Update!

Hey guys, great news! In 2014 Small Acre Hunting is going through a tremendous amount of change. A new website domain and design will be launched in an effort to bring everything I know and do on my properties to everyone who desires to learn along the way!

Many added features and ideas on in the works, so stay tuned!!!

Also just wanted to share something. Many people have asked me why do you believe in Monsterraxx Supplements....well they say pictures are worth a thousand words. Check out this post on bowhunting.com HERE and you'll see tons of pictures (Tom keeps posting more so check back from time to time!).

*My father's buck story coming soon!

Small Acre Success Story: Grandma's 3-Acres

The West Island Buck

Pretty shortly after I started documenting and sharing my experiences and "knowledge" here at Small Acre Hunting I got to know a I guy I know as Goose. Seriously I know his name but I always refer to him as Goose...phone even has him in as such. Anyways Goose is a fellow Hoosier and was getting into bowhunting quite heavily and was hoping 2013 would be the year he finally would connect on a buck!

Well....I will let his own words share the story. (taken from a thread he created on a forum we both subscribe to *with permission of course)

Today was a roller coaster of emotions. (11-3-2013)
 
I wound up sleeping in yesterday and hunting at my grandma's in the afternoon, but saw nothing. I checked my trail cam and saw that I missed a chance at some does in the morning. My season had been very slow, so that only added to the frustration. I decided that I'd wake up and get over there this morning no matter what. I was a few minutes late getting over there, but still got in the stand before sunrise. I kept looking to my south looking for the does, but didn't see anything. A little before 8:00 I caught movement to my left (north) I saw it was a deer and then I saw antlers. 

He was making his way right to me with his nose to the ground. I tried not to look at his rack to maintain my nerves. I was able to get to my feet and grab my bow when he was about thirty yards out. I thought he might go behind me, but he took a path that put him about ten yards pretty much in front of me. I waited for him to stop, settled the pin and let the arrow fly. He took off hauling balls for about fifty yards and then stopped. 

I was watching, hoping he'd drop, but he never did. 

I watched him for around ten minutes before he went behind some trees and I couldn't see him any longer. I heard some leaves rustle and thought that was him going down.

I stayed in the stand for about thirty minutes before I climbed down to check the arrow. I could see from the stand that it was covered in blood, so I was feeling pretty good. I climbed down and picked up the arrow. It was dark, red blood and didn't smell of guts, so again, I was feeling good about it. It looked like I hit him a little far back, so I figured it was a liver shot and that he'd need a couple hours to expire. 

I want to interject into the story here for a moment. The last sentence above this paragraph is CRUCIAL as this is one of the time Goose makes the proper call in not pursuing this buck right away. I shared many texts with Goose and for being the first buck he was very composed and smart about it. While waiting on stand to get down he texted me details of the shot and such and I gave my opinion as to what to look for on the arrow and such. The dude hit a homerun though, by trusting his gut that it was farther back then he'd wanted and despite not smelling guts backed out.

I walked up to my grandma's house and she fixed me breakfast. I called my father-in-law to help me track and called the neighbors to make sure I could retrieve the deer.
About 10:00 my f-i-l showed up and we made our way to the woods. There was drops of blood and white hair at the shot location. We followed the blood to where I saw him stop and look around. We had consistent blood and a decent puddle where he stopped. He turned at that point, but we didn't find anymore blood. 

We started to continue on when he blew and jumped up about twenty-five yards in front of us. He didn't bolt off, so we backed out to give him some time. We went back to the in-law's house while we waited. It was a pretty frustrating time, because I was worried about what happened after the buck jumped. It didn't sound like he went far, but we didn't press him.

Gonna interject again. Goose is nailing this one to perfection, he'd waited nearly two hours before first tracking, now upon jumping him he immediately backed out. He relayed to me that the buck appeared to move begrudgingly and I knew if it'd let them get that close and didn't flag when jumped that buck was gonna bed down asap and die. So Goose was a genius yet again and decided to give him 5-6 hours, because if he died with minutes he would still be dead when he came back. *Also noticed how when he could he brought in more eyes to assist in the track job, I've noticed the other set of eyes sometimes see more because they're not so amped up as the hunter typically is.

We made it back to my grandma's around 4:00 to take up the track again. My f-i-l's buddy was along for another set of eyes. We picked up some drops of blood close to where we jumped him earlier. We followed blood while my f-i-l scanned the woods with his binoculars. He finally told us not to move thinking the buck wasn't down, but he soon realized that he was down for the count.

My grandma suggested riding her mower back into the woods and hauling him out in her lawn cart. It worked like a charm. She was pretty proud of herself for making the suggestion.

He's not the biggest buck, but he's my first buck and I killed him, basically, in my grandma's backyard. The buck is a main frame seven with some kickers on his bases for a total of ten points. I'm pretty sure he's an older deer as well. My f-i-l said he thought he was at least five years old.

I was super pumped at the shot with it being my first shot at a buck. I hit a low spot when we jumped him after two hours. 

Then came the ultimate high when I finally saw him on the ground.
As I found him...

 

 A shot from the recovery spot...

