Author: Ben Wright

I remember when I started hunting 20 years ago, the thought of seeing a deer sent shivers up my spine. Since then, I have definitely matured as a hunter. I now understand the animal better and am very selective in both the shots I take and the animal I harvest. Something about the thought of the first deer on the first day of the season still gets my blood pumping.

This year, I was particularly anxious because it was the first time I was going to attempt to document my hunts on film. In preparing for the season, I found myself putting extra time and thought into stand location. No longer was I thinking simply about wind direction, feeding patterns, corridors and rub lines; I added to that camera placement, a second hunter, shooting light, and timing. That is not to mention the extra time and energy I was planning to take so that I could ensure proper scent prevention from two people, much less one. None the less, the stands were finally placed and the first day could not get here soon enough.

As I awoke the first morning to a light drizzle, my hopes of getting deer on camera quickly diminished. I thought about going back to bed but pushed on. After sitting on stand for 2 hours on a damp, cold morning, I decided that I had hunted enough and called it. The afternoon weather forecast called for clearing skies and I was planning to put my energy into a location that I was confident would produce deer in the evenings.

 That evening turned out exactly like I expected. We were on stand by 4:00 and by 5:30 deer were moving. The deer we were seeing were either out of range or small bucks. I was anxiously awaiting a doe or a mature buck to stumble into range and present a shot. Finally, at 6:15, it happened. A mature doe walked into view and up the trail. She stopped quartering away while feeding on some clover. I drew on the deer unnoticed, even though she was standing just 16 yards away. I settled the bow’s site on a spot that looked good and let it fly. Perfect! That was my reaction as the deer jolted into the air and went crashing through the woods. I was pumped. I turned to the gentleman running the camera and both of us were shaking with excitement. After a bit of celebration, we waited the necessary half hour and climbed down, confident the deer would be within site. As we made our way to the area, we quickly saw my blood covered arrow. I couldn’t help thinking about how cool this was, and decided to watch the video before we began tracking. Then it happened, doubt set in. As I watched the video, over and over, I thought that the shot looked to be to far back. I waited some extra time due to this new discovery before I started tracking. We trailed the deer in the dark for over an hour and only made it 50 yards. The tracking was hard and the blood was sparse. I decided to call it and back out until morning. That night I watched the video on the television 30 times trying to figure out what I did wrong. Doubt had set in and a sleepless night awaited.

The next morning I returned at daybreak, gathered a tracking crew for what I thought was going to be a hard day and returned to where we had lost blood. I looked ahead of the flagging and there 20 feet from our ending point laid the expired doe. This turn of events really got me thinking.  Had I chosen not to watch the video, I would have undoubtedly pushed on until we found the animal. Because of the severe angle of the deer when it was shot I did shoot it behind the rib cage as the film indicated, but the arrow traveled through the liver, lungs and top of the heart before it came out in front of the animals shoulder. The liver shot made the deer begin to bloat before I recovered it and had it been any longer, I would have most likely lost the meat.

After speaking to a few colleagues about this, I have come to find out that this happens often. Based on the very limited experience I have and the information I have gathered, I will offer this suggestion for comment. If you feel good about the shot, don’t review the film until you recover the animal. Everyone inherently knows whether their placement is right on the money or if the shot was shanked.  Always trust your gut. If the shot is in question, then watch the film to help you make the decision.  I believe that camera’s are a very useful tool when there is question in your mind. If you have the luxury to have them, it is always good to be able to learn from what happened; both the positives and negatives. I would just warn that sometimes things on film can be from a different angle and or perspective and it is important to keep that in mind when critiquing the situation. In cases like the one I just described, the gentleman filming was 10 feet from me and had a different angle than I did. When we recovered the animal we found the shot to be back where the camera indicated it was, however, the angle was much steeper than that on camera. All in all, I am lucky to have this experience captured and have learned a lot from it. It is my hope to share all of my hunts with friends and colleagues so that we can learn from each other, both good and bad.

