Hunting With a Crossbow for Beginners

For the people who are interested in hunting, a crossbow can be a good weapon for beginners. A crossbow is a kind of ranged weapon that uses elastic to launch a missile, in this case, a projectile that can hit your target and kill it. Just like all the other kinds of hunting weapons, a crossbow can be accurate and suitable for hunting. It can be fun using this hunting weapon for people who are just beginning to engage in this activity. You can learn more here by reading along. In this article, we shall discuss some things beginners need to know about the use of crossbows and how to choose the accompanying projectiles for a better hunting experience.

Crossbow for beginners - Year Zero Survival Blog

Here are some of the hunting tips you need to know when using a crossbow as a beginner:

Crossbow Configurations

The fact that many companies manufacture crossbows means that you may be confused about what to choose. However, with some basic knowledge of some features of crossbows, you would be better off. Crossbows come with a stock and a bow. These fit together to form the whole weapon, the crossbow. The difference in many types of crossbows is in the style of a bow that will be attached to the stock. In this regard, there are three designs, which are the Reverse Draw, the Compound, and the Recurve.

Consider crossbow draw weights

This is a very important factor that one should consider when buying a crossbow as a beginner. This refers to the number of pounds it will take you to draw back the string into the cocked position. This ranges from 90 to 260 lbs and should play a very important role in the speed of the arrow after it has been released from the crossbow. With this feature, one needs to consider their strength and know the amount of poundage they can comfortably draw back on the crossbow.

The limb configuration and the length of the power stroke are other factors that can determine the speed of the arrow. If your draw weight is great, your bow becomes more unforgiving. As such, your shooting errors will be many. You will also increase the wear and tear of the components of the bow.

Know the crossbow arrow speeds

The crossbow arrow speed is a very important aspect that can help beginners become better hunters. Modern crossbows come with arrow speeds that range from 265 to 400 fps. You see, the faster the arrow speed, the further and the flatter you can shoot it. With this in mind, you should be able to take the big game with ease. However, it is good to note that bowhunting requires one to be as close to their target animal as possible. Regardless of the arrow speeds of your crossbow, you may not always achieve your goal. Archery is not a long-range sport and one needs to know this while they buy a suitable crossbow. This way, you will not be disappointed. And in any case, as a beginner, you should develop your skills by using the basic crossbow before you can buy the more powerful weapons.

What are the benefits of crossbow hunting?

This is one thing you need to know as a beginner so that as you engage in this activity, you can be encouraged at the same time. There is a wide range of benefits that come with crossbow hunting. These are:Crossbow hunting is good for wildlife management. One good thing with crossbow hunting is that it encourages wildlife population control and management. For the areas that are overpopulated with animals, such as game parks, game reserves, and even forests, crossbow hunting will help in controlling the population of the animals. Consequently, there will be a healthy growth of the wildlife population.

Good for recreation purposes. This is a good recreational activity that beginners in hunting can engage in. You can utilize your free time in this adventure and help relax your mind as you try to look for targets and hit them. It is also a good chance for you to socialize with other people who engage in the same activity. You will get to learn from each other. This is a good way to grow your hunting skills and hunting engagements.

In conclusion, one must be aware of the rules and regulations of hunting in their countries, States or Counties. Regardless of the fun and the adventure that comes with crossbow hunting, you could easily get yourself into jail if you do not follow the regulations laid down in your country. You need to know all there is to know about hunting certain animals in a particular jurisdiction. This way, you should enjoy your crossbow-hunting expeditions as a beginner.

12 Survival Hygiene Tips for when SHTF

How will you stay clean post-collapse? It’s an issue people don’t give much thought about, yet of crucial importance. Disease is one enemy that can take you down without realizing it, and no amount of tools, gear or survival skills can help.

waterfall showering

The people who found refuge on the Louisiana Superdome during Katrina know very well what it’s like. Rotten food, lack of showers and functional toilets, no electricity was hard to endure for the thousands who were crammed into that open space. We need to be prepared, so let’s see some common sense hygiene tips…

#1. Water, water and more water.

