I want to clean up a bunch of questions that have been asked of me. Some have been recent; others go back a ways. Mostly, this is about ambushing, but there’s more. You keep talking about ambushing being good and stalking being bad. Why is that? Let me explain some … Continue reading →
In case you are not from Cincinnati, let me clue you in on Goetta. It is a German-inspired breakfast dish. Cincinnati and its general vicinity were settled by Germans in the early 19th Century. If you were to ask a modern German, they would have no clue what Goetta is. … Continue reading →
You know how you can keep pitching a topwater lure back in the lily pads and after enough casts that ol’ bass will suddenly explode?A couple minutes later you and that fish are looking eye-to-eye, Sometimes I have real empathy for the bass. This is one of those instances. Folks … Continue reading →
. . . and having said all that,  let me do a complete about-face. Do you want to know what made me a successful turkey hunter? It came down to exactly one principle: Become your own expert. I have been giving you an introduction to turkey hunting as best as … Continue reading →
I’ve talked about the kit. Now, I am going to put it all together and talk you through what to expect. First off, let me tell you what does not work. If you’re a beginner, you read a lot about master turkey hunter tactics like Run & Gun. Forget it. … Continue reading →
This is a continuation of the thread I started in the last post. Now that I’ve done a dump on the firearm-related stuff, here is what I think about calls, clothes and the rest of the gear  The CallsIf you’re a new guy to the sport, you’re going to … Continue reading →
I started to put this into my missive on what the NewGuy needed to know, and it became something bigger than I expected, so I am going to put it in its own post. If you are starting out turkey hunting, learn to be still. How still is still? For … Continue reading →
I wrote a piece back in the early fall giving advice to the New Guy at Deer Camp. At least one fellow, Remnar found it to be good stuff, so I figured I’d try and compose one for Turkey Camp.  In this first installment, I’ll deal with the shooting system … Continue reading →
I don’t know about you guys, but by Mid-May every year, I’ve lost the feeling. In the good years, it’s because I’ve filled all my tags, and I’ve got to start thinking about practical things like mowing the lawn. In the bad years, I reach a point where the season … Continue reading →
I used to buy the whole “They go nocturnal” thing. However, the more I have learned about deer, the less I buy it. Deer are not even close to us in how their bodies are set up. The have this fermentation process going on. They have to get up and … Continue reading →
I have exactly one day in the field with my new 7mm-08 Thompson Center Compass. I have one doe down. That does not qualify as a lot of experience. However, I’m sold on it.  7mm-08 has its problems, but none of it has to do with the cartridge or … Continue reading →
We lost Jay today. He had just gotten too old and sick to go on. It’s okay. He had a good run of things. He was 14. It was just time to go.In 2006 we got Jay through a Collie rescue agency.  I’d just nailed a doe at the farm … Continue reading →
We ran a broom up the mast and headed to port, closing off the 2020 deer season. New camp records: 8 deer went to the pole 4 bucks– 3 went 8 points Most deer from one blind: 5 from Midway — so much for the idea of hunting pressure! Largest … Continue reading →
This took place in suburban Fernwood, Ohio. My day job at the plant is about 200 yards from this neighborhood. My buddy at work saw this happen outside his living room window. He reported that the doe must have tripped over a plastic drain pipe. That was the noise he … Continue reading →
Angus managed another doe from Midway this afternoon. At 1615 ET, a herd of doe came out to feed in the Garden of Stone. Angus was poised at Midway with his Winchester 670 and closed the deal. This is the seventh deer taken at camp this year, and the fifth … Continue reading →
I was sitting at my desk with my last of my morning coffee when I heard 2 shots coming from the direction of Jagendehutte. I radioed out to SuperCore. asking if he needed assistance. No. He had this one in hand. A little later, he was up at the meatpole, … Continue reading →
The Second Sunday of KY Rifle Season dawned foggy and warm. Rain was expected before Noon. Both SuperCore and Angus went out; I stayed behind to pack. At 0752 ET, a herd of five doe wandered out into the Garden of Stone to feed. Angus sat inside Midway and watched … Continue reading →
It would seem Midway has become the lucky blind this year. #2 son, Moose came back out after several days away from camp. I gave him the key to Midway. We had all thought the action would be out in the Garden of Stone. However, at 0703 Moose saw a … Continue reading →
The Buckless Youper, Remnar, got his first deer this morning. I was back at the cabin putting the finishing touches on yesterday’s story when I heard a shot coming from the back of the property. At 0715 ET Remnar radioed in he had a doe down and needed assistance at … Continue reading →
The deer have been rather tentative in their movements the past couple of days, probably due to a great deal of wind. We have been seeing a few, but nothing that would afford us a shot. Yesterday, the wind moderated a bit and I gave Remnar the use of the … Continue reading →
This morning SuperCore went to Jagendehutte, Remnar went to Lazy Boy and I went back out for a sit at Midway. I did not have long to wait. At 0710, 20 minutes into legal hunting, a nice doe came out of Left Leg Creek and wandered out into the pasture … Continue reading →
SuperCore continued his record of Opening Day successes with a fat 8-pointer taken as he came out from behind Broken Corners and heading into Dead Skunk Hollow. SuperCore made a brilliant neck shot and brought the bruiser down about 120 yards from his vantage at Jagendehutte. I was out at … Continue reading →
As if the previous night and morning weren’t enough, the real business of getting ready for deer season had yet to begun. #3 son, Angus, showed up at lunchtime on Saturday and we went down the do-list in fairly rapid succession. Patch the roof on Jagendehutte Prep a stand site … Continue reading →
I’m writing this down so that I don’t lose the details. I wish I’d had the camera out this morning, but most of this stuff could have only been caught with a lot of planning and a solid tripod. It’s one of those things that . . .well, you just … Continue reading →
Early Muzzleloader Season has been a dry run for us– a dress rehearsal for the big show in November. This year was no exception. SuperCore, Angus, Moose, Mooselette and I went out Saturday morning with the express hope of not shooting anything, except perhaps a new camp record. Sunday, we … Continue reading →
