10 Year Old shoots Huge Buck with a CVA Accura V2 Muzzleloader

Just the other day I received an email from Dudley over at BPI and it had a picture and brief description of a 10 year old boy and his Grandfather shooting a awesome buck with a CVA Accura V2 from 100 yards.

Brady Hardgrave and his muzzleloader buck

10 year old, Brady Hartgrave and his Grandpa Tim Williams were hunting together on Sept 26 in Clayton County, Iowa during his first youth deer season, for the shot of a lifetime!  Grandpa was watching some does when Brady spotted a buck then Grandpa saw it, not wanting Brady to get over excited, he said don't look at the antlers, look for the shot, and he nailed it with a CVA ACCURA 50 caliber muzzle loader from 100 yards...dropped it like a rock!   I almost forgot that they were elevated 23' in a deer shack built by his Uncle Brad and Grandpa.

The monster 21 pt non typical buck scored 196 1/8 gross and 183 5/8 net. It will be a trophy and a great memory for Brady, when he and his Grandpa got the "big one!" 

I want to give thanks to Brady's mom Jenn for giving me permission to post and to Suzie for the extra picture and the story to go along with it. It just goes to show that the sport of Muzzleloader hunting and muzzleloader shooting in general is constantly on the rise. If it not for a company such as BPI "Blackpowder Products Inc." and CVA "Connecticut Valley Arms" America's #1 leader in Muzzleloader accuracy this awesome experience for Brady and Tim would not have been possible (in my opinion).

Brady & Grandfather Tim Williams

Deer Hunting Exhibit opens in Wisconsin

This looks like a nice place to visit if your in the area, would be interesting to see what they had to say. The only whitetail museum I ever saw was the one at Cabela's in East Hartford, Connecticut which I would say was pretty interesting.

Oshkosh museum opens history of deer hunting exhibit

By Danielle Beyer

A-T Online

The exhibit, Deer Hunting: Wisconsin's Autumn Tradition, opened Saturday, Sept. 25 at the Oshkosh Public Museum, bringing with it attractions aimed at the entire family.

The exhibit will run until Jan. 30, 2011 and includes a variety of information on hunting, white-tailed deer, history and current events within the hunting world.

According to Megan Del Debbio, marketing coordinator for the museum, the exhibit is not geared only toward hunters and is very localized to make it relevant to all Wisconsin residents.

She said the museum exhibit offers a variety of material that anyone could find interesting, regardless if they have ever set foot in the woods to hunt.

Ethical questions, such as those on baiting, fair chase and information on chronic wasting disease, are among the topics addressed.

Many displays throughout the exhibit take visitors through the history of hunting, starting with Native Americans and ending with the current condition of the hunting industry.

There is a big focus on the role deer hunting plays in Wisconsin and how it has affected life in the state, which Del Debbio said the museum tried very hard to portray with the material chosen.

To represent the culture of hunting, the museum staff chose displays on the impact hunting has on the economy, how Wisconsin has contributed to the formation of the deer hunting industry and art and photos related to hunting.

The tradition of "deer camp" is also showcased widely in the exhibit. A museum display describes deer camp as "the place where young hunters were initiated into the world of adults and hunting."

To keep the emphasis on culture, the exhibit goes on to describe the atmosphere of deer camp. "Deer camp would not be deer camp without the practical jokes and laughs they produce," a sign at the exhibit quotes.

The museum staff put special emphasis on getting kids involved as well, including setting up special stations where kids can make deer tracks, touch antlers and listen to recordings of deer calls, according to Del Debbio.

click here for more photo's and complete story:

Another Healthy mouth watering Recipe

Now doesn't this look like a great meal. All natural no preservatives venison with Some nice steamy Broccoli and rice. I'm hungry just looking at the picture.