One of the best feelings an archery hunter can have is when the perfect shot placement causes the particular game they are hunting to fall after only a few yards. However, anyone that archery hunts knows that we don’t always make the perfect shot. One factor that may help you retrieve your game after the not so perfect shot is the type of broad-head you are using. There are so many types of broad-heads on the market today ranging from cut on contact, to mechanical, to chisel tip; but why do we choose the broad-heads we shoot?

Mechanical broad-heads seem to be the most popular on the market today, probably because they allow the hunter to shoot an arrow that flies as if it were equipped with a field tip. Mechanicals seem to provide good arrow penetration when the perfect shot is made but I’ve seen too many deer lost due to shoulder shots where the arrow only penetrated a few inches. One must also consider the amount of energy that is lost when the mechanical broad-head opens upon impact. Years ago I used to shoot a mechanical broad-head called a Vortex. It provided a great cutting diameter, and when put through the rib cage, there was no problem finding a blood trail. However, this broad-head performed sub-par when it encountered any type of bone heavier than a rib. After seeing several people loose deer because of this, I knew it was time to switch broad-heads.

One broad-head that seemed to impress us was the Steel Force Sabertooth in stainless steel. This broad-head is a cut on contact type that will provide excellent arrow penetration on animals from whitetails to elk. Before heading into a hunting season with the SteelForce, my father and I decided to do a test and compare it to the Vortex. We went to the local butcher shop and picked up a cow shoulder and then fixed it to a stump. Our intension was to shoot each broad-head at a particular location on the shoulder blade and see how the broad-head was affected, and what type of arrow penetration occurred. The Vortex was first and it confirmed our expectations. Although the Vortex broke through the shoulder blade, the arrow did not pass through and was sticking out the other side by only a few inches. The Vortex also did not hold up mechanically. The shaft was bent, one blade was bent, and the other blade was broke clean off. Now we all know that a whitetail shoulder blade is not as dense as a cow shoulder blade, but I wouldn’t expect great performance from a mechanical when hitting a whitetail on the shoulder nor would I expect a pass through. After shooting the Vortex, we moved on to the Steel Force. The cut on contact passed completely through the shoulder blade and continued through the woods. After inspection of the broad-head, there was no damage. I have been shooting a cut on contact broad-head ever since. I have also been able to get the Steel Force to fly like my field tips, combining both great arrow flight and penetration, even on the shoulder.

Another great broad-head on the market is the G5 Montec. This broad-head is made from an injection mold process which creates a broad-head made of entirely one piece of steel. I would also consider this broad-head a cut on contact type, 3 bladed. Although I was not able to get these broad-heads to fly for me, I have tested them compared to the Steel Force. This time around I used plastic 5 gallon buckets filled with sand. Shooting a 65 pound draw weight; neither broad-head provided a pass through but each one did allow the arrow to pass about half the length of the arrow out the other side. The Steel Force did provide about three inches more arrow penetration than the G5, but this could be due to the increased drag created by its three blades. Either way, both broad-heads proved that they could get the job done.

I have only touched on a few types of broad-heads but there are a lot of other brands on the market that consistently take deer. There are also other factors that go into arrow penetration such as arrow weight, arrow size, and bow draw weight. Although, I will debate that a cut on contact broad-head is arguably the best type of broad-head to use when hunting big game, I am curious to hear why hunters shoot the particular broad-heads they use?

With the 2007-2008 season at an end, we have a long few months ahead of us before the game begins again. After putting in the long hard hours on stand this past season, it’s easy to push the bow and gear to the side and watch the dust build up until the bug hits again. But to all of us “crazy” bowhunters (as some would say) this is one of the best times to get a jumpstart on that trophy buck for next season. Whether it’s buying that new gear you’ve been eyeing up or getting a game plan together for the upcoming pursuit, there are a lot of tactics you can use to help you get closer to that wall hanger this season. Here are a few ideas/tactics I use to help increase my odds of harvesting that trophy.

