Finally

     What has been a pretty slow deer season did have a bright spot last Sunday, the last day of the first shotgun season. Here's the story of how I downed a pretty nice 11 point with my shotgun:

     Last Saturday morning, I was hunting on my father-in-law's ground near Middlegrove, IL. It's a unique piece of land because it used to be part of a strip mining operation years ago. There are several small, steep cuts throughout the property, as well as a creek and a few smaller ponds/lakes left over from the strip mining operation. I chose to sit at the top of a ridge, overlooking the creek bottom. At 7:30, I decided to leave my post and do a bit of glassing, following the ridgetop. The ground was wet, so I could move without making much noise. I had moved about 75 yards when I looked to my left and noticed a huge buck standing in some tall grass. It was a booner, no doubt. It was standing guard over a doe, keeping at least one other little buck at bay. I was able to quickly hunker down behind a 5 foot tall bank (created by past mining operations), and get a good look at him through my scope. Then I got out my range finder and pegged him at 100yds. In the prone position, peering over the top of this bank, I squeezed off a shot. Nothing. Not a shutter, not a mule kick, not even a spooked looked about him. I was hunting with a single shot shotgun, so I reached for another shell, but the doe took off running directly away from me with the buck in tow. I couldn't believe it. I did everything right- took a deep breath, let it out slow and gently squeezed the trigger on a broadside deer. I still don't know how I missed that buck. As soon as I got home on Saturday, I set up a gallon jug at 100 yards and shredded it. I guess it happens that way some times.

     Although I was dissapointed, I knew there would be a slim chance the two would be back in the same spot the following morning. When I was looking for blood after my shot, I noticed several beds in the grass.

     Sunday morning, I waited until it was light before I ventured into the woods. Deer often feed in an alfalfa field by the road and I didn't want to spook them by driving in too early. I pulled off the road, quickly dressed and headed to the same spot as the morning before.

     The ground was also wet on Sunday morning, which allowed me to slip in quietly. As I approached the same grassy hillside where I missed I booner the morning before, I noticed a nice 8 point up on the horizon. I quickly hunkered down and got out my range finder, ranging him at 175 yards. I knew it was too far for a shot, so I began to weigh my options. Do I try to put on a stalk? Or hope he comes my way? I decided to stay put and see which direction he would go. For a minute or two, he stood almost motionless, looking my direction. Finally, he started to walk towards me. I was quickly running different scenarios through my head about which shooting lanes I could use, and where to relocate if the buck followed a swail that would take him out of sight for a while.

     All of the sudden, a doe popped up about 50 yards away, directly in between me and the 8 point. There was a little strip mine cut that I never realized was even there. It was almost like she popped up right out of the ground. Once I saw her, I remembered the day before and figured I would see another deer (one with nice, big antlers) pop up out of the swail shortly. Sure enough, he came trotting out of the cut, following the doe. They were only 50 yards from me. I put my crosshairs behind his shoulder and pulled the trigger. He flinched and kept trotting after the doe. I thought I hit him, but reloaded in case I needed another shot. The doe spooked and took off up the hill toward the 8 point, but the buck stayed where he was. I put the cross hairs on him and pulled the trigger again. This time he dropped in his tracks. After approaching the downed deer, I got my first good look at his antlers. High and tight is a good way to describe them. He wasn't the booner I saw on Saturday, but he was a fine buck with lots of character to his rack.


     My theory is someone else shot the monster I saw on Saturday morning, and this buck was next in line. The same doe brought him to the same grassy hillside as her last suiter, and he also met his end because of her. That makes for a good story, but part of me hopes it was a totally different doe and that the booner is still alive. Who knows?

     I'm still quite happy with the buck I shot. I scored him at 143" gross and 138" net. The kicker is that his inside spread is only about 14 inches. A bit wider, and he easily would have been over 150. He dressed out at 160lbs, but as I was gutted and caped him, I noticed he hardly had any fat on him. He must have been running all over Fulton county looking for does.

     Lastly, I'm sorry about the pictures. I didn't have my digital camera on me when I shot the buck, so I had to take some sub-par stills with my video camera. Today, I got the cape out and snapped a few clearer pictures so you can see some of the character of this rack. Pretty Cool.

Elk Hunting 3rd Season Paonia ,CO

Edwin in Position for his shot.

Some friends of mine Edwin and Rand made their way to Paonia, Colorado and did a little elk hunting this past week during the 3rd Season.  They went to a place called ZX Ranch & Lodge which is a privately own elk hunting and trout fishing hot spot.  They stayed in a cabin with no TV, Internet, and the phone was one that only received calls not one you can call out on. The cabin was heated by wood so they said the mornings were cool as the fire had died down from the nights rest.  So they were roughing it. Sounds awesome!  They spent their nights playing cards and games and getting to know the other hunters at the ranch. 

