December 2012 John 3:16 Vol. 4 No. 30

Follow us on FacebookHillcountry Outdoor Magazine/Dean Wells

158 East Road • Ecru, MS 38841hillcountry@ms.metrocast.net

In this issue:

- The Best Flashlights for 2012

- Jump Shooting Ducks

- Top 5 Outdoorsmens Gifts

- Weather andWhitetails

- 5 Strategies for Huntingthe Rut

- Outdoor Truths

FREE!

W.C. Grisham of Union County tookthis giant buck while hunting in Illinois.

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SSoolluunnaarrTables

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Every Dog Has His DayThatʼs a saying Iʼve heard all of my life, from folks in every walk oflife. So, it was that late November day that I hurried to my huntingspot. The frost had blanketed my truck and I was letting Ole WhiteCloud warm up. To say this hunt had to be rigged by the Almighty Himself may cause some tofrown, but those who know things like this happen will simply nod their heads.

Last year I had planned to do some guiding for a locally owned outfitting business with landleased in Iowa, but that fell through hours before I was to leave. My hunting clothes were allneatly packed in 5 duffle bags, to be loaded in the truck and were lying in the living room floor.

I began to carry my hunting gear back to the place where I keep it, in frustration for all that hadtranspired. The funny thing about all of this was that I felt an overwhelming peace and lookedforward to the next day of guiding myself.

The stands I had placed in different counties ran through my mind for hours as I tried to make a decision about where I was going to hunt. I watched the weather, got the wind and all theother conditions and decided on where I was going. As always, the next morning I awoke second guessing my decision, but after breakfast I decided to stick with it.

Now White Cloud was warm with windshield smoking from the heater melting away the frost. Iclimbed in and off I went. After arriving, I left the warm truck and began my long stalk throughthe frost.

This year I had added another tool to my arsenal, a small video camera, therefore I was doinga little filming as I walked to my stand. What a beautiful day I thought...Deercember at itʼsfinest. The birds were playing in the frost, a squirrel hopped off a tree beside me and ran into abrush pile.

What was about to happen, I have spent many days pondering and I have talked to expertswho have never witnessed any thing like it. As I was filming with the camera I saw somethingmoving out in front of me. It was a buck deer walking on his back legs like a man. He walkedout of the woods and across an opening rubbed the bottom of a tree limb then dropped on allfours, scraped, then went back where he came from. I was astonished and bewildered to saythe least, trying to process what had just happened, when along came another buck doing thesame thing. I couldnʼt believe it and I had just recorded it to boot. It was about this time, I sawtines and a deer 35 yards away, walking by, with me standing there watching, I dropped thecamera and shot my largest buck to date a 10 point with 7 inch main beams and a 21ʼʼ insidespread. But this story is not over yet.

Shortly after I got Ole Bruiser loaded, I was headed home when I felt a violent jerk, as I lookedback in my rearview mirror I saw that my trailer hauling my brand new Polaris Ranger hadbroke an axle, jerked off the ball and was going down a 8 foot embankment,. The truth is that italmost caused my Yukon to go into a tail spin, as I fought it with everything I could to keep it onmy side of the road. After I got stopped, I ran over and looked down the embankment and sawmy buck deer thrown 10 feet from the trailer. My trailer that had been from here across theUnited States many times was a wrecked and tangled mess, but my ranger was fine. I couldnʼtbelieve it. That was a miracle, for my trailer to come loose from the ball, break a right axle, plowinto a ditch and break everything on the trailer but the ranger. It gets better.

There I stood beside the wreck with vehicles going by and people wouldnʼt stop to help. Someof those I had helped before when they were in a jam, but they just looked and drove by, someI knew, recognized me, and still wouldnʼt stop, you can bet Deano wonʼt forget them Jack. Lifeʼschallenges, where people are involved, have a way of separating the wheat from the chaff.

While I stood there in anger and disbelief, I started to think how the man who was finally helpedby the Good Samaritan must have felt, when along came a carpenter who stopped by andasked “Man you need some help donʼt you?” It turned out he owns Moody Construction and hehelped me for 4 hours to get it all under control and wouldnʼt take a dime. My best friend in highschool, Timmy Hall with Hall Construction, along with Union Lumber Company came by and offered us the use of their loader to pull my trailer from the ditch. In a few minutes along cameBro. Williams with Pontotoc Gas to help and then Alan Russell with Russell Body Shop to haulmy trailer back to his shop to fix. Last but not least, Mr. Bobby Joe McMillan and his wife, whoʼsyard got messed up and rearranged for a while, never complained once.

As I arrived home that evening, I had to just set there and let the entire day's events soak in.Wow, I had just killed the biggest deer of my life and found out who some of my real friendswere.

“All is well that ends well”, is what they say. Its almost been a year, and my buck is on the wall.I have a new trailer for the ranger and I wonʼt forget the folks who helped me that day. Youwould never have known all of this just by looking at the picture.

What a way, for a dog to have his day.

