How do you know when it’s “Prime Time” to see big mature bucks? I can really only give my personal opinion on this one but many different signs can give us a good idea. Here is what you should be looking for on your next trip to the woods.

Everyone loves to see big rubs and scrapes, I know it get’s me fired up! Many people only look for these obvious signs but there are many things to observe to locate the best areas for taking big deer. The only way to really tell if it is prime time is to be in your treestand seeing the rut take place for yourself. This can be quick process for big bucks and many times they will be in and out of peak breeding. I recommend being in your stand once you recognize this peak period is taking place because this is the number one time to score on a monster buck. Don’t get me wrong hunting rub lines and scrape lines will get you some action but lets get more in depth on some small signs that give us an edge.

The number one thing that will give you a good idea that does are coming into estrus is that they will abandon their yearlings. When you see small yearling deer walking around by them selves you better get to the treestand and get ready. Does will kick the young ones out during this time and begin to look for bucks to breed with. This is when I like to do what I call “Hunt the does.” If you find the does you will find the bucks during this time and probably more than one! Position yourself where you know does are traveling and are going to be feeding. Always remember you have to hunt the deer where they are going to be, not where they are. You have to be able to determine where the deer are going to go and how you can take advantage of their mistakes.

One of the best ways if you are able to do it is to have scouting cameras in your hunting locations. This will give you updated information on where and when deer are moving through your areas. You can also tell alot about a deer by the behavior you catch on film. This can give you a great idea of when and how you need to approach your areas. This could be the best invention in years! What a way to unveil the quality of deer that are available to you. I recommend trying one of these awesome scouting devices if you have not already. It will be well worth the time and money spent.

The next time you enter the woods to scout look for things other hunters may overlook and do not rule out areas with not much sign. There is always more to go on.

Keywords:  Mature Bucks  |  Scouting Cameras 

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How affective can treestands be? I believe they can really increase your chances at harvesting quality animals and give you a better vantage point of the area you hunt. Let’s look at some quality treestands and where to use them.

My favorite treestand has to be the “Double Man Treestands” due to the fact that I love to take my son and wife along on many hunts. These type treestands enable me to interact and communicate better with them when the moment of truth is upon us. It also gives them a better view of the area and normally gives them a good clean shot. These treestands are very inexpensive and very safe. They are well constructed and have a full length shooting rail which is a must. They always come with full body safety harnesses and a well designed highly padded seat for all day comfortability. What a great way to teach youngsters the proper rules of treestand safety and get them involved in hunting as a family. I recommend this type treestand for rifle hunting field edges and food plots. Although my favorite location is at the head of a draw where several paths come to meet. This setup will get you on deer nearly  every time.

Treestand placement can be tricky. Remember, you cannot hunt a deer where he is, you have to hunt him where he’s going to be. That’s where a treestand really comes into play. They give us the ability to observe deer movement from above normal eye level. This increases your chances of harvesting a mature deer. Always try and choose a location for stand placement that gives you the hunter a way in and a way out of the area without making much noise or disturbing the area. This is critical if you want the deer to stay on their normal pattern. If you can choose windy or wet days to hang stands and place setups. This narrows the chance of spooking deer. Also avoid the flashlight if at all possible try and use the moonlight if any to move to your stand. Always try and place your treestand where you have nearby limbs and branches to break up your outline and give you added protection. The best way to determine a good stand location is to try and pattern deer movement in that area. Base your setup on the wind direction and where you believe the deer will travel.

I also love the climbing treestands because of the convenience factor. They enable us as hunters to pick and choose locations and they are easy to setup and take down. I personally like the API line of climbing treestands they have many additions for bow or gun hunting situations and are reasonably light to carry. Make sure get your climber out and make a few test climbs before hunting out of it. This can get you familiar with your stand and gives you the peace of mind that everything is in good working order. Remember to always where a safety harness no matter what. I personally use a full body harness and cover it with a Primos Bow Hunting Vest. This keeps everything tight against my body. Whichever style treestand you choose make sure you get familiar with it before use. Many people each year are hurt or even killed by treestand mishaps. Take the proper precautions.

