Whitetail Wizard

Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Pick Your Arrow: Aluminum, Carbon Or Wood

I’ll admit I resist change. Easton aluminum XX-75 or XX-78 were my arrow shafts of choice. They shot well, and they carried a sharp broadhead that would kill game if properly placed.

In fact, I was against carbon arrows. The early ones left something to be desired, and I resisted them every step of the way. All the arguments—too skinny an arrow, they break and shatter inside an animal, and many more—were ready whenever anyone wanted to debate the issue of aluminum versus carbon.

It took several years for me to decide that arrow-making technology had entered the 21st Century. I shot them at the archery shop, found they flew extremely well and stood up to constant shooting.

Besides, my arguing in favor of aluminum shafts was costing me sales. At the time I didn’t stock carbon shafts, didn’t even want them in the store. I was difficult to talk to about this issue until friends pointed me in the right direction of quality carbon arrows.

One of my friends had told me, back in 2000, that carbon arrows would revolutionize the arrow industry. He said at that time sales were still about 50-50 aluminum-carbon, but carbon was taking new ground every year. By 2004, it was estimated by many archery shop owners that carbon shafts were now out-selling aluminum. The ratio then was about 75 percent carbon over about 25 percent aluminum.

The archery business has changed dramatically. In my shop, where aluminum shafts reigned supreme for many years, the ratio is about 65-35 or 60-40 with carbon in the lead.

Carbon arrows are straight. They have a plus-minus tolerance of less than half of one percent, and in some cases, the tolerance levels are even tighter.

Many companies now make carbon shafts, and an article done a year or so ago by Archery Business, found that carbon arrow were more perfectly formed, more precise, and in most cases, stronger than aluminum arrows.

They have taken this step even farther by declaring that Eastman Outdoor shafts, like their Maxima, has the tightest tolerances in the industry. To be named as the No. 1 producer of quality carbon arrow shafts is a pretty lofty accomplishment.

What does tighter tolerances do for the hunter? It makes them an even better hunter. It means the bow hunter who invests in quality arrows can, with continuous training, become an even better shot than before.

Many of the carbon arrow companies have stepped away from the skinny, small diameter shafts, and began producing carbon shafts equal in diameter to aluminum arrows. Is this a good thing?

Of course it is. It increases the downrange energy of the arrow shaft, and allows the arrow to hit with greater force. Precision controlled construction of carbon shafts is vitally important. The tighter tolerances of these arrow shafts allow the arrow to fly straighter, hit with greater force, and maintain an increased amount of downrange energy.

This means that with a properly tuned bow, and a good release and quality arrow rest, bow hunters now have the ability to shoot much straighter than ever before. A man that I sold a new Black Eagle to last year had recently switched from a recurve bow and wood arrows because of shoulder problems from an auto accident.

His switch was more of a mental than a physical problem. Once he got past the fact that he was shooting a quality compound bow rather than a quality recurve bow, he began shooting nocks off his target arrows. He griped a bit about having to replace the nocks, but secretly, he was shooting far more accurately than at any other time in his bow hunting career.

The best arrow in the world won’t help someone who has a way-out-of-tune bow. If the hunter finds it impossible to tune his own bow, take it to a profession at a good archery shop. Properly tuned arrows cut a perfect hole when shot through paper. An out-of-tune bow will rip the paper high, low, left or right, and this affects downrange accuracy.

This year, if you are looking to become a deadly shot, choose a good bow, have it tuned with carbon arrows, and you’ll increase arrow speed which also helps increase downrange accuracy. Tune that bow with quality arrows, and learn to shoot it.

A well-tuned bow, with quality carbon shafts, a good rest, and a broadhead suited for that shaft, will make any hunter a better shot if they practice. Take it from a guy who fought the battle for aluminum. Carbon arrows are great, are getting even better and are here to stay. â??â?? The Whitetail Wizard

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

3-D Target Shooting Great Practice

There has been a 3-D practice course on my land for several years. In the past we’ve opened it up on weekends to the public, and may do so again this year.

We have about 20 targets spaced throughout the woods. Some are located downhill and a long shot away. Others are 15-20 yards, and most of them have brush, trees or other types of cover between the shooter and the target.

A few of them are easy, and most represent no problem for someone who is familiar with their bow and accustomed to judging distances. Many are placed in such a fashion that distance is difficult to determine.

Some are placed where the shooter must launch an arrow under overhanging limbs from a designated location. Hunters don’t get to choose their shots, and must take them as they come. One can always pass on a very difficult shot, but at the end of the course, you’ll have fewer points than everyone else.

Why would anyone want to shoot 3-D target course? For one very good reason. It helps make a hunter more familiar with their bow, allows them to more accurately judge the distance, and enables the shooter to practice aiming and shooting under simulated hunting conditions.

We have some large targets and some small ones. A huge standing bear was our first target for years. Shooters stood atop a hill, and shot at the bruin target. They had to shoot under a limb, and some people had to kneel to get an arrow high enough to impact in the vitals.

Coyote and javelina targets were among the smallest although a turkey target can be a difficult shot at fairly close range. Some shots require threading the needle through brush.

The bear, deer and elk targets are most popular, and that is because they are replicas of game that hunters target in this and other states.

The hunter can take his/her time, but there usually are other shooters on the course. The key thing is to toe up to the marker, judge the distance as quickly as possible, come to full draw, aim and shoot.

It sounds easy, and within reason, it is easy. However, the targets are sprinkled here and there around the woods. For every easy target, there are three or four more difficult targets.

Many people say “I can’t shoot that target because it’s too tough or I may lose my arrow.” So what? Shooting often enough to be able to accurately gauge the distance and know where to hold is a major part of what hunting is all about. No one encourages people to take hard shots at deer; in fact, the reverse is true.

We caution people to wait for the perfect shot. In 3-D shooting, it is a means of learning to shoot accurately, and it is a game. Points are given for fatal shots, near-fatal shots, and no points are given for bad shots. The emphasis is always on making a good hit.

I usually shoot the course once or twice a week even though I shoot every day at the archery shop. Shooting is the key to making an accurate shot, and it is the difference between a quick, clean kill that all hunters should strive for, and a bad hit that requires hours of trailing.

Any opportunity to shoot should be taken. Taking a dozen shots every day is much better than taking 100 shots in one day. The first option is enough to keep your muscles tuned up, and the latter method is guaranteed to give you sore muscles.

