Hunting, Fishing, and Trapping
Effective hunting, trapping, and fishing depend on careful observation and knowledge of the animals you intend to capture and the terrain they inhabit. Study the habits of the animal you are looking for, including where it sleeps, what it eats, and where it waters. Often, identifying the signs animals leave will help you determine how best to capture them. Certain animals will be easier to identify than others. Foxes, for example, have a pungent scent and wild cats have strong-smelling urine.
Track the subtle signs that animals leave, particularly monitoring trails between watering/feeding places and broken twigs and branches. Trails are clearest in wet ground, snow, and damp sand. When checking trails early in the morning, look out for disturbed dew or spider webs. Other signs include trampled leaves, droppings, gnawed bark, food or prey remains (which can be used for bait).
The best time to hunt is at dawn and dusk when animals are most active, though most small mammals feed at night. When stalking prey on foot, proceed quietly, moving slowly and stopping regularly. Remember to keep your weight on your back foot, testing your next steps with your toes before transferring your entire body weight. Hunting against the wind reduces the chance of an animal detecting your scent and moving away. If the animal you are hunting sees you, freeze. Often, the animal will be curious for a little while before looking away and continuing feeding.
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