Showing posts with label Cuddeback. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cuddeback. Show all posts
Summer Buck Inventory Begins
http://www.petersenshunting.com/2011/07/25/summer-buck-inventory-begins/
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| If there are no trees around I use a post mount to get the perfect setup on field edges. |
Food Plot Success
One key factor to growing and keeping big bucks on your property is food plots. I like hunting over them early season, late season, and even on the edges during the rut. One big misconception is that you need big expensive equipment to get your food plots planted. Of course this is nice, but there is always a cheaper option, your own two feet. You can work with a nearby farmer to disk up your field or use an ATV to get things started. Once it comes to planting you can buy a simple hand spreader and do it by hand.
I decided to plant a clover blend on a small one-acre plot I have situated about 50-yards from the timber. This is an area where deer naturally travel from one wood lot to another, so a food plot should make for even better hunting.
Once the deer start coming to the field on a regular basis throughout the summer I will have my Cuddeback’s up and watching for any big boys that may be hitting the area. This works out well because it gives me an idea of not only what size bucks are hitting my food plots, but when and where. Prior to opening day I like to sit in a gun box or tree stand off in the distance and watch how the deer enter and exit the field. This usually gives me my best chance for taking a big buck on opening day. Just because the does and fawns filter out on one particular part of the field, doesn’t mean the bucks will come on the same path.
Texas Hog Pitstop
After wrapping up a great turkey hunt I felt I owed Texas a favor. So to repay this favor I took a few days off from the gobbler action to take out a few hogs. I enjoy any hunt where there is a lot of shooting, and with hogs you will seldom be let down. Also if you are looking to hunt an animal that is good eating and nearly everyone will give you permission, hogs are the answer. I’ve been lucky enough to take a number of hogs throughout the years in a variety of different hunting situations. I tend to spot and stalk hunt during the midday and sit in ground blinds or tree stands in the evenings.
When in Texas, I usually hunt with friends who own property on the outskirts of Houston. They are avid deer hunters and have a terrible time keeping food plots going due to the out of control hog numbers. Prior to my arrival they put several trail cameras out to find where the hogs were frequently coming through. After looking through several hundred photos, the hog population looked like it was still going strong and I had just the medicine. A quiver full of pink arrows!
Hogs have terrible eyesight so I decided to try a little spot and stalk hunting before we setup my ground blind. It wasn’t long before I found a big boar, but getting within bow range can be pretty difficult. Boars are usually skittish and have an incredible nose. This big guy knew something wasn’t quite right and stayed just outside 50-yards. Each time I inched closer, he backed away. He couldn’t make out what I was but wasn’t interested in getting a closer look. Either way it was a fun stalk but I wasn’t able to close the deal so I decided to move to a ground blind and wait for evening.
Hogs usually wait until last light to show up which can make it very difficult when filming. As the sun dropped hogs began to move and it wasn’t long before they were right in my lap. An entire group swarmed the area and I picked out the largest one in the bunch. I waited until I had a quartering away shot and just as my arrow hit my Cuddeback took a photo of all the action. The hog only went about 50-yards and within 24-hours we were grilling back straps on the grill enjoying the beautiful Texas weather. Not exactly a planned part of the turkey tour but a relaxing break before heading to South Carolina to get back in the turkey action.
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