My First Buck

Author: Zach Harmon

To start things off, on Friday I got picked up from school early and had already packed all of my hunting things to go hunting this weekend. I live in Columbus and was traveling to Muskingum County, OH for my Rut Hunt this weekend. When I first arrived it was about 2 o'clock in the afternoon and I was ready to hastily get my Summit Viper SS and take my Drenalin off into the woods that I have NEVER before been in. I looked around for about 30 minutes, found a nice spot along a scrape line where the deer seemed to be traveling in the evening to go across the street to the soy bean and corn fields to feed at night.

I was in my stand and got settled in at about 3 in the afternoon, set out some doe estrous and then began rattling. After about 20 minutes I see about 60 yards out a decent 6 point grunting very loudly after a doe. I decided I was going to pass on that after it walked underneath me, it was about 100". Being the first evening I felt since I had until Sunday evening to bag one, I was going to wait. I see little buck after little buck chasing does back and forth a lot of action it really was a great time. I sat in my stand until about 5:40, starting to get very hard to see, then the big boy comes, to dark to shoot I shine my light on him and he was about 160". I made the right choice and let him walk away un-alarmed hoping to get a shot at him later on during legal shooting hours.

I go back to my step grandmothers home and find a deer roast in the crock pot with fried potatoes and home made noodles! What a great dinner...

Saturday morning go back to the same spot, and saw a 200 + " about 100 yards away, hot on does, decided not to come my way. I was very bummed, but kept my hopes high. I sat in my stand until about noon and continued to see little bucks after little bucks, so I decided that I was not in a good place for the big boys later that evening. I relocate to where I saw the huge buck and there were trees that were 8" in diameter rubbed to shreds! I was most definitely in big buck country now, so i skipped lunch and got in this stand at 1:00 oclock in the afternoon.

I hopped back on the grunt tube and rattling antlers, and never saw one deer until about an hour and a half before dark the same decent 6 comes my way and starts munching. I watch him for about 45 minutes, and then i felt that i was not going to get an opportunity at a buck this evening, but still tried to remain positive. I close my eyes for a second because of the fierce winds and pouring down rain, and then i hear a twig snap.

My eyes sprung open and immediately saw the rack on a decent buck at about 45 yards. I decided I was going to shoot this buck, even though it was nothing close to what I had been seeing. It looked mature enough to harvest, so I stop staring at the stellar rack and decide to think to myself when am I going to have an opportunity to take the shot, which shooting lane, when will I stand, when will I draw...

All these questions starting pouring through my mind as my body pumped with adrenalin. I struggled to keep my cool, but still kept it enough to not let any animal know I was there. Once he got to about 35 yards he turned his head and looked away, I stand up, he looks towards my stand so I do not move a muscle, then he turns his head the other way again, which was a big mistake! I draw back my Mathews Drenalin and steadily hold my pin an inch behind his shoulder. At this point he was a little over 30 yards, I hold it steady, take a deep breath, and pulled the trigger.

I hear a loud THUD as if it were a shoulder shot, I began to worry right when I shot until he gets about 30 yards and stops running, circles twice then flops over and is dead within 10 seconds or less. I was filled with excitement as I have practiced hours and hours with my compound, as this is my first year ever hunting with one. I was thinking to my self, I can not believe I pulled it off! I decided that since I knew he was dead, and the sun was hastily fading, I should get out of stand and begin gutting!

Finding Bedding Area Tip

Finding bedding areas now gives you a big jump ahead of the game come this fall. It is becoming more and more popular to hunt bedding areas. This is most true when it comes to hunting large mature deer.

The further you hunt from the bedding area, the more options you give a deer to take a route that will not cross your path. By getting in close you narrow down the options he has to avoid you and put the odds in your favor. Keep in mind though, this isn't for the faint at heart. Make a mistake, and it could be your season in that area. So you better bring your "A" game.

Now, is a good time to be scouting and looking for those bedding areas, if you bump deer it will be months before you are hunting them again. Use a map to mark the beds you find and eventually a core area will emerge on the map. Then you know where to begin your search come this fall...

Time Well Spent

This one hit me hard, so I thought I would share it.


A man came home from work late, tired and irritated, to find his 5-year
old son waiting for him at the door.

SON: 'Daddy, may I ask you a question?'
DAD: 'Yeah sure, what it is?' replied the man.
SON: 'Daddy, how much do you make an hour?'
DAD: 'That's none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?' the
man said angrily.
SON: 'I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an
hour?'
DAD: 'If you must know, I make $50 an hour.'
SON: 'Oh,' the little boy replied, with his head down.
SON: 'Daddy, may I please borrow $25?'

The father was furious, 'If the only reason you asked that is so you
can borrow some money to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then
you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed. Think about why
you are being so selfish. I don't work hard everyday for such childish
frivolities.' The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door.

