Midwest-idoce

     "Midwest-idoce"  noun.  This is a made up term the my buddy and I came up with for southern guys who hunt frequently or yearly hunt  in the Midwest for whitetails. The person kills and sees large bucks abroad and becomes unhappy with his or her local deer population.
      Do not think for a minute that I discounting what the Midwest offers.   States such as Illinois, Kentucky, Kansas, Indiana, and Iowa offer some of the best deer hunting around.  I know guys who go there year after year and harvest many bucks well over 130 inches.   I have personally have been hunting in Kentucky and look forward to being able to hunt in the midwest again in the future.  This article is on managing your expectations for the properties you hunt.  North Carolina and the southeast US can and continue to produce huge deer.  A quick search on the internet and you can see several deer in North Carolina that score 140 inches and even a boone and crocket or two that have been taken.  Also this is article is not trying to promote the "Brown and Down" mentality  which encourages the hunter to shoot every yearling  they see.
     A hunter is blessed with property he owns, leases, or has permission on.   That hunter is managing his deer population as best as his or her situation dictates in the hopes of shooting a bigger than normal deer.   On some of my properties you could place a 130 inch gross minimum on bucks and never ever see a shooter deer.  As a hunter, I have been blessed to harvest several bucks that I consider large.   I know in my heart that I am not expecting a 150 inch deer.   Would I love to shoot one?  Yes.  Stranger things happen yearly as well.  That is however a superstar animal that rarely exists on most of the places I get to hunt.    My personal goals are for a mature buck.   That may be a 120 inch 4 year old on some of the land I hunt or a 7 point or better , 3.5 year old on my other properties.
     As a deer manager, this article is not trying to advocate that you need to fill all your buck tags every year.  Some years you just aren't going to shoot that big boy.  That is why its hunting and not killing   There is a certain reality you must however realize on properties.   If your standards are higher than your properties hold, then you are setting yourself up for disappointment. 
     We as deer managers, we all want to grow big ones.   Love it when  we see a huge buck killed in our home state and  the person posts "This is what happens when you LET THEM GROW!"   These people are right.   As a deer manager, you however have to figure out when they have grown all they will grow.   Pour the good food to them, let the little bucks walk, and if that 4.5 year old ain't big enough for you to shoot,   you can contact me and I help out!  Good hunting and grow them BIG.

Buying a scope for your Deer gun

     Buying a scope can be more than you initially bargained for.    That purchase can range anywhere from $49.99 to $2599.99.   Many of us spend hours of preparation building green fields, scouting and checking game cameras, as well as sitting in a stand.   All that comes down to a few brief moments.  A good scope will make sure job easier as well help you make clean and ethical kills
     What magnification do I need?   In the "OLD DAYS" most all the scope where fixed power and came in either 4 or 6 power.  As a gunsmith, its been a long time since I saw fix power scope on anything other than a 22.  The most common configuration is a 3x9 power scope.  This is a good all around set up that lets you make those close shots that are so common as well as reach out and touch that buck of lifetime when he is standing at 200 yards.   Consider your gun and caliber however.  If you have a light gun in a short range caliber then a 2x8 or lower power set up may work better and not give the gun added weight.  If you are doing more long range shooting then moving up to 4x16, 3x12, or even a 6x20 may be more of your taste.
     What objective size do I need?   The most common is 40 mm objective lense.  This picks up real good light and doesn't add allot of weight to the gun.   My favorite is the 50mm objective.  They became vogue in the late 90's and have stuck on the market.  They pick up a little more light and think we all think bigger is better.   I haven't had much experience with anything less than a 40 mm on a deer rifle.  I have used some smaller objective on pistol scopes and honestly ran into the issue of seeing deer in low light conditions.
     One inch tube verse 30mm tube?  The one inch tube will pick up enough light for anyone who anticipates shooting a deer in legal shooting hours.   The 30mm tube is less common and usually available on the higher price point models.  The 30 mm tube offers a wider range of magnification like 6x24 or 3x12.  The 30mm picks up more light and that's the honest truth.  For the guy doing long range or target shooter the 30 mm tube also offers a greater range of adjustment.  (This would be if you had your rifle set in at 100 yards and wanted to adjust it out to 1000 yards).  Most anything with the words tactical are 30mm tubes or greater.  The inch tube is allot lighter.   The inch tube is more common and still does a great job at usually a lower price. The bases and mounts are more common for 1 inch tubes.
     Reticles.  The fine duplex is the most common.  A scope reticle can increase the price of the scope.  The new big thing on the market is a BDC style reticle with multiple posts for bullet drop.  Some scopes are made specifically for the gun and the bullet and are surprisingly accurate. The options are countless and then you can even get them to light up.   If you get an adjustable post reticle please be sure to practice and see if it works with your gun.   Also check your local laws and make sure that you can use a lighted reticle.
     Parallax adjustment and target turrets?  Both of these options come with the higher price point scopes and will also increase the price of a scope.  Parallax adjustment is  a nice feature to have when varmint or target shooting.   It isn't something you need to make a priority though in a deer rifle.  This adjustment  is nice and will help with accuracy.  Parallax adjustment has slowly moved from the bell of the scope now to side of the scope.  The target turrets or high knobs are good if you plan on target shooting.  You also see guys using them out west with the long range hunting.  They get in my way on most of my big scopes and I just don't usually have time to click the knob to adjust from 300 to 400 when I see a shooter buck. 
     How much money HONEY?  I personally would answer by saying how much can you afford?   Many gun experts say you should spent for the scope what you have in the gun.    Do I have a 1000 scope?  Yes and have worked with a few $2500 scopes as well.   Have I used a $60 scope?  Yes.  You be the judge.  You do get what you pay for.  The scopes I have on my personal rifles are Leupold, Zeiss, and Burris.  If your on a budget and get by with $250 then a Nikon Pro Staff is a good option.  Move up 300 to 400 and a Leupold or Zeiss are hard to beat.   Go to a big sports shop and many have scopes that you can look through, touch, and see options.  My last word is that some of the El Cheapos can't handle the recoil of the big guns but you may have know of an exception to that.
     What scope would I recommend?  I think I have muddied the waters enough for you.  I think a 3x9x40 is a great all around scope and it would be hard for me not to recommend that.  That being said I love a 3x9x50 and as I do more target shooting I do like something with higher end magnification.  Remember Crooked Pine Gun Work at www.crookedpinegunworks.com .  We will help you mount and sight in your scope.  Good luck with purchase and don't forget to practice. 

