Factors to consider when placing your stand...

Today I want to outline a few more factors that hunters need to consider when  placing their stands..

Along with hot deer trails hunters need to take into account terrain and pressure, access routes, bedding areas, and feeding areas. 

In terms of terrain and pressure, deer like to travel in thick cover at lower elevations where they do not feel much pressure from hunters, predators, etc.  Most properties that have deer on them have some sort of funnel that the deer use when travelling.  Find these funnels and you find a great place to put a stand.

What I mean by access routes is how easy it is to get in and out of your stand.  Try to take the easiest route possible when getting to and from your stand.  Doing so will enable you to be more quiet when entering and exiting your hunting spot.  The last thing you want to do is spook that monster buck because you couldn't get to your stand.

Two big factors to consider when thinking about stand placement are bedding areas and feeding areas.  Deer like to sleep and like to eat, so there are essentially three strategies one could use to ambush deer.  First, hunters could place their stands next to bedding areas, in hopes of getting a deer who stands up to stretch its legs.  The second strategy would be to set up over a feeding area.  Deer have to eat, so being on a food source would be a great advantage when trying to take that big buck.  The third strategy one could use would be to set up in the transition zones between bedding areas and food sources.  All three of these strategies have been proven to be effective strategies when hunting.

Remember to keep these factors in mind and more than likely you will come home a successful hunter.

Placing the Perfect Stand

Does it ever seem like some stands produce big bucks year after year while others simply exist as a seat for watching the sun rise?  That's because some stands are in better locations than others.  Hunting is all about being in the right spot at the right time, and where you place your stand can make all the difference.  In these next few posts I would like to introduce a few things that need to be considered when placing a stand.

The first thing to look for when placing a stand is a hot deer trail.  Placing your stand just off a hot deer trail will increase the likeliness of having a good buck walk by.  Deer are creatures of habit and tend to travel the same paths when moving from bedding areas to feeding sources.  These trails, however, will not provide constant action if that's what you were hoping.  They merely increase your chances of seeing more deer.  In any case, keep this in mind when placing your stand before next season. 

Stay tuned for more factors to consider when placing stands!

Hunting Strategies - Part 3

Now that we have discussed stand hunting and organized deer drives, I want to introduce you to the concept of "spot and stalk" hunting.  The spot and stalk technique takes a considerable amount of stealthiness and patience.  I try to use this technique when walking through a timber or some other kind of wooded area.  Here is how to use the spot and stalk technique....  Start by slowly (and I mean slowly) making your way through the area you are hunting.  Take 3-4 steps, then pause, looking for any signs of movement.  Repeat this step throughout the entire area.  GO SLOW! You don't want to spook the deer.  Another form of spot and stalk is the literal meaning of the term.  Spot a deer on your property, then slowly work your way into shooting range.  This technique can be a very useful tool in your bag of hunting tricks.

P.S. I hope everyone had a successful firearm season!

Hunting Strategies - Part 2

Last week I went over the tried and true method of hunting whitetails from an elevated stand.  Today I want to introduce a new strategy, which in some cases is under used.  The idea of organized deer drives has been around for quite some time, but it is not as widely used as the stand method.  To effectively implement an organized deer drive there needs to be walkers (who walk through fields, timber, and draws) and blockers (who sit in designated areas, looking to get a shot on the deer driven out of the path of the walkers).  One tip when planning an organized deer drive is to always know where the other members of your party are at.  Although it is a very useful technique it requires great attention to safety.  Speaking from experience, I can honestly say that this technique has been very useful for me.  In some respects you are essentially creating your own luck because you are going to the deer, rather than waiting on them to come to you.  If you haven't had any luck so far this season I would recommend using this strategy during the last two days of the season!

Freak Friday!!

You're not going to believe this....

Wow.  That pretty much sums up my thoughts about this monster.  With twenty countable points this buck scored an astonishing 238 and 5/8 inches Boone and Crockett.  This deer is what Freak Friday is all about.  When I first saw this picture my jaw hit the ground.  I was purely amazed.  This is why we hunt, to someday have a shot at the buck of a lifetime.