Until next time,

Deano

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EditorialDean WellsEditor and Publisher of HIllcountry Outdoor Magazine

SPORTSMANʼS WAREHOUSE130 Marathon Way, Southaven, MS 38671

(662) 349-5500

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The Best Flashlights of 2012By Justin Thomas

Once again, we have scoured the internet to find the highest rated flash-lights. The lights we feature here received the most praise from the fo-rums and review sites we assessed. These sites included: BackpackingLight, Light Reviews, and the Candle Power Forums.

A few notable brands of flashlight are still made in the U.S. – Streamlight(made in Eagleville, Pennsylvania) and Surefire (made in Fountain Val-ley, California), and Pelican (made in Torrance, California).

If you are only interested in flashlights that use standard AA and AAAbatteries, see the keyring-sized Fenix LD01 or the Streamlight See alsoour guide to the best rechargeable batteries

See also my our article on the Brightest LED Flashlights

Best Overall Flashlight – Fenix TK11 R5 LED Flashlight

Pros: Very bright, durable, quality components, waterproof, inexpensive.Price: $73

Once again, a Fenix light heads up our list of top rated flashlights. TheFenix TK11 R5impressed reviewers with its build quality and light quality.The TK11 R5 uses of two Cree 7090 XR-E Premium Q5LEDs, producingvery bright beam of light (285 lumens in turbo mode). Most reviewers saythat Fenix now rivals Surefire in terms of build quality, but because Fenixlights use Cree LEDs, their flashlights are brighter and more affordablethan Surefire lights.

The Fenix Tk11 is part of the Tactical range of flashlights from FenixLightThe Fenix TK11 is actually an enhanced version of Fenix T1 Tacti-cal. The TK11 uses two CR123 or 18650 batteries. A 18650 is arechargeable lithium-ion battery with a 3.7V working voltage. You canfind rechargeable 18650 batteriesand the chargers at Amazon. You canuse rechargeable CR123A batteries in this flashlight. You switch betweenlight levels by turning the flashlightʼs head: turbo mode is 225 lumens,and general mode is 60 lumens.

The body of the TK11 is built of aircraft-grade aluminum alloy, and it hasa very solid construction. The flashlight is coated inside out with olivecolor type III hard coat anodizing that not only provides excellent surfacelook and feel finish but also protects body against bruises scratches.

25 Amazon reviewers gave the Fenix Tk11 an average of 4.9 stars (outof 5 stars).

Itʼs available from Amazon for $73.

A less expensive, but equally well-rated light is the Fenix E21

Best Keychain-sized Flashlight – Fenix LD01 LED Flashlight

Pros: Very bright, uses single AAA battery, rugged, waterproof, affordable.Price: $41

Reviewers are virtually unanimous in recommending the Fenix LD01 asthe best keychain-sized flashlight. The Fenix LD01 flashlight runs on asingle AAA-sized battery, yet it can produce 80 lumens of light on itshighest setting. It uses a Cree Q5 LED as its light source, and the lens ismade of toughened, anti-reflective glass (as with all Fenix lights). It hasthree output modes: 10 lumens, 27 lumens, and 80 lumens.

The Fenix LD01 is also “IPX-8 water proof” which means it is suitable forcontinuous submersion.

The Fenix LD01 is available from Amazon for $41.

Continued on pg. 6

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The Best Flashlights of 2012 (Continued from pg. 5)

Best for Law Enforcement & Self-Defense – Nitecore Extreme Flashlight

Pros: Very bright, uses single CR123 battery, excellent runtimePrice: $92

The NiteCore Extreme is flashlight design for Law Enforcement and forself-defense. Reviewers say the output and runtime of the flashlight aretop-notch TheNiteCore Extreme runs on a single CR123 battery, andthey body is built of military-grade aluminum alloy. It has two light operat-ing levels both of which are are configurable through light programmingand are memorized.

The NiteCore Extreme uses Cree 7090 XR-E Premium Q5 binned WCtint LED. The reflector is built from solid aluminum with a Light OrangePeel reflector finish. It uses digitally regulated electronic drive circuitalong with micro controller based programming unit. Brightness levelsare controlled by turning the head.

Best for General Household Use – Streamlight 4AA LED Flashlight

Pros: Inexpensive, extremely rugged, good beam shape.

Reviews say the Streamlight ProPolymer 4AA Flashlight is the best flashlight for general household use. There are lighter and brighter flash-lights out there, they canʼt beat the Streamlightʼs price at $28. The flash-light uses 7 LEDs that produce a flood beam with a hotspot in themiddle. Reviewers at Amazon gave this flashlight 4 or 5 stars, and raveabout its ability to fill a room with light.

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When someone mentions the phrase duck hunting, most of us envision agroup of guys hunkered down in a camouflage boat amidst a hundred de-coys on a big lake. While this may be the case for some hunters, noteveryone has access to a large body of water where ducks take refuge,or a boat to sit in while waiting for the ducks to fly within range. If you area part of this second group, you can still duck hunt with a good chance atbagging a few trophy mallards or wood ducks.

