Deer Hunting
The ritual of Fall has begun.
The bug finally hit last night. All of a sudden, the scene changed. It came with the 10 degree drop in temperature, the accumulating leaves in the yard, the smell of my old leather shooting glove as I brought it out of the case. It was time to bow hunt, and I could no longer wait. I had been practicing for quite a while, but it had not seemed real. It was something too far off in the future to get worked up about. I grabbed some arrows and grandpa’s old watering can and stepped off the twenty yards, set … More . . .
The Optimal Whitetail Load
How do you know if you have an optimized whitetail load? That question is simple to answer: take it out in the woods, point it at deer and touch it off. If, in the next few seconds, you transform a graceful, warm, vital deer into a slowly cooling pile of venison, I think it is safe to conclude that you have an optimal load. Okay, I’m a smart-a$$. There is something I have noticed as I ever so slowly mature as a deer hunter and a reloader. There are an infinite number of mental bunny holes and most of them … More . . .
Blood Trail Philosophy — Push or Wait?
I was reading the November 2004 issue of Deer and Deer Hunting Magazine over lunch. There was a big article on the “5 Critical Mistakes of Blood Trailing.” It all boiled down to this: Let the deer lie down and die. Don’t push. I remember 10 years ago this magazine was saying the exact opposite: trail the deer immediately. Of all the deer I’ve shot and arrowed, I can only think of two that needed any special treatment. In all the other cases, I’ve could have walked to the deer and tag it immediately. However, I followed the old sage … More . . .
Aching with Anticipation
I had one stand that still needed some work this past weekend. It is my current best stand. While I was sprucing it up in early July, I noticed a missing bolt. One thing lead to another, and I haven’t been back out. There is plenty of sign at several of my prime stands, including this one. I just got pre-occupied with family reunions and such this summer and let things slip away. Now, there it was, 3 weeks into KY Bow Season, and it was still not done. I found the bolt, and a camo blind that goes around … More . . .
On Rifle Selection
There was a time in my life when one deer rifle was all it took. Now I have a safe full of them, and I cannot seem to ever be totally satisfied. Do I need another deer rifle? No. Do I want another? Always. What I’ve found that I really enjoy is the adventure of putting a new rifle into action. I like the process of acquiring a long gun, mounting a scope, building a good load and then proving it in the field. That has turned my deer hunting into an expensive hobby, where it should not have been. … More . . .
More On (MORON ?) Funnels and Signs
A lot of guys have responded to my piece yesterday about funnels and signs. In general, all I can say is that I think all you guys are barking up the wrong tree. It’s all in the salt. You and the state have it all wrong– deer can’t read. Deer don’t need a sign to tell them there’s salt. All you have to do is put out a big enough pile– more salt, bigger deer. It’s all silly anyway. They make these big yellow signs for the deer to see, but then they tell us deer can’t see color and … More . . .
Shamanic Guide — More on Funnels (serious like)
Now you know, after that last post, there’s going to be some city slicker treehugger type that’s going to find this weblog and have an absolute conniption. Oh well. Some folks just don’t get the joke, do they? Then there’s the fellow (bless his heart) that’s going to take this all gospel and go out to Wally World tonight to get himself a nice shiny funnel, and a box of Morton’s. I think it was Ray Knight that told me once that he’d come up with an idea for turkey hunting. He’d been hunting along the Ohio River, and heard … More . . .
Funnels and Deer Signs
When I was learning how to hunt deer, they always told me to look for sign and hunt the funnels. Deer signs were easy. They were big and yellow and they had a picture of a deer on them. In some places, the deer were shown just standing. In other places, the deer were leaping. You wanted to hunt the ones with the walking deer; they were easier to shoot. If you were lucky, you found one with a few big slug holes in it. That meant somebody had hunted that sign successfully. You wanted a fresh sign too– one … More . . .
Shamanic Guide: Why the poopy loads?
