Deer season starts tomorrow!!! Dad and I have had the cameras up seriously for about a month or so. The excitement of bringing the memory cards home, waiting to see if there are new pictures and then of what... it's almost like Christmas morning for us. We have three cameras out, two by the Sky Condo and one by my tree seat. One of this year's photos (the last one, below) got Dad and I talking. Is it better to know what you have out there, even if you never see it? or is the element of surprise better? For example, here are some photos that we have taken from the trail camera of deer that came, got their photo taken and disappeared. This buck is right below the Sky Condo A different buck (look at the tines and...
This little story has been locked away since last season. I was sworn not to share it. It was a story I was willing to lock away forever. But, when Dad told a few people, it was like getting the ok to share it. Dad and I were in the Sky Condo the weekend before the last week of deer season. It was about 3:30 pm and we were waiting to see if any deer would come in. To look out from the SC, the left front corner has canvas around it to help cut the wind down. It can also cut down on a clear view of the woods from that direction but move about 6 inches to the right, and that small piece of woods is visible again. That is where I was sitting; about 6 inches to Dad's right. We heard a noise...
Deer season is approaching and it's almost time for Dad and I get our tree seats up. Blake Anderson at Huntertreestands.com offers this advice for the best places and types of tree stands to use to ensure you land that buck! Thanks Blake! The Sky Condo that Dad and I built. Optimized Tree-Stand Placement There are a lot of elements during hunting that are often out of your control, which can ultimately lead to an unsuccessful hunt. However if you optimize those components that are within your control, then you can quickly turn a disappointment into a great victory. Tree stand placement is one of those key rudimentary elements that will decide whether or not you end up empty handed, and there is more to it than just finding a...
A guy who works for my Dad put up a camera on some land that we own. These are a some of the best pics that he had! I would love to have two 10pt sets on my wall =) With photos like these, how can you not want to head into the woods now?!? Com'on deer season!!!
Photos from our 2 (out of 3) working trail cameras! Only one chip/camera has a working date and time stamp, but we are getting pictures so we will take what we can get =) Come on deer season!!!
The temp was 102 at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Yes, 102. Dad and I were melting but we had put this off for way too long. Here is was July and our trail cameras were not up and because they weren't, we were not seeing what sort of animals are around our hunting areas. We put up three cameras. Two by the Sky Condo (the above shot is a panoramic from the bottom of the SC) and one by my tree seat. For the first time in a long time, I was able to bathe in deet in order to prevent the ticks from finding me - as well as the mosquitoes and black flies. It was hot, we were sweaty and I stunk from all of the bug dope but it was fun. It is weird how different the woods look in the middle of the summer...
A few weeks ago, I sat down with the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Chandler Woodcock to talk about the increase in moose and doe permits across the State and what it means for sportswomen (and men) this upcoming hunting season. Q: The number of moose permits has been released for 2013 and they have increased since last year (from 3,725 to 4155). What's changed? A: Our biologist, Lee Kantar has been working tirelessly to get an accurate moose count. He has gone up in a helicopter and used some new technology to get accurate numbers of moose around Maine. The majority of the increases will be seen north of Bangor and we looked at each WMD individually to make sure we are carefully monitoring the...
A few weeks ago, I was approached about an interview with Elizabeth from Deer Passion (@deerpassion) that would be done on real hunting women. Not the ones who have sponsors and can spend their whole lives making TV shows or promoting themselves, but the women who have full time jobs, families and still find time to get outside and hunt. Here is the link to the interview! She did a great job and writes a great blog so you should check her out anyways! Happy Hunting!
I have written (and rewritten) a blog about 2 proposed bills being sent to the 126th Maine Legislature about proposed changes in our current youth deer hunt. Here is the original blog with the bills, LD79 and LD101 explained. Currently, in Maine, youth hunters are between 10-15 and become adult hunters at 16. They are allowed to begin their season a week before Maine residence, who can start the last Saturday in October and must be with an adult. According to the Executive Director of the Sportman's Alliance of Maine, there are 16,000 youth deer hunters and their success rate is about 10%. The real issue that is being debated is, with the Maine deer herd in such rough shape, is it worth risking the health and growth of the herd to give...
