Many wild game hunters choose to preserve part of their trophy kill as a remembrance of the hunting expedition, and to have a sort of conversation piece. The turkey beard has become one of the favored parts of the turkey to salvage and preserve as a kind of conversation piece.

Why Do So Many Wild Game Hunters Preserve the Turkey Beard?

Just why do so many wild game hunters choose to preserve the turkey beard, of all things? The reason that the turkey beard has become such a popular part of the turkey to preserve is because it is probably the easiest part of the turkey to remove and save. Many experienced hunters have their own method for removing and preserving the turkey beard. In general, however, the easiest way to remove a turkey beard is to just cut it off, let it dry and then store it in a clean, cool box. The turkey beard only has a little flesh attached to the end of it, which means that there is little chance the beard will become infested with insects and destroyed. Although the process of removing and preserving a turkey beard is relatively easy and intuitive, there are many small steps that you can take in order to ensure that your beard is well preserved.

How to Remove the Beard Safely

Here are some tips and guidelines for easy and safe removal of the turkey beard. First, pull the beard away from the turkey’s body. Using a sharp knife or hunting scissors, pull the away as you carefully cut through the skin all around the beard. You want to separate the beard from the turkey’s body as cleanly as possible, and without taking as much skin as possible. Many people don’t bother with clean incisions. They simply get a firm hold on the beard at its base and give a hard jerk. Although this can certainly be an efficient way to remove the turkey beard, and it often works for very experienced hunters, your best bet is to remove the beard safely and cleaning using a knife or scissors.

What to Do Once You Have Removed the Turkey Beard

After you have removed the turkey beard, use your sharp knife to trim away as much of the flesh and skin as possible. You simply want to leave the cartilage that is holding the beard together. Any excess skin or flesh should be cleanly excised from the beard. Once you have this clean beard, prepare a small container with Borax. Place the flesh base of the beard into the small container and let it dry and preserve for at least a week. You can use many different types of Borax products. The easiest one to use is the 20 Mule Team Borax that you can purchase as a laundry additive at your local store.

The Next Step in Preserving Your Turkey Beard

After the week of Borax preservation has passed, you can remove the beard from the box. Make sure that it has dried thoroughly. Brush off the turkey beard and prepare it for display. There are many ways to display your turkey beard prominently. Use your imagination for creating a memorable and prominent display for your turkey beard. If you are creating a collection of turkey beards, consider purchasing or making a wooden beard rack that allows you to put on display all your turkey beards in an organized display case. Another easy way to display your turkey beard is to simply hang it as part of a mount of the wild turkey. Many hunters display their turkey beard along with the spurs and fan mount. Some hunters glue their turkey beards into decorative shotgun shells. There are many different ways to display your turkey beards. The only limit is your imagination.

For most turkey hunters, springtime hunting is where it is. Autumn is a busy time for hunters – it is deer season, upland hunting season, waterfowl hunting season – the list goes on and on. For that reason, most hunters put off the turkey hunting until the spring, but this fact can make autumn turkey hunting very satisfying. Hunting turkeys during the fall is less crowded, and you’ll have less competition for the birds. Add to that the fact that autumn tends to be turkey eating seasons, and you can see how forgoing the deer hunting for a little turkey hunting in the fall can be a very good thing.

Turkey hunting in the fall is an altogether different beast than spring turkey hunting, and it can be quite a bit more challenging. In the spring, the male turkeys are on the prowl, looking for a hen, so it can be fairly easy to lure one away from the pack by making hen calls. In the fall, the male turkeys aren’t so interested in the hens and instead tend to roam around in packs together (likewise for the hens, of course, but hunting mature male turkeys is preferable). Separating these groups can be a little bit more difficult and requires a different approach than spring turkey hunting.