I loaded up a bunch of .308 Win for the Savage 99 yesterday. They’re light as 308’s go, they’re more like a hot 300 Savage. Why? Why not load these puppies up to the max? Why not hunt with a 300 WSSSSM or a SAUUUUUM? Why? Why go to all that bother? Whitetail dear are not that hard to kill. The fact of the matter is that if you stay away from pushing the envelope, you do not have to worry as much about: 1) Recoil. It’s amazing what a 5% or 8% reduction from the maximum load does to … More . . .
Shamanic Guide: Some Basic Misconceptions
Before we go further with this beginner’s guide, please let me disabuse you of some of the common misconceptions held among deer hunters: 1) You cannot hunt just anywhere. 2) Always obey all the rules. The game warden can come on private land and arrest you 3) Hunter Ed is not for kids. If you have not taken it, do so. 4) Forget gimmicks. There is no magic recipe for bagging a deer 5) Most of what you hear from old-timers is wrong 6) Camo is not a replacement for being a good hunter; A scent suit is not a … More . . .
In Praise of Ponchos
Some hunters I know sound like girls from my Mom’s generation waiting for the Paris fashion shows. They blow big bucks when the new fall styles come out– tree bark is out . 3D Sticks and mud are in. Goretex? That’s so last year, Man. I can’t say I was ever poor, but I have had little discretionary income to spend on hunting. My first hunting bow was bought used and I hunted with it for over ten years. I don’t spend a lot on hunting clothes. I still have a lot of clothes to hunt with however. Back at … More . . .
Shamanic Guide to Whitetail Deer Hunting
I got up early this morning and something got me to thinking of my first deer season. This was not exactly a memory to be proud of. While I sat with my first cup of coffee, I got to thinking how goofy things were those first few seasons. Despite honestly trying to learn all that I could and devoting an incredible amount of effort, I could never quite get the hang of it all. Those hunts are now treasured failures. Besides getting a laugh out it, I resolved that I would try and spend some effort in trying to pass … More . . .
Scent Reduction
The first batch of clothes is out of the washer and out on the line. The timing was a bit off– it’s supposed to rain tonight and there’s rain in the forecast until Thursday. However, I don’t think I’ll have too much of a problem. Although I agree with those who say hunt the wind, and you won’t need anything else, here’s what I do additionally to cheat: 1) I wash all my clothes in nothing but baking soda. Nothing. Ever. When I’m washing, I run the washer once with nothing but baking soda to clean out whatever stink has … More . . .
How still is still?
They always tell you to be as still as you can when you hunt. How still is still? Hmmm. I’ve been so still at times that a squirrel once climbed up my leg. On the other hand, I’ve taken a buck from the ground at 10 feet with a bow, while his sister stood and watched me draw from 3 feet away. I shot my first deer after standing up in plain sight to take a whizz, but I’ve also been busted sitting in a 25′ tree stand with a stiff wind blowing in my favor. It has a lot … More . . .
More thoughts on the Opener
So here is what I want to know: the low body count in September—is it me or is it the deer? More precisely, is it the lack of hunters or a problem with deer behavior that causes September’s low take? If I am any example, it’s mighty hard to get things going in September. Cold is a lot easier to deal with than heat (my hats off to you guys down South). On the other hand, it’s hard to see deer in September. You see lots of sign, but no Bambi. When you have a whole county of prime whitetail … More . . .
Thoughts on the Opener
So here it is, two days to the season opener for archery in Kentucky. I haven’t got my gear prepped. I’m still not practicing with my bow the way I should be. I’m just not into it yet. I’m getting away this weekend for some hiking and to visit some in-laws. Why? For years, I hunted only Ohio, and the opening of bow season was and is the first weekend in October. That is what I lived for. That is what drove me. That is what still drives me. Like the bucks, my neck does not swell until the leaves … More . . .
My Confession.
I am a cervid serial killer. I plot and plan my next victim all Winter long. I stalk them thoughout the Summer. Just seeing them gives me a thrill. Then, when the Fall comes, I go out and shoot them. I disembowel my victims. I take trophies, I feast on their flesh. I take pictures and hang them on my wall, to help remind me of my past episodes. When I can, I get together with like-minded cervid serial killers, and we boast of our past episodes and plot and plan future forays. I frequent websites and chatrooms that service … More . . .
