time to do predator calls is just after sunset or just before sunrise if legal in your area if your like me we can’t hunt after dark here so I’m out there just as the sun is coming up because most predators will try to score one last meal before the sun is up all the way and they have lots the cover of night. The best luck I have had hunting predators was in the early fall mainly but when calling coyote it doesn’t seem to matter much as they are usually hanging around any place where they can sneak the dog or cats dish of food. I have often used a fawn bleat call using a deer decoy for coyote but for fox a higher pitch call will work better. The sounds that have worked best for me on my FOXPRO are the sceery Jack Rabbit and the open reed predator call. To help it’s a good idea to use a vermint decoy as this will give them something to sneak up on while you get them into sight.

One thing I often see is that hunters use the caller to often and this will only scare most predators away or they will be too suspicious to come in. The position of the electronic predator Call is very important so try to keep it 50 to 100 yards upwind.

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Archive for November, 2009

Where Did Duck Decoys Come From?

Posted in Hunting  by
November 30th, 2009

Herd management is one of the most important deer hunting tips. The large antlered deer are prized among trophy hunters. We aspire to one day get that huge rack. I don’t know any hunter who has not shared stories about huge antlers. They talk about the number of points, how big the spread was, the diameter of the antler, how long the tines were, etc. The question is, how can you increase the chances that the deer you are hunting will have large antlers?

Antler size is affected by three major factors:

1. The Deer’s Genetics

2. Nutrition

3. How Old The Deer Is

Genetics determine how big the antlers might become. In other words maximum antler size is a trait that is inherited. This is a fact that experienced deer hunters and game managers know and that science has proven. Sometimes, the best managed leases impose limits on how big an antler can be if it’s to be harvested. A limit is put each season on genetically desirable prey and killing of genetically inferior antlered deer lets the gene pool move towards more favorable traits. Although there is some doubt regarding the benefit of these practices (effective killing of inferior antlered deer is sometimes impossible given the harvest rates to population in general), it has a genuinely good motive.

Nutrition or what a deer has to eat is another factor affecting the size of a deers antlers. Even with optimal genetics, the deer will not realize its full potential if the animal does not receive the proper nutrition.  Experienced hunters will tell you about seasons when drought caused foliage and food sources to be scarce. They will also attest how these conditions made it impossible to find any deer with huge racks. In order for the deer population to realize it’s complete antler producing potential, it has to eat a proper diet all year long. Due to the fact that most of the antler growth occurs during the spring and summer time, nutrition through this period is the most important. Bad forage conditions throughout this time can negatively effect antler growth. However, if time and energy are put into habitat management, adequate nutrition and foraging will be made more likely. There are many times that supplemental feeding is needed.

The final factor is age, however research suggests that once a buck has reached 3+ years of age genetics and nutrition play a larger part in antler growth. The size of the antler tends to increase greatly during the first few years of age and then to level off sometime between the fourth to sixth year depending on the breed and its genetics. For this reason, the harvesting of bucks younger than 4 years is not encouraged. I can recall my dad’s complaints when neighbors would kill a two year old buck at a nearby farm and he would sadly make exclamations such as, “That deer still had milk on its breath.” It’s best to allow the young bucks to mature and only harvest them afterward. If you’re not able to kill a mature buck but require venison, shoot a doe. The hunt next season will reap the benefit.

We hope that you use these advanced deer hunting tips and techniques during deer hunting season to enjoy the most successful hunt ever.

Then visit us at www.Deer-HuntingTips.com to learn the deer hunting tips and secrets the master deer hunters know!

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Archive for November, 2009

Where Did Duck Decoys Come From?

Posted in Hunting  by
November 30th, 2009

If you are a new hunter, this question will come up, “What will be the best hunting equipment to use?”  For certain this seemingly easily answered question can become hard to answer if you start pondering about the many kinds of weapons you can select from as well as the diversity in grouping in accordance with how large or small the weapon is, how strong it is, and what can be accomplished with it. The weapon of choice in the UK is the gun; although people do like bows, it is against the law to hunt live have with a bow in the UK. Let us explore how to find the top hunting gear.