My 3-D course, or one by any other group or individual, is fun to do. It offers good healthy exercise, and a chance to greatly improve your accuracy. Anything that will make you a better shot when a buck walks out in front of you is a good thing. â??â?? The Whitetail Wizard

Monday, May 29, 2006

Actions And Reactions

Someone once came up with the theory, which seems to play out well with whitetail deer, that states “for every action, there is an opposite reaction.”

This bow hunting business is filled with many such situations. The hunter takes an ill-advised shot at a buck, misses, and there is an action and reaction. You shoot and miss, and the deer runs off.

This action and reaction thing plays out every day in the deer woods. A hunter sets up upwind of where the deer will travel, and along comes a buck, smells the hunter waiting to ambush him, and the deer wheels around takes a powder. Action and reaction.

A hunter sitting 20 feet up a tree, moves when a buck is 100 yards away and still out of sight, and the deer spots hunter movement and heads in a different direction. Action and reaction. Case and effect.

It’s unfortunate that many hunters fail to heed the good advice of credible bow hunters. They seem to think they are invisible because they are dressed in camo clothing. If the camo is well-worn, and washed once or twice a week in a detergent with whitening agents, guess what? The deer will spot that hunter even easier than one that only moves. The worn-out camo is an easy tip-off.

Hunters believe they are quiet and motionless. They would do well to have a buddy sitting 50 yards away with a video camera taping the hunt. Don’t believe all the whispering and hand movements seen on hunting videos. These “cut-aways” were filmed at some other time, and spliced into the footage. Several things that television hunters are good at is remaining motionless when deer approach, being silent, and for the most part, being accurate shots.

The television business is a tough nut to crack. The competition for advertising dollars is fierce, and manufacturers are going with those people who can demonstrate their ability to get the job done while promoting their products. Hunters who make noise, move too much or can’t kill a deer aren’t picked up the next season. They usually get only one chance in that business.

Action and reaction. Almost everything you do while bow hunting involves these two things. Fail to use a safety harness when leaning out to shoot a buck moving slowly by, and fall from the stand, and you’ll be on the receiving end of a hard object lesson about action and reaction.

Fail to check all tree stands or permanent blind stands carefully, and something happens, you need not think too hard to know the answer to that one.

Watch deer come into a favorite green field to feed night after night, and the next day perhaps just a few days before the season opens, you slide in and hang a stand. A bit of clanging and banging, more human scent drifting around than normal, and it’s a good chance that when the bow season opens and you crawl up into that stand for your first hunt, nothing will show up. The deer picked up human scent, spotted you moving into the area, and heard the noise of erecting the stand.

Again, it’s a matter of cause and effect. Action and reaction.

Hunters would be well served to keep this thought in mind whenever they do anything in the deer woods. For every possible action, there is a possible reaction. Sometimes those actions aren’t what you expect.

The trick is to do all necessary things long before the season opens, and give the animals time to forget the sounds of a tree stand being erected, a ground blind being placed in a new location. Deer are alert to changes within their habitat, and when a change occurs, deer soon figure out what is wrong and make any necessary adjustment to their schedules or travel patterns.

Deer live in the fields, swamps and woods year ‘round. You and I live there a few hours each day or week during hunting season. Give deer the credit they deserve for being instinctively savvy about change.

Think of it this way. The head of your bed has always faced to the north, east, south or west. It it has always faced north, and you walk into the bedroom to lay down, and the bed is facing east, you’ll notice it automatically. Deer also notice changes in their living area.

If change is needed, make it long before the season opener. Give deer plenty of time to get accustomed to the change. Think out each move and action before making it, and always remember: for every action taken in the deer woods, there will be an opposite reaction.

Think out all changes in advance, and be prepared for a reaction. Trust me, it will come. â??â?? The Whitetail Wizard

Sunday, May 28, 2006

How Much Wind Is Too Much?

The first thing that hunters should learn is this basic fact of life as it pertains to hunting. The wind is your enemy.

Anything that we hunt, with the except of birds and fish, depend on their nose to keep them out of danger. They often have well developed senses of hearing and sight, but their sniffer is what allows hunters to be winded.

Many hunters, including some that should know better, complain about cigarette smoke. I no longer smoke, and quit years ago, but I can’t remember how many times I put down a lit cigarette to shoot a buck.

Think of it this way. It wasn’t the cigarette smoke that spooks the deer. It was one of two other things: hand movement of lifting a smoke to mouth or back down, or the deer picks up your scent. Deer smell smoke often during fall and winter months as people stoke up their fireplaces or burn leaves and brush.

Smoke is a common odor in the woods. Does anyone honestly believe a deer can tell the difference between cigarette smoke, wood smoke, or the smoke from burning leaves?

My buddy, outdoor writer Dave Richey < [url=http://www.daverichey.com]http://www.daverichey.com[/url] > used to hunt bears every year. He also used to smoke but has given up the habit as well. He told me once that he was in the process of taking a drag when a bear would walk within range of his bow, muzzleloader and centerfire rifle, and he set the cigarette aside to shoot the animal.

This is not, I repeat, is not an endorsement for smoking. It is a nasty habit, and one worth quitting. But between Dave and I, on bears and deer, we killed a good many animals while smoking.

The wind is the hunters worst enemy. It can cause all sorts of things to happen, but hunters who don’t pay attention to the wind, are not going to shoot very much game.

The wind can swirl, changes directions, flow in the direct opposite direction if it encounters a solid wood line. It can bend back on itself, and carry your scent to an animal supposedly directly upwind.

Too much wind is never a good thing. Deer are, by their very nature, timid and easily scared animals. They operate on the cutting edge of near-hysteria at all times, and seem to be wired whenever moving. A bird flying overhead has often sent a buck into startled flight.

So, how much wind is too much wind? It’s a good question, and certainly most difficult to answer because so many variables exist while bow hunting.

A strong breeze gusting to 20 miles-per-hour is too much. A breeze that swirls and gusts from 15-20 miles-per-hours while changing directions is too much wind. Obvious, a wind that blows so hard that it makes the tree sway, and the hunter fear for his safety even while wearing a safety harness, is far too much wind.

Personally, I like a soft breeze. Certainly a breeze of five miles-per-hour is very huntable, and a 10 miles-per-hour breeze is pushing the envelop a bit.

Here is what I like. A soft and gentle breeze that ebbs and flows a bit rather than a continual breeze. Enough wind to lightly ruffle the leaves on a tree or to make marsh grass move a bit is just fine. The deer, if they are nose-into-the-wind can scent anything upwind of them.