In all honesty, many duck hunterscrowd in around refuge or sanctu-ary areas, and at the first sign of awinged animal, they either let shellsfly, or start a bout of calling thatdrags ducks away from you. All thiscompetition for birds can make for avery frustrating hunt, especially ifyou are only able to hunt duringhigh-traffic times such as week-ends.Jump shooting ducks is a viable op-tion for water fowlers looking for achange from the norm, and the re-wards are numerous. First and fore-most, jump shooting gives huntersa crack at birds that most others ei-ther overlook or don't care to chase.Secondly, it's just you and the

ducks in unspoiled real estate with this type of hunting. Small ephemeralponds and streams are extremely beautiful and peaceful in the fall, givingthe hunter plenty to stay busy with between ducks soaring off the water.

Jump Shooting NeedsAs far as equipment is concerned, jump shooting really does not requirehunters to go out and break the bank. Any 12-gauge shotgun in the sport-ing goods department will give you the power and range to consistentlyknock down ducks. Three-inch steel shot shells in heavy-shot sizes workbest. Don't forget to bring a few extra three-and-a-half-inch shells, just incase you run into a goose or two hiding out in the sloughs.

If you only plan on jumping small ponds, then a pair or waders will allowyou to collect all your ducks. But if you stalk small river systems, a well-trained dog or canoe will make your life much easier. In most cases, agood retriever will save you from many a headache when in the field. Notonly will a good dog fetch ducks that have fallen in the water, they'll alsofind ducks that have fallen into the thick brush or woods.

Jump Shooting TechniquesOne of the best parts of jump shooting ducks is that no special skills ortechniques are required. Hunters of almost any skill level can do it withgreat success, from the novice hunter to the seasoned veteran, and theability to avoid detection by moving carefully and quietly will be yourgreatest asset.

Stealth is of utmost importance when jumping ponds. Ducks have an un-canny ability to pick up the slightest movement and sound in the woods,driving them into the air before you can get into range. Walking veryslowly and dressing in camouflage will help, but hunting on windy, wetdays will be the only way to truly hide your approach. If you are in an areawith very little cover or structure, then crawling on your hands and kneesmight be the only way to get you close enough to shoot.

When you start jumping ponds, keep akeen eye out for how ducks react whenspooked off a pond or river. This impor-tant information will aid you in futurehunts. Most ducks sit on ponds in cer-tain areas for a reason; either that iswhere they find food, or it is close to anescape route. Understanding whereducks are going to be on the pond youplan to hunt will help you and your part-ner position yourselves for more effec-tive shooting.

If you can find a buddy to hunt with,sneak up to the pond from two different sides (not directly across fromeach other) with one person coming from the escape route and one fromthe most likely landing path. This two-sided approach should at leastpush some of the ducks by being shot at or spooked towards one of thehunters. In the unfortunate circumstance that you do spook a few ducksbefore you get into range, hunker down for a second or two and be quiet.If the ducks did not get a good look at you, in many cases they'll circlearound and come back to the pond, giving you a second chance to eitherpass shoot them or take them as they try and land back on the water.

Finding Duck LocationsIf you are interested in jump shooting a few ducks but aren't sure whereto start, a good place to begin looking is secluded forest wetlands andbottomland hardwoods near wetlands. Streams, natural ponds, oxbowlakes, wooded sloughs, wooded islands, beaver ponds, and seasonallyflooded hardwoods contain the much needed habitat and feeding areaswaterfowl require. There is no real secret to finding a good jump shootingbody of water. Hunters need to frequent their local waterways regularly tosee where the ducks have taken refuge from hunters. A pond that is hotone week might not see ducks again for the rest of the season, depend-ing on weather and pressure, so knowing your local waterways well willgive you a better shot at seeing ducks.

Special ConsiderationsWhen you happen to find a small pond or river area that consistently har-bors ducks, be careful not to shoot the area out. Excessive shootingcauses ducks to leave an area for good. If you are hunting a very largearea or several small ponds, try leaving a certain part or a single pondfree from shooting. This small sanctuary provides protection for ducks,ensuring that a few ducks will be present on at least part of the area,hopefully moving onto your hunting ground later on.

Monitoring the times at which you hunt is another good consideration. Inmost cases individuals are hampered by work and busy lives, so gettingout duck hunting happens whenever free time presents itself. If possible,hunters should hunt in the early morning allowing ducks to return andfeed undisturbed before nightfall. If ducks receive pressure from huntersat night and repeatedly during the day, they will flee small ponds and wa-terways looking for heavier structured areas to protect themselves.

If sitting out for long hours in the cold alongside other hunters just doesnot do it for you anymore, then jump shooting ducks might just be thechange you and your hunting companions have been looking for. Explo-sive action and picturesque landscapes in conjunction with minimal hunt-ing pressure makes this type of hunting exhilarating and fun for all ages.Get out and visit a few ponds or small creeks in your area and see what'swaiting for you this upcoming season.

Jump Shooting Ducks

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Top 5 Outdoorsmen Christmas Gifts For Christmas 2012WARN Cordless PullzAll .....$489As we hunters so often say, the realwork begins when the animal isdown. Dragging your critter out ofthe woods, loading it into the truck,hanging the carcass for aging canall be physically demanding, espe-cially for older hunters. So lift someof your loved oneʼs burden with this24-volt, cordless, handheld winch,which lifts or pulls up to 1,000pounds.

