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Contemporary Elk Tooth Jewelry Isn't Quite What You Would Expect

Elk ivory is the rarest jewelry component in the world. Often referred to
as the “pearl of the west”, elk ivory has been found among artifacts
5,000 years old. Native Americans often used elk teeth as a decorative element
in jewelry and clothing. The first confirmed elk ivory ornaments in the U.S.
were unearthed at the Fort Yates archeological dig in south central North Dakota,
along the Missouri river, dating back roughly 530 years. Elk teeth are still
used in decoration today and can make a unique, one of a kind jewelry piece.

If you are imagining a string of teeth with holes drilled through them and
strung on a piece of leather, you haven’t seen a contemporary, well-made
piece of elk tooth jewelry. “Elk teeth can be a gorgeous centerpiece
for rings, pendants, belt buckles, cuff links, bracelets, and more with stunning
results” says Sarah Buckles Larner, an elk tooth and precious stone
custom jewelry designer in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. “Just like a
traditional jewelry setting using precious stones, you can use elk teeth with
metals like sterling silver, 14K yellow or white gold, or a combination of
those metals to create a lovely piece.”

Elk hunting is big business in Colorado. Elk are abundant; therefore hunting
season yields plenty of material for a designer or elk tooth jewelry enthusiast.
Sarah’s customers range from hunters with their own elk teeth to clients
that just appreciate the unique style of an elk tooth pendant or ring. “If
a customer brings in their own elk teeth and they are not already cleaned,
they are carefully boiled, cleaned, and then carefully polish of all the rough
edges and buffed to a pearl-like finish. Then they are ready to use”

Once the elk ivory tooth is polished, the color and highlights are unique
to each tooth. Depending on the shape and the polish, the colors range from
a milky white ivory color to dark chocolate brown. When the teeth are polished
it may give you a better idea of the type of jewelry that you would like to
have created. You can use a single tooth to create a ring, a pendant or a money
clip while a matched pair of teeth can be put in a belt buckle, a silver and
gold bracelet or cuff links.

Margarette Tustle grew up in the American west and is an elk tooth jewelry enthusiast. For more information about contemporary elk tooth jewelry, visit elk tooth jewelry.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Margarette_Tustle

Be Prepared - Packing for Elk and Deer Hunts

Whenever you venture into the wilderness - even if it's no wilder than your state park - you need to make sure you're well prepared for any eventuality. If you're going on a guided hunt, your outfitter will probably give you a list of suggested items to pack. But still, it pays to plan ahead. First, think about where you're going and what you're going to be doing - a guided fall deer hunt in Michigan will have a different set of requirements than winter elk hunting in Sheridan, Wyoming. Similarly, you'll need different supplies for an Ozark elk hunting trip than for one on a California deer hunting ranch.

The first step to smart packing for a hunting trip is basic research. If you're traveling to somewhere that you've never been before, hop on the Internet and find out as much as you can. If you've never been to Manitoba during elk hunting season, learn as much as you can before you start packing. Look into what sort of conditions you'll be encountering, what the weather will be like, what the wildlife is like. You can check city, state and county websites, and send away for brochures on the area where you'll be. Don't take for granted that the weather will be good, or that it'll be like it is in your own backyard. If there's even the smallest chance of rain or snow, take that into consideration when packing - it's better to be overprepared than underprepared.

You will, of course, be packing your hunting gear. Your hunting rifle, of course, in a sling carrier to save you bag. Ammo - more than you need, but don't go crazy. 50 rounds for your main rifle is a good number. A sidearm, if you're so inclined. And a cleaning kit. If your rifle has a scope, make sure you have lens brushes. Depending on where you'll sleep, you may need a sleeping bag. Whatever the weather or season, pack a "space blanket," a thin sheet of plastic material coated with a metallic substance that reflects about 80 percent of your body heat back to you when you're wrapped in it. These come folded up small enough that they can fit in your pocket, and could save your life if you get lost on the trail while hunting elk and deer.