Hunting the Wind

     I was fortunate as a youngster to have family members who introduced me to the woods and hunting.   My love quickly turned to whitetails.  Many of my opportunities to hunt them however were alone or was with my friends who were also learning the woods.   The hardest learned lesson about whitetail hunting was to hunt the wind.
     We have all been guilty of having that great stand that we get over eager to go into hunt.  We go in and alert a big boy to our presence.  You may sit the wrong stand because its the only place that you have to stay dry and/or warm.  From my experience, I go home or move stands when the wind changes to a wrong direction.  You sit for hours without seeing deer and you educate deer to your presence.
     Don't fall into the trap of scent prevention and scent elimination products!  That being said, you rarely will ever catch me deer hunting without some sort of carbon / scent inhibiting clothing on.  I am big on washing my clothes in scent free cleaner and big on spraying myself down before going into the woods.   I have even used Ozonics and think they are great.  Do not however think you can sit in the wrong wind and consistently have deer come in on you.  Sure there are exceptions.   I always have guys say they smoke cigarettes on the stand and kill deer.  I can say that I see allot more mature deer now that I watch my scent.  Please don't however depend on a cover scent, scent attractant, or a scent prevention suit to think you can sit the wrong wind.    Pick it up and change your stand!  All these products are good at cutting down your stink but none totally eliminate it.
     You have to consider where you sit in relation to where the deer will be.  You also must consider your way into and out of the stand.   If you walk into a stand and scent/ stink up where your deer are resting then you can expect a long sit before you see deer.  I have some stands that are hard to get in without being detected and sometimes that means you need to go in early.  Watch your wind.  Think not only of your food sources but also the bedding.   Consider the trails and how the deer go in and out.   Don't forget that you have to leave.  Hunting evening green fields can be hard to exit quietly as well as scent free, so think about when and how you leave.
     The places I hunt in Virgina and North Carolina have hills, hollows, and some mountains. The thermals can give you the blues.  I use smart phone programs such as scoutlook and other weather applications to predict wind.  A hollow or mountain can however be unpredictable.   I know that I have a stand in a creek bottom that is notorious for swirling winds.   You have also watch the thermals and the way the wind reacts in the morning as well as the evening.  Will the deer smell you ontop of the hill when you are sitting int he bottom?  Will they smell you in the hollow when you are sitting on the ridge?  These are things you must consider because often we aren't offered two chances at a big buck.
     This article was intended to get you thinking about the wind.  Look at your favorite stand and see how you can hunt it better.  Also consider what is the best wind to a stand.   Become a student of the wind as well as manager of your scent.   You will become a better hunter and wish you had done it earlier.

30/06, 270 or 7 mag?

     What is the best deer cartridge --- the 30/0,6 Springfield, the 270 Winchester,  or the 7mm Rem Mag.  This is the oldest debate among hunters and rifle hunters.   I am also sure that many seasoned hunters could add the 30/30 Winchester, the 308 Winchester, and a host of other great deer rifle cartridges to this list and you would be all right.  For this debate, lets look at these 3 cartridges and I will give my slant on it which may or may not be your opinion.
     I will start first with the 30/06. Springfield.   A plus is availability of ammunition as well as a brought spectrum of factory bullet weights and reloading options.   I think you could literally spend years of reloading and still find new things to try with the 30/06.  It has the plus of having military experience as well as field hunting experience that few can compare.  You can easy load it with a 150 grain bullet or even go up to hard hitting 220 grain bullets.   With the large grain bullet, you have the options for for hunting larger game.   What can be said,  the 30/06 is a deer killer that is chambered in about every good hunting rifle, manufactured by most every bullet manufacturer, and stocked by most every gun shop or Walmart in even the most remote locations.  The down side is that it can have recoil in the wrong rifle, however you could argue that one could use reduced recoil ammunition if that was an issue.
     The 270 Winchester.   The only reason the 30/06 is not more popular is because of its offspring the 270.   The 270 has a slight plus on the 30/06 as it is loaded a little hotter by manufacturers and it is a little flatter shooting.  You can get a 130 grain bullet easily for it and its slightly flatter than  your average box ammunition for its Daddy the 06.   The 270 like the 30/06 can be found in about any gun store, made by most any gun manufacturer, and is just a good choice.   As compared to the 06, the 270 has less reloading options and you can't go as heavy on bullet choices.  We were talking about deer rifles here but if you were a one gun guy and hunted in an are with Elk, Bear, or Moose then maybe  the 30/06 wins out. 
     My favorite is the 7mm Rem Mag.   It does however kick more than the 270 or 30/06.  The 270 and 30/06 perform nicely out of 22 and 24 inch barrels where the belted 7mm needs a 24 or 26 inch tube.  A down for my cartridge is bullet capacity in most bolt actions.  You get an extra bullet in a 30/06 or 270 in most manufacturers as compared to the 7 mag.   I like the wing bucking capabilities of the 7mag over the other 2.   I personally prefer its reloading capabilities over the 270 but admit that it falls short to the 30/06.  The 7 mag is the flatter shooting of the three but again you pay for it will recoil and/or muzzle blast.  Like the previous two, you can almost find in as many rifles  and made by as many bullet manufacturers.   It is not as common as the 30/06 or 270 and I admit that but its my favorite for the way it drops deer!
     So I talked myself out of my favorite winning.  I like a 270 but again all it is a necked down 30/06.  I think the winner for me is a 30/06.  The 06 is truly a gun for the one rifle man.  Any of these three will make you a great deer rifle but for this discussion I will pick the 30/06.   I myself would pick either a 150 grain or 165 grain bullet and try to shoot it out of a 24 inch barrel.   The middle rifle in the  attached picture is  a 30/06 that I built for a client.  He wanted an all around rifle that would allow him to shoot 400 plus yards and again we picked the 30/06.   The top gun is a 7mm Rem Mag that shoots sweet and the bottom is a 270  that has a few custom options.  Good luck with your favorite rifle!
     Give us a call at Crooked Pine Gun Works.  Let us help you get into your next hunting rifle or even your next custom hunting rifle.  Find us on the web at www.crookedpinegunworks.com