First, while most hunters are sitting around talking about next season and where they are going to hunt, I find this one of the best times to look for some new property to hunt. Most landowners will respect a hunter who appears professional and is dedicated well after the season has ended. Another reason I look for property now is because the spring foliage hasn’t grown in yet. While the trees are still bare, and the forest hasn’t started to turn green, it’s much easier to locate heavily used trails, bedding areas, and previous rubs. A few weeks ago, I took a walk through the property I hit heavy this season and located a whole new area that consisted of numerous big rubs and heavy trails.  By analyzing the situation, I realized that this area was acting as a funnel around my treestand. If I would have found this sign earlier in the season, I would have had a whole new perspective on my hunting plan for the area. Given, this may not be the situation for all hunters, but this is a great example of using the bare woods to your advantage to locate buck patterns and new property to ambush bucks.

Another tactic that comes into play this spring is shed hunting. Even though I am not very successful at this, it can help dictate the areas you will be hunting hard this upcoming season. Finding sheds can tell you a couple of things that just might get your hopes up. First, it can show you the quality of deer that are in your area. I’ve seen numerous bucks this past season at my local honey hole, but there are always those few bucks that seem to give you the slip. I use the sheds that I or fellow hunters find to help build my confidence and work even harder for the upcoming season.

Another thing that this can do is show you the patterns of the buck in your area. By finding the sheds, it can help put the odds in your favor for your future hunt. I don’t know of a better feeling than knowing a buck on my property, scouting him, setting up on him, and then getting the opportunity to harvest the animal. Finding the sheds this spring can help get that process started.   One of the last tactics that I use is simply preparing my gear. I like to get all my calls, lights, binoculars, and such organized. This is just a simple thing that can save a big headache in the future. The biggest thing I can recommend is making sure your bow is ready to go for your next shoot or hunt. I keep the string waxed at all times and always inspect the bow and its accessories to make sure no damage has been done from the previous hunting outings. This could break the bank if you would find out a month or two before season that one or both of your limbs are cracked! Take this precaution now to help ensure safe and accurate shooting. The off season is also a great time to shoot your bow and keep that drawing arm in shape. By shooting the local 3D and screen shoots, you can keep yourself on top of your game for when hunting season begins.

I hope some of these ideas and tactics can help you put another one on the wall this season. If you have any tactics or ideas that you use, please share them in the comments. Let’s all try to help each other get that trophy! 

That’s exactly the question I was asking in my head the other day when browsing some postings on archerytalk.com. I am considering a new arrow set-up for summer 3D shooting as opposed to using my hunting arrows, so I figured that archerytalk.com would be the place to go for some advice. After posting my question in the 3D forum, I spent some time browsing around and came across the topic, “FOBs vs Vanes.” Naturally, not having ever heard of a FOB before, I had to check it out.

FOB stands for “Fletching Only Better.” To save me a lot of typing, I encourage you to go to http://www.starrflight.com/ where you can learn everything there is to know about them. Basically, instead of using the standard feather or fletching set-up on your arrows, this simple device pinches around your arrow between the nock and arrow itself and performs the stabilizing function. They look like a simple plastic “o” ring, with three “wheel spokes” in between. The website, as well as many posts on archerytalk.com, claim that this little device actually outperforms standard fletching set-ups, and is much easier to work with.

I haven’t tried them yet, but for $19.99 you get a dozen of them, which makes them worth trying. There seem to be a lot of advantages to FOBs, including eliminating the need for glue, fletchers, and vane strippers. Also, be sure to check out the videos they have of impact shots. The FOB is designed to “pop off” upon impact (assuming you get a pass through), helping you begin your blood trail, and saving the need to refletch the arrow. The downside of this though is your arrow will be quite a bit harder to find. I figure this can be addressed by simply adding a white wrap to the arrow.

The biggest obstacle I see facing Starrflight (again assuming they function as advertised) is tradition. Archers have been used to seeing feathers and vanes for decades, and these have a far different look. Of course, bows never came with wheels and fiber-optic sights until the last forty or so years when Holles Wilbur Allen developed the first ones in 1964. Even so, it wasn’t until the mid 1980’s when they became commonplace, and truly accepted by hunters. Another slight hindrance is you can currently only use them if you shoot a drop away rest.