The soft breeze causes leaves and weeds to move slightly. A deer, moving slowly, can cope with the soft whispers of wind. Deer seem comfortable working the wind for sign of danger, and they can stop and go and check ahead for danger.

The option that I dislike is the absolutely still evenings when no breeze can be felt. If the woods are dry, and it sounds like deer walking on dried-out corn flakes, it usually isn’t a good hunting night.

Some hunters hunt when they can while others only hunt when the conditions are perfect. For most of us, a perfect night might be after a soft rain and with a soft whisper of wind. Deer seem to move well on such nights, and I never miss one.

I don’t miss them because I hunt every night, with a bad or a good wind. Matching wits with deer is what I do, and there are times when the odds are in the deer’s favor and nights when they are in mine. But, given the opportunity, I’d rather hunt with a soft breeze than none at all. â??â?? The Whitetail Wizard

Saturday, May 27, 2006

Stewards Of Our Natural Resources

The DNR wishes every hunter in the state was a steward of our natural resources. They would like every sportsman to pitch in and do their share toward helping to manage our resources.

That is fine, great and wonderful, as far as it goes. Many hunters would love to help, and many have suggested ways they could help, but the DNR isn’t listening. They need all the free help they can get in this day of early retirements, a continuing lost of manpower, and many hunters are willing to pitch in to help. However, they want to see some results and feel their help is appreciated.

Need a reason or two to consider helping the DNR on a freebie basis? OK, try this. I’ve suggested many times over the past years that they should have mandatory deer check-in stations. Several stations should be spread around every county, and it would give everyone a chance to help while providing the DNR with solid date rather than guesswork.

I’d be out of business on my deer ranch in a heartbeat if I didn’t know how many deer run around on my 1,000 acres. I’d be lost if I didn’t know how many fawns were born or how deer were taken in the fall. Guesswork is not deer management.

The DNR says they don’t have the manpower and such plans won’t work. It’s my guess that having a mandatory deer check-in process would produce far more accurate figures on total deer kill, buck-to-doe kill ratios, and possible early warning signs for Bovine tuberculosis, Chronic Wasting Disease and Equine encephalitis than what they have going now. Their claims of it not working is unsubstantiated. The DNR would never know if it would work until they give this concept a chance.

Many have volunteered to promote mandatory check-ins, and many would man a check-in station. The DNR isn’t interested, and furthermore, many biologists act as if the public is trying to tell them how to do their job. Well, if one longtime method doesn’t seem to be working well and the DNR gradually continues to lose the confidence of the hunting public, than the thing is broke and it needs fixing.

Do we have to wait until the wheels fall off the Michigan deer herd management program before someone does something about it?

Such check-in stations could be made to work. I’ve spoke with hundreds of hunters who say they would volunteer a morning or evening to work a check station. They would take the hunter information about where the buck, doe or fawn was killed, date of kill, hunter’s name and address, check the kill tag, and whether it was a bow or firearm kill. This information, over the course of the 90-day hunting season, would deliver more accurate deer kill data than counting deer at the Mackinac Bridge, highway check stations (which are not mandatory), and standing on overpasses and counting deer passing below on cars and trucks.

Hunters want accurate deer figures and not estimates derived from computer models at the DNR headquarters in Lansing. A mandatory check station certificate signed by the volunteer would be necessary before hunters could buy their second tag (that in itself would generate more revenue through license sales). Gone would be the combo license, and in would come greater knowledge and the public would be playing a very important role in deer herd management. Hunters would have three business days to bring in their buck, doe or fawn and have it documented.

The area wildlife biologist could choose some key people in each area to put the word out, and I’d bet that hunters would cooperate and help. A two-hour instruction period would teach people which questions to ask, what to look for, and how to fill out individual reports. These reports from each check station could be mailed or hand delivered to various DNR offices on a weekly basis.

Granted, this would cause a bit more work for the area biologist but why couldn’t they ask for volunteer help to collate information. I believe many people would be happy to help, and it would benefit our deer herd and help the DNR build a better rapport with hunters.

As it stands now, when someone makes a suggestion, those suggestions often are rejected out of hand. I have the greatest respect for the men and women of the DNR, but they can be bullheaded. I haven’t figured out whether they feel sportsmen are trying to tell them what to do or if they just do not want to work with civilians. Whatever the reason, the DNR is are doing a very good job of working with the public. It’s little wonder the public feels alienated from the DNR.

I would hope it’s not a case of them not wanting to work with civilians. Be obnoxious or tease a timid dog long enough, and that mutt might bite the hand that feeds it. The DNR needs help; volunteers can work for free, and this could help cement a solid relationship between this state agency and the people who help pay their wages.

And, in the long run, our wildlife would benefit. This could be a win-win situation, but the DNR has to make the first move. The hunters have spoken, and agreed to help. It’s time for a friendlier DNR Wildlife Division, and the only way to get along is to get along.

This is not, and should not be, an adversarial situation. Hunters want to help, and they want something closer to real-life figures than what they’ve been getting for many years.

Friday, May 26, 2006

Hunting Whitetail Deer Is A Part Of Who I Am

Granted, I hunt more than the average bow hunter. I bow hunt by personal preference, and even though I do hunt with a firearm and muzzleloader at the appropriate times of year, bow hunting offers me thrills that are virtually impossible to find with other hunting methods.

Fooling deer up close and personal is part of the bow hunting mystique. A firearm hunter can send an airmail package into a buck at 300 yards, but I’d rather have them so close I can hear them breathe.

Bow hunting means getting in tight to a buck. It means a combination of sitting still, not making a sound, and letting the buck amble in close for a certain killing shot. It’s true that hunters could do that with a firearm, but it’s just not the same.

Bow hunting offers far fewer advantages for the hunter. Unlike firearm deer hunters with the chance for a long-range kill, bow hunters are limited. They must allow the buck to walk close, thus increasing the possibility of making a mistake and spooking the animal.

Most of my bucks are shot at 15-20 yards. So it’s important to me and other bow hunters to know how to eliminate human scent, and control our nerves when a deer steps out.

How tough is that? Many hunters feel their heartbeat speed up as the buck gets closer, and they begin to hyperventilate, the shakes set in, and their hands feel like they are all thumbs. They get all antsy and twitchy, and it’s difficult to pull their bow under the pressure of a nearby buck or doe.

