The Good!
There are several reasons why this opener is
different than others in the past. This year I am
happy with the height of my stands. My scent and
visibility will be greatly reduced because I am a
little higher than I have been in previous seasons.
I am also pleased with the placement of my stands.
I have many different wind options as well as
morning and evening stands. Many stands will
double as both. Last year I was disgusted with my
wind options. I am confident I have eliminated that
problem. As I have mentioned in an earlier column
I feel that over the years I have educated deer
when entering and leaving stands. This year my
routes are more secluded and I should not spook
too many deer. I have enough stands this year
that I should not need to be in the same one very
often. Over the years I have accumulated several
stands and there is not a single one left in my
garage. Bucks and big bucks have been showing
up on the properties all summer long. Just the
other night I watched a 120 inch buck feed on
acorns along a field edge near several of my
stands. This particular buck has been running with
two others that are significantly larger than him.
Of course they stayed in the woods feeding on
acorns there. Acorns are abundant; I mean they
are everywhere, even on properties that don’t
usually have them. These areas, tucked in the
woods, will be great spots to pull big bucks out in
the daylight hours. My clothes are outside
hanging in my “outdoor closet” airing out and dry
as a bone. Moisture in your clothes is a huge
enemy in the deer woods. As I go down my
checklist I have only a few last minute
preparations and then it’s game time.
There are several reasons why this opener is
different than others in the past. This year I am
happy with the height of my stands. My scent and
visibility will be greatly reduced because I am a
little higher than I have been in previous seasons.
I am also pleased with the placement of my stands.
I have many different wind options as well as
morning and evening stands. Many stands will
double as both. Last year I was disgusted with my
wind options. I am confident I have eliminated that
problem. As I have mentioned in an earlier column
I feel that over the years I have educated deer
when entering and leaving stands. This year my
routes are more secluded and I should not spook
too many deer. I have enough stands this year
that I should not need to be in the same one very
often. Over the years I have accumulated several
stands and there is not a single one left in my
garage. Bucks and big bucks have been showing
up on the properties all summer long. Just the
other night I watched a 120 inch buck feed on
acorns along a field edge near several of my
stands. This particular buck has been running with
two others that are significantly larger than him.
Of course they stayed in the woods feeding on
acorns there. Acorns are abundant; I mean they
are everywhere, even on properties that don’t
usually have them. These areas, tucked in the
woods, will be great spots to pull big bucks out in
the daylight hours. My clothes are outside
hanging in my “outdoor closet” airing out and dry
as a bone. Moisture in your clothes is a huge
enemy in the deer woods. As I go down my
checklist I have only a few last minute
preparations and then it’s game time.
The Bad!
Even though the outlook is good, there are a few
things that are going on in Minnesota that
concern me. The fall has arrived very early.
Deer lost their velvet in August here. Bachelor
groups are non-existent anymore. This may make
it tougher than normal. Generally we have deer
scouted in their summer patterns and get a
chance for a week or two at them. Now it seems
the big bucks have indeed disappeared from the
fields and are in their fall habits. Finally, as I
stated in “The Good” portion of this article, I am
also going to mention acorns. There are so many
it may be tough to pinpoint the hotspots. In my
late season scouting trips droppings seem to be
pretty wide spread, along with the acorns. My
plan is to survey these areas and move a little if I
have to.
There is nothing wrong with this if you do it with
as little commotion as possible.
Conclusion
It seems to me the good outweighs the bad and
to an optimist like myself it always will. I can’t
wait to bring you my first journal entries about all
that goes on with me once the season starts. As I
write this, I am six busy days away from the
opener. And when I say busy I mean that I need
to stay busy in order to make that time pass by.
As for you readers, good luck and HuntmDown!
Even though the outlook is good, there are a few
things that are going on in Minnesota that
concern me. The fall has arrived very early.
Deer lost their velvet in August here. Bachelor
groups are non-existent anymore. This may make
it tougher than normal. Generally we have deer
scouted in their summer patterns and get a
chance for a week or two at them. Now it seems
the big bucks have indeed disappeared from the
fields and are in their fall habits. Finally, as I
stated in “The Good” portion of this article, I am
also going to mention acorns. There are so many
it may be tough to pinpoint the hotspots. In my
late season scouting trips droppings seem to be
pretty wide spread, along with the acorns. My
plan is to survey these areas and move a little if I
have to.
There is nothing wrong with this if you do it with
as little commotion as possible.
Conclusion
It seems to me the good outweighs the bad and
to an optimist like myself it always will. I can’t
wait to bring you my first journal entries about all
that goes on with me once the season starts. As I
write this, I am six busy days away from the
opener. And when I say busy I mean that I need
to stay busy in order to make that time pass by.
As for you readers, good luck and HuntmDown!
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My 2006 Outlook
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