Recipe: Tenderloin Tips Over Rice Trophy Buck Secrets Staff.
Name:	Recipe: Tenderloin Tips Over Rice
Description:	Healthy and Delicious
Ingredients:	2 Pounds of Venison Tenderloin, Cut into 1-inch Cubes 1 10-ounce Can of Beef Consommé 1/3 Cup Cranberry Cocktail 2 Tablespoons of Soy Sauce ¼ Teaspoon of Onion Powder 2 Tablespoons of Cornstarch ¼ Cup Water 4 Cups of Hot Cooked White Rice
Directions:	Brown meat on all sides in a large heavy skillet. Add consommé, cranberry cocktail, soy sauce, and onion powder. Heat to boiling and then reduce heat, cover with lid, and simmer until meat is tender (about an hour). Add cornstarch and water and stir until mixed well. Stir constantly until gravy thickens. Serve over rice. Feeds 4-6 people.
Created By:	Ralph Scherder

Venison/Meat Cutting DVD Give-a-way

My friend Leon from "Survival Common Sense" is having a real nice give-a-way that I thought you all might be interested in. I know I put my name in for it. Here is the post for his give-a-way and after I hope you read it and put your name in for it you might take a couple minutes to browse his place.

Enter to Win Free Venison/Meat Cutting DVD

Posted on September 24th, 2010 by Leon in Leon's Blog

The hunt isn't over after the harvest: An important part is enjoying the venison! Clem Stechelin's DVD, "Solutions for Meat Cutting," can show you the best way to process that meat!

Knowledge and skills are paramount to your wilderness survival kit, and meat processing should be a standard survival skill.

But if you haven’t learned this skill, and don’t have anyone to teach you, here’s a chance to win a free DVD of  “Solutions for Meat Cutting” by Clem Stechelin. Clem, of La Pine, OR., is a retired meat cutter, and processed an estimated 12,000 game animals during his 40-year career.

For a limited time only, (as used a car salesman might say!) here’s how you can win this DVD.  Sign up for the SurvivalCommonSense.com weekly newsletter update, and you’ll be included in the drawing. (Your email address will never be sold or shared, and you can unsubscribe at any time by pushing a button!)

Contact me at SurvivalCommonSense.com or through my email address: survivalsenselp@gmail.com (I haven’t forgotten you folks who are already subscribers! If you want to be included in the drawing,  just let me know!)

The drawing will be held in a couple weeks, before I go elk hunting in Idaho. Hopefully, the winner will to get this DVD in time for deer season.
 Wild game meat is an under-utilized resource in this country, and during an extended emergency situation,  it could be a
Even if you don’t hunt, the DVD can teach you some techniques for processing large, domestic animals, such as cattle, goats and sheep. As Clem bones out an elk for the camera, he discusses the best uses of certain parts and cuts. He makes specific recommendations on knife choices, and shows you the best way ways to use those knives.

The DVD is also a great choice as a gift for a hunter, prepper, survivalist, or anyone who needs to learn this skill.

A survival skill that could come in Handy

Here is a guest post from Leon's Blog that I think would come in handy for some if they are out at deer camp for awhile. I also want to thank Leon for giving me permission to share what I think is a good post to read for future reference.

The Dutch Oven Survival Kit

Posted on September 27th, 2010 by Leon in Leon's Blog

Probably the most common question about Dutch oven cooking is: What do I need to get started? Here’s what I’ll take to elk camp in October, and what I’d recommend you get as part of your urban and wilderness survival kit!

A Dutch oven can be an indispensable part of your survival kit when the weather turns bad and you're stranded at home.

by Leon Pantenburg

Please visit "Survival Common Sense" for more great tips.

During virtually any emergency, you will need a cooking tool that can bake, boil, fry and saute. And it should be able to function  with a variety of heat sources, since electricity might be a variable!
My nomination for this wonder implement has been around for hundreds of years. It’s easy to find, cheap and effective.  Get a cast iron or aluminum Dutch oven. This cooking tool has a proven track record, and it can use virtually any heat source.
A Dutch oven can be used to boil water, make a stew, bake bread, and cook virtually anything that can be fitted inside. And if you were forced to evacuate an area, a camp and/or Dutch oven is compact and light enough to

