Hot Shooting

Well, the weather was not ideal for doing anything hunting-related, but I do not always do things logically. Even though I could not do some of the higher priority items, I still wanted to get out this weekend and do something. So, we loaded up Saturday morning and headed to the range. Surprisingly, there were already several shooters hammering it out by the time we arrived. Maybe others are experiencing the mid-summer withdrawals/anticipation, too!

The goal was to try some new rounds in the muzzle loader to go ahead and have it ready. Supposedly muzzle loaders should be sighted in while in the same conditions as it will be used (I would still like to hear the WHY of this). Although it’s not usually in the mid -90’s during early muzzle loader, it can be pretty warm. So, I started with it and after 3 rounds, that gun was red-hot! Fortunately, we brought 3 other rifles. Next was my buddy’s .300 Ultra Mag and some fresh reloads. The 1st batch shot incredibly well, while the 2nd was either not as good or his shoulder was hurting! He finished off with some Power-Level I’s (This is a very interesting concept. Remington introduced this ammunition in different power levels, I II & III, and therefore, different performance as well as lower recoil. The different levels allow for a variety of applications, such as; varmint hunting, close-range hunting or making it possible for a youth to shoot a magnum gun. There are currently a few calibers available, but I suspect they will increase if it catches on.)

Next was my 7 Mag and some reloads for it, too. The results were OK, but not great. Since this was our first attempt at reloading, I was impressed by the fact that nothing blew up! Safety first, accuracy second. We also got in some time with a 7mm-08 and some more factory rounds. Even though we may not have accomplished a whole lot, especially getting the muzzle loader shooting perfect, it was good to get out. It was definitely hot, but that will make fall feel that much better. It can’t be here soon enough!

Memory Full

I previously mentioned that I bought a couple of game cameras and have put them out on my property. Well, one of them (the Timber Eye)will not hold a charge and only takes pictures for 1-2 days. I called the company that makes the camera and they are going to replace the camera. I love it when a company does the right thing! Anyway, I had to get that camera and I decided to pull the memory card out of the Remington Ghost and see if it had any pictures. As I approached the camera I noticed the indication light was not triggering and when I opened the camera door, it was obvious the camera was off. My first thought was that this one was doing the same thing and I would never find a camera that lasts for more than one day!



The surprise came when I hit the power button and as the camera came on, the following message appeared on the LCD screen..."Memory Full." The camera took 260 pictures in 7 days. Of course, there were lots and lots of pictures of the same deer because I set the delay period for only 30 seconds. Lesson #1 - if you have a game camera over a food or mineral plot, it might be better to set the delay period for 1 - 2 minutes. Another idea is to use a large capacity memory card. I had the 256 mb card hat came with the Remington Ghost camera. You can use 1 GB or 2GB cards, though, especially if you want to leave the camera out for a while. Once I got back to the truck and put the memory card in my laptop, I learned Lesson #2 - place a game camera with an infrared flash at least 10' from the location you expect the deer. As you can tell from the second picture, an infrared flash on a game camera is very bright and needs some distance.



I still got some great photos and had pictures of several bucks that I can't wait to see fully develop. I also had pictures of squirrels, rabbits and a coyote. The deer are really spending a lot of time at the mineral plots and getting some much needed nutrition. The soybean crop is getting some height and the deer are all over that, too.



Once I receive the Timber Eye camera back, I intend on doing a comparison and seeing if I can determine any difference between an incandescent flash and the infrared flash. When I do, you can find that information here.



Although it is HOT, it is fun to stay in the game doing things that keep us around hunting. Next on my agenda for this summer is reloads and more deer stands. Hope there is enough time!

Beautiful Day

As mentioned in my earlier post, the destination Saturday was a beautiful pond north of Atkins for an afternoon of fishing. And what a beautiful day it was...plenty of sun, but not real hot and a gentle breeze.

We were only able to spend a couple of hours on the water, however it was very enjoyable and also quite productive. We started off with small spinners and picked up a few large bream and nice bass here and there for the first hour and a half. I switched to minnows and the action picked up, too. The crappie started to bite and I ended up with a couple of bass in the 3-pound range. Obviously not monsters, but very nice and a lot of fun on light-weight tackle. My buddy tried a topwater as the sun fell from the sky and the bass really liked that. I think that there are few experiences in fishing that match watching bass attack a topwater bait.