Goose did everything right in this hunt. He made a good shot choice, knew he didn't hit exactly where he wanted to and followed sound post-shot patience. CONGRATULATIONS GOOSE! You sir set a fine example of how everyone needs to act post-shot...you push this deer sadly I bet our text conversations wouldn't have ended nearly as good! Thanks for communicating with me the whole day as the story unfolded!

All this happened on about 3acres of woods at Goose's grandma's house....so much for the idea you gotta have tons of acres to have an amazing hunt.

God bless everyone and good luck the rest of the season!

(My pops connected with a buck at our Homestead just this past Saturday...that Small Acre Success story to come!)

*Have a Small Acre Success story? Share it with me and maybe I'll post it up here or on the brand new site I'm hoping to have launched in 2014!! tylanmiller(at)gmail.com

1 Minute, 1 Sit, Staying 1 More Hour

'Kicks' Hits The Ground

So before we get to the end let's start with the beginning. This summer my father and I were on pins and needles just waiting to see what RD, AWD, Houdini, Hobble and more bucks on our properties were going to be in the 2013 season. The first three were already 150+/- inch bucks in 2012 and every single one lived through the hunting season...assuring some possible GIANTS around. Not to mention many young 2 1/2 year olds had gotten the pass in hopes of 2013 being special. Well it wasn't...honestly it was the slowest year for shooter bucks on the numerous cameras running on our 3 small properties.

This was the only buck showing his face regularly at one of the properties. He was a fairly consistent visitor to the Monsterraxx site during the summer. I wasn't sure what he'd grow into but I felt that I'd probably not be able to pass him up should he walk out in front of me come the fall.

Never gave much thought to a nickname for him, but I often referred to him as 'Kicks' in my notes or own thoughts due to his kicker of his right G2...so 'Kicks' it is.

Pretty much all of August, September and up until one pull in October we got nothing of any substantial size on camera pulls anywhere....Rocket Man a buck with growths was it...Kicks was not around it seemed.

Well I would hunt fairly often between October 1st through October 28th and going into that 28th hunt I had yet to see a buck...not even a spike. My father did likewise and actually saw two shooters at one property but never had a shot...outside those two bucks he also wasn't seeing much. So needless to say as 4:30am came on Monday morning of the 28th I had a hard time rolling out...but with the coming New Moon just a touch over a week away (Perigee) as well I knew things could start warming up and I might as well take advantage of having the day off.

I left the house just a touch later than I'd liked...and forgot sd cards for possible cam checks between hunts so had to turn around once....not a good start to the hunt.

I did snap this photo and posted to instagram:

Crisp and cold morning...heading to my office 25ft up in God's creation. 

#lightanocktoday #bowhuntordie #blessing

(disclaimer...the stand really puts the hunter at around 27 feet...)

After getting dressed outside the truck and pre-hunt prayer said I headed for the stand. It's a somewhat short walk but took my time as I decided to wear all my gear so no dressing in the stand would have to be done outside of my headgear and gloves (wish I'd put gloves on).

I was heading to an oak stand positioned in a stretch of oaks overlooking a micro food plot which was primarily brassicas. The stand choice was based on the fact it's a minimally invasive stand with great cover and a great travel corridor between night food and potential bedding. The wind for some would be deemed possibly bad for the stand but with rising thermals and only light and variable winds present I trusted my scent control and hunted despite the slight wind possibly blowing towards the night time fields the deer would "most likely" come from.

Shot of the MicroPlot to my front/left (SW)

I would bump a deer once I got to my stand, but it didn't blow or stomp...just two jumps and than seemed to be silent. My gut told me it was a buck as I've always noticed decent aged bucks slip off quietly rather than running or making tons of noise; I can neither confirm or deny whether this was the case.

Got up the stand and nearly had frostbite in my fingers which had no gloves on them...BIG MISTAKE. I had to spend time rubbing and blowing my fingers just to be able to nock an arrow. Got headgear on, gloves on (albeit late), new deer call hook hung to my right and rattle bag out in case needed. (that newly hung hook would be HUGE)

All was silent as light crept across the forest floor save for the squirrels waking up. So I decided to do some grunting and light rattling...this was approximately around 8am....shooting light had only been present for 20 minutes or so.

Everything would be silent for the entire first two hours of the hunt.

As 9:30am approached I chalked it up as another hunt of zilch to show for it. I even posted in an online forum to my 2013 forum team members this message:

"Well another sit is looking pretty ugly in the deer category....story of my season. All can change in one minute on one sit though keeping the faith." -tynimiller

Then around 9:45 a dinky little buck (fork horn at best) moved in directly behind me and slipped N of me out of sight.

Relieved I'd finally seen my first buck of the year I decided at 10am I'd get down and check the camera setting right in front of the stand, head back to the truck, warm up and then head back out possibly to a new stand for the afternoon....obviously nothing was really moving this morning.

Panoramic view from an early October sit in the same stand.

That's when I saw legs of a deer moving off to my NW slipping south over near another set up we have about 90 yards away....a series of calls to it never did yield anything and it went out of sight. It was just minutes after 10 once this was concluded and I decided what the heck I'll stay till 11 instead.

