In last month’s (go to: www.backwoodsbound.com/zznewv07i10.html for details) we told you how to make a homemade deer attractor from a 3lb coffee can and received a few suggestions from George Hilbish and the subject.

 George suggested that you use Karo syrup instead of molasses since it is cheaper. Just watch that you don’t use too much as the peanut butter mixture may get too runny. He also suggested the use of a one gallon paint can and lid instead of the coffee can. They close tighter, have a built on handle and are readily available at your local hardware or home supply store.

 And we remind you again to check your local/state game regulations before using this gizmo. We don’t want anyone blaming us for landing in the clink. Good hunting to all.

  We’ve received a lot of tips from our readers over the years. Some of them have made it on our site and in past issues of The Bullet and a lot of them have not. So we dug into the files and pulled out a few to pass along. We apologize to everyone for not using their tips sooner but there’s always just so much room. Look for us to do this again in the future. Okay here we go.

  * When squirrel hunting you can make a squirrel call by squealing and smooching on your hand. - Cody

  * Hey, this one is for avid squirrel hunters in this world. Squirrel hunting can be like deer hunting walk slow and quiet while scoping the land out. Look for your nut trees because that’s squirrel heaven. Once you find the trees sit down and don’t move and they'll come out. I shoot 80% of my squirrels in the head, saves meat and it’s easier and less gruesome when cleaning. I have pics to prove it. - Tim Mickle

  * When hunting for deer, always eat an apple before hunting. It helps cover your scent and rub one on your body too. - Dreu

  * When bow hunting for deer in the early season, try to set up in between the bedding area and the food source especially soy beans and white oaks. – Don Taylor

  * You don’t want to put your doe estrus out before sun up and not be able to see deer come in. So use film canisters and place a new tampon inside with the string outside. Wrap a rubber band around the canister at the top to hold it in. At daylight, pour estrus in and toss it. Keep the lid to reuse. – Gary Warren

  * When hunting from a tree stand or on the ground, always have the sun to your back. It’s easier for you to see, and deer will almost never approach with the sun directly in their face. – John Cox

  * To make any cold day of hunting better, remember to take extra packs of hand warmers, you'll be glad you did! – Zach Weikart

  * When sitting and waiting for a squirrel, have a dog run around. He will stir them up. – Taylor Woods

  * When bow hunting I always carry a couple of arrows with field points to mark distances when I’m hunting the edge of an open field such as a food plot. I walk into the field and with my rangefinder measure back to my stand or blind and mark them with an arrow. I then spray a little doe urine on it. You can use sticks but I like an arrow as you can see the color of the fletching better late in the day. I killed a big doe a few years ago at 20 yards who came right up to my arrow and sniffed it. – J B

  * An additional lure for that big buck that I use has always been my lunch. I traditionally bring peanut butter sandwiches and apple juice. I leave a sandwich and a bottle of juice open in my blind. More deer come by to investigate the smell of lunch than have ever responded to any artificial scent I've used. – Randy Cone

  * When hunting out of a treestand, make sure you pick a tree with a lot of cover on it. You don’t want your outline to be seen in the sky. – Harold Knight and David Hale

  * When hunting, let someone know where you are going. Block off any trails not used with two branches crossing each other standing up using rocks as a brace at the bottom. It will help the search and rescue teams if you get lost. – Corey Hite

  * When hunting with someone else and ya'll split up it is good to have a couple of walkie talkies to keep in contact with your other person. – Garrett Farmer

  * If you hunt for deer were there is pine sage or hemlock trees break off a bow from one and rub yourself down for a natural cover scent. – Kyle Biloski

  * Keep down wind from the most likely area where deer usually come from. - Josh

  * To trick a squirrel that you know is in a tree, take a small piece of twine about twenty feet long and tie to small tree or bush. Then walk to the opposite side of the tree. Stay quite for a bit and then pull the rope hard enough to shake the bush. Be ready to shoot when the bushy tail comes around the tree. – Curtis Sebren

  * When rabbit hunting, look for thick briar patches...remember the thicker the better. – Paul Bellanca

  * When climbing a tree-stand it’s always safer if you unload the gun before entering the stand. – Jacob Dixon

  * When bow hunting it is often hard to judge distance in the woods. So take some caution tape or something easily seen and walk 30-40 yards from your stand and mark the trees or bushes that way you'll have a better idea how far away the deer is. – Clay Finley

  * When deer hunting, all the cover scent and scent killer in the world won't help you if your breath stinks. Chew spearmint or peppermint gum, it will kill odor on your breath. If you don't have any gum, chew some pine needles. They work just as well, if not better, since the deer know the pine scent. – Joey Pecorino

  * To test wind direction, carry a small downy feather in the inside flap of your hat. – Bret Tennis

  * A day or two before hunting spread some peanut butter on a tree about chest high and the scent will bring deer to the spot. They also love the taste. - Brett Carter

  Send your tips to mail@backwoodsbound.com and we will post them on the site or use them in an upcoming issue of The Bullet.