Will it take the FOB forty years to catch on? I’m guessing not given the high number of archery hunters these days as opposed to the 6o’s. My guess is it’s only a matter of time until a pro shooter wins a significant competition using them, which will be a great endorsement. OR, what may be more likely is one of the arrow giants, such as Easton, Carbon Express, or Gold Tip will buy the patent and run it through the heavy advertising machine. No matter how it turns out, I wish the guys at Starrflight well. As someone who started a scent business in the basement, I understand the blood, sweat, and tears that go into developing your own product!

Has anyone tried FOBs? If so, let our online community know how you feel about them.

After sitting all day yesterday measuring deer for the Northeast Big Buck Club at the Allegheny Sport, Travel, and Outdoor Show, I started to wonder what it is that drives so many people to events like this. Although this is a relatively small show, I know that thousands of people walked through, and this was on a Friday. It’s nothing compared to the monstrosity known as the Eastern Sports and Outdoors Show in Harrisburg, PA, but it’s a big deal in the Pittsburgh area.

They are everywhere! It seems like every state has multiple shows, and thousands of people flocking to them. Since I do a lot of different shows throughout the year, I’ve become an avid “people watcher.” As people stroll by, am always interested in what they’re carrying, talking about, and who they’re with. I would say that seven out of ten people are carrying nothing more than a plastic bag containing literature that they picked up from the various vendors. And after talking with several vendors, it’s clear to me that most of their time is spent advertising for a later sale, and not selling at the show. More than any other time of year, I see entire families together checking out the various hunting and fishing related items. The show promotors know this too as they do their best to include vendors that sell a lot of other products not necessarily outdoor related. At this show alone there are people who sell food and spices, furniture, cooking utensils, toy guns and knives, puppies, and even a guy with stun guns!

 Of course, you have the traditional vendors, such as hunting and fishing dealers, ATV and recreational vehicle dealers, and hunting and fishing outfitters. I’m always amazed by where some of the outfitters come from. Although most outfitters are offering hunts throughout the continental United States, you can also find them for Alaska, Canada, and Africa. I asked a couple of outfitters how they were doing, and all indicated that they booked hunts during the show. The fact that someone can come from Africa and sell extremely expensive hunts in Pittsburgh, PA tells me that the outdoor economy is running strong. 

I guess people come primarily because it’s something to do in the middle of winter, and they can do it with their families. They seem to keep the blood flowing in an outdoorsman’s veins, helping to bridge the gap between hunting season and fishing season. I doubt that many come specifically to book a hunt, or to buy a certain product. I’ll have two more days of sitting and watching to ponder this. What is it about these shows that draws you? Are their any that you particularly like, and why?

For those of you who don’t know, I actually have a “real” job aside from owning and operating Appalachian Whitetails. I am a senior manager at Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, the largest regional conservation organization of it’s type east of the Mississippi. We get involved in just about every conservation related issue you can imagine, and front in center on our plates right now are feral hogs. Our stance is simply that feral hogs are bad for Pennsylvania, and we need to get rid of them while we still have a chance. Otherwise, they will have detrimental effects on native wildlife, even deer and ground nesting birds such as the ruffed grouse. I will be providing public comment at Sunday’s Pennsylvania Game Commission meeting on behalf of the Conservancy. The script is below the photo. You can also view our full position paper by clicking the link above the photo. How do you feel about this issue?

feral-swine-position-paper-v5.doc

Greetings Commissioners, Director Roe and others.  Thank you for this opportunity to provide testimony and comments.

             Western Pennsylvania Conservancy is Pennsylvania’s first conservancy and has protected nearly 220,000 acres over the course of our 75 years. Of these, almost 44,500 acres have become state game lands, which are enjoyed by tens of thousands of Pennsylvania’s sportsmen, hunters and anglers every year.  We are very proud of that. 

A new invasive species has recently been introduced in Pennsylvania, and has serious potential to become permanently established. Feral swine are recognized as one of the most serious and damaging invasive species by many sources and impact both natural resources and other human interests. We recommend an overall strategy of eradication and prevention for this animal.