The Folly's of my Bow Hunting.

     When I was around 16,  I was able to get a Bear Whitetail 2 compound bow.   It took me a while and allot of shooting to ever go hunting with the thing. This article is coming from a gunsmith so I do gun hunt, muzzleloader hunt, and would probably hunt with a sling shot if there was a season for it.   I  do however sit here in bow season writing this article questioning my bow hunting.
     The Down side of my bowhunting in NC and VA.   I stink up the woods allot and pressure my stands.  I admit that I am a trophy hunter.   Most of my early season hunting is however just killing a few does.  I rarely even pressure my good rut stands for the bucks because I have them set up gun and black powder hunting. I have hunted in Kentucky and look forward to go to Illinois and Missouri in the future.  Those states offer and promote bow hunting during the rut.   I would love to kill a big buck with a bow here but usually don't because honestly the guns are shooting and I love them as well.   That is not the fault of the bow but it does require being real close to your prey,  allot of early season pressure, and just more opportunities to let your deer know its Deer season.
     The UP Side of Early season bow hunting.   September is way early to hunt deer.  I do however do it ever year.  My first couple of sits often seem to be practice runs.  I somehow forget the range finder, have left my wrist release, and even forgot to tie the bow to the rope the other day as I climbed up a tree.   What I can honestly say, is bow hunting teaches me to sit, be more alert as I sit, helps me clean out the early season jitters, and just makes me a better hunter.   I know its harder to kill any deer with a bow and I believe you think more of your scent, your movements, cover, the wind, and just exactly where deer are when you are bow hunting.  All of that increases your woodsman-ship skills and that keeps me going.
   As I write this article, I am in my 40s and I said earlier that I started when I was 16.   A few years living in the northeast forced me to bowhunt as I realized they didn't have the long gun seasons of Alabama and Georgia.  I am thankful for my folks helping me with my first bow.   I guess as I continue year after year,  I still love to shot big bucks, but it becomes more about the experience and less about the kill.  Bowhunting has added to my experience as well as helping me to become a better bowhunter.  I think its just fun to be in the woods as well.  Having archery equipment in my hands let me do more of what I love to do and that is why I hope to always continue it.   See you in the woods and bring a stick and string along with you.
   

The venerable 30/30

      The winchester 1894 was the first rifle to be chambered in the venerable 30/30 winchester.   The 30/30 is what many people carry into the field and one of the guns you thing of when you think of deer rifles. The cartridge has light recoil and is the most popular chambering for all lever actions.  Since the cartridges humble beginnings, there have been many 30/30s taken to the field.   It has long been a standby for the deep woods hunter and a good option for a young hunter. 
     The first thirty references the bore diameter however you may not know the second thirty references the early blackpowder loads of 30 grains. The 30/30 is also know as the 30 WCF or 30 Winchester Center Fire.  Common loads for this guy 150 and 170 grains.  I remember running across some 125 grain bullets for mine as a youngster and thought I had a real long range gun then!!
     The 30/30 has long been considered a brush gun.  The thought or old wive's tale is that the slow moving bullet will not deflect as much as a smaller, faster moving bullet.  I will not go into specifics but have seen this myth debunked several times.   Now what it does offer as a brush gun is that it is short barreled and nimble.  It is easy to walk with and a great option for stalking.  The 30/30 is a great option for deer, coyote, and even bear.  It is considered light for elk  and moose even though it has probably taken plenty.
     The bolt action rifle as well as modern sporting rifle (aka AR10) have put a huge dent in the sales of the 30/30.  Faster and flatter shooting bullets come out all the time.  The 30/06 and its success didn't do much for 30/30.  The 30 WCF does however still hold on.   What it lacks in speed and accuracy, it makes up in success year after year in the field.
     Don't however go out an sell that old gun.  There is certain amount of romance in the old western lever action and the new flex tip ammunition has extended the range of this old workhorse.  Lets also be honest------Most of our deer around killed within 150 yards and the 30/30 will do that easily with about any ammunition.   The Marlin and now the modern winchesters come drilled and tapped for scopes so you can easily extend your kill range.
     My first buck came with a 30/30.  I was in sitting in a hay field near a cut over in Wilcox county Alabama.   A driver and his dogs walked through the cutover.   Out from the field burst a 4 point.  I raised my marlin 336CS topped with over and under sights and a 3x9x40 scope.   I put the cross hairs on the buck and dropped with a 70 yard shot.   That 30/30 killed that buck just as well as my 7 mag and it is a good choice.   Get out that old 30/30 and relieve your youth this season.