With disappointment we were ushered out by the threat of darkness, so we called it a day and headed back to Little Rock.

I also took some of my own advice in the last post and put my game cameras back out on my property Saturday morning. I placed them over my mineral plots that seem to be very popular and am anxious to see what visits. I purchased a new Remington Ghost game camera with Infrared flash and am curious to determine if I can find any concrete results that the deer are less wary of those than the traditional, incandescent flash. Since I now have both, I think an experiment is in order.

Some time off work...

After 5 days off, I am finally going fishing! I had great ambition before this week off that I would spend some time on the water, it just took a little longer than expected. Anyway, we are heading up to a private pond in Pope County and I am looking forward to it. We went about this same time last year and had a great trip. It was quite a bit hotter, but we managed to catch quite a few bass and some crappie. Full report (hopefully with pictures!?) here this weekend.
Are you ready for hunting season? I know that most will say no because of how far away it is and the weather isn't exactly 'fall-like.' But I am referring to your to-do list. As I have experienced many times over the years, we allow ourselves to get into a lull this time of year and before you know it, it will be here. And I am preaching to myself! This is a great opportunity to get out and do some shooting, shopping or piddling. Here are several things that may not necessarily be high on your priority list, but can be fun and good for your equipment, and yourself;

- ATV maintenance: most of the dealerships slow down in the late spring/summer, so it is a good time to get your ATV in for fluid changes and a check-up. It is alway easier to get ahead of the repairs.

- Trailers: same goes for your trailers...new tires, packing bearings, trailer lights (they always need work!)etc.

- Shooting: even though the temperatures are getting warm, there is still some opportunity in the mornings to get some shooting done. You can also tinker with reloads, bullets, etc. Trap and skeet are also some great activities that are enjoyable and helpful (The Game and Fish range in Mayflower is excellent and cheap. Remington in Lonoke and Blue Rock also have world-class facilities.) Also, Dove season is less than 3 months away!

- Game Cameras: I would highly recommend putting out a game camera right now. The bucks are starting to get horns and it is awesome to watch the changes. It can also teach you a lot about their movements, patterns, groups and behavior.

- Deer stand repair: does your stand need a new floor? How about a roof...or painting? Although the bugs are out, as well as snakes, we must realize it's not going to get any better. It will only get hotter and more humid and as I stated in the beginning, hunting season will be here before you know it. Be sure and take your bug spray and wasp spray!

- Property search: it is also a great time to be on the look-out for some new property. Those who lease from timber companies usually have to pay them in July, so many will be looking for new members since most wait until the last minute to opt out. The farmers and other property owners are also out and about, so it is a little easier to catch up with them (although work may be the most important item on their mind). Even if you are not looking for something for the upcoming season, it is always a good idea to meet people and to have options.

FYI - there is new website in Arkansas devoted to people looking for property leases. What a great idea. Check them out here http://www.arkansashuntingclubs.com/

Well, there you have it. Some things to do that should keep you busy and give you a sense of accomplishment right here in the barren stretch before hunting season. Please feel free to add those I failed to mention, I am sure there is much more.

Let the work begin...later!

Well, the past hunting season is just a memory now and the 2009-2010 hunting season seems a long way off. In fact, if you consider January as the last month of hunting season and October as the first, we are basically right in the middle of the stretch. What that means to me is that the clock is ticking to get things done.

Things are a little trickier in farm country as it relates to getting down there and working. The first obstacle is wet ground. If you want to get on a farmer's bad side quick, drive on his roads when they are wet and make ruts! Since they must access their fields regularly, they value a good, solid roadbed. My strategy has always been to just avoid them if they are wet and not take a chance. Since it was raining yesterday in southeast AR, our project was delayed for a drier day. I have been working on a tower stand for the last few weeks and I wanted to take it to the property and finish the construction and get it stood up. The stand had to be left at the farmer's shop and put off for a while.

The other challenge is scheduling your work on the field itself. The best time is before soybeans are planted so that any driving on the field is irrelevant because there is no crop. This is handy if you have to drive from one side to the other or if you are using a truck, tractor or ATV to 'pull' stands up. There is also a small window of opportunity once the field is planted and before the crop comes up, as long the field is dry. Once these two times pass, it is quite a while before you can use the field for these activities. As you have probably guessed, I missed both of these!

