I wanted to show off my long over due hanging of my first buck ever (up till now it was redneck hung up haha)...also this text was really just a chance to see if my posting straight from phone works like it should.

Be sure to check out the Trail Cam page!

Just added two new pictures of an amazing buck a fellow bowhunting.com forum member has showing up on his property! This buck is absolutely amazing!!!!

New Page Added

You'll see now along the top of the site a Links & More page. Be sure to check it out from time to time. While I know there are thousands of hunting sites and blogs on the internet I wanted to share with all visitors and followers every website I frequent or hold memberships at.


Also if you have any great trail cam pictures be sure to send them to let me know so I can get them posted on the trail cam page!!


As always in the mean time be safe and good luck in your attempts to place your hands on some antlers!

The top #5 places I've drawn knowledge from

I know from my traffic stats on this blog that many a hunter has stopped in looking through my articles, stories and real life examples. If you find yourself returning from time to time, please choose to follow (click the obvious button to the right-à) as in the future I’m going to be having giveaways to which eligibility will be simply being a follower.

Now onto the purpose for this post, where exactly do I get the knowledge I’m sharing. Well, I’d be lying if I stated I am a whitetail expert, but I do feel I’m a step above your common hunter. The reason for this is the amount of time I’ve spent reading and absorbing information from those who are the real experts in the whitetail field. I’d like to shed some light on a few of these now: (to see a larger list of websites and or books I feel you should know or attempt to read check out the above banner right beneath the site’s title)ßwill be up by Wednesday 11/27/11*

Charles Alsheimer (website here)

I’ve been blessed to hear Mr. Alsheimer speak twice at a local church that holds a hunter’s seminar/banquet every year. The knowledge base that Alsheimer has, in my opinion, may simply be most expansive in the business. You’ve probably already known about him from his affiliation with Deer and Deer Hunting (an amazing resource!). They not only produce a TV show, but an online forum and publications that are as priceless as gold for hunters looking to expand their knowledge base.

(PIC COURTESY OF WWW.CHARLIEALSHEIMER.COM)

Perhaps the one thing I’ve learned most from Charles Alsheimer is the moon phase, and it’s affects on the whitetail deer. To learn more about this topic a must read book on the topic is Hunting Whitetails by the Moon. Other great books by Charles include Strategies for Whitetails, Whitetail: Behavior Through the Seasons and Quality Deer Management: The Basics and Beyond. While he has many others those three I feel are at the top of the list if I were to place in a hierarchy.

If you ever get the chance to hear Charles Alsheimer in person, DO IT! This amazing man will teach you more about hunting in one hour than you’ll probably learn on my blog in a week or month! Also as good of a hunter as he is, he’s an even better man of God…a huge plus in my book.

Rick DeStefanis                                         (COURTESY OF GOOGLEIMAGES)

Rick is the most recent person I’ve added to my collection of experts, but definitely not the least of them. I happened across a review for Rick’s book, The Philosophy of Big Buck Hunting, and knew I had to get my hands on a copy of it.

Rick has had amazing success hunting trophy whitetails over the years…primarily on PUBLIC GROUND! That’s right Rick’s outfitters over the years has been himself and whatever public ground or small hunting spots he could acquire within an hour’s distance of his house. The knowledge Rick has to share is some of the most insightful and easily understood information I’ve ever read. To be honest there is far too much great stuff in this book for me to go into details, simply pick up a copy any way you can and read it…you can thank me and Rick once it helps you…which it will!

Randy Vander Veen and others at sniperbowhunting.com

I recently joined sniperbowhunting.com after searching the internet for some food plot advice. After watching Randy’s introduction video I knew I had to give this site try, and let’s be honest $10 a month is worth it if we learn even a couple new things towards downing more deer. The site is amazing, each month Randy adds new videos and information that you can learn from and then transfer to your own property. The thing I love most about is Randy attempts to do a lot of his teaching through video, real application you can see and not have to read about and make assumptions or guesses at what he’s saying.

Randy will take you through the proper times to scout, make hinge cuts, plant/clear food plots and how to better hunt your property. Randy truly teaches you a better way to approach your hunting ground and your hunting tactics. Land manipulation and properly placing stands as well as food plots are something Randy has learned over the years by his own successes and failures, which he openly shares.

