posted by Jim on Oct 28

As hard as we tried to get it done in Maryland on the elusive Sika stag last week, we did not. Jim and I were very excited to be the first HPS shooters to put some sausage on the ground or at least the opportunity to do so. But, as it so often happens, the hunting gods had a different plan. On the last evening of our hunt we had a beautiful stag come right to us on a rope begging to be a star just before dark. I call them a muskrat with horns due to their choice of marsh habitat and coloring of chocolate brown. But true to their nature of being a prey animal, he just stopped behind a tree at 15 yards, with the obvious intuition that something just was not right in his world. After a ten minute stand-off he bounded off and stopped right behind the only other tree that offered Mr. Lombardi a no shot situation. Disgust was a word you could have used for the look on young James face but saying that we both had not been to this mountain before would be foolish, because we are hunters. But, upon our return in late December you are going to want to put your money on team J and J for some serious retribution. Beautiful country and great people for sure.

Meanwhile back at the bat cave in Michigan I had left a green horn archer (Little Miss Dangerous) with a one week old Parker Sidekick in her hand practicing daily to build her strength up from never pulling back a bow so that she would-be ready for season. Being right handed and left eye dominant had offered up its share of problems but we got it all sorted out and she was off and firing. On her 20th arrow I heard her slap nocks and thought to myself, “at least she is grouping well”. As she walked to the target the disgusted tone of her voice was obvious when she said “Oh great I broke one of my arrows!” I turned to see her trying to pull the freshly “Robin hooded” pair apart and screamed at her to stop!

So that’s how it all started and it only gets better.  After practicing daily with her new rig for 12 days and proving to me beyond a shadow of a doubt that she was tack driving well out past 20 yards with all her hunting clothes on from a tree stand was she finally able to go hunting. The second night on stand, a gift buck from the gods was sent to her for a memory of a lifetime for a new hunter. At nine yards she stood and stopped it with the patented mouth blat and shot the valves off the top of his heart with a Maniac broad head. He was dead on impact and made it 60 yards to his final resting place in the leaves. It was an absolutely perfect kill. It was a very proud moment for the teacher, as well as, the student, I must admit.

As I age in my own QDM program and my back has a sway in it and my gut hangs a little closer to the ground I find myself looking for the simple things in life like when and where….just like this one. Welcome to the ranks Kimberly…..You are a bow hunter!

Now, for the Miss Hannah story, as you’ve seen from the past stories and pics she also was trained by a modern day Daniel Boone and is no greenhorn in the deer woods. This is not her first buck, but definitely her biggest with gun or bow.  She is also shooting a Maniac broad head with awesome results and a great blood trail to say the least.

Luckily for her a scout (known by her as The Old Man), had passed this great deer up last year and this year and had it patterned to a T the night before.  As every great father would do, Stew put her on the spot and she made the shot count. It’s nice to see that not all our youth has gone off in the wrong direction. I would personally like to see a few more Hannah’s in the woods. I was proud to gut her deer for her even though she only held the legs open for a minute or so before easing to the upwind side of the situation! I didn’t blame her at all.

Congratulations to both girls for an exceptional October and the only thing I would like to suggest is that you both get all your girlfriends involved so that you can all hunt together like Stew and I do. And just maybe then you can let us get back to some serious hunting of our own instead of tracking all of your deer! You know, we hunt too! Very proud of you!!

posted by Jim on Oct 3

 Archery season is upon us.  The phones are wringing off the hook, as just about everyone I know is wondering how opening day went, here in Michigan.  A lot of changes occurred prior to our archery only season.  We had an early doe season with guns about 2 weeks prior to archery.  We had the youth season opener 5 days before season, where most kids hunted with guns.  Baiting has been outlawed!  So, how was your opener and what are you going to do to put the odds in your favor? 

For me, the archery opener was uneventful, at best.  Although, the youth hunters who hunted my property, all saw big,  mature bucks, they were absent on the night of opening archery season.  I saw some does and a spindly 3 point who was gimping on his rear leg.  Most likely, a casualty of the early doe season or youth season.  I am not condemning the  DNR for their actions because the youth season is necessary and more does need to be harvested, however, the timing of these events couldn’t have been played at a worse time.   And, don’t forget, the no baiting laws which are in affect.  Personally, I feel it is an advantage to those of us who put our time in the field developing our land for the optimization of holding deer.  Creating bedding areas, natural(man made) funnels, and developing a food source through numerous browse and food plot techniques all play a factor in success.  However, the guys who don’t have the time, the land, or the access to the equipment necessary must count on baiting to put the odds in their favor.  Several hunters I know left their bows hanging on the opener and, perhaps for the year!

 I am anxious to see how this season plays out and how the harvest numbers will be presented.  I was recently invited to participate in a Versus Country podcast interview with Tred Barta and David Morris.  David Morris in particular, is a property manager with the experience and knowledge of few.  He is the host of the Bucks of Tecomate.  He is one of the forefathers of food plots and property management for the benefits of healthy, strong wildlife populations.  I respect his opinion and was excited to present him with Michigan’s current situation.  Please click to download the Podcast below and pay attention to my question and David’s common sense answer.  If you know a DNR official, perhaps they should listen, as well.  http://sinuatemedia.com/VersusCountry/morris.mp3.  Please comment! The more people who share their concerns will create a reaction and a debate, and from this a solution. 

For those of you, whom have lost hope because you feel baiting is your only option, please do not get discouraged.  Reach down into your souls and remember that there are many techniques to hunting the elusive whitetail.  Oak trees are producing a fantastic mast crop of acorns.  With the lack of golden acorns(shelled corn) in the woods, the odds will be in your favor. Find an oak tree, an apple tree, persimmons, crop fields and find the hunter in you!  Converging deer runs, between bedding and food sources, playing the wind, and using a common sense approach will give you success.  Make some mock scrapes and when they become active, get on them!  Hunters Prostaff has many great products to get you educated, whether you are a novice or a seasoned hunter.  Check out John Eberhart’s DVD’s or his books.  His tactics are proven on state land! Our whitetail field tip sheets are an exceptional tool to have in your backpack. Try Buck Fever Synthetics and make some mock scrapes.  It is all here for far less than you would normally spend on bait!

Lastly, good luck to all and be safe!  Wear a protective harness and remember that most accidents occur stepping into or out of your stand, so be patient and precise in your every move.