mallard_drake85

I've used 4 brands over the years and only recently found one that tops all the others I have used. Bushnell TC is by far the best I've used recently while I will never own another stealthcam again. Their poor customer service and cheap constuction were a constant nightmare. I used several dozen Cuddeback and Moultries while fulfilling the requirements of my Master's Degree. Both had their faults, but it seem that the moultries consistanly had more misfires and problems. Therefore, of the dozens of cams I've used and the 4 different companies, I rate BTC at the top, with cuddeback a second. I really like the battery life of the BTC. I just recently had to replace the AA's in my BTC's, but they have been running nonstop since May. Their compact design make them simple to carry and to conceal. It's not uncommon for me to have a 2g card filled when I check the cams after a 2 week sit. In side by side tests with the other brands I mentioned, the BTC picked up significantly more photographs of not only deer, but also coyotes, bobcats, coons, birds, etc. As a researcher, a collective sample of all species present was important to my research, therefore I always kept my cams on the most sensitive levels. Just my 3 cents. mallard_drake85

First off, check to see if they are legal in your state as regulations differ on this subject. In the areas where legal for properties I manage, I mix my own with great results. I purchase 2 50# bags of trace minerals, 1 50# bag of Di-cal phosphate, and 1 50# bag of fine stock salt. and I mix all 200#'s together and then use a 5 gallon bucket at each site and replenished the sites as needed. All these supplies can be picked up at your local farm supply store. I store my extra in sealed 5 gal buckets. I normally start maintaing my mineral stations in late winter and replenish right up to a few days before season. Just my 2 cents mallard_drake85

You gave that boy a chance and a memory that he'll never forget! lol just next time bring the camera!!!

That is a beautiful buck!!! Congrats to her.

That girl's been spoiled!

Though I do not claim to be an expert, I do have a Master of Science Degree in Forest Management for Wildlife and I delt extensively with white-tailed deer. Alot of changes can happen between 2.5 and 3.5 years of age on bucks. Like I stated earlier, a 2.5 yo buck is still concentrating its nutritional intake on skeletal and muscular development. Antler development is only secondary to these. A buck will reach skeletal maturity around 4.5 years of age, thereafter, the majority of his nutritional intake will be devoted to antler growth. You cannot tell what a buck will blossom into before then. Alot of weekend warriors will harvest these "genetically inferior" bucks which in reality they have harvested immature bucks that were concentrating nutritional intake on more important areas of growth. You will not harm your deer population by removing does, rather only enhance herd potential. I still do not believe you should harvest the basket rack 2.5 yo bucks as they have not reached anywhere close to their potential. Again, only my 3 cents. mallard_drake85

Congrats on that buck. He'll look great on the wall!

Honestly a 2.5 yo buck is still concentrating most of his nutrition on skeletal growth instead of antler development. If this were my property, and with the info that you have given, I would concentrate the majority of my hunting on does this season and allow the bucks to reach one more year of age, then reexamine this question. I know that is not what alot of hunters want to hear, eating a buck tag can be disheartening, but your patients will be rewarded. just my 3 cents mallard_drake85

looks like a 2.5 year old to me...it appears you have some good genes in your area, given a few more years he would have been a monster. He is still a very nice deer though...a belated congrats to your cousin! mallard_drake85

I've owned a few PSE's over the years, the first was a Nova that I hunted with for 10 years and harvested alot of deer with. Now I have a Bow Madness XS and absolutely love it...super fast and quiet. You can't beat the quality for the price of a PSE! You won't be disappointed! As for carbon arrows, I suggest Carbon Express Maxima Hunters with 2" blazer vanes! mallard_drake85

Nice buck, though he doesn't look too excited in that picture! mallard_drake85

I agree. With my past girlfriends, I would strive to make their outdoor experience as enjoyable as possible so they would want to go again and possibly even take up our sport one day. I understand some people believe that their treestand is they getaway from the Mrs., but I believe that instead of turning someone potentially off of our sport, we should be recruiting as many people as possible. Just my 3 cents mallard_drake85