The majority of our work will now have to be done during the heat of the summer and just before the actual hunting season. We do have two areas where we are going to place stands that will not require us using the field, but one new place will. The major obstacle right now is wet roads.

On another note, I got some great pictures on my game camera. There were several large-bodied deer that had obviously just lost their horns. I have temporarily removed the camera, but am anxious to get it back out there to record the deer as they grow their new sets of horns. I will post these pictures on www.ArkansasLifeHunting.com, so please visit and check them out. I also plan on writing an article about my 'learning experience' with a game camera. They have definitely provided me with an opportunity to have a lot of fun and they can also double as a scouting tool, but you can allow me to reduce your learning curve and have a more productive experience.

Spring Fever

April is here and Spring is here as well. Although we are anticipating a freeze tomorrow night, spring weather patterns are beginning to set in. Along with 'green' everything, this time of year brings warm weather and a lot of wet days. Honestly, it is a tough time for hunters (except turkey hunters).
I took a drive down to my deer property Saturday and was greeted with wet, soggy ground and a lot of color that was absent just a few months ago. It looked like so different I hardly recognized the place! The soybean field looked more like a botanical garden and the worn-down tracks in the road were overgrown with green grass a foot tall.
Even though it was refreshing just to get away from the hustle-bustle of daily life, I went to do some work! This time of year it is so important to provide minerals for the bucks because it is when they are developing their antlers. I took two 50-lb mineral blocks and established plots for them to visit and get this much-needed supplement. I also moved a game-camera from a trail location to one of these plots. I am already eager to see what pictures I get.
It does seem like at this point in the year hunting season is farthest away, however, it helps to have things to do to stay involved. Setting this game camera out and doing mineral plots has really helped me feel closer to the action. I highly recommend it (especially the mineral plots) not only for the benefis to the deer, but for your recreation, too.

Here is a picture of one of the blocks. I went ahead and busted it up to help dissolve it into the dirt quicker.

February?

Is it really already February? Unbelievable. Isn't it crazy how time moves so quickly. When can that be a good thing? Read on...
First, I would like to give an update on the website. Due to some potential conflict with a similarly named website that I DO NOT want to be mistaken for, I have decided to change the name. I am in the process of redesigning the logo and will have it added to the website as soon as I can. The new website will be, "ArkansasLifeHunting.com." The name reflects how interwoven my life and hunting is, and the fact that I get to do it in such a wonderful place like Arkansas. The website will be full of resources, articles, pictures and stories centered around hunting in Arkansas.

Stay tuned...

On another note, hunting season is winding down. I was fortunate enough to be invited on an incredible duck hunt the last week of the season and then was able to take one of my boys on another great hunt this past weekend for the youth hunt. That will basically wrap up my season. Although I might take a trip to reduce the varmint population on my deer property, it is really over. That creates a couple of opposing emotions for me. On one hand, I am actually okay with it ending. I hunted quite a bit this year and it's time to give myself and my gear a break, as well as get caught up on some chores. I am entering my last semester in graduate school and it is going to be a wild ride. We are also entering a very busy period at work and it is going to require a lot of attention. So, in all honesty, I probably need hunting season to end.

However, it is still sad. I enjoy hunting so much and I will really miss the weekend trip down to the property. It can really pep up a poor soul when he can think of the upcoming Saturday hunt!

This is where my opening question comes back into play. I am confident that with all of the demands tugging at me, that time will indeed fly and it won't be long before hunting season will be here again! I am sure in what will seem like no time, I will be fussing and complaining that I am running out of time trying to get prepared for the opening and I need more time. For right now, though, I think I'll shed a little tear for the ending of the season, be thankful for how great it was, and look forward to the upcoming season.