Hurricane Katrina was due to hit land in a few hours, and my relatives in Mississippi, about 150 miles north of New Orleans, weren’t sure what was going to happen.  I overheard my wife talking on the phone to her sister, Patti,  of Clinton, Mississippi. In the middle of the hurricane preparation discussion, they started talking about recipes and what to cook, using a cast iron Dutch oven!
Everyone near Katrina faced a potential power outage that could last
indefinitely. There was a discussion of evacuating, versus staying put. Among the urban survival necessities in any natural disaster is a way to cook and purify water by boiling.
We had given Patti a hand-me-down cast iron camp oven with the lipped lid and three legs. Designed to be heated on top and bottom with campfire coals or charcoal, the camp oven was considered a necessity on the American frontier for at least two centuries. That type oven was taken on the Lewis and Clark expedition, was used by travelers on the Oregon trail, and was indispensable in countless cabins, lean-tos and soddies.
Technically, a “Dutch” oven has a rounded top and  no legs and can be used in a conventional oven on top of a stove, or on an outdoor propane fish cooker of grill.

Today, a camp oven is on my short list of disaster survival kit tools. A Dutch oven can be used to boil water, make a stew, bake bread, and cook virtually anything that can be fitted inside. And if you were forced to evacuate an area, a camp and/or Dutch oven is compact and light enough to be easily transported.
My wife’s advice to her sister was to go to Walmart, get at least 50 pounds of charcoal and three of the round, 14-inch diameter metal pet food dishes. Put the oven, these items and some basic cooking utensils in a square milk crate for storage.
I’ve been cooking with Dutch ovens at hunting and fishing camps for decades, and on many camping trips and Boy Scout and Girl Scout outings. Beginners frequently ask for a list of tools to get started in Dutch oven cooking. So, here’s the basic, bare-bones list of Dutch oven survival kit necessities, proven over the years.

• 1 – 12-inch Lodge brand shallow cast iron oven: I like Lodge cast iron  best, Lodge Logic 8-Quart Pre-Seasoned Cast-Iron Camp Dutch Oven because it is made in America and has a proven quality record, but that’s just personal preference. Chose whatever brand you like, but be careful: You’ll get what you pay for. A cheap, poorly-made oven won’t work particularly well, and you’ll probably end up replacing it with a quality piece. Sometimes, I take an aluminum oven on outdoor excursions instead of cast iron to save weight.
• 3 – shallow metal pans with lipped rims: These are critical, and common dog food pans work very well. Put one pan underneath the oven to protect the coals from dampness and help regulate heat; and another pan is used to store coals. The third is a spare that is used to cover the oven and protect it from rain or snow while cooking.
• 1 – lid lifter: In a pinch, a pair of channel lock pliers will work. Gsi Dutch Oven Econo Lid Lifter
• 1 – trivet or tripod: This is a wire or metal rack that holds the lid while you stir the contents of the oven or adjust seasonings. It keeps the lid out of the dirt and clean. Cast Iron Dutch Oven Folding Lid Holder Stand
• 1 – knife. You probably don’t need a tactical or survival knife, (even though, in an emergency, any  knife you have is a “survival knife”) but you will need something that will work for food preparation. Frosts Carbon Clipper Utility Knife
• 1- nylon spatula: This is used for cooking and cleaning the oven.GSI 9.75” Nylon Spatula
• 1 – large nylon spoon. Coleman Nylon Spoon
• Source of heat: Charcoal is easy to use, and and provides an easy method of regulating heat. Make sure you have an adequate supply! 

The lid lifter, trivet, “survival knife,” spatula and spoon all fit inside the oven.  All these items fit into a nylon commercial Dutch oven holder. Another great way to carry everything is in a square milk crate. Put the metal pans on the bottom, and the oven won’t tip over. The loaded crate stacks nicely.
Cleaning a Dutch oven is easy. Take the spatula, scrape out any food residue, and fill it with water. (Never put cold water into a hot oven. It might cause it to crack.) Put the oven back on the coals, and boil the water. Usually this will be enough to clean the oven, and all that remains is to scrape out the softened food debris and wipe it dry. Hit the cast iron with a light film of oil to protect against rust.

Harmless but Still a Snake

Yesterday I excitedly headed out to check my camera which by the way had nothing but a empty picture on it. I still feel good about the spot so I will give it another week before I will decide to move it. On the trail down to where it is setup though I saw this guy on the path warming himself in a sun spot coming through the tree tops.

