Pre-Rut starting to heat up

The Pre-Rut is starting to heat up here in our area.  I have noticed a few small bucks scent-checking does and I'm starting to see bucks by themselves rather than being in their social groups which is common in early fall.  It's time to start some light calling sequences such as buck grunts, doe bleats, and light sparring sessions.  It's also time to start putting some scent out to see if we can get a good buck within bow range.  A mock scrape and/or doe in estrous scent placed about 30 yards upwind or with an adjacent wind works well this time of year.  I wouldn't do a lot of blind calling right now, but a few grunts and a couple of sparring sequences should get the attention of a cruising buck that is within earshot.  If you see a good buck, go ahead and throw a few grunts or light rattling his way to see how he responds.  You might also try a few doe bleats and see if that gets him interested.  Make sure you don't call when the buck is looking at you because they can pinpoint where a sound comes from with uncanny accuracy.  Be prepared to shoot after you call because if a buck decides to come in, he might be there in seconds and you have to be ready for a shot.  Don't get caught unprepared...trust me, you don't want to learn the hard way.  You might only get one chance at a mature buck and then never see him again.  You have to make every opportunity count.  In about another week or so, if the temperatures stay cool, it will be time to let the loud, aggressive calling loose.  Good luck out there!    

Whirlwind of a season

Well, the 2011 Archery Season is upon us.  Opening weekend was decent...pretty cool with a slight breeze.  I was lucky enough to take a big doe opening morning.  I followed that up with my second hunt of the year on Monday, the 3rd.  I took my biggest bow kill to date, a big 11 pointer.  I haven't hunted since, due to work and the horrible heat and high winds we've been having as of late.  I am going to get after it again this weekend.  A cold front is moving through on thursday and after the rain ends, it should be some really good hunting, possibly the best of the short season thus far if the winds don't pick up too much.  This season is a tough one for me as I lost my nephew, best friend, and hunting partner, Tyler Potts just a few short months ago.  He was on his motorcycle and was killed by a senseless, incompetent driver that never bothered to look before she turned into oncoming traffic.  After it happened, I wasn't sure I could ever hunt again without him.  As time went on, I quickly realized that I needed bowhunting more than anything because it was what Tyler and I loved to do together.  We lived for it.  As the season drew closer, I wanted nothing more than to get out in the woods in order to hopefully start the healing process.  I knew it was going to be a crazy season for me because of the bond Tyler and I had with the great outdoors.  I wasn't disappointed...2 hunts...2 deer on the ground, including my best bow buck ever.  I know in my heart that Tyler had a hand in delivering those deer to me.  It was like they were reading a script.  I have several trailcam pics of the buck that I took and when I first saw him on film, I made the choice to go after that buck alone on this property.  Both arrows were perfectly placed and  neither deer made it more than 50 yards after the shot.  Both were a very emotional experience for me.  Normally Tyler would have been right there beside me jumping and yelling, but instead I had to soak it all in alone.  I hope the rest of the season is as crazy as the start.  I can't wait to get back after it this weekend!