The man sat down and started to get even angrier about the little boy's
questions. How dare he ask such questions only to get some money? After
about an hour or so, the man had calmed down , and started to think:
Maybe there was something he really needed to buy with that $25.00 and
he really didn't ask for money very often.

The man went to the door of the little boy's room and opened the door. 'Are you asleep, son?' He
asked. 'No daddy, I'm awake,' replied the boy. 'I've been thinking,
maybe I was too hard on you earlier' said the man. 'It's been a long
day and I took out my aggravation on you. Here's the $25 you asked for.'

The little boy sat straight up, smiling. 'Oh, thank you daddy!'
He yelled. Then, reaching under his pillow he pulled out some crumpled
up bills. The man saw that the boy already had money, started to get
angry again. The little boy slowly counted out his money, and then
looked up at his father. 'Why do you want more money if you already
have some?' the father grumbled. Because I didn't have enough, but now
I do,' the little boy replied. 'Daddy, I have $50 now. Can I buy an
hour of your time? Please come home early tomorrow. I would like to
have dinner with you.'

The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little son, and he
begged for his forgiveness. It's just a short reminder to all of you
working so hard in life. We should not let time slip through our
fingers without having spent some time with those who really matter to
us, those close to our hearts. Do remember to share that $50 worth of
your time with someone you love.

Quiet Turkeys

There is nothing more exciting than a turkey gobbling from the roost. Even better if he is gobbling back to your calling. But what do you do when you have quiet turkeys? They gobble from the roost and shut right up when they hit the ground, or they just are not vocal at all?

This is where scouting comes into play. Even the pro of pro turkey hunters may admit, when turkeys are vocal, there is little scouting to be done. I for one am guilty of this myself. Not much need for scouting when you can hit an owl hooter or crow call and get one to shock gobble. You move in, call and if lucky he comes within gun range.

But if they are quiet and don't gobble, they become hard to locate. This where you have to scout, scout, scout. Talking to locals and seeing if you can get a tip on where strutting birds have been seen regularly is not a bad place to start. However, setting out on foot and finding sign is a must. Much like deer hunting, a good aerial or topographic map is a good place to start too. These maps can show large tree groups that may be used for roosting, and open patches or pockets that can be used for strutting.

Areas where large turkey tracks and strut marks from dragging wings may be a place to put your attention. Remember you are looking for turkey sign and lots of it. Once you find the sign, it isn't a bad idea to play deer hunter and sit on it. Of course calling as well but be patient. When you think you sat long enough, sit a little more. Remember, just because you don't hear that turkey coming, doesn't mean he isn't.

Bottom line, look for turkey sign that shows they frequent the area. This sign should be heavy and fresh. Once you have these areas picked out, sit on them. Don't be afraid to spend a couple hours at each location, it might just be what it takes to get that long beard in your sights.

Places TO Hunt

As we all know, finding a quality place to hunt is getting harder and harder. Just like everyone else, I too, have to go out knocking on doors to secure hunting spots. Getting permission to deer hunt seems to be the hardest. On the other hand, farmers just plain don't seem to like turkeys. 

This subject came up the other day in a conversation I had with Walt Rayfield. Walt is an avid hunter and works as a hunting supply sales distributor for Apple Land Sports Supply. He put it to me like this, "if you knock on ten doors and ask to hunt deer, you will probably get ten no's. If you ask the same ten people to turkey hunt, you might get nine yeses." Same thing goes for waterfowl hunting, you get way more yeses then no's. This can be your in to the deer hunting later on.

This seems to hold some truth. Many farmers I have talked to, feel that turkeys do more damage to the crops than deer. I have had farmers tell me, they were out planting a corn field and the turkeys follow right behind the tractor picking up the seed. Other farmers on more then one occasion, have told me they see turkeys walking the corn rows, and pulling up the newly sprouted plants just to pull to kernel from the bottom of it. Then you ask if you can come goose hunting in the fall, the reply is usually "kill as many as you can." 

I made a road trip yesterday to go knock on a guys door for my up coming turkey season. Now I didn't hit up a bunch of farmers only one. I know where they are and know where I want to hunt. This was all or nothing, or maybe public land. After a three hour drive I find the farmer in his shop doing so work on his equipment. I had my 15 year old son with me, who will also be hunting. I told him, "I have noticed a ton of turkeys using his fields." "Yep." he replied. My next question was, "you allowing any hunters to get after them this year?" His reply was, "Are ya gonna kill some?" I explained that the state only allows one turkey for each tag, but my son, daughter and myself each had a tag. "We would sure like to kill three of them." I said. This farmer has dealt with turkey hunters before. I knew it from the year before and more so when he proceeded to tell me "this is season one and I had a guy take a turkey opening day. I have another hunter here next week for season two and season four. If ya like you and the kids can hunt season three, five or six."