As of 2007, U.S. Department of Agriculture has gathered evidence that feral swine are establishing small breeding populations in five counties (Bedford, Bradford, Butler,

, Cambria). Breeding populations are also likely in two others (Crawford, Tioga). Their numbers may be increasing through deliberate importation and illegal, intentional release, and escape from shooting preserves.

Numerous studies also show the negative impact of feral swine on wild habitats. Feral swine wallowing disrupts small streams, wetlands and riparian areas, destroying habitat and creating excess sedimentation. Invasive plants benefit and expand into areas where swine have disturbed habitats. Feral swine are efficient and adaptable, eating almost any plant or animal for food and are able to live in a wide range of habitats, so long as water is available. Forest regeneration is also hindered.

Feral swine also have a detrimental impact on many game species, such as ruffed grouse, wild turkey and white-tailed deer. Feral swine can seriously harm both native game animals and native game habitat.  In addition to eating some wildlife (even deer fawn), feral swine also compete with wildlife and game animals for food.  Thirty diseases can be carried by feral swine, some of which are transferable to wildlife, domestic animals and even people. And there are no significant feral swine predators. 

 In short, this invasive animal is bad for Pennsylvania, bad for Pennsylvania’s game and bad for Pennsylvania’s hunters.  

After carefully examining the issue, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy concludes that:

• Feral swine pose a significant and imminent threat to the native game, other wildlife and habitats of Pennsylvania
• Existing populations and individuals should be identified and eradicated from
  
  Pennsylvania

  as quickly as possible.

• Legal measures should be put into place and enforced to prevent new individuals from entering the Commonwealth.

           We feel it will be more cost-effective to invest in eradication and prevention than deal with the combined costs of swine-caused damage and population control in the future.  Also, the development of a feral swine hunting culture in Pennsylvania will be counterproductive to successful and economical eradication and prevention.

 Efforts by the PDA’s Feral Swine Task Force and the Governor’s Invasive Species Council have been important first steps in putting the spotlight on this serious invasive species problem. The forthcoming rapid response plan that has been requested by the Invasive Species Council by April 1st will hopefully maintain this early momentum. 

In fulfilling their responsibility for managing feral swine, PGC should craft their draft recommendations for wild boar management rules with the twin goals of eradication and prevention in mind.

It should be specifically noted that encouraging shooting or hunting of feral swine has not been demonstrated as a sufficient method of control. In fact, the risk of dispersing populations and inadvertently making the problem worse by pressuring swine into areas of the Commonwealth not previously inhabited should be considered when developing control practices. 

 Western Pennsylvania Conservancy believes that allowing the incidental taking of this animal will ultimately make it more difficult to remove from the state, and only will only serve to disperse the hogs and assign it legitimacy as a game animal instead of treating it as an invasive pest or threat.  

The problem we are facing is large but not insurmountable. Productive actions should be undertaken as soon as possible while the problem is still manageable. The solution will most efficiently be achieved with a broad and coordinated public-private partnership. Many other states did not respond quickly enough and are now regretting their inaction.

 Western Pennsylvania Conservancy is committed to the eradication of this animal and will gladly and willingly participate in any efforts to achieve this goal. Western Pennsylvania Conservancy has developed a background paper called “The Eradication and Prevention of Feral Swine in Pennsylvania” in which we offer additional information, conclusions and recommendations on the feral swine issue. 

Thank you.

I was going through my daily barrage of e-mails and stopped on my routine “SCI in the Crosshairs” regular political alert, which keeps me informed about threats to hunting. The bottom article entitled, State Sportsmen’s Economic Impact Reports Available, caught my eye. The article provides a searchable database that lists how each state ranks in such categories as number of hours afield, number of resident hunters, number of hunting related jobs, and more. For instance, did you know that Pennsylvania ranks #1 in the country when it comes to the number of total hours being spent in the field? Check out the top ten below:

Since I thought many of you may be interested in this, the complete article and link to the database is below. This is pretty important stuff because the future of our outdoor related sports depends on the decisions being made by our elected officials. Our elected officials are driven by numbers, and this information shows clearly that hunting and fishing have a major impact on the economy. For example, in Pennsylvania, annual spending by sportsmen ($3.5 billion) is more than the combined receipts for dairy products, cattle, nurseries and greenhouses, mushrooms and broilers ($3.1 billion), which represent the top five grossing agricultural commodoties. Here is the article and link:

