Seth Ryan's Blog

Small game hunting involves pursuing small animals like rabbits, squirrels, and ducks. Since these animals are small, high power weapons are not needed to hunt them. You are better off investing in a weapon that has greater accuracy to be able to target the small game better.

Also, the price of ammunition should be considered, too, since a hunter can take a great number shots in one day.

Under these conditions, a rim-fire rifle would be perfect weapon to use in the small game hunting category. When selecting a rifle, you must consider the following – its fit, sights, weight, its action and caliber. A gun that fits properly will help assure you of getting more accurate shots.

When using a rifle with a stock that is too short, the scope might hit your eyebrow, giving you “scope bite,” while one that is too long could get caught in your armpit if you are wearing a heavy jacket.

A full size stock is better for adult hunters because of its perfect fit. Good balance and stock design is vital for a small game rifle so that it can be handled quickly and readily. When you are small game hunting, most shots are done from a short distance where the animal can possibly detect the hunter, and small animals do not sit still for very long once they sense danger.

It is better to get a light rifle rather than an ultra light one, because ultra light rifles are difficult to keep the balance and make accurate shots. An ideal weight should be about 6 pounds. The rifle’s action can be either repeater or single shot as long as it gives you a more accurate shot. Barrel length also needs to be considered – mostly for balance more than for ballistics. A medium weight barrel of about 20-22 inches in length is ideal.

A perfect small game rifle should have a small action to match its cartridge and a good, solid feel. A rifle with a smooth action is always best with a clean and light trigger pull, which is needed for accuracy. Given the standards of production today, a trigger revamp might be needed for every new rifle.

It is much more important for a small game rifle to be accurate, rather than fancy. There are various different types to choose from: auto-loading, lever, pump, and bolt action repeaters. Among the widely known calibers are the .22 WMR, .17 HMR and .22 LR, from manufacturers such as Anschutz, Ruger, Browning, Kimber, CZ, Winchester, Henry, and Savage, among others.

A quality rim fire rifle deserves to have a quality scope. A fixed power scope of around 4 times or a variable one in the 2 to 7 times range can serve a small game rifle well. Good rim fire scopes are not inexpensive, but are not overly costly either.

A first-rate small game rifle should be:

- as accurate as possible, but not necessarily too powerful. It can be as powerful as .22LR, but no more powerful than .30 Carbine
- light: for carrying ease and fast handling, but not ultra light
- well balanced and able to swing properly
- with a smooth action and a stock that perfectly fits the hunter
- with light and terse trigger pull
- with a scope of good quality and medium power

A superior rifle may be a little too high priced for a amateur hunter but its quality will prove to be rewarding in the long haul.

Steve Searls
http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/small-game-hunting-weapons-rifles-98229.html

Okay so you have already graduated. You have passed your finals, breezed through all your classes and finished your thesis. Now what?

Welcome to the real world.

Now everything becomes even harder. With thousands of students graduating every year, it can be extremely hard to find a good job. It takes a combination of good grades, excellent credentials and job hunting skills to land a job that others will envy!

Below are just some of the frequently asked questions about job hunting. Read on and you might learn a thing or two that can help you get your dream job.

What do I need to prepare?

Although application requirements will vary from one company to another, there are basic things that a job applicant need to have. The first thing is of course the resume, which will basically show your capabilities and your credential.

The resume is one way to put yourself across and promote yourself without having to brag. The resume will include your education, your previous job experience if there is any, your skills and your achievements. Everything can actually be found in the resume.

Is a cover letter really necessary?

The cover letter will basically state the position that you want to apply for in the company. It is also used by personnel managers to gauge your language abilities as well as how well you compose a correspondence.

Do I need a portfolio?

If you are in the creative fields or the fields wherein you have to produce sample works such as in advertising, arts, journalism and other areas, you need to create a portfolio of your most recent works. Even if you have not worked yet, the projects that you have done in your class and in your school organization is already enough.

Do I need to inform the people in reference list?

It is a good idea to inform people that you are going to use them as your reference. This way, they will be able to prepare just in case they are contacted by potential employers.

How do I look for jobs?

Most job postings can be seen in newspapers. Here you will find the job positions available as well as the requirements for the job. Most companies will ask applicants to respond by sending a cover letter as well as their resumes, which will be evaluated. Successful applicants will be contacted for interviews. Some companies also use the World Wide Web to look for applicants. They post job openings on their websites. This is actually one of the ways that companies make sure that their candidates are internet savvy and computer literate.

There are also job search engines that can help those who want to apply for jobs. The process is actually pretty simple. All they have to do is to register and accomplish an already prepared resume sample.

Job positions that fit their qualifications will then be sent to their email addresses. If they wish to apply to a position, all they need to do is to go to the website and accomplish a series of documents.

