2013, Happy New Year

Happy New Year 2013

I hope you have a great 2013, filled with success.  Thank you for reading Accessible Hunter, shoot straight and please set the example when out in the field.  2013 will prove to be a very challenging year for all sportsmen.

No Crossbows In NY

As of 12/31/12 you will no longer be able to hunt with a crossbow in New York without a special permit.  You can read the details here

I do not agree with this law and think anyone should be able to hunt with a crossbow.  What are your thoughts?

Tenpoint Maverick HP

I can't wait to sight in my new Tenpoint Maverick HP crossbow.  It's made in the USA and gets great reviews.  Here are the details...

TenPoint Maverick HP™ 6Point Series Crossbow Package with ACUdraw™

• HL quad limbs with maximum-rotation cams
• 13" power stroke for velocities up to 325 fps
• 3.5-lb. PowerTouch trigger
• Adjustable fore grip
• Package includes top-quality accessories and ACUdraw cocking device

It blends TenPoint and 6-Point Series technology, enhancing speed, accuracy and performance in one lethal package. The 175-lb. HL quad limbs are equipped with maximum-rotation cams and a durable, D-75™ string. A 13" power stroke boosts arrow velocities up to 325 fps while generating 98.5 ft. lbs. of kinetic energy. Lightweight, UL TriLoc™ barrel, riser and a Verton® two-piece stock. 3.5-lb. PowerTouch™ trigger and adjustable fore grip. Double-dipped in Mossy Oak Break-Up® Infinity™ camo. Includes ACUdraw cocking package.
Power stroke: 13".
Draw length: 175 lbs.
Length: 39".
Width: 25.25".
Weight without accessories: 7 lbs. 5 oz.
Camo pattern:Mossy Oak Break-Up® Infinity™.

6-Point Maverick HP Package with ACUdraw includes: crossbow, ACUdraw cocking device, 3X Pro-View 2™ scope with 7⁄8" rings, three aluminum 2219 XX75 20" bolts with practice points, four-bolt quiver, 7⁄8" fixed dovetail mount.

Pa GAME COMMISSION PREPARES FOR SPECIAL SNOW GOOSE SEASON

HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Game Commission officials are set to offer hunters the opportunity to participate in a snow goose conservation hunt designed to help stem the growth of continental snow goose populations. Hunters must obtain a free snow goose conservation hunt permit and report cards from the agency to participate in the season.

In the Atlantic Population Goose Zone, the special snow goose conservation season runs from Jan. 28-April 26. In the Southern James Bay Population Goose Zone, the special snow goose conservation season runs from Jan. 19-April 26. The Resident Population Goose Zone special snow goose conservation season will run March 1-April 26.

To obtain the required permit, hunters can access the “Snow Goose Conservation Hunt” page by clicking on the appropriate icon in the center of the agency’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us) and then following the instructions. By completing the application online, hunters will be able to print off the permit and report cards and will not have to wait for the package to be mailed.

For those individuals with no online access, permits and the required report cards can be obtained by calling the Game Commission at the Harrisburg headquarters (717-787-4250) and asking for the Bureau of Wildlife Management. However, this process will require mailing the permit and report cards to the applicant, so allow a minimum of one week for processing and mail delivery to obtain a permit.

From the Cookbook: Venison Jerky

From the Cookbook: Venison Jerky  This sounds great!

Stay Silent but Deadly

One of the challenges of hunting from a power wheelchair is noise.  Deer trust their hearing almost as much as their sense of smell, so it's important to reduce noise as much as possible.

Try getting into your spot early and let things settle down.  Reduce your movements as much as possible and wear the right clothing to help eliminate sound....

Stay vigilant and be ready when bullwinkle shows up on your stand.

Merry Christmas Everyone

I hope everyone has a fantastic Christmas and gets exactly what they want for Christmas. I am so looking forward to the second Pa deer season. Hopefully I am able to harvest a mature buck or even a doe.

2012 has been an exceptional year for me even though I have not harvested a deer or turkey. I had the opportunity to hunt with some great people and make some extraordinary friends.  Thank you all for being there for me.

2ND Amendment Thoughts

I'm not a "Gun Nut" I just don't want my RIGHT'S taken away based on what someone may do someday...  What's wrong with the laws we have now?  Are we any safer if we enact another law?

The government and news media are causing a panic.  People are stockpiling and buying guns in record numbers.  Some people with no training or experience....just buying out of fear.

I say again don't take away my rights based on others criminal actions.........

Long Lines

Have you been to a sporting goods store recently?  The recent gun control issues in the news are causing a widespread panic as far as I'm concerned. It seems like everyone and their brother is purchasing a semi automatic and stocking up on 5.56 or .223 cartridges.