The last thing I want to touch on is the scent factor. I could talk all day on this one’s importance but just remember to always be as scent free as possible. You can fool a deers eyes and ears but never his nose. I recommend using the full kit which includes the shampoo, body wash, clothing wash, no scent spray and always keep your clothes in a scent free bag after washing them. This will give you the hunter more confidence and statistically improve your chances of seeing deer.

Just remember to hunt smart, hunt ethically and above all hunt safe!

Keywords:  treestands  |  Primos 

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Each year many young kids lives are changed when thier parents get them involved in hunting and outdoor adventures. In today’s society we need as much pure time spent with our kids as possible. Hunting the whitetail deer is just one way of doing just that.

The whitetail deer is one of the most respected animals in North America and has really flourished in population in recent decades even though hunting has really boomed as of late. That just goes to show through good conservation efforts that us hunters are making an impact. I strongly suggest you getting involved in clubs and joining the NRA this can have a lasting impression on our youth of today and their future as hunters. Also showing them the proper way to harvest game can be a huge impact as well. This involves hunter safety courses and taking time at the local range to get them accustomed to shooting and firearm safety.

We discussed our impact on the whitetail deer now we need to shed some light on the impact they have on us and I don’t just mean buck fever either. In my home state of West Virginia the whitetail deer helps feed hundreds of thousands of families each year and there are many organizations specifically to help feed the hungry. One imparticular is Hunters Helping the Hungry this organization processes the deer free of charge on a donation basis. You may take your game to various locations throughout the state and participate in this yearly benefit to help needy West Virginians. Whitetail deer also have a great impact on our economy through license fees and tags. This money is normally used to better enhance our great outdoors and the future of it’s animals. I also feel that when hunting whitetail deer I am at complete peace of mind and spirit. This really brings me close to God and helps me see his great impact on my life! We need to always remember that we were given the gift to hunt and not take that for granted. Take a minute and think how the whitetail deer impacts you and your family.

Wherever you hunt make it as enjoyable as possible and hand down the tradition we so cherish to your children and friends. Even though hunting is alot of individual effort it takes a whole hunting nation to keep it flourshing so get out there and hunt!

Keywords:  whitetail deer  |  firearm safety 

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It’s almost here! Hunting season. I cherish this time of year and cannot wait for it to arrive! Don’t get me wrong I love the look of a big bass on the end of my string but seeing a mature buck walking down the trail your watching is another story! Let’s get ready for whitetail deer hunting!

I can remember it like it was yesterday my dad walking in to my room to wake me up for the first day of hunting season just to find me already dressed and ready to go. He looked at me and smiled and said, “We better get some hot breakfast in us.” That was the last thing I was thinking about! I wanted to wrap my hands around a nice big set of antlers!  As I struggled down my biscuits and applesauce (which by the way is awesome for breakfast) I grilled my dad with a thousand questions about hunting and tried to get some last minute tips to help me bag my first deer. As we got to our stand I was throbbing with anticipation of the day to come and what it may hold.  As it all played out I could not have asked for a better ending. With the morning winding down we headed back to the house only to stumble onto a group of deer feeding on a brushy hillside near our rural West Virginia home. The next few moments of my life would fuel a fire that burns brighter and brighter as the days pass. I harvested my first deer that day a nice size doe and a huge trophy to me! 

I now look back and understand it was not the deer that fueled that fire but it was my father who was to thank. He took the time to teach me about hunting and how I should appreciate it. Whitetail deer hunting is not just taking an animal it’s the family bonds that are tied that can never be broken. Even though my dad is not as passionate about hunting as I have become he still suits up every year for rifle season and goes with me and my brother. It means the world to me just to see him out there. My brother and I both have young sons and now we get to share the bond of hunting with them. This is what hunting is all about, Sharing!