Rand and Edwin

They both had cow tags and were both very successful as I hear as I talked to Edwin today and this is what he had to say, "Rand and I just finished the best time of our lives!! Rand and I both filled our Elk tags!! and spent the rest of the trip looking for bear. We were blessed, it was very magical."  Rand took his elk at 125 yds with his Remington 300 rifle and Edwin took his elk down with two shots one at 380 yds and then a second at 420 yds. Their guide was Josh Cranson  who is a very experience guide in Elk, Bear, and Trout, hunting and fishing along with years of experience as a white water guide.  All the hunters at the ranch during the time they were there were successful and harvested their elk.

Although they were not able to fulfill their bear tags this year do to the heavy snows they are planing a return trip next year for some more elk action and hopefully that bear mount.




Cow Elk in the back of the Polaris Rand took!

 For all you fathers out there looking for a great trip to take your sons and or daughters on this is the place to go and a Great place to have some good Father Daughter or Father Son bonding.


Beautiful Landscape

Another Great Pic of Father and Son.

On Saturday this past weekend my wife kids and I were invited over for the stories and to partake in the fruits of their trip.  Edwin is a master chef in my book and the meal was amazing!  We had elk loins and back straps marinated in red wine and a bunch of secret ingredients sauteed over a gas stove.   The juices from the loins and straps were turned into a gravy that was layed over the meat and his famous mashed potatoes.  There was also a green bean mix of onions and bacon and spices which was outstanding as well.  Definitely a meal I will remember.  

Another Great Spring Turkey Hunting!

Another Great Spring Turkey Hunt as I recall it! Well it all started with the 4 am alarm going off again and of course I got no sleep jumping at the bit to get out there and smoke a big gobbler.  I picked up my camera man and buddie Jordan at 4:30 am and we proceeded to the hunting grounds.  We arrived there around 4:45 am and started loading up our gear on our backs for our tip toe into the woods. The gun of choice for this hunt was a banelli 12 gauge Turkey gun.  First off I'll go back to the night before. Here I am packing my gear and it dawns on me I have no hunting license for the year so I took two of my three girls to Gander Mountain with me and bought some calls and a license.  Then took the girls to the property to do some hoot calling, to place the birds.  I got out to late and they didn't sound but I figured they'd have to be were they normally are so we headed home.  Getting back to the walk in we made it to our spot and got set up.  We were using the B-mobile Tom with a real fan from a turkey taken the previous year and a hen as decoys.  At around 5:45 am the first hen came in on the spread and was quite ticked as I was competing with her in the calling game.  After she walked around for a bit the jakes and a few toms came down following the hens. At this time we had around 25 birds on the spread working around clucking and gobbling and strutting their stuff.  We were not satisfied with the birds on the ground though cause we could still hear a bird gobbling in the trees behind us.  So I kept using my Tramp Stamp Glass Call by Flextone and proceeded to call this bird in. 

 He came crashing straight down out of the tree and strut gobbled all the way to us.  When he made it to about 15 feet to the spread I took him down.  One shot one kill again this year.  Funny thing though is my nose started bleeding like a faucet after the shot.  Don't know what happened there but we got er dried up and as you can see from the pic we took a nice mature Tom again this year.  Hope the rest of you turkey hunters had a great season as well!  Bird had a 10.75 in beard and 3/4 in spurs. I am having the bird mounted in memory of my buddy Jordan Schroeder. We miss you brother!

Almost Had Him

  Check out this buck I got on video on Veteran's Day.  When I first caught glimpse of this pair, he was breeding the doe.  I only got about 30 seconds of video because I was anxious to put on a stalk.  It took me more than an hour to close the distance from 275 yards to 45.  On the way, I spooked another doe and a coyote.  The breeding pair was bedded on a low flat next to a strip mine lake.  It was a blind stalk, but the wind was perfect and I was as quiet as a church mouse.  Once I got to the top of the little hill next to them, I saw the doe, but not the buck.  I backed down my side of the hill, moved to my right about 5 yards, then inched back up to the top.  This time, the doe was standing.  She never saw me, and know she didn't smell me, but she knew something wasn't right.  Maybe the grass didn't sound right, I don't know...  Then the buck got up a moment later.  Before I could draw back, he took a few steps and went behind some brush.  They sauntered off, away from the unknown danger...

   I had such a sinking feeling.  If that doe would have held tight for another minute, I know I'd have got a shot at that big boy.  To make matters worse, I did a little more looking around after the fact and found a much easier, faster path to take my stalk.  It would have got me within 60 yards within 20 minutes.  Oh well.  I'll know to take the express route next time I see a wall hanger bedded out in the middle of the brush.

