The Iowa fish and game folks say they need this program to bring the spotlight to the great deer hunting in Iowa. Some claim it's unfair because it give the rich and famous an unfair advantage. Others say that those few tags help bring in tourist dollars to Iowa coffers. Who's right?

But it doesn't stop there. As I understand the program, there's a panel that decides which celebrity will get a permit. The decision is based on who the panel thinks can bring the biggest bang for the buck (no pun intended ) For example, someone like Ted Knugent (or the hoard of celebrity hunters) who has his own hunting show and is always on a TV somewhere stands an excellent chance of getting an Iowa deer tag over the little kid from Family Ties. In fact, I don't know if that kid could be considered a celebrity or not!

It should also be noted that Iowa shares some permits with Conservation and Charity Organizations to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. They then split the proceeds.

This program has been around for a while. Okay, I get it. Back in the day something like this may have been needed to bring the Outdoor world spotlight to Iowa deer hunting to show the world what great deer hunting they have. But nowadays? Really? Who among us has not heard about how great the Iowa deer hunting is, especially in the 20 years or so?

Try as I might, I just can't see why such a program is needed these days in a state like Iowa!  The more media PR they get, the more people want to come there and hunt. But geez Iowa, you already have a lottery where there are so many more people applying for a permit than you have deer permits available, so what's the point? I could understand it if they couldn't sell all 6000 or so non-resident permits, but they have no problem doing that, so why have this tax payer funded program anyway?

When it's all said and done, I just don't see a need for a program like this in a state like Iowa. It would be like Illinois, Ohio, Kansas or Saskatchewan having a similar program. Earth to Iowa DNR, Iowa deer hunting is well known outside of Iowa!! Normally whenever I see a program like this that has outlived its usefulness but those in power still insist of keeping it alive, it's usually because someone other than the Celebrities have something to gain. Not saying this is what's happening in Iowa right now, just sayin' that's been my experience in life.

If the Iowa powers that be really wanted to do some good with a program like this, maybe they should start similar programs for Iowa College football and basketball!! LOL

Share this:

Which brings me to the meat of this post/rant. I was taking it easy today and turned on the Outdoor Channel and watched a few hunting shows. I honestly don't watch that many any longer. I have probably 2 or 3 that I make somewhat of an effort to watch. Most are pure rubbish and nothing more than glorified marketing in my opinion.

But anyway, one was about a Husband/Wife team hunting in Illinois on opening day. There she sit in a tree all dolled up talking about how hard she'd been working getting ready for hunting season. I thought "Yeah, like what? What kind of logo you're going to wrap your jacked up 4x4 and equipment trailer in?"

I could go on and on about some of these bozo's who pretend to be hunters. Which is about 99% of them on TV!

I understand the business side of it. As a marketer myself, I understand the game and how it's played. But I sincerely believe many of these so called, self described "Celebrity Hunters" are nothing more than shooters. And when you watch them and some of the stupid things they say/do, it only proves to drive the point home.

Like today when one of these Super Hunters is walking around a Ranch in Texas and comes up on this bush with a stem about the size of his thumb and there's a little rub on it. He then blurts out "Yeah, this was a real nice buck that made this!" I was like "WTH, really Dude?"

I guess my gripe stems from my opinion that hunting is something that is sacred, at least it is with me. I mean, after all you're taking a life and that should mean something. It's not like you're trying to score a goal or hit a ball with a piece of wood, although many manufacturers and Celebrity "Shooters" seem to treat it that way.

I also do not think it's healthy the way many beginners of this sport idolize these Celebrity Shooters. They don't understand that these people's claim to fame is the fact that they have a knack for marketing, not deer hunting. I mean, really folks, how many of use couldn't put an arrow through the boiler room of a nice buck on some intensely managed land if a Guide didn't walk us to a stand and say "Sit here and shoot a good buck for the camera"?

I'd love to pack some of these so called "Hunter" up and drop them off at a local WMA during any deer season of their choice (Archery, Muzzleloader or Rifle" and give them a week to kill a 6 point or better buck, heck, I'll give them the full 16 days of Muzzleloader and Rifle season! I'd imagine that only a few out of the dozens and dozens on TV could actually do this.

I remember years ago someone asked the founder of a deer magazine and club why him and his crew only hunted high fenced ranches or only used high dollar outfitters and his response was " One...We have to hunt these places to shoot big bucks. If we don't no one will watch our TV show. Two...we don't have much time to make these shows, so we have to use Outfitters and Ranches". Well now, at least he was honest about it! For him, it was (and still is I guess) all about the kill. But it made me sad to be a Charter Lifetime member of that Club and their magazine hits the trash as soon as it arrives in the mail these days. I really don't mind that they hunt these places, it's when they start thinking they're a "HUNTER" because a 170 class bucked walked by the stand their Guide had been holding for them all year long.

I've also noticed in the last half dozen years or so that they tend to show the Deer dying more and more. I don't see the point in this as I see it several times first hand myself every year, I don't need to watch it on TV. But the biggest thing is it turns of non-hunters. My Wife actually likes watching a few of the shows until they show the Deer run off and stand there until it tips over and starts kicking. She has asked several times "Why do they have to show that part of Hunting?" I've heard that question asked quite a bit from others as well. In the past, it was something that wasn't shown on hunting shows. Now, it's like the TV program isn't complete if they don't show the actual death of the Deer!

My reply is "Because it sells Deer hunting gear. I guess those newbies and people who've never killed a Deer haven't seen one die before."