I am an advocate of being prepared and having a few rounds on hand. But I'm far from being a doomsday prepper, even if the Myan calendar ends tomorrow.....

Happiness Is

TenPoint Introduces All-Purpose Omni-Nock : The Outdoor Wire

TenPoint Introduces All-Purpose Omni-Nock : The Outdoor Wire

I have not used this new nock from TenPoint yet but it looks good.  I have been using the half moon nock the last several years on a 20'' carbon bolt. 

 

Which nock and arrow combination do you use?

Second Season

Falcon Archers Snowflake Open

The official kickoff for the SW PA, indoor spot season. Falcon is again hosting it's annual Snowflake Open. This will be our 6th year.

The shoot uses the 3-spot or single spot Vegas Targets in the format of the Lancaster Archery Classic. X counts as 11 points. Total possible score of 660.

Men's and Womens Classes. Cash payouts using flights. Everyone has a chance to win CASH!!!

Friday 1/4 at 7:00 PM;
Saturday 1/5 at 6:00 PM
Sunday 1/6 at 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM.

$10.00 Registration Fee.

Contact Rich Paul at (412) 833-8851 to make a reservation. These spots fill up fast, so call soon.

Club info and directions on our website. http://falconarchers.hypermart.net/.

 

Scott's Big Buck

ILLINOIS WHITETAIL ADVENTURE

By Scott Hall

 

   To those who don't know me, my name is Scott Hall and I am a disabled hunter with spina bifida.  I hunt small game, doves and turkey but my passion is whitetail deer.  While most of my hunting is done in my home state of North Carolina, I have also been blessed to be able to hunt in Virginia, Texas, Ohio and most recently Illinois.  My most recent hunt in Illinois is the purpose of this article. 

 

   Those who know me know that I am an avid Facebook user and log on nearly every day to keep up with family and friends, to read all the latest hunting news, and to enter online contests. 

  

   In April of 2012, I entered a Facebook contest to win an all-expense paid whitetail hunt with Trophy Buck Outfitters in Hillview, Illinois.  Having never hunted in Illinois before, and knowing the kind of bucks that come from there, I was hoping against all odds, that my name would be drawn and I would be hunting trophy whitetails in an area where so many Boone and Crockett bucks have been taken.

 

   In June 2012, the date came for drawing the winner of the contest.  When the winner was drawn, I was a little disappointed to read that someone from Tennessee had won the hunt instead of me.  Rather than brooding about it, I quickly dismissed it and just moved on and looked forward to the upcoming deer season in my home state of North Carolina instead.  That is when an unexpected event took place.

 

   One night about two weeks after the contest ended, I received a Facebook message from Andy Chandler, co-owner of Trophy Buck Outfitters.  The message simply said, "Scott call me at this number please.  Thanks, Andy."  I called him back but was unable to reach him.  The next morning the phone rang and it was him.  He introduced himself then asked if I had entered their contest on Facebook?  I replied that I had.  I also told him that I also knew a winner had already been chosen.  He laughed and said, "Well that's why I'm calling, we have had a problem getting in touch with the original winner so we drew another name and had the same problem so basically you're the fifth person I've tried to get in touch with to give this hunt away.  Would you like to come hunt with us?"  When he said that, I could hardly believe it!  My hands started to shake just like they do when I encounter a big buck and my reply was a very enthusiastic "WOULD I?!  YOU BET I WOULD!"  This was just like buck fever.  The only thing missing was the buck.  He said, "Okay then you're our winner, I'll post it on Facebook."

 

  At that point Andy began filling me in on the process of applying for a non-resident tag, buying a non-resident license and habitat stamp.  He also gave me a list of all the things I needed to bring with me.  I hung up with him and immediately called the Illinois Department of Natural Resources where a very helpful agent was able to walk me through the process for applying for my non-resident deer tag.  In September my tag arrived in the mail and I was pleased to see that I had drawn both a non-resident buck tag and a non-resident doe tag as well. 

 

   My dad Ken has been instrumental in nurturing my love of hunting and the outdoors and so I wanted him to come along with me on this hunt to make another hunting memory and to share some time out in God's creation together. 
 

   Finally the day of my departure had arrived.  After leaving North Carolina on November 14th, we drove to Corydon, Indiana the first day where we got a motel room and got a good night's rest, then drove the remaining 250 miles into Illinois the following day.  After arriving, I went to a local Wal-Mart store near where we were staying and bought my non-resident license and habitat stamp.  I was now a "legal beagle".

   We arrived in Hillview, a small community of just under 200 residents, on November 15th and after stopping to ask for directions, we found our way to the Trophy Buck Outfitters Lodge where we were greeted by Andy and his guides as well as the other hunters who would be in camp that week. 