Precision Hunting Over Food Plots

      

      What would you do if you knew exactly when deer would be feeding in your foodplot?  The obvious answer is HUNT IT!  Here's a tip for your next food plot that will help you hunt it when it's hot-turnips.  Deer will browse in a turnip plot as it grows, but when the temperature drops below freezing, causing sugar to move from the roots to the leaves, it essentially becomes deer candy.  It will be a preferred food, and you can bet the deer will be hammering it.

TURNIPS

    This can be convenient for shotgun hunters (at least in central Illinois), because the weather usually turns these plants into deer candy in the week or two leading up to the first shotgun season.  The pictures here are from a few of our 1/4 acre test plots.  As you can see, they are growing quite nicely.  We've only had one or two nights below freezing, so the plots are still intact.  We'll get some more pictures up after several frosts and show you how much the deer like them.

                               

MAXIMUM

    In a cooler climate, turnips are a great option for archers.  Find a secluded location or a natural travel corridor, plant two food plots a few hundred yards away from each other, and set a stand up between them.  Then sit back and wait until it starts to freeze at night.  In areas where freezing temperatures often coincide with the rut, turnips are dynamite.  When bucks start searching for does, they will usually take the easiest route from one feeding area to the next.  That's where your stand should be.  The key is making your plots the right distance apart.  You want them close enough that a searching buck will naturally move from one to the other, but far enough apart that you can reach your stand without spooking any deer that are feeding in the plots.

We carry a full line of food plot seeds, including Biologic Maximum Brasicus and Turnips. Check out the following link: http://www.biologicfoodplotseed.com/MAXIMUM.html for more information.

Youth Shotgun Food Plot Hunt 2010

Well the youth season this year was October 9th and 10th and I took a few young friends out for their very first  hunt. Those hunting with me during the youth hunt were Rand and Mattie along with their father Edwin. I have gotten to know the three of them really well this past year as I have been out and about their property prepping and planting food plots for the 2010 deer season. We started off the year with tractor work and field preparation, after we created a fine seedbed we planted Biologic Clover Plus which due to the heavy rains of the early spring this year washed the clovers out. So we regrouped and came up with a dynamite plan of Buck forage oats, turnips and rape. These are very durable and great for the cooler temperatures and will still be great for the later shotgun seasons as well. We also made a small ¼ acre sunflower plot which filled in beautifully and was a great source of food for rare and common birds. The doves loved them as did the deer early.

                              

   

Any way back to the hunt, we met up mid September to do some practicing as it is always important to make sure your equipment is functioning properly. I brought some deer targets along and we put them out on the food plots in different positions to practice taking shots. Gun choice for the hunt were HR single shot 12 gauge shotguns with Nikon 9x40 scopes “Mini Cannons”, as I like to call them. We teamed the guns up with the Hornady 12 gage shells, which are incredible shells and as the Marines say “one shot one kill” that’s what these shells deliver. After Mattie and Rand shot through a box or two of shells we checked out the targets and came to the conclusion that Mattie’s grouping was the better of the two, but both were very successful and no deer could stand a chance with these two behind a gun.

                                            

Well the morning of the hunt I found myself arriving at the hunting grounds a little before 6:00 am, and the hunters were ready. So we headed down to the blind (Texas Hunter 4x8 by 10 ft high) which is positioned nicely on the plots we have established. So it’s an hour before light and it’s pretty quiet in the blind as the kids are nodding, until the lights came on that morning I spotted deer in the woods across the field. So I nudged the kids and said, “We have movement, get ready!” That sure perked the two up. I glassed the deer for awhile as they held tight to the woods but eventually they did as expected and made their way to the plot. They came out on the rape and turnips and were munching away when Rand brought his HR 12 gauge into position and took the shot. POW! The brown was down. What a shot the deer just dropped straight to the ground. Rand had taken his first deer, what an experience! I believe this kid is going to be hooked for life. Well we got down tagged the deer and phoned him in and headed back to the house, from there we taught the kids the proper way to field dress and of course Rand's father made him take a bite of the heart of his first kill. After proper photos and showing off we then processed the deer for dinner that night. Their father Edwin is a "Master of the Grill" and boy did those back straps and loins taste delicious! Secret spice and draped in bacon was the choice for seasoning. I think we ate about the whole deer by the time we were done it was amazing! Thanks again you three for an exciting hunt and adventure, look forward to establishing more plots around the property and getting Rand into bow hunting here in the future. What an experience and a great way to spend my 30th Birthday!

Rands first Deer!

Field dressing!

Rand following up Tradition!