I'm betting a few of you remember all the crap Dan Fitzgerald use to get for showing some of the shots he showed in his videos. Now days, people wouldn't even bat an eye at some of the shots he used to capture on film. And by the way, he's one of the few who I think can actually "hunt" instead of just "shoot" deer. It must have been all those Blue Jeans and Red Flannel hunting shirt endorsements that made him successful!

Nothing illustrates the fact that Deer hunting has been turned into a business model better than a couple who bought a farm in Iowa. Not just a few acres, but an actual farm! And if that wasn't enough, they also lease more farms. Their "food plots" are actual fields of Soybean, Corn and whatever seed blend they're being paid to market. They do this with monster tractors pulling full blown farm implements. These aren't your 1 acre food plots! These tractors and implements actually make some real farmers envious!

And this is their business model and it has allowed them to buy farm ground, plant the "food plots" and then shoot big Deer in order to market everything from seed and supplement blends to camo, bows, arrows and whatever else.

Are they Deer hunters or do they simple kill Deer in order to market all these products?

If they didn't kill any Deer, do you think some of the biggest manufacturing names in the industry would pay them to market their products?

Do you think beginners and Average Joe Deer hunters would flock to the retail outlets to buy they latest product they're pushing?

I think not.

As much as I hate to admit it, they're one of my favorite hunting shows, but I watch them because they're entertaining, not because they actually know how to hunt Deer. In fact, I can honestly say that I have not picked up one hunting tip from them in all the time I watch their show.

These type of people have turned Hunting into a business model and I for one don't think it's good for our sport.

Hunters seem to forget that these shows are nothing more than marketing shows. Sure, like I said above, some of the people are actually entertaining. But at the end of the day, they're marketing gear to you and they wouldn't be on TV  if they weren't capable of driving people into Sporting Goods Stores or Online Retailers to buy whatever it is they're pushing. Remember that the next time you start to idolize one of your favorite Celebrity Deer Shooters and start to buy something because So and So on TV killed a big buck using it (or did they just say they were using it to get you to buy it??!

Share this:

By the way, my picks for the best treestand locations are in order of my favorite places to hunt because my chance for success will go up greatly if I find them. Sadly, these don't occur in every place that I hunt, but I will go out of my way to find them if they do!

Treestand Location #1. Beaver Dams. Yeah, you read right! Beaver Dams are some of the best deer funnels you can find. But not any old Beaver Dams will work. The ones I have the best bet with are the ones that are on deep creeks with few places for Deer to cross. It also helps if there is a reason Deer want to cross the creek, like going from a bedding area to a feeding area.

I truly believe Deer hate crossing Beaver Dams, but it's either that or get wet. While Deer are excellent swimmers and their hollow hair will keep them warm even when wet, they still will avoid swimming if given the chance. So if you know of a creek with Beaver Dams spaced a ways apart, scout them good and look for Deer crossing!

Treestand Location #2. Saddles in long ridges. When I'm hunting in Mountainous areas like the Ozarks or Quachita's, I look for long ridge lines with a saddle in them. Unfortunately in these two mountain ranges, when you find a saddle, it generally has a freakin' road in it! But there are a few...if you look hard enough.

The saddle doesn't have to be very deep either. There's one place in Northern Arkansas that the elevation change in the ridge is only about 10 feet. But that slight saddle is enough to funnel those Rock Pile deer through it year after year!(at least every year I've hunted there, I can't speak for the years I'm not there...:D)

The best way to find them is by using a topo map and following the ridge lines and taking note of elevation changes. You can also use Google and use the Satellite photo's to find saddles, but the smaller ones are harder to see if the photo's were taking in Spring and Summer.

Treestand location #3. Fence crossings. If you hunt in an area with a lot of fences, then you should be looking for places where Deer cross them. One of my best stand locations is a fence crossing where an old tree fell across the fence and broke it. The landowners on either side have no cows in these pastures so neither are worried about getting the fence fixed. If you want to know the truth, I think both are waiting on the other to fix it. That's okay by me, as my Titan Ladder Stand is 30 yards away and this crossing has supplied me with Deer sightings every year!

If you're not lucky enough to have a tree fall where you want it, there are ways of making a better fence crossing. What I've done in the past is cut brush and put at every crossing where I didn't want the deer to cross. I then found a place for a stand and took some para cord and tied it to the top strand of wire and then to the bottom strand. I then pull the two as tight as I can forming a v at the top wire and an inverted 'V' at the bottom, giving the Deer more than enough room to jump over or crawl under the fence. Obviously this works with a barbed wire fence, a web wire fence is totally different, you may only be able to pull the top down.

Whatever you do, make sure you ask the landowner before doing any of these modifications!

Treestand location #4. Finger ridges. Take your hand and lay it flat on a table or other flat surface in front of you. Now spread your fingers wide and pretend these are finger ridges coming off of a main ridge. The hub, the center of the back of your hand, is where you'll want to scout for a treestand location. This is where most of the Deer will pass through in mountainous areas. Sometimes it may only be 2 or 3 fingers coming together at the Hub, sometimes it's more. If the "Hub" is also a nice Oak flat full of acorns, then you might just be sitting on a honey hole! These are definitely places you want to check out and put a treestand if the sign indicates Deer activity!

Treestand location #5. Strips of brush or trees extending out into fields. These can be Golden! Normally, if you have trees or a line of brush extending out into a farm field, it's because there is a draw there. It could also be because the ground there always stays wet. Whatever the reason, if you can find a place like this, look it over real well! Chances are Deer are using it to enter and exit the field. Bucks will especially like these areas during the Rut.

My favorite place to put a treestand in a situation like this is normally right at the 'base' of the draw or brush where it begins at the field edge. If the wind allows me, this setup will catch any Buck that is scent checking the field or waiting for Does returning from the field and using this strip as a travel path.