Bow hunting, much like fly fishing for trout, is a contemplative mans sport. More thinking goes into each hunt, and sportsmen must learn to control their nerves. They need to feel relaxed, go with the flow, capture the moment in their minds, and learn to think and react clearly and decisively when the moment of truth arrives. It’s not always easy.

Once they know that the deer has antlers, utter concentration must follow. They must know when to draw without causing the deer to see any movement. They must study when is the best time to draw, and where is the ideal place to aim.

Sure, I know, all bow hunters must learn these things. Unfortunately, many hunters do not learn the proper mechanics of how and when to draw, and how to aim for a specific spot. They must learn to take the ideal shots and pass on all opportunities that could result in a wounded and lost animal.

We must be intimately familiar with our bow, and have the utmost confidence in our ability to accurately place an arrow in the proper location. Some hunters can consistently do this and some cannot.

Bow hunting is a combination of mental thoughts, a strong commitment to making each shot count, and being respectful of the game we hunt. There is no room in bow hunting for disrespectful hunters or those who don’t care if they wound and lose an animal.

This is a pastime that is easy for me to become emotional about. The shots are close, the margin for error is mighty slim, and we’re often staring at an animal that may only be 10 yards away. Our bow must be silent when drawn, our clothing must be soft and quiet, and we can’t make any sudden noises.

Bow hunters who shoot a buck or doe every year have earned that animal. I have nothing against firearm hunters, and always hunt with a rifle and/or muzzleloader every year, but I strongly believe that more hunting skill is required to down a whitetail with a bow than with a firearm.

Frankly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Hunters who lack the patience and skill to become an excellent bow hunter have my sympathy. Many don’t have a clue what they are missing.

For me, bow hunting offers me a sacred challenge to pit my skills against a high-strung animal. And I know, and am proud of that knowledge, that when I kill a deer with my bow that I’ve succeeded in a very difficult hunting arena.

And, for me, it’s not how large the antlers are but what drives me is the increased challenge of the hunt. â??â?? The Whitetail Wizard

Thursday, May 25, 2006

Seeking Permission To Hunt Private Land

It’s months before the hunting seasons begin, and I’m already hearing the gripes of hunters who can never gain access to private hunting land. They belabor the point that no one wants them to hunt their land. People who utter that kind of a statement should take a close look at their appearance and their conduct.

My land is a commercial enterprise. I don’t grant permission simply because, at any given time, I could have one or two clients afield. None of them want to feel crowded.

However, for many hunters, the grass always looks greener in someone else’s field and the woods always look better for deer when it belongs to another person. Getting an opportunity to hunt that greener grass or better looking woods is another thing. It’s not as easy as it once was, and it’s not quite as difficult as some people would have others believe.

A few tricks can enable you to overcome the initial resistance of some landowners. Cross that first magic hurdle, and gaining permission is much easier. Try these tricks this fall.

*Always ask permission, even if the land isn’t posted against hunting or trespassing. A person’s land is his property, and permission to hunt or trespass is required whether the land is posted or not. Understand the trespass laws before crossing any parcel of land.

*Obtain permission well in advance of the hunting season. Plan to visit the farmer or landowner to ask his permission right after lunch or early in the evening. Do not wait until he is doing chores to ask or come knocking late at night. Any interruption during chores means working later in the evening. Make it easy on him and you by stopping by when he isn’t busy.

*Be clean, neat and on your best behavior. Remember this important item: you are taking up someone else’s private time. Don’t waste it by nattering on about inconsequential things. Be direct but not forceful. Tell your deer stories to your buddies.

*Seek hunting permission only for yourself, and politely ask if you can bring a friend. Never take a gang of people up to the door, and never carry a firearm when asking permission. Make certain your hunting dog stays in the car. Many farmers have dogs running loose, and a strange dog often causes other canines to defend their territory. A dog fight is one of the best ways I know to ruin your chances of hunting that farm.

*Ask permission at several different farms. Never hunt the same farm all the time, and do not annoy landowners by returning day after day. Always ask permission to hunt again on a specific day. Farmers often invite family and friends to hunt, and they do not enjoy having kin compete with other visiting hunters. Be courteous, respectful and never argue any point with a landowner.

*Ask if there are any crop fields or off-limits areas that should not be hunted. Do not drive vehicles unless instructed to, and park your car in an area designated by the owner. Do not trample crops under foot or drive across them.

*Leave gates as you find them. If they are closed, cross through and close them behind you. If they are open, leave them open unless instructed otherwise.

*Never shoot near buildings. Be ever mindful of the landowner’s home, farm buildings, chicken coops, fences and gates. Do not shoot near cattle or other farm animals.

*Do not litter. Carry it in and carry it out. Pick up any other trash or litter left behind by other hunters.

*Stop in and thank the landowner after hunting. That way, he knows you have left his property for the day.

*Offer the landowner a portion of the game taken off his land. This will help if you want to hunt his property again. Often, the owner won’t take any game but he will appreciate the offer.

*Offer to help farmers with chores, and be ready to pitch in when or if he calls. Leave your name, address and phone number, and be sincere about offering to help. Don’t offer unless you are willing to work.

*Don’t come knocking if you look about as tidy as an unmade bed. Be clean, neat and courteous. Good manners are a key to being accepted. It may not get you a place to hunt wherever you ask, but you’ll leave the landowner with a better impression of you and other hunters.

*Last, but certainly not least: Treat the hunting property as if it was your own. Learn the boundaries, and never trespass on someone else’s adjoining land.

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Forget Summer: I’m Dreaming Of October

The most magical of the year’s four seasons is not June through September, despite what the sun-lovers might think. It is October, and my mouth waters just thinking about it

It is a time when deer move naturally and on schedule; one of brief moments of heart-pounding excitement as a heavy-antlered buck eases within easy bow range; and it’s the thrill of watching whitetail fawns try to nurse while playing like young children in the woods.

October lacks some of the pizzazz and immediacy of the Nov. 15-30 firearm season. It also lacks the calm and dignified approach of fly fishing during the late April season opener. However, the bow season rates high marks in my book for many different reasons. Here are just a few.

*October is simply the best month of the year, and none of the other months can ever come close.

*This is when the air is cooling, leaves are turning colors, and it is 31 days filled with sunny days and cool evenings. It just happens to be the finest time for sportsmen to be afield, whether they hunt or not.

*This is when whitetails are still in their summer mode of bedding, feeding and traveling. Deer are as predictable now as they ever will be, and that is a boon to sportsmen who spend time in ground blinds or tree stands.