State Sportsmen’s Economic Impact Reports Available
Hunters and anglers provide major economic benefit to the states they hunt and fish in. Now there are tools available to prove it!  Visit www.sportsmenslink.org and download the economic impact flyer for your state. These can be a valuable tool when speaking to state legislators, useful for your chapter conventions or membership drives or to make non-hunters understand the value of what we do. Limited copies of each report and the main report covering all 50 states will be made available at the press room or during the board meeting at this month’s SCI convention in Reno. SCI, and others, have partnered with the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation on this research effort.

Josh’s final sentence in his comment on my last post about antler scores inspired this topic. A lot of this issues surrounding antler restrictions, the emphasis on score, etc. is influenced by tradition. Josh really drove the point home with his last sentence. I look fondly back on the days when all you wanted to see was an antler so that you could harvest a buck, regardless of size. We all hoped for a big one, but in the end, we were going to take the first buck that presented itself. It’s because of these traditions it was difficult for me to pass up my first decent buck in archery season.

Although I passed up a spike or forkhorn or two, I definitely never passed on a deer that had six points or better. That was before I was introduced to the concept of quality deer management by Art Grguric, an archery shop owner in Saltsburg, PA. He was managing a piece of property for big bucks, and offered to allow me to hunt there, as long as I followed the rules. They were simply:  shoot a mature doe first, then you can shoot a buck that has a spread beyond the ears. Break the rules, and you would be banished from the property. Seemed simple and easy enough, right? Not so fast!

I got my doe requirement taken care of early, so I was able to shift my total focus on buck hunting. About the third week of October, a nice eight-point came directly beneath my stand, offering several good shots. It would have been my largest archery deer, but it just wasn’t meeting the spread requirement. As I watched it walk away, I admit that I was a little upset, maybe even angry. I even hunted a different property every once in a while after that because I wanted to get a buck, period. I wasn’t 100% committed to waiting for a big one, especially since I hadn’t seen one all season.

That’s when “it” happened. It was a day or two before Halloween and I was back on the management property perched in my climbing stand. Just before dark, I heard a commotion in the creek bottom below me. When I finally saw the animal emerge, I couldn’t believe my eyes. What stood before me in the distance was by far the biggest buck I had ever seen in the woods. My adrenaline rush was so high that my eyes started to water. I’ll NEVER forget that moment, and how it made me feel, and how it changed me forever as a hunter. I didn’t get a shot that day, but you can be sure that I wasn’t going to be afraid to pass up yearlings anymore. The next couple of weeks found me passing up a lot of bucks, even a small ten-point that met the spread requirement. Also during this time, I saw four different “shooter” bucks, and got to see two of them duke it out in a territorial battle. What an awesome sight, and I’ll never forget how loud it actually was. I had a front row seat to witness the magic of the rut, and how it can make monster bucks appear out of nowhere, almost as if they were stocked.

To make a long story shorter, on the last day of the season at 10:15 a.m., the bruiser I saw a couple of weeks earlier let lust get the best of him as he trailed a hot doe within range of my stand. The rest is history. I’ll never forget how I felt when I put my hand around the thick bases of his antlers. This deer represented a higher standard that I was going to hold myself to from that point forward.

All of that being said, I only shoot big bucks now because that’s what “I” prefer. The fateful season described above taught me more about deer than I knew from my several years of experience before that, and to this day I learn a ton about these animals by passing on so many. Although I would like everyone to wait for that magical experience like the one I had, I certainly don’t expect it of them. For kids especially, I totally support them taking any buck so that they can taste success, and want to continue pursuing the sport. But this is where the tradition part comes in.

The reason it was so difficult for me to pass on my first decent buck is because the “tradition” had always been to shoot the first buck you see. It was a little harder for me to break away from that because that’s what I was taught. Had I been brought up differently though, I feel that I would have looked at things from another perspective. For example, I met a young kid in Illinois last year that took a 180+ deer the previous season. Although he had been hunting for a few years, it was his first buck, largely because the tradition there is aligned with letting immature deer pass. For people there, it’s more about the big buck you shoot every few years versus all of the small bucks you shoot in a row.