  With lots of ducks on the way and plenty of new water to greet them, conditions are shaping up for an above average waterfowl season in Texas, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologists.

  "This year's duck season is shaping up to be good," predicted Dave Morrison, TPWD waterfowl program leader. "Based on reports from Canadian waterfowl biologists in Saskatchewan, this fall has seen the largest numbers of ducks in the last 20 years or so."

  Morrison went on to note that because duck production was very good, there should be a lot of young in the fall flight. "Add to this the fact that a lot of the country north of us has experiences dry conditions many birds will be winging all the way to the Texas coast before they find abundant water," he said.

  The first split of the general duck season in the North and South Zones runs Nov. 4–26 and reopens Dec. 9 through Jan. 28. In the Panhandle’s High Plains Mallard Management Unit, duck season is set for Nov. 3 through Jan. 28.

  Hunters should be aware that this is the first year under the Hunter’s Choice bag limit. The daily bag limit for all ducks is now five with the following species and sex restrictions – 2 Scaup, 2 Redhead, 2 Wood Duck; only 1 from the following aggregate bag: 1 hen Mallard, or 1 Pintail, or 1 Canvasback, or 1 Dusky duck (Mottled duck, Mexican like duck, Black duck and their hybrids), all other ducks not listed, five.

  The purpose behind Hunter’s choice is to limit harvest on species needing special harvest management consideration, but at the same time maintain hunting opportunity on abundant species, especially drake mallards. Also Hunter’s Choice should minimize season closures and provide an alternative to seasons-within-seasons. Under this bag configuration a variety of combinations are possible so long as only one of the aggregate species is taken in any given day.

  Although conditions are pointing toward excellent hunting in some areas of the state, Morrison said there are still places that could use some help from Mother Nature. "Here in Texas we have experienced our fair share of dry conditions, particularly in the East Texas and the Oak/Blackland Prairie regions," he explained. "Portions of northeast Texas will need a lot of rain to make their duck season. Recent rainfall has been beneficial to Toledo Bend and Rayburn but we still have a long way to go to have good conditions for Waterfowl hunting in East Texas."

  In stark contrast, the coastal region has had a lot of rainfall since late last summer with reinforcing rains the last week or so. "This has provided a lot of wetlands and things are looking pretty good," said Morrison. “Add to this the several small cold fronts that have resulted in birds showing up on the coast.”

  Elsewhere across the state, Morrison reported South Texas is wet again and will provide good wintering habitat that could draw some birds away from the coast if pressure is constant and unrelenting. Portions of the Panhandle have good water conditions, like areas north of Lubbock.

 Goose numbers are up as well, according to Morrison. "This year’s white-fronted goose counts increased by over 40 percent when compared to last year. Young birds equal a good season," he said. "Snow goose reports are also strong. Select areas like Cape Henrietta Maria and Akiminski Island have indicated juvenile rates as high as 40 percent, which equates to a lot of young birds available for harvest."

  In the Eastern Goose Zone, white-fronted geese may be hunted Nov. 4–Jan. 14; Canada and light geese from Nov. 4–Jan. 28. The daily bag limit is three Canada, two white-fronted and 20 light geese.

  In the Western Goose Zone, the season for all geese runs Nov. 4–Feb. 6 with a daily bag limit of three Canada, one white-fronted and 20 light geese.

  The possession limit is twice the daily bag limit for Canada and white-fronted geese and no possession limit for "light geese."

  The Light Goose Conservation Order is set to start at the close of the regular goose seasons and run through March 25 in both zones. This allows relaxed regulations to hunt through various atypical means in order to control light goose overpopulation that has caused damage to Canadian habitat.

  TPWD offers a weekly report of waterfowl hunting conditions across the state throughout the season. The report is posted each Wednesday on the TPWD Web site.

  Hunters are reminded to use common sense when cleaning ducks. TPWD and the rest of the country continue to test birds for Avian Influenza. The U.S. departments of Agriculture and Interior are working with states to collect between 75,000 and 100,000 wild bird samples in addition to more than 50,000 environmental tests throughout the United States.

  "Even though the high pathogenic avian influenza strain H5N1 has not been detected, low path varieties have been found in several states," Morrison noted. "A low-pathogenic strain, which produces less disease and mortality in birds than does a high-pathogenic version, poses little to no threat to humans. It is common for mild and low pathogenic strains of bird flu to appear in the United States and other countries and has been around for a long time."

  The U.S. Geological Survey’s National Wildlife Health Center has issued guidance to follow routine precautions when handling wild birds. The Center recommends that people handling wild birds:

  * Do not handle birds that are obviously sick or birds found dead.

  * Wear rubber or disposable latex gloves while handling and cleaning game, wash hands with soap and water (or with alcohol-based hand products if the hands are not visibly soiled), and thoroughly clean knives, equipment and surfaces that come in contact with game.

  * Do not eat, drink, or smoke while handling or cleaning birds.

  * Cook all game meat thoroughly (155 to 165 degrees) to kill disease organisms and parasites.

  From the Texas Parks and Wildlife website. Visit http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us for more information on outdoor opportunities in Texas.