With a topographical map and a compass, you can make the most of your time in the woods. Knowing the terrain your chosen prey inhabits is just as important as packing the right gear - after all, knowledge is power.

If you're hunting an animal you're unfamiliar with, be sure to get acquainted with their habits. Learn all you can about the type of cover they like to sleep in, their favorite meals and how far they're likely to roam in a day. Then, take that knowledge and layer it over the information you can gather about the area you're going to be hunting.

Study a topographical map of the area, identify any low-lying areas that the animals might use for bedding or loafing cover. If at all possible, scout the land in person so you can gain an appreciation of the cover and food on offer - as well as the terrain itself.

Combining all this information will give you a true leg up on the competition when the hunt pressure is on during the season. Plus, in the event of a mishap, it may help you save vital time getting out of the wilderness and back to safety.

People do a wide variety of things with their game meat once they get it home. Some butcher it themselves and freeze it, others have a professional butcher take care of the job for them. In addition to the traditional meat cutting services, many butchers will also make sausage or jerky from your game.

Apart from freezing or drying the meat, there's one traditional option that is often overlooked in our modern world - canning. You can prepare meat for stews and other dishes, then use a pressure canner to preserve the meat for future use without refrigeration.

A few important tips for canning your game meat are: be sure all jars, even new ones, are cleaned before you start; remove any damaged meat as you go; leave at least an inch of head space at the top of each jar; always use adequate pressure when canning; and, examine all finished jars after they've had time to cool to ensure they've sealed properly.

The single tip that more hunters get in trouble for disregarding every year is this: tag your kill. Whatever you're hunting, wherever you are, there is little else that can get you into more trouble faster than disregarding the local regulations for displaying tags on your catch.

For birds, this might mean you need to leave the head attached or keep feathers on one of the wings. For larger game, this often means you've got to keep the sex organs attached, which is possible but tricky during field dressing.

Fines and other penalties for failing to properly tag your catch range from small monetary charges to serious action that may be taken by state or federal authorities. In some cases, you could face time in jail, confiscation of the carcass or even being banned from future hunts. At the end of the day, it takes a few seconds to pack your tag, a few seconds to fish it out of your hunt pack and a few seconds to attach it as required. It's time well spent!

Just as choosing the right weapon, ammunition and hunting plot make a huge difference to your success in the field, picking the right hunting companions is also key. We're not saying you should only hunt with seasoned woodsmen, but considering the survival skills of the rest of your party is important.

Establish your camp with hunters who have similar interests - that way you've got something to talk about when you're resting or in the advent of weather forcing you to stay at camp rather than pursue game for a day. Similarly, don't hunt with friends that can't get along with one another - if your brother and your best workmate don't see eye to eye, consider leaving one of them behind or taking two separate trips or you might find yourself refereeing the week away.

Finally, hunt with people who can make a positive contribution to your camp. Choose your camp mates wisely - make sure there's more than one person who can start a fire, perform first aid and offer physical support to others in the group if required.

The first question many novice turkey hunters ask is: do I pluck it or should I skin it? The answer depends on what you plan to do with the meat. If you want to fry or grill individual pieces of the bird, skinning is the way to go; whereas, if you plan to cook the turkey whole, you'll need to pluck it to get the best results.

With a sharp knife, you can skin the bird, fillet the breasts and slice as much other meat from the carcass as you wish to harvest. Do this by first making a cut along one side of the breastbone, then working the skin over the breast halves, down the back and finally over the legs. Then, remove the meat - be aware of local regulations when doing this as some areas prohibit you from removing just the turkey's breast meat.

Experts recommend that the best way to pluck the bird is by dipping it in hot water first. Some recommend boiling water, others say any hot water will do. Plucking the bird will take more time than skinning it, but keeping the skin on will help preserve the flavor. Once it's plucked, make a small incision from the V of the breast to the tail vent, and carefully remove the innards.

In addition to using scent to hide yourself while you're hunting, you can use scent as a tool to attract the sort of prey you're stalking. There are a number of products on the market to help you cover your tracks - and just as many to help you gain a few extra seconds to line up that perfect shot.