   Situated in the rolling hills and farmland between the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers, Trophy Buck Outfitters has a fully handicapped accessible lodge that sleeps up to 14 hunters.  With two large sitting rooms, two fully stocked kitchens, private bedrooms with 2 beds per room, two handicapped accessible bathrooms, and satellite TV, a hunt at Trophy Buck Outfitters is a trip I will always cherish.     At Trophy Buck Outfitters, meals are provided but breakfast is a do it yourself affair and hunters are asked to take a sack lunch with them into the field because unless other arrangements are made, hunting takes place from daylight until dark and a deer can be spotted at any time of day during the rut.  A deer is not guaranteed at Trophy Buck Outfitters, but the owners and guides go out of their way to place you in big buck areas and make your hunt as enjoyable as possible. 

 

   With a minimum harvest requirement of 130 B&C or P&Y points, there are many trophy bucks in the 150-180 inch range taken there every season.  Hunts take place on several different privately owned farms and there are thousands of acres of land on which to hunt.   Trophy Buck Outfitters does not overbook their properties and there is plenty of room to hunt.  I never encountered another hunter in my hunting area during my hunt which is more than you can say on many properties in big buck states.

 

   After my arrival that evening, I talked with Phil who is one of the guides and he told me that in his opinion, the gun I had brought from home may not be suitable for the terrain on which I would be hunting because it did not have a rifled barrel.  Going into the next room, he returned carrying a brand new 12 gauge Savage Model 212 slug gun.  Holding it out to me he said, "Here! Take this and try it out.  I just got it yesterday and it's never been hunted with but it's sighted in to hit dead on at 200 yards so if you can see him, you can hit him with this!"  I graciously accepted his offer and I am glad that I did.

 

   We turned in very early that night and by 3:30am we were awakened to the sound of guides and hunters already up and preparing for the first days hunt.  My dad and I got up, dressed and ate a quick breakfast then Andy and one of his guides loaded me and my dad and my wheelchair into a van and took us out to our stand location for the day.  After they left, my dad and I settled into the blind and awaited shooting light.

 

  Situated on the edge of a large CRP field with thick hardwoods and brush on all sides, the blind faced east and the CRP field we were on rose gradually from our blind to the top of a ridge some 160 yards distant.  This particular farm we were hunting was over 3,000 acres and we were the only ones hunting there.

 

   In my opinion, there is no better place to be on this side of Heaven, than in a deer blind with my dad.  As the sky started to lighten in the east, the creatures of the forest began to stir from their slumber.  As I sat there in silence, taking it all in, I said a silent prayer thanking the Lord for allowing me the opportunity to be here and listen as the world woke up around me.  As the sun rose above the horizon, I saw a deer about 150 yards away, then another and another.  Slowly lifting my binoculars I was able to make out the shape of a doe then following her were two small bucks, both non-shooters.  I was a little disappointed at the size of these bucks but I knew the area held bigger bucks and the hunt was young and I still had plenty of time remaining.

 

   Just then, the tranquility of the morning was broken by a large fox squirrel who was chattering noisily just to my right.  I slowly turned and scanned the woods to my right then up the field edge in front of me until my eyes caught movement further out.  Raising the binoculars I picked out the shape of a deer.  An old "high headed" doe as I call them, came out fully alert and looking for any sign of danger.  I slowly pulled my camera from my pocket and snapped a quick photo just as she spotted me.  She stomped her front foot, then bounded back into the forest, blowing loudly as she went.

 

   Unfortunately the remainder of the day passed uneventfully with no other deer spotted before nightfall.  Back at the lodge, we found a very nice 150 class ten pointer hanging on the meat pole, and a very happy hunter sitting in the lodge.  He re-told the story of how he was able to take this good looking buck and we all congratulated him on his achievement.  That night around the supper table, I was able to get better acquainted with Andy, his partner Eric and the other hunters, all of whom were from the state of Michigan.  They were all a great group of guys and I enjoyed my time spent with them and with my dad.  After a supper of pizza from a nearby pizza place, we turned in and prepared for day two of our hunt.

 

   Arriving back in the same blind, we settled in again and shortly after sunrise were treated to the sound of a turkey gobbling just behind us and coyotes howling way off in the distance.  A short time later a very large and beautiful coyote trotted out of the timber some 180 yards away.  I had the green light from Andy to shoot one if I saw it, but this one never paused long enough for a shot. 

 

   All during the day we were treated to the sight of several deer but no shooters.  About noon, a yearling six point buck, sporting the smallest six point rack I think I have ever seen, came out in the field.  Sniffing the ground for sign of an estrous doe, he slowly meandered across the field from our left to right before disappearing again into the woods.