When you are hunting in the autumn, it is best to stick to a certain progression of activities. The ideal situation is to stumble upon a pack of male turkeys and take position hidden from view. When you are out of eyeshot of the turkeys, preferably at least 100 yards away from them start trying to call them in to you. Now, it is important here to not make hen calls as you would in spring hunting. You instead want to make the kinds of gobbles that male turkeys make – these gobbles are usually slower and lower pitched than the hen gobbles. What you want to do here is lure on turkey away from the pack. Sometimes, however, this plan backfires. You may end up luring the entire pack, which is not ideal for taking a clean shot, and sometimes you may end up luring in a hen. If you bring in a hen, run her away. If you bring in the entire pack, you will need to take a different tact.

If the whole pack of male turkeys moves in on you, or if they do not respond to your calls, you need to go on to plan B. Instead of trying to call the turkeys, scatter the pack. You can do this by rushing up on them making loud noises, or you can use a turkey hunting dog that is trained to scatter (you don’t want the dog to chase them too far away once they scatter). The object here is to split up the pack and then call in a turkey that has not reattached to the group. Once the turkeys are scattered, wait around 15 minutes, and then start your calls again, trying to call in that lone bird. If the turkeys seem to be running too far away, start the calling sooner, but waiting a little bit is ideal.

At this point, it is simply a matter of waiting. Because the turkeys aren’t trying to mate like they are in the spring, they are a little less motivated to respond to calls. You may have to repeat the scatter and call routine a few times before one takes the bait. For most autumn turkey hunters, however, this is the fun part. You have the woods to yourself and you can take your time and enjoy the thrill of the hunt.

Many hunters believe that turkey tail feathers can help relate the age of a turkey. Is this true, or just another well-worn hunting fallacy? The tail feathers do indeed help hunters tell the age tale on their gobblers. Here are some hints and tips for how you can use tail feathers to help put a number on your turkey.

How to Use Tail Feathers on Male Turkeys to Age Them

It can be useful to use tail feathers as a way to age your turkeys, but it is not always possible to use this method. Most experts agree that using turkey tail feathers to tell the age tale is really only possible if you are comparing one year old turkeys (also known as jakes) from mature birds. Here is how you can go about telling a jake from a mature turkey. The tail feathers of a jake are fanned out. In general, the middle sets of primary tail feathers will tend to be two to four inches longer than the rest of the turkey’s tail feathers. This will create a visible bump in the middle of the tail feathers. This is one of the easiest ways to note the age of a turkey

Other Signs of Jake Tail Feathers

There are other visible signs of jake tail feathers. In general, jakes have longer tail feathers. This is mostly due to the fact that they start to molt during the late summer, and only replace the middle primary tail feathers after this. In the second year of a young gobbler, the tail feathers begin to molt and shape into the standard adult pattern. The standard pattern tends towards molting from the outside in. This creates a full, even fan on the adult gobbler. Thus, once a turkey has reached its second year, it will have a full, even fan for the rest of its life. Of course, there are occasions where a turkey will lose one or more of its tail feathers. In most cases, the turkey will grow another tail feather in its spot. Thus, it is possible to find an older turkey with an uneven feather as part of its tail.

Other Characteristics That Can Help Determine the Age Factor

What if you can’t get a good look at turkey’s tail, or you just want another way to determine your gobbler’s age? Next time, take a look at your turkey’s beard. Beards are a great way to determine the age of your gobbler. Turkey beards tend to grow at a rate of four to five inches a year. This is a very helpful fact that can help you determine your gobbler’s age, especially since a turkey’s beard never stops growing. Turkey beards begin to grow thicker and wider as a gobbler continues to age. There are certain guidelines that you can take in order to determine age by observing a turkey’s beard growth. In general, a turkey with a beard of less than five inches of growth is probably around one year old.