*Likewise, this is when a lengthy study of whitetails during the off-season can make our planning and execution of hunting plans perfect; when our mind fairly screams “this is the ideal spot for a tree stand;” and when our earlier scouting efforts can pay big dividends.

*It’s easy, with some preseason scouting, to predict where deer will be moving during the first 10 days of bow season. The deer, if not spooked, will have become complacent with nine months between the last deer season and now.

*This is when we can expect some deer to make a mistake, not that we can count on them doing so but often a wee error in judgment on the deer’s part can spell hunter success or failure. That same mistake can also ruin a hunter’s chance of getting a close shot at a fine buck.

*This is a time when the air develops that first nip, giving hunters a hint of the approaching winter. All game, and especially deer, feed avidly and produce fat layers to carry them through several months of bad weather.

*Bucks, the image that all bow hunters carry in their minds and hope to see from a ground blind or tree stand, become more active. Antlered bucks still travel in bachelor groups but that will soon change as the rut kicks in later this month.

*Bow hunters revel in watching bucks, planning ambush sites, noting the most active trails the antlered animals use, and in studying how deer move. This month is about hunting strategy.

*This, too, is a time when hunters can practice drawing on deer. Each year, I grant extended life to many bucks and does, and drawing but not releasing an arrow can make it much easier for that special moment when you do decide to shoot.

*Now is the time to sit high in a sturdy tree stand, and survey wildlife from a distance. It’s a month when skunks prowl at dusk, leaving that pungent odor behind as they forage for food, and it’s when wavering V’s of geese pass overhead, sounding their lonesome and forlorn call.

*It’s a time to pass up the button-bucks, and hold off to wait for a clean shot at an antlered buck or fat doe. Button-bucks of today will be the antlered bucks next year. Binoculars can help a hunter spot the knobs on a young buck’s head, giving us enough reason to wait for a mature deer to offer an easy shot.

*This is the time of year when the first whiff of wood smoke jump-starts our heart, reminding us of past and present deer camps and the camaraderie of good friends. It’s helping others drag out their deer, and it’s a time when being with friends really means something.

*This is the month for sensory perceptions and a reaffirmation of our love of the outdoors. It’s when bow hunters most truly savor the outdoor life. â??â?? The Whitetail Wizard

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Taking Stock Of My Deer Woods

Many people fail to understand just how much effect the weather has on deer habitat. It’s much greater than most people would believe.

We’ve had a tremendous amount of rain and wind so far this spring, and every storm that thrashes its way across my 1,000 acres leaves a mark that may take years to remove.

About six miles of high fence surround my land. Ten-foot fences are expensive, and when the wind or a lightning bolt smashes into a tree, and it falls across the fence, bad things can happen.

Some of my deer could escape, and potentially even worse, is that some outside deer could gain unwanted access to my land. Heavy wind and lightning storms take us out into the storm, and we are like the Pony Express of old. We ride the circuit, check the fences, carry chain saws, and make emergency repairs on the spot.

A torrential rain could destroy the road and trail system that I’ve had in place for many years. Too much rain, and my roads turn to truck-burying mush. There isn’t much that can be done for the roads until they dry out some.

Of major importance are trees that fall. A wind storm that downs two or three, or even several trees in a particular location, can dramatically change the travel patterns of deer.  If that happens, as it has a few times over the years, every ground blind or tree stand can be rendered useless.

Often the ground blinds, elevated coops and tree stands must be moved, and that can only happen after an intensive period of time used to determine the new travel routes for whitetails. Sometimes the changes are minimal, but more often they are extensive, and require a radical solution.

I’m so mindful of a popple tree that stood near a hole in the low fence before my land was high-fenced. The deer always ducked through the hole rather than to risk jumping the fence and getting hung in it.

That hole-in-the-fence tree stand was a dandy until the popple tree died, and it crashed down in a wind storm. No other nearby tree would work, and we had to do something different.

Have you, as a bow hunter, ever searched for such fence holes? Or, if the fence is yours, have you considered cutting a hole in the fence at a point to your liking and that of the deer? If you haven’t, give it some thought because such areas can be hotspots.

It’s things like this that I’m forced to check when the rain and wind raise havoc with my land. There have been trees that have crashed into other trees that held a permanent wood blind, and some ground blinds have been damaged by limbs breaking and falling on them.

Such acts of nature can work in your favor. One stand had a huge limb fall into the crotch of another two limbs, and one look at it gave me the idea of building a wood platform, put up walls for a permanent elevated coop, and we cut a round hole in the plywood so the the coop was built around that huge tree limb.

We didn’t want to cut off the limb immediately because it would be too drastic a change, and the deer would notice it. We built the coop with the big limb running through it, and hunted from it for two or three years. One year, in January, we went into that coop and removed the big limb, piece by piece and resided that portion. The deer had from January to October to get used to the huge limb being gone, and that stand still produces and is very popular with hunters.

Taking stock of your land is an important part of managing it for the future. The land and vegetation changes because of weather-related damage, and we can carry on about the extra work a storm causes us or we can look for ways to work with what we now have.

This business of taking stock means getting an early start on making the necessary changes as quickly as possible. Get lazy, and wait and do it in August or September, and the changes may be complete but the adaptation of the deer most certainly will not be complete by the time the season opens.

A word to the wise ... â??â?? The Whitetail Wizard

Monday, May 22, 2006

Use Natural Sounds When Deer Hunting

The big buck moved two or three feet at a time, stopped, studied the terrain on both sides and in front of him, sniffed the air, and then moved forward again.

He was going nowhere fast. It was obvious this buck had been spooked by another hunter sometime in the past, and he was cautious. There were no other deer nearby—just him—and he was taking his time.

Another few steps, and a slight turn, and he would be in range. I looked at my watch, and knew this buck was mine. Every day at about the same time the school bus would come clattering down the highway, stop in front of a nearby house, and the buck would raise his head and look toward the road and listen to the noisy kids.

He had just finished taking those steps when the noisy bus came to a gear=grinding stop. The big 8-point raised his head, looked out toward the road, and the sounds of the kids getting off the bus caused him to raise his ears. It was a natural sound he had heard many times before.

What he didn’t hear was my bow coming back to full draw as he stood quartering away. The arrow sliced in and that buck ran 60 yards before falling, his ears still hearing the children chattering out at the road.