Common Garter Snake

Connecticut has a lot of different types of snakes but only two are venomous and should be considered dangerous.

1.) Copperhead

Range and Habitat: Copperheads range throughout the eastern and central United States but are absent from most of Florida and south-central Georgia. Although copperheads are found in forested areas throughout most of South Carolina and Georgia, their habitat preferences change across our region. In the mountains, copperheads are most common on dry rocky hillsides and sometimes den communally with timber rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus) on open, south-facing hillsides.




2.) Timber Rattlesnake

Habitat: Inhabits upland dry pine forest, pine and palmetto flatwoods, sandhills and coastal maritime hammocks, Longleaf Pine/Turkey Oak habitats, grass-sedge marshes and swamp forest, mesic hammocks, sandy mixed woodlands, xeric hammocks, salt marshes, as well as wet prairies during dry periods. In many areas it seems to use burrows made by gophers and gopher tortoises during the summer and winter.



For more info on this snake and others click the link,
Field Guide for Snakes in Connecticut"

Matching the Rate of Twist with your Ammunition

You know I was looking through a Sportsman's Guide catalog and they have some good deals on ammo and I starting thinking about barrels and their rate of twist. What really is rate of twist and what does it have to do with your rifle barrel.

photo from: Gunners Den.com

What does the rifling twist rate do.The rate of rifling twist determines the optimum bullet weight for a given caliber and speed of the bullet by applying the proper spin on the bullet to prevent the bullet form yawing and pitching.
Expressed in terms of the number of revolutions per inch of barrel length, this ratio is commonly expressed by designations such as 1:10, 1/10 or 1 in 10 twist, the 1 represents 1 twist, the 10 represents inches of barrel length.
So, a 1 in 10 twist is, 1 complete bullet revolution every 10 inches of barrel length traveled.

How do you know what rifling twist is right.
A good rule of thumb is that the heavier and longer a bullet is, the faster the rifling twist rate needs to be to stabilize it in flight, therefore a lighter shorter bullet needs a slower rifling twist rate to give proper bullet spin for correct flight.

Measuring the rifling twist rate in a rifle barrel. To measure the twist of a barrel, use a cleaning rod, magic marker and a tight patch.
 1. Make a straight line with the magic marker the length of your cleaning rod.
 2. Start the patch down the barrel, stop and mark the rod at the muzzle and a mark on the muzzle.
 3. Push in the rod slowly until it has made one revolution, this is verified when the line on the rod lines up with the mark on the muzzle, then make a second mark on the rod at the muzzle.
 4. The distance between marks on the rod is the rifling twist rate in your barrel.

A great place to go to get good deals on ammunition I think is the Sportsman's Guide and it is not the the catalog you can also get what you need online. To save even more is to join the buyer's club and save even more. I am looking into that myself.

Signs of Autumn are upon us

That magical time of year we call Autumn is creeping up ever so quickly. I absolutely love this time of year and not just because of deer hunting season although is does play a part in it.

In my area I see the swamps appear to be the first to succumb to the changing temperatures and are dropping their leaves. Being a swamphunter myself I love these areas. They provide so much life and so much wildlife that you could virtually sit quiet all day long and be entertained with the goings on. As I have mentioned in the past I cherish my time in the field. I am more than happy to be able to sit there and see deer but, if I am fortunate enough to fill a tag than I consider that a bonus.

The cool crisp air of autumn which nips at your cheeks and make my nose  a bit sniffely is exhilarating. I actually breath a lot better when it's cold. To sit in a tree stand or on the ground under a white oak quietly watching the squirrels gather nuts for the coming winter to me is better than going out to a free dinner anywhere.

The sight of a Northern Cardinal with fall leaves in the background is a beautiful aspect of autumn to remember. The Cardinal has always been my favorite bird and I have been fortunate to have 2 to 3 couple that feed at my house during the winter months andTeven other times during the year.

Then there are the chipmunks who are also one of my favorites to watch while I am on stand deer hunting. They can be one of the funniest little creatures to keep you occupied. I have literally had them climb my tree and sit on the platform of my stand right next to my feet.  But a word of caution though and that is do not let them see you move because the will squawk for what seems like an eternity so every other creature in the general area will know something is up.