At about 10:20am another deer in basically the same spot as the last one, slipping S about 80-90 yards away to my NW. Looked slightly larger so I decided to softly bleat at it just to see if buck and toy with it if it was. Soft bleat, it stops moving....puts head down-soft bleat again...it stops and looks my way. Not having binocs up still not sure buck or doe....it turns S slightly and I noticed antlers but looks like something small...I bleat anyways to test calling skills...he turns and starts walking my way. At this point he's probably 70 yards away and I'm looking through woods filled with bare bushes and sapplings....at a bout 50 yards he turns S again-soft bleat-he stops, turns and keeps coming my way again...

At about 50 yards and still coming directly at me I see he's not the fork but appeared to actually be a young decent little buck...not one I'd probably shoot but nice. Well at about 40 yards he turns S and as he does I instinctively without hesitating grab the bow with my left hand and right hand re-grabs the True-Talker hanging there on the freshly hung accessory hook put there just for times like this...I did this all because I caught a glimpse of his one side and it was much bigger than I'd thought.  From this moment on I never again glanced at his rack...and to be honest wasn't sure what he was really until the moment I walked up to him...I just knew "enough".

The next seconds seemed like eternity...you see when he turned S at 40 yards he now was walking behind some Oak trees directly in front of me...I could see nothing. I anxiously peered into the poplar trees to the S of the Oaks which is where I suspected he'd pop out of his angle was judged correctly.....nothing......nothing......nothing......LEGS! He is angled to hit the micro plot to my left front right around 25 yards and be perfectly broadside.

I put my release on the string and get ready to draw before he stepped out....wait, he's turning S again...crap. I quickly un-hook release, grab the True-Talker hanging right there ready for this moment like before and turn the call away from him and let out a very soft bleat....let go of True-Talker and hook the release back up as I turn my head back to him just in time to see he's turning on a dime and angling SE now and coming into the micro plot.

This put him quartering to me at about 25 yards when he entered the plot...believe it or not this three shot burst of him is taken just seconds before I would shoot him. During this moment his head turns and looks SE, this is the moment I am drawing....and trying to read his body. If he was going to turn and go N along the two-track trail, which would give me 3 shot openings...or was he going to turn SE, giving me just one shot right at the turn.

This is when I draw...and wait as he walks to see which path he takes.

I'm at full draw and watch him as he gets to the two track and begins turning his body SE...I knew instantly I had to stop him...but not yet....his left front leg was back in essence shielding a large portion of the kill zone...he takes a step and picks it up and pulls it forward. The second that foot begins to touch the ground I let out a "Blat" and he freezes....pins are already on him and I squeeze instantly....100% pass through by the 125 Slick Trick Magnum tipped arrows.

Double Lunged him and he didn't last long....

It was a 20 yard shot at most and I knew instantly he wasn't gonna live, it was just a matter of how far would he make it. He spins around and runs back into the woods (Poplars he just walked through)....lots of noise...then I see him wobbling back south right at the end of the micro plot 40 yards away. That's when the drunk wobble happens and he drops...takes one....two...three breaths and then no more.

Diagram of where he popped out, when I drew, shot and where he died.

The moments which followed are those which all of us love....disbelief...thankfulness....sadness for the animal....unexplainable joy for the hunter. I quickly texted my father and sat down...thank you God.

40 yards away laid a deer which I knew was big enough but still couldn't really see his rack clearly to know what I had for sure. I wait some time and slip down and out back to the truck...can still remember Tom Lester calling to congratulate me and when he asked, "So, what is he?" I had to say "I don't know yet".

I would head back to the deer for the walk up and it is always special when you put down a buck you've gotten pictures of...I instantly suspected it was 'Kicks' but wasn't 100% at the moment.

I patiently awaited my father who was on his way....all who know me know my hunting relationship with my father is something I cherish more than nearly everything in this world (save for God, spouse and family as a whole)...this picture on the trail camera captured the moment he sees him laying dead just 20 yards off camera:

Love it and love this man!!!

Priceless!

And so 'Kicks was down and this Hoosier boy was quite happy about that even if he isn't one of the giants!

After over 200 hours hunted last season and coming up so close a couple times with multiple bucks at multiple locations it was tough having such a slow 2013 hunt....but it's like I said:

 "It just takes that 1 minute, on that 1 sit...when you stay that 1 hour longer."

 

Specs of the Hunt

-Date: October 28th, 2013

-Temperatures: At sunrise-30, time of shot-43

-Wind: Light and Variable morning through till shot (ENE if existing though)

-Bow: Mission Venture 63lbs w/28.5 DL

-Broadhead: 125grain Slick Trick Magnum

-Arrow: Gold Tip Pro Hunters (with 50grain inserts up front)
      -Illuminated Nocks
      -NAP Quickfletch Quickspins

-Shot Distance/Death: 20 yard shot, died at 40 yards

-Neck Swell Estimation: 60-70% neck swell, wanted the doe I made him think was there.