Treestand location #6. Treelines. Speaking of treelines, if you can find one connecting two sections of woods or other Deer habitat, you've probably found you a Deer super highway! My buddy lives in the same house he grew up in. About 200 yards across the pasture behind his house is a treeline about 75 yards wide that runs for about 1/4 mile. It connects a huge area of woods on the South side with broken woods and grown up fields on the North side. There are cow pastures on either side of this treeline and the cows do a good job of keeping the grass down.

Where do you think a Deer that wants to go from the South woods to the North section will travel? That's right, the treeline! It's also a good place to intercept a Buck that is traveling through the Countryside looking for a hot Doe. It's not unusual to look out his back window in the early mornings or late afternoons and see Deer walking along the treeline.

Treestand location #7. Edges of grown over clear cuts where they meet hardwoods. Another of my favorite spots to intercept Bucks are at the edges of a clear cut that has been cut over several years back and allowed to grow up. Usually years 2 through 5 after a place has been cut, there will be some nasty briars, bushes and crap a sane Man would never want to go into. I usually don't either! Most times I can find a spot along the edge and set up a treestand there. I particularly like to find trails leading in and out of these clear cuts. When the pressure gets hot and heavy, the Bucks know that these are safe places.

If you have permission and you're willing to do some work, then you can make you a Deer magnet anytime you find a grown up clear cut. What I've done in the past is crawl, yes I mean CRAWL into these jungles for about 50 yards and then started cutting a straight path through this mess. The path is about as wide as I can extend both arms. Why do I crawl into these areas? Because if you start at the edge, someone may find it and you're secret hunting spot will be done for!

I make these paths about 100 yards long if I can. Once I've got one straight, I go back to the halfway point and start cutting another bisecting the first. So when I'm done, I have what would look like a "Plus Sign" if viewed from the air. At each end of the 'plus sign' I look for trees to put up a stand. I also try to have a tree near the intersection of each lane of the 'plus sign'. Deer will use these lanes you cut like you wouldn't believe!

The downside is that it can be hard to get into these place undetected, so you'll have to leave early and take it slow.

Another feature that I added to several was to rake away the leaves and crap once I had the lanes cut and then threw down some quick growing Winter seed like wheat and rye. Imagine having such a secret spot that no one else knew about in a heavily hunted area.

Treestand location #8. Habitat changes. Technically, Location #7 above could be considered a habitat change. As could places where the Woods meet Fields. These are generally all good areas to look for Deer sign. Deer are edge lovers! A few places of habitat change that I've successfully hunted over the years include places where wetlands met hardwood forest, Pine plantings met hardwoods and obviously where crop fields met any kind of brush, whether it was a swamp or forest. The nastier the better!

There's a WMA about 2 hours away from me where I hunt a few times each year. It's hilly, some would say slightly mountainous. But there are several places where the ridges come down and meet bottom land. The White Oak and Black Jacks of the hillside meet the Red Oaks and Ash trees of the bottom. Along this edge I've had numerous treestands over the years and nearly always see Deer there. If used this pattern at other places I hunt and can nearly always find deer. Keep this in mind when you're out there scouting this year!

Treestand location #9. Remote fruit trees. I'll have to admit that I'm not real big on seeking out the best Persimmon trees or hoping to find an old homestead with an ancient Apple tree that draw deer from miles around. When I was younger, I did take some Apple trees that I grew from seeds and plant them on our property. I think they lasted maybe a week before something ate them! That was pretty much my attempt at trying to make my own Deer attracting Apple orchard!

But I know others who routinely kill nice Deer at these locations. If you know of some type of fruit tree such as Apple or Pear, it may pay off for you to check them each year for fruit. Persimmons are popular in our hunting area, but I can't say I've ever killed a Buck from one. I've taken a few Does over the years because they'll visit them during the daylight. In normal years, the Persimmons are gone by Gun season so they only provide fruit for a few weeks. They start ripening and falling shortly after the first good frost.

Treestand location #10. Standing corn. This is my last pick simply because Corn is not a crop that is grown that much in our area. The few chances that I have had to hunt it, I found it very exciting. Standing corn is Deer cover and food all wrapped up in one. There's no need for Deer to ever leave the cover of a standing Corn field, but obvioiusly some do just for the heck of it.

I like to bowhunt standing Corn fields by still hunting across the rows. I generally do this on Windy days so that the noise of the Corn stalks cover any noise I make. It's not uncommon to catch the Deer beded down between the rows. Just remember to start downwind.

I've also put up a ground blind about 30 yards inside the standing Corn and watched the edge. This is especially good if the edge of the Corn is a long ways away from Woods. Deer expect trouble from the woods, but for some reason the don't expect it from inside the Corn itself. I will usually cut the stalks in one row so I have a clean shot from my blind out to the edge. Use the cut stalks to brush in your blind and have fun!

So there you have it, my 10 best treestand locations. Hopefully you'll keep these in mind as you're out and about scouting this year. If you find one of these locations, look it over real good for Deer sign. You might just have stumbled upon a honey hole that produces year after year!

Share this:

Until I saw this book, I had never heard of Chris Eberhart. I had heard of John Eberhart, his dad, but it was only by reading a few articles in Outdoor magazines that I recognized his name. But since I don't really read many Outdoor magazines any longer, it had been a while. So I did a little research and found out that both John and Chris have wrote several books on hunting Trophy Whitetail Deer. And it seems they're pretty good in taking some of those big bucks home with them!

So it was I waited on the book to arrive and I dug into it the same day it came in the mail. At first, I thought this was a deer hunting book that started off with the Author telling about some of his deer hunting trips. I like these type of stories, so long as they don't go into the Author trying to boost his ego by describing what a big buck killer and all around nice guy he  or she is. Fortunately, Chris didn't do any of that.