So let autumn do it's thing and with time I will be able to sit and enjoy it like I do every year at this time in my pursuit fo America's #1 Big Game Animal, the Whitetail Deer.

Pat Pauley Wildlife Art

The next one Up to Bat - The CVA Apex

My next piece of muzzleloading craftsmanship to try is the CVA Apex. I just received the Apex with a 50 caliber barrel for black powder shooting and the second barrel which I am waiting for is a center fire barrel chambered in .243 caliber. See if you didn't know the CVA Apex is capable of interchanging the barrels. This is my first long gun that does this so I am really looking forward to trying it.

I first want to mention how helpful Mr. Dudley McGarity of "BlackPowder Products Inc." has been in helping with continuing my passion of Black Powder shooting which comes next to if not right after Whitetail Deer Hunting.
I also need to give special thanks for Megan Schaap "Sales Coordinator" for BPI who has been very helpful in checking the status of the order and keeping me very well informed. That again just goes to show the commitment that BPI and it's companies has toward customer relations and also their commitment to quality of product.

REDEFINING THE INTERCHANGEABLE BARREL RIFLE

http://www.cva.com/rifles-apex.php#csmediavideo

The new APEX is, quite frankly, the best break-action, multi-barrel interchangeable rifle system on the market today. Just by shouldering the APEX, the serious shooter will notice a vast superiority to its competitors in both balance and fit. But the real test comes with the shooting. And it is in the shooting that two very important features make the APEX really shine. First, every APEX barrel is made by Bergara BarrelsTM , which are among the most accurate production barrels made in the world today. Second, APEX’s ambidextrous butt stock is designed specifically for scope shooting, with a height of comb that positions the shooter perfectly in line with the optics. The result is a rifle that shoulders and points as naturally as your favorite shotgun – just like it’s an extension of your body.
As for versatility, the APEX can be quickly and easily set up with a wide range of Bergara Barrels in 13 different muzzleloading, center-fire, and rim-fire calibers. Plus, every APEX features CVA’s patent pending E-Z OpenTM breeching mechanism, which, due to its trigger guard actuation, is extremely simple to operate. And its innovative trigger design provides an incredibly clean, crisp pull, and is adjustable from approximately 3 to 5 pounds. Every APEX also includes a Quake® Claw® sling and a custom DuraSight® Z-2 AlloyTM rail mount.

 

What type of Shotgun Slugs do you Prefer

I look forward to shotgun season every year. It is the time of year that seems to me to be the pivot point weather wise where warm weather fades away and cold weather creep in. It's the time when the green of summer dies away and floats calmly to the ground in beautiful colors of red,yellow,orange. It is a time where the lazy days of summer cease to exist and the busy high paced activity of life preservation takes over and all the wildlife in the forests run around gathering food for the winter. Last but not least it is when the whitetail deer have their mating time called the RUT, also known as SHOTGUN/RIFLE season.

Now for me I have been fortunate to use the same shotgun I started with 18 years ago. Yes it shows a little wear here and there and occasionally it will jam ( I think it is just being temperamental ) but it does have quite a few deer to it's credit. It is a Maverick 88 by Mossberg 12 gauge pump with synthetic stock and forearm topped with a Simmons 4x32 scope with a 24" smooth bore slug barrel under it.

These are what I shoot and they seem to be accurate enough for me.

Winchester's Rifled Slug Hollow Point for smooth bore barrels.

Price range is $3.99 to $6.99 depending on brand and where you go.

Now other than smooth bore there are rifle barrels which take a saboted slug. Much more accurate but much more costly too.  The going prices for a saboted slug  5 round box are any where from $12.99 to $14.99 which is a big difference compared to rifled.

Here is the difference between a Saboted slug compared to a Rifled slug.

They both do what they are intended to do so it just gives you different options.

Attracting for Scouting Purposes only

What would help bring in the deer. Of course the question comes "Is it illegal to bait deer"?. Well, here in Connecticut except for a coulpe zones you can not hunt over bait. Now I don't plan to break that rule but to help maybe get some pictures to see what is in the area I plan to throw out some goodies.