Attach it to a tree to pull a heavy buck up a steep incline.

Hook it to a heavy-duty strap near the cab of your truck to haul your tro-phy into the bed. Use it to hoist your animal for cooling and butchering.The PullzAll has both forward and reverse and comes with two recharge-able NiMH battery packs and a charger. —Dave Hurteau

Diamond Archery Infinite Edge Package.....$349.99The Infinite Edge is the perfect gift forthe new bow hunter, male or female,young or old. This new compound takesthe recent trend of increased adjustabil-ity to the limit, with an industry-firstdraw-weight range of 5 to 70 pounds.(In fact, with the limb bolts backed allthe way out, you donʼt even need apress to work on the bow.)

The draw length adjustability is likewiseimpressive, from 13 to 30 inches, withno need to change cams or mods. Light-weight and handy, the bow weight is just3.1 pounds and measures 31 inchesfrom axle to axle. The accessory pack-age includes a 3-Pin Apex Sight,Hostage XL Arrow Rest, Octane Dead-Lock Lite Quiver, tube peep sight, and aBCY String Loop. —Dave Hurteau

Garmin Fenex Watch.....$399The new Garmin Fenex (with a long "e", like "Phoenix") is a watch evenJames Bond might love. This rugged, waterproof digital watch sports analtimeter, barometer and a digital compass in addition to its full-featuredGPS capabilities. With the Fenexstrapped on your wrist you can createroutes, record up to 1,000 waypoints,track logs, navigate to coordinates oralong a track, waypoint or any otherbearing.

In addition, the Fenex's TracBack func-tion allows you to go back along a track-log to your car, campsite or home. TheFenex boasts a large, backlit display, amineral glass lens and an everything-proof polyurethane band. —Chad Love

Thermacell Heated Insoles .....$129.99 While they may seem a little gimmicky, as most items of clothing with a re-mote control are, these heated boot inserts from Thermacell are a greatpresent for the hunter in your family.

Rechargeable batteries in the insoleprovide about 5 hours of juice percharge and the remote control offerstwo heat settings and an off switch.This means you can keep them offwhile walking to your stand, and thencrank up the heat when you sit.

While not by any means ideal for some-one on a long, rugged hunt away frompower sources, they're great for thebowhunter who sits for a few hours inthe morning and wants to walk back tothe truck with feet that can actually stillsend signals to the brain.

S.O.G. Bladelight.....$85This one took Best of the Best honors,and my opinion of it now is evenhigher. Itʼs a big lockback folder with apowerful LED flashlight in the handle,and is extraordinarily handy. The stain-less blade is just under 4 inches long,and the flashlight has a max output of35 lumens with a running time of 260minutes. It weighs only 4.3 ounces,and has a real-world price of $85.

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Weather and WhitetailsThe best way to pattern deer using the weather is to begin by keepingrecords of the weather every time you head to the woods to observe,track, scout, and hunt in your favorite part of the great outdoors. Make thispart of every trip for deer and you will be able to zero in on harvesting yournext trophy.

Science has confirmed that weather effects wildlife in a variety of waysand whitetail movement is not exception. While experts will occasionallydisagree on it's effects, nothing can dispute your own observations. Manywill debate on which is more important: Wind or temperature? Do deermove more on a rising or falling barometer? Do atmospheric conditionssuch as rain, cloud cover, fronts or fog really matter? When looking atweather conditions be sure and factor in the hunting pressure on yourneck of the woods as well.

TemperatureThis type of weathercondition is fairly clearas just like high tem-perature inhibits ourmovements, high tem-perature inhibits deermovement as well.Low temperature stim-ulates movement andactivity. Rememberthat extremes on eitherend of the temperaturescale will inhibit movement and activity. Usually temperatures above 60-65will begin to slow down movement and activity. No matter what time or dayor season. Be sure an adjust this for your area of the country. The farthernorth you go the upper temperature range will slide lower. There will surelybe some cutoff temperature above which daytime whitetail movement iscurtailed. This is where your field notes will identify the "Activity Zones"

BarometerMost outdoorsman pay close attention to the barometric pressure as an in-dication of general activity no matter what sort of game they may be after.This is the number one weather indictor to pay attention to and check reg-ularly when heading to the woods. While it can be a complicated topic,whitetails seem to favor a moving barometer to a stationary one. A risingbarometer (such as high pressure moving in after a storm) verses a fallingone and a steady high barometer verses a steady low one seems to pro-mote the best activity. You may want to invest in a barometer for your deerlodge or camp so you can track your specific area verses the one your getfrom the TV weather man, sometimes 100 miles or more from where youare.

A barometer in your deer camp will give you the ability to accurately antici-pate the amount of deer movement you can expected on your next hunt..