 

   About an hour before dark, and with my confidence on a downhill slide, my dad tapped me on my right shoulder and motioned for me to look straight ahead.  I looked and there was that same "high headed" doe we had seen the day before.  I sat motionless this time and watched as doe after doe filtered out of the timber and began to calmly feed in front of us about 160 yards away.  Just as I raised the gun to attempt to fill my doe tag, I caught more movement out of the corner of my right eye.  Glancing over, I saw the glint of antler as a buck strode out of the brush.   I glassed him and saw that he wasn't particularly wide but he was still a good buck.  His rack was tall, extending well above his ears and while he didn't appear to be an old buck, I knew that day two of a three day season was nearly over and with only one day remaining, I did not want to pass him up then go home with an unfilled tag.

 

  I quickly ranged the yardage to be 167 yards.  With the buck calmly feeding broadside and totally unaware of my presence, I rested the gun on the window of the blind and with hands shaking, settled into the gun and eased off the safety.  Placing the crosshairs directly behind his shoulder and taking a deep breath, I exhaled half of it and slowly squeezed the trigger.  At the sound of the shot I heard the thwack as the 12 gauge slug hit home and I saw the buck mule kick with both back legs then take off quickly to my left.  Thinking fast, I doe bleated loudly with my mouth and he stopped dead in his tracks and looked my way.  Ranging him again I saw he was now at 176 yards.  I quickly racked another shell in the chamber and slowly squeezed the trigger.  This time the buck "hunched up" in the middle, lowered his head and took off again to my left.  Stopping a second time, he began to flick his tail vigorously from side to side, a sure sign of a hit.  I ranged him a third time and saw the distance was now 202 yards.  This would be the longest shot I had ever attempted on any deer and especially the longest shot I had ever attempted with a shotgun.  Settling in for the third time I squeezed the trigger and saw the deer run off to the left, this time disappearing from sight. 

 

   I felt fairly confident of the shots but still with the buck out of sight, the presence of coyotes around and night quickly falling, I knew it was important to find the deer as soon as possible.  After calling Andy on my cell phone and telling him I had a buck down, my dad said he was going to go look for the downed deer.  He walked across the CRP field and over the rise and disappeared from view just as the buck had.  A little while later he re-emerged and began waving both hands back and forth over his head.  I thought this signal meant "no sign of him".  What it actually meant was "buck down".  Dad got back to the blind a couple of minutes later, breathless and telling me "He's down but he's way out in the field.  A long way off." 

   The later it got the more anxious I became for Andy to arrive.  Just a few minutes before dark he and Tim, one of the guides, rolled up in the van.  We quickly loaded up then drove in the direction my dad said the buck had taken.  As we scanned the field for sign of the deer I saw a dark shape just ahead.  I pointed and said, "There he is!"  Andy stopped the van, got out and went to the buck then gave me the thumbs up sign.  He and the guide then unloaded me and my chair and after congratulations and a few back slaps, we took a few photos before night fell.  The buck was a nice mainframe nine pointer with a kicker point off his left G-2, making him a legal ten pointer.  He also had a crab claw on the end of his left antler.  A real "character" buck.  He wasn't an old buck, probably three years old, but he was a trophy to me and I was blessed to have been given the opportunity to take him. 

 

After Andy and Tim loaded the buck, we headed back to the lodge.  As news of my success spread in camp, all the guys were coming up congratulating me.  Someone who has never hunted or been in a deer camp has no idea what this is like but to a hunter, it’s one of the best feelings in the world to be congratulated by your peers.

 A little while later, Andy came into the lodge and announced to the whole group that "Scott hit that buck with all three shots and I could cover all three shots with the palm of my hand."  He went on to say that, "The first shot was a double lung hit.  Shot two hit dead center in the heart and shot three was one inch to the right, but also dead center in the heart."  Even after taking three fatal hits, the buck still was able to run 186 yards before collapsing.  This just goes to prove how tough that a whitetail can be.

 

   That night, sleep came easily and I slept the sleep of the just.  I chose to sleep in the following day while others in camp went out in a last ditch attempt to fill their tags.  That afternoon with a doe tag still in my pocket and hearing that there was a family in that community with small children and they had recently fallen on hard times and who could really use some meat, I decided to go out for the afternoon to try to take a doe in order to donate to that family.  I was unsuccessful in doing so, so I opted to donate the meat from my buck instead.