Another area that job applicants should look into is through one’s network. Ask around for job openings in the companies that they work for. Chances are they will be able to help you get in by putting in a good word for you.

Mario Churchill
http://www.articlesbase.com/careers-articles/questions-on-job-hunting-99536.html

By Dr. Richard Bayer, Chief Operating Officer of The Five O’Clock Club and author of

The Good Person Guidebook: Transforming Your Personal Life

(Five O’Clock Books, 2008, ISBN: 978-0-944054-16-1, $14.95)

Consider relocating.  A critical mistake that job hunters often make is limiting their search to one specific area. The job market may be oversaturated in your current city, but there may be openings in your area of expertise elsewhere. Remain open to different locations and company structures. Widening your job search horizons may help you find a job more quickly than if you restrict your search to one particular area or company structure.

Expect to be searching for the long haul. These days it’s taking longer for the average professional or managerial worker to get a new job. While it’s possible that you may find something right away, it’s best that you develop a long-term financial backup plan. What kind of side work could you do to ensure you still have money flowing in? How could you reduce your expenses? A great way to resolve some of these issues and to get advice on how to handle being out of a job is to join a job-hunting group to get support, ideas, and contacts. Get to know as many people in your line of work as possible. Building these relationships will be helpful to you even after you’ve found a new job.

Keep your spirits up. An alarming number of job hunters are becoming discouraged and dropping out of the job market. Don’t let yourself be one of them. Be aware that what you are going through is not easy, and that many of the things you are experiencing are being experienced by just about everybody else. Jobs were lost every month in the year 2008, and our country is seeing its highest unemployment rate in four years.  Don’t let the loss of one job fool you into thinking you won’t be great at a job somewhere else. Nothing is forever. Just hang in there, get a fresh start, and remember that you will find something eventually.

Develop new skills.  If you suspect your old skills are out-of-date, use your out-of-work time to develop new ones. If you’re being told you aren’t being hired because you don’t have the right experience, get the experience. Depending on your area of expertise, there are lots of great ways to hone and expand your skills. Take a class. Do volunteer work to gain expertise that you can later market. Or join an association related to your new skill area. If you need to get a job to help increase your cash flow while you are unemployed, try to find something that will enhance your résumé even if it doesn’t necessarily fit in with the kind of work you would like to do long term. For example, one Five O’Clock Clubber got a twelve-week assignment with a Sears consignee during the Christmas rush. The pay wasn’t great, but the job title was Regional Manager, which looked great on his résumé.

Become a skilled job hunter. Being good at your job does not necessarily mean that you will be good at getting jobs. Good job hunters know what they want, what the market wants, and how to present themselves. Having a well-written résumé and cover letter are key to being competitive when job hunting. A poorly crafted résumé or cover letter can prevent you from ever getting your foot in the door at most businesses, particularly in an economy that is flooded with people looking for jobs. If you don’t think that your résumé and cover letter are up to par, find someone to help you write them or visit any of the myriad websites set up to help people out with résumé and cover letter writing.

If it’s been a while since you’ve been in the job market, it may be time to brush up on your online job hunting skills. Familiarize yourself with online services such as Monster.com, Craigslist, and LinkedIn. Check for job postings every day and Google yourself to see what (if any) information may be available for a potential employer to find out about you online. If you have a Facebook or MySpace page, make sure it doesn’t contain any information that is inappropriate. Remember that you are marketing yourself to your future employer and you want to do everything you can to put your best foot forward.

Go on an informational interview. We all know that in most businesses, it’s all about who you know. The same goes for job hunting. Make some calls to companies that interest you or are in your field (even if they aren’t currently hiring). Ask if you can come in for an informational interview with someone who is working in a position similar to the one you desire. Find out about their experiences, who they work with, and what their qualifications are. Getting to know people in your industry can open doors you didn’t even expect. Keep in touch with these people after the interview, and you will increase your chances of being at the forefront of their minds when a position becomes available. No matter what, it will arm you with more knowledge for your search and can help you to determine if the path you are on is the right one for you.

Target what you want. As Lily Tomlin said, “I always wanted to be somebody, but I should have been more specific.” How specific you are in your job search can be a deal breaker. When you are searching, be sure you select specific geographic areas, specific industries, and specific positions within those industries. For example, you may want to be a writer in publishing or corporate communications in Los Angeles or Chicago. So you start by compiling a list of companies where you could find a job in these fields in each of these cities. Research them to figure out which ones you think best fit with the kind of place you would like to work. And then find out who is in charge of hiring at these companies. Sending a résumé or cover letter to the wrong person or without mentioning a specific person can ruin your efforts. By targeting specific companies or cities and then gradually narrowing your search, you will be setting yourself up with the best opportunity to find a great new job where you will thrive.