I see tradition starting to change slowly here, and it’s not just because people are seeing bigger bucks. Just as many people seem to talk about how much they’ve learned about deer now that they have to be more selective, and how much more they appreciate the challenge. Some may never feel that way, but we will likely see the Game Commission eventually do away with antler restrictions in our lifetimes simply because the tradition will have changed. At least that’s what I’m hoping for.

I’m not going to lie about it. I got up pretty sore this morning, and my body is happy that there are no more deer seasons. It never used to be this way. I remember when I was in my early 20’s, I could be up at 5 a.m., archery hunt in the morning, carry a shotgun during the middle of the day, and be back in a tree for the evening hunt. Did I ever get sore or tired? Yeah right!

I’m sure many of you are also feeling this way, but despite being run down and worn out on deer hunting, now is the time to be thinking about your 2008 out-of-state archery hunt. A good place to start is some of the major outdoor shows that will be held over the next month or so. Although I wouldn’t recommend necessarily booking a hunt there, you will have an opportunity to talk to outfitters from a lot of different states, and get a feel for what you can expect for your hard earned money. Before you go though, have an idea of what you’re looking for in terms of lenght of hunt, time of hunt, accommodations, and price. Like anything else, you pretty much get what you pay for.

If you want to spend a week rut hunting in Illinois with a highly reputable outfitter that offers a nice lodge, guides, and meals, expect to pay up to $4,500 (not including tips). To me, that’s a little pricy for a week of whitetail hunting. There are tons of options in between that will help lower the price, such as the week you hunt, length of stay, providing your own meals, etc. You should decide what tradeoffs are acceptable to you in order to meet your budget. Be prepared to make a deposit now to hold your spot. Or, you may choose to do what I prefer, and that’s to secure a short-term lease on private property, and pretty much do everything else on your own. In Illlinois, for example, I’ve been able to hunt the prime of the rut for 6 days on private property with lodging included for around $1,000. Adding in the cost of a license, meals, and travel, I’d say the trips were a little more than $2,000. If you want some pointers on how to do this, let me know.

I’m trying something new this year. I’m going to hunt southern West Virginia and will be leasing my own 200+ acre plot for $600. The beauty of this deal though is that little slice of heaven will be mine from the opening of the West Virginia archery season until December 31. Add to that the fact that there are some magnificent bucks there and an out-of-state license is only $140, and you get a pretty good bargain! I also have an opportunity to hunt Illinois again, but with just building a house this year, I’ll likely settle for hunting on my property and in West Virginia.

If you want to know more about the West Virginia opportunity, or about a nice deal that I can set you up with in western Illinois, let me know. The western Illinois hunt will get you some meals, a week of hunting, light guiding, lodging, and the chance at a whitetail of a lifetime for about $1,500 (not including license - $450). Don’t wait though…spots are going fast!

Tomorrow is it for the 2007/2008 deer hunting season. Yeah, I’ll be there with a front row seat, hoping for a memorable show to put a ribbon on what was an interesting year. I wonder how it will play out? Who will the main characters be, and will they be memorable? Will the star of the show arrive and put on a stunning performance, or will it be a cast of no names that leave me wanting for more. All I know is that I’ll be there, with no expectations really, other than enjoying one final performance from my favorite seat.

Maybe there’s reason for hope? After all, I have taken two dandy bucks on the final day from this location, and narrowly missed tagging a third this year during the regular archery season. Add to that the fact that I’ve taken deer on the last two Saturdays, and of the last five bucks I’ve taken in Pennsylvania, four were on a Saturday. Why couldn’t it happen again? Miracles can happen, right? I guess that’s the hope we cling to every time we ascend our stands. Even though it’s not likely, that chance still exists that the buck of a lifetime will present itself, and we’ll go home a hero.

Yeah, I’ll be there. Watching the sun rise and set…watching another season fade away into the night. I’ll love and appreciate every minute of it.