Consider using scents to lure animals such as deer. You'll have to carefully consider the wind when choosing where to place a scented lure, as you want the animals to smell the lure well before they could possibly catch a whiff of you. Ideally, apply the lure upwind of a trail you've noticed the animals using during a scouting jaunt. Locate your stand downwind of the trail and simply wait.

Scents are available in considerable variety - some designed to attract male and others to attract female animals. Consider which is most appropriate with care, for example, using skunk musk to cover your tracks might warn a deer off if you've used too much and the deer thinks a skunk is frightened or alarmed nearby. Using a "doe in heat" scent, on the other hand, can attract both males looking to increase their harem and females looking for company.

Bear in mind that you'll need to watch any scented lures closely - letting the curious animal get too close will give the game away and cost you that perfect shot.

The duck is one of North America's most commonly hunted species. Our most common duck breeds are the mallard, teal, gadwall and widgeon. Other ducks often hunted across the continent include the northern shoveler, the wood duck, the bufflehead, the ringneck and the bluebill.

The mallard is, according to scientists, the daddy of them all. His striking coloring and distinctive style makes him a favorite for trophy seekers as well. Mallards are omnivorous, eating everything from grains and insects to aquatic plants depending on what's available. They make their homes near ponds, lakes and marshes as well as in ditches and urban water features.

Whatever the duck, it's behavior is bound to be similar. So, the best advice is to practice your calling techniques, dust off your decoys and find the best blind location you can. Be patient, think safe and take care of your bird dog while you're waiting - the rewards are there for the taking.

Choosing the right weapon for firearms hunting is essential to success in your pursuit. Arguably the most popular weapon used in firearms hunts is the rifle. And there are plenty of variables to consider when hunting with a rifle. As you check out the hunting rifles on offer, consider it's fit, sight, weight and action, as well as it's caliber.

Judge the rifle's fit by holding the gun tight to you shoulder, and pressing your cheek against the stock. The stock should slide easily in and out of your armpit area, and the scope shouldn't bite into your eyebrow. With your cheek pressed against the stock, your shooting eye should be in line with the sight - if you need a shorter or longer stock, a gunsmith can adjust this for you.

The average hunting rifle weighs between six and ten pounds - lighter guns are easier to pack around, but heavier guns dole out less abuse when fired. The action of your rifle should be chosen by assessing your own skill and deciding what you need most. Bolt-action rifles are generally more reliable, particularly in cold climates or rough terrain.

Getting the calibre of your hunting rifle right relies on you having a sound knowledge of the game you're going after. While a .270 is fine for deer hunting, it's simply not enough for running down a brown bear.

When we pack up all our gear and head off for hunting season, one of the items we often leave behind is a camera. Whether you're a great photographer or not, having even the most basic camera on hand can be useful in the field.

If you have a compact digital or traditional camera, that'll do nicely. Many seasoned hunters recommend packing a three-pack of disposable cameras into the rest of your gear - this way if they get lost or broken, no one cares, but you have them on hand if you need them.

A great way to involve friends or family members in the hunt is to take them along to document your trip. A relative who loves taking pictures of the outdoors is ideal for this job, but your nephew armed with a digital or disposable camera will do just as well. Have them fill in a hunt journal for you and take photos of areas you want to remember for next year. Also, taking pictures of your trophy before it's butchered is always a bonus.

Particularly when you're going after big game, like elk or caribou, booking your hunt with an outfitter can be easier than going it alone. There are a number of things to consider - from the equipment and physical effort required to understanding the lay of the land and knowing where the beasties like to hide.

An outfitter can provide a solid alternative to spending thousands on gear you're unlikely to use for any other purpose or hunt in your lifetime. That isn't to say hunting with an outfitter is cheap - it isn't, but you've got to weigh the investment up against the savings. Additionally, an outfitter can provide you with some essential services once you've made that golden shot and bagged your trophy. Bear in mind an elk weighs at least four times what you do, and consider how readily you can pack that animal out of the hunt zone - with an outfitter, a lot of that hassle simply disappears.

The majority of good outfitters won't guarantee you a kill- this is because to do so is impossible unless you're hunting on a ranch or farm that breeds the animals for this purpose. However, an outfitter worth his salt will usually give you a fifty per cent chance of bagging a good mark. So do your homework and check the outfitters' references from the outset to avoid disappointment.