Coming this December and into the new year I know the site will be going through many upgrades and welcoming 3 more experts onto the “staff” to strengthen the content on the site even more! Before you second guess the decision be sure to at least consider joining this site…I only foresee the membership fee going up as the knowledge base and success rates of the members increase, which trust me will happen!

Also have Randy study your property and you'll be blown away at the time he takes to study your case and make recommendations! We're planning on doing a lot of things this coming winter and spring just because of his advice!

Deer & Deer Hunting (website)

Mentioned in the Charles Alsheimer bit, but this website/tv show/publication is one that shouldn’t go un-noticed by any hunter looking to learn. I can contribute a lot of my knowledge to things I’ve read or watched that Deer & Deer Hunting have put out! Just go there and learn.

Bowhunting.com

There are tons of online hunting sites, this is in my opinion is one of the best. Todd Graff created something special that is for sure.

Not only does BH.com bring you a forum with other die-hard bowhunters to learn from, Todd and Justin Zarr bring you weekly videos during the hunting season that show true hunting on free ranging deer on properties around the country, although Midwest primarily. Todd continues to add great people to his Pro Staff, which is only increasing the content on the site. Be sure to check out their product reviews, pro-staff blogs and the huge storefront they have there with just about everything a bowhunter could need.

Father's Buck (pics and story)

I realize I haven't written the Part III of the series yet, but no worries it's coming. In mean time let me introduce you to my father and tell you how his season is coming along. 


After I harvest Trident, my father was set on trying to take Bow, the big 150 inch buck I've discussed in previous posts. Well folks that wouldn't be the first shooter he encounters, about three weeks ago he had a great 115-120inch 8-pointer right under him...which he passed on in hopes to have a shot at Bow.


Well fast forward a few days and you could find my dad up a stand watching Bow. He had worked in behind him, and THEN EVEN BEDDED DOWN 49 YARDS AWAY!! Sadly it simply didn't come together, but man to encounter a buck like that in person had to get the old ticker really going.


Then my dad had to go through the night where he helped a neighboring hunter drag out a big buck (see blog post)shot right near our one stand he decided last minute not to hunt that night.


After that encounter with Bow and the terrible news of that large buck shot, dad continued to hunt frequently but nothing worth taking came by and Bow was no where to be seen. Gun season opened up exactly a week ago here in Indiana and dad traded in his bow for his Thompson Center Omega. Again while he saw deer nothing worth taking...then today it finally  happened. With does moving all around him right from the start, this buck finally stepped out of a marsh and began meandering up and slightly away from his stand to his back right side. He believes the shot was probably around 60 yards or so and his shot was definitely on mark as the heart had a hole straight through it...let's just say he didn't go far at all!

As you can see this buck is definitely unique. His left side is broken off, apparently an old-possibly during velvet brake, after his G2. Given the brake he's a solid management buck and easily meets our minimum of 8 points or wide as the ears. We estimate him to be a 2 1/2 or 3 1/2 year old buck, which had some solid bases and mass carried through his beams.


Yet again our little niche in the hunting world produces another solid buck, even though it's size acreage wise would be laughed at by lots of hunters. We however know what we have and have taken and will be taking more steps to make it even better. I'll be sure to share with you guys our plans for "overhauling" our property this February/March with strategic hinge cutting, food plots and trail cutting. Till the next post, stay safe and good luck!

Bowhunters vs Gunhunters...who we really need to be against!

The following is a post of mine on an online forum (bowhunting.com) which I feel all hunters need to read, whether you're like me and primarily bow hunt or your more of the cold steel type.


Here it is:

I've heard so much blow back-and-forth between the two sides it's almost getting to a ridiculous level, fortunately I haven't seen much of it here.

Now I'll preface this with the fact this may be a long read for some of us , but one I feel we all should read and rethink our feelings if we need to.

It isn't the weapon in the hunters hand, but in the mind we really need to be against!

With gun seasons in full swing almost everywhere, all bowhunters make a collective grown, the blame game is back on full fledge. "They'll sling lead everywhere till they drop a buck." "They'll shoot the first brown thing that moves and has any kind of headpiece." "It's no longer safe to enter the woods." Just a few of the things I've heard bow hunters say personally, and I'll admit in the past I was guilty of myself; more than likely will say it again too as I am man and make mistakes. The fact is though, those things aren't only happening during gun season, bow season has those occurances or situations as well....just not as many instances because not as many take to the woods.

