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Hunting Glossary

HuntingNet.com has comprised a database of many of these phrases and their definitions to help you gain a better understand of hunting terminology.

The hunting world is filled with a variety of different terms and phrases that may mean one thing to a seasoned veteran but make no sense whatsoever to someone who is just starting out.

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Search Results

Abomasum Search:

The abomasum is the fourth chamber of the deer stomach. This, along with the omasum, is considered the true stomach. It helps further digestion by producing acids to break down the food particles and the microorganisms from the rumen. This makes it easier to absorb nutrients.

Action Search:

For firearms, combination of the receiver or frame and breech bolt together with ohter parts of the mechanism by which a firearm is loaded, fired and unloaded.

Adapt Search:

Animals biologically or instinctively change to their surrounding environments when needed.

AFC Search:

Amateur Field Champion. This is a designation earned at AKC field trials and is used as a prefix to the dog’s registered name. A retriever must have won 15 points including a first place in Open or Limited Stake when handled by an amateur or in Amateur Stakes at a licensed AKC field trial.

Aggregation Search:

Deer that are forced to group together forced by the low amounts of food available.

Air Search:

Allowing a dog to empty his bowels and bladder.

Amateur Search:

One who trains dogs as a hobby and only for pleasure, accepting no income for the training.

Amateur Stake Search:

An all age stake for dogs over 6-months of age, handled by an Amateur at the field trial. A retriever must have won 15 points including a first place in Open or Limited Stake when handled by an amateur or in Amateur Stakes at a licensed AKC field trial in order to obtain the coveted title of AFC.

American Kennel Club Search:

Established in 1884 as a purebred dog registry. Provides sanctioned dog events and promotes responsible dog ownership. There are 150 breeds that are eligible for AKC registration. Provides official standards for each breed that describes that the ideal dog of that breed would look like. Breeds are divided up in groups based on traits and characteristics, including: sporting group; hound group; working group; terrier group; toy group; non-sporting group; herding group and the miscellaneous class. Retrievers and pointers are in the sporting group.

Amish Training Search:

The art of training a dog without the use of an E Collar.

AMO Speed Rating Search:

The Archery Manufacturers Organization set this standard for evaluating arrow speed. To discover the AMO Speed a bow is set at 60 pounds, with a 30-inch draw and shooting arrows that weigh 540 grains. For todays compounds, speeds over 240fps are considered fast while anything under 220fps are relatively slow.

AMO Speed Rating Search:

The Archery Manufacturer's Organization set this standard for evaluating arrow speed. To discover the AMO Speed a bow is set at 60 pounds, with a 30-inch draw and shooting arrows that weigh 540 grains. For today's compounds, speeds over 240fps are considered fast while anything under 220fps are relatively slow.

Anchor Search:

You should draw the bow and hold the string in the same location every time--(anchoring) the bowstring. Many people who shoot with fingers use the corner of their mouth as an anchor point.

Antler Search:

An antler is a growth on top of the head formed of bone, starting at eleven months of age. They are ornamental structures prized by hunters. They are also prized by the deer themselves in the sense that they are used for gaining dominance and attracting mates. Antlers are unique to mammals and are the only type of appendage to grow, fall off and start growing again yearly. The size of the antlers depends on the nutrition in the diet.

Archers Paradox Search:

Describes the movement of the arrow as it bends and flexes around a riser upon release.

Area of the Fall Search:

The area around which a bird has fallen and where the retriever is expected to hunt and locate the bird.

Armguard Search:

Placed on the arm that holds the bow, an armguard protects your arm from getting "raspberries or bruise" from the string hitting it. Some people use armguards to help hold baggy shirts and jackets out of the way of the bowstring.

Arrow nock Search:

The notch at the end of the arrow designed to fit around the bowstring.

Attrition Search:

A training technique whereby you teach to a dog to perform the required task by repetition. The skill is refined through continued exposure to standards that are elevated gradually rather than by direct pressure or punishment. It incorporates the philosophy of teaching without punishment for a wrong behavior. This is the method of choice if you are uncertain that your dog understands your command.

Automatic Search:

A firearm design that feeds cartridges, fires and ejects cartridge cases as long as the trigger is fully depressed and there are cartridges available in the feed system. The action may be from an internal power source, such as gas pressure or recoil, or external power source, such as electricity.

Avoidance Search:

Commonly seen as a dog’s reaction to pressure or stimulus in which the dog avoids a task by behaviors such as looking away, going in the opposite direction, etc.

Axle Search:

The axles are the shafts which a compounds cams rotate.

Axle-to-Axle Length Search:

The distance from one axle of a compound bow to the other. 1) Generally if you want a finger bow, it should have an axle-to-axle length of at least 42 inches to avoid drastic finger-pinch. 2)A really short axle-to-axle length makes the bow more extreme and a little more difficult to shoot but may make it faster.