Pack clothes that will keep you warm and dry while hunting, and make sure you have a first aid kit stocked will all the basics. Also pack enough food to keep you going for the long days hunting outdoors - energy bars are good, as they take up little space but pack a lot of nutrition. Once you know where you're going and what the weather will be like, packing for an elk or deer hunt is merely a matter of common sense and smart planning.

Learn more about hunting rifles and equipment on our site. You'll also find other information such as saddles and funnels for deer hunts and game hunting in Wyoming. DeerElkHunting.com is a comprehensive resource to deer and elk hunters with information on hunting grounds, equipment and useful hunting tips.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rich_Fuller

Elk Hunting - Guided, Semi-Guided or Solo?

If you are looking for a hunting experience that allows you to roam far and wide and provides a real sense of accomplishment, elk hunting is definitely one of the big game sports that you should consider. When you are in a position to indulge in it, hunting is one of the activities that can provide both a great deal of physical activity and bragging rights, not to mention an impressive amount meat and a truly epic trophy at the end. If you are thinking of getting a guide for your elk hunting, take a look at a few of the facts below. Remember as you are making your decision that employing a guide is by no means something that is only done by beginning hunters; there are many reasons that an experienced hunter would take advantage of a guide as well.

The first thing to consider is experience and location. How well do you know the area? If you have hunted in the area before or if you are very familiar with the type of country that you'll be going through, you may not need to be as reliant on a guide. However, as elk have a wide range throughout North America, there is a good chance that if you are elk hunting you might be doing in in a location you don't know very well. Are you familiar with hunting in a very wet location, or a drier one? How comfortable with you in the mountains as opposed to the deep forests? A guide can help you make up for any weakness you have when you are in new territory.

How well do you work with others? You are employing the guide or the outfitter company, but remember that a working relationship is important. How well do you take direction, and are you willing to step back and allow your guide to do his job? If the answer is no, you might be better off working on your own and having a more pleasant trip. If you can work well together (and some hunters and guides do have relationships that last for years) you might find using a guide to be a very worthwhile experience.

You should also keep in mind how long you are willing to spend in the woods. Typically, with a guide to show you the best spots and you will find that the trip will end in a kill specifically much faster. If you don't know the area and you don't have a guide, you can usually expect the hunt to last significantly longer. If you are planning on a slow, leisurely hunt, this will not be a problem, but if you are on a time table, you might be interested in getting a guide to merely cut down on the time spent chasing your quarry!

At the end of the day, remember that this is meant to be an enjoyable experience, so make sure that you keep that in mind! A guide can make your elk hunting a great deal easier.

If you would like to experience a truly once in a lifetime wilderness elk hunt, we invite to visit our site to find out more about Kohls Outfitting and to download our free Guide To Elk Hunting.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_W_John

Fun Bow Hunting Stories

A man and his friend were bow hunting elk in the Colorado mountains near Stoner Colorado. They rode their horse's from early morning until late evening. The high mountain terrain was very rough with tree's blown down and large boulders in the path. Their horse's had to step very carefully or chance breaking a leg. With no sign of any elk the man told his friend that the elk must have all moved to the lower country. They decided to go down and try again the next day. The next morning the man and his friend decided to hunt closer to the town of Dolores Colorado.

They hunted most of the morning with no luck, the sky was clear and it was a beautiful day. As they got closer to the black top highway they saw a herd of cow elk. In the middle of the herd was the biggest bull elk you ever saw. The hunter got down off of his horse and carefully drew his bow and took careful aim. Before he could release his arrow, his friend alerted him to a funeral procession passing on the highway below their stand.

The hunter slowly let off the pressure on his bow, took off his hat, bowed his head and closed his eyes in prayer. His friend was amazed. "Wow, that is the most thoughtful and touching thing I have ever seen. You are the kindest man I know." The hunter shrugged. "Yeah, well, I was married to her for 25 years."

Patty Pinkerton writes for yourwayelectronics. Patty has been in business for about 10 years selling different product such as wedding gowns, bridesmaids, ect. in the wedding industry. Recently Patty branched out with her husband and started http://yourwayelectronics.com selling such items as camcorders, fish finders, metal detectors, etc.