One of the most important things to remember is to make it fun for your kids so they will want to keep going and spending that quality time with you. If you teach your kids to hunt you will not have to hunt for your kids! Teach them about conservation and get them involved in shooting and teach them the proper techniques of firearm safety.

I hope you are getting ready for your hunting season and I hope you are getting to share it with someone. I feel it is very important to keep this great time tested tradition of hunting passed down to our younger generation. They control the future of our great outdoors. This article was not written to teach techniques or boast about past harvests the topic we discussed is way more important than that. Take a moment and reflect on your first days in the woods. I am sure a smile will come across your face because those were the days that coated your heart with the passion of hunting!

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About five years ago, 90% of my season preparation would have already been finished. Being married and having a twenty-one month old daughter, you tend to get things done later in life and able to only do things when you get a chance. I don’t scout as much as I would like to or shoot the bow as much as often as I like or do my “deer thing” in general. This is all a sacrifice for a good reason. 

 Here is what I do to get ready for the season and how or why I do them.

To begin with, I bought a new Mathews bow this year and I need to get used to it. I’ll shoot my bow just to get it shooting close, and then I won’t shoot it any more that day. I haven’t shot any this year and if I shoot too much, when I first start shooting, my arm will start shaking and it will not do any good to shoot.

The next day I’ll shoot 10 to 15 times before I start fine tuning my sights. The reason being, it’s a new bow, and I want to get the feel and determine my anchoring point with my release. Then I will practice every other day.

About a week before season I’ll put my broad-heads on, and I’ll have to fine tune my bow again, because I shoot fixed blade broad-heads and they always shoot different than field-tips.

When it comes to scent control, I take nothing to chance. Everything I will wear hunting is washed in Scent-A-Way detergent. If I hunt in anything one time, I’ll wash it again. I don’t have a scentlok suit because I hunt so many different places or stands. I’ll use many different camo patterns so I’ll always have a clean, scent free set of clothes to hunt in. It might not be the smartest way to do it, but it works for me. I also use Hunter Specialty’s Scent Wafers to help mask my scent.

That’s all for this time, next time I will talk about stand placement, and early season tactics.

Remember,
God, Family and then hunting!

Jim Nichols

Keywords: hunting season preperation | tuning your bow

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This is my first article,  of hopefully many to come,  and I struggled with what to write about.   I decided to answer some questions I have heard, and have been asked over my nineteen years of hunting. 

One of the questions I’ve been asked is, “How high should you hang your tree stand?”.  I personally try to get my treestands 20 to 25 feet high, sometimes more sometimes less, but it’s up to each person.  You should get as high as you feel comfortable, if you don’t want to get very high, just try to position yourself as concealed as possible, using natural cover, such as limbs or other trees.

“What is the best broadhead?”  I haven’t tried every broadhead on the market, but I have tried several.  The most durable, and by far the toughest broadhead is Muzzy.

“What is the best caliber rifle to hunt with?”  Well this one is just my opinion and every person will have their own preference.  Anything from a .243 to a 7mm will harvest a deer effectively.  The most well rounded caliber would have to be either a .25.06 or a .270.  You have plenty of knock down power and can cover a good distance.  Unlike a .300 mag or .7mm they don’t pack a big punch.

“Can you tell how big a buck is by the size tree he rubs?”  That is a tricky question.  You can’t really tell, but you may be able to get an idea. You can’t go strictly by the size of the tree, a big buck will rub a small tree as well as a bigger tree, but a small buck (99% of the time) will not rub a larger tree.  The more tore up or broken up a tree is, most likely larger the buck.  Look at the tree closely for grooves in the rub , that would most likely be a larger buck rubbing harder, digging their tines in deeper because they are stronger and bigger.

Remember, the more you hunt the more you’ll learn.  We just have to get out there, stay out there, and pay attention.

                                                           God Bless

                                                           Be Safe

                                                           And Just Hunt

                                                           Jim Nichols

Keywords: tree stands | gun calibers

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