Deer are accustomed to hearing all types of sounds. Some are heard so often they become second nature to a deer. A buck or doe hears the sound, recognizes it for what it is, and doesn’t become alarmed.

These natural sounds can work to a bow hunter’s advantage. I’ve deliberately placed elevated coops where the slightest wind will cause the tips of branches to rub against the roof of the wooden stand. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out when to draw on a deer standing out in front of that blind. That deer is accustomed to that sound, and hunters should wait until the branches start rubbing against the stand, and then draw, aim and shoot.

Years ago I had a stand placed on the ground near two trees growing out of a single trunk. Any breeze at all, no matter how softly, would cause those two trees to creak. I used the “creaking tree” trick to shoot a number of fine bucks over the years.

I had a stand once that seemed to be directly under the flight path of the Detroit-Traverse City late-afternoon or early evening flight. Perhaps this buck couldn’t understand what the noise was, but every day he would stop, lift his head up, point his nose toward that passing jet, and it always provided me with an easy shot.

I passed on shots at that buck for two years, waiting for him to grow a decent rack, and when he dod and came by and was in front of me when the jet flew over, it was an easy shot.

Squirrels running through dry autumn leaves always seem to attract the attention of deer. They may see that squirrel running through the woods a dozen times each day, but whenever they scampered from one tree to another, deer often turn to look at them. This often provides enough noise to cover the drawing of your bow, and the scampering squirrel is actually working on your behalf.

Birds flit overhead, land in nearby trees, and they are common sights for deer but they always turn to look at flying birds. The movement catches their attention.

Crows fly overhead, cawing like crazy, making enough racket so 10 people could draw their bows. Deer seem to pay more attention to a crow when it is nearby rather than when 300 or 400 yards away.

Bluejays serve the same purpose as crows except they don’t tend to range as far. Jays often flit from bush to tree limb, to the ground, and up to a tree again. Each time the bird moves it attracts the attention of a deer, and when the deer turns to look at the jay, that is the time to make your draw providing the animal is positioned properly.

Hunters must learn to take every possible advantage offered by natural every-day sounds. Wait for the deer to get perfectly positioned, and wait for a noise of movement nearby to attract their attention.

Use that time to come to full draw. Don’t hurry it because hunters usually have more time to aim and shoot than they think. Acquire the proper sight picture, hold steady, and make a smooth release.

Hunters who learn this trick seldom go without venison during the winter months. â??â?? The Whitetail Wizard

Sunday, May 21, 2006

The Perfect Night For Deer Hunting

Everyone has what they consider to be the perfect night to bow hunt for whitetail deer. For most people, it’s the type of night they shoot a buck.

However, I’ve studied on this situation for many years. What constitutes a good night? Actually, many things go into a good night for bow hunting, and it amounts to more than just seeing deer or shooting one.

Let’s take a look at a typical good night. Everything has to fit together like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle or it won’t work.

The wind must be from the most prevalent direction. The deer must move, a buck must meander down the deer trail where you are sitting in a tree stand or ground blind, and you must make an accurate shot and kill the deer.

These are things that will often occur in some logical sequence. Often though, such things don’t always happen in logical order, and still the buck shows up and gets shot.

Here is a typical scenario that I really like. Such conditions have produced good bucks for me over the years, and this is one of my favorite nights although I could write on other variables that make a night productive, and will probably do so in the future.

First of all, I like a slowly falling barometer that gives rise to the feeling that rain will arrive within the next few hours. A hard falling barometer will do one of two things: send deer scurrying around to feed, and then disappearing into cover before the storm or they don’t move at all.

My likely scenario shows just a slight downward trend in barometric pressure. One of those evenings when birds set on telephone wires. You know the kind of nights I mean.

The next thing is an overcast sky, and a wind from the west or northwest. The wind is soft and gentle, and just enough to lightly move leaves on a tree. It must be a soft breeze from the right direction.

Your stand is near where two or three deer trails meet, and obviously on the downwind side. If the downwind side is next to an open field, so much the better because the deer may not try to circle your stand through the open field.

About 5 p.m., a soft mist starts to fall. It’s not a rain, and it’s not a sprinkle. If you wear glasses, and look up toward the sky, in a minute or two the glasses might be misted over. Preferably this is after a rain the previous day that has softened fallen leaves, and allows deer to travel as noiselessly as possible.

The wind isn’t shifting or swirling. It is steady from one direction, and you have a reasonably clear view in all directions except behind you.

If you are hunting over bait, pay attention to where the first deer come from. There are evenings when all deer will move from that direction, and other nights when only does and fawns come from that way. All the bucks may travel from an entirely different direction. But do note where the first deer come from, but don’t ignore the other directions.

On such nights, it seems to grow darker earlier, and if possible, I prefer to hunt a stand in thicker cover. The deer seem to move earlier through thicker cover because it get dark in such places faster than in more open locations.

I prefer an evening where the conditions strongly suggest a heavier rain before dark. In many cases, the possibility of a rain will start the deer moving a bit earlier. This is an evening when hunters should be in their stand an hour or so earlier than normal.

Choose wisely, get in position early, and allow the woods to settle down from your passing. Hopefully, your tree stand or permanent blind is quiet and doesn’t creak if you make a small movement. Sit tight, and pay careful attention.

Wet ground from a previous rain, and a light mist can make for silent travel. Deer can ghost into and through an area without being heard, so hunters must rely on their vision. Binoculars can help pick holes through brush or tag alders, but use them sparingly, and slowly ease them up to your eyes.

I’ve had deer barge in like they own that spot, and some deer move in very quietly, and appear as if by magic. Wait for the buck to present a perfect shot, and kill that deer.

To my way of thinking, this represents one of the best possible nights for a good buck to move. Try to be in the woods when he does. â??â?? The Whitetail Wizard

Saturday, May 20, 2006

Start Thinking About The Bow Opener Now

Remember Christmas as a kid? Can you recollect the keen anticipation of opening presents on Christmas morning?

In some cases, it was almost more than a youngster could stand.

We’d wake up about 6 a.m., yell and scream for our parents to wake up, and my brothers and I would beat them to the tree. Some Christmas mornings were sparse because times were tough during the Great Depression, and a few were a child’s delight with a wrapped gift. The day I got my first long bow and some cedar arrows was great.

Getting ready for the archery deer season that won’t open for over four months is similar in many regards. The old saying that “anticipation is 90 percent of a hunt while participation is worth the other 10 percent” is certainly true.