-Rut?: I would say pre-explosion...scrapes were everywhere but he wasn't rushing anywhere...but like stated was very curious and receptive to the doe bleats.

-Age Estimation: If pressed I'd guess 3 1/2...not over 4 1/2 (may send jaw bone in though)

  List of Thank Yous

-Thank you first to God, what an awesome creation He made and I'm simply in love with it in every shape and form. He blessed me with warmth, health, safety and still flowed my cup over more with this buck.

-My Father, I won't attempt to express the love I have for you and the hunting bond we share.

-My Wife, the countless stories you hate to listen to and the hours spent away I know are hard on you....you are amazing!

-Bill Vale, my dear friend, brother and mentor. Your deer knowledge is so vast I pray to keep absorbing more and more of it each and every day. I truly know this buck may not have been possible without your book, your advice and your visiting the property.

-Randy Vanderveen, introducing me to the wonderful site of WAS (Whitetail Ambush Secrets). Love everything about it and what it stands for.

-Tom Lester of Monsterraxx. Your friendship is priceless and your product is amazing!!! 'Kicks' utilized the mineral during the off-season habitually.

-Covert Cameras for simply being amazing.

-Anyone and everyone else which has been in my hunting brethren, love each and everyone of you.

10 Things Someone New or Young to Bowhunting MUST KNOW

It's that time of year again. Many of us log into various forums and hunting sites...scroll down through the various threads hoping to see some awesome bucks harvested and the stories which accompanied them. However, at times it seems there are as many 'horror' story type threads as there is success stories. We read about people jumping deer, making bad shots, shooting broadheads on hunt for the first time and much much more.

It's true this can get quite frustrating for those of us which have some years of experience behind us, but perhaps the proper knowledge isn't readily preached or available...with that in mind I shall share with you the 10 things I personally feel a new or inexperienced bow hunter MUST KNOW prior to hitting the field for an actual hunt:

#10- Find a good reputable pro-shop. This will be your greatest resource so don't skimp on it by picking the cheapest one around or something like that. Go to a place where other hunters go, especially the ones you regard as good hunters; for it will be the place of hopefully the most knowledge. This is where you can get properly sized for a bow, and not all bows will work for your specific size! A good pro-shop will always assist you in picking things out like a bow, broadheads, arrows, rests and such by asking you what you desire before simply stating "Oh you should use "x" product."

#9- Be able to spot check your bow for problems. Know how to spot a damaged cam that's cocked, framing issues or weakened/worn strings. You don't have to be an expert, but be able to notice anything which would trigger you to get it to a pro-shop as soon as possible.

#8- Read up on the basics of arrow selection. At minimum find the charts every single good arrow manufacturer has of their recommended arrow spine/weight/type for what your draw length and weight is. Also a little knowledge in FOC will go a long way to building an arrow you like. There are many resources to learn about all of this from that pro-shop you picked in #10, some online resources and even some forums are filled with knowledgeable guys.

#7- Practice, practice and practice. Now this doesn't mean go shoot 20, 30 or 40 times over and over and over. When you will be shooting a lot of times be sure to allow your muscles some rest...the last thing you need is to attempt to hone your skills with strained muscles weakened with repeated shot after shot; if you're straining to draw back, hold steady or both STOP and rest for a bit. I personally never shoot more than 3 arrows without a quick 5 minute break. I want every time I draw my bow to be with fresh muscle strength causing a more consistent shot process.

#6- Don't assume you're ready as soon as you group well. Keep shooting every day if possible, this will hone your muscle memory down to a science and you'll begin to see tighter groups and quicker target acquisition. I personally in the weeks leading up to the season am a fan of the one shot practice idea. In the field you will get one shot, so practice that way...get home from work or before leaving for work sling one arrow down range.

#5- Understand proper shot choice...and know that not all hunters can or should take the same shots. I'm a big advocate of never taking a quartering to shot...now some will claim that at 15 yards or under they can slide the arrow down and through inside the shoulder given the proper quartering to shot. However, even they'll admit it's not the ideal shot choice nor would they recommend a novice or young bowhunter to try them. Pretty much follow the following pictures and you'll be safe.

#4- Stay consistent throughout the hunting season. Don't change your arrows, or rest or release unless something breaks or you're changing your target animal enough to dictate the change. Consistency is pivotal to consistent grouping. Changing any part of your set up means you need to re-tune your bow (more on that later). I advocate upgrading sights, rests, releases, arrows and what not; however I encourage this to always be done outside of the hunting season.

#3- Check your arrows thoroughly after shooting sessions and especially after shots in the field. Aluminum arrows bend, carbon arrows break...make sure to check them thoroughly to make sure nothing is bent by looking down the arrow and/or spinning the arrow if aluminum and flexing them if carbon. You do not want to shoot a damaged arrow...only bad things can happen when you do.

#2- Know how to do a basic tuning of your bow. The Easton Bow Tuning Guide is a great source every bow hunter should read and be familiar with. It's true when in doubt I always have my pro-shop tune my bow as best they can, but I have a good solid pro-shop and honestly have had some set ups that I had to do minimal adjustments after they'd got it set up...that is not always the case though.