Note: Check local hunting laws near pour sites. 

I also wanted to include this that I found on E-How

How to Feed Mineral Blocks to a Deer

By Ashley Bustamante, eHow Contributor

updated: August 21, 2009

I want to do this! What's This?

Feeding mineral or salt blocks to a deer---a process often referred to as "deer baiting"---can be done for either recreation or hunting. There are a few things to keep in mind if you plain on attracting deer with mineral blocks, including distance, placement and legal issues.

Instructions

1. 
   
   
   1
   Find out if deer baiting is legal in your area. It is illegal in many countries and states.
   
2. 
   
   
   2
   Find a tree stump that is located in a somewhat secluded area. Most deer will not go to mineral blocks placed too close to a road or a cabin.
   
3. 
   
   
   3
   Place a mineral block on the tree stump. Make sure it is positioned so that it will not fall off.
   
4. 
   
   
   4
   Chip off small pieces from the block and scatter them around the area. This will help draw deer to the spot.
   
5. 
   
   
   5
   Keep your distance. Many deer will not go to the mineral block if they know a human is nearby.
   

Tips & Warnings

If you want to observe deer from your house or cabin, find a stump that is distant from the cabin but free from trees that would block your view. Watch the deer from your porch or window

Michigan's highest scoring Whitetail Buck of 2009

John Benedict took the state's top-scoring buck, this 24-pointer from Tuscola County that measured 202 0/8 points.

■ Photo by Richard P. Smith.

I saw this article and fell in love this rack. Every antler is like finger prints, there are no two alike and this pair just seems to scream character to me.

The highest-scoring whitetail known to have been taken in the state during the 2009 season was a 24-point non-typical from Tuscola County that was bagged by bowhunter John Benedict from Auburn Hills on Dec. 29. The impressive rack has 12 points per antler, a gross score of 209 1/8 and nets 202 even. That score is high enough to put the deer in eighth place among non-typical bow kills in the state, according to the eighth edition of Michigan Big Game Records.
The buck is the highest-scoring non-typical bow kill on record for Tuscola County, but even if gun kills are considered, it's still No. 3.
Benedict's name is not unfamiliar to anyone who has been paying attention to who collects Michigan's biggest bow bucks. His name has been at or near the top of the list a number of times during recent years because he targets the biggest bucks he can find, and he's a skilled hunter. He's also an expert at obtaining permission to hunt private land where whoppers live.
John had seen the trophy whitetail he got last December a number of times over the years, but mostly after dark. On the evening of Dec. 27, while hunting the property where the buck spent some of its time, Benedict saw what he thought was the buck just before dark. It spooked and ran toward some fields.
When going in the direction the buck had taken, John found a heavily used deer trail. Thinking that trail would be a perfect place to try to ambush the buck, he found a fallen tree nearby and cleared out a place to hide among its branches. He also trimmed a few branches to make a couple of clear shooting lanes to the trail.
John returned to his natural blind before daylight two days later.

Read the Full Story:

Original Article was seen on Michigan Game & Fish

Barbequed Venison Hamburger

Barbecued Hamburger Trophy Buck Secrets Staff.
Name:	Barbecued Hamburger
Description:	Here’s another very easy venison recipe from our archives.
Ingredients:	1 Pound Venison Ground Meat 1 Onion, Diced ½ Cup Ketchup 2 Tablespoons Chili Sauce 1 Teaspoon Vinegar 1 Teaspoon Prepared Mustard 1 Teaspoon Sugar
Directions:	Brown meat and onions in a large skillet. Add all other ingredients, mixing well, and simmer 20 to 30 minutes, uncovered. Spoon onto hamburger buns.
Created By:	Ralph Scherder

Trail Cam update is Empty but Hopeful

Well yesterday was Saturday and I went out to check my camera and happy to say I realized it works but, sad to say the only thing on it was me. I was a little confused because I really thought I had placed it in a good spot but after looking around I think I might have been wrong.

I look just 30 yards away and found a spot where it was covered with tracks and this big track was right in the middle of them all. Now you probably can't see but the whole area is covered with white oak acorns. So, guess what I moved my camera. Hopefully they will keep using this same trail for awhile.