Anticipation means checking out the bow, testing new arrows, getting the bow sighted in for various distances, and even mundane things like waxing the bow string is a lesson in anticipation. I rub the wax over the string, and then smooth it over the string and massage it to work it deep into the fibers with my fingers. It’s easy to spend an hour doing a simple chore like this.

Rubber boots are a necessity when deer hunting, and mine spend two or three days outside on windy days, I tip the boots on their side facing into the wind, and then spray them down with a deodorizing spray to remove any lingering odor.

Some hunters wear camouflage clothing until it is so faded as to be worthless. Check all camo clothing, and use the faded stuff to clean the windshield. Faded clothing is next to worthless, and one other mistake people make is washing their hunting clothes in a detergent that contains brightening agents. Make certain the camo will make the autumn colors when the season opens.

That decision to wash clothing containing brightening agents is unwise. A product called SportWash, which is made by Atsko, doesn’t contain any artificial brighteners or unnatural odors. It’s available in most sporting goods stores and one small bottle will do several loads of hunting clothing.

Some hunters wear a camo face mask while others use camo paint on their hands and face. Some hunters prefer the face mask, and have learned to look through the mesh and shoot. It’s far less messy than camo paint but wearing a full camo mask will give hunters a bad hair day. Me, I keep my head down and my hat pulled low over my face, and this is how I’ve hunted for many years.

Now is the time to check that full-body harness. Look it over for nicks, scratches or gouges in the belt. In the event of a fall, it’s important that the harness perform properly. Never trust life and limb to a bad body harness.

We’ve mentioned checking tree stands before, but it bears repeating. Check for wear, make sure all bolts and parts are intact and strong, and replace any defective parts. Never, ever take a chance with a treestand. Test them at ground level before testing them on a tree.

Check the battery on a lighted sight pin or red-dot sight, and replace if necessary. Check the contents of your backpack, and make certain everything is there. At a bare minimum, a backpack should contain waterproof matches, haul rope for raising a bow into a tree, compass, whistle (optional), sharp knife, one or two small plastic bags if you love the heart and liver, extra bow release if one is used, Game Tracker string tracking device, and whatever else may be needed.

This type of getting ready means thinking ahead. If going into strange country, an aerial or topographical map is handy, and one thing no hunter should forget is a flashlight with fresh batteries and a cell phone. The cell phone is handy in the event of an emergency.

Anything else is a matter of personal taste. A few candy bars and bottle or pop or water can ease a person through a night in the woods if they get lost, and a Space Blanket takes up very little space but can keep you warm. A wood sweater is handy if the weather cools, and rainwear works when sudden storms pop up.

Now is the time to get ready for deer season. Plan four months ahead, be prepared, and the hunt will take care of itself. And, best of all, planning ahead means not forgetting anything when Oct. 1 rolls around. - The Whitetail Wizard

Friday, May 19, 2006

Buy A New Bow?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of buying a new bow every year I don’t hear this question often, but it does come up from time to time.

Any bow manufacturer like myself would greatly appreciate everyone buying a new bow every year. But, in today’s economy, is it practical to do so?

Certainly, if you have oodles of disposable income. I’ll sell you as many new bows as you want.

For all practical purposes, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that not everyone needs a new bow every year. I know folks who have every model of Oneida and C.P. Oneida bow that has been made, but they collect every model like other people collect stamps or old cars.

Most people simply cannot afford a new bow every year. Many can’t afford a new dozen carbon arrows. Some are lucky to be able to buy a half-dozen new shafts.

Money is tight. The Dow Jones gains and loses 400 points in a matter of a week or 10 days. The economy is tight, gas prices are high, and the rising cost of hospital care and medications seem determined to drive most people into the poor house.

I’m in the business of making and selling bows and other archery products, and I wish the economy was better, and more people bought bows. That puts me in league with every other bow manufacturer in the country.

There are people who come in once a year to tune up an old Oneida bow. Perhaps they will buy a new release, a dozen arrows, but they tell me they can’t afford a new bow.

Trust me, I understand. But I’ve danced around the question long enough. The truthful answer is to buy a new boy when you can afford it. I’d hate to see several kids go hungry just because the old man wanted a new bow, regardless of who makes it.

No one should skip a house payment or car payment just to buy a new bow. Bows have always been a piece of hunting equipment that is nice to have, but when times are tough, perhaps it’s not the best time to buy.

Bow changes occur every year. Some year the changes are a bit more dramatic than in the past two or three years, and perhaps the hunter has been saving his quarters for two years. The right time to buy a bow isn’t always when it first comes out.

Sometimes the best time to buy is when enough changes or improvements have been made to make it that much nicer than the current bow being used. Look for advancements, special changes and check closely to see how different they are.

Ask yourself these questions. Do I really need a new bow this year? How will these changes affect my arrow speed and accuracy? Will this bow allow me to shoot a slightly faster arrow than was possible with my old bow?  If this bow smoother to draw? Is it significantly quieter than my old bow? Can I trade in my old model for a new one, and do so without making my family do without? What will this new bow do for me that my older model can’t do?

There often are more questions than answers. Bow manufacturers put years and lots of money into research and developing new bows. They get a return on that huge investment when people buy bows, and as president of C.P. Oneida Eagle Bow Company, I’m no different than anyone else.

I have to sell bows or go out of business. Banks are not noted for accepting excuses for late or no payments. They lend money, and expect it to be repaid with interest. It’s business!

That means that I want to sell you a new bow, but only if you can afford it and only if it doesn’t affect your family and your financial status. I want people who buy C.P. Oneida Eagle bows to be happy with their purchase, and if someone spends this month’s house payment on a new bow, I would feel terrible about it.

So buy a new bow when you can afford it, when you feel the bows have been significantly improved and when you feel comfortable making the purchase without jeopardizing your family and your possessions.

That is the best time to buy a bow. So save your quarters, and come see me when you are comfortable with buying a new bow.—The Whitetail Wizard

Thursday, May 18, 2006

Should a Bow Hunter Shoot At Other Game?

It is kind of an unspoken topic among bow hunters. Some wonder if they should shoot at other game while deer hunting..

It all depends, and there is a legal issue to consider. If you are in a ground blind or tree stand, and a black bear ambles by, is it legal to shoot?

That is an easy one. If your hunting season coincides with bear season, and if you have a valid bear license for that Bear Management Unit, then it is not only legal but a desirable thing.

Let’s take this another step further, and a badger steps out nearby. The answer would be no.