 

Timber Management and Deer Management Part 2

     You have timber property and are considering managing that resource.   You want to maximize your property for deer , turkey, rabbits,  quail, or a little of all the above while still benefiting from your properties timber value. So where do you start?   A good forester is a great start!  Part 2 is dedicated to picking the right forester.
     Growing up in a family of loggers and being blessed to work in and around the timber industry for a descent portion of my life has given me a little insight.    I am sure if you ask around you will come up a "not-so-good" story that someone has had with timbering their property.  I admit that just as there are in any industry, you can pick a bad apple.  As hunters, we all shrug our shoulders when we see hear about one of our fellow hunters putting our sport in a bad light.   And just as it is with anything in life,  the bad eggs and bad experiences are usually the ones told the most and portray the whole industry in a bad light. 
     There is good news.  There are associations out there to help us land owners.  A good place to start is http://www.ncforestservice.gov .   The North Carolina Forestry Service recommends  from its website " Landowners may want to request information from several consulting foresters before selecting one. Landowners should evaluate the forester's qualifications, references and fee estimates for specific services needed before choosing a consulting forester.  Once a qualified consulting forester has been selected, a contract or written agreement should be signed. It should include: a list of services to be performed; how and when they will be performed; who will perform them; and the cost of the services agreed upon."  There is the Association of Professional Foresters " http://www.acf-foresters.org/default.aspx " as well as the Society of American Foresters "http://www.safnet.org/ " which can also aid in your choice.
     There is a word of caution.  Be honest with the forester about your intentions and your wants.  Try to pick someone who is willing to help manage your property for wildlife.   You shouldn't  just have to clearcut all your mature hardwoods.  Diversity as we talked of in part one is a great key to hold mature bucks on your property.  Question your potential forester and see if he or she is on the same page or even has as clue about where you want your property to go in the future.
     I will end this article by assuring you that it doesn't have to just be money from trees or managing your forest for deer and wildlife.  The two can coexist together.   In the preview for part 3 we will about TSI as well as planting options for your woods.

On the wings of Doves

     Dove season is the official beginning of hunting season for me.    Really it has already began with trail cameras , bush hogging, as preseason scouting for deer.   Dove season however is the official beginning of a long season of hunting.  As our family was blessed with a boy around four years ago, that opening day of season some how involves my boy ready for season.
     I have read several posts of how and how not to introduce your youngster to the outdoors.  Dove hunting for me has been a great opportunity to do just that.   I try to keep those hunts relatively short.   I try not to go too early as its real hard for my little man to sit too long.  The weather is real hot here as well, so later in the evening is just a good bet.
     What dove season offers is allot of fast pace action.  My little boy gets to help find birds.  We are on the go.  There is allot of shooting and yes the occasional hit by myself  (haha).  We usually bring one of labs along which also is good for entertainment.   We end up killing a few birds, shooting allot of shells, having a picnic, and spending some quality time together.    The hardest part for me  is to go ahead and end the day when my little man gets tired.  You know its about the time the shooting gets good , but that is hunting with a youngster.
     This preseason for dove and deer has been fun with my son.  He enjoys doing pre-scouting and loves to talk of birds and deer.  He is thrilled to look for turkey and deer in the fields in the evenings and gets a kick out of seeing them first.  Jamie has enjoyed planting for the birds and loves to keep watch for Dove in our yard.
     The journey of raising an outdoorsman and good citizen continues but I take an opportunity to sit and enjoy the anticipation of another season for me and yes for my boy.   Good luck with your upcoming hunts and don't forget our next generation in your hunting plans.

     

Cull bucks

Do you shoot him or not?
   
     For those attempting to practice Quality Deer Management or Big Buck Management,  the topic of cull bucks have been a heated discussion over the years.   There has been allot of  misconceptions spread around with hunters and clubs, but times have changed.  I have personally fell into the trap of attempting to cull bucks from the herd.  As hunters attempting to be trophy hunters and deer managers,  you occasionally go a few seasons without shooting bucks.   Its nice to feel that you are improving your herd and be able to kill a crazy rack for your wall.  But is that right?
     I will quote a QDMA article entitled "Mis-Management of Bucks" by Lindsay Thomas Jr.
"1. Shooting management or cull bucks has not been shown to improve antler genetics unless you hunt inside a high fence. It is all but impossible to improve antler quality through selective removal of “inferior antler genetics” in free-roaming deer populations. Thus, I believe the justification that the majority of culling hunters are using is baseless.
2. Under the genuine application of culling, only a small fraction of deer managers are at the level of achievement with their deer program where culling is likely to have a benefit, or at least not cause harm to a potentially successful QDM program." 
    From this same article, it referenced the King Ranch and their 8 year attempt to research and cull bucks.  They came up with this statement.  “Over eight years of very intensive culling, we weren’t able to show any benefits in terms of improvement in antler quality.”
     From research,   many of the antler abnormalities we see are not genetic.  Sure---some bucks will just not grow huge racks and yes some genetics problems may be spread.   I have seen the occasional 4 year old spike but they are rare.  Many of the antler abnormalities are actually a result of injury.   I am told that the injury at times can be on the opposite side of the body.    So if you are attempting to improve your herd's genetics (which is difficult if impossible to do) then shooting many of the booger bucks isn't actually improving your genetics.  
     From personal experience,  most of the cull bucks I shot were later on found to be injured.  I can also tell you that I now make a decision to a bucks if its what I want to do.  If a buck has a cool rack, then I shoot it.  We all know that you have to let a buck grow to at least 4.5 to see what it will be and I get a thrill out of shooting mature bucks.  