Having the means to procure water is the cornerstone of any good hygiene plan. Not just for keeping you hydrated, but also for things like:

  • showering (or, at the very least, to use a damp cloth to wash your body if you don’t have enough of)
  • doing the dishes (though you could stockpile plastic plates and plastic eating utensils to save water)
  • washing clothes
  • cleaning wounds (yes, you could get hurt!)
  • and other things unrelated to hygiene such as watering your garden

Let’s face it, the moment we run out of water, our lives become 10 times more complicated. I’ll even go as far as to say that not having it is way worse than having no electricity.

Ways to ensure you’ve got plenty of water post-collapse:

  • get large, 55-gallon barrels and, if you have a back yard, large water tanks
  • install a rainwater harvesting system
  • have means to filter and purify water in your bug out bag as well as the trunk of your bug out vehicle
  • split your water stockpile between your home and your bug out location, because you never know where you’ll end up
  • keep extra room in the trunk of your bug out vehicle so you can carry extra water with you to your BOL (if there’s time to load it)
  • re-use water from the kitchen sink and shower to water your garden

#2. “If it’s yellow, let it mellow”.

You don’t have to flush the toilet every time. This may not be something you want to do right now but definitely something to keep in mind post-collapse. Follow the “if it’s yellow, let it mellow” rule.

#3. Keep contact with other people to a minimum.

This doesn’t mean you have to stop seeing other people, because you might need information or help. Just remember to avoid touching them, including shaking hands. It may not be polite but manners won’t be as important after the big one hits.

outdoor shower

#4. Out of soap or shampoo? Use soapwort!

No, this isn’t some brand of organic soap I’m advertising. Soapwort (lat. saponaria oficinalis) is a perennial plant with beautiful pinkish-violet flowers that can make a great substitute for soap and shampoo. One thing to keep in mind is that it’s “mildly poisonous” if you eat it so only use it externally. There’re plenty of recipes on other sites and the list of ingredients is very short.

#5. Keep dirty clothes contained.

This is especially true if you’re camping somewhere in the woods or if you’re bugging out. All dirty clothes should be stored in plastic bags until you have a chance to wash and dry them.

#6. Show some skin.

The best way to avoid dirty clothes is to avoid wearing them! Now, I’m not sure if the temperature will allow it but if you can, go ahead and do it. One way of getting yourself used to wearing less clothing is to do what I started doing 6 months ago: I stopped wearing pajamas. If you’re older, you should check with your doctor before doing it, but I can tell you it’s working for me.

The benefits? Better immune system, less sweating, your body gets accustomed with lower temperatures (which you might have to face if you’re going to sleep outside) and, best of all, less laundry!

washing in the ocean

#7. Comb

Combing requires no shampoo and no water, you just have to you remember to add one to your bug out bag. Benefits of combing include removing dandruff, uric acid crystal deposits and other waste. There’s also a side benefit in that you stimulate the blood vessels to bring more blood to your hair, making it stronger and shinier.

#8. No toilet paper? No problem.

There’re plenty of other options that our ancestors used before TP was invented. Things like cloths, newspapers, the leaves of some plants and more.

#9. Remove facial hair.

Though this is an ongoing debate among preppers, you will be less likely to host parasites if you shave your beard and mustache and keep your hair short.

#10. Get a travel sports towel.

If you thought the only way to pack a towel is to sacrifice a good amount of space, I have the solution. There are so-called camp towels that are not only compact but also very absorbent. You can find them on Amazon for around 15 bucks a piece.

#11. Keep your fingernails and toenails neat.

This is very important, as all sorts of bacteria will gather underneath. All you need is nail clippers that you can throw in your bug out bag as part of your hygiene kit.

#12. Take care of your teeth.

Brushing, flossing and using mouthwash should be done DAILY, regardless of whether or not you’re in a disaster situation. Cavities are one of the last things you want to deal with when there’s chaos all around you.