We, and I use 'we' loosely, blame gun hunters for messed up herd ratios, unsafe woods, bad perceptions by the general public and for tainting the woods with their blue jeans and tobacco. So wait, just because they have guns in their hands these things happen? Come on my fellow brethen, realize that is not the case. I know countless bow hunters who have harvested bucks and been done with their hunting season....great herd management huh? I've also know many a bowhunter to shoot any size buck (disclaimer...this isn't to say only big bucks should be shot, I'm simply stating this one to fight the idea that gun hunters are the only ones who shoot anything...I say shoot what makes you happy). And just make things clear, not every gun toting hunter is un-educated, has a camo collection consisting of flannel and denim, and shoot every single thing that walks.

I understand though, many of us have only had bad experiences with gun hunters, however please hesitate to lump them all in the same boat. It's similar to the crossbow issues so many of us are dealing with. Some of us are 100% against them...however there are many cases where pulling a compound bow back is simply impossible and a crossbow allows hunters to do what they love throughout a longer time window; is that a bad thing? Is it such a bad thing that so many guys and gals take to the woods with guns each year? No it isn't. I mean they're adding to our brethren and sisthren(?) . Some are intimidated by the TIME it takes to get good with a bow, get a deer within range, and time spent in the stand. Doesn't make them any less of a hunter if they don't desire to put in all that time...and some do, but simply with a gun.

*WARNING: THE NEXT PART IS THE MOST IMPORTANT!

It is not gun hunters we need to be upset with and for lack of a better word "fight", it is the un-educated hunter or the moral/character-less hunter. That is the group it is okay to be against, not just gun hunters in general. I can't remember the exact number of us, but a poll revealed not to long ago that even on this board many of us will take to the woods this year (if we haven't already) with a firearm of somekind...does that make each of us one of the "crazies" "idiots" or "stupid" hunters some of us have coined gun hunters to be?

The fact is each hunter is at their own level, and have their own definition of a succussful hunt or harvest. We, and I mean every single hunter, cannot pass judgement or blame them for any wrong doing if what they've done is legal and made them happy. The only hunters we can tag with the "crazy hunter" or "parisitic hunter" stamp are the ones who go about things illegally or with total disregard for fellow hunters, agreements or the animal they're "hunting".

So the next time you start discussing the never ending debate of bow vs. gun, just remember not all the bad apples are found in the same basket...each bushel has some and we need to pick the bad ones OUT instead of throwing the whole bushel away.

K...done venting. Good luck all as you take to the woods.

Part II: Food & Water

(I’ll warn you this is a long read, but hopefully a good one)

                So you have just a small 8 acre hardwood spot you hunt. You’ve come to notice that when the acorns are dropping the woods light up with activity…but then die to nearly nothing once the last one is spotted and gobbled up. Some will simply chalk this up to the common saying “Just the way it is” and simply continue to be frustrated hunting outside of the acorn droppings. Why? You’re hunting ground simply needs a different food source besides the acorns…yes it’s that simple. Others of you might have the acorn trees, fruit trees and even a small ½ acre food plot full of brassicas to ensure food is present throughout the entire hunting season….but you see nothing?! How close is the nearest water?

                It’s simple, in order to survive a deer needs 2 things: food and water. Genius right, thanks but hold the applause till the end of the write up. So let’s get right to it. If your property isn’t near or have both of those two elements you’re probably not going to see many deer, unless you are near bedding areas. Many just take what they get and go with it. They adjust their standards for acceptable deer to match their property…while there is nothing wrong with that, why not improve the property? Yes, you can make changes to even a mere 5 acres and encourage better deer movement then you’ve ever had before!