Guidelines for Determining Age through Beard Growth

However, some mature birds can lose most, or all of their beard, so make sure to examine other factors as well (such as tail feathers). However, here are some tips for examining the beard for age. One thing to consider is habitat. Some areas have softer ground, thus causing less beard tip wear. You may also want to consider leg length. Some birds have longer lengths, and will experience less wear on their beard. You should also keep in mind the climate you are hunting in. Northern birds tend to lose the tips of their beards when the ice builds up on them. Thus, don’t automatically assume you have a very young bird because of a short beard.

Take a look at your turkey’s beard. If you are looking for an easy way to age your turkey kill, the beard is a good place to examine. Turkey beards grow at an average rate of four to five inches a year, so this can be a good factor to study if you are interested in dating your turkey’s age. Also helpful is the fact that a turkey’s beard never stops growing. Turkey beards also grow thicker and wider as a gobbler ages, which can also be helpful in giving an age to your turkey kill. There are certain factors that you can take in order to determine the turkey kill’s age by observing its beard growth. One general rule of thumb is that a turkey with a beard of less than five inches of growth is approximately one year old.

More Guidelines for Determining Age through Beard Growth

There are certain guidelines that you can use to determine your turkey kill’s age according to beard growth. Although this is a readily acknowledged way to date the typical turkey kill, there are many important factors to keep in mind. For instance, some mature birds can lose most or all of their beards for many reasons, so sometimes it can be tricky to date your turkey kill. Here are some tips for examining the turkey’s beard for age.

Consider the Turkey’s Natural Habitat

When using the turkey kill’s beard for aging purposes, consider the turkey’s natural habitat. There are some areas that have softer ground than others. This can often cause less beard tip wear. In some places, where the turkey lives in an area with hard ground, their beard may appear shorter because of environmental wear. Keep this in mind when using the beard in order to age the turkey kill. Another thing to consider is leg length. Some birds have longer leg lengths than others. Those with longer leg lengths will typically experience less wear of the beard. Another thing to keep in mind is the type of climate that you are hunting in. For instance, Northern birds will tend to lose the tips of their beards if ice builds on them. You should not automatically assume that your turkey kill is young because of a short beard.

Other Factors to Consider When Examining Your Turkey’s Beard Length

Another important factor to keep in mind is growth rate. Some turkey’s beards simply grow at a faster rate than others. Many turkeys that experience fast beard growth may have beards capable of growing fast enough to overcome the wear factor. Keep this in mind when using the beard to determine age. Another factor that can help you calculate your turkey kill’s age according to beard is the filament strength. Some turkeys are known to have stronger individual filaments. This will cause the beard to not wear as quickly. Another physical factor to consider is the beard’s thickness. When examining your turkey kill’s beard, consider its thickness when calculating the age. Beards with lots of filament, overall thickness and a large circumference will not wear nearly as fast as a thinner beard. What about the bird’s diet? There are certain foods in the area that can cause your turkey kill’s beard more wear resistant.

Consider Disease When Dating Your Kill’s Beard

Finally, you should consider the incidence of disease when examining your turkey kill’s beard growth for dating purposes. Some turkeys may experience melanin deficiency in their beard. Melanin is the pigment that makes the turkey’s beard black. When melanin production is stopped during the growing period of the beard, the beard will turn light or blonde in color.

What should you pack before your big wild turkey hunting expedition? If you are a novice to this exciting activity, here are some guidelines on how you should prepare for the big hunt.

As the popularity of turkey hunting continues to expand, equipment companies have taken note and provided hunters with an ever-growing stable of hunting accessories and equipment. Turkey hunting used to be quite a simple activity, especially when it was left only to bow hunters who took up the arrow. In recent years, the market has produced hundreds of wild turkey hunting accessories. In days past, the wild turkey hunter only needed to carry a few shells in his hunting vest, pick up a double-barreled shotgun, and that would be it.

