Lights...Camera...Buck?

So as the story goes, when you have a spot that is red hot, you just have to get back there to see what is going on. I awoke to the alarm ringing earlier then usual this morning and then remembered "oh you set it last night to set that trail cam up..." Back in the truck at 5:30a, heading over to the spot I thought of where to put this wonderful piece of technology. You see, years ago when they first cam out with trail cameras, I had to have one(it's a guy thing). It used 35mm film and shot pictures every time a leaf moved. Let's just say, it was more of a hassle than anything owning that thing. But now, I'm equipped with a brand new Wildgame Innovations IR4 camera, which is well worth the money. By no means is it the same quality as an $800 camera, but it gets the job done, has infrared lighting and does 30 second video clips. Lets see how it works. In the world of trail cameras, you need to choose one that fits your tasks and fits your wallet. You can read endless amounts of reviews and sit there comparing apples to oranges all afternoon, but at the end of the day, pick one and go with it.

What to do next?

So you've slept on it. You sat there thinking about it in the middle of the night..."How am I going to bag that big buck?" It's a question we all ask ourselves every single year. Most of us hunt the same spots year after year and have a pretty good idea of what the answer actually is. For a new spot, I need to start from scratch. Yesterday I took a good walk of the property and found some good sign. Do I go back and case the land more? Should I set up a trail cam? Do I leave it alone?
Still being the middle of the summer it is safe to say that I don't really need to backoff of this property yet. If it were mid-September, it would clearly be a different story. I figured out a nice spot yesterday for a trail cam, that is my next plan of action.

First time to a spot...

For the first time since last Bow Season, I stuck my foot into my rubber boots and got into the truck, ready to venture out into the next zone for this year. There was something odd about getting back into the truck, throwing my coat onto the passenger seat and trying to feel the gas pedal with a giant rubber boot...

Well, I'm back. Back with more knowledge about that spot that was offered up to me about a month ago...

Ok, lets cut to the facts instead of me sitting here describing how this new spot gets me fired up about Bow Season 2010.

Walking onto the property I noticed a heavy amount of acorns... the first good sign. Definitely a matured forest with lots of hardwoods and plenty of shooting lanes. A nice sign, considering much of the area surrounding it is heavy thickets. About 10 minutes into my walk I found this rub... a pretty good sign that there is a boy in the area I'd say...

Needless to say, I was pretty excited that this spot offered some kind of sign, instead of just believing what people say. We have all had that scenario before, "oh yeah, tons of deer here..." Oh really, where? I found myself in a funnel that passed through the property, looked like there was some heavy hoof traffic there as well. Well what do you know, I found an antler shed from this past season. A small basket rack, with 4 points on one side and good genes, could this be the next favorite spot or what? There is nothing like finding a shed in amongst the leaves. Sometimes I think its like finding a needle in a haystack.

It was only a few minutes later when I kicked up 2 does in a small bottom area. Like I should have, I got busted and they took off which pointed me downhill towards that bottom where the 2 does were standing. "Honey Hole!" I said to myself! Plenty of food, good greens and plenty of trees to hang my Summit stand in this fall. If I can see this much now, wait until the leaves drop. Heading down the hill I noticed a heavy used run cutting right through this bottom and through a small stream. Panning the area for sign I turned around only to find what is pictured below...

CAUTION! What you are about to see next almost knocked me over!

I think it is safe to say that the basket rack shed I found earlier didn't make this rub. It was fresh from last season and just looked plain ol' mean. Just like any seasoned hunter, I have seen my fair share of nice rubs, though this might just take the cake for best rub ever. It fired me up and sent me through the roof. Opening day here I come... watch out bruiser.

New Spots

So if you were lucky enough to score a new spot to hang your stand in this fall, you most likely are pretty damn excited. For the first time in years, I was able to do this. Of course, it came out of nowhere! Sitting at the office one day, when a friend of mine says"You hunt deer right?" "YES!" Perhaps it was the bobble head buck on my desk that gave that secret away? After discussing the possibility of hunting a piece of land he had over in the next county, it was too late to put the fire out! Of course, I was on Google Earth, Google Maps and every topo map program that was free on the web. I think that I was able to tell him more about the property than he even knew. I took a ride over there a few days ago just to scope it out... and it looks awesome!

Today I'm going to head over there after I get out of the office to take a hike through the woods. Though its still very early, a nice 6pt has been spotted along with several other nice looking bucks. Hopefully the antlers don't stop growing at 6pts! We will see.

I will report back on my findings...

Itchy?

No not from bug bites! Obviously I must be talking about that mid-summer itch to get back into the woods after lounging out for the summer. I know that personally, I would ideally like to hunt 12 months of the year, but that just isn't realistic... or possible considering we humans work. I definitely take a break from hunting after the spring gobbler season. Hang those clothes up, clean the pockets of the snickers wrappers and old 12ga shells, you know that routine. I started to pull some stuff out this past weekend to satisfy that urge to get back into the woods. Of course I shot my bow for the first time in months as well and my groups were all over the place(it happens and it's no ones fault but my own). What do you do to prepare yourself for the pre-season, which is only a few short months away for some of us?