Attached is cull buck that I shot a trip a few years ago.    I was sitting in a shooting house during a rut, during a rain storm, and I managed to see 6 racked bucks in a 3 hour sit.  Oh--it was also 70 plus degrees.   I shot this buck thinking I was helping my buddy out.  Did I help his herd----Probably not.   I did managed to catch this boy coming across a shooting lane and had a fun time taking a funky racked buck.

Timber Management and Deer Hunting. Part I

     I love to sit on the side of huge hardwood bottom or put a tree stand in a mature white oak waiting on a fat doe to walk by. I have found over the years that hunting that hardwood bottom with the acorns and the leaves is whole lot more fun than later in the season when it resembles a field more than a forest.  There in lies part of this story.   Diversity in the forest has proven to be what maintains and holds big deer.
     Diversity you say?   Diversity isn't just mature hardwoods and either pasture land and/or agricultural fields.  True diversity on your hunting property comes from logging and forestry management.   A clear cut my friend can be a beautiful thing to behold! The group of 5 year old lob lolly pines can hold food and yes give cover for deer.   A selected hardwood lot can give food, cover, as well as hunting options.
     It is proven that a clear cut produces way more food than oak trees.  Browse is the name of the game.   Now I do understand that the hunting tactics have to change.   Green fields may need to be planted on rows and old logging decks.    But logging or even select cutting of certain trees, opens the ground to sun light that in turn allows for succulent undergrowth to develop supplying allot of food as well security.
     There is something' else to consider whether you own the land or you lease , have permission, or even hunt game lands.   Land is a very valuable commodity.   If land doesn't have a purpose then it isn't making the owner any revenue.   I would rather see timber cut and replanted rather than developed never allowing us to hunt again.
     We will look in future article about different timbering options, picking out the right person to help you along the way, planning how to hunt but still get the revenue from your land, and other topics as we go along.
      I will leave you with this story.   I sat in a green field planted on the corner of a swamp bottom with mature hardwoods attached to a vast 5 year old pine thicket.  The plot and shooting house were strategically placed along the edge as a long narrow strip.   I slipped into the shooting house early in the afternoon ready for a long afternoon sit.   I pulled out my grunt tube and and gave a hit really just passing time.   As soon as I stopped grunting, out burst a mature buck only about 70 or 80 yards.   I pulled up my custom 7mmWSM and gave him one single shot.     A pine thicket can be a good thing and good thing can come out of them.

What was your first deer rifle?

     My first deer rifle was from Santa.  It was a new Marlin 336CS chambered in 30/30.  I was able to come up with enough cash to put a Simmons 3x9x40 on it with over and under bases.   That old rifle killed my first racked buck and gave me a love for whitetail hunting     A 30/30 historically was one of the first rifles given to young hunters and many never laid it down.   Some of my buddies started their deer hunting careers with the .243 winchester.   I had a couple of buddies start out with a 270 Winchester, and a few with their Dad's 30/06.  The article is on how to pick a gun for your youngster.
     Pump, lever action, semiauto, single shot or bolt?  I have personal preference for a bolt action because of its simplicity, ease of accurizing, and the range of calibers you can acquire one in.   Any of the the options will work.   I wouldn't recommend a semiauto for a beginner because of its complexity, however you have the benefit of the action helping relieve recoil. he pump is an option but it seems you see less and less of these warriors now days.   A good, old  30/30 is still a great option for the beginner and the new lever revolution bullets sure give them a punch.  The final action is the single shot of which you will see many low cost options floating around.  According to your budget, this may be an option for you.
     I would recommend a caliber that is a minimum of a 243 Winchester.  I am not a big fan of it but its killed allot of deer by youth hunters and experienced hunter alike.   I am more a fan of 260 Remington, 7mm-08, or one of the other cartridges in the 308 family.   If you reload or are willing to buy recoil manage ammo, then you may just consider a 270 or 30/06.  These guns shoot well and will always be there down the line.
    Please consider the stock design when starting out a youngster.  Even if you buy an adult gun, please just purchase a youth stock so the shooter can fire comfortably.  A gunsmith like myself can also cut the stock to fit as well as put on a nice recoil pad.   A stock that is too long will be uncomfortable to shoot.   Think about how light a gun is as well, because  a light weight stock will affect your recoil.  We  don't want the young shooter to be afraid of the gun.  We want that youngster to enjoy shooting their gun to be more proficient and of course have success in the field.   A miss early on can heart-breaking.
     Whatever gun and caliber combo you pick, please carry your young hunter to the range so they can build confidence.   Its best for them to have already known a 22 and hopefully taken small game over the years.  If that is not case, please don't lose any opportunity to transfer your love of the sport to our next generation.  My brother-in-law, Bruce Monk, took the time to teach me about hunting and I am so grateful for it.  
     I will end this article by saying that I sold that 30/30.  I was a buyer and seller back then as I am now.  That is however one gun that I still wish I had.  Come visit me at Crooked Pine Gun Works and I can help you and your new hunter get into the field.