Today’s Modern Turkey Hunter Has More Choices Than Ever

While hunters of yore did not have much else but their shotgun and perhaps a slate call box, today’s modern turkey hunters have special camouflaged clothing, extreme full-choked turkey guns and hunting vests with dozens of special pockets. But do you really need all the hunting doodads to be a successful wild game hunter? The first real choice you have to make when it comes to picking and choosing your wild game hunting equipment is to decide what kind of equipment you will choose for carrying your hunting tools and accessories. In this department, there are three basic choices that the modern turkey hunter has to choose from. These include a turkey hunting vest, a backpack, or a fanny pack. Which one is right for you? It depends on how much you are going to carry, and how far you will be going. Turkey vests come in a variety of styles. They can come designed as full vests, or in jacket style. They come in expensive shoulder strap models, or they come in simpler styles. Hunting vests are often favored because they come equipped with many different pockets. This lets you organize your tools and accessories with greater ease. Many hunters favor backpacks because they are easy to carry on long distance hunts, and they allow you to carry more or as much as most vests. They can also be removed quite easily, and you can use them as a backrest. Fanny packs are favored because they are generally the least expensive option. They allow you to carry some gear, but they don’t weigh you down as much as a backpack or a vest. They also provide quick access to your equipment and tools.

What Should You Pack for the Turkey Hunt?

Now that you have decided between a backpack, fanny pack or full vest, more choices arise. What should you pack? This will depend on a variety of factors. One of the biggest things that a turkey hunter is never without is their turkey calls. Turkey calls can be hard to resist, but how many do you really need to carry with you? If you have a special turkey- hunting vest, you can probably store dozens of turkey calls with you. However, if you are not equipped with the right kind of carrying equipment, try to restrict yourself to the very essential calls. Chances are, you will not need to use more than a couple of calls anyway.

Creating a Bare Bones Turkey Hunting Package

Your bare bones turkey-hunting package should consist of the basic requirements. Basic turkey hunting equipment consists of a shotgun, a turkey tag and license, shells, camo coveralls and a mouth call. A more advanced, but still basic turkey-hunting equipment list might consist of a shotgun with at least 5 shotgun shells, a full camo outfit, including a cap, turkey tags, a pencil or pen to sign your turkey tag, several turkey calls, a crow call, gloves, a head net, bugs pray, chalk, water, a compass, a knife and toilet paper.

There are many things to consider after a successful turkey kill. Many hunters choose wild turkey hunting for a variety of reasons. After a successful turkey hunt, you will be faced with a variety of choices. If you are interested in preserving the turkey kill, should you choose a professional taxidermist? Or should you proceed with dressing in the field?

Taxidermist or Dressing in the Field – Making the Right Decision

The decision between using a taxidermist or dressing your kill in the field depends on what your final goal is. If your final goal is to mount your wild turkey kill, you should not dress your own kill in the field. However, if your goal is not to mount the wild turkey kill, then you should go ahead and dress your kill in the field, especially if the day is not especially cool and you are far from home.

What to Do If You Would Like to Mount Your Wild Turkey Kill

What if you are planning to mount your own wild turkey kill? If this is your final goal, begin by shopping around for professional taxidermists? Visit all the local professional taxidermists in your area in order to get a feel for their work and prices. Check on their work and prices. Play it safe—never choose a taxidermist that appears to do work at a discount price or whom you suspect may produce uneven or even shoddy work. There are many fine taxidermists across the country, so it may take a bit of travel if you do not have a good taxidermist in your immediate area. Do not attempt to mount your own wild turkey if you have no experience in taxidermy. Taxidermy relies on the experience of the taxidermist you are working with, so make sure you find someone you can trust to mount your hunting trophy prize.

What You Should Do After the Kill

There are many steps you can take after the kill in order to maintain your kill in optimal conditions for the taxidermist. After the shot, there are many things you should do in order to keep the kill in prime condition. First, you want to keep the plumage as dry and clean as possible. You should carry with you cotton balls or paper towels with you in order to keep the bird in optimal condition after the kill. You can stuff paper towels in the dead bird’s anus and mouth in order to keep body fluids or blood from soiling the bird’s feathers. If the bird has any bloody wounds, use paper towels in order to stuff them. Your goal is to keep the feathers as free from blood as possible. If necessary, wrap the head of the bird in paper towels.