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Practice Ethical Antler Shed Collecting

Collecting deer and elk shed or hunting for antler shed is a fun idea for a family outing. Some folks have chosen hunting shed as opposed to hunting the animal. If you decide to go shed collecting or antler hunting here are a few practical tips to collect shed ethically and responsibly:

1.) Respect for landowners is at the top of the list. Trespassing has become an issue with shed collecting for land owners as well as land destruction from quads, motorcycles and off road vehicles. Be sure to keep your vehicles on roads to preserve the land.

2.) Respect for the animals. Do not disturb the animals or try to chase them when they are in their feeding grounds or at watering holes. Wait until they move on. The purpose is that animals need their feeding and watering grounds to be healthy and reproduce. If their pattern is disturbed, finding new grounds may be an issue in stressed weather conditions. Also, disturbing their patterns makes it harder for the shed hunter to find shed.

3.) Look for young trees with "rubs" on them. These are places where the bark has been rubbed off by their antlers. You may find an antler or two very close to these rubs.

4.) Keep a sharp look out for well traveled game trails, an excellent place to find shed.

5.) Fence lines are a good place to look. Jumping can jar the antlers off. Running elk have been seen with a dangling antler just waiting for a low hanging branch to finish the job.

6.) Many times both antlers can be found within a 300 yards circumference depending on their feeding and watering patterns. So when you find an antler keep looking as you circle out. But don't hold me to the 300 yard rule! Binoculars come in handy for distance and open field searching too. Glassing an area is a good choice to spot shed without disturbing the herd. When the animals move on, collect your reward!

7.) Scout before hand so you have an idea where the herd is traveling and the time of day they are moving. Deer, elk and moose establish watering and bedding locations. Get familiar with their daily feeding patterns... just like hunting. The route they travel will be an excellent trail to follow... at a safe distance.

8.) Never approach deer, elk, moose or any other wild animal for that matter. They can and may protect themselves from attack, human or otherwise.
Be Safe, Be Respectful and Happy Shed Hunting!

Elly Kendall writes for Log Cabin Fever Gifts & Decor where you will find antler decor, rustic cabin decor and wildlife themed gifts.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elly_Kendall

The Proper Mental Attitude for Successful Elk Hunting

When you leave the comfort (or confinement) of your office, fly across the country, land in Montana then drive into the mountains, are you prepared to take down an Elk? Are you confident not only in your abilities, but mental toughness? Can you walk across miles of rugged terrain, and then have the inner calmness to focus, relax, aim and slowly pull the trigger?

None of that is said as a negative; since hunting Elk can and should be an exhilarating, possibly life-changing experience; something you'll look to many times over the years. Will this be your first Elk hunt? Have you thought of calmly squeezing the trigger on a seven hundred plus pound animal?

The Five Second Rule

Why is hunting Elk both exhilarating and difficult? One is the terrain, Elk enjoy being in the high difficult to reach places; two is their inherent sense of life and their continued living of same. If they see or sense you, you possibly five seconds before they will disappear, and the miles you walks may have been for naught. Be prepared both mentally and with practice to "take the shot" when the time is right. If you're hesitant, your opportunity will be gone.

Know The Distance

How far can you shoot accurately? We'd all like to say or think we're the best, but be honest. Can you get a bullseye at two hundred yards? And is that bullseye on a paper target? If it is, then know that when you sight your Elk, your blood will be pumping, you're emotions will be taunt, your finger may twitch, breath, relax, squeeze slowly for the kill. Even with that and even with experience taking aim at an Elk more than two yards out is a fool's shot; and I know you are not fool. Instead of taking a shot at three hundred yards plus, and possibly missing or wounding the animal, improve your hunting skills and move closer.

The One Shot Kill

Are you on the hunt for Elk or bragging rights? Now I'm not saying a bit of braggadocios is bad, but "one shot kills" are not the norm. If your rifle has a good rest, and your site line clear enough for the first shot, then take a second shot too. Better to be certain your Elk is dead, then tracking him for two days; that's no fun for either of you. Your shot may be perfectly placed right behind the shoulder, but if you can take the follow-up shot, experience has proven that is the right call.