The picture is of my Daddy and me.

   

Weekly Devotion.

     As a christian,  I am attempting to live a Christ-like life.   I try to have Christ with me at all times especially when I am in the outdoors.   My love of the outdoors and specifically deer hunting allows me a opportunity to let my mind drift.   As the years have past and my faith increased,  I spent allot of my time on the stand talking to God.    I think about the good and bad things going on in my life, and talk to God requesting guidance as well as help.  Its also a good time to admit my short comings and just ask for help improving down the line.
     Here is a scripture for you to ponder the next time you are waiting on that gobbler or big buck to come to your way:

 Hebrews 12:  1 and 2
Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
² looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

,    As a Deacon at the Northwest church of Christ in Greensboro NC,   I did a short talk a Sunday or two ago where I read this scripture as a time to help set our minds ready for the Lords Supper.  I admit that I borrowed it from another friend and brother who had spoke of it a few weeks earlier.   

     I said "  We take this time around the Lords table to specifically remember Christ and his sacrifice for all of us.    This scripture however also reminds us of how Christ is now in glory on the right hand of God."

     Hope this gives you something to think about the next time your in the woods.    You can take it from me as well.    I say a little prayer everytime I  get ready to go into a climber or set foot on a tree-stand.   
     If you are in the Piedmont/ Triad area on a Sunday morning, stop by and visit us  at http://www.nwchurchofchrist.com/.  We meet for services at 10:30 AM.  Happy hunting and say a prayer the next time you are in the woods.

Shooting Does Revisited...................

     Quality Deer Management or Buck Management in some form or fashion has taking the deer hunting world by storm over the past few years.   You can look at the the entries for the Boone and Crockett club as well as the Pope and Young club and see the results of letting little bucks get older.  If you are attempting to manage a piece of property for more deer in the older age class or just want Bigger bucks then you must consider deer numbers.    The three big pieces of deer management are age, genetics, and nutrition.  The best way to manage your nutrition and carrying capacity of a piece of property is through population control.   The easiest way to control or limit deer numbers is through doe harvest.
     When I was coming up, it was almost taboo to shoot a doe.   Most of the states had taught us all to shoot bucks and let the girls walk.   Even today, you still have guys that dislike the idea of shooting does.  Whether you are trying to grow big bucks or just trying to keep the deer numbers in check locally,  we all share in common that does are best bang for your buck.  The old saying was "one doe today can be 3 deer next year."   With the birthing rates of does in good conditions, yes they can easily have twins.  There is allot of truth to that statement.
     As a deer manager, I have learned the expense of nutrition.   Plant for deer year around, supplemental feed (if its legal in your area), and the results show that you can increase antler size.  I think the problem arises is that you plant and feed deer and more show up.   For the average man, you kill a few does and decreases the number of mouths eating on a property which benefits the bucks, does, and fawns on your property.  I challenge you to run a few clover fields and or soybean fields,  and try to feed protein pellets, corn ,etc ---- the costs can be significant.
     The article was named shooting does and now I have revisited an old article.  To me, its allot of fun to shoot does.  The "Brown and Down" crowd always talks about how good any deer taste.   I am here to say that I do eat bucks but I would rather eat does.  They taste better and just aren't as smelly as a rutting buck.  Around NC and VA,  I use to try to shoot a doe or two with a bow during early archery season.   I then normally buck hunt during the rut.   After the rut and as late season rifle season progresses, I would take a doe or so to help pass the time.    Some years I even have the joy of helping friends in other states with their herd management.  That being said, I stock my freezer, my friend's freezers, as well as help out "Feed the Hungry."
      I do love to shoot does.  I love to shoot them with rifle or bow but believe that early season bow hunting for does is my biggest thrill.   Getting a big doe within 30 yards sharpens my hunting skills for the big boys later and its nice to decrease the herd, increase the good meat in the freezer, as well as just making hunting allot more fun..
      Now you can  carry this concept too FAR.  I have been on hunts out-of-state and only saw one doe all week.  We can however all agree that any good thing can be carried to an extreme.   I also believe that predators such as coyotes are helping us to manage our populations as well.   As coyote numbers increase and times change it could  be interesting in the future.   Disease has also hurt numbers in NC , VA as well as the midwest.  I  have read article referring to problems with aging forests in the Northeast that have aided in decreased deer populations up there.     You can carry a good thing too far.   We all like to occasionally shoot a deer but also like to SEE ONE! 
     A hunter and deer manager has to look at his individual situation.  Some areas are still thick with deer and others have few.    Variables such as predators, disease, and even years of heavy mast can cloud the waters and even our perceptions.  I am not calling an end to Doe days nor am I saying continue shooting. I personally didn't shoot a doe in NC, VA, or Alabama last year.   Look at your situation, your trail cam pics, as well as what you see when afield and make an educated decision whether you shoot or let her walk. 
     If your looking for help with your hunting rifle or a custom gun, check us out at www.crookedpinegunworks.com  Let us help you create those memories.

Growing Horns with Mineral Supplements.