Rude, Rusty Surpises in your Smokepole.
A lot of smokepole people have been getting rude surprises after switching to plastic sabots. The sabot has been leaving a plastic residue. The residue is promoting rust. The best thing I’ve found for plastic residue removal is Ed’s Red. It’s basically equal parts kerosene, automatic transmission fluid, acetone, and mineral spirits. This works good on just about any barrel, but it is especially good on shotgun and muzzleloader barrels with plastic residue. The recipe is everywhere on the web, I think the best page for discussion of Ed’s Red is Fr. Frog’s web pages. If you’re interested, and can’t … More . . .
What is my "goto" gun for Deer?
Somebody over at 24hourcampfire was asking the question: What is your goto gun for deer? Mine? I’ve been stretching my horizons over the past few years, experimenting with different pieces. I hunt both sides of the Ohio River; Ohio is a shotgun-only state and Kentucky is pretty wide-open for rifle restrictions. If I had to pick a rifle for a 200-yard shot, it’d be the Winchester bolt in 30-06. If I was going to one of my stands in KY, it would be the Savage 99 in 308. My back-up gun for most trips to KY is the Remington 742 … More . . .
A Newbies Plea for Help
From jackel235 over on kentuckyhunting.com: Help WITH GETTING FIRST DEER ——————————————————————————– Hi all i new to the forms Well my problem is i been hunting 2 years now and still have not got a deer I love to eat it and only way to eat it is to kill it well thats the problem i don’t know what i ‘m suppose to look for in woods for a good spot no clear spots all hills and woods. I don’t know when i am in a good spot for 5 days i hunted the same spot and no deer ever man … More . . .
In praise of Slugs
I am forever surprising folks when I say that if I intend on hunting from one of my bow stands, my ultimate preferred venison machine is a Remington 1100 in 12 GA with cheap 2 3/4 Reminginton Sluggers. Inside 75 yards, there is no need for anything else. If I want a bit more range, I’ve now got a Mossberg 500 with a rifled barrel and I shoot either Brenneke 3inchers or Remington Copper Solids. The latter go through the same hole at 50 yards, but the 1100 is what I started with 20 years ago, and I know I … More . . .
How smart are Deer?
How smart are deer? Deer can do a pretty good job of figuring out the big things in life, like where to go find food, water, shelter. They know the difference between a predator that wants to eat them and one that does not. I frequently stop the car and roll down the window and talk to deer beside the road. They just stand and watch me. This is different from turkeys, which will flee from a human at 500 yards. Little things escape them. I had a doe wind me the other day. It was one of those 20-30 … More . . .
Shamanic Guide: Take no load for granted
Never take a load for granted. This weekend was proof of that. I had two rifles out this weekend. These were slam-dunk no-brainers, that I had been putting off in lieu of some tougher loading projects. The fault was mine—these were problems I should have been discovering in June, not September. The first was the Savage 99 in 308 Win. It’s the one I’ve been talking about recently. The other was the Marlin 30-30. See Ode to a 30-30 I thought it was going to be a quick exercise. Fire a few rounds out of each, prove the rifles were … More . . .
Shamanic Guide — Scent Elimination
Baking soda. I get a 50 lb bag. It lasts me a couple of years. I take all my hunting clothes and wash them in baking soda. It does a passable job on dirt, and a fantastic job on scent. It’s also cheap. First I run the washer empty to get rid of all the scent left in the tub. I then wash all my thermal shirts, jeans– all the stuff that might come in contact with my body first. After a full cycle with two handfuls of baking soda, I run a rinse with a handful of soda. I … More . . .
Do you need Premium Bullets?
I’ve killed 250 lb deer and I’ve seen 300 lb deer killed in the Greater Ohio Valley within 100 miles of Cincinnati. None required a premium bullet. The are awesome to look at, but that size difference is deceiving. You have to remember that the key dimension in a deer in this discussion is the width of the chest. That dimension changes very little as the weight changes. The girth of a 157 pounder and a 340 pounder differs by only 10 inches. That’s using the chart over at whitetail.com. Assume that’s a circle and use trig to figure out … More . . .
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