But as I kept reading on through the book, I kept wondering where all this information about hunting other states on a budget was. I mean, Chris wove some tips throughout his stories about chasing big Whitetail bucks in other States, but there really wasn't any dedicated "how to" information in the book.

Chris described how he scouted and how he hunted deer. He also touched on how he hunts Public Land and mentioned obtaining some permission to hunt on private land a few times. He did describe some of the landowner relationships, which I found interesting as well.

There was mention of his hunting vehicle as well as mentioning of how he stayed in these areas while hunting and he went into his routine of going into town and washing his clothes and grocery shopping. And from what I can tell, that's about it.

In short, I was a little disappointed in the book. I was expecting a "How To" book and I got a damn good book on a man who's passionate about chasing big Whitetails with a bow. If it wasn't for that fact, I'd tell you to pass on this book.

If you're looking for information about how to DIY out of state hunting, this book is marginal at best in my opinion. If on the other hand you love to read about someone who's really into bowhunting trophy whitetail deer and gain some tips in the process, then you'll definitely want to read "Whitetail Access: How To Hunt Top Whitetail States Cheaply & Effectively".

I liked this book well enough to order Chris' and his Dad, John's book title "Bowhunting Pressured Whitetails". I'll let you know how that one turns out when I'm done with it!

Share this:

I can remember when Whitetail Institute started promoting their clover blend. At that time, planting high dollar food plots of clover was unheard of, or at least it was in my neck of the woods. The second year after hearing about this Super Clover Seed Blend that attracted Whitetail Deer from afar, I decided to give it a try. Early September found me pushing and pulling a push mower through the woods to a small opening I had permission to hunt. The tall weeds and grass in that little clearing nearly killed me and the mower before I had it all mowed down.

Next, I raked up all the grass and put it in a pile. Then the next day (I was pretty much whooped after using a push mower for a brush hog!), I pushed and pulled a tiller down to the small clearing. When I say small, I mean it was a place of about 20 feet wide by about 100 feet long. I tilled that ground over several times and it was much more difficult than the mowing was!

The next weekend I took a rake, several bags of lime and a bag of fertilizer through the woods to my "food plot". I worked this all in, which took me about a half a day. Rain was in the forecast so I wanted to wait for it to "wash in" the lime and fertilizer. A few days later after the rain I went back and I raked the soil again preparing the seed bed. Hmmm, this is a lot of work. "Poor men have poor men ways" came to mind as I was reraking this little plot. Once finished, I planted the Whitetail clover with visions of big bucks falling over one another to get to my tiny little plot back in the woods. After the seed was cast, I then reraked the area once again covering the seed up.

Unfortunately no one told the big bucks about my little plot! I did kill a Doe and 7 point buck out of that little meadow, but chances were good they used the place anyway since it had produced for me in the past.

From that little plot to ones I've planted that measured an acre or two, I've learned a few things about planting food plots for deer.

Here are some food plot tips to keep in mind before you start trying out your green thumb.

1. Get a soil test. I can't stress how important this is. A soil test will tell you the condition of the soil, along with what you need to do to improve it for the type of seed you'll be planting. It will also tell you how much lime and fertilizer to use. Lime and fertilizer is very important for a great food plot. It may mean the difference between you pulling deer from your neighbors land or them pulling deer from your land.
2. Match the type of seed to your local area. Some areas grow certain types of plants better than others. I mentioned using Whitetail Institute's clover when it first came out. That was all there was available at the time. It's my opinion that this clover is hard for me to grow in my area. I've had more failures than successes with this type of seed in remote plots. Now there is a whole category of seed that will grow with little soil preparation. From what I've seen, most of these seeds are rye.
3. Prepare the soil properly. This is where I see a lot of people goof up. You'd be surprised at how many people will lay down hard earned cash for a bag of seed and then just go out and throw the seed on the ground and expect it to grow. Rye will grow thrown on top of the ground as will winter wheat and oats. But they both will do better if you can at least rake the soil and turn it up a bit. Clover and Alfalfa need covered to be successful. If you're going to spend the money on good seed, then put forth the effort to get the most out of it.
4. I prefer to plant in long and narrow strips. Deer love to walk while eating. That's why they're called browsers. A nip here, a bite there. You'll seldom see a deer stand in one place very long. Make it comfortable for them to feed at your food plot.
5. Make sure your spot gets at least 50% of sun per day. You may have to hunt out a small opening, but game seeds don't grow well in the shade!
6. Plant a variety of seed to prolong the benefits of your plot. I like to plant seeds that will be beneficial to deer as soon as they come up in the early fall. At the same time, I usually include winter wheat or oats along with brassica (greens) so the plot will be beneficial to the deer and other wildlife up into the Winter. Your plot should be more than just a place to kill deer, it should be a place that helps deer and other Wildlife through the Winter into the Spring. By helping your deer make it through Winter in good shape, the Bucks will have a head start growing their antlers and the Does will give birth to healthier fawns.

Food plots do not have to be massive fields of exotic seeds to benefit Deer and wildlife. We don't all have huge John Deere tractors with all the implements along with seed companies throwing tons of seed at us so we'll advertise them. Even if you're not a so called deer hunting celebrity, you can help the animals in your area by planting your own food plot. These food plot tips should help you get started.

Share this:

1. They fail to scout. Now when I say scout, that's exactly what I mean. I don't mean lollygagging around the woods taking potshots with a .22 a few days before season. I mean getting out weeks before the season opens and scouring your hunting area real good. Even if you're familiar with the lay of the land, you'll be surprised from time to time by what you find. Lots of things can change from season to season, that's why it's important to get out and scout!