Atmospheric ConditionsAtmospheric conditions such as rain or the lack of, along with the amountof nature of cloud like rain, mist, fog, and whether you have clear skies,cloudy skies and partly cloudy skies will again help you anticipate deermovement. The data you have collected will help you pinpoint the fact thatthe grungier the sky, the better the deer will like it, even up to but not in-cluding heavy rain. A good ground fog, with a light misty rain provides thebest of all hunting situations. This goes to show that when you head intothe woods you have the right gear for every sort of weather condition youcan expect that day.

Wind ForceWind direction matters only indirectly concerning whitetail deer movement.The given winds velocity will affect deer movement directly. Wind speedsover 20 miles an hour seem to slow down movement and activity. But deerwhere wind speeds are regularly higher will adapt to any sort of wind con-ditions in order to survive. Below 20 miles and hour the speed seems tohave no effect. They move as freely in a 15 mph breeze as when itʼs deadcalm.

The nature of the wind is more important than the velocity. Some deer willlike strong, steady breezes and dislike gusty, direction-switching breezesbecause it makes them nervous about there areas they are in. Paying at-tention to and recording wind force in your area will let you know how thedeer in your area react to various wind conditions.

MoonMany will debate if the "Moon" isweather but we feel that the "Phase"of the moon does affect whitetail be-havior. It may be the light it emits, ora gravitational pull effect, but trackingthe moon phases when you are in thewoods will help you identify when youspot movement and activity through-out the day.

You database will yield informationover time to which period of the openseason has the greatest likelihood ofproducing the most buck sightingsper hunt. It is not surprising that thebest period of activity and movement is at the peak of the rut.

Using a something as simple as a notebook to get started is a great way tobegin. Also there are many good computer “hunting log books” availablethat will cross-reference input data for you automatically as you add moreand more data over the years. Some of the good programs even combinethis information with topographical maps or aerial photos.

A simple logbook/database will give you the real answers to your ques-tions about when deer move in your area. Your information will replace su-perstition, old hunters wivesʼ tales, long standing myth, or guesswork, andprovide you with the evidence to find more trophy opportunities.

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Hunter Coleman of Pontotoc, pictured with his dad, Jeff Coleman, took this hugebear with his bow at very close range. The bear scored high enough to get thePope & Young award. Hunter and his Dad were hunting with Saskadrenaline Outfit-ters, out of Saskatchewan, Canada.

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At one time or another, most of us have been turned around in the Woods. Heck, evenDaniel Boone admitted to being turned around "for a few weeks" when he was out explor-ing! The modern deer hunter should carry a minimum of gear suited for survival situationswhen out deer hunting, especially if you're hunting far from the road.

The essentials for your survival kit

Sometimes it’s easy to lose your way in an unfamiliar wood. Carrying a compass andmaps of the general area that you will be hunting in can help in the event that you getlost. Carry a flashlight with extra batteries in case you get caught out after dark. There arealso flashlights on the market now that operate by just a shake, eliminating the need forbatteries. Matches in a waterproof case are essential and a sharp knife is good to have aswell. A traditional Bowie or a Swiss Army knife both serves the purpose for deer hunting.

Some granola, candy bars, or dried fruit are a good idea to bring along if you are notskilled at finding food in the wild. Never eat any plants or berries unless you are familiarwith what types are poisonous. If you are unsure of the safety of a plant or its fruit, don’t eatit. Risking an illness while stranded in the wild is not preferable to an empty stomach. A bot-tle or two of drinking water is necessary also. Humans can survive for weeks without foodbut only three days without water. You will not want to drink any water found on the landwithout boiling it for several minutes first to kill off any bacteria or parasites.

It is recommended that you carry a needle and thread in your survival kit. These materialscan be used to repair torn clothing. You can also stitch up a wound to stop heavy bleeding incase an injury occurs and you cannot get medical attention right away.

Most hunters carry a six to eight-foot length of rope to help drag their game back to thetruck or haul equipment up into a tree stand. This rope can be used in many ways if you are

stranded in the woods for an extended period of time. You can use a rope for first aid pur-poses, to help build a shelter, or to secure equipment during your hike. You can even stringup a makeshift clothesline to dry wet clothing should you fall into standing water. Be sure tokeep your rope with you and not in the truck.

It is also a good idea to wear a belt when out hunting. A belt can be used as a tourniquet inan emergency, as well to help secure a splint to a limb if necessary. A belt is one first aiditem that you don’t have to cart around either.

Fire safety when stranded in the woods

It’s important to follow usual camp safety guidelines when starting a fire under any condi-tions in the wild. Always triple check to make sure a fire is completely out before leaving thearea to prevent flare ups and a potential forest fire. Choose an area away from trees andshrubs, and line your pit with small boulders or stones to help contain the embers.

Gather larger logs and sticks and stack them in a teepee fashion. Then gather small twigsand scraps of paper to use as kindling at the base of your teepee. Blowing gently on yourkindling will help your flames catch hold. You can use pine boughs to shield your fire fromwind if necessary. You can also use boughs to stand or sit on if snow is present. This willhelp insulate your feet from the cold while warming yourself near the fire.