                “We’ve got to do something Ty.” My dad said as we discussed a few years back about the neighboring hunters we dealt with and how they’d “bullied” their way onto the same parcel of land we already had permission to hunt (3 acres at that! But that’s another story). “Well…I agree but what?” We then proceeded to put in our first food plot, we didn’t think, shoot we didn’t even plan it out we just did it. Now I don’t recommend this rash style of attack, but it was better than simply doing nothing, however years later we now are realizing if we’d thought it out and designed the food plots locations better we could encourage the deer movement patterns to change. This is why we’ve decided after this hunting season our property will be going through a “facelift” of sorts. Some of our old food plots will be changed or simply turned into pine stands. We will also be doing quite a bit of hinge cutting and clear cutting….all well thought out, planned, designed and attacked in a prioritized way.

                We don’t know if what we do will in fact stop the deer from running along our northern edge, but the one thing we learned from our food plots and small clear cut area is this: “If you create areas that are designed for the deer, they will use them!”.

                I shared all of that with you because with food we have and will continue to switch the deer movements in and around our property. We decided very early on that we had bedding areas on bordering properties and water was close enough that food was how we needed to attack our woods. You need to do the same thing. Once you establish which is a better choice food or water, make it happen. Yes you may have to cut some trees (I’m going to discuss that in Part III) but trust me, even an 1/8 acre food plot will get hit by the deer!  So let’s look at the possibilities once you’ve made the decision of food or water?

*I preface all this with a slight disclosure. Depending on whether you hunt public ground, private property that isn’t yours or hunt a lease property with others; you may not be able to make habitat improvements to certain degrees. However some state land does allow food plots as long as no trees are cut to create clearing and in some cases landowners may have slight rules for changing their property in any way. In either case ask, the worse the park or owner can say is no…and I believe you may be surprised at their answer if you approach it honestly and respectfully.

Food

                You chose food, which means water isn’t something the deer in your area lack on a regular basis. Food may not be lacking around your property but it is something you feel could add to your property. Food plots are the quickest and easiest way to introduce food to your property whether it is mature woods, recently logged out woods or even open grassy areas with hardly any mature trees. The first mistake many hunters make is they pick a spot and start clearing a square shaped spot as big as they’re comfortable with…WRONG! I’ll take an 8 acre property with two or three 1/8 acre food plots on it over that same property that has a 3 acre rectangle shaped food plot on it, that deer can see a long distance in it. Why? Simple, deer want to feel secure and the more secure they feel the more likely they’ll move during daylight. To get them not only moving on your property but also doing that during daylight hours is our main objective! That was one of the mistakes my father and I made with our first food plot…while it isn’t a cube shaped one it is far too open for a deer to feel secure in it. This coming spring we’re going to be separating it into two small ones with hinge cutting as to create two smaller food plots that a deer can’t see for more than 30 yards or so, hence feeling more secure.

(example...now this one in my opinion isn't the greatest but it's pretty darn good. Picture courtesy of google images.)

                While everybody has their preference when it comes to shape, I’m a fan of the kidney shaped food plots or the Y format just so long as you keep them on the smaller side. To create that security the more cover you can have surrounding them the better, whether that be planting bushes, hinge cutting trees or allowing undergrowth to flourish around the new plots. This surrounding cover does 3 things; it allows the deer to feel protected and secure, hides your movements heading into a stand near the plot if deer are present and it will allow you to choose where the deer enter the plot from by creating openings.

                If that doesn’t sound like a promising set up, now connect one food plot to another little one. Notice I didn’t say just plant another food plot like 30 to 40 yards away, I said “connect” them. If you create a natural path for deer to move from plot to plot where they once again feel secure they’ll use that path more than any other available. In order to do this 2 approaches could be taken. The best way if allowed is hinge cutting between the two plots. This hinge cutting process is where you cut into a tree just enough to make it fall but hopefully leave a part of it still attached to the trunk. If done in the late winter time before spring occurs, nutrients will still flow up (during spring) that piece connecting the now fallen tree and the stump creating some amazing browse for deer and a almost solid wall blocking travel. The combination of these fallen trees and the now undergrowth booming due to no more canopy over head is going to produce a pretty thick area in a rather short time (after only 2 years the undergrowth will reach a height that can hide almost an entire deer’s body when standing).