Best Hunting Equipment -To be honest, rather than initially thinking about what sort of supplies to utilize for hunting, an inexperienced hunter should start by using a training bow and doing target practice. It is extremely difficult to learn how to use a bow in an effective manner if you can scarcely manage to pull and hold a bowstring. Training bows are advertised on the internet for lower than £13.  Many are made of fibreglass, making them very lightweight. These are among the best for young hunters who are new to the sport of hunting.

Once a person learns the fundamentals, it’s time to move on to practical hunting gear.  This is where the real decision-making begins. Archery hunting equipment offers a large variety; a few examples are recurve bows, longbows, and crossbows. Remember that bows such as these must be maintained more carefully and are more unwieldy than some varieties. Longbows are stronger and less difficult to work with. Recurve bows are more precise than bows with a straight limb. What you will pay for a quality bow will be between £50 to £220. It would take the strength of a rifle when attempting to hunt for a variety of big game like deer.

Best Hunting Equipment -If a bow is not your preference, you may use an airgun or a slingshot for small game hunting. Folks who hunt will sometimes prefer slingshots as they have no problem carrying them and can easily locate rocks for ammo. Airguns are very dexterous and are light in weight.

Whether you feel that a slingshot, a bow, or an airgun is the best hunting equipment you can get, here are a number of fundamental tips to know. Never turn your weapon in the direction of an animal you are not looking to kill. Don’t shoot unless you are completely positive that your target is game. Remember, bows are for target shooting and can’t be used for live animal hunting. In order to assure that other hunters can easily spot you and won’t mistake you for game, wear the correct non-white,  bright-coloured outfit. Hunting may be a productive, useful ordeal if you obtain the correct hunting supplies.

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Archive for November, 2009

Where Did Duck Decoys Come From?

Posted in Hunting  by
November 30th, 2009

Hunting is a timeless activity shared by a wide assortment of individuals. Such ventures bring out a sense of companionship and togetherness among hunting buddies. Others hunt as a means to collect food. Some people simply enjoy the idea of roughing it. Whatever the reason, there are many forms of hunting—and archery is a time-honoured one. Shooting game with bows and arrows appealed to a number of hunters. You can no longer hunt game inside the UK with such equipment. Currently any activity with bows and arrows is restricted to target shooting. For those that think this can’t be as exciting, think again; if hunters in the UK purchase the proper archery hunting equipment, they can thoroughly take pleasure in their open-air experience.

Archery Hunting Equipment -Clearly the first thing you need to set your sights on is getting the right arrow. Good archery arrows are probably the most important tools in the sport of bow hunting, when you think about it. Just bear in mind that it is against the law to use archery equipment to kill game in the UK, so be sure not to violate the law.

Archery Hunting Equipment -Carbon and alloy are blended together to make the bow shafts most prevalent in today’s society. In times past, shafts were made from aluminium—wood was too easy to warp and fibreglass too easy to break. Those using arrows made of aluminium recognized the plus side to its precision, stability, and simplicity. Carbon fibre arrows offers still more advantages in terms of resilience. Now there’s even arrows that are a carbon and aluminium for an even better result. On the whole, archery equipment has advanced significantly from earlier days of traditional archery and medieval period when your only option would have been a wooden shaft.

Following your selection of arrows, you’ll need to choose the archery bow needed to use the arrows on. Archery bows are pieces of hunting equipment which require an exact weight and size, particularly depending on the arrow you’ve chosen. Clearly you don’t need a scenario where your eye is on the target and you misfire because you can’t draw back properly. That normally happens when your body weight and the weight of the bow are a mismatch.

Archery Hunting Equipment -To wrap up, I want to reemphasize that archery hunting equipment inside the UK may not be used to shoot game…and consists of more than just a bow and arrow. Also included are sights, stands, safety harnesses and other equipment designed to assure your fun outing is also a safe one.

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