Many times, surviving in the woods is a state of mind. Keep your cool and in most casesyou'll come back from deer hunting fine. Panic and they may be carrying you out in a bodybag. If they can find you at all!

Survival Tips For Deer Hunters

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Strategies for Hunting the

Rut5By Bruce Ingram

The rut is something that we hunters passionately wait for throughout theyear but especially once the various Southern statesʼ deer seasons begin.Regardless of where we will be afield, we will have to make some majordecisions during this time. Here, then, are five strategies that may in-crease our chances for success this year.

ALLOW CURRENT CONDITIONS TO DICTATE HOW YOU HUNTTo the subhead above, I might rephrase it to read, “Allow current — andlocal — conditions to dictate how you hunt.” The problem here is ascer-taining what stage of the reproductive period is actually taking place con-cerning your local whitetails. Itʼs not uncommon for sportsmen in thesame county to be witnessing entirely different buck behavior.

For example, many of us, including this writer, have a network of friendswho likewise pursue whitetails. During the course of a season, and espe-cially as the rut nears or advances, we will contact these individuals —and they us — to share successes and commiserate concerning failures.

Several years ago over a period of two days, I contacted four of my bud-dies in order to receive their field reports. The results are as follows. Notethat we were all hunting within a two-county area.

• Acquaintance — A told me that the rut was nearly over and had beenwinding down for the past few days. He had already tagged a nice buckthat was chasing a doe.• Buddy — B proclaimed that the rut had not yet begun, but it was aboutto. That day he had witnessed several bucks pursuing does. He was quiteoptimistic and expected to kill a good buck any day.• Colleague — C admitted that he was confused about just what stage therut was in. The “moon phase and weather,” he said, had caused his localdeer to be “all messed up.” The whitetails had “just disappeared, whoknows where.”• Deer hunter — D flatly announced that the rut was long over. He hadkilled two fine bucks and would now try for a doe for the freezer.

And what news did I have for my compatriots? Over the course of thosetwo days, I had observed only two whitetails: a scrawny 2-pointer thatwas bedded with a smallish doe. For all I knew, the duo could have beenbrother and sister that had remained together because their mother haddied the year before.

My point is that all deer activity is local, just as is such highly relevant fac-tors as buck-to-doe ratio, weather conditions and existing hunting pres-sure. Yes, I know that moon phases and photoperiods play a crucial rolein the rut. However, knowing what is going on locally on your 40-, 400- or4,000-acre tract is often more important than just about anything else.

In any given county in any given state — because of various local factors— the bucks may be in the pre-rut phase and chasing, actively mating, orin the final phases of the rut. The only way to know for sure is to go afieldas often as and as long as you can day after day.

ADAPT TO THE DEERThe preceding strategy leads to this second one: That is, we should un-derstand the importance of being able to adapt to the deer and changehow we are hunting based on their behavior. For instance, letʼs assumethat the does on your local tract have not quite entered estrus. The bucks,however, have become filled with vinegar and are busily jousting witheach other, laying down scrapes, and marking rub lines.

This would be a marvelous time to engage in some activities that couldlure bucks to our stand sites. Rattling yes even in Mississippi, is a very vi-able tactic now and it probablyhas a greater chance of workingthan at any other time of theseason. Conversely, say twoweeks later when the bucksmay very well be actively mat-ing, our rattling will have littlechance of paying off.

This same time during the pre-rut would also offer us a greatopportunity to draw in a nicebuck by creating scent trails. Abuck that comes across the firstdoe-in-heat trail of the seasoncould come charging to ourstand. But, again, relying ondoe-in-heat potions when theforest is full of the smell of es-trous females is a gambit that isnot nearly as likely to result insuccess.

My favorite strategy to implement throughout most of the rut (all in fact,except for the actual mating period) is to set up along rub lines. This pastseason, for example, four times I witnessed an excellent 8-pointer movingalong a rub line. Three of those times I was afield with my bow , and theperiod was very early in the pre-rut.

On two of those occasions, I was able to draw back on the buck, but ei-ther the old boy would never stop within a shooting lane or his vital areawould remain behind some tree. The last time I saw the 8-pointer wasduring the gun season when he was clearly on a mission and wassteadily moving along the rub line. I grunted and bleated to him, but henever turned or even slowed his pace. In response to my calling, a 3-pointer did immediately show up at my stand, but I never saw the massive8 again that season. I can only hope that he will make a reappearancethis autumn. And chances are that if he does, it will be along that rub line.

Continued on pg. 14

Page 14

55 SSttrraatteeggiieess ffoorr HHuunnttiinngg tthhee RRuutt (Continued from pg. 13)

However, on my property, that same rub line was void of buck or doe traf-fic during the actual rut. The area bucks had no time to revisit the line orfreshen the scrapes along it, as they were too busy mating with does.Foolishly, I spent an additional two days sitting along the line until I real-ized that the bucks had moved on — and so should I.

Interestingly, as is often the case, at the start of the post-rut, some areabucks returned to the rub line after the mating period had ended. My clueto their return were several fresh rubs, as well as a massive tree that hadbeen horned — perhaps an indication that “my” 8-pointer had survived hisquick journey to wherever he had been. Once again, though, I was a littleslow to recognize the change in venue, and I missed seeing the bruiser.Adapting to the movements of our local whitetails is a crucial part of de-veloping a sound strategy.