Couple hinge cut examples. The last two show how you can block a trail leading to or from your plots very easily:

(all 3 pictures courtesy of iowawhitetail.com)

                What you do then is “connect” the two food plots by clearing a path in this hinge cut mess. The main thing you need to remember is NEVER MAKE THIS TRAIL STRAIGHT!!! This is due to the security factor and how a deer feels more secure when they can’t see for great distances, it will also hopefully slow them down to get a better shot chance. These paths are deadly set ups for stands as the deer will pass through them feeling very much at ease, if you do your part that is.

                Now there is plenty more to discuss for food plots but I’ll delve into seed choice and soil testing at a later date, for now let’s discuss water.

Water

                Some would say, and up until 2 months ago I was one, adding water to your property without spending a small fortune is impossible! Well, I was wrong and can’t believe how easy it is to do. It’s so easy that even though water isn’t something the deer on our property are in high demand for we’re still going to be adding it more than likely this next season.

                Have a kiddie pool that’s not getting used? That’s right, a kiddie pool. I have met and read about numerous guys using everything from kiddie pools, old hot tubs and even just simple tarps to create watering holes. The key is to keep it simple and don’t feel you have to provide a ½ acre pond sized watering hole. No matter what you use the first thing is location. Do you want to hunt the water, the trail to or from the water, or do you want the water to be a safety zone where the deer are never hunted? Once that’s decided and you choose a spot there’s a couple approaches to keeping water in it. The honest to goodness best way is to run hose/piping to it and just simply turn in on every now and then…however some places this just isn’t an option. You may have to transport water into the hole from time to time depending on rain, or simply rely upon the contour of the land and rain to keep your water hole filled.

(Obviously I would have atleast painted the thing brown or earth tone and put some dirt in it, but you get the idea. Picture from http://www.archerytalk.com/)

                I’ll admit I’m a novice at this and will be just as interested as you all to see how it goes for us, I’ll be sure to post pictures of the process for us! The most important thing I’ve learned from others who have done it is if you do a tarp, kiddie pool or something similar you need to fill it with dirt first no matter what. This creates a more natural pool setting and won’t spook deer if they step into it, where a vinyl bottom may feel wrong to them. If you simply want to dig a hole and let nature do its thing I do advise you look into bentonite clay powder. This stuff will make a hole almost water proof, allowing water to sit in the hole much longer as it won’t be absorbed into the ground.

(An example of a way to feed a simple dug hole. Picture from Bowhunting.net)

                In closing just remember by doing nothing, nothing will happen. But, if you decide to do things to the habitat with deer in mind, nothing will get worse. As a matter of fact I can say with quite a bit of certainty it will only get better! Hopefully, this part of the series made you at the very least start thinking about what you could do to encourage better deer movement on your hunting property, and in the end increasing your odds at harvesting more deer.

*Next and final Part III will discuss manipulating the habitat by cuttings, plantings and other tactics.

Real Quick...

Well...bad news but encouraging news for others hunting small wood lots like my father and I. One of those neighboring hunters to the north arrowed a 120ish inch buck last night. Bad news is another big buck down and not able to grow, but it isn't the huge one "Bow" so my dad still has a chance. 

I just wanted to share this with the readers as it may encourage those of you hunting small acreage spots that come this time of year there is no telling what might show up! This brute was not a regular!

Part two of management due before the end of the week! Make sure to keep checking back!

Part I: Harvest Decision and Minimum Establishment

                Now I’d like to take a moment to explain the 3-part series of "QDM" blogs I’m going to post. These are designed for the hunter wanting to better the deer herd on their property and up their odds of both seeing and harvesting deer year in and year out. I will discuss how to establish a minimum level for bucks, how to properly harvest does, stand positioning and how to manipulate the land in your favor. The information will be of use for any level of hunter, whether you’re a pure meat hunter who could care less about antlers or those of you looking to possibly get a set of antlers in your hands that you consider a good buck.

Part I: Harvest Decision and Establishing a Minimum

                You look in the paper or on the wall of your local deer check in spot and all you see are guys taking bigger bucks than you…shoot you haven’t even seen bucks that big in the stand ever! You go home dejected and simply frustrated…the next time you climb your stand an awesome thing happens a basket 6-pointer walks by and you make the perfect shot. While you celebrate and calm yourself down in your treestand you hear something…you look to where you heard the sound and meet a set of eyes connected to a huge 8-point buck. He takes off and you set there shocked at what just happened.