Hunting Strategies - Part 1

I hope all you hunters out there had as much luck and success as my brother and I had on opening morning.  If not, I hope you stay patient because your turn will come.  Right now I would like to take the opportunity to go over one of the more useful hunting strategies that I have used over the years, stand hunting.  Nearly every hunter has probably hunted out of a stand at one point or another during his/her lifetime, but if you are one that hasn't you need to try.  Stand hunting, in my opinion, is the easiest strategy to employ.  You just set up your stand in a prime location (we'll go over that a little later) and you're ready to go.  This strategy forces the hunter to be patient because in most cases there is not continuous deer movement.  When sitting in the stand you need to constantly be checking for movement.  The easiest way to spot a deer is to see them when they are moving.  In the mornings I usually get into my stand about 30 minutes before first light and sit until about 9 o'clock.  I am training myself, however, to sit longer because I hear all the big bucks move from 10 AM to 2PM (they must know all the hunters are eating lunch around that time).  Also, I recommend using a safety harness.  Better safe than sorry, right?  Lastly, it is good to bring some kind of pad to sit on because your backside is sure to fall asleep.  Like I said earlier, if you haven't ever hunted out of a tree stand I suggest you try it.  It might change your luck!

Freak Fri...MONDAY!

Since I didn't post a freak last Friday I thought I would share with you the successes by brother and I had on opening weekend 2010.  Hope you enjoy the pics!

Intro to Firearm Season and Different Hunting Strategies

Boy I can’t wait until Saturday!!  At the end of this week the firearm portion of deer season opens, and you can bet that I will be out in a tree.  Hunters all across the state wait in great anticipation for the opening day of deer season, hoping they will get lucky and score a big buck.  Among those hunters are a few different strategies on how to hunt bucks, or deer in general.  Over the next few days I am going to introduce you to some methods that I personally have used and some that I have only read about.  My hope is that you will be able to take these methods, put them into practice, and score a nice buck at some time during the ten day season.  Until then, make sure to get your rifles cleaned and sighted in because it is nearly that time!

Picture taken from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/25403537@N08/4198993586/

This buck is an absolute monster!  I would love to shoot a buck like this someday.  Check out the mass that he carries all the way through his antlers.  Once you are done gawking at that, check out this dude's brow tines!  Wow.  What an impressive deer.  To top it off, he is definitely old enough shoot.  I think he would look real good above my fireplace.

Safety Tips for Upcoming Firearm Season

Last time I touched on a few safety procedures that hunter should note when preparing for the upcoming firearm season.  Today I would like to focus on another basic concept, wearing the proper clothing.  It is imperative that hunters remember to wear their hunter orange vests and hats during the firearm season, that way they will be noticed by other hunters.  It is also required by the Department of Conservation, and failure to wear hunter orange can result in tickets and fines.  If you ask me, wearing the orange and being noticed is better than being mistaken for a deer!!  Just remember, be smart and cooperate with all state regulations.  Better safe than sorry I always say.

A Few notes on the Upcoming Firearm Season

It’s that time of year again, when the leaves start to fall, temperatures dip to below freezing, and several thousand deer hunters prepare to take to the woods.  Hopefully they have done their research and located a nice buck in their area.  With firearm season only thirteen days away there is not much time left to properly scout your hunting property.  For the next few days I would like to take some time to go over a few safety procedures that all hunters should follow when preparing for the upcoming firearm season. 

First, remember to practice good gun safety.  We all have a general idea of what gun safety is, but do not always practice it.  For instance, keep the barrel of the gun pointed in a safe direction, and never keep a bullet in the chamber unless you are ready to fire.  Never try to cross a fence with a loaded gun, even if it is on safety.  Accidents can and do happen, but you can take the steps to avoid them.  Lastly, remember to pick your shots carefully.  Never shoot up a hill, or toward another hunter’s stand.  Also be sure to avoid shooting in the direction of any livestock, be it horses, cows, pigs, or sheep. 