Learn how to get interviews. There are a lot of techniques for generating interviews. Everyone knows the basics: answering ads, using search firms, contacting companies directly, and networking. But what you might not know is that only 10 percent of all jobs are filled through ads and search firms, so it is wise to learn the best methods for contacting companies directly and for networking successfully. A coach can help you develop an effective cover letter and Five O’Clock Club book Shortcut Your Job Search: The Best Ways to Get Meetings will tell you how to make those follow-up phone calls that result in meetings. It may seem like a lot more work than hitting that send button on the Internet, but it results in a much quicker search.

See people two levels higher than you are. When you have the list of companies that you would like to approach in your job search, contact people at your level who work there to find out how well your skills match up. If you discover that your skills do indeed match up, then contact people who are in a position to hire you or recommend that you be hired. If you can talk to as many people within a company as possible, it will help you raise your stock with the HR people there and will help you to be more relaxed when it comes time for an interview.

Follow up, follow up, follow up. After an interview—whether you think it went well or not and whether you think it will lead to a job or not—always follow up with a handwritten note that thanks them for the interview and includes all of your contact information. Stay in contact with the people you’ve interviewed with as much as possible. For example, you might forward a magazine article that you think would be of interest. Not only will you ensure that the person will be thinking about you post-interview, but it will provide you with an opportunity to show them that you are both interested and knowledgeable in your projected field.

If you are turned down for a position, use the opportunity to find out from your interviewer in which areas you should improve. Get as much detail as possible regarding what influenced their decision not to go with you. This information will be invaluable as you continue your search. Following up is a great way to turn a job interview into a job offer, and if you aren’t fortunate enough to do that, you can at least get some great feedback that will help you in your search.

# # #

C. Hand
http://www.articlesbase.com/career-management-articles/from-hunting-to-hired-ten-solutions-for-job-searching-in-a-tight-market-676841.html

Many people love the notion of going on an African hunting safari and feeling the cool African air as they cruise through the jungle. The thought of it is enough to create vacation dreams for many North Americans, yet translating those dreams to reality can be a little bit complicated. Regardless, that does not stop people from dreaming away about riding on the back of an elephant and enjoying the company of some locals before watching a lion chomp down on its prey. The adventure and majesty of Africa certainly comes alive during a wonderful safari trip.

The term “safari” simply refers to an overland journey. This term has been used to typically refer to visitors in Africa, although it has no actual geographical connotation. There is also a certain thematic element attached to the term, drawing upon visions of khaki clothing and a certain type of hat. Regardless of the stereotypical connotations of the term “safari”, the term still calls upon some adventurous notions that many people desire to discover for themselves.

The original term was a reference to the early big game hunters that frequented African. Men, typically of European descent, would head to Africa to bask in its glory and to partake in the lay of the land. During this trip, the men would gather in hunting parties and hunt down various rare animals. They would take trophies for themselves and display them on walls back home, as was the custom. It became a variable rite of passage for many men in the higher echelon of European culture, maintaining a status grip over those people for quite a few years before hunting became unfashionable.

These times often represent a brutal passage of time in the history of Africa. The notion was that Africa was a piece of property that belonged to Europe and, therefore, the animals on it also belonged to Europe. The historical significance of these safaris often carried deep-seeded notions of control and power to the extent of slavery over the continent, enabling Europeans to virtually rape and pillage the land at their leisure. To this day, that history plagues many Africans.

Now, the term “safari” refers to taking a photo safari. Instead of shooting animals with bullets and keeping the heads mounted on the hearth, people are taking pictures and putting together various photo displays of the magical animals they have seen while on safari in the beautiful continent. These photo safaris are becoming incredibly popular with people of all ages that wish to have the experience of a lifetime taking in the wilderness and grandeur of the incredible continent of Africa.

Safari parks are rather common in North America to draw upon the distinction of the African safari. This is a zoo-like tourist attraction that creates an environment where people can observe all sorts of exotic animals from a safe vantage point. The safari park is usually walked through or ridden through in a vehicle that would be driven by a guide. The guide describes the animals that are seen and offers a historical context for the park, giving tourists and guests a complete tour of the park and engaging them in knowledgeable conversation.

The game reserves in Africa tend to be a lot larger than a safari park, though. For this reason, most people still wish to head to Africa to see the magic of nature for themselves in as natural a setting as possible. Within the confines of a game reserve or a safari park, people are engaged with the pure wonder of seeing such incredible animals such as the lion or giraffe. As long as such areas are able to protect some of these animals, people will be able to participate in photo safaris for many years to come. The love of animals, exotic and domestic, may well be the greatest ally to the protection of various species threatened with extinction.

Jessica Santoli
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/going-on-an-african-hunting-safari-707818.html