                Now, some may say this is highly unlikely…you haven’t hunted enough. The biggest buck I have taken was following a yearling 4-pointer by no more than 5-10 minutes. Big bucks aren’t big because they’re dumb, I’ve witnessed numerous times older bucks allowing the younger ones to lead the way. Let’s be honest for a moment, things will happen, every single hunter has taken a deer they now wish they wouldn’t have. Mine is a tiny 8-pointer I took one season when I couldn’t take going another season 0’fer. I have since regretted that decision and wondered if I’d have another nice set of antlers in my man cave just asking for someone to ask the story behind that bad boy if I would have let that 8 walk.

                Now some of you may be thinking you have only 5, 10, 20 acres of land to hunt, you don’t have the area or the resources to not shoot the first buck you see. Granted some places are more likely to have big bucks traveling them, however there are good solid bucks everywhere you go in most of the Continental United States; with the key being if you’re willing to wait for one?

                So the first step in becoming a quality hunter is two parts in my opinion. The first is the most crucial; take does when needed. You will know your deer herd better than I do, and know when your doe population is getting far too high. Now you may be saying, but Ty I only have 17 acres of ground with hunters surrounding it. Okay, fear not I’m in the exact same position see this map:

                I circled the places my father and I have permission to hunt, he owns only 11ish acres of it all. You’ll see we deal with quite a few other hunters and I didn’t even mention to the North and South there’s more on different properties. So as you can see I relate to those of you saying there is no way we can manage a herd’s doe population without a large chunk of ground. Not true, it just takes a little more work is all. You need to at the very least become acquaintances with these other hunters and if nothing else request they tell you when they harvest buck or doe (don’t worry about how big the buck is) and document this. You’ll begin to get a bigger picture of just how your local deer herd is affected each and every season. We learned that 9 does were harvested on the property to the Southwest…which led us to only harvesting 1 doe as they took over 70% of the does harvested within the properties pictured on that map. Without actually seeking out the other hunters and knowing their affect on the deer herd size, it would be quite easy for over harvesting to occur.

                The whole goal to harvesting does and tracking it is to try to obtain a buck to doe ratio of somewhere between 1:2 and 1:3. Meaning there’s 1 buck for every 2-3 does in your local deer population. It's estimated that the normal US herds are around 6:1...not ideal. This will increase the activity level of bucks during the rut as there isn’t as many does to go around, thus increasing the chances of harvesting more and better bucks over a span of years.

                The second part is the hard part for some hunters, picking the caliber of buck you’re going to consider a shooter. This is a personal choice you and/or your local hunters need to make. It’s great if you can get other hunters on board, but to be honest isn’t always going to be the case. We’re lucky enough to know that nearly every bow hunter during early bow season are not going to harvest any real young or small antlered bucks. However, come gun season we are less fortunate and realize every single year nearly half of our adolescent bucks will be harvested…we still however persevere with our set minimum my father and I established. We have a minimum of “Must have either 8 points or be as wide as their ears.” Now that minimum obviously is thrown out the window if come late season we get an injured buck coming onto our property or a buck we know is  3 or 4 and still under producing in the antler category. The key though is that we’ve established a minimum, and stuck to it. For some of you that might be a point minimum, say 4 points. Others may say only 120+ inch deer can be harvested; whichever it is set it and do it.

                Now sticking to it at times will be hard. There will be times when you haven’t seen anything, not even a doe, for weeks and a little 5 pointer walks up and begs to be shot. If it falls below your minimum will you have the resolve to not shoot it? Allow me to offer some encouragement to keeping that deer alive. Think about the bucks you see during a hunting season, how often do you see the exact same buck? Usually not too terribly much, maybe every other time to the field if we’re lucky right? An example of this is that of all the bucks I’ve shot, none of them did I see twice in the same season. That means I saw them once and harvested them that same time. If that’s the case then you passing up that 5, could be the difference between him living that year and dying; he just may slip all other hunters for the rest of the season if you let him walk. Yes, you may never know or he may get harvested by another hunter; but you letting him walk put one more buck back into the buck pool other hunters have to shoot from (meaning one more that will live).

                This is just the first part to establishing a level of QDM on your hunting property. The next will be Food & Water: Which Do I Need More Of?