 

  It was sort of a somber mood around camp that last night.  Not everyone in camp had been able to fill their tags, but that was not the reason for the somber mood.  Nobody really wanted the season to be over or for this time to end.  Filling a tag is not the primary motive for going to deer camp.  The primary motive should be having the opportunity to experience God's creation in all its majesty, to form friendships, and to share experiences with your fellow hunting brothers and sisters.  Taking a buck is just a little extra icing on the cake.  While the bucks taken in these deer camps may not all be record book deer, the memories made there are ALL Boone and Crockett size!

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

Archery Avenue

I would really like to have this as my address.  I would much rather shoot my crossbow than any other activity.  The 2012 season is coming to a close soon and sadly I still have all my tags.

I have been out, but not much recently due to the flu... I did have some great chances this year but just could not get it done so far.

If it was up to me, I would bow hunt 12 hours every day. I guess my last chance this year will be second season which starts in January.  I will be out if the weather is not freezing. 

How is your season going?

Late Season 2012 Dates

The small game seasons are: squirrel, Dec. 10-24 and Dec. 26-Feb. 23; ruffed grouse, Dec. 10-24 and Dec. 26-Jan. 26; rabbit, Dec. 10-24 and Dec. 26-Feb. 23; and snowshoe hare, Dec. 26-Jan. 1 in Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) 2B, 2G and 3A. In addition, pheasants (males and females) will be open from Dec. 10-24 and Dec. 26-Feb. 2 in WMUs 1A, 1B, 2B, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4D, 5C and 5D.

The statewide late archery and flintlock muzzleloader deer seasons run concurrently from Dec. 26-Jan. 12.

For deer hunters with WMU 2B, 5C or 5D, they can choose to hunt antlerless deer with use any legal sporting arm from Dec. 26-Jan. 26, or an extended flintlock muzzleloader deer season for antlered or antlerless deer from Dec. 26-Jan. 26, or an extended archery season for antlered or antlerless deer from Jan. 14-26.

Flintlock muzzleloader season participants may harvest an antlerless deer with a WMU license, DMAP permit, or a general hunting license deer harvest tag. During the late season, antlered deer may be taken only by bowhunters and flintlock muzzleloader hunters who possess an unused general hunting license deer harvest tag.

Hunters using archery or muzzleloader licenses, and hunting with those special sporting arms, are not required to wear fluorescent orange, but are encouraged to do so, especially when hunting in WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D, where an antlerless season for limited-range firearms users will also be in progress. Refer to the Digest for firearms restrictions in special regulations areas. Hunters using conventional firearms in those WMUs must wear 250 square inches of fluorescent orange.

Furbearer hunting seasons continuing through the winter months include: red and gray foxes, until Feb. 16, including Sundays; raccoons, until Feb. 16; and bobcats, in designated WMUs, from Jan. 15-Feb. 5.

Furbearer trapping seasons include: beavers, Dec. 26-March 31 (bag limits depend on WMU, outlined on page 74 of the 2012-13 Digest); mink and muskrats, until Jan. 6; raccoons, skunks, opossums, foxes, coyotes and weasels, until Feb. 17; bobcats, in designated WMUs from Dec. 15-Jan. 6; and fishers, in designated WMUs, from Dec. 15-20.

Trappers also may use cable restraints for foxes and coyotes from Dec. 26-Feb. 17, providing they have passed a mandatory cable restraint certification course. For information on courses, visit the Game Commission’s website and click on the “Hunter Education” link in the right-hand column and choose the month of interest to find the nearest course.

Dove hunters also will have late season opportunities when dove season runs Dec. 26-Jan. 5. Hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset, and the daily limit is 15 birds.

Waterfowl hunters have plenty of hunting opportunities to pursue from December into April. Hunters may take Canada geese and white-fronted geese during the following upcoming seasons: Atlantic Population Zone, Dec. 13-Jan. 26; Southern James Bay Canada Goose Hunting Zone, Dec. 10-Jan. 18; and Resident Canada Goose Zone, from Dec. 11-Jan. 15 and Feb. 1-28.

The regular snow goose season runs until Jan. 26 in the Atlantic Population Zone, until Jan. 18 in the Southern James Bay Zone and until Feb. 28 in the Regular Population Goose Zone. For the snow goose conservation hunt, hunters will need to obtain a free special permit in addition to other waterfowl-required federal and state licenses. Bag limits for the conservation hunt are 25 daily and no possession limit, and the season lengths for the conservation hunt are: Jan. 28-April 26 in the Atlantic Population Zone; Jan. 29-April 26 in the Southern James Bay Population Zone; and March 1-April 26 in the Resident Population Zone.

Ducks, sea ducks, coots and mergansers may be hunted in the Lake Erie Zone until Dec. 29; in the North Zone, until Jan. 5; in the Northwest Zone through Dec. 14; and in the South Zone through Jan. 15.