On that note make sure your guns are clean and sighted in.  Happy hunting!!  

FREAK Friday!! (a day late)

Picture taken from: http://trophyhuntingdestinations.com/upload/editor/high-fenced-deer-hunting-preserves.jpg

Two is better than one, right?  Or atleast that's how the old saying goes.  These guys here are gorgeous looking bucks.  In fact they look to have come from the same genetic background.  I know for a fact either of these bucks would make my hit list.  I apologize for being a day late with this week's freak.  Anyhow have a great weekend, and I wish all you hunters the best of luck!

Just in the Nick of Time Cont.

 The sight of the buck in my crosshairs made my heart rate sky rocket; this was it, my grand opportunity.  I flipped the safety off and steady the crosshairs just behind the buck’s front shoulder.  By now my palms were starting to sweat, and with a gentle squeeze of the trigger the gun fired.  I’m not quite sure what happened immediately following the shot but I knew something wasn’t quite right.  I saw the buck take off into the woods, and wondered if I had hit him or not.  I jumped on my ATV and drove down to where the buck had been standing, but much to my disappointment there were no signs of a clean hit.  “How did I miss? Was it me or was the gun not sighted in?”  A million thoughts were running through my head, but nothing was going to change the fact that I had missed a chance at a very nice buck. 

            As I drove the ATV back to my original position I couldn’t stop thinking about that buck.  In all my years of hunting I had never missed a shot that easy.  I finally reached the intersection of the fences and loaded a new shell into my gun; hopefully I would get a second chance.  Ten minutes came and went with no signs of anymore deer.  Then, all of a sudden, two does came scrambling out of the west end of the timber, so I pulled my gun up to shoulder to get a better look at them.  While I was watching the two does scamper off into the distance the sound of breaking leaves grew louder and louder behind me.  I turned around, just in the nick of time, to see two more does and another nice buck jumping the fence.  I swung my trusty rifle around and found the buck in the scope.  I squeezed the ice cold trigger and the sound of the discharge deafened my ears.  The ringing lasted a good two minutes, but it didn’t matter because lying on the hill thirty yards away was the buck.  Like a little kid at Christmas I hurried up the buck and found that he was indeed a nice one.  Although he wasn’t as nice as the one I had attempted to shoot earlier, he was still a nice nine pointer.

            I’ll never forget that hunt.  The odds were stacked against me, but somehow I still managed to get a nice buck on the ground.  That hunt was more than just another opening day hunt; it was something more, something special.  It was the fact that I got to spend a great day with old friends and enjoy what the country life had to offer.  I grew up telling myself that I needed to get out of the country and do something with my life, but after that day I realized that the country was my home.  I realized that I belong in a small town that doesn’t even have a stoplight and barely has one thousand citizens.  I realized what my family really meant to me.  I realized that that no matter where you go and how long you are gone, the people in small towns never forget about you.  I realized that I got a second chance to realize what I had been pushing away for twenty years.  For me, in that moment, time stood still, and all I could do was be thankful for what God had given me. 

Just in the Nick of Time Cont.

What I had envisioned as a successful morning just hours before turned out to be nothing but a waste a time.  After three longs hours in the stand I decided that if I was going to shoot a deer I needed to take a different approach.  Hunters always say if the deer aren’t coming to you, then you need to go to the deer, and that’s just what we did.  I got on the phone recruited my dad and an old buddy to come help with the new plan; an organized deer drive, otherwise known as walking and blocking.  An organized deer drive is a hunting technique in which one or more hunters, designated as “shooters,” are put in positions to intercept deer that are being pushed by “drivers” (Deer Hunting Tips).  Essentially this method allows the hunter to create his/her own luck, and that’s just what I needed. 