#1b- Broadheads MUST BE SHOT/PRACTICED AND BOW TUNED TO THEM PRIOR TO HUNTING WITH THEM! I capitalize this not to make anyone feel like an idiot or less of a hunter, I simply cannot stress it enough. It doesn't matter if you shoot mechanical or fixed, Rage or NAP, 2 inch or 1 inch....practice with them! Yes this could mean shelling out enough money to have designated practice broadheads (to keep your other heads sharp and hunt worthy) but it's what you SHOULD do. If you can afford to bow hunt you can afford to grab an extra set of broadheads for practice heads (some companies offer atleast one practice head anyways). Assistance with broadhead tuning can be had by a good pro-shop and the Easton Guide mentioned in #2.

#1a- The second part of #1 Broadheads is the following statement: JUST BECAUSE "SO AND SO" OR MARKETING TELLS YOU "X" MECHANICAL BROADHEAD IS THE BEST ON THE MARKET....THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT IS THE BEST FOR YOUR SET UP!!!! Not all set ups are at their most deadly when tipped with a mechanical over a fixed. Ask, research and ask some more before making a choice!


Like any list there are many things I feel novices or young bow hunters should be aware of but these are the highest on my personal list that pertain specifically to the bow and its set up.

If you hear just one thing I say...

I understand this video may seem awkward to some, others may say cheesy...others yet a "waste of time." However, I felt after the experience I had a few weeks ago I wanted to share my friend's story and how it has affected me and all I hope is that it will make you think.

It's the time of year I want all my friends and fellow hunting brethren to not let this passion consume us to the degree which hinders our relationships with the more important parts of our life.

This is the one message I would choose to share if I could only share one a year for everyone.

New Post and Pics

Well just uploaded a new video. In the video you will hear me rambling about a couple things which will affect not only where and how I hang cameras but also how crop rotation is something everyone needs to keep in mind and document. This doesn't mean only what you plant but the destination plots/fields the deer you hunt may be heading to and interacting with. You may find deer frequent your place more if "x" crop is planted by "insert name" farmer two properties over but become non-existent when another farmer plants say soybeans.

Ways to follow now that google reader is gone...

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/9680071/?claim=3gcu92se2pm">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

For those of you who have been following my blog using google reader (the blog feed you see when you log in) you will no longer get updates as to when I post a new post or video.

What you can do is two-fold. One way is to click the follow by email link on the right side of the site and you will be updated within 24 hours of any post here to the site. The second way is to follow me using Bloglovin. Simply go to their site, make an account (simple and free) and then search for my blog. I've also attached a quick link to expedite that process along the right side (give me a tick though as it isn't there at the very moment I published this post).

I realize I've been quiet lately guys but I've been super busy with work changes in life and planning this upcoming season of deer hunting with things needing done now. NO worries though I am planning on re-amping up production of videos and written posts in the coming months as we all look forward to this fall!

Trail Cam Pull

Merely a post filled with some of the most recent photos from quite a few camera pulls we did on both the homestead and the swamp property.

Monster Raxx: 3 Days Later

Many of you saw the post a few months back when I attempted to start a mineral site at the swamp property...well needless to say I discovered just this past Saturday that the area chosen holds WAY TOO MUCH water! So in this video I share why I use Monsterraxx, install a brand new site and re-visit it 3 days later to hang a camera (which I forgot the day I put the site in).

For some reason I'm having issues with the site so instead of embedding here's the link to the video: CLICK HERE

I just want to state again, DO YOU'RE RESEARCH when choosing a supplement/attractant. Do you hope to provide nutritional benefits or just attract deer like a kid to candy? Honestly, it is your decision and in the end your opinion is all that matters, PERIOD. In my opinion you will not find a more balanced mineral supplement with such a low salt content that still attracts deer like it's 90%+ salt.

Border Hinging...and the fall out...

I've posted and attached to this posting new video of us just two weeks ago hinging the entire border of a neighbor's property line which butts up to the property we have had so many issues with the past couple years.

I stressed it at the end of the video and I'll do so again...this is a last resort tactic, albeit a very useful and powerful one. WE WOULD LOVE TO GET ALONG WITH OUR NEIGHBORING HUNTERS.  The chance to share techniques, approaches and work together would be incredible but sadly that chance is not possible here. We've had trespassing, encroachment upon where we already had permission to hunt (have since elected to remove ourselves), totally disrespect shown towards us and in the 2011 season a poaching incident on our property (we didn't press charges though).

So, we had already hinged our entire northern border, which most of you have seen in past postings/videos and a neighboring land owner talked to us about it. That conversation led to her being perfectly fine with us doing the same to her border which shared a line with the property discussed. We realize that by doing this hinging the neighbor's could become upset but it is none of our concern at this point as we've done all we can to get along. Just be aware of what could come out of doing property line hinging. *It is very powerful to have good relationships with area landowner (we actually hunt this neighbor's property as well).

So here's the video and be sure to check out the rub at the end of the video....hope to tangle with the culprit who made it this coming fall!

Overlooking the obvious...