#12. Keep your hands clean.

If you’re doing a lot of office work, you probably don’t feel the need to wash that often. But when you’re working the field and the garden all they, when you’re feeding the animals, fixing your home and doing your own cooking, you’re going to have to wash A LOT more often. You’re also going to need soap (or the means to produce it) and/or hand sanitizer. It’s always a good idea to keep some sanitizer in your BOB and BOV.

Final Word

The thing I hope for the most is that you act on the advice I’ve given you. The tips are easy to put into practice and, some of them should be done on a daily basis, anyway. Post-collapse, you need to be a little more rigorous, so why not start today?


The Top 5 Survival Pistols of 2019

Are you or intending to face a situation where your life at stake? If yes, a survival pistol is a must-have if you can afford to acquire one. If you are in the market of a new top-quality survival pistol, you are definitely at the right place. Here, you are going to see a list for the best survival pistols available today to help you make an informed buy.  But just before we have a look at a list for the best survival pistols available today, you should check this Handgun Caliber Comparison Chart and Guide.

Top 5 Survival Pistols

Now, let’s see the top-notch survival pistols of 2019.

1. Walther P99 AS

This pistol originates from Germany and was released to the market for the first time in the early 1990s. It’s a high-quality pistol, and although some people find its grip awkward and slippery at first, it’ll feel comfortable and firm with time when you get used to it. It has minimal vertical movements when in use, thanks to the horizontal serrations at the front, as the palm swell averts side to side movement and offers a better grip. It has a caliber of 9 by 19 Parabellum and weighs just 720g when unloaded while the muzzle velocity ranges from 300-460m/s. The entire pistol is 180mm long and has a barrel length of 102 mm and a magazine capacity of 16 rounds and 50-meter sighing range.

2. Beretta PX4 Storm

Beretta PX4 Storm originates from Italy and is a semi-automatic pistol. Just like Walther P99 AS,  It has a caliber of 9 by 19 Parabellum, but it’s a little bit heavier, weighing 780 g to 800g when empty.  The pistol is relatively compact as it’s 193mm long and the length of the barrel is 102mm. It shoots at a speed of 360m/s while its magazine can hold up to 17 rounds of ammunition. It features Double-action and single-action trigger modes, with the external hammer changing the trigger pull to single action from double action when cocked back.

3. Heckler and Koch USP

Heckler and Koch USP is another semi-automatic pistol from Germany. It has a 9 by 19 Parabellum caliber and weighs 720g when empty and 805g when loaded. The entire pistol is 194mm long and its barrel is 108mm long. A bullet from this pistol travels at a speed of 350m/s and the magazine can hold up to 15 rounds of ammunition. You can shoot at something that’s 25 yards away with relative ease.

4.    FN Five-SeveN

FN Five-SeveN is a semi-automatic pistol from Belgium. It has a 5.7 by 28 mm caliber and weighs 618g when empty and 744g when loaded. So, of the four that we’ve listed here, it is so far the lightest. The entire pistol is 208mm long, and its barrel is 122mm long. A bullet leaves the muzzle of this pistol at a velocity of 650m/s and you can load up to 20 rounds of ammunition in the pistol’s magazine at a go. Being single-action pistol, its internal hammer fully cocks when you rack around the chamber slide. It offers accurate shooting to an object that’s 50m away, although its range of effective fire is up to 100m.

5.    Smith and Wesson M&P

Smith and Wesson M&P originates from the USA and features an extended stainless-steel chassis. Besides, the semi-automatic pistol has a high grip to barrel bore axis ratio faster aim recovery and to prevent much vertical movements. Its caliber is 9 mm by 19mm long and the overall weight of the pistol is 680g when empty.   The length of the entire pistol is 108mm and a bullet is released from the pistol’s muzzle at a velocity of 370m/s.