I've been ready for months! Bow is sighted in out to 40 yards, camo is all scent free, trail cams have been running non-stop for months, and I have my eye on a few nice deer. Tomorrow morning, I'll be sitting in a tree, but right now I'm at work so I can afford to play! mallard_drake85

put them in a clean plastic tote with some dry soil, leaves, bark, etc. We have alot of pines and cedars where I hunt, so I use a combo of pines, cedars, and hardwood leaves...seal it up tight and let it sit for a week and most of that smell should be gone. mallard_drake85

My brother and I both have the PSE Bow Madness XS package and I absolutely love it. Mine is shooting 301 fps at 70#'s. I have had mine nearly a year now and I have not had a complaint yet and I shoot 3-4 times a week about 30 arrows each time. I highly recommend this bow if you are short stature. mallard_drake85

My last deer shoulder mount set me back right at $500. And he said that he will probably have to up the price this season. Each of his mounts looks like it will walk off the wall, and like anything, you get what you pay for. mallard_drake85

My twin brother and I have been invited along on a self guided rifle pronghorn hunt next October in Douglas, WY. Before we give our friends an answer, we were wanting to know if anyone has any experience in that area. I have never hunted pronghorns, or out of state for that matter, so this would be a first for us. There will about 8-10 guys on this hunt, 5 of which have gone each year for the past 4 years and have killed nice bucks in the first or second day of their hunt. But we are wanting some outside sources as well. If anyone has a success or horror story about pronghorn hunting in this area, we would be greatly interested in hearing about it. Thank you mallard_drake85

My brother and I have access to over 700 acres of private land that we can hunt on, but we still spend about 1/3 of our time on public land. That's what it's there for, and we use it! You get to see alot strange things on public land. We do make it a point to travel further off the beaten path than most are willing to travel. this has improved our success. mallard_drake85

I shoot a PSE Bow Madness XS @70 # 7" Limbsaver stabilizer Whisker biscuit Orion 5 pin sight Mongoose Quiver Mongoose Peep and nocking loop Carbon Express Maxima 350 arrows 2" blazer vanes G5 Montec 125 gr. broadheads Truefire Release mallard_drake85

Most of the chemicals used in bug sprays will have a residual odor, no matter what they box says. I personally use 100% deet on my skin, and perthemine on my clothes. The deet deters the biting flies and mosquitos, the perthemine kills ticks on contact. I've use both for years now and I am still harvesting deer in early season with no problems. mallard_drake85

Here in Southern Illinois, farmers have been picking for about a week now. We even have farmers picking beans already!

I'm shooting a PSE Bow Madness XS at 70#'s shooting at 301 fps. I've got my pins set at 10, 20, 30, and 35 (just because I haven't had time to set my 40 pin). Sitting in a tree stand 17-20' off the ground, I don't think I have ever harvested a deer that was further than 20 yards away. But knowing that I'm accurate out to those distances makes me a much more confident shooter. mallard_drake85

My brother and I have been talking this over for a while and have wondered what is everyone on here sighted in at? mallard_drake85

This is my 3rd year of flint knapping and my skills have progressed substantially from when I first started 3 years ago. That is keokuk burlington. A buddy of mine gave me some spalls and I've been working with it a few times a week. After its been heat treated, it knaps very well. Thanks all for your comments. Hopefully I'll be able to stick a deer with one of them next month. mallard_drake85

Well I found out that a coon has turned my trail camera into a toy, otherwise I'd have a full shot of this buck. But I do have pix of the coon looking into the cam and sitting on it, climbing over it, then walking away. But even with that setback, I still got some pix. I passed this buck last year as a 2.5 year old basket rack 8 point. And I'm glad I did. Now I just hope I get a shot at him this season. This young 2.5 year old buck has earned the right to walk another year or so. He has some potential though! I'm hoping to send one of these through that big buck this year with the reflex/deflex bow I built. But if I get the chance with my PSE or smokepole, I don't think I'd pass it up. These two are the most recent arrowheads I've knapped. Thanks for looking. mallard_drake85