For details on waterfowl bag limits in each of the zones, please consult the Pennsylvania 2012-13 Guide to Migratory Game Bird Hunting, which is available on the agency’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us) by clicking on the “2012-13 Migratory Game Bird Brochure” icon in the center of the homepage.

In addition to a regular Pennsylvania hunting license, persons 16 and older must have a Federal Migratory Bird and Conservation Stamp, commonly referred to as a “Duck Stamp” to hunt waterfowl. Regardless of age, hunters also must have a Pennsylvania Migratory Game Bird License to hunt waterfowl and other migratory birds, including doves, woodcock, coots, moorhens, rails and snipe. All migratory game bird hunters in the United States are required to complete a Harvest Information Program survey when they purchase a state migratory game bird license. The survey information is then forwarded to the USFWS.

Thats Right

Wheelin’ Sportsmen Deer Hunt Jan. 7-8 in Ocean City

The NWTF Bay Shore Gobblers Chapter is accepting applications for its Wheelin’ Sportsmen Assateague Sika Deer Hunt Jan. 7-8 on Assateague Island National Seashore.

 

There are 28 sites available that will accommodate one hunter with disabilities and one guide for the bow-only hunt.

 

The event begins with a 5 p.m. hunters meeting on Jan. 6 in the lobby of the Grand Hotel in Ocean City, Md. Monday will be a full day of hunting. Tuesday hunting will last until noon. Lunch and snacks are provided both days.

 

Hunters must have a valid Maryland hunting license.

 

The Grand Hotel is offering a discounted rate for premier view rooms. Handicapped-accessible rooms are limited, so call early if required. The hotel’s number for reservations is (800) 447-6779.

 

Please complete the applicationand email to pmc_inc@hotmail.com or mail to:

Dean Ennis
1601 Market Street
Pocomoke, MD 21851

 

Applicants will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis and will receive an email with confirmation or spot on the waiting list.

For questions, please contact Dean Ennis at(410) 957-1272 or pmc_inc@hotmail.com.

No Shave November

Well the no shaving in November paid off big yesterday with Rocky Boots .  They had a random contest and ten winners scored free thermals.  I was one of the lucky ten and my thermal underware is on it's way.  Thanks Rocky !

Country Captures: Deer Season

Country Captures: Deer Season  This blog always has great wildlife photo's, check him out.

Deer Camp List (basic)

Equipment:

Action Trackchair

Ammunition

 Arrows

 Binoculars

 Broadheads

 Compass

 Decoy

 Disposable Chemical Heaters

 Firearm or Crossbow

 First Aid Kit

Flashlight/Headlamp

Gerber Multi tool

GPS

 Ground Blinds

 Gun Rest

 Knife

 Map of Hunting Area

Mr. Heater/Propane

 Optics Cleaners

 Pack / BOB

Ramps

 Safety Vest (Required)

 Scent Free Containers for Clothing

 Scent Reduction Clothing Wash

 Scents (Cover and Attractant)

 Trail Tape

 Thermos  

Wheelchair battery charger

 *Grunt Tube

*Fawn Bleat Can

 

Clothing (Scent Reduction):

 Camo Baseball and Stocking Hat

Camo Fleece

 Camo T Shirts

 Camo Balaclava

 Camoflage Cargo Pants

Down vest

 Insulate Socks

 Insulated Boots / boot blankets

 Insulated Camo Jacket

 Insulated mittens

 Insulated pants

 After the Shot:

 Gutting Gloves (Wrist and Shoulder Length)

Box of large Plastic Bags

 Zip ties for License

 Deer Drag

 Good Luck everyone

 

 

 

Pa Hunters Sharing the Harvest

If you can, please consider donating your deer or a portion of your deer to Hunters Sharing the Harvest .  It's a great program that fights hunger throughout the commonwealth.  No one should go hungry in America.

Pa Firearms Deer Season 2012

SEASON OPENER: Pa firearms deer season opens statewide on Monday November 26, 2012  Read the hunting regulations Here.  Wildlife Management Units (WMU) map is on page's 40-43


Antlered Only in WMUs 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3B, 3C, 4B, 4D and 4E thru Nov.30
 
Antlered and antlerless in WMUs 1A, 1B, 2B, 3A, 3D, 4A, 4C, 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D thru Dec.8

Good luck everyone, be safe and shoot straight.

Happy Thanksgiving 2012

Enjoy your day and remember those who are still in harms way, protecting our freedoms.

2012 Pa PRELIMINARY THREE-DAY BEAR HARVEST RESULTS

HARRISBURG - Three days of the statewide four-day bear season have produced a preliminary harvest of 2,442 bears, according to Pennsylvania Game Commission check station reports filed this morning.