Favorite things from 2008 Deer Season

Most people either love or hate lists, so I guess I will upset half of you and the other half will be happy! Since deer season is effectively over for me, I have been reflecting on the year and what were my favorite things about the past season. Although this past year has been a crazy year for most of us, especially considering the wild ride in the stock market and the uncertainty in the job market for a lot of people, I still believe we can find some positive in it. Obviously, hunting is minor in the scheme of things, HOWEVER, it can be theraputic by providing a look inside ourselves and helping us to take time for reflection and renewal. I know this is getting deep, but we all really do need to slow down from time to time and get lost in our own thoughts. This life we lead is extremely busy and if we are not careful, we will find ourselves just reacting to life and not creating anything. Sittting alone on a deer stand surrounded by nature has a way of calming your mind and allowing unbelievable creativity. Just try it!
Okay, okay, on to the list. Here are my favorite events, recollections, memories or results from the 2008 deer season.
10. A new property - As I have mentioned before, this is my first year to hunt this property and although there was a lot of work, money and time required to get it ready to hunt, I had an absolute blast hunting this place this year.
9. A new deer stand - Once the website, TheArkansasOutdoors.com, is completed, you will be able to see pic's of this beauty! A 4'x6' box stand with a roof, 2x6 shooting rails, carpet and an office chair made this stand real nice to hunt.
8. Sharing that stand with my boys - Both of my sons have hunted with me for several years, but this year was just special. They are growing up so fast and I guess it is hitting me that this time is probably limited.
7. Watching them kill their 1st deer - I was also able to be in the stand with them when they killed their deer this year. Definitely a memorable experience.
6. Sharing the enthusiasm - My hunting buddy enjoyed the hunting this year almost as much as I did. Now, that is a pretty big statement because I really get into this! It was great seeing someone enjoy it, though.
5. Arguing with trespassers - Finally realizing that playing security guard and running my big mouth to 3 guys with guns telling me they were on public property was not the best idea. Although not a favorite event, it was memorable!
4. Sunrises - I can never, ever get used to sitting in complete darkness and then watching the sun finally make its appearance. I am telling you, we are blessed with a miracle each and every day. If you want to witness it, get up and watch the sun rise. It is incredible.
3. Deer in their natural enviroment - I just love to have the opportunity to watch deer feed and move in their world. It is a privilege to be in their enviroment for a brief period of time.
2. Hunting in a tornado - Okay, it wasn't actually a tornado, but the wind was howling and I did think there could be one any second. In all seriousness, it was a pretty serious weather event, but it was also exhilirating!
1. Ending the season wanting more! - The season came to an abrupt end. We saw a lot of deer from early in the season, but slowing as it went along. This has caused me to already look forward to next season with great anticipation.
I encourage you to take some time here at the end of the year to reflect on 2008 and cherish the memories and events, while also planning 2009 and making it your best year. Happy New Year!

Weather - you might want to dress appropriately

As I sit in front of my computer, it is December 15 and I am listening to sleet come down like crazy. In fact, my last final for the semester was cancelled because of the weather. I was reminded Saturday how important knowing the weather forecast, even if only for the next 4 hours, can be.
The last forecast I saw Friday night before packing my truck for a Saturday morning deer hunt was a chilly start, but warming up to almost 60 degrees with sunshine. I took some light clothes up to the bedroom with me, however, I went ahead and put my insulated bibs and parka in the truck, just in case. Just in case what!? The weather people with lots of training and super computers might be wrong? Surely since they are ahead of this global warming and are able to tell us how the earth is going to 'burn up', then they can accurately predict the weather tomorrow. Like I said, just in case, I decided to take some extra clothes.
Early Saturday morning was just as predicted and the gauge in my truck read around 32 degrees as we made our way down to the property. After a quick stop for my favorite, sausage biscuits, we made it right on time and began the process of getting ready for a morning of sitting on the stand. Yes, it was quite chilly as we got ready in the pre-dawn. However, I knew I had a fairly long walk that would warm me up and as my buddy said just before I walked off, "you'll be carrying anything you wear back after the sun comes up and the temp rises to near 60!" But, I still took most of my heavy gear anyway.
The sun made a brief appearance in the sky before getting covered by clouds. That's when the fun began. The wind picked up and blew steady around 15 - 20 mph with gusts up over 25. It was coming straight out of the east and as luck would have it, my stand was located on the edge of the field facing south and it had several hundered yards of open space before it came rushing in the stand with me. I do not know how else to put it except, I was absolutely miserable! It blew and blew and would not quit. As thankful as I was for the heavy clothes I did bring, I could have used another layer or two.
I endured this until 9:30 or so, and actually saw some deer. They looked as miserable as I was and ran at full-speed from one side of the bean field to the other, and then back again. I suppose they were trying to keep warm as well. I hope they fared better than I did.
Well, the high Saturday where I was never got out of the 40's. I'm sure it might have reached the high they said it would somewhere, but I never experienced it. Now, please allow me to be very clear on this...I love cold weather. I especially like the cold weather while hunting. That is the way it is supposed to be. I just like to know ahead of time! What we can take from this is we should be prepared for just about anything, and I firmly believe every once in a while Mother Nature decides to show these weather people that she is in control.