Watch Out for Feather Loss

Your goal after the kill is to prevent feather loss and damage. Carry with you some panty hose or a large plastic bag to preserve the bird in optimal condition. Make sure not to bend the tail feathers. Collect any loose feathers that you find around the bird post-kill.

Keep Your Kill Cool

Make certain to keep your turkey kill as cool as possible. Carry a large cooler with you during your hunt. If you know that you will not be able to get to the taxidermist for several hours or more, make sure to keep your kill cool. If you know that you will not be able to get to the taxidermist for several hours or more, you may even want to consider freezing the dead bird immediately. Again, most taxidermists will want to do the field dressing themselves, so simply keep the bird cool until you get to the taxidermist.

If “X” marks the perfect hunting spot, then how can “X” be found? This might be one of a hunter’s questions. There are many things that play a role in finding the perfect hunting spot for turkey hunting and some of the tips will be shared right here.

Finding the perfect turkey hunting spot is not easy and even when it is found, things might still not work the perfectly. A hunter might not be able to tag and bag that turkey. First of all, to find the perfect hunting spot, it is necessary to scout the area considered for hunting. Often it is possible to spot turkeys in the area and if there were turkeys at night when area was staked out, it is most likely they will be there the next morning. Many male turkeys sleep in trees and if a hunter can place himself close to one of the trees that a turkey was spotted the night before, it might be a perfect spot. Even if a great spot close to a resting turkey was found, the hunter might still be out of reach or not be able to see the turkey the next day. This could be due to differences in daytime versus nighttime vision. What the hunter thought at night was the perfect spot, might not be the next morning. The perfect spot does not necessarily exist. It is more the existence of a good hunter who knows where to settle down, but who is also prepared to move to a different position in a moments notice. A good turkey hunter can set up his gear and move with as little noise and finds cover quickly.

As just mentioned, scouting out the area before hunting is a good idea. If a hunter hears a birdcall, he or she should move closer to the sound. Generally, a hunter will be able to find good spots where large trees at the edge of the forest meet a field or a meadow. There are other great covers such as fences or shrubs where a hunter can hide behind. Seeing such places while scouting is something that the hunter should take a mental or even written note of. The more familiar the hunter is with the territory he is going to hunt in, the better of he will be while hunting and the more successful he might be tagging and bagging those birds.

A good choice sometimes can be a blind. When finding a spot where the hunter is confident that gobblers will stroll by in the course of a day, a blind can turn the hunting spot into the perfect one, even without finding much other cover. But for the hunters that aren’t able to sit still for long periods of time, the hunt and run option might be the better option.

One thing a hunter has to remember even if it might not right away cross his mind is that the perfect spots for hunting turkeys are spots where the turkey naturally goes. Finding a spot, no matter how perfect it seems to the hunter is no good if the bird does not like it. The bird will not appear there. Even the best-covered spot might not make for a good hunt. Instead of just picking one spot, adapt to different situations in a moments notice.

Wherever a hunter sets up for hunting turkeys, he needs to make sure that something in the background will hide his silhouette, such as a tree or tree stump. Camouflage can only help if the hunter’s body is blending in with the background. If the background is light, the gobbler will realize that the hunter is not what he pretended to be. Shaded sides on chosen background cover are an even better choice to hide the hunter’s body. Besides these factors, it is also important to choose a spot where the hunter can sit comfortably to be able to confidently shoot the bird.

Frosting a cake can seem like a fun job, until you get down to it and realize that it is not always as easy as it seems. Would you like to make your own homemade cakes look as professional and impressive as the cakes you buy at the store? You can achieve this professional look too simply by following the Wilton Method of cake decoration the Wilton Method of cake decoration is one of the most popular and standard of all the cake decoration methods. Here are some hints and tips for succeeding with the use of the Wilton Method.