            Twenty minutes passed before the dust trail from the little, white Toyota pick-up carrying an old hunting buddy could be seen coming down the road a mile away.  As the truck turned into the driveway my mind raced back to memories from past hunting excursions, and I couldn’t help but chuckle.  As he cranked the truck into the field the sound of squeaky brakes echoed into the distance, Aric had arrived.  The tall, lanky man in his mid-twenties that stepped out of the truck was wearing a crazy hunter orange hat that his dad had given him, and was long overdue for a good shave. His father had taught him everything he knew about hunting, until the day of his passing a few years back.  Now the only family he really had was his mother and us.  None-the-less he had a smile on his face that stretched from ear to ear.   

After a quick hello he looked at me and said, “Let’s do this.”  It was decided that my dad and I would be the shooters and Stuart, Phil and Aric would be the drivers.  Dad was the grizzled veteran of the group.  His graying beard was proof that he had been on many more hunting excursions than the rest of the group combined, so he knew what he was doing.  Being a hunter safety instructor he was always preaching safety first.  He had grown out of the shooting stage and was to the point where he got more enjoyment out of watching us succeed.  The only reason he was nominated as a shooter was because he’d, “Rather sit than walk all over the whole damn county.”   

The plan was for them to start at the east side of a small timber and walk directly to the west through the timber.  The three walkers would be evenly spaced in order to make sure every section of the timber was combed.  While they walked to the end of the timber, my dad and I took our positions at the west end of the timber.  He was situated next to a long row of hay bales that had been stacked along a fence row earlier in the year, while I situated myself at the intersection of two fence rows directly across from my father.  Within seconds of getting situated I spotted a nice buck at the edge of the tree line.  I couldn’t quite tell how big he was, but as I raised my scope I could tell that he was a definite shooter. 

            I quickly loaded a bullet into my trusty rifle, a Remington, Model 700, 30.06.  As far as I’m concerned there is no better rifle that than that old Remington.  It was given to me as a gift from my parents for my fourteenth birthday, and it is what I used to kill my deer in the previous four seasons.  It was tried and true.  My only concern with the rifle was the new scope I had put on just a few months before the season started.  Having been away at college I didn’t have any opportunities to shoot the rifle with the newly mounted scope, so all I could do was trust that my dad had zeroed the old rifle in. 

To be continued...           

 

Just in the Nick of Time

Over the past couple of months we have examined good land management and scouting practices.  For the next few days I would like to share a short story I wrote called, "Just in the Nick of Time."  This is a story about one of my past hunts.  I hope you all enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!

As the teacher wrapped up his lecture, I quickly packed up my bag and shuffled out of the classroom.  I raced to my dorm room, where I picked up the bags I had packed earlier that day.  As I drove to the Milwaukee airport I could only think about one thing, the opening day of deer season in Missouri.  Where I come from opening day is something that hunters live for.  It is a day filled with great expectations of killing a good buck, and hunters telling stories of past successes and misfortunes.  On opening day every hunter thinks they are going to be the next hunter to tag a Boone and Crockett sized buck, but many of them come back from the woods empty handed.  For me opening day was more than just the start to another deer season, it was my deer season.  As I boarded the plane I realized only five hundred and nineteen miles stood between me and my only chance to take a good buck.  The day would prove to be more than just another hunt, instead it would bring about a realization of who I was, where I came from, and where I belong.    

            The next day started very early.  I woke up at 5:19 AM to the pounding of my brother’s fist on my bedroom door.  I slowly opened my eyes and looked at the clock, “are you kidding me? It’s 5:19 in the morning?”  A few minutes went by before the pounding on my door started again.  “Okay, okay,” I said, as I dragged myself out of bed and started getting dressed for what I knew would be a very cold morning.  I pulled on layer after layer of clothing because I knew I would be cold if didn’t.  On my way out of the house I snatched up my rifle and my favorite hunting hat.

