Prepare a baking pan by greasing it lightly with non-stick cooking spray, butter, or shortening. You could also line the baking pan with aluminum foil instead of greasing it with cooking spray. Use a serrated kitchen knife to cut the squash in half lengthwise. Dig out the seeds and stringy pulp. Make sure that the squash is clean before using it. The skin of an acorn squash should be scrubbed with a vegetable brush under running water to remove dirt and debris. Use a heavy metal spoon or ice cream scoop to dig out the seeds. Both halves should be cut-side-down in the pan. Do not stack the halves. They can touch, but they must not overlap. Cook the two halves until the flesh feels tender when poked with a fork or paring knife. Do not cover the squash as you cook it. Temporarily remove the squash halves from the oven and brush the cut sides with the melted butter. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, if desired, and return them to oven for another 15 minutes. Note that the squash halves should now be cut-side-up inside the pan. You can enjoy this squash as is, or you can mash it or use it as a base for other recipes requiring pre-cooked acorn squash.
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One-sentence summary -- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius). Cut the acorn squash in half. Transfer the acorn squash to your prepared baking pan. Bake for 45 minutes. Brush the squash with butter and continue baking. Serve as desired.

Many states and areas require you to take a mandatory course in hunter's safety before you can be issued a hunting license, especially when hunting with a gun. Be sure you comply with all regulations, or else you could be fined or suffer other legal consequences, like incarceration. Depending on the area in which you live, you may be able to hunt some animals, like small game, without a permit as long as you adhere to your region's hunting regulations. While you are hunting, an accident might occur that may require medical attention, or you might have to spend the night in the elements waiting for help to arrive. Don't be caught unprepared. Make sure you have: Extra daily medication (e.g. insulin, blood pressure pills, etc.). Cell phone or two way radio (in waterproof case). Appropriate clothing for changeable weather (rain gear, etc.). Lighters/fire starters. Metal cup. Waterproof light source (e.g. headlamp). Whistle or signaling device. Emergency shelter (e.g. space blanket). Survival knife. First aid kit. Emergency rations (granola, meal replacement bars, etc.). Map and compass. There will be different methods for hunting the game you choose to as prey. Ambush hunting, stalking, and hound hunting are popular methods employed to hunt various prey. You will need to research your prey to decide upon the most effective style. If you plan to hunt from a portable tree stand, you will want to be familiar with carrying and climbing with it before your hunt. The same applies for fashioning a blind, or for the procedure for stalking game. Your prey will likely have an ideal habitat. Here you will have a better chance of finding your prey while you hunt. Research the ideal habitat of your prey, paying attention to notes about migration and yearly changes in behavior, and find some locations near you where you can hunt your game. Hunting on public land is legal, so long as it is not in violation of state, federal or regional restriction, you have the proper licenses, and you are following state, federal or other applicable hunting regulations.
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One-sentence summary -- Take necessary safety courses. Purchase a license, if necessary. Put together emergency supplies. Choose your tactic. Practice your hunting tactic. Choose a location.

As is true of any ratio, an algebraic ratio compares two quantities, although in this case variables (letters) have been introduced into one or both terms. You will need to simplify numerical terms (as shown above) as well as any variables when finding a ratio's simplified form. Example: 18x2:72x{\displaystyle 18x^{2}:72x} Remember that factors can be whole numbers which divide evenly into a given quantity. Look at the numerical values in both terms of the ratio. Write out all factors for both numerical terms in separate lists. Example: To solve this problem, you will need to find the factors of 18 and 72. The factors of 18 are: 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 18 The factors of 72 are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 72 Go through both factor lists and circle, underline, or otherwise identify all of the factors shared by both lists. From this new selection of numbers, identify the highest number. This value is the greatest factor common to both of the numerical terms. Note, however, that this value represents only part of the greatest common factor within the ratio. (We still have the variables to deal with.) Example: Both 18 and 72 share several factors: 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, and 18. Of these factors, 18 is the greatest. You should be able to evenly divide both numerical terms by the GCF. Do so now, and write down the whole numbers that you get as a result. These numbers will be part of the final simplified ratio. Example: Both 18 and 72 are now divided by the factor 18. 1818=1{\displaystyle {
rac {18}{18}}=1} 7218=4{\displaystyle {
rac {72}{18}}=4} Look at the variable in both terms of the ratio. If the same variable appears in both terms, it can be factored out. If there are exponents (powers) applied to the variable in both terms, deal with them now. If the exponents are the same in both terms, they cancel each other completely. If the exponents are not the same, subtract the smaller exponent from the larger. This completely cancels the variable with the smaller exponent and leaves the other variable with a diminished exponent. Understand that by subtracting one power from the other, you are essentially dividing the larger variable amount by the smaller one. Example: When examined separately, the ratio of variables was: x2:x{\displaystyle x^{2}:x} You can factor out an x{\displaystyle x} from both terms. The power of the first x{\displaystyle x} is 2, and the power of the second x{\displaystyle x} is 1. As such, one x{\displaystyle x} can be factored out from both terms. The first term will be left with one x{\displaystyle x}, and the second term will be left with no x{\displaystyle x}. x(x:1){\displaystyle x(x:1)} x:1{\displaystyle x:1} Combine the GCF of the numerical values with the GCF of the variables to find the full GCF. This GCF is the term that must be factored out of both terms of the ratio. Example: The greatest common factor in this example is 18x{\displaystyle 18x}. 18x(x:4){\displaystyle 18x\cdot (x:4)} After you remove the GCF, the remaining ratio is the simplified form of the original ratio. This new ratio is proportionally equivalent to the original ratio. Note again that the two terms of the final ratio must not share any common factors (except 1). Example: x:4{\displaystyle x:4}
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One-sentence summary --
Look at the ratio. Factor both terms. Find the greatest common factor. Divide both sides by the greatest common factor. Factor out the variable if possible. Note all of the greatest common factor. Write the simplified ratio.