2. They fail to become proficient with the weapon they're using. The funny thing is, the definition of 'proficient' changes from hunter to hunter. Some may believe it's being able to shoot a 2" group at 100 yards. Others think if they can hit a 12"x12" piece of paper at 50 yards, that is all they need. When I was a kid, my dad use to hang a one gallon paint bucket on a limb at about 50 yards. If he could hit it with his open sighted 30-30 Marlin, then his gun was "sighted in" and he was perfectly happy. And he killed a lot of deer with that gun, few were rarely shot past 50 yards though.

I think most of us would agree that a scoped modern rifle should be able to put at least 3 rounds inside 3 inches at any range up to 100 yards. If the gun can do that, then the shooter should practice proper breath control and trigger sqeeze.

For bow hunters, I believe they should be able to keep all their arrows inside a 5 or even 6 inch group out to 40 yards. Obviously I'd like to see them also keep at least 3 arrows in a 3 inch circle out to 40, but I had trouble doing that at 40 yards with my old compound. Only when I started shooting instinctively did my accuracy improve greatly. I just could never develop the form to shoot accurately with sights out to 40 yards.

3. Lack of Patience. Over the years I've learned that many times I found that a lack of patience was really a lack of confidence in most cases. Funny that you have no trouble sitting in a blind until Noon if you're seeing deer, or if you think you'll be seeing them. But a lot of people have a problem sitting still even an hour or so before they get up and start walking around. Which by the way, is another mistake beginners make!

I can't tell you how many deer I've watched impatient hunters spook because they were out of their blind or treestand by 8 or 9 and started walking around. If you've done your scouting properly, there should be no reason for you to be out plopping around the freakin' woods at 8 or 9 a.m. You're better off going back to camp and making coffee for everyone else who will be filing in in a few hours.

4. They call too much. I think beginners and even some veterans should have their deer calls taken away. I'd bet that the majority of deer hunters have never heard a real deer in the woods. And of those hunters, the majority of them have never listened to a pro on a CD or DVD call deer. They may have seen one of the TV show cowboys do it, but few have taken the time to hear real deer call in the woods.

Even if you're using an excellent grunt call like the MAD Grunt/Snort/Wheez call, you can easily over call and spook deer!

Usually one of two things happen. The Hunters will go out and call long and hard for a few days and when nothing shows up, the proclaim to everyone they meet from here on out that deer calls are jokes and do not work. Or, they use the call a few times and when a big buck doesn't magically show up, the lose interest and leave the call at home or back in camp.

I've been deer hunting for nearly 30 years now and I've hear deer vocalize only a few dozen times over the years. Of course, I probably spend a lot more time scouting and deer hunting than the average Joe as well. Deer make soft subtle sounds, even a buck trailing a hot doe doesn't grunt near as loud as many commercial call sound. Plus, deer don't make continuous sound every step they make!

5. They use too much scent. Like over calling, a lot of deer hunters are relying on that magical deer in a bottle to produce a buck for them. Many deer hunters subscribe to the theory that more is better. That just isn't true!

I dearly loved to watch the late Ben Rogers Lee. I use to have nearly all of his deer hunting videos and I learned a lot from watching them. However I cringed when he would pour a whole bottle of his deer scent on a tarsal gland or rag and say something like "Now you can't get to much of this scent on the ground, use plenty so the Buck can really smell it". I know he was just selling deer scent, but then again the guy didn't have a problem killing deer. He knew them just as well as he knew the habits of Turkey. But beginners thought his 'secret to success' was all that deer scent he was pouring out!

Deer can put Bloodhounds to shame. If you're going to use scent, use only a few drops. I think the majority of deer hunters would do far better without scents than with them. Most don't know how to use them properly or when to use them. I personally don't want a deer to know I'm anywhere around when he comes by my stand. Sure, I've had scents work and I've had them spook deer, especially when using a Doe in Estrous scent during the rut. Many small bucks that have had their butts whipped will spook. So will Does. They know that if a Buck is present, it'll be cold nosing them and pestering them for a long time. So they will avoid another Doe who smells like she is 'in'. That's why most of the time you'll find me using a deer scent like Wildlife Research's Trails End #307. I've used it for many years and it doesn't seem to spook deer in my area during the rut. I've also seen it attract several deer that I know of, including a few bucks.

6. Fail to plan. There's a saying in the business world that goes something like "If you fail to plan, then you're planning to fail". The same could be said about deer hunting. Do you have backup stand locations for different wind directions? What if there are hunters in your area, do you have an alternate plan? Have you ever went hunting and forgot your weapon at camp or home? Have you ever forgot your release or shells?

You should have alternate hunting stand locations mapped out and know which wind directions they are good for. Plus, a simple checklist that you check before heading out will keep you from forgetting an important part of your gear. Over the years I've heard of more than one story about a deer hunter who went ahead and sit in their stand even though they had forgotten their weapon or ammo only to have a Buck walk by within range. I bet you've heard one or two stories about unprepared hunters.

7. The use cheap equipment. When I say 'cheap', I mean poor quality equipment. I can't tell you how many people just want the cheapest piece of equipment they can find. Whether it's the cheapest bow, treestand, game camera or rifle, it seems their only requirement is that they equipment is cheap. How many times have you seen someone ask a question in the forums like "What's the best and cheapest bow?" or "What's the best and cheapest cold weather hunting clothes?"

It's okay to save a buck (no pun intended), but simply being a cheap scape because you're tight is a whole different matter. Poor quality hunting equipment can come back to bite you when you need it the most. Like scopes, rifles, bows, clothes, boots and other deer hunting products, sometimes it's better to save up a little while longer and buy the good stuff.