             Just as I had guessed, the outside air was cold.  The mid-November wind was chilling to the bone, even with all those clothes on.  As I rounded the corner of the house, I found my brother, Stuart, waiting for me in his truck, ready for what would be an interesting day to say the least.

            All my life Stuart and I had been at odds, he was the older, more mature one and I was the spoiled, younger brother.  On Saturday mornings he helped my dad on the farm and I watched game tape from the football game the night before.  He always wore boots and Wranglers and I wore Nikes and sport shorts.  We were complete opposites in almost every aspect of our lives, but we could agree on one thing, hunting.  We both enjoyed the thrill of seeing deer in the wild and the prospect of having a nice buck come within our killing range.  We liked to make hunting a competition between ourselves to see who could kill the first deer or who could kill the nicer buck.  Having killed a nice nine pointer a couples years prior, he held the upper hand.  This year would be different though, I couldn’t describe why, but I could just feel it.  This season would be my season.

            On our way out of town we stopped at the gas station and grabbed a quick bite to eat.  As we got our food and headed for the door we were greeted by many other fellow hunters, and exchanged wishes of good luck.  The ten minute drive to our hunting property seemed like it took for hours, and when we arrived we found our friend, Phil, waiting on us.  Phil never took hunting as serious as the rest of us.  Having been a stellar football player and baseball player in high school, he rarely had time to enjoy the outdoors like we did.  However, he loved opening day just as much as any other hunter in the state of Missouri.

 After quick deliberation we decided that Phil and I would sit in a double stand that was nestled in a tree lined overlooking a clover patch and small timber.  Stuart would be approximately three hundred yards to our east in a tripod stand overlooking a CRP field that bumped up next to a corn field.  The walk to the stand was a good quarter mile, and the sound of crunching leaves beneath our feet sounded like cannons going off in the quiet morning hours.  Once Phil and I reached the stand we took turns making our way up the ladder and getting situated.  Around 6:30 AM the sun’s first rays of light peaked over the trees on the horizon and all of a sudden the woods came to life.  Birds were chirping, squirrels were scurrying back and forth looking for acorns, raccoons were making their way back to their beds, and we began hearing shots being fired in the distance.  We were set; all we needed now was a little deer movement.

            Shot after shot after shot rang out, but we weren’t enjoying the luck those hunters were enjoying.  We sat in the stand until 9:30, but to no avail.  For some reason our honey hole wasn’t very active that morning, and we saw a grand total of one lousy deer.  Three hours in the stand and all we had to show for it was a couple of bright red, wind burnt noses and a new high score on Pac-Man.  Something had to happen if I was going to get a deer on my only day of hunting.  Phil and I decided that this spot wasn’t doing the trick and that we needed to get down and try something else.  I called Stuart and told him what we were planning, and he agreed to meet us at the truck.  When we met up, Stuart told us that he had passed on a really nice ten pointer right before the sun came up. “There wasn’t enough light to see through the scope,” he said, when I asked why he didn’t shoot.  Since time was of the essence we decided to hop in the truck and head over to a spot where Phil’s dad had seen some nice bucks running around.  Little did I know my luck was about to change.

To be continued...

FREAK Friday!!

Photo taken from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vzonabaxter/4195165058/sizes/m/in/photostream/

If this buck isn't "Freak" worthy, then I don't know what is.  This guy is a massive 10 pointer for what looks to be a young deer.  It's hard telling if I'd be able to pass this guy up if he walked by my stand, but give him one more year and he will be more than worthy of a shot.  It is pictures like this that excite me as a hunter.  Sometimes getting pictures of deer in the wild like this one are better than actually harvesting the deer.  On that note, let's just take a moment to realize the beauty the outdoors and wildlife give us the chance to experience everyday.

Scouting – Post Rut and Late Season

Post rut and late season scouting is much more laid back than the first two phases.  During this time bucks have lost a considerable amount of weight chasing hot does, so scouting food sources is a must.  Try to get cameras up near food sources because deer, especially bucks, will be hitting any available food source hard.  If you don’t have a food plot on your property locate any soft mast crops.  Deer will feed on soft mass crops if there is no other food source present. 