What Type of Cake Mix Should You Use?

The easy answer is that you should use whatever type of cake mix works for you. The Wilton Method recommends specifically the Duncan Hines cake mixes in order to ensure that you get the same batter volume on each cake. So, in essence, you will want to choose a cake mix that can provide you with certainty and uniformity. When you are using the famous Wilton Method, you will wan to add one or two tablespoons of Wilton meringue powder. This special powder will ensure that the cake can rise higher than it otherwise would.

Preparing the Cake Pans using the Wilton Method

You will want to take special care with preparing the cake pans according to the Wilton Method. Here is a simple tip that can make a world of difference when you are preparing the cake pan. Use a simple two inch wide paint brush in order to brush on vegetable shortening in the cake pan. Once it has been fully greased, give the pan a small dusting of flour. If you notice that any area of the pan is still shining, make sure to brush on more vegetable shortening and then dust with flour. Whatever you do, make sure you don’t fill the cake pan more than halfway.

Easy Tips for Working with Your Cake in the Wilton Method

Before you begin to ice your cake according to the Wilton Method, you will want to make absolutely sure that it is stored in an airtight container and that the cake is allowed to set at least a day or overnight before you begin to ice it. Take the time to prepare the cake for decoration by using a professional cake leveler to level off the top of the cake so that you are working with a smooth, level cake. You can also use a serrated knife if you don’t have access to a cake leveler. Make sure you brush off any crumbs that may be left behind. Your goal is to work with a smooth, even cake.

Adding the First Coat of Icing

When you are beginning to add the first coat of icing, try not to be stingy with the icing. Avoid having your spatula touch the cake directly, as this will usually cause crumbs to stick. Instead, use a generous helping of icing and spread it around. Think of this first icing as a crumb layer, where you are applying icing to keep the crumbs glued to the surface of the cake. Once you have applied the first layer of icing, let it set for at least 15 minutes, and longer if time allows.

Icing the Sides of the Cake

One of the trickiest parts of cake decoration, especially if you are a novice, is to ice the sides of the cake. The Wilton Method addresses this difficulty with a special tip. The tip is known as tip # 789, and it can help you achieve uniformity and control when working on the sides of the cake.

One of the most difficult talks you could have with a loved one, particularly an elderly parent, is one regarding the need for caregiving. You love them and want what’s best for them while keeping them safe and that sometimes means jumping into the caregiving role. You and your loved one may not always see eye to eye but unless they are not able to effectively communicate their wishes, you must work together to ensure that both of you are satisfied.

Sometimes, the caregiving role may be limited to just needing daily assistance with household chores such as cleaning, washing clothes, transportation for errands and cooking. This could be due to some physical infirmities that do not totally keep them isolated, just slowed down a bit. Paying a companion to come in a few times a week would likely be sufficient and the discussion between you and your loved one would likely be low key on this score. However, what happens when cognitive impairment starts to trickle into your loved one’s every day life or their health is not adequate enough for living independently? The discussion regarding caregiving at this point is likely going to be heated.

The best thing you can do is prepare for “the talk” in advance so that you can counter with an answer to every objection they have. Prepare arguments and statistics if necessary to plead your case while still remaining respectful of their need for independence. This can be quite a delicate balance but it is something that must be done. Here are some tips to help you effectively communicate with your loved one regarding caregiving:

1. Prepare an outline of items you wish to discuss with your loved one so that you remember everything you wish to cover, especially if you are sidetracked. In addition to your outline of pertinent topics, be sure to have a list of possible solutions for caregiving so your loved one does not feel as if they are being given an ultimatum.

2. Calendar in a specific time for your caregiving talk with your loved one so that you are sure that no interruptions will occur. Turn off the phone ringers if necessary and find neutral ground such as a walk in the park or grabbing a cup of coffee somewhere. You know your loved one well so their most comfortable place to talk may be their own home where they feel they have the “house” advantage.