I'm sure we've all done it. We've driven to our works, maybe church on Sundays or the fishing hole on Saturdays...as we travel we see that chunk of woods or swamp that just SCREAMS deer haven. We don't think too much of it as we either know the owner hunts it, someone does or no hunting is allowed. Perhaps in some cases you just don't see any viable way to hunt it; maybe it's too small to hunt it without your presence being detected (save going in early and all day hunting).

I'm going to break down two things I overlooked for a very long time...but no more. I'm currently building up a mass mailing of letters to parcels of land I'll be seeking hunting permission on for this coming year and hopefully into the future. Now, as I've discussed in the past the success rate  of asking to hunt properties can depress you (honestly if I get 25% respond rate and 5% permission granted I'll be happy), but you gotta remember THE WORST THAT CAN HAPPEN IS THEY SAY NO.

This post though is to help you perhaps look around a little differently. Instead of looking for the prime spots, usually your wood chunks or thickets you see along roads or out in fields I'm going to tell you to look out further than that.

The example I'm going to use is outlined as such. You've driven by what appears to be a 10 acre chunk of swamp/thick mess of woods that borders a semi-busy roadway. You were turned down access to the property when approaching the owner...now is when you answer the following important question:

"Do I feel this (property) is consistently seeing deer?"

If you answer no, perhaps your search elsewhere needs to begin. HOWEVER, if you answer yes stop looking at the property. That's right stop! You've already decided based upon what you know and see this property sees deer consistently...now start looking where you should be:

NEIGHBORING PROPERTY

 Deer can't just from point A to point B (1/2 mile away) without traversing ground in between. Is there a wooded ditch line running from a food source/water/another chunk of woods to the property you initially wanted on to? Yes, now for the second question:

IS THE NEIGHBORING PROPERTY HUNT-ABLE?

Now you must understand sometimes hunting strategies will change in cases like this, but if I am sure these arteries or travel areas leading to the property I wanted on are how the deer will get to and come from the property I'll do anything to get on.

From here you start the process over again and write, call or stop by this new area's owner and hopefully you'll be let on. Expect some weird glances or reaction sometimes using this approach because they could think your crazy for asking to hunt a ditch or one small wooded line on the back of their property. Use full disclosure as to your thoughts and hope for the best.

Just a quick little tip when looking for new properties, sometimes it is plan B or C that trumps plan A....just so long as you're looking for them.

Hopefully I'll be able to outline some exact scenarios in the coming weeks or months about this exact thing where I describe and show illustrations of what caught my eye and how I'm going to attack the situation.

Good luck out there!

Designing a Kill Plot

I will elaborate on this somewhat in the coming weeks but I figure now is as good of a time as any to re-share an article/write up I did for Tom over at Monsterraxx last year.

Create The Ultimate Kill Plot (<-- Click)

As we get ready to enter the spring season I will again be giving away some mineral at my dime for anyone who enters the giveaway. Details as to how to win in the coming weeks.

In the mean time fire up the chainsaws and grab the hand saws it's the time of year to do the most landscape changing in the woods!  While there keep an eye out for those sheds!!

Hinging

If someone asks me what is the #1 thing at a hunter's disposal to up his hunting success, my answer would be hinging. Hinging is a tactic that brings trees down to a horizontal state providing many different things depending on desired affect. They always provide food and decrease canopy cover no matter the purpose; they can also provide bedding, cover, blocking or subtle steering. The following video takes you through some hinging we did this past weekend and I show some different times we have used different types of hinging which include but are not limited to the following types:

-For bedding purposes hinge high so they can step under, walk through and provide overhead cover which they love to bed under.

-For blocking/steering purposes you want to hing at a medium height (roughly knee to waist depending on height). This height discourages movement through the hinged area, which can block or steer deer to move elsewhere.

-For basic food purposes you can cut anywhere or cut really low. By hinging really low you are guaranteed to have all browses (including stump shooting) at the deer's level.

All these approaches though provide food and depending on what each particular deer wants may get bedded in or around. Bottom line is they make your woods thicker, provide more food and cover...everything deer desire to feel safe and supplied with nourishment.

Myths about hinging:

-You can't hinge in the cold. FALSE

The video you are about to see was filmed on February 23rd, 2013 in Northern IN with a high of 29 (but with wind was even colder).

-You can't hinge larger trees. FALSE

Yes, it's easier to hinge smaller sized trees (calf and smaller) but we've hinged some trees that are wider than my chest in size with success.

Time for the video:

Add one to the 2013 hitlist...with a twist!

Just wanted to share the newest addition to our 2013 Hit List, but it's not what you're probably thinking. No this one isn't a massive buck with countless inches or mass...it's also not a buck we've known for years and years.

As a matter of fact it's not even a buck, it's a doe...but let me stress this isn't your average run of the mill doe by any stretch of the imagination. THIS GIRL IS A BEAST!

I would have to spend some time looking back through my hunting log but I had a few encounters with this doe and I'll be honest if it hadn't been prime hunting time I'd have taken her in a heart beat, but all I could do was watch in AMAZEMENT as she led her 10+ group of does like a general ordering troops around.