Best pistols for survival

Most likely, the pistol you choose has a significant influence on your survival chances in a risky situation. Therefore, you should take time and consult widely, as you’ve done by reading this article, before acquiring one to ensure that you have the best.

3 Types of Weapons You’ll Definitely Want in the Apocalypse

Scientists have worked out that after just three months of an apocalypse, things would be looking pretty dim for humanity, with only 300 people left alive. This data doesn’t seem to take into account, however, the preparedness of a large group of the population in regards to weaponry. Survival weapons are a necessity, especially when it comes to prepping for an apocalyptic disaster that could force you to alter the way you protect and defend what’s yours. Depending on the situation you find yourself in, you will likely want to have a variety of weapons on hand to defend yourself and your family as well as hunting and gathering food and other necessities.

End of days. How to survive post SHTF.

Machetes & Knives Provide Practicality 

If you are properly trained to use a knife, it can be a great way to not only protect yourself but to cut through thick, dense forests and also hunt animals that you can use for food. You will likely need a reliable knife that’s easy to handle, strong, and razor sharp. As you will use it for various purposes, such as self-defense and hunting, it can be a good idea to invest in a multi-tool that has a knife feature included on it instead of one single knife. That is, however, unless you plan on going for a machete. This weapon is best-suited for areas where you will need to clear brush as well as for survival skills such as cutting wood and even defending yourself against smaller predators like wolves and mountain lions.

 

Pepper Spray Guns for Safety & Tracking

Pepper spray is powerful enough to be used against most bears, meaning that it certainly is powerful enough to take down anybody in your immediate vicinity who is trying to do you harm. Pepper guns are great as they take on the shape of a gun, making these devices easy to carry around. Instead of shooting ammo, however, it uses pepper spray to disarm your enemy or attacker, either human or animal. The Mace Brand Pepper Spray Gun is a great option in this case it is works two-fold by allowing you to deliver a powerful kick of pepper to your assailant while also allowing you to track the perpetrator. The 10% OC Pepper Formula features a UV Dye that will trail behind whoever you shot it with to ensure you can either track it to hunt it and use as food or avoid if it is someone you don’t want around you or your family.

Using Guns for Tough Situations

They’re loud and sometimes heavy to carry around, generally making them less-than-ideal for survival situations. However, guns can be a great asset in an apocalypse that requires you to defend yourself from predators or other dangers, as they provide you with the power you might need to fend off unwanted visitors that other weapons don’t provide. To defend yourself from animals, it is best to have some sort of animal repellent such as a bear spray on hand for your first line of defense. Your next best bet will be a holster pistol that you can carry around on your waist. And, if the situation calls for it, you can upgrade to a rifle or shotgun that allows you to scope out dangers from a distance.

Ensuring the Safety of Your Family

The best way to ensure the safety of your family during an apocalyptic event is to prepare them beforehand. Educate them on the risks involved and teach them how to defend and care for themselves. Have a solid communication plan in place and ensure you are equipped with all of the necessary gear you need to survive whatever might happen, even if it means stocking up on a few defense weapons.

The Most Essential Hunting Equipment for You

If you are a beginner in the hunting hobby, you could be quite intimidated by the number of accessories that are available on the shelf. You may wonder whether you have to buy all that stuff to start your hunting. You need not worry. As a beginner, you don’t have to spend money on all those accessories. There are a few essentials on which you may spend money. These make your hunting a more pleasant experience.

Hunters gear

Boots

It is not a big thing to say you need quality boots for your hunting trip. Everyone knows that. The important thing is to get a pair of good quality boots. They are expensive, but they are worth the money. A blistered foot can put your hunt to an end suddenly. It is better to get a good pair of costly boots which won’t give up on you too soon. You will be surprised at how fast sharp stones can tear up a cheap pair of boots. Such hunting equipments are not luxury, but a necessity in hunting.