Proscessing!

Things Are Beginning To Heat Up

    Check out this buck shot near Yates City, IL on Saturday morning.  It was shot about 15 minutes from my hunting ground.  After a slow and disappointing Saturday morning, this picture found it's way to my hands and that was all the motivation I needed to get in an afternoon hunt.

    This buck has a good story to go with it.  For a few years, an old friend had been telling Kenny Albaugh that he was welcome to hunt on his property.  This year Kenny finally decided to take him up on it.  Good choice.  He shot the buck at first light, only knowing it was a decent buck.  He thought was a nice 2 year old deer.  The tracking job was a challenge, so my wife's cousin J.R. helped him take up the track later that morning.  They split up and my wife's cousin ended up finding the buck.  Before Kenny could get there, J.R. threw a jacket over the buck's head.  When Kenny got close enough, J.R. took the jacket off and Kenny couldn't believe his eyes!  He had no idea how nice the buck really was!

   We've been hearing a few stories over the weekend of bucks (mostly little ones) with noses to the ground, but it seems like the seeking phase of the rut hasn't hit full swing yet.  Hopefully the action will really start to pick up this next week.  The only downside is the weather.  The forecast calls for upper 60's for the next 3-4 days-not exactly ideal for the whitetail rut.

You 're Wondering if Food Plots Really Work?

For all those out there that wonder if Food Plots realy work, check out these camera pictures.  This field was a plot in Peoria county, IL.  from the 2008 season.  If you want to see deer like this on your favorite hunting grounds, be sure to contact: huntplots@yahoo.com  for your all your Food Ploting needs.  HUNTPLOTS INC. specializes in food plot planting and land management.  We offer pH testing and to find out the importance of pH, click on the link.  We can partner with you to improve your hunting grounds.  We also offer equipment to aid in harvesting these magnificent animals.  Stay with us as we grow test plots this spring and fall and record the results.                                                    

These Deer are the size they are due to the Nutrients in the different blends of food plot products that were grown.  As a Peoria, Illinois authorized dealer of Biologic products, we at HuntPlots offer an Elite seed source of food plot products for deer, turkey, upland game, and waterfowl.  Please contact us with any questions you may have regarding food plotting or land management.

In the summer it is very common to find bucks in these bachelor groups.  You can sometimes see 10 or more bucks feeding in the same field together.  This is usually when they are in velvet.  Once the velvet starts coming off, they start to break out of their bachelor groups and fight for dominance.  They start with light sparring, but it leads to all-out battles when the rut starts to near. 

Many hunters become frustrated because they see the same big deer coming out into the same fields all summer long, but once bow season comes around, they abandon these patterns.  Again, a better way to better your odds of keeping the big boys from leaving your hunting properties for your neighbors is to have a substantial and well managed food plot in place.

For food plotting visit us at HUNTPLOTS.COM and let us help you pursue the hunt that never ends!

It's That Time Of Year Again!

  To most people, October 31st means Halloween.  For bow hunters like myself, it means the beginning of the best two weeks to be in the woods.  Sitting in my treestand yesterday afternoon, my thoughts kept bouncing between this buck I got on my trail camera, and the upcoming rut.  Neither could get here fast enough!

  I hadn't seen anything but squirrels and birds since 3:00pm, so at 5:45 I decided to "tickle the horns" with my Knight and Hale Rack Pack.  Sometimes I think a lot of the new hunting gadgets are useless, but I like the Rack Pack's design, so I decided to buy one.  I think it sounds just as good, if not better, than rattling bags or those fake rattling antlers. 
  No angry bucks came running in, looking for a fight after the rattling sequence, but I did catch some movement off to my right about 10 minutes later.  It was a doe cautiously exiting her bedding area, ready to work her way to her evening feeding area.  She kept staring my way as she came a little closer-she had definitely heard my rattling sequence and was looking for the source of the commotion.  After a few minutes, she fed up a hill going away from me.  Just after I lost sight of her, I caught movement to my left.  A quick look through my binos revealed a buck coming my way.  He was only a little six point, but he was also looking around for what he had heard 15 minutes earlier.  He ended up walking within 20 yards of my tree, but he wasn't the buck I was looking for.

 
  So I didn't rattle in a monster with my Rack Pack, but I'm pretty sure it'll be realistic enough to do so-if the reactions of these two deer were any indication.  I've seen these Rack Packs at several different sporting goods stores, usually priced around $20.  http://www.knightandhale.com/productdetail.aspx?id=KH1019

  Check back over the next few weeks.  We've got a lot of good friends and relatives who will be in the woods, and I'm betting we'll have at least one or two good buck stories to tell.  Good luck to all the whitetail chasers out there.