Last year’s three-day bear harvest total was 3,023; in 2010, which offered a three-day season with a Saturday opener, the harvest total was 2,815.

The preliminary three-day bear harvest by Wildlife Management Unit was as follows: WMU 1A, 3; WMU 1B, 28; WMU 2C, 208; WMU 2D, 133; WMU 2E, 33; WMU 2F, 260; WMU 2G, 696; WMU 3A, 151; WMU 3B, 167; WMU 3C, 56; WMU 3D, 173; WMU 4A, 119; WMU 4B, 73; WMU 4C, 82; WMU 4D, 223; WMU 4E, 35; WMU 5A, 1; and WMU 5C, 1.

The top 10 bears processed at check stations, so far, all had estimated live weights that exceeded 548 pounds. James R. Weisbrod, of Quakertown, has harvested the largest bear so far this season. Taken Nov. 20 in Greene Township, Pike County, the male bear an estimated live weight of 706 pounds.

 

Other large bears (all but one, are estimated live weights) included: a 699-pound male taken by William M. Rising, of Indiana, in Hamlin Township, McKean County, on Nov. 19;

a 652-pound (actual live weight) male taken by Timothy J. Moffett, of Barto, in Middle Smithfield Township, Monroe County, on Nov. 17; a 620-pound male, taken by Robert A. Pitts, of Meadville, in Roulette Township, Potter County, on Nov. 17; a 598-pound male, taken by Michael P. Intallura, of Renovo, in Noyes Township, Clinton County, on Nov. 17; 586-pound male, taken by Brian K. Stuebgen, of Renfrew, in Sergeant Township, McKean County, on Nov. 19; a 576-pound male, taken by Dana L. Landis, of Chambersburg, in Southampton Township, Bedford County, on Nov. 19; a 562-pound male taken by Bryan L. Leabhart, of Dudley, in Carbon Township, Huntingdon County, on Nov. 19; a 559-pound male, taken by Clayton L. Dulaney, of Towanda, in Auburn Township, Susquehanna County, on Nov. 17; and a 557-pound male taken by Barry Zimmerman, of Loysville, in South West Madison Township, Perry County, on Nov. 20.

After three days of the four-day season, the top bear harvest county in the state remained Lycoming with 239. The rest of the line-up of the top five counties for bear harvests, so far, are: Clinton, 217; Tioga, 136; Potter 103; and Centre, 94.

County harvests by region for the first three days are:

 

Northwest: Warren, 84; Clarion, 65; Forest, 50; Jefferson, 48; Venango, 48; Butler, 8; Erie, 6; and Crawford, 5.

Southwest: Somerset, 75; Fayette, 64; Armstrong, 30; Westmoreland, 25; Indiana, 15; and Cambria, 10.

Northcentral: Lycoming, 239; Clinton, 217; Tioga, 136; Potter 103; Centre, 94; McKean, 86; Clearfield, 80; Elk, 70; Union, 59; and Cameron, 58.

Southcentral: Huntingdon, 85; Bedford, 69; Mifflin, 42; Blair, 33; Perry, 29; Juniata, 25; Fulton, 20; Franklin, 14; Snyder, 7; and Adams, 1.

Northeast: Pike, 66; Monroe, 57; Luzerne, 53; Wayne, 39; Bradford, 36; Sullivan, 33; Carbon, 29; Wyoming, 21; Lackawanna, 20; Columbia, 19; Susquehanna, 17; and Northumberland, 8.

Southeast: Dauphin, 24; Schuylkill, 15; Berks, 2; Northampton, 2; and Lehigh, 1.

Hunters with an unfilled bear license may participate in extended bear seasons that run concurrent with all or portions of the first week of the firearms deer season. For those deer hunters who didn’t purchase a bear license, but are headed to an area where the extended bear season is being held, they may purchase a bear license from Nov. 22 through Nov. 25.

For details about those areas open to extended bear hunting and the dates, please see pages 36 and 37 of the 2012-13 Digest. Bear check stations opened during the extended bear seasons can be found on page 38 of the 2012-13 Digest.

Illinois Ground Blind 2012

This was a great spot, I loved every minute in this blind !

Pa Turkey Season Nov. 22nd - 24th

SEASON OPENER: Wild Turkey (male or female), Nov 22 - Nov 24. See page 35 of the Digest for details.  Good luck, shoot straight and be safe !

Illinois Hunt, How it Happened

Last year Ryan from LED Outdoors and I were hunting in Allegheny County Pennsylvania together when he asked me if I would like to go hunting on his lease at no charge in Illinois. I jumped at the chance and started planning right away for a fantastic archery hunt.