This created a problem, I already have a tag for his zone in season four and know season three was sold out. I told him I would see if I could get tags for season five and if I could I would let him know. He gave me his phone number so I can contact him. Found out season five still has tags in his zone, so I will be picking them up today and calling him back. 

Season five will have me on his property for five days. I see this as an opertunity to work on the deer hunting. See I hunted his land last year for turkey season also and never mentioned deer hunting. Even though I was chomping at the bit. We saw plenty of turkeys and equally as many deer. The sheds in the photo came from his property. Maybe some midday help around the farm when we are not hunting this turkey season will do the trick. Who knows, but good things come to those who wait. 

Poor Shotgun Pattern

Here is a tip from your old uncle Art. Got my daughter a new Mossberg 500 Bantam. She is smaller in stature than her brother and I, so getting her a turkey gun that fit her better seemed like a good idea. Turkey season is fast coming on us. Finding a load that would pattern good in her new 12ga. was at the top of the list of things to do. Loaded up her two brothers, a couple guns and more ammo then we could really carry. I purchased Federal, Winchester, Heavy Shot and others. All in an attempt to find the right load for her gun. 

Well after trying every brand of shot gun shell we purchased. Then looking carefully over her targets, only one of two things could be wrong. She can't shoot, or the gun just doesn't pattern worth a darn. I already knew she could shoot, so it must be the gun. I tried my hand at a few shots with the same out come. My son Nathan laughed and said, "you guys just suck." He decided to try a few rounds and still the same thing. After a lot of frustration and about $100 worth of ammo, we decided she would just have to shoot my gun on the hunt and we would find another use for her new toy. After getting back home and looking over some of the photos I took for the web site, I found the problem. Take a good look at the photo of her barrel. Here is the tip: If you are going to pattern your turkey gun, it isn't a bad idea to make sure you put the extra full choke tube in...

Wisconsin Spring Trout Run

What a dilemma. Spring time has come in Wisconsin and that means two things. It is time to go turkey hunting and the spring trout run is about to begin. Now I already know what dates I am going turkey hunting but the trout just seem to start coming in when they want. OK, I know it has more to do with water temps then the trout just deciding it's time. In most cases it's just a couple weeks difference one way or the other from year to year.

This past weekend I got to follow along with a couple WI youth turkey hunters. These hunts take place before the regular seasons begin. It was early but I still have a good idea of what to expect come May when I drew my five day turkey hunt. Turkey season gets me all fired up and is a great cure for cabin fever that has dug in from the long winter. Then on the other hand, I find myself missing out on some well needed beauty sleep thinking of large brown trout and steel head's stretching my line tight.

Even my kids look forward to the trout run when the time comes. Many anglers opt to float spawn sacks up and down the streams. I tend to prefer Little Cleos. This lure selection is two fold for me. The kids and myself can cover more water, but the biggest reason is they allow me to fish. You see, my kids have been casting their own lines for years. By using the lure, I can tie one on and off they go, with no need to bother dad for anything. Pretty selfish, I know. Hey, they are also very effective for us too, and no need to play with messy spawn sacks.

When the trout are at their peek, almost every other cast is capable of producing a strike. The action can be fast and furious if you time it just right and it give the kids a chance to once again out fish the ole man. Did I mention they are no slouch as far as table fare is concerned either. As I am writing this, I guess I can see only one dilemma. Not if I am going to do both this Spring, but will I have to take off more work to do it? Guess a man has to do what a man has to do.

Guns, laws and elections

It should not be a surprise that justices in the Supreme court have been asked to decide if Washington D.C.'s city sweeping hand gun ban violates gun owner's rights and all right here at election time. Wonder how that came about. Then just recently Obama and Clinton decide spare over the word "bitter" and let their stance on the second amendment be herd.

It would just so happen that while at a fund raiser Obama decided that some Pennsylvanians were "bitter" people who "cling to their guns and religion." Later saying "I didn't say it as well as I should have." Of course it didn't take Hillary long to set a second amendment debate into full swing and try to pull some gun owners to her side. I was wondering when this topic would come up. Clinton was later heard telling stories of how her dad took her out behind the cottage and taught her how to shoot as a young girl. Then went on to describe how she understood this tradition stating "Some people now continue to teach their children and their grandchildren. It's part of culture. It's part of a way of life. People enjoy hunting and shooting because it's an important part of who they are. Not because they are bitter." Ahh, she had to use the bitter word again didn't she.

Mrs. Clinton even took time out to visit my home town of Kenosha WI back in February, a heavily populated hunting town. Where she told stories of a hunting trip she actually went on. All this of course came during a rant on gun control issues. She even stated then "I know, you may not believe it, but it's true. My father taught me to shoot a hundred years ago." Of course obama shoots back (no pun intended) with "She's running around talking about how this is an insult to sportsmen." Well Mr. Obama, it was kind of a slap in the face.