Don't get me wrong. Although I see beginners make most of these mistakes, making these mistakes doesn't seem to know the difference between a beginning deer hunter and someone who's been hunting for decades. The only thing I can see is that serious deer hunters make fewer of these mistakes than the weekend warriors. I believe it comes down to how serious you are about deer hunting. The more serious you are, the more you're likely to learn from your mistakes and not repeat them.

Share this:

First and foremost, I think the decision to shoot a small buck, or any deer for that matter, should be left up to the individual hunter as long as the deer is legal (* with an exception as stated below). Whether you agree with the game laws or not. But if a spike buck with 3 1/2 inches of hard antler above the hairline is legal in your state and you want to put a tag on him and take him home, you should have that right if you purchased a deer tag or hunting license.

*And since I mentioned the law, I think having laws restricting hunters to harvesting deer with a minimum antler count is plain wrong. Arkansas comes to mind with its 3 point rule (or is it 4 points per side?). Whatever it is, I believe it's wrong. A hunter should be able to put their tag on any buck they can see the antler on. These types of laws also rob our young and elderly hunters of chances of enjoying the harvest of a buck deer. Which may be the greatest tragedy of all.

The State and other Hunters should not be the ones making the rules telling me whether or not I can shoot a buck with hard antler above the hairline. There have been years where I went home empty handed and happy because I was chasing a few select Trophy bucks. There have been other years when I killed 4 or 5 deer and everyone was a 6 point or less. I was a happy camper both times.

It's the individual hunters enjoyment that spells success. If that means taking a Spike buck, so be it. If that means putting 20 hours a week in going after a Trophy buck only to go home at the end of the season empty handed, so bit it. It's the Hunters choice and that's the way it should be.

I once knew a fairly famous bowhunter in our State who also owned an Archer shop. They guy was always nice to me even when I was a wet behind the ears teenager in his store only spending a few bucks. He was what I considered your average archery owner. Pics of his trophy's all over the place. Which I'm totally fine with.

But one year he'd went most of the year without killing a deer. Even went through the rut and rifle season without killing a buck. Then toward Christmas he shot a small buck with 2 points on one side and 3 points on the other. Nothing real special as far as the head gear went. But this guy's story was he shot the deer because the side with 3 points was rare and he'd never killed a buck like this.

Personally, I thought a little less of him after that. I didn't get the feeling he was being totally honest with anyone. I did get the feeling he killed it because it was getting near the end of the deer hunting season and he wanted to shoot a buck. Which I've done the same thing and I believe it's certainly within the rights of a deer hunter to do so. But be honest about the reason you put a tag on a deer! Heck, there should be no shame saying the season is coming to an end and you wanted to put a tag on a deer!

Okay, another rant here. You guys who go around saying "you can't eat horns" are correct. But don't spout that crap off then when you get a wall hanger in front of you blast the crap out of him. Then proceed to tell everyone what a trophy he is. There's no shame in saying you're a meat hunter or that you wanted to shoot the first thing that comes by. I know a lot of hunters who wished they could kill a buck, any buck, each and every year like some of you do. Be proud of the fact that you're good enough to kill any deer consistently!

I'd also like to call out the guys who hunt high dollar leases or go on nothing but guided hunts and then look down your nose at people who kill small to average bucks. I've often said, and still stand behind this statement, that anyone who can kill a legal buck on Public Land consistently is a far better deer hunter than someone who only hunts exclusive leases or pays to hire a guide. Just because you have the money to hire a guide our lease up half a county in Illinois does not make you a better hunter!

Finally, no one should have the right to tell me, or you, which buck I can shoot. Study after Study have shown that taking spike bucks does not affect the quality of the deer heard. No one should have to ask if it's wrong to shoot a small buck!

Share this:

In my opinion, post season scouting is some of the best scouting you can do. In the post season, you can find out if your Buck is still alive and more important, where he's hanging out. Many places either have snow on the ground or will have snow. This can be the best time to follow a Buck and see where he's holing up. In most cases, he'll still be in his hiding/evading mode due to Small Game hunters in his area.

The places he likes to hide, his travel routes and his escape routes will be much easier to find this time of year than when your scouting in the Pre-season. It's also a great time to snoop around your public hunting land and see where he likes to hide or where other hunters are setting up.

I've found more Big Buck escape routes and Sanctuary's by scouting when there was snow on the ground than any other time of the year. Snow almost makes it too easy...almost! And you don't have to worry about things like Mosquitoes, Snakes and Chiggers like you do when you're scouting for deer in the Summertime.

While snow on the ground is my favorite time to scout for Bucks, I've also found good areas for the upcoming Deer season when I was scouting and hunting for Turkeys. Many of the movement habits of Deer are the same ones Turkeys use in their day to day life.

Bottlenecks, feeding areas and loafing areas that Turkeys use can be the same areas Deer use. I've also located new Deer hunting areas when out Turkey hunting. It's amazing to me how much Deer sign you can find in the Spring. The Deer will normally be in their Fall and Winter patterns before greenup and it's just an excellent time to find new areas and to tweak your existing hunting areas and treestand sites.

Post season is also an excellent time to find sheds. With the exception of actually sighting a Big Buck after Deer Season has ended, nothing says that the Big Boy is still alive like finding fresh sheds. You'll typically find sheds in bedding areas and travel corridors.

So take a few days off from fishing or just get out in the snowy woods for a romp of your deer hunting area. I'm betting you'll be surprised at what you find.

Share this:

So, here are 10 gift ideas for the Deer Hunter on your Christmas list. They vary in price range so that anyone can afford at least one of them. You Guys and Gals can thank me later!

