Say Cheese!

Last weekend was all about preparation for the upcoming season.  I met up with my good friend Ryan from Missouri and we headed out to the timber to check trail cameras and set tree stands. The weather gave us a break and stayed under 85 for the majority of Saturday which made setting stands that much easier.  Friday when Ryan got into town, and after we set up my 1987 Coleman pop-up camper, we checked trail cameras, let just say I was really pissed when I found out that only 3 of my 5 cameras worked properly. Oh well “IT” happens.

Note: If you are using more than one brand of trail camera try to use the same SD card in the same camera.  Not sure the real reason but I noticed that some cameras will automatically format SD cards to only accept pictures from the original camera or brand (Reconyx).  I found this out the hard way and missed 3 weeks of pictures in one of my favorite spots.  I was so mad I kicked a tree.

Here’s what I got, nothing too huge, enjoy…

Jackpot – Missed him last year at 22 yards… sun was in my eyes.  Potential shooter.

Megatron – Because of a faulty camera, this is the last picture I have of him. #1 shooter on the property.

Rocky Dennis – Not a shooter but fun to look at.

Only one picture of this buck, never seen him before.  If he is still around October 1^st… Shooter!

Eric Roberts – I have pictures of this deer from last year, didn’t do much. He might get an arrow if he makes an appearance.

Barb – This buck made a good jump from last year. There’s something about big 8’s that gets my blood pumping.  Teeter-Totter buck.

Last but not least…

Johnny Utah – “I’m an F.B.I. Agent, you gotta go down!”  One more year.

I can’t wait to see these deer on hoof this season; I have a feeling that this is going to be a great year… queue Black Eyed Peas music.

I Hate Spider Webs:

Every property has a different layout, so what I am about to tell you is based on my experience on the properties that I hunt.  With that said… I love pinch points and travel corridors!  Most people set their stands on food sources or near bedding areas, which is fine, but from my experience I am bumping way more deer going to the starting or finish line of their daily route.

On a quick side note, my favorite part of scouting and finding the next place to hang my stands,  is busting about 400 spider webs with my face.

What I like to do, mostly during pre-rut, is find those pinch points and wait for the cruising bucks to go by.  When a deer has to make a decision to go high or low, or take the left trail or the right trail, I want to be in that spot.  And, that is where I hung my stands this past weekend, way more trimming is required but the activity I see is well worth it.  Shameless Plug:  “and, I could have never done it without my Wicked Hand Saw!”

I will wait for the right wind, find the easiest entry and exit route, and usually sit in the same spot for 2 or 3 sits, if the deer I want doesn’t show… like Jay Z said “I’m on to the next one”.

Until Next Time – Stay Wired!

- D.F. Worth

Hubba Bubba (Take a look at him one month ago)

TENtation (A tempting ten pointer, Pete’s might let this one pass…but he might not haha)

No Brow Ten

Right Hook

Step Child

Can’t get the day off of work but you still want to watch some deer feeding over the corn? Well you’re in luck and you have the ESPN Outdoors Wildlife Camera to thank! The folks at ESPN have set up 24/7 video cameras over a 3 acre food plot. Two cameras cover the area, where corn feeders and C’mere deer has been spread. I think the cameras have been rolling for around a week and there have been sightings of big deer, turkeys, hogs and bears! As I am writing this, I literally watched a black bear walk onto the screen and it is now chowing down right in front of me, LIVE. This is very cool and I can really see myself getting addicted to this. If you can’t be in the blind this morning, you might as well watch some big deer on a live webcam! Awesome idea ESPN!

Here is the description of the Wildlife Camera idea from ESPN.

“This page highlights the wildlife on a food plot we have planted specifically for our readers to enjoy while sitting at their computers.

There’s nothing like being on a deer stand to relieve the stress of the work week. Now smack dab in the middle of the work week, we’re bringing the deer stand to you.

We’ve been monitoring these cameras for about a week and already they have become a regular part of our viewing. Deer and turkey are using the plot on a regular basis. In that short time period, we’ve viewed two bucks sparring, a flock of Jakes running a couple of does around and numerous deer coming in and out of the area.

Just like on a hunt, we don’t know when these deer, turkeys and other wildlife will show up. But like sitting on your stand, morning and evenings are good choices for watching. Even with those peak times, we’ve seen deer and turkeys visit at all hours of the day and night.

Because the wildlife that appears on this camera is free-range and easily accessible, we can’t reveal the location other than to say it’s in the center of the country.

We’ve taken approximately 3 acres, planted it with Evolved Habitats ProVide Forage Clover and Chicory, added a couple of corn feeders, two video cameras with infra-red technology, three motion-sensitive game cameras and sweetened the whole plot with a variety of C’Mere Deer products.

Our expectations are to keep the lines open on this plot from now until May with a continuous stream 24 hours a day, seven days a week. During that time you should be able to watch deer, turkey, possibly bear and other wildlife as they go about their day and night in the wild.”

And for a little update while I’m writing this, a nice big doe has just walked into the area now. Doesn’t seem to be too bothered by the bear…Wait, make it 3 doe haha. I can see my productivity at work going down the drain real fast!!! Check out the ESPN Outdoors Wildlife Camera!