Also be aware of any new scrapes and rubs.  Some rubs that you may have noticed in the early season might have gone dormant, but during this time it is possible for them to have become active again.  Remember a good hunter is always aware of his/ her surroundings. 

Early Season and Pre-Rut Scouting

Scouting the early season takes place primarily in the month of September.  During this period hunters should start to notice rubs and scrapes that bucks are creating.  Rubs and scrapes are a telltale sign that there are bucks living in that area, or at least travelling through that area.  Once you find a scrape or a rub search the surrounding area for more scrapes and rubs.  If possible, try to find a rub/scrape line.  If you can locate this line, you will more than likely determine which route the buck is using to travel from bedding areas to food sources and vice versa. 

Once you have determined what you think is a travel route get your trail camera out and set it up.  Cameras are great because they allow you to see if there are in fact deer moving through that area.  Make sure your camera’s date and time are set correctly so you can see what time of the deer are travelling that particular route.  Let me tell you something, it is pretty exciting when you get a picture of a nice buck on trail camera!    

FREAK Friday!!

Picture taken from: http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/profile-ak-snc4/object2/681/3/n485674425710_199.jpg

When I think of big bucks, guys like this one are what I envision.  This dude is an absolute monster!!  With two drop tines and mass that carries through all the way to the tips of his antlers, he's bound for the Boone and Crockett scale.  I've always wanted to shoot a buck with drop tines.  Maybe this Iowa giant will find hisway south of the border and right past my stand...or not.  One can only dream!

Scouting - A Year Round Process

Most hunters think scouting takes place a few weeks before the season starts, but really it should be done all year long.  There are several different scouting seasons, and for the next few weeks I’d like to take you through those different seasons.  Today’s topic is pre-season scouting.  Pre-season scouting takes place in the summer months and lasts until approximately the middle of September.  During this period you should start locating travel corridors between food sources and bedding areas.  A good start for this would be to locate aerial pictures of your property, I happen to like Google Earth, but that’s just me.  Next, if you can get your hands on a topographic map, look for natural funnels that run through your property.  Deer like to travel at the lowest elevation possible, so locating these low spots will help narrow the areas that need physical scouting.  Once you have looked over your maps take to the woods and start recording notes of travel routes, old scrapes, and old rubs.  Mark these discoveries on your map, then go home and study the map.  Check to see if the rubs are in a general line, and check to see if all the trails converge on a central location.  Most of this can be done from the comfort of your own home, which is nice, and it keeps you from pressuring the deer in the woods.

Stay tuned next week for scouting the early season!

Scouting - Getting Started

Now that we have covered the basics of land management, I want to shift gears and turn our focus to scouting.  Scouting is essential for every hunter.  In fact it is a very critical factor in the equation of success.  Spending a few hours on your hunting property before the season opens can make all the difference.  Over the next couple of weeks I am going to provide some basic tips on how to scout and what signs to look for when scouting.  Maybe they will help turn your next hunt into a successful one!

FREAK Friday!

Today's freak is a little bit different from the two previous freaks... Go ahead and take a look.

This is Goliath, a monsterous whitetail buck with unbelievable sized antlers.  You may of noticed however, that he has an ear tag in his left ear, this is because he is a domestic deer.  Goliath was born and raised on a deer farm.  Although his rack would easily shatter the 333 7/8 inch Boone and Crockett record, it won't because he does not live in the wild.  It doesn't matter to me where he was born and raised, I am still in awe from seeing a deer with a rack this big.  To read the whole story about Goliath visit http://www.northamericanwhitetail.com/trophybucks/tr_1103goliath/

Land Management - Food Plots or Tree Plots?

The last couple days I have been discussing different things that go into land management for maintaining a healthy whitetail deer population.  Today I want to discuss a topic that is not so well known, but just as effective.