Hunter's Specialties Butt Out Big Game Dressing Tool

Cost: $9.99

Some of you may remember back last year when I did a review of the Butt Out Tool. Every time I use this, I can't believe I didn't invent it. It's so darn easy to do and makes a crappy job (pun intended) easier and cleaner. Get this for your Deer Hunter, they will thank you the next time they field dress a Deer.

Razor Edge Sharpening System

Cost: Kits - $22.95 to $229.95 - individual hones less

If it's one thing I love more than a great gun (okay, maybe I should have said 'as much'), it's a great knife. I don't know why, but I just feel a special connection when I'm handling a good knife. So it only stands to reason that I have used nearly every sharpening system known to a Hunter. Diamond hones, Arkansas Hones, etc. You name it, I've tried it. Nothing has ever given me a great edge like the hones I bought nearly 20 years ago from Razor Edge Systems. If you have trouble maintaining a correct edge on your knife while sharpening, then get the Guides. I'd recommend reading the book and/or watching the video if you're not skilled in bringing a knife to a razor sharp point. Click here to visit Razors Edge Systems. They also make hones for fish hooks and broadheads. I'd recommend getting your Deer Hunter one of their kits.

Lifetime Hunting and Fishing License

Cost: Varies from State to State

I'm not sure if every State has a Lifetime Hunting & Fishing License. I do know that Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and Kansas do. These make excellent...and I mean EXCELLENT gifts for your kids. They're also not too shabby for other Deer Hunters in the Family if they do not already have one. My Dad bought my Oklahoma Combo Hunting and Fishing license for my 16th birthday. Back then, they were $225. I can't tell you how many times these have paid for their self. I've lived in different states for about 15 years of my adult life and it was always a great feeling to know I could come back to Oklahoma and hunt or fish without having to buy those expensive Non-Resident license! Contact your States Wildlife Department to see if they issue Lifetime License and the procedure for obtaining them.

Brownell's NRA Officially Licensed Magna-Tip Screwdriver Set

Cost: $49.99

I hate working on a gun or scope mounts with regular screwdrivers. In fact, I won't unless it's an emergency. Regular screwdrivers are not designed to work with the screws that hold your gun together. They're tapered and do not grab the screw properly. Few things in life are as ugly as damaged gun finishes caused by someone using a regular screwdriver on a gun. Get yourself, or the Deer Hunter in your life, a Magna-Tip screwdriver set from Brownell's. These are the nicest and most durable set of screwdrivers I've used. I've had a set for over 10 years and it has saved me from screaming curse words many times over while working on my guns. The set I'd recommend is the NRA Officially Licensed Magna-Tip Kit. You can see a video of all of the Magna Tip sets by clicking here.

Magellan Triton 300 Handheld GPS Unit

Cost: $149.99

Even if your Deer Hunter goes hunting behind your house, they should always have a compass or GPS unit with them. Nowadays many hunters are carrying these little handheld GPS units with them hunting, fishing, hiking and camping. Many more are using them for navigation while driving. I prefer the basic GPS units. I just want to know where I started from, my waypoints(stand locations or fishing spots) and where I've been. I don't need all the bells and whistles that come with many of the GPS units on the market today. The Magellan 300 has all these features and a few more, but not so many useless features as to leave you needing a 300 page manual to figure it out.

Custom Hunting Knife

Cost: Varies

Recently I went shopping for a hunting knife. Since I recently move and I'm in the middle of a renovation, all of mine somewhere in a storage building and I had no intentions of digging through the building and finding them. I have to say, I was more than disappointed with the current crop of mass produced "hunting knives" on the market today. Too many come with crappy plastic handles. What's even more disheartening is the designs? Who is designing our hunting knifes? Klingons? These things look like something out of a Science Fiction movie! They're crap! I did finally locate one of my fixed blade Case hunting knives (by accident). I've had this particular knife nearly 20 years. If you're like me and love a good hunting knife, try buying a custom one. There are many good knife makers out there who know how to design and build a hunting knife. I personally like a blade between 3 and 4 inches long with a drop point. The Loveless designed knives are just right in my opinion and Beretta makes one that Mr. Loveless designed. Dozier Knives makes several excellent hunting knives. Consider them an investment you can hand down to your children. You can also shop on ebay and find hunting knives by up and coming knife makers. The only thing is about ebay is you'll have to sort through a lot of junk but there are some jewels there! There are many fine knives for you to choose from once you get past those. We no longer have to choose from the crap that mass producers push on us.

NRA Membership

Cost: $35 per year

I think every Hunter and Gun Owner should belong to the NRA. If not, don't whine when you guns or ammo are taxed or legislated away. Although other organizations are out there to help Hunters and Gun Owners, only the NRA is large enough to actually help us. I don't agree with them 100% of the time, but at least they have the muscle to do something. By the way, if you don't know about The American Hunters and Shooters Association, stay away from them. They're actually an anti-hunting, anti-gun group formed by the Democrats to try and divide NRA members to lessen their impact on elections. For a political party to go to this extreme in starting and organizing an association to try and trick Sportsmen and Gun Owners, should show you in easy to understand terms, what they have in mind. By the way, the link above is not to their site, it's to the NRA's Fact Sheet on The American Hunters and Shooters Association. You'll learn a lot more at that site.

Gift Cards

Cost: $10 and up

I use to think Gift Cards were cheesy. I still do in a lot of ways. But I understand us Deer Hunters can be a hard lot to buy presents for. So if you have a Deer Hunter on your Christmas list and you don't know what to get him or her, go to one of the online retailers and purchase a gift card for them. There are many to choose from. Some of my favorites are Campmor, Cabela's, Bass Pro, Gander Mountain, Midway USA, Brownell's and Amazon (for hunting books). This way, they can get what they've been wanting and you come out smelling like a Rose!

