Food plot preparation
I live in a state full of agriculture fields. There are millions of acres of crops for wildlife to munch on all through the year, but especially in the fall. This is great for the overall health of the herd, but can be troublesome in a couple ways. That's why I like to supplement all the agriculture with some food of my own through the use of food plots.
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Stumble It!
We all start the season out the same; claiming that we are only going to shoot a trophy buck. One with Heavy antlers that only an old mature buck carries- one that belongs on the front page of every hunting publication known to man. But once we are seated in our stands temptation rises, young nice bucks seem to just be everywhere. Deer in years past we would have lowered the boom on any day of our career- seem to be everywhere. But no we are going to wait on “Mr. Big”! But what are we looking for?
If you are anything like me you are already looking forward to the upcoming archery season. I have been practicing my target shooting out in the yard. Out there I am in a controlled environment, taking my time, thinking about all aspects of the shot, deep concentration. And that is all fine and good, and of course a necessary fundamental for any good archer. Unfortunately all that seems to go out the window when a big buck comes into view. So how do we practice for that? I have a strategy.
It’s getting to be that time of the year again; the weather is hot outside, there are blossoms on the apple trees, and the high country mountains are green, filling the bellies of Mule Deer bucks with the vital nutrients needed to grow dark, heavy and wide antlers that fill my dreams at night. However, it is also the time of the year that in my opinion is the most vital part of ensuring your success of harvesting a mature mule deer in the fall. With their red summer coats and sensitive velvet antlers, mule deer bucks stand out from
Countless times I have been sitting in my home watching a hunting show and some guy is in the top of tree whispering. “ Here he comes, what a buck.” Then, out walks a two year old buck with barely eight points and a twelve inch spread. Most of the time I always think to myself that there is no way he’s going to shoot him. Then, BANG, and the little buck balls up in a pile. The outfitter, the hunter, nor anyone else will ever know the potential of the buck that just hit the dirt.
The past couple of years between winter mortality, harvest pressure and hunter success, the deer management goals in many units were met and the predicted outcome of lower hunter success and fewer licenses became real.
I grew up hunting whitetail deer in central Pennsylvania at the age of twelve. I went on my first deer drive that very same year. Having experienced that at a very young age and looking back on drive hunting for whitetail deer I have a few experiences and opinions I’d like to share.
The hunting season is over for most of us and if that leaves a sick feeling in your stomach then “shed hunting season” might be just what the doctor ordered. Shed hunting is an important part of year round scouting that any serious hunter should employ. And who doesn’t love antlers, especially big ones! Every antler you’ve seen this year is out there (or soon will be) just lying in the leaves waiting to be found!
There are a couple things you can count on when hunting the early deer season, unpressured deer, bugs and of course heat. In Maryland our bow season for deer opens in the middle of September and in this area of the country it can still be hot and humid. Maryland may not be as bad as some of the southern states but it still can be downright balmy. So here are a few tips that can make the difference between a miserable opening day and an enjoyable early season adventure.
July’s fore coming green foliage sprouts like the roots of my shaggy blonde hair. It is time to bust out the handsaws and head into the woods for some serious trimming. Typically, my friends and I hit the woods during this time for pruning, clearing, and cutting. Trimming shooting lanes, scraping debris from ATV trails, and marking tree stand entry/exit routes is important to do within the coming weeks.
In some parts of the country, the bow season for Deer has already opened. By October 1st, most will open or have been opened. Hunting deer in the early season is a lot different than hunting them later in the fall. A month can make a lot of difference as to where you’ll find deer and how they are living. Early season generally includes hot weather. Deer dislike extreme temperatures just as much as you and me, possibly even more since they’re wearing a fur coat. To be successful in the early deer season, here are some tips that will
This year, I have decided to do something a little earlier than normal. I am going to talk about getting ready for the upcoming deer seasons. Ah, not so fast. If you think I am referring to all the redundant rhetoric about rifles, calibers, sighting in and what’s new to buy, you are way off the mark. I am referring to is the one thing that makes a man’s skin crawl…going hunting and admitting he is lost! Seriously, having been a member of a search and rescue unit, I know first-hand that many men will not acknowledge the situation they