 

Rain Gear

This is another important accessory for a hunter. You don’t know when it will start raining and it could be really cold if you are wet. A rubberized one is very good in heavy rains. There are many breathable raincoats, which really work nicely if you can find time to dry it. These are not rains coats but only cover you in short rains with time to dry them up in-between. For heavy non-stop rains these raincoats are not enough as they get saturated with water.

 

Pack

The pack is another important hunting equipments like your shoes. These packs should be able to carry all your necessities. It should be able to pack your stuff for at least a fortnight. You should be able to carry your food and other things you need. The one with good rigidity is the best for you. It will provide some support too. it should also be light for you to carry around during the hunt.

 

Hunting Optics

You will need an extra pair of good eyes when you go hunting. You should use good binoculars to sight your game easily. If you have good glasses, you will be able to say from far whether a game is worth following or not. Good glasses are expensive. But if you planning to take your hunting seriously they are worth spending on.

There are other hunting equipments which you will need for your survival for a couple of weeks which also you need to carry with you.

 

About author

I am Frank, a professional writer and blogger for outdoor, fashion, technologies, pets, foods, beauty, toys and much more. From early on I started studying life and writing about it. I have a passion to write for my blog and online business. It feels good when I have written an article or blog post that helps people discover and learn more. For more information, please visit my website Atbuz.com or follow me on the blog page.

 

Bow Accessories Every Hunter Should Have

Bow hunting is a very personal sport. Every hunter has his own purposes for hunting. Just like the variety in the reasons each of them has their own choice of accessories which is why there are so many accessories available for a hunter. There are many accessories which only add look to your bow and many which enhance your shooting skills.

proper bow accessories

Let us see some of the important bow accessories every hunter must have.

Sights

These are a necessity for hunters to improve their accuracy when hitting a target. These are probably the first accessory most people purchase. You should look for bright fiber optic pins, a bubble level, and a circular pin guard. Today, most of the sights have these features.

The fiber optic pins will help you in dim conditions. A pin guard will act as a reference point when using a peep sight. A bubble level is necessary to ensure that you have the bow in the correct level. This will increase your chances of a hit. The sights are very important bow accessories.

 

Peep Sights

These help to increase your performance as a hunter. These are tied to your bow strings. They are available in many diameters. For hunting purpose, the bigger the diameter, the better it is as they will allow for more light in poor light conditions. The peep sights give you a consistent anchor point to improve your accuracy.

Target shooters, however, prefer peep sights of smaller diameters. These tend to be more accurate. The peep sights are necessary bow accessories for all types of shooters.

 

Arrow Rests

These are essential for every hunter for accuracy. When it comes to a compound bow these are probably the most important of all. Arrow rests come in three main types. They are the shoot through rests, drop away rests and the full containment rests.

The shoot-through rests are the most popular bow accessories among the target shooters. But the hunters don’t find much use with this arrow rest. They can create fletching issues if not configured properly.

The drop away arrow rests have become very popular. They are tied to your buss cable with a short rope. When you pull the bow, the rest moves up and as you shoot the rest drops away allowing the arrow to move freely without fletching contact.

The full containment rest is a fool-proof arrow rest and the favorite bow accessories of the hunters. It will give full support to the arrow. But target shooters are not in favor of this as they fear that the bristles will present more possibilities of fletching contact.

About author

I am Frank, a professional writer and blogger for outdoor, fashion, technologies, pets, foods, beauty, toys and much more. From early on I started studying life and writing about it. I have a passion to write for my blog and online business. It feels good when I have written an article or blog post that helps people discover and learn more. For more information, please visit my website Atbuz.com or follow me on the blog page.

 

Know the Types of Archery Bows

There are basically four types of archery bows. Bows have been in existence for a lot of centuries, but they have undergone a lot of transformations from what they started as. They are now made with fiberglass and carbon fiber. There are those with highly advanced mechanisms. Let us see the four main types of bows.

Different types of bows for hunting and surviving

The Recurve Bow

Named after their peculiar shape these are the basic bows. This peculiar shape makes it easy to use it. Lesser strength is required to shoot an arrow because of this shape. The recurve bows were used historically by horsemen.