     So another Deer Season has come and gone.   You may have pulled your cameras and you know who has and hasn't made it through the hunting season.   You may or may not have kept a little corn for them eat through the winter.   You may be head over heels involved in shed hunting and even thinking of upcoming turkeys.  The real all around deer manager may be even thinking of spring planting, but don't forget the minerals!
     This is a little mixture that I was taught  to use a long time ago and know several deer manager doing the same throughout the nation.     Locally, I find what I need at Southern States Cooperative.  I point them out directly because its one of the only places that I can find Moncalcium Dicalcium  Phosphate or Feed Phos.    For a feeding station.   I take one 50 pound bag of Feed Phos and one 50 pound bag of trace mineral salt.   (You may know the ratio as 1 to 2 but give me minute.).    I put this mixture out like you were placing Deer Cocaine out.   You take your trusty shovel and dig up the earth about a 3 foot by 3 foot area.  I mix the Fed Phos and the Salt together and then turn the dirt.   I come back in a month or so and place another bag of trace  mineral salt on  top of the station. 
     I was taught and have tried adding a bag of dried molasses to the combination, but found that I didn't attract anything with it but ants and bees.   I leave the molasses out as my deer seem to want the salt.   The bucks and does will go after the Salt and get the calcium as well as phosphorous in the process.
     You may ask-----Why in February or March?    I put it out in the winter to let it get into the ground in anticipation of the does having babies.    I will sometimes come back right before the horns start to grow and do it again.   But that is up to you and your budget.  You can make it once a year and see the calcium in the spots from year to year.
     I make my own supplement to keep the cost down.  There are however some commercial products on the market.  Trophy rock is a commercial supplement that is being sold and I have heard good things about it.  I do believe in Deer Cocaine.   Deer Cocaine is one of the few commercial deer attractants that I use and honestly I put it one these sites right before Deer season to get the Deer in.  (I however consider Deer Cocaine an attractant and not a supplement.)   A company out of South Carolina called Low Country Deer Minerals is making a mixture that is supported by some very reputable people as well.
     Last but not least.  I was taught to run one station per every 200 acres.  I will also say that the deer have to like the spot.  Sometimes they will not eat it in one spot but eat it 50 yards away.   I put the stations near trails but in areas of cover.  You are trying to grow deer at these locations and are not worried about killing them.   Out of economics you may want to try a site with Deer cocaine.  If they come to that, then put out the good stuff.
     Whatever you do or don't do.  This is just one of the ways that I stay out in nature and spend my time thinking about and working for my deer during the off season.   Enjoy the outdoors and grow a Big One!!!

Ozonics HR-200 Review.

     Scent prevention and elimination is a major concern for anyone seeking to get within the same area code of mature whitetail.   Over my years of hunting, I have went from smoking on the stand to being one of those guys that is a scent freak.  Yes  I killed deer while smoking but I have killed allot more deer since I stopped.  Sure I killed deer before watching my scent, but I have killed allot more since I began managing my scent.  As I began to Bowhunt more and more, this is about the same time I began taking scent free bathes, wearing scent prevention camo, using scent spray, and that has led me to the Ozonics. 
     From the Ozonics website it claims " Ozonics transforms oxygen molecules into ozone molecules and, with a silent fan, projects them downwind out over your scent zone where these unstable molecules bond with your scent molecules, rendering them unrecognizable to deer and other scent-savvy game."   Also from the Ozonics website they recommend  "

Use Ozonics in your treestand or ground blind.

Mount Ozonics above you in your tree or in the window of your ground blind and face it downwind. Ozonics exclusive Game Changer Technology electronically changes oxygen molecules (O₂) into ozone molecules (O₃) and projects them downwind with a quiet fan. The heavier ozone molecules fall through your scent zone. Because ozone molecules are extremely unstable, they bond with any molecule they come near (scent molecules) rendering them indistinguishable to the nose of the deer. The bottom line: you will notice a drastic reduction in the number of deer that smell you."

     I used the Ozonics HR-200 while on a trip to Alabama.   My friend had a bowhunting only area and requested I use the device.   I hunted the majority of the morning perched on a tripod near a green field.    Several deer came down wind of me and seemed not to smell me.  I can tell you from personal experience that I get busted regularly with scent-free bathes, scent inhibiting clothing, as well as spraying myself down good.   This item appears to work.
     My buddy used the Ozonics on Illinois trip as well as on his hunting property.  He claims great success and has even harvested several mature bucks while using the Ozonics.   On his first trip using the product, he harvested a 150 plus inch buck.   He is sold and has about sold your truly.
     Negatives:   The battery on this model seem to last about 4 to 5 hours.  That is pretty good for a regular hunt but not for a all day rut hunt.   You probably should buy an extra battery which aren't necessarily that the cheap.  The Ozonics unit I tested is pricey as well.   You can easily sink $300 to $400 dollars into one of these.
     Positives:  It seems to work!  Ok, I believe nothing can totally eliminate scent but it does seem to really help.  I had deer down wind.   I have talked to several people with the same experiences.  Have you priced a scent prevention suit lately----one of these units isn't that bad relatively speaking.   The unit was easy to use, had no malfunctions, and I can speak for my buddy who has used one for two seasons---He is hooked.
     Bringing all this back to the Bowhunter.  This may be a product you should try.   I am all about trying to help prevent scent.   Being on the Prostaff member of NC Real Outdoors (http://www.ncrealoutdoors.com) has also forced me to get our my box and try new things so I can help others with their purchases.   This is one of those purchases that I recommend.  I know its one more toy in my already heavy backpack, but I think I will add one of these in the near future.   Shoot Straight!

Late Season can PAY OFF!