Have you killed a deer?

If you're a deer hunter, you've heard this question. As a deer hunter who has not killed a deer this year, I have heard this question a lot. In fact, I think I hear it every day.
Now, in all honesty, I do like being asked this question because it gives me a chance to talk about deer hunting. And do I ever love to talk deer hunting, especially to another deer hunter. They will ask if I killed a deer yet, and then we can discuss things about the season, hunting in general, the weather, etc. I can ask them about their season, what it has been like on their property, and what other hunters are saying. We can carry this conversation on for a long time.When a NON deer-hunter asks me if I have killed a deer, thats when it gets interesting.
I am certain most people mean absolutely no harm when they ask someone about their deer hunting. Well, I am fairly certain. Of course, why don't they ever ask how much enjoyment I have received from my time outdoors? Now that would be a great question. Anyway, here is two ways the conversation usually goes.
Non-Hunter: Have you been deer hunting? (Never mind that they know my job is usually on the line during deer season because if I am not missing work and in the woods, my mind is there.)
Me: Yes.
Non-Hunter: Have you killed one?
Me: No.
Non-Hunter: Really!? I saw three deer last night driving home. There is always deer out there by the store.
Me: Hmm.
Non-Hunter: Maybe you shoud hunt with Betty Joe. She's killed three this year. And she's in bad health, especially after having cataract surgery in both eyes. You want me to try and get you a hunt with her?
Me: Good for her. Not about the cataracts, but killing the deer. No thanks, I think I will keep hunting on my place.
Non-Hunter: Why? It doesn't sound like a very good place if you haven't even killed one yet...

The other possibility is this...

Non-Hunter: Have you killed a deer?
Me: No, but I have spent a lot of time with my boys helping them this year. In fact, they both killed their first deer this year!
Non-Hunter: Well, bless your heart. You were out-hunted by your kids! That must make you feel pretty bad.
Me: No, no! I am happy for them.
Non-Hunter: Sure you are. It's okay, there are a lot of people who just don't make very good hunters...

The conversation can really get interesting if I mention that I am waiting on a certain deer, not just any deer. The "trophy-hunting" excuse just doesn't get many takers.

So, as this deer season winds down, it appears that I can expect a lot of people asking me, "Have you killed a deer"!

Thanksgiving - many, many thanks Dad

It is hard to believe I just experienced my 36th Thanksgiving celebration. It is also now less than a month away from Christmas! This is by far my favorite time of year, but it goes so fast. Every year seems to get busier and the important events can get glossed over if we are not careful.
The last two hunting and holiday seasons have brought with them the usual excitement, anticipation, and fun. However, they have also reminded me of the greatest loss I have expereinced in my life.
I have been blessed with a wonderful family, including my parents and relatives, and my wife and kids. Family has always been very important and the holidays and celebrations over the years have had family at the center. I was introduced to hunting and the outdoors by my dad at a young age, and it usually involved my grandfather and other family members as well. We lost my grandfather when I was in high school and it was very tragic. Although he had been sick and was in his 80's, it still impacted me tremendously. I think seeing how it affected my dad hit me the most. Little did I know how this would come full circle way too soon.
Dad and I continued to experience all the great outdoors Arkansas had to offer for the years after my grandfather passed away. I saw his perspective change from judging the outing by how much game we took, to just getting out and enjoying every experience. It also started to focus on bringing up my son in the great outdoors and enjoying the time with him. I have been fortunate to be a part of some great properties over the years and they all had great fishing, even though they were either duck or deer hunting properties. Even though I am a casual fisherman, Dad's passion changed from hunting to fishing at some point. My son also enjoyed fishing more during those early years. This became especially significant years later.
We were all shocked in early 2006 to learn that Dad had Melanoma, a particularly nasty skin cancer that is hard to treat. We were also deeply troubled that the cancer had spread to most of his body. However, we were optimistic that he could pull out of this. If anyone could kick such a terrible disease and pull out of this seemingly impossible situation, it would be him. And he did start off with a bang! He had a great attitude and was determined to fight it with everything he had. He started chemo and even though he had already lost so much weight, he also turned his focus to nutrition and trying to gain back his weight and strength.
It was also during this time I had joined a new club that had some promising opportunities for fishing. We took the time to explore some of the best looking spots, eventually settling in on one we both thought would be the best. And boy did it! We were able to take several trips to this place and each trip provided a great experience, in both helping take our mind away from reality and a lot of fish.
Unfortunately, as any of you who have ever had an experience with this awful disease, the melanoma would not give up and his condition just worsened. From a diagnosis in February to losing the battle in June, Dad fought a short, but courageous battle.
My hope for you reading this is that you will do two things. 1) Take the time to enjoy whatever it is with those you love. I don't care if it is hunting, fishing, sports, or whatever. Just spend the time together. It also not necessary for it to be lengthy, elaborate trips. Most of my fondest memories with Dad are of our weekend or day trips. 2) Be thankful and give thanks. It is easy for me to focus on Dad not being here and all we are missing out on. However, I MUST be thankful of all that God allowed us to experience and the memories I have. God gave me enough to last the rest of my life!