The fact is both candidates don't stand very far apart when it comes to gun control. Both have and voted for an extention of the assault wepons ban. Clinton supports mandatory registration and licesing. Obama supports a national law against carrying concealed weapons. Then there is McCain who sponsored legislation requiring background checks at gun shows, voted against a 10-year extension of the assault weapons ban and opposed legislation requiring trigger locks for handguns but consistantly stays closed mouthed about God or Guns.

Careful what you wish for, you just might get it and if you are a gun owner think long and hard come election day...

Turkeys Dogs and Rifles

Recently a gentleman from Wisconsin sent me an email. I tried to reply back to him but every attempt came back to me as "no such address". However, after reading his email I found myself thinking very carefully before I tried to reply. 

His email to me read as follows: "How many states allow rifle hunting for turkeys? I'm a disabled veteran and would like to hunt fall turkeys with a small caliber rifle. If the state of Wisconsin is going to allow dogs for busting up flocks I think someone that has a hard time walking long distances should be able to use a rifle. I would like to hear your comments on this issue."

It seems to me I remember some time back hearing of turkey hunting with dogs here in Wisconsin but that was as far as it went with me.  I tried to call the local DNR office near me and get some info on this subject, I have yet to have my phone call returned. I did however find on the DNR website this: "Effective beginning October 1, 2007 for Fall 2007 and fall 2008 seasons ONLY, hunters with a valid turkey permit, stamp and license MAY USE DOGS to hunt wild turkey in the following counties only: Crawford, Jackson, Juneau, LaCross, Monroe, Richland, Sauk, Vernon and Wood counties. This is a pilot program and the season will automatically end after two years and will have to be re-authorized after its degree of success and public acceptance has been assessed."

Now I can't imagine in my mind why you would want to use dogs to hunt turkeys. Are there dogs trained to drive turkeys towards a hunter or hunters? Why wouldn't the turkeys just fly off which would have hunters shooting at flying turkeys. I guess I just can't see the wisdom in this idea, then again that happens often when it comes to the WI DNR. 

As far as how many states allow turkey hunting with a rifle? I really don't have that info. I have only been fortunate enough to hunt a handful of states that allow shotgun, muzzleloading shot gun and archery gear. The tactic of busting flocks in the fall is not a new one. I have used this tactic to my advantage on more then one occasion. The way I choose to do so is to simply walk through the birds at first light while they are still on the roost. Then set up close to the same spot and try calling the flock back together. I am not sure if using dogs for this gives the hunter an advantage because you still have to re-group the flock and make a shot. Then again I still don't see why you need a dog for this to begin with.

I can only hope after the two year test run the hunting public puts an end to this. Sounds like trouble waiting to happen. In the parts of the US where I hunt, I can't see using dogs for much more then waterfowl and upland birds. Please Note: I said, "where I hunt."

To the good man that sent me the email: Yes, I have to agree. If you can use dogs to hunt turkeys why not allow a disabled veteran to use a small caliber rifle to enjoy some turkey hunting. But I have to ask you this. One of the biggest turn ons in turkey hunting is calling the birds in close and taking pride in the fact that you did so and harvested that bird. Because you can not hunt from the road and would have to walk to a hunting spot why do you need a rifle to call a turkey into close range? I am pretty sure the only way you will get that to fly is if you can convince the DNR they can profit from it. 

God Bless and thanks for our Freedom.

Time Sure Flies

Man time sure flies by. According to the dates on this blog, it has been some time since I put anything in here. I guess developing a couple web sites and trying to get a TV show off the ground takes up some time.

Well I am back and still hunting like a mad man.

April 12th -13th will find our cameras following 40+ kids for the Wisconsin Youth Turkey Hunt. Birds are already out strutting their stuff and being pretty vocal. Mother nature on the other hand doesn't seem to want to play nice. Temps Saturday and Sunday are expected to be in the upper 30's with snow and rain mix on Saturday. Then again last year the kids started out with 14 degrees and snow flurries, so this really doesn't sound half bad.

During the week before the hunt, all kids in this particular program are required to attend a hunting safety class. This is in addition to the one required by the state. Topics cover a wide range including but not limited to identifying a tom, gun safety, tagging a bird, safely transporting your bird to the truck and so on. The chatter from these kids during the class is a good indication of the excitement that has built up. Even the parents on hand seemed to be excited for the kids as well. I am sure even more so when the instructor handed out slate, box and diaphragm calls instructing the kids to go home and practice at least three hours a day until the hunt.

Come Saturday morning good weather or bad, the kids will show up at 4:30 am and team up with their mentors to head to the field. Some will with out a doubt, get their first turkey. Others will see birds and some may only come away with just the experience of being there. For some kids this will be their first bird, for others the first hunt ever. For all, it will be a memory they will never forget.