3. Express your feelings honestly letting them know how worried you are about them. In turn, give them the time without interruption for them to express what they are feeling. Both of you will have conflicting feelings. During your talk, also try to read the body language of your loved one. Sometimes, they may be saying what they think you want to hear but the truth is telling in their posture and other non-verbal communications.

4. You should be prepared for some hostility or negativity because you are suggesting caregiving and they may view it as a loss of independence. If their mental acuity is intact but their physical health is in question, you need to do what you can conversation-wise as well as plan-wise to ensure they will have as much autonomy as possible so they do not feel like a patient or a burden, something most people with infirmities hate feeling.

5. Don’t expect that everything will be solved in one conversation. Your loved one may need to process everything and analyze their situation. Be prepared to compromise on certain issues or at least be willing to find alternate solutions to certain caregiving problems. When you and your loved one are stuck on some issues, suggest a third party who could possibly act as a facilitator such as a social worker from a care agency, a counselor or even your church priest.

The best thing you can do is be honest with your loved one as well as yourself. Follow through with any promised plans you made with them. Be loving, yet persistent when you meet with opposition until they acknowledge caregiving may be the best solution for them to not only live longer but maintain independence as much as possible.

Protecting yourself without getting physical is the optimal way to avoid a potentially dangerous situation. When you are strong verbally and can use your definitive voice in a confrontational situation, this can help you escape and diffuse the situation. How can this be possible? For the most part, a criminal will not just arbitrarily grab any woman off the street to assault or rape her. They will scope out a situation or even stalk someone so that they feel comfortable with the situation and the likelihood they can escape. If it is too difficult of a situation, they will avoid it.

Criminals target those females who are timid, weak and don’t project the image of confidence. Therefore, if they see a woman with these characteristics and the opportunity presents itself, they will grab it. However, if you walk as if you own that sidewalk or street, with your head held high, you are projecting an image of strength. A criminal is not going to want to overtly exert themselves to subdue you because it is too much trouble.

What you want to do is keep your eyes at the ready at all times. Always be on the lookout for someone suspicious or even someone harmless looking who may be approaching you. Look people in the eye and make sure they see you taking stock of their appearance. This tells assailants that you could identify them and are therefore are not worth the trouble to grab. Also, being verbally strong, telling someone to step back or stop will also be a deterrent. Your actions tell the criminal that you are not afraid and are willing to defend yourself.

Setting boundaries with a look or words should be your first line of self defense. Many women who practice this after learning about it in a self defense class are amazed that it actually does work. Will it work all the time? No one knows what will happen, but you can definitely do your part in protecting yourself by trying it. To reinforce your verbal and visual boundaries, carrying pepper spray can be an additional deterrent. While many people have never experienced the pain of the burning and stinging, they would not likely want to chance it either. Of course, when you make your verbal stand, you need to have the pepper spray in hand so the criminal can see it.

If you want to rely on a self defense tool like pepper spray with your verbal and visual boundaries, you need to know how to use it. Some ladies will buy it and put in on their keychain and forget about it. Then when they are in a dire situation and need it, they are fumbling in the purse for it or trying to operate it. Learning how to operate the pepper spray before hand is essential. You want to be able to whip it out and use it as if it were something you do every day. In fact, this scenario applies to any self defense tool whether it is a stun gun or taser too.

Practice makes perfect when protecting you from the criminal element. If necessary, take self defense classes which will teach you how to properly use your tools in specific situations, especially if you are in the visual and verbal defense stages. In addition, you need training so you know how you will react in an extreme situation (i.e. fight or flight). Getting past the stun stage is important and you could lose precious escape time if you are frozen to the spot. Therefore, it is important to practice scenarios, especially what to say at the beginning of a tense situation that could turn deadly. All the self defense preparation will provide a sense of empowerment as well as confidence that you can protect yourself.