I couldn't believe it, not one doe, even the first year fawn does knew not to get ahead of her. She stopped, it was like an accordion as they all would stop. Each time it was almost comical as each deer seemed to have an assigned spot to survey...some starred where she did, another behind the group and also one to each side. One time while hunting a stones throw to a neighbor's barn tucked in the woods I witnessed what I swear to be a couple puffs (quiet, not the alarm sounding ones we're all familiar with) of orders from her to the rest.

She was standing at attention, staring down the neighbor who was letting his classic car warm up just 100 yards away (the direction the thickest bedding area was and was where the does were heading). She didn't stomp her hoof like most, she didn't bob her head at all...however when the neighbor walked out of the house towards the awaiting car she gave a quick puff of her nostrils and every (EVERY) single deer turned and faced the way they came but didn't go anywhere...then came another puff and the doe that was directly behind Ms. Kegger (she looked like a keg turned on it's side walking through the woods) quietly jogged to the end of the line facing away like the rest of the line. Ms. Kegger just stood though intently staring at the neighbor...it wasn't until he decided to not get in the car and walk to the barn that she'd had enough...blew another small puff out of her nostrils and that 2nd doe quietly led the line away. Ms. Kegger stayed staring at the neighbor but now was glancing back at her doe family once, twice...okay they're far enough. She then slipped back herself to the family that was now 80 yards to my left waiting for her to re-commence her role as leader.

That was an awesome experience and I'd witness this doe family a couple more times, and while they weren't always as on edge as the first time Ms. Kegger was always on guard and seemed to be in a perpetual state of "on edge".

It will serve us well to get this big girl out of our woods as I can only imagine how many times she's silently busted us already and will if we don't get her. This will be a trophy of a different kind, but I can honestly say it may possibly be one of the toughest deer I've ever harvested when it's all said and done.

These are two of the latest pics of her and they show a great size comparison between her and other does of 2, 3 and probably even 4 or 5 years old.

February visit to Homesite Property

Went out to the Homesite Property to do some planning and work looking forward to next year's season. It's going to be a very busy time period as far as working in the woods from now through early summer...I'll attempt to take you guys along on as much of it as possible.

Also I planned on doing a little hinging demonstration (requested by some) this past Saturday but the weather got nasty for filming and made it impossible to do so....apologies for that but it will be done within the weeks hopefully.

Mineral Site

Here's a video from about 2 weeks ago of me setting up a new mineral lick on the Swamp property. Now's the time if legal to get your sites ready for the thaw. Both the does and bucks will begin hitting these things sooner rather than later so get on it!

I explain why I choose the location of the site, clearing of the site and how it may help us in the future:

 

Opening it up in youtube will help with size of the video...as always how large you view it can have an effect on quality of the video (yes I know I need a better camera as well)!

Ethics, morals and character...

Ethics, morals and character; where do they all fit, if they fit in at all, in this sport we call hunting? Do they have a place…or is it likened to how some successful business men say “You must check those things at the door in order to succeed.”

I never thought a simple decision made back on November 13, 2012 would cause a slew of conversations between other hunters and myself. That morning I passed up a shot on an absolute brute of a buck, I’m almost positive it wasn’t either of my target bucks (pictured below) but BIGGER. Why did I not shoot? Well it was approximately 15 minutes before legal shooting time. I could see clear enough. I could even make out the crease behind his front leg enough to tuck an arrow into the boiler room…but personally could not do it.

RD on the left, All Wheel Drive (AWD) on the right

As many of us do I wanted to share this story (incredible encounter) with my father, friends/family and some hunting forums where fellow hunters share my passion. One such forum was bowhunting.com a site I frequent and even have a link for it on blog/site. It became quite clear that this story had triggered quite the opposing viewpoints, prompting a desire to learn what most hunters would have done given the same situation. So I created a poll (can see thread HERE) and asked guys to share thoughts and honestly vote on the poll question…to say I was shocked by the results would be an understatement.

Here are the results of the poll as of 2-1-2013:

Click to enlarge

At the beginning of this article I opened with asking if ethics, morals and character belong in hunting…what about lawful obedience? While most would agree that to be ethical or moral (and have good character) typically goes hand in hand with obeying laws…however that is the one thing this discussion opened my eyes to. Some hunters feel it is still 100% ethical to take the shot and proved to me that each man or woman may define ethical or morally “okay” in a different way. 

(Now allow me to preface the rest of this article with this advance warning; this is my opinion and no one else’s. Some will share my thoughts, some will not. I just pray you realize this was attempted to be typed with respect but at the same time honesty. However, that said this is my article so of course the opinions shared here will be in line with what I believe. Thanks.)

The sport of hunting for me is one which I can remember doing as far back as I can remember. Yeah, at first it revolved purely around those bushy tailed tree rats we call squirrels, but it was hunting and I loved every minute of it. It actually was a way I supplemented my income for a time when I was in my teenage years. I had relatives who would purchase squirrels and rabbits from me at a good price to them and more than fair for a teenage boy. Needless to say I shot many a squirrel and learned many a valuable lesson along the way. 