You're in their domain, so when either skill or luck gives you an edge, take advantage and make your shot (both shots) count. One thing is certain, if you find yourself tracking a wounded animal, each mile will seem longer and longer, and the trip back to camp like a million miles.

The Primeval Call

Elk are an animal with strength and cunning for preservation that verges on supernatural. From the throated primeval bugles to the aggressing ruts, an Elk is a spectacular hunt. Learn to utilize finesse, skill and patience and your hunt will be the memory (and trophy) of a lifetime.

If you would like to experience a truly once in a lifetime wilderness elk hunt, we invite to visit our site to find out more about Kohls Outfitting and to download our free Guide To Elk Hunting.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_W_John

Fixed Blade Hunting Knives - What Are the Top Fixed Blade Knives Around?

Are fixed blade hunting knives the right ones to meet your needs while out on the trial? Fixed blade knives, while one of the more popular kinds of hunting knives available, are far from your only option, and therefore you need to familiar yourself with the different options to determine which you should buy.

Obviously, the kind of knife you need to buy will depend on the kind of animal you will be targeting, because it will obvious take a much stronger knife to skin a moose than a dove. Thus, the plethora of different knives available.

This can make finding the best one quite challenging, since there so many different varieties to choose from. Some knives are very high quality, whereas others are not, so finding the one that will give you the most bang for your buck is essential.

The main two varieties you need to choose from are the fixed blade hunting knives and folding hunting knives. Keep in mind that fixed blade are a lot more sturdy, and therefore are more suited to hunting larger game.

Of course, you have the option to use them on smaller game as well, but if you are a large game hunter, then fixed blade hunting knives will definitely need to be part of your arsenal. If you hunt smaller game, they are optional. Obviously, since they are stronger than folding knives, they will be more expensive, as you might expect.

The drop point hunting knife is something you might want to look into, because it comes with a very sharp curve, and is manufacture with extremely sturdy steel, and therefore you can utilize this for practically any animal you want, due to their strength.

As you might expect, this is one of the more expensive kinds of fixed blade hunting knives you can buy, but it just be worth it.

To learn more about fixed blade hunting knives check out internethuntingtips.com/. This is a popular site that reviews hunting equipment and hunting locations, the best places to play hunting games online, and much more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jimmy_Harris

Hunting Binoculars - Why a Hunting Binocular is Essential and How to Find the Be

If you are an avid hunter, than a hunting binocular will be a crucial part of your arsenal. Quite simply, being able to track the animals motions up close is crucial to getting that catch, and binoculars enable you to track them much better than you could with the naked eye.

Of course, finding the right hunting binocular is not an easy proposition, because so many companies make this, that it can be extremely difficult to find the one that gives you the most bang for your back.

Therefore, here are some tips to help you find the best one for your money. First of all, this tip probably sounds self explanatory, but finding one that is well built and high quality is critical, and believe it or not, many of them are not.

When you are out on the trial, you will be walking for a long time, and very likely while hunting, the binocular might get scraped against a tree, you might drop it on the hard g round, and any number of things can happen to it. It's critical, therefore, that you find one that will stand up to those beatings.

Another important feature is to make sure it's waterproof, as you never know what the weather will bring you while out hunting. Sometimes a sudden downpour can ensure, and your binoculars will be ruined. Also, on occasion, particularly if you are duck hunting and out on the water, you will need to be sure your hunting binoculars are waterproof, in case you drop them ion the water.

Make sure you buy one that has light gathering ability, particularly for stormy weather, or when it's dark in the morning and evening. This might be the most important feature of hunting binoculars, and if you do your hunting early or very late, it will be a critical thing you should look for. be sure to have a neck strap for your binoculars to relieve the stress of lugging it around all day.

These kind of binoculars tend to be very heavy due to the powered lenses they make use of, and therefore being sure to have a strap to carry it around with is critical. If you follow these tips and make sure your hunting binoculars has these features, you should be safe.