My knife is 4" long so that should give you an idea of what I hope to see by moving the camera.

Something new to try, Code Blue Scents

Have any of you deer hunters out there used this before brand before? 
If so what are your thoughts on it?


This is a brand that I started looking at this year and it looks like they are coming out with some stuff that might be good to use. Below from what I gather is a new product.

 

 http://www.codebluescents.com/

Code Blue Deer Scent – One Deer to One Bottle

Improve your chances on the hunt with cover scents, deer scents and game scents from Code Blue. Whether you're whitetail deer hunting, bear hunting or hog hunting, Code Blue offers irresistible game attractants to help you be successful.
Unlike other hunting scent manufacturers, Code Blue uses the scent of only one animal in each bottle for true-to-life effectiveness. Each bottle of deer attractant has a unique registration number that identifies the individual animal that supplied the deer scent. That way, if several hunters in one area are all using Code Blue deer scent, each trail of deer scent will be distinctively different. This also enables versatility when using scent dispensing techniques to simulate different types of deer behavior. Our patented deer scent collection system is used for all of our hunting scents, giving you maximum results.

New addition to my list of Antler Art

I recently took an order for a Muzzleloading Bullet starter but with a slight change. The standard Bullet Starter has a 1" short start and a 4" long start but what this person wanted extra was a hole drilled in the opposite end so as to hold 70 grains of blackpowder.

Not doing this before but thinking I could I said that should work and started it. I of course learn a little bit more every time I make one and this one was no different.

Now granted it might change slightly in the future as I find ways that will work better but for now I think this is an interesting piece.

From the next couple of pictures you will get a better look. This particular one that was mailed out earlier this week is capable of holding 70 grains of blackpowder which some will find work good with the lighter 200 +/- grain bullets.

A Friend Tagges the first Deer of the Season

A friend which I actually met through my blog has in the past couple days tagged his first deer of the season and I want to congratulate him and share his brief story with you.

Eric Jones from Georgia on Saturday morning opening day of Archery season here in Geargia,


I got up with much anticipation at 5am and headed to the mountains to my favorite place to Bowhunt, got into my tree stand and climbed to about 25 feet, still about 20 minutes till shooting light, so i just settled in and enjoyed watching everything come to life. Just after good daylight I heard something coming very fast from behind me, finally i noticed two deer running at full speed around the side of a small ridge, I thought surely something was chasing them, but as i observed to my suprise they were just playing. A few moments later a large doe was trotting up the ridge toward my stand with a yearling close behind, as she got to about 15 yards from me I noticed she bleated and the yearling stopped instantly, but the mother deer kept on trotting by untill it had crossed the ridge and went out of site, I turned my attention to the young deer and noticed it was walking back down the ridge to a small flat were it layed down in some blown down trees. I sat there in anticipation the mother would return soon, but for the next hour and a half, she never returned and the young deer was still lying down about 60 yards away. I called it a good morning in the deer woods and said i would return again on Monday morning.

 

  I returned to my tree stand on monday morning at the same time and enjoyed watching the woods come to life as it turned daylight, i sat there till 9am watching as the Squirels were going from tree to tree eating acorns and chasing each other and playing, I enjoy watching the squirels and birds, as I was sitting there thinking the deer was not moving this morning, I caught movement to my left and saw the same two deer as saturday feeding up the ridge right towards me. As the deer moved closer I noticed they were going to cross over a blown down tree that i had ranged at 18 yards earlier in the morning, as the biggest doe crossed the tree she stopped slightly quartering to me, I came to full draw with my Bowtech bow, settled my site on the front of her shoulder and released the arrow, my Easton axxis arrow and G5 Montech made a complete pass through and the deer only ran about 20 yards before going down. What a great start to the 2010 season.

A Fair Trade in my Opinion

Not very long ago I posted about a muzzleloader I was willing to sell or trade  "Great Deal You Can't Refuse - 4 Sale 50 caliber Muzzleloader" and I'm happy to say a deal has been made.I just could not see the reason to have two guns the same except for a couple changes in design so I put it up and Eric Jones from Georgia made a deal.