What a great week

This deer season will go down as the one of the best ever. My son Blake took his first deer this weekend and now both boys have been officially inaugurated into the deer hunter's club by taking their first deer! Mother Nature greeted us Saturday morning with 23 degree weather. She also sent a 15 mph east wind that cut right to the bone. Then, some clouds rolled in around 8:30 and I was sure the snow was about to start any second. There was not any snow, but we did receive a light drizzle for a short period. We did see some deer that morning, however, some were not close and another little buck was just too young. The action did excite Blake and he was ready for the afternoon hunt. The deer movement started early and the first deer to come close was lucky enough to avoid a shot from Blake. There were more deer that came in the field, but they were too far and did not appear to be heading in our direction. However, as dark was approaching, more deer came from the bayou and headed our way. The deer closed the distance to around 175 yards and with light fading, I gave him the green light to shoot. A well-placed shot did it and the excitement began! I will have to say that this is the first opening day of duck season that I remember that some people had to break ice. Most of my recent memories of the duck season opener are of sweating and swatting. I guess we should be thankful for global warning or we would all freeze to death! The excitement from seeing your children enjoy the sport you love so much is unbelievable. We are fortunate to be able to hunt in a great state like Arkansas and blessed to have the opportunity to spend time in God's glorious outdoors. Now, I am ready to spend some time and try to out my tag on a deer. However that turns out, though, this season has been absolutely awesome!

Deer Season 2008

It always amazes me how long it seems for hunting season to finally arrive and then how fast it goes! The off-season before this year was particularly busy because I am hunting new property and there was lots to do. Now that it is here, it is going so quickly. The hunting has been fabulous and although I have not seen the buck I want to put my tag on, one of my boys killed his first deer( a nice 8-point) and my buddy that is hunting with me has taken an 8-point and a 7-point. The best part about this season has been the opportunity to get back to what I enjoy most about deer hunting, sitting in a deer stand and relaxing. I would never be able to decide between deer or duck hunting if I had to choose just one because they are so different. Deer hunting allows me to enjoy the time and let my thoughts flow and I have always enjoyed that part of it. Although the weather this season has been interesting, I still have thoroughly enjoyed the fine art of sitting, and look forward to more of it! Welcome to the 1st post on my blog, TheArkansasOutdoors.Blog.com. The website, TheArkansasOutdoors.com, is currently being developed and should be up soon. Please visit and let me know your thoughts. The website is being created to give Arkansas outdoorsman a place to see and share hunting photos (not only of game, but of scenery and other hunting-related images, too), have resources and how-to tips, read profiles and hunting stories about deer and other game taken in Arkansas, and so much more. There is even going to be a section devoted to one of my favorite things about hunting - having the opportuntiy to eat at some of the finest diners and cafes around! Hunters have always know that the best food is in the towns in and around our hunting spots. We are going to highlight and discuss these fabulous places on TheArkansasOutdoors.com.