To learn more about the hunting binocular and becoming a top hunter immediately, check out http://www.internethuntingtips.com/

This is a popular site that reviews hunting equipment and hunting locations, such as North Dakota Hunting and much more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jimmy_Harris

Hunting Rifle Scopes - What Scopes Are the Most Effective While Hunting?

When it comes to becoming a top notch hunter, you simply cannot reach your full potential without effective hunting rifle scopes. These enable you to shoot with deadly accuracy, because you can see your target much more clearly when it comes time to fire.

The days of relying on the naked eye are over, as rifle scopes enable you to see your target and it's motion as if you were standing right next to them.

Nowadays, well over half of hunters are utilizing rifle scopes, as it would be foolish not to. While I'm not a huge advocate of some gadgets, such as wind gages, as hunting is much more about feel the technology, a rifle scope is one that can help you become much more effective.

Keep in mind, most of the top hunting rifle scopes enable you to tweak them specifically to your eyes, just like contact lenses, so that you can better track your target.

Of course, remember that not all hunting rifle scopes are the same, and some work much better on some guns than others. Quite simply, some are designed to work much more effectively on some guns than others, so be sure to find one that meets your guns requirements.

What should you look for when shopping for one? Most critically, image clarity is the most crucial, so be sure to test his out before you buy it. Try and find one that adapts well to your eyesight, because not everybody will see the same out of the scope.

I wouldn't recommend you buy a scope online, because you test out these variables. A the very least, I'd recommend you go down to your local score and try them out, and once you've found the model that fit s your needs, only then should you consider buying them over the internet to save money.

If you buy the wrong one first, you will spend money for shipping, and very likely cancel out any savings you might have experienced. This could be alleviated with some simple testing the different hunting rifle scopes, so be sure to do this before buying.

To learn more about hunting rifle scopes check out http://www.internethuntingtips.com/ This is a popular site that teaches you all you need to know about huntin, including equipment, hunting dog training, and much more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jimmy_Harris

Long Range Hunting - What Does it Take to Succeed With Hunting From Long Range?

Long range hunting is an art form, because it involves much more skill then close up hunting does, for many reasons. This type of hunting is typically associated with hunting birds, because they are usually high off the ground, and therefore you can't get as close animals as you could, say, a deer or elk.

With this form of hunting, you have to not only be very accurate, and plan on where the moving target will be when the bullet hits them, but take into account changes in your environment, such as wind, and other factors.

Timing is very important when it comes to long range hunting, because if you just aim right where they are, instead of where they will be, as you might with deer hunting, you will miss behind them.

If you shoot too far ahead, you are out of luck as well. As you can see, long range hunting forces you to really develop your accuracy more than any other kind, and it' really only something that can be learned by doing it-not reading about it.

With that said, you can learn from effective tips before going out, so here are some things to keep in mind to make your long range hunting tip as successful as possible.

First things first-never forget about the wind when hunting. Even a 5 mile an hour wind can be the difference between a hit or miss, because it affects the bullet quite a bit from the time it leaves the gun to the time it hits its mark.

You probably don't think a lot about wind when hunting close range, but it is a necessity when hunting from afar, as you will be with bird hunting.

I'd recommend you purchase a wind gage down at your local hunting store or online, to help you determine exactly how fast the wind is blowing, and therefore how far in advance you will have to fire. Of course, these instruments might be slightly overrated, because you can get a general feel for the wind by just throwing some grass, like golfers, or looking at the tree tops.

At the end of the day, accuracy with long range hunting is much more about eel, and not so much about the exact MPH of the wind, although this can help somewhat.

Make sure you get yourself a high quality pair of binoculars, in order to clearly see your target. Often times, they will be too far to really track their investment effectively with the naked eye, which is what the binoculars come in handy for.

Make sure to get extra powerful ones, to ensure accuracy. Also, be sure that your scope is in working order, so that you can clearly see your target before firing. Remember, however, while these are some pointers to keep in mind when long range hunting, by far the most important thing is to actually get out there and do it.

To learn more about long range hunting, check out http://www.internethuntingtips.com/ This is a popular site that teaches you all you need to know about hunting, including the hunting stores to get the top equipment, and much more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jimmy_Harris