It all started with gun safety but once I mastered the art of shooting my father began teaching me the laws of hunting. He explained to me the concept of property lines and trespassing. He explained to me there are bag limits and why. He explained to me how to respect the animal I hunt and not torment it with long painful deaths if they could be avoided. Overall my father taught me to respect the sport of hunting and honor it because I was choosing to play the “game” of hunting if you will. Not to mention I was raised that while animals were here for our consumption they were not put here for our abuse.

Now there are many laws in the hunting world as we all know, and to be honest from state to state it at times can take hours of studying the laws to know and realize the differences…Indiana where I grew up, the one law I’ve always hated is that one cannot shoot at or into a squirrel’s nest. Many a time I’d witness a squirrel flee into one just before I could get a shot off or immediately after a failed shot from my .22 would happen. As much as I hated that law, I followed it because it was the right thing to do…chalk up that victory to the squirrel for the time being.

Taken from Google images

As I graduated from squirrel/rabbit to whitetail deer my eyes could not believe the amount of laws for deer hunting. However, I studied them and made sure every time I hit the woods I had the proper orange if required, the in-season weaponry and a watch to keep track of legal shooting times. It’s that last one that triggered this article to be written so let’s focus on it.

I didn’t give it much thought as I would shove my watch in a pocket or put my cell phone in my pocket in order to know the time before I’d head for my tree or ground blind, I just did it. I can still remember one of the very first hunts for the whitetail deer I had some does come by after legal light. I had my 12 gauge and had no doubt the 11 yard shot to the base of my tree would have been easy but didn’t take it. I just knew it was the right thing to do, as much as I hated it. That first season I would hunt all throughout gun season till the last weekend of it and finally harvest a small doe on a frigid day where I remember everything was freezing (breath, snot…) It didn’t have to take that long, I could have shot a doe that one night after legal time…

With each passing year of hunting that followed that first one I truly began to respect the deer I hunted more than ever before. It’s amazing the more you research them, work to attract them or have encounters with them you begin to “know” them more and more; that for me at least causes an even more immense amount of respect to the animal God has blessed us with. 

That respect that grew is what caused me to take my release off the string early in the morning on 11-13-2012. However, it isn’t just my respect for the animal I chase that kept me from shooting, no there is 4 other “respect” driven reasons that helped me not release an arrow.

I respected myself too much to do it. I have worked incredibly hard to attempt to be a man who can look in the mirror and say I’m proud of the man looking back. If I’d shot that morning not only could I have never looked at the mount on the wall with pride, I couldn’t have looked in the mirror with pride about the decision I made.

I respected my parents and family too much to do it. My parents tried very hard to raise me right. I’ve failed them more times than I can count but as I grow older I’m beginning to see how much they have impacted my life and I desire nothing more than to make them proud. If I’d shot that morning illegally they’d have never respected my decision and whether they would admit it or not their pride for me would have been slightly tarnished yet again.

I respected the game I’ve chosen to play far too much to do it. I’m not hunting to survive, I can’t ignore laws and regulations. I choose each year to play by the rules set before me by my state or any other state I hunt in. By having a legal license I have agreed to play by those rules and will not shatter that agreement in a greedy attempt to hold some antlers. 

I respected my fellow hunters too much to do it. Far far too many times we read of hunting celebrities or even your common man breaking game laws to grab some calcium deposits (antlers). It is a sad truth that the anti-hunting communities see these stories and strengthen their view of us even more. If I’d shot that morning I’d have been no better than any other hunter who has knowingly broken a law for the harvest of an animal I did not “need”. 

When it all boils down to it, I simply held way to much respect for the animal, myself, my family, my fellow brethren and the laws to loosen that arrow that morning. Some can justify shooting in a situation like I was faced, but as for me I can’t even begin to attempt to justify it. By even attempting to, my credibility as a man is gone.

That is why when or if the Lord ever blesses my wife and I with a young hunter I will stress nothing greater than respect for the animal they’re chasing. Respect for themselves and how their decisions affect their character. Respect for the hunting community and how they are part of something bigger to represent than themselves. Respect for the laws of the “game” they choose to play when hitting the woods each and every time. 

So really I guess you could say I did not loosen an arrow that morning so that some day when some little snot nosed blonde mop headed kid looks up at their dad and asks, “Can I shoot into its nest?”…I’ll be able to smile and say, “Nope, it won this round.” Call me crazy but give me the ability to do that over any trophy hung up on a wall any day.

What will you be able to say? That is something only you can decide.

Taken from Google images

Two quick things

One: Be ready as I'm hitting 2013 running. Not only am I working on a "How To" handout/book for anyone interested I am hitting the woods this weekend to do a ton of videoing of post-season work, scouting and planning!

Two: Since most hunters are in some fashion fond of guns I figured I'd share this link over to my newest post and my more day-to-day blog that really has no set theme or direction.

I just started a three part series over there titled "Untwisting the Gun-Debate". Feel free to share it with friends or anyone that is on either side of the gun debate. Both sides must be able to look in the mirror and remove the knee-jerk reactions. Click HERE to go there.