     I was ending up a spectacular season in the deer woods.   I had taken a huge VA buck, shot a doe, and was just enjoying  the holidays.  I however seldom shoot a buck after Thanksgiving in the Carolinas.    I had in fact just shot a doe a few days earlier trying to get some meat for the freezer and wasn't really thinking I would see a buck.
     This story started out back in November.   I got a trail camera picture of a tall tined 8 point at night and it got me excited.  I shot very cool twelve point earlier in the season and originally thought it was the eight that coming and not him.  I originally took the trail cam picture and judged the deer as a 4.5 year old shooter and made that call because of the length of the face and the glimpse of the body that I got.
     Fast forward to winter and the weekend after Christmas.   My wife's mother was flying into town so my wife and boy went to the airport to pick her up.   I joked with the better half that I was going to kill a big one.   I got to stand early ---I am talking really early about 1:00.  I went to a shooting house and just went in to relax.    The lack of acorns and cold weather had the deer hitting my fields real hard, so I thought this was a good place. 
     I sat and saw what you expect to see early in the afternoon during December well after the Rut---------NOTHING.   At 4:30, a 4 point that I knew well slipped into the field.  The wind was in my face so I just relaxed and watched the buck.   He however looked behind me, got nervous, and walked off.   Out from nowhere, the eight point walked across the field around 5.  He came in from my hard left.   He was crossing the field and I didn't give him time to make it all the way across the 3/4 acre field planted in oats, wheat, clover, chicory, and turnips.   I lifted my 7 Rem Mag and put a 150 grain bullet into his chest.   He made it about 30 yards but never made it out of the field.
     I made it over to the buck and looked at his nice tall rack.   This was the end to a great season and just a fun way to end my last hunt.   Not to take anything away from the buck, but I did think he was a 4.5 years old.  I do however now think and believe he 3.5.  But that is ok.  I enjoyed shooting him, would shoot him again, and it was cool to finally kill a nice buck in this part of the world after November.
     Last but not least.  I wasn't planning on killing a deer.   I left the 4 wheeler at home (Its how I load big deer while alone.).  So I  tied a tie strap to the deers head and lifted him/ secured his head while I got up into the bed of the truck.  I then grabbed the horns and began to pull the buck into the truck.  I was horrified when one of his horns pulled off!  That was a first.   It was clean pull like he was about to shed.  So this was truly a first for me and memory I will never forget.  Hopefully the taxidermist can still make him look cool.

Something is wrong with her!

    PREFACE THE STORY.   Bow season stank.  I normally shoot at least one doe in NC and sometimes one in VA, but this  year I had a big goose egg.  OK, I had a real good time but I didn't come up with a doe.   I did miss a doe by misjudging the distance.  I also got within bow range of 2 nice eight points (one of which was REAL NICE), but I couldn't seal the deal.   I had been running cameras on and off since the spring.  I had saw a doe with a mass on her face on camera, as well as on the stand.  I had thought to myself that I try to take her this year if I had the opportunity.   The rut had come and gone and I BUCK HUNT during around the rut.   Rut was however a sweet memory, there was a nice buck in hand, and I needed to thin the herd.
     I hate trying to shot does in the late season.  During the bow season, they are allot more tame.  You also see deer around every corner during the rut.  The late season is however a different animal.  The does and even the young bucks are have shot at and/ or are just scared of every movement.  All deer need to eat so I went back to my green fields to hunt the girls.
     I got to the woods an hour from the house and was looking through my backpack.  I starting doing my normal afternoon ritual,  When I went to open the tote with my camo in it, I realized I had left it home!  I wasn't about to go home and not hunt so I got together enough stuff to stay warm.  I went to the stand I had shot my big buck from earlier in the season.   I wasn't seeing a huge amount of deer from this green field this year,  but I was also seeing the doe with a mass on her face.   She knew I was there.  She would come out into the road I had planted, and look up the hill at me and watch me for long periods.  I had tolerated her during buck season but it was after Christmas so her day had come.   I sat that day with little to no activity.  I had saw nothing even though I hadn't been in that stand for almost three weeks  (I thought maybe the camo and scent loc clothing thing was for real, haha).   At 5 though my old familiar friend stepped out down the planted road.  She tried to play the same game that she played out several times over the year and look up the hill.  I let her look at me a little, then she went to eat.  I raised my 7mm WSM and put the scope on her.  I think she caught the movement because she turned to walk back into the woods.  I shot her at about 120 yards and she promptly fell to the ground.  A couple of kicks and it was over.
     The after moments of shooting a deer are always a hectic blurr to me.   You question if you should get down ASAP or take time and sit in the stand.  This was one of those times that you get down and walk to the deer.  I made the walk down the hill and looked her over.   I raised her head as I do either buck or doe and took a long look over her.   If I had it, I would take more appreciation of this moment whether it was  a buck or doe.  I enjoy walking up to them, taking the pictures, and really just enjoying your hard work.  I do however go into machine mode and automatically start figuring out how to load the beast as well as gutting it, so I can get it back home.  I am complaining as I think I rob myself of precious moments as well as dignity I  believe that is owed to the animal.
     This is normally were the story ends and I say something inspiring.  This deer however had huge tumors not only on its face but all over its body. We were taking pictures at home in the light and could see the hard tumors all over here.  Many of them were under her legs and even around her anus.   From questioning others and what I researched on the Internet, the masses were not tumors but rather warts.   They are a sort of viral thing that happens to deer.  I was told by others that meat was OK but I couldn't bring myself to it.
     This was one of my firsts.  Right or wrong, I felt good about taking her out of the herd.  She will always be a memory to me even though she wasn't an addition to the freezer.