Beginners in archery normally begin these archery bows which is just a bare bow. It has a string, an arrow rest, the bow limbs and a riser to balance the bow. As the archer becomes more skilled, more components are added.

The Compound Bows

These are the most technically advanced archery bows. These bows have a complex pulley system that will allow improving their strength without increasing the draw weight. Another difference with the compound bows is that they can be kept strung. As long as the recurve bows, or longbows are concerned they need to be unstrung so as not to spoil the bow. Wooden arrows cannot be used with the compound bows.

The Longbows

They are one of the oldest bows to be used and is recorded being in use as early as 1298. They were the most popular archery bows till the 16th century. The longbows are characterized by their simplicity. They are a long piece of wood, as long as the height of the archer, which is bent in the center towards the archer. They have none of the modern additions like arrow rests or sights. They are more difficult to shoot because they have a low velocity when compared to the others. Their use requires a lot of practice.

The Crossbows

These are frequently used for target archery. They have similar mechanisms like a rifle. The short arrow is attached to the muzzle horizontally. The string is attached to a trigger mechanism. When the trigger is pulled the short arrow is shot. The arrows for the crossbow are referred to as bolts. They are much shorter than the normal arrows. Many people prefer the crossbows to start because they are easy to master than the other archery bows.

About author

I am Frank, a professional writer and blogger for outdoor, fashion, technologies, pets, foods, beauty, toys and much more. From early on I started studying life and writing about it. I have a passion to write for my blog and online business. It feels good when I have written an article or blog post that helps people discover and learn more. For more information, please visit my website Atbuz.com or follow me on the blog page.

Get the Right Accessories for Your Crossbow

It is not just the crossbow that you require for your hunting experience. There are many accessories that will help you to get a much better hunting experience. Some of the crossbow accessories make your sport a much more effective one.

cross bows are good survival tools

Tripod

A tripod helps you to steady your crossbow. A variety of tripods are available in the market that you can use for the hunting purpose. You should get one that is versatile for use with binoculars, camera, and crossbow. The height should be adjustable to both sitting, kneeling or standing positions. You should be able to pan for 360 Degrees. The tripod should be light enough for carrying long distances. This is one of the essential crossbow accessories.

Rope Cocker

This is yet another essential accessory for a hunter. This will help to reduce the draw weight. You should buy one which helps to reduce as much draw weight as possible. Buy one that is lightweight and easy to carry around. It should also allow you to draw the bow accurately every time.

Crossbow Scope

A scope is essential when you are doing big games. The latest scopes come with reticules calibrated with different lengths. These also come with compensation for arrow-drop like scopes for rifles. This is very helpful for long distances. When you are shooting 275 to 425 FPS these scopes help you a lot. They help to dial you in quickly and you need not worry about holdover estimates for longer shots. These scopes help you to make a clean kill. These are very useful crossbow accessories.

Bolt Puller

For a target shooter, it is always a struggle to pull out the arrows that are stuck deep in the target. Block targets are highly durable today. But this creates difficulty in pulling out the bolts that driven deep. Arrow or bolt pullers with good rubber grippers are an essential accessory to pull out the bolts easily.

Soft Case for Crossbow

You certainly don’t want to damage your crossbow. It is not just too expensive to be careless with, but it will also make you lose that much hunting time. So, it is essential to take care of it as best as possible. One of the most useful crossbow accessories is the soft case for your crossbow. A light case with strong double stitch is best for carrying your crossbow. Ensure that it has space for other items like your bolts, quiver and other items. Get one with a comfortable soft and thick shoulder strap.

About author

I am Frank, a professional writer and blogger for outdoor, fashion, technologies, pets, foods, beauty, toys and much more. From early on I started studying life and writing about it. I have a passion to write for my blog and online business. It feels good when I have written an article or blog post that helps people discover and learn more. For more information, please visit my website Atbuz.com or follow me on the blog page.