For the 2008 CVA Wolf he was willing to trade me a New Nikon Prostaff Scope 3-9x40. I thought that was a fair deal. He wanted a Wolf and I needed a new scope for the CVA Apex I'm waiting for to show up.

2008 CVA Wolf, very good condition, cleaned and in working order w/scope mounts and rings, spare breech plug, breech plug wrench, owners manual and a new box of Hornady 240 grain HP/XTP which I was shooting quite accurately from this gun.

His part of the deal was a brand new scope with all the paperwork and lense cleaning cloth. What I just received yesterday was a Nikon Prostaff 3-9x40 which will be waiting for my new Apex once it get's here. Now I just have to finish boxing up the Wolf for transport to it's new owner.

Scent Eliminators can be the Key.

Scent eliminators can be the key between seeing deer or spooking deer. One of a deer's important senses is it's sense of smell. Little does anyone know that a deer can smell you coming and can even smell that you were there before.

Whether you are scouting, putting up teestands, checking your trail cameras or hunting it is a good idea to use some sort of scent eliminator.

The worse thing to do is periodically go outto check your camera only to not knowingly be spooking the deer out of your area.

This is what I have been using. Hunter's Specialties Scent-A-Way.

The powerful, fast-acting Scent-A-Way Advanced Formula works by neutralizing, oxidizing, bonding, and molecularly changing a wide range of odors on clothing and equipment.
Scent-A-Way Advanced Formula is all natural, safe, and environmentally friendly. It won’t stain or fade clothing or materials and is not harmful to your skin. 

What I will do is keep a spray bottle in my car because at anytime I might decide to go out to check my camera or my stand or to just take a look around so I want to be as scent free as possible. I don't want to inadvertanly scare any deer away.

Of course there are other brands out there but this is the one that seems to work for me so you will have to test what works for you.

Using your Car trunk as a Truck bed

The past few years I have had to change slightly how I hunt. For one thing I used to have a truck which meant all I had to do was put the deer in the back.Last year I had to trade in my pickup truck for a small economic car which is a huge savings on gas but, not much good for dump runs and picking up materials for the house or hauling a deer home.

The question came up though that if I tagged a deer how was I going to get it home without a truck. well being a determined deer hunter as I am I went out and purchased a tarp that was big enough to spread out in the trunk. That way all I had to do was get the deer in the trunk, problem solved sort of.

If you remember last December I had a chance to try out my idea and it worked just fine. Hopefully I can do it again this year. Another good function of the tarp was you can use it to pick up the deer and hoist it out of the trunk.

The trunk of a Ford focus as you can tell from the picture is quite roomy so there you go , no need to have a pickup.

I know what your thinking, what does this post have to do with whatever. It doesn't it have anything to really do with anything, I am just getting excited about deer season so that is why I mentioned it. I know I'm a NUT.

Trophy Nation - A site that deserves to be Bookmarked to your Favorites

I was fortunate enough to get in contact in a round about way with this website that really appears to have what most deer hunters these days are looking for. And I recently was given a membership that allows me to access all this great information. This I think is a must for any serious whitetail deer hunter and for you wives or husbands out there a membership would make an awesome Christmas present for that hunter in your family.

Dear Friend,

If you're like me, deer hunting is more than a just a hobby. It's a way of life.

This website is for people like you... People who are passionate about hunting big whitetail bucks.

I trust you'll find this resource helpful in your quest to become a more successful hunter.

Good hunting and God bless,



David Barrett
Trophy Buck Secrets - Founder

Trophy Buck Secrets has a special Members Only area called, "Trophy Nation."

Trophy Nation is the Ultimate Big BUCK Brotherhood...
providing unmatched access to expert information, powerful resources, and like-minded hunters to give whitetail hunters like you the knowledge, skill and confidence to fill your wall with mounts, and your heart with fond memories.

Gain The Knowledge, Skill, And Confidence To Kill BIG Whitetail Bucks...

Make Quality Deer Management Work On Your Hunting Land...

Share Your Experiences And
Have FUN!

 

It is just a thought but check it out I think you might like it.