Ever thought about planting trees to help maintain the quality of your deer population, and even attract more deer to your property?  I bet most of you probably just laughed and said, “Yeah right, what is this guy talking about?”  Well let me tell you something, certain trees can provide an excellent food source for deer.  For instance, apple, crabapple, and pear trees would all make great food sources.  Fruit is to deer what candy is to humans, it’s sweet and something that they don’t get all the time.  The good thing about trees as food plots is that they are low-maintenance and somewhat cheap to plant.  One drawback of these trees, however, is that they don’t usually produce fruit until they get to be about 4-5 feet in height.  The size of the tree you buy will determine how long it will be before it starts producing fruit.  Another good tree to plant would be any tree from the oak family.  Oak trees naturally produce acorns, which deer are known to snack on from time to time. 

Now that you know that facts you may want to reconsider planting a few trees along with your food plot.  I mean really, what could it hurt?

Land Management - Balance is Key

The two most stressful times for deer, in terms of feeding, are in the summer and winter months.  In a perfect world, spring would provide deer with leftover grain and an early green-up of winter wheat.  As times goes by the deer would shift to eating more high protein foods such as clover.  During the hot summer months your herd would begin to feed on soybeans, and then switch over to sorghum seed in the early fall.  Finally, in the harsh winter conditions, the deer would hammer any corn left standing.  This, however, would be very difficult and time consuming for the average hunter.  A good solution would be to plant a one and a half acre plot (about the size of a football field) with clover on one half and corn on the other half.  This combination would provide food for all seasons (clover in the spring and summer and corn in the fall and winter).  Even though it would be a small plot, it is a step in the right direction because even the slightest effort can pan out, resulting in a healthier deer population.

FREAK!!

Its that time of the week again!  Take a look at this week's FREAK!

Picture taken from: http://therealoutdoors.wordpress.com/2008/11/02/whitetail-vs-mule-deer/

This is another typical 10 pointer, but the thing about this buck is the width and heigth of his rack.  To complement his rack this buck has a big body, indicating that he is a mature whitetail ready to be harvested.   I don't know about you, but this would be a definite shooter for me.  Maybe someday that little spike buck I have running around my farm will transform into a FREAK like this guy!!  Wishful thinking anyways.  I'd like to take this moment to wish all the hunters out there the best of luck this season, and remember, the patient hunter is the successful hunter. 

Land Management - Minerals

I hope everyone saw and read about how easy creating a food plot for your hunting lands can be.   Today I want to touch on the topic of minerals and mineral licks.  Minerals, and food plots for that matter, have gained much popularity in recent years.  In fact, they go hand in hand.  Minerals come in different types also, such as powder form, rock form, or block form.  No matter the consistency, they all claim to produce the same outcome: whitetail bucks with larger racks. 

With so many different brands of mineral out there on the market, how do you decide which is best for you?  Well let me tell you what, it’s a matter of personal opinion.  All deer minerals are comprised mostly of sodium, with a few other minerals added in.  Make sure, though, that you get a brand specifically designed for deer because other brands may not have the extra supplements that deer need to maintain a healthy diet.  Go ahead and get different kinds to try around your hunting area.  Take notes on how fast the minerals were eaten, how much traffic has been to the site, how big the hole around the mineral has gotten, etc.  If you find that one works better than the others then stick with that specific brand.  Deer are like humans, they continue to eat things they like!  Now is your time to act.  Get some minerals, set them out (in the spring/summer for the best results) and watch your average buck turn into a FREAK!

5 steps to growing a food plot

Last week we talked a little bit in general about land management and planting food plots.  Today I have a short video that I want you all to watch.  It covers five simple steps to successfully planting a food plot.  Go ahead and take a look because once you see this video you will realize that creating your own food plot is not too difficult!

Land Managment - A Good Start

Land management.  What comes to mind when you think of land management?  For me, this could be anything from mowing the grass to picking up sticks.  In this case we are going to talk about managing your land to sustain a healthy, whitetail deer population.