WHERE TO CHOOSE A STAND LOCATIONThe strategy decision that causes many of us the most indecision (and Iam definitely including myself in the us category) is the mental anguishand somersaults involved with choosing a stand site. Once again, localfactors will likely be the most important thing to consider.

My family and I live on a 29-acre tract, having bought the land in 1988.Since I can walk right out my back door and be in the woods, I havehunted this parcel more than any other properties that I either own orhave access to. Over the years, I have killed 20 deer “behind the house,”including several 8-pointers. One of several constants about the land isthat the deer, year after year, have certain predictable travel patterns.

For example, every year at the start of the bow season, does and the oc-casional buck regularly meander through and feed in a mixed white andred oak hollow. The deer continue to use the hollow throughout the pre-rutperiod, only ceasing to do so in daytime after the leaves fall and the acornsupply has greatly decreased.

Before leaf fall, I set up along an old fencerow that leads through theheart of the hollow. And by doing so, I have killed a number of deer therewith both bow and gun. However, once the leaves fall or the acorns disap-pear, I rarely view whitetails in the hollow. Years passed before I realizedthat the deer were still moving through my land, but they were doing sowhile traveling through a dense thicket that lies some 50 yards from theedge of the hollow.

Indeed, during the latter stages of the pre-rut and throughout the rut, thetrail through that thicket receives intense deer movement. A buck that Ishot during the rut last year, in fact, died just a few feet off that trail.

That trail continues to be a deer magnet all the way through the post-rutperiod until the end of the deer season as a whole. If I am buck huntingduring any part of those two periods, it is that secluded pathway that of-fers me my greatest hope for success.

I strongly suspect that similar, predicable deer travel patterns exist on theland that you go afield on. In the pre-rut period, that hot trail might involvean overgrown fencerow between two wood lots or a line of oak trees thathave yielded bountiful nut crops. During the rut, a prime tree line to hanga stand might be the one that runs along a creek bottom or extends to abedding area. In the latter stages of the post-rut and recovery periods, thebest site might be one that lies next to a late-season food source.

Again, hunters should think locally about the various foods available, pos-sible travel paths throughout the various and long deer seasons, and thehabits of the local deer herd members. Then and only then can we makelogical decisions concerning where to position a stand.

KNOW WHERE THE DOES AREI have a good friend whose predominant big-buck strategy is to alwaysknow where the does are. During the early stages of the season and pre-rut, he doesnʼt even bother to consider where the bucks are. When hehas a chance to arrow a doe, he generally does so, feeling that is part ofthe overall goal of wisely managing the deer herd.

By the latter stages of the pre-rut and throughout the rut, this same ac-quaintance refuses to kill does and targets big bucks exclusively. How-ever, he still is single-minded about knowing where and when the doesare using the property he hunts on. His reasoning is that the bucks willnow show up soon, and he wants to be near does when such is the case.

During the later stages of the rut and throughout the recovery period untilthe end of the season, this friend once again concentrates only on thedoes. His feeling then is that any late rutting buck will show up to harassthe does still waiting to be bred or any fawns that have entered estrus.And if no bucks appear at all, he still has an opportunity to take one lastdoe for the freezer.

This past season, for instance, my friendʼs “know where the does are”plan worked very well. During the early stages of the season, he opted toarrow a mature doe, thus helping to manage the herd on the landownerʼsproperty and providing his family with venison. When the rut kicked in, thebuddy still was concentrating on the whereabouts of does and was able tokill a fine 8-pointer that was trailing an estrous doe.

In the latter stages of the season, my friend saw far more deer than I did,although he did not have the opportunity to kill another broadbeam. Helater decided to take another doe toward the end of the season. In short,some of the most successful big-buck hunters are doe hunters first.

KNOW YOUR LOCAL DEER FOODSTodayʼs Southern deer hunter has more knowledge to glean from thanany sportsmen in this regionʼs history. We know far more about the stagesof the rut and the life cycles of whitetails, and we have access to morevaried and sundry kinds of quality hunting weapons than our ancestorscould have ever dreamed of.

Yet, if there is one aspect of deer hunting that our sporting predecessorsmight still have the edge on us is that they were better woodsmen thanmany of us are today. Certainly one of the most important aspects ofwoodsmanship is having a strong background in the various kinds offoods that our local deer consume.

For example, many if not most of us Southerners know that the white oak(Quercus alba) acorn is one of the most preferred deer foods — if not themost preferred — in our entire region.

How many of us are aware of the other members of the white oak familythat grow in our local woods? And if we are aware of them, how many ofus can distinguish the white oak family membersʼ acorns from the nuts ofQuercus alba itself? The answer, quite probably, is that not many of uscan. The deer can certainly distinguish among the foods available tothem, however. They know what they like and will go to that food. Hunterswho know the palatability and availability of those deer foods have an ob-vious advantage.

