HARD BREATH - Hunters who use scopes in harsh, cold weather conditions should take care where they carry and hold their guns. Your warm, moist breath can condense and freeze on the scope lens making you blind when the shot comes.

Start hunting as soon as you step out of the vehicle or the campsite. Don't talk in loud voices or slam doors. The same thing goes for the end of the day, don't stop hunting until you are back to your vehicle or camp. You never know where and when you will run into game. I have called in several bull, elk and whitetails within 200 yards of my truck!

Fun Bumpers: Pup's attitude toward training and retrieving is of paramount importance. One of the best ways to adjust Pup's attitude is with the use of Fun or Happy bumpers. Start and finish every session with these fun bumpers. Tease Pup with a bumper. While saying, "Hup, Hup, Hup!," and throwing it, let Pup chase it when it leaves your hand. Do not keep Pup steady but encourage him to chase. Keep a happy attitude yourself while doing this and Pup will always look forward to coming out and training.

Draw up a map of your hunting area, plotting deer stands, deer activity, walking trails and other key information that will help you narrow in on good deer hunting areas.

In early archery season before the bulls begin bugling steadily, plan to hunt wallows and game trail between feed and bed areas. Also plan to stalk elk who are feeding in open areas. Elks are not quite as wary as deer and a careful bowhunter can often stalk within range.

If an elk responds to your bugle but won't come all the way in to your calling, try sneaking close to his position on the downwind side and then bugling. Elk are territorial. A bull that was content to answer a distant competitor may stomp forward to rout an adversary that suddenly calls from nearby.

When I attempt to judge a black bear, I'd rather be looking at that bear's track than at the animal itself. A bear's track provides the guaranteed goods on the size of the bear. A front pad that measures six inches across is a bear that will square seven to seven and one half feet; a monster. A lesser track is a lesser bear. As a general rule, add 1½ to the number of inches the track is wide and you'll have the hide squaring measurement.

Eliminate fletching contact by rotating the nock or going to a less aggressive helical.