I’m only going to touch on a few things today, but they are things that we can all do to help increase the number and health of our herd.  The first thing we can all do, given a little time and labor, is create a food plot that will give the deer something to eat when the winter months come.  There are many different crops to choose from when planting a food plot, but some easy ones are clover, soybeans, grain sorghum/milo, and wheat.  I know this because I planted all of these on my farm, and it wasn’t much work at all.  All of these crops can be broadcasted, meaning you don’t need a planter, and they provide a wide array of choices for the deer to pick from.

Along with choosing which crops you want to plant, equally important or more important, is site placement.  Choosing a good site is critical in getting deer to come to your plot, and hopefully stay in the area.  A good way to choose a site is to first use Google Maps to get an aerial view of your property.  Pick a few different spots that you think would be ideal for the plot then go inspect those areas in person.  Look for any signs of wildlife, such as trails, scrapes, rubs, droppings, or even the deer themselves!  If there are deer in the area they will more than likely find and use your plot.  Also, be sure to locate the nearest water source and bedding areas, such as CRP fields and timbers. 

Once you have a spot picked out consult your local wildlife biologist to make sure everything you plan to do is within conservation guidelines.  Oh and here’s a little tip – some conservation departments give away free seed each year to hunters who are looking to create food plots, so be sure to ask your biologist if there are any available.   

First ever Friday Freak!!

Picture taken from http://www.thecrush.tv/gallery/11/media/94/photo-5-friday-september-11-2009.html

This is the first installment of what I have dubbed "Freak Friday," and what better way to start off than with this beautiful 10 point buck?  Judging by his size, this buck is probably somewhere from 3-4 1/2 years old.  He might not be a shooter for professionals, but I bet any average Joe would be proud to mount this guy above their fireplace.  Stop by next week to see the second of many more eye-popping freaks!!

The First Kill

I woke up that morning to my brother pounding on my bedroom door. After finally getting out of bed I checked the clock, 5:15 AM. I quickly threw on a few layers of clothes, grabbed my rifle, and walked outside to find my brother waiting on me in the truck. As I got in he said, “Time to get us a big one.”


The fifteen minute drive to our farm seemed like it took forever. When we finally arrived, I grabbed my trusty rifle and walked to the stand. After about thirty minutes of sitting in the stand I could barely feel my toes, and I was kicking myself for not putting on that third pair of socks. All I had to do now was wait for first light so I could spot a big one.

The sun had been up for about forty-five min. before I saw it. I snatched up my binoculars and took a look at the deer, it was a dandy. I waited for it to look away before I grabbed my rifle. Resting my gun on the rail I put the deer in the crosshairs, this was the moment I had been waiting for. With a squeeze of the trigger the gun fired and the bullet found its way home. Dropped in its tracks I had killed my first trophy, a mature whitetail doe.

Ever since that first kill I have been hooked. Deer hunting is one of my favorite hobbies, and I love spending time in the woods learning as much as I can about the deer. My hope is that I will be able to spark your interest in hunting whitetails if you are a beginner like I was that cold November morning, and/or give you tips that will help you harvest that mature, trophy buck. Enjoy!

Getting Started!

Hi everyone!!  I hope that you enjoy this blog.  My plan is to cover everything (or almost everything) about hunting whitetail deer.  This ranges from land management (i.e food plots, water sources, etc.) to stand placements, feeding, scouting, and lastly, hunting techniques.  Many times you will catch me giving examples from the 1500+ acres I hunt in northwest Missouri.  I have come up with the idea that Friday will be called "Freak Friday."  This means I will post a picture of a "Whitetail Freak!"  Along with pictures, I plan to find useful videos that will help enhance your hunting experience.  There is a fair amount of luck involved in hunting a giant whitetail buck, but there are things a hunter can do to increase his/her chances of downing a trophy.  I hope that this blog will be useful to all those who are interested, and feel free to leave comments and/or suggestions to help make this page a success!