Additionally, I would wager that most Southern sportsmen are very muchaware that whitetails will often turn to the acorns of red oak trees afterthey have consumed those of the various white oak species. How manyof us can identify the red oak varieties that live in our home counties? Andeven more of a challenge would be for us to learn which red oak familymembers produce acorns that are most consumed by the deer in ourhome woods.

Continued on pg. 15

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55 SSttrraatteeggiieess ffoorr HHuunnttiinngg tthhee RRuutt (Continued from pg. 14)

The Southern states also produce a dazzling variety of soft-mast foods.

This knowledge of hard- and soft-mast food items is crucial to our know-ing what the deer, especially the does, will be eating during the variousstages of the rut. If, for example, a hardwood hollow on the property youhunt is devoid of acorns, do you know where the deer in your area willcongregate? Will the whitetails be venturing to local soft-mast foodsources or will they be going to fields?

If the latter is the case, which fields are the most popular and where dothe deer typically enter them? To be sure, these are hard questions, andto answer them we will have to spend a great deal of time learning aboutour local food sources. This also would be time well spent — just as Ihope that considering these five strategies will be time well spent whenthe rut begins in our region.

Page 16

I really love this time of year.The areas that have a lot ofdeer hunters seem to always tryto accommodate this crazy cou-ple of weeks. Even mommaswho are normally more aboutcleanliness are excited to seetheir little boy or girl come home

with a little blood on them from a successful morning. I have heard ofplaces where school is closed during the first week of rifle season and Ihave personally witnessed every hotel room in a Days Inn in Kentuckybeing occupied with hunters. I can still picture the parking lot full oftrucks, trailers, four wheelers, and deer. The weirdest thing howeverwas watching hunter after hunter waltz throughout the lobby and downthe halls with their rifle in tow and garnished with blaze orange. Thinkwith me just a second though………. Can you imagine if 6 months priorto that day a couple from, letʼs say, Hartford Connecticut decided theywere going to be coming through Kentucky and would need to stayovernight. By chance, they booked this Days Inn on the same weekendof the opening day of rifle season. Now imagine the man getting up ona Saturday morning, walking down to the lobby in his fuzzy houseshoes to get a newspaper and a cup of coffee, and happening uponevery man and woman dressed in camo and with gun in hand. (I laughas I write) That guy would run up to his room, lock the door, close thecurtains, hide his wife, and order room service until all of the “barbar-ians” left. He would then get into his hybrid and drive just as fast as hecould to a much safer place – maybe to downtown Chicago or Detroit.

The truth is, I appreciate those who to try to accommodate us duringthis time. I also appreciate those who tolerate us as well, in the truesense of the word. I just wished that others understood tolerance inother areas of living as well. In fact, Iʼm just about sick of somebodytelling me, with a voice thatʼs barely broken puberty, that Iʼm intolerant!Now letʼs have a little classroom time together…….. Think about it. Bydefinition, to tolerate something or someone means that I donʼt agreewith that to which I am tolerating. (this seems so simple to me) I can stillbe friends with a person and not agree with whatever it is that I mightnot agree with. But toleration, again by definition, does not mean that Igive up my beliefs and espouse theirs! And yet that is what most indi-viduals and groups who cry out for tolerance want! I want to make apromise to everybody. I am willing to tolerate anyone but I am unwillingto give up my beliefs until you convince me that my beliefs are wrong.And if I donʼt like you, itʼs not because Iʼm intolerant. Itʼs probably be-cause youʼre a jerk and I donʼt like jerks no matter what they believe.Now Iʼm going huntinʼ!

Gary Millergary@outdoortruths.org

OutdoorTruths

Page 17

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Recipe of theMonthPrep Time: 3–5 HoursYields: 10–12 Servings

Ingredients:

1 (6–8 pound) wild boar shoulder, rack or backstrap1 cup Worcestershire sauce1 cup soy sauce2 tsps minced garlic1 tsp dry mustard¼ cup olive oil½ cup red winejuice of 2 limesjuice of 2 lemons2 cups orange juice1 tbsp cracked black pepper1 tbsp chopped rosemary1 tbsp chopped sage1 tbsp chopped cilantro

Method:

In a large bowl, mix all ingredients except boar. Cover and let rest 1–2hours to allow flavors to marry. Place boar shoulder in a large pan andtop with marinade, rubbing well into meat. Cover and refrigerate 4–6hours. Remove meat from marinade, reserving marinade. Prepare asmoking pit or electric smoker to a temperature of 250°F–300°F or ac-cording to manufacturer’s directions, using Mesquite and Pecan woods.Smoke pork shoulder for 3–4 hours or until internal temperaturereaches 165°F, basting every 30 minutes with reserved marinade. Ifusing a rack or a backstrap, cook to an internal temperature of 135–138°F for medium-rare, or to desired doneness. When done, the meatshould pull away from the bone easily. Slice and serve boar with yourfavorite rice or bread dressing.

MARINATED AND SMOKEDWILD HOG

Shoulder Mounts Onlyby Andy Russell

662.509.2542137 Clayton RoadEcru, Ms. 38841