OK, than what if it was a porcupine. The answer is yes. Porcupines and opossum are legal to shoot at any time of the year. Some landowners want them killed, and some do not, and it’s up to you to ask ahead of time. Some landowners do not want you shooting at anything because it could attract unwanted attention to the hunting blind.

The most important question is whether the animal or bird is legal to shoot, and the season is open. and are you willing to risk spooking a nice buck by taking a shot? Shooting at a porcupine and running the risk of a shot at a big buck doesn’t compute with me.

There have been a few coyotes shot by deer hunters on my land, and that is fine with me. Shooting at a grouse, hare, rabbit or woodcock seems a bit senseless, and I don’t do it and I don’t encourage others to.

Back in the days of fall turkey hunts in all areas, hunters with permits were allowed to shoot a turkey with a bow. I did it, my son Matt has done it two or three times, and a few others have taken a bird with a bow.

However, I feel that indiscriminate shooting at anything that walks, flies or wiggles, is not only a possible waste of time but runs a major risk of spooking the very animal â??â?? a whitetail buck â??â?? that should be more important to a hunter than anything else.

I tend to have a narrow focus on what I’m doing in my ground blind or tree stand. I want the area to remain quiet without any foreign noise. A bow shot, no matter how quiet it is, can be heard by a buck or doe that is lingering back in the woods and about ready to step out.

I look at these other animals and birds as decoys. If a nice buck is standing 30 yards away in the tag alders, and can see an animal or a bird moving around nearby, it seems to settle that animal down. It’s the same as having a button-buck, doe or doe fawn out in front of the stand.

The buck spots the other animals, and they are moving about in a natural manner, and it inspires a buck to move more freely. Think how many times one or several deer have been out in front of your stand, and a buck strides out, apparently trusting that all is well.

That won’t happen if an unseen deer hears a bow go off, and watches as the other animal moves off if it was missed, and moves around as it dies when hit. The smell of blood is not an uncommon odor in the deer woods, but it isn’t common.

The fact of the matter is that more harm can be done by taking one of these why-do-it shots than would come from watching the animal or bird as it behaves naturally. I’ve watched ruffed grouse walk off only to have a buck walk in. Porcupines often move aside when a deer walks near, but deer don’t want to get too close to a porkie.

The fact that these small animals and birds can act as a decoy, and an early warning system, is one aspect about bow hunting that has seldom been covered. I’ve learned that blue jays fly off, squawking, when a deer move close to it.

People who hunt over corn or other grains learn to pay attention to the antics of a bluejay. If they spook, and fly off to chatter from a tree, its a good indication that a deer is nearby.

Me, I can see no sense in shooting at anything other than a deer. To do so doesn’t increase your odds of success. Instead, your odds of success decrease when needless shots are taken. â??â?? The Whitetail Wizard

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Which Are Smarter? Bucks Or Does?

It’s a never-ending discussion among bow hunters. Many hunters feel bucks, especially big bucks, are the toughest deer of all to hunt.

What are my thoughts, you ask? There is no denying that a trophy whitetail buck, one of 4 1/2 to 7 1/2 years of age, has been through almost everything that hunters can throw at them.

A 1 1/2-year-old buck is easy to hunt. They still travel at times with the does, and often run in bachelor groups with older bucks during the summer, but when the sap of an impending rut starts to rise, the little bucks stand back and get out of the way.

These young bucks often move ahead of the does, and behind the button-bucks and doe fawns, and they seem to think those small antlers atop their head are pretty cool. They soon learn that waving spikehorns, four points, or in some cases, small 8 points, will make does, button-bucks and doe fawns give way to them.

As these bucks reach 2 1/2 years, the antlers are a bit more impressive and they find they can bully younger bucks and other deer. They play around at pushing and fighting with larger bucks, but it’s like picking on your bigger brother, pick too often and a big buck will whup on a younger one.

The buck reaches 3 1/2 years, and has made it through bow and firearm seasons, and has learned a bit about staying alive. They soon learn when to keep their head down and when to stay alert, but deep down, they remain a bully at heart. They love to push around other deer.

OK, by the time they reach 4 1/2 years, they are now one of the big boys. Too be sure, there are other big bucks around willing and able to put them in a world of hurt, but the same is true with them. They can whale on smaller bucks, push the does and fawns around, and this bully attitude can be a kink in their hairy armor.

Does, on the other hand, always lead the way through the woods. Fawns will dart ahead to feed ahead of the other deer. If a buck, regardless of size, approaches, the does and fawns show deference. This simply reinforces a buck’s behavior patterns that he is one bad dude.

The doe fawns, if they live to be 4 1/2 or older, are much more woods-savvy than a buck of the same age. They’ve had to watch over their fawns, and last year’s antlered buck, and they’ve seen deer killed during bow and firearm seasons.

They seem to live on raw instinct. Does blow and snort for good reason. They believe danger is near, and try to hear, see or smell it. The bucks, on the other hand, pay some attention to does. That attention grows ever stronger as they approach the rut, and a lovesick buck will follow a doe anywhere.

The breeding instinct, and the bullying instinct, are two major factors why bucks are somewhat easier to hunt. Once they reach 4 1/2 years or older, the only thing they may fear is a larger buck.

The bottom line is, and this is just one man’s opinion, a buck of 4 1/2 years is easier to hunt than a doe of equal age. Find an old dry doe, past her years of raising fawns, and she is perhaps the most difficult deer of all to hunt.

There are some truly huge does out there, and they seldom make a mistake. A big buck, if his rutting fever is high, will occasionally make a mistake. A big buck, if he isn’t chasing does, will bully his way through the deer herd.

He is most accustomed to having his own way, with a doe or with his punishment of smaller deer who fail to move fast enough. He fears only a larger buck, and as a result, can become a tiny bit more predictable. He can let his guard down while he pushes around a doe, smaller buck or a fawn that gets too close.

It’s at times like this that his attention may wander, and that is when a patient hunter who happens, often by design, to be in the right spot may get a shot at a large buck.

Mind you, a big buck is never easy but I think hunting a big old dry doe is much more difficult. She has been bullied all her life, and has a Masters degree is avoiding potential trouble.

The hunter than can consistently arrow a dry doe should not have as much trouble taking a big buck. The belligerent attitude toward other deer can and will do them in. Patience, and no mistakes, will pay off with a big trophy.

It’s not quite as easy with an old doe. â??â?? The Whitetail Wizard