Blog
Sept. 3, 2010Awesome day to finish setting up trees. Hung 1 stand and prepped 2 trees for the Tree Saddle. It was nice and windy to keep the bugs at bay and only about 58 degrees, very comfortable. Saw a lot of sign, browsing on the bean tops at the edges of the fields and tons of acorns eatin' off the ground. Without the cameras this year to see what is around I'm counting on the traditional patterns from years past to locate the shooters. Been pretty encouraged with the sign I am seeing. Opening day stand is picked out, can't wait to get in it. I'll be hunting the evening only as I need to move through the bean fields to get to it. We'll see if that idea holds!
Aug. 27 2010
Finally got the last of the stands for early season hung and prepped a few trees for the saddle as well. I had to give in to the mosquitos and just take the hits, I'm a little itchy right now!! Didn't stay to do any video but checked out some areas for sign and was very impressed by some areas. I have my opening day spot cut down to 2 areas, I wish I had those trail cameras. Honestly, I never needed them before and always did OK. 3 weeks to go baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Aug. 25 2010
Electronics have not been very friendly to me this year. Both trail cameras are down, one possibly caused by the large ant colony living inside of it, the other unknown. I will be doing more research into better cameras for possibly later in the season but for sure by next year. Oh well, you get what you pay for. I went cheap and that is what I got. Moving on.
Battling the mosquitos when placing stands has not been fun, 2 or 3 more to go. They will be set by this weekend. I'll be sitting in the evenings a couple of times in the next 2 weeks in an attempt to get some velvet footage to put on here and testing the true value of the Thermacell before the September 18 opener.
I haven't had a ton of updates as of yet but my goal is to get new media content up every week once the season starts. Obviously I won't be killing a deer every week but we do have the fall turkey season as well as just getting some cool photos and video to show.
I'm back on staff for Athens archery through 2011, the Accomplice 32 is shooting darts right now, can't wait to draw first blood with it. They are also coming out with some great new bows this year as well, hopefully I'll be able to add one to the arsenal.
Biggest news for last.... I will be heading to Quebec, Canada in June 2011 for the Athens Staff Shooter black bear hunt, to say I am excited is way understated. This is gonna be way cool!!!!!!!!!
July, 17 2010
First check of trail cams wasn't what I was hoping for, but it was only the first. I'll have photos to share next weekend, that is if I don't accidently delete them again.
8 weeks to go, earn-a-buck authorization in hand this year to start the season.
May 16, 2010
I have been shooting quite a few 3d shoots and am starting to get things figured out. I shot a 297 to finish 2nd in my class by 1 point in Janesville 2 weeks ago. In doing so I qualified for the MAC championships in August. Scored a 290 yesterday after a rough start on the first 3 I pulled it together and was very pleased how I finished. Results aren't in yet for that one. Just a few bad decisions away from breaking the 300+ platform, I expect that will come in the next few shoots. This 3d stuff is very addicting and I expect to be doing a lot more outdoor as well as indoor shoots in the future. Pop ups here I come!
March 29, 2010
The off season is officialy over. It's 3d time! I have shot in 3 outdoor shoots so far this year. Haven't done too bad considering I am a rookie this year. I'm still waiting to see results from Saturdays shoot. I am 3 for 3 on improving scores each time out. This time I shot a 269/336 8 x's. I probably lost about 15 to 20 points because I wasn't watching for branches and twigs on a few tight target sets, lesson learned.
I am getting excited to get the new Athens bow in hand, should be soon, and start using it for the upcoming tournaments. I plan on shooting the Midwest Archery Championship series and also going for their shooter of the year sub series.
Also, turkey season starts in about 2 weeks, come back for some good video of the hunts.
Dec. 20, 2009
The season is rapidly coming to a close. But I am dtermined to get something on film. I have 3 days of work next week then I will be off for the remainder of the season.
The deer are digging in the beans for food so I am planning on concentrating my efforts there. Saw a nice buck last night on my way out, hopefully I can get it done. I would still like to get more for the freezer so antlers or no I'll be shooting from here on out.
Nov. 19, 2009
I finally shot a doe on Nov. 1. She came to about six yards and about twenty feet below me, it was pretty exciting. I was starting to get a little bit stressed about not having a buck sticker so I didn't even attempt to film that day, I just wanted to get it done. So.... I went into my mini 4 day hunt with my EAB sticker. Unfortunately the weather didn't cooperate. It was very comfortable hunting but I just wasn't seeing a whole lot of buck movement in the 70 degree temps. I did see a few small bucks early in the am on Saturday and Monday, but that was it. After getting sick for my entire vacation last year and the warm weather keeping the bulk of the deer movement in the dark this year, the past two years have been very disappointing and incredibly frustrating to say the least. I'm really going to try to hit it hard this year in the late season and see if I can't yet get a nice buck on the ground. I've never really hunted much after Thanksgiving, but the thought of waiting another year is going to change that.
Wish me luck!
Oct. 14 2009
Not a whole lot to report. The last 10 days have seen much more deer movement, small bucks and does. I have had a few close encounters but no arrows have flown. I have added a new tool to my arsenal and put it to use last Friday. I am very excited about it... more info soon. Small bucks are really starting to get worked up as I have found quite a number of scrapes on the property. I'll be sitting tomorrow eve after work and again on Saturday, I'll have a special guest with me then and will have more video regardless of harvest success from Saturdays hunt. The older bucks will start moving a little more in the next week or so, hopefully action will pick up and I'll get some neat video to share.
Sept. 28, 2009
It has been very slow for me so far this year, granted, I haven't been placing myself in historically highly travelled areas of the farm. With this weather change I expect my luck to change as well. Temperatures are dropping into the 30's at night with highs in the 60's for the next few days. I'll be heading out tomorrow after work to set my ground blind and sit for the last hour or so, then again all day on Saturday. We'll see if I can't get it done in the next couple of days. I'm still not too sure how filming myself and hunting is going to work out but better to find out now than in early November.
Sept. 22, 2009
The rain has finely returned! I'm hoping this will get the deer movement going a little. They shouldn't have to travel as far for a drink anymore so I am expecting good things this weekend. I will be sitting Friday evening again this week. Unfortunately with a couple of prior obligations this will be my only time to hunt for the remainder of the month. But with October comes cooler temps and growing testosterone levels in our bucks, by the end of the month things will be crazy. It can't come soon enough. I am predicting that I will have some footage this coming weekend of a doe and possibly a turkey harvest so check back Sunday.
Sept. 7 2009
Less than one week to go until the opener. Luckily it's only a 4 day work week, it'll still be a long one.
The bow is dialed in and I've made the decision on my opening morning stand. I'll be hunting the old faithful location where I took a great buck a few years ago. I can't recall ever sitting in the tree and not seeing a deer within an hour or so of daylight. It is located on a good transition edge from thick cover to open woods about 30 yds into the woods from an alfalfa field. They should be coming from the thick stuff up to a ridge top to bed. Hopefully all goes as planned and a nice doe comes by as I need to "earn-a-buck" this year.