We would hunt together with members of his family and friends during the rut in some of the best Whitetail country Illinois has to offer. The temperatures would range from 24° to 70° so I needed to be prepared for all types of weather.

Two ground blinds were set up by Chase and Jake weeks before and I took an additional blind with me just in case we needed a third option. Chase and Jake are local guides and I just can't say enough about both of them. They could not do anything more to make my hunt successful, enjoyable and comfortable.

The guys in camp (Mike, Boo, Chuck, Sean, Joe, Bob, Brett and Steve) were all dedicated, passionate sportsman and fanatical archers. These guys were so much fun to be around and also so interesting to talk to about hunting. Everyone had an opinion on broadheads, bows, sent spray etc. and they were not afraid to tell you "you were using the wrong one...lol".

The land we hunted on was absolutely beautiful. I was hunting on 350 acres where I seen, squirrels, fox, turkey, coyote and of course monster buck.

I hunted hard all week and on the last day of my hunt, I got the opportunity I had traveled so far to take. A very large nontypical Whitetail buck was coming to the doe decoy, approaching her from behind and downwind exactly as Mike predicted.

As the buck got closer he noticed my ground blind and would look at the decoy, then my blind, take a few steps forward and look at me again. When he got to 42 yards he turned to face me offering a quarter to shot on his front left shoulder. He looked like he was going to leave the area and the doe decoy, so I did my best maneuvering my brace for the shot.

I whispered to Beth to raise my brace a little higher and move it to the left a little more. With her help I was able to get into position and take the shot. We both herd my crossbow bolt hit the buck in his shoulder.

I was so excited, breathing like I just ran the New York City Marathon. I had to take a few minutes and then text Ryan and the boys. Beth and I waited in the blind another 45 minutes before she went out to look for my bolt and blood.

Just then the Calvary had arrived, Ryan, Mike and Chase quickly found the blood trail but no bolt. The trail was bright red blood and they started the tracking process.  Jake came a few minutes later and stayed with us.

After going a long way it was determined that the buck never layed down so we wanted to give him a few hours. Hopefully I managed to catch one lung and giving the buck time, he would expire.

Later in the afternoon the guys went back out and tracked my buck until dark. At that point we determined that it was a nonfatal wound after a very long arduous track. These guys were the best trackers I had ever seen.  The next day was opening day of shotgun season and I was leaving for Pennsylvania. We had to call off the search.

Everything that could possibly be done to recover my buck was. It was not my best shot in the world but it will be one I think about for years to come. It's always the ones that get away that we think about in the middle of the night, right? Not the ones hanging on our walls.

Hopefully this will not be a my last Illinois archery hunt. The boys invited me back out again next year and we are already planning a different ground blind scenario. If everything works out with travel, my health etc. I plan on being there next November. Hunting is my passion and I could not ask for better people to pursue giant Whitetail Buck with than LED Outdoors and the Pittsburgh huntng crew.

　

　

Illinois Archery Hunt 2012

My 2012 Illinois archery hunt, story to follow....

Bushnell Back Track GPS D Tour

The Bushnell Back Track GPS D-Tour is one of the best and easiest GPS devices I have ever used.  I bought this unit last year for my Missouri rifle hunt and it came in handy.  I changed the batteries and put it into my back pack last night for the Illinois trip.

When I am hunting a new lease I like to store a few way points like my van, ground blind, lodge etc.  Then I can use the satellite feature on my laptop to view the area.  It definitely helps in the scouting of new areas.

Rage Introduces Shock Collar Confidence to O-Ring Broadheads : The Outdoor Wire

Rage Introduces Shock Collar Confidence to O-Ring Broadheads : The Outdoor Wire

I am glad Rage decided to fix the issue of the blades popping open prematurely.  I wish they didn't charge an additional $7.99 for the fix...

Just taking the broadheads out of the quiver can pop them open, it's always something I have to check when my crossbow is loaded for me.

Mittens, Balaclava and BMF

I plan on taking my mittens and balaclava along to Illinois to keep me warm.  I have a few strategies for dealing with the colder temperatures and still maintaining enough movement to shoot.

The great thing about using the BMF trigger activator is I can still shoot wearing my mittens.  I use my wrist to pull the crank so no need to remove my mittens, just pull it back....

Boot Blankets and Mr Heater

With the temperatures in the 20's these boot blankets will be a must have in the ground blind for my Illinois archery hunt.  I also plan on taking a propane heater with me for the first time, Mr. Heater .  Because I can't feel from the chest down I need to be extra careful hunting in low temperatures.

I hope to balance staying warm and being scent free.... It could be a long week in cold temperatures so I want to be prepared.  Look for more cold weather gear post coming up...