Magazine Subscriptions

Cost: $15 and up depending on the Magazine

Magazine subscriptions are gifts that keep on giving. When I was a kid, one of my favorite birthday or Christmas presents were magazine subscriptions to Outdoor Magazines. Back then, my favorite were the "Big Three". Outdoor Life, Sports Afield and Field and Stream. This was back in a time when they still wrote excellent articles about hunting and fishing. Back before they went Yuppiefied and starting writing crap like kayaking on Alaskan Bays or Biking down a Yosemite trail. I haven't picked one of those magazines up in ages. They have forgotten who their readers are in my opinion. Instead, the magazines I tend to pick up now are ones like Fur-Fish-Game, Deer and Deer Hunting, North American Whitetail (not real crazy about this one either), Bowhunter, Muzzleloader Magazine and Traditional Bowhunter. Two others that I highly recommend are Backwoods Home and The Backwoodsman. Both are excellent magazines although they're not entirely hunting related.

Books about Shooting and Deer Hunting

Cost: $10 and up

Just as with my magazine choices, the books I read on Hunting and Shooting tend to be older. It seems the older I get, the less I can stomach most of the commercialized junk that gets passed off as Deer Hunting literature. Some of my favorite authors are Charles Alsheimer, Peter Fiduccia, John Weiss, Leonard Lee Rue III, Gene and Barry Wensel and a few others. If you're Deer Hunter is really into Shooting and Hunting, try getting them some books that are out of print. You'll pay dearly for them, but they'll be a unique and original gift! Some of my favorites are any book by Jack O'Connor, One Man's Whitetail by Gene Wensel, BowHunting Rutting Whitetails by Gene and Barry Wensel, Bowhunting Alaska's Wild Rivers by Jay Massey. Actually, any book by the late jay Massey is an excellent gift. I have several signed books of his and hold them dearly. I also like "How To Bag The Biggest Buck Of Your Life" by Larry Benoit. The original has long been out of print and is quite pricey. There was a new printing of the Paperback a few years ago and they're in the normal price range of books. You can find any of the books I listed here by searching Amazon.

Okay, so there you have it. 10 gift ideas for the deer hunter on your Christmas list. Yes, I wrote "Christmas!". I hope you have a Merry one at that! There's no need for you to get another blaze orange tie with Deer on it or a Sweatshirt with a Big Buck on the front. Now you have an idea what your Deer hunter really wants! If you have some unique or unusual Christmas gift ideas, please leave a comment and share them with everyone else.

Share this:

But better late than never!

I receive quite a bit of email about Deer hunting on public land. Having just came back from a Controlled Hunt on Public Land myself, here are some tips for you that are heading out to hunt Public Land Deer.

1. Get a map. Preferably a topo map and an aireal photo of the area where you'll be hunting. You can find good topo maps on the Internet at several areas or contact the USGS for an index. A good map will show you many things. Some of the things you'll be wanting to look for are: where are other hunters parking, areas that will funnel deer into a tight area such as saddles in ridges, potential feeding and beddeing areas, waterways, old roads, etc.
2. Do your scouting. This should go without saying, but you'd be surprised at how many just pick a place and go hunting without ever setting foot on the place. Prepare for success by using some boot leather to get the feel of the land and to try and pattern both the Deer and Deer Hunters!
3. Pattern the Hunters. Since you'll likely have company from other Hunters when visiting Public Hunting area, get to know where they park and the areas that they'll likely be hunting. Use this information to determine Where Not To Hunt! You can also use this information to determine likely areas where these Hunters will push the Deer as they're coming and going to their stands.
4. Hunt the Midday. It doesn't take long for Deer to pattern the Hunters. They know that most Hunters will be out of their stands by 9 a.m. (many much sooner) and walking around before heading back to their vehicles for coffee, lunch and a nap. Plan on hunting during the midday hours. I can't tell you how many Bucks I've seen from 11 to 3 on Public Hunting land. If you've done your homework and are set up away from the other Hunters, you may be pleasantly surprised at a visit from a Buck during the midday when other Hunters are back at their trucks taking a Siesta.
5. Call the Manager. Part of your pre-hunt scouting should be a call to the Manager of the Public land where you'll be hunting. They can provide valuable information on Hunter access and likely spots to find a Buck during the Hunting Season. They can also let you in on how the Deer herd is doing and clue you into what the Deer are feeding on.
6. Plan on getting your Deer out. Many Deer Hunters never plan on how to get their Deer out once they have it down. They never think about it until they are faced with the daunting task of dragging a Buck out of the woods. It would be smart to invest in one of the Big Game Carts
   advertised in the Outdoor catalogs.
7. Think outside the box. As I said earlier, Deer pattern Hunters much better than Hunters pattern Deer. If most hunters are Hunting fields or easy to reach areas, do something different. Find thickets or other areas where Hunters will not hunt. Swamps and overgrown clear cuts are two of my favorite areas to hunt on Public land. I love to hear Hunters say "That area is too nasty to hunt, you can't see very far in there". That's the kind of place I want to be. The group of guys I grew up hunting with were the first to hunt the flooded timber for Deer. No one else would put on wader and go in after the Deer. Now, many people will but few are successful because the lack the patience and experience to still hunt the flooded timber properly. Do and go where other Hunters will not!

Most public hunting is not easy. But with a little planning and thinking outside the box, your hunt can be successful. Just remember, these Deer are hunted hard so plan on outsmarting them. You can reason, Deer can't!

Share this: