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Trailcam

            Well I headed out to the public land I hunt to put a trailcam over my mineral site that I put out a few months back. The mineral that I put out has been eaten or soaked into the ground. The proof that the deer have been using it is in the hole they have dug trying to eat up as much as the can. The ground around the area surrounding my mineral site is torn up with tracks for about 20 feet all around it. There was no single trail leading to the site. It’s like they come from everywhere. From the tree I shot my buck from last year there were tracks going right passed it and the ground was all disturbed. 
            The trailcam I put up is an old one and the display screen is going out so I’m not sure on the settings. I could be getting video or pictures. I put the camera on a tree about 6 feet away from the site. I have put a red circle around it in the picture. The picture was taken from the tree I sat at last year when I shot my buck.
            We will see if putting the mineral out pays off this year by the amount of deer I see during the season. If I shoot a buck this year I should be able to tell if having the mineral out this year has helped since I have taken almost all of my bucks from this forest the growth and size of the antlers should make it evident. But it could take a few years to see the payoff. So no matter what I will do this another year or two to see the effect.
            I will be heading back in a week to pick up the trailcam and see what pictures I have gotten and most likely I will add more mineral. If you have a trailcam out send in your pictures by clicking the button at the bottom of this article called “send it in”.

Minerals

            In my last article I told you how right now is a great time to get your trail cams out to monitor your deer heard and be able to watch the antler growing process take place. I said to put your trail cam over a mineral site in this article I will explain why you should use a mineral site.
            If you have your own land you want high quality, high protein food plots. For maximum health and antler size you can’t forget the mineral/vitamin supplements. The biggest nutritional levels needed are in the spring and summer protein, minerals, and vitamins. Deer consume and need the highest amount of minerals/vitamins during the spring and summer, bucks are re growing there antlers and does are in the later stages of pregnancy, as well as supplying milk to the fawns. 
            The antler growing process is a 200 day period. Starting the growing process antlers are velvet then they harden at the end of the 200 day period. Velvet antlers are made of about 80% protein. Hardened antlers are about 45% protein and 55% minerals. The 55% minerals in hardened antlers are 22% calcium, 11% phosphorous (a ratio of 2 to 1), and 22% micro and macro minerals. Salt is less than 1% and virtually has no benefits for antler growth and is used more of an attractant.
            Salt blocks can be used as an attractant and deer will did a big hole to get the salt, a big hole doesn’t mean big antlers. To make sure you’re not getting a glorified bag of salt or block read the label on the bag or block. Look for the high percentages of protein, calcium, phosphorous, and trace minerals. Bucks draw minerals from there skeletal structure to grow there antlers so they need to consume large amounts of minerals and protein to stay healthy and grow large antlers.
            Now after reading this article you should have a better understanding of why I say you should put a trail cam over a mineral site. Deer know they need the minerals and protein; they will crave it and seek it out. Having a trail cam over a mineral site should give you good results on camera and the minerals will benefit you deer herd tremendously.

Buckscore.com

I found a place you can get pictures of bucks scored I’m not sure how accurate it is but it was cool to see what they thought it would score. I had my buck from last year scored and here it is maybe one day I will get it scored and see how close it is.

Scent elimination

                Covering and eliminating human odor that deer associate with danger is the most important step in seeing more deer. It doesn’t matter how good your hunting location is the nose of a deer is very powerful and when the deer is walking through the woods its nose is always working as soon as a deer smells a scent that it associates with danger it will go on alert and probably not come near your stand. Its not easy covering all your scent but the less scent you have the better your odds of fooling that wise monster.
                For clothing wash them in scent free detergent and storing them in a scent free container is where you need to start. When you do wash your hunting clothes that’s all you should have in that wash. Along with anything you plan on wearing into the woods. The best way to dry your clothes is hang drying them outside if that’s not possible clean your lent trap don’t use fabric softener and use special dryer sheets for hunting clothes.
                Your boots hold a ton of scent rubber boots hold less but aren’t that good in cold weather or for hiking long distances. Spraying your boots down with scent eliminator works well but you can add a cover spray when you get out of your vehicle or right before you walk into the woods. Raccoon or fox urine works great. Make sure to spray the souls of your boots as well even if you’re going to put a drag line or boot pad on soaked in a deer scent.
                Body odor is easy shower with scent free soap and shampoo. Don’t use anything with a scent. Deodorant wise buy scent free or just don’t use any.
                All your gear needs to be scent free as well. Spray it down with scent eliminator and cover scent.

My challenge to you!

            I challenge all of the visitors and readers this year to get someone involved in hunting. Even if they don’t want to harvest an animal you can still involve them in your hunt. You’re now asking yourself how am I going to get someone involved with hunting that has no want to kill an animal? This is how take them on scouting trips. You say well that’s easy I have done that before and it hasn’t helped. You didn’t do it right then. Don’t let them be your shadow! Explain what you are looking for and why take this time to teach them why you’re scouting. You don’t want them just walking around make it fun give them advice on where to look. Explain why you’re walking through the woods in the area you are. Most non hunters will be intimidated if you say hey we are going to the woods and I want you to help me find sign. Cure that by teaching them where to look and why you’re looking. Don’t just go right before the season starts go year round and explain everything and teach them why you love the outdoors.

Archery expert!

        So we have added a new page to the website for you all that have a passion for archery. We now have an archery expert on our staff and we have dedicated a page for his expertise were BigDogz will be posting tips and pointers for archery. To find the page hold your mouse over just my thoughts and a drop down list will show up after that click archery and you will be taken to his page. I hope you enjoying and let us know if there are any questions you have or if you need help with anything.

How do you know in May?

            Everyone knows I hunt public land and I have started getting the question how do you already know where you’re going to hunt this deer season and its only may? (today is the last day of May) the answer is I don’t know exactly what tree my stand will be in or what tree I will sit at but what I do know is a general area that I will be hunting.  I have cleared shooting lanes and have it narrowed down to a few trees I could put my stand in.
            The way I am able to determine the general area that I will be hunting is my notes from last season and end of season scouting. That’s why taking notes and keeping a note book is so vital. Even though I shot a nice buck from that area last year I know there is another one that has taken over.
            You might ask Hillbilly how could you know a buck took over the area you shot one in. I know one has taken over that area as his own for two reasons. The first is my after season scouting revealed scrapes and rubs that weren’t there before I shot my buck. Second and most important is that it is a prime area for a dominant buck. Cover for bedding, food to browse, and water to drink.
            You have to remember that if a mature buck is using an area for his core area it’s because it’s a prime spot he didn’t get to his age being stupid. Without major disturbances he will be there next year or another more dominant buck will have moved in. Either way there will be a mature buck in that area for years to come.
            Now how could I know what select trees I will use for a tree stand? By looking at the lay of the land and knowing were and how a buck travels I am able to take and start eliminating trees.
            Funnels and other natural corridors are what you need to look for. Then select trees that will work for the way you hunt. Come late summer early fall you can start looking for trails and sign to determine what tree is best. I will go into detail when the time gets closer.
            That is how in May I already have a very good idea of where I will be hunting come deer season. If you do it right you will be surprised at how effective it is to keep notes and learn the way deer travel. What worked last year might not work this year and if you made mistakes last year on the tree you hunted from by keeping notes you can correct your mistakes and most likely tag out.

Contact Hillbilly Huntin

            So I have been informed people are having trouble figuring out how to send in pictures and contact Hillbilly Huntin so there will be a contact link on every page and a complete list of how to contact Hillbilly Huntin added soon but for now use this button to email your pictures, stories, suggestions, and comments. All are welcome to send in whatever you want to share.

Hog Hunt

            Well I went on my hog hunt in Oklahoma over the weekend and had very bad luck. That’s part of hunting and here I will explain why we had bad luck. We were doing an evening hunt and we could see huge storm clouds rolling in. we never even saw a bird fly over. The property I was hunting normally has an abundant amount of deer and turkey all over it. They said that when the hogs are in the field there are 30 to 40 of them at one time.
            If you have been watching the news you will have seen that Sunday and Monday tornadoes ripped threw Oklahoma. The tornadoes went right threw the hunting property so I was able to get in one evening hunt that revealed no creatures. 
            Pray for the people and families in Oklahoma and always remember that every hunt could be your last and enjoy the time you have in the outdoors never take it for granted there is no such thing as a bad day hunting.

Poaching gray area

            So a coworker and I were talking today about poaching and ethical hunting. It’s not black and white there are gray areas let’s talk about some and then I want to hear your thoughts. Do you consider it poaching or unethical to take game out of season to put food on your table if you don’t have money to buy food to feed your family? What about during the season you couldn’t afford a tag but you had no meat in your freezer to feed your family?
            To me your family comes first! I will do what I have to do to put food on the table. If I can afford the tag I will buy it and take the game to legal standards but if It got to the put I couldn’t afford to feed my family I would take game for the meat so that my family can survive.
            Poaching to me is when you shoot an animal out of season or not by legal standards as a trophy. Poaching is taking an animal you don’t need to survive out of season. Un ethical hunting is shooting an animal legally just to shoot it that you don’t plan on eating. I don’t consider it un ethical to shoot an animal to protect yourself, family, lively hood, or to help conserve wildlife such as coyotes, raccoons, or ext.
            I understand people have different views and some people will disagree with me. These are my thoughts and I want to hear yours. What would you do to survive and keep food on your table for your family? So let’s hear your thoughts and what you think!

Man Cave

                This is the newest editions on the man cave it’s not finished yet and I don’t have all my mounts up yet but this is what it is now. In the future there will be three skull mounts put up and on the dark brown wall it will be painted in mossy oak camouflage. The bedding will be brown, camouflage, or Browning. I will be keeping you up to date on the man cave.

First ever Hog Hunt

                Well I will be driving to Oklahoma this coming Saturday to see family and get a little pig hunting in. I’m going to try and get video of it but I’m not sure how well it will work. I will be taking my Browning BLR 7mm-08, Barnett Ghost 350, Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm, and my machete with me. I don’t know how long I will get to hunt or what opportunities I will have so I will be taking all of that on every hunt the distance will determine what I will shoot with. I will probably be wearing my ghillie suite but that will be determined by what the land looks like. Wish me luck on my first ever hog hunt!

Time for trail cams!

                Well it’s the time of year that your trail cams can really be used to check your deer herd. Bucks should start growing there antlers now and possibly they have started already. The antlers can grow as much as half an inch a day. Antlers are the fastest growing bones known to man. Right now put your mineral blocks out and trail cams watching it, the bucks need the mineral right now to grow nice antlers.
                During this time the antlers are covered in velvet that makes them very sensitive. This time period is when the most damage and breaking is done to the antlers. With the antlers growing up to half an inch a day monitoring the antler growth right now can be very entertaining especially if you are able to take the buck that you were able to get pictures of as his antlers were growing.
                Remember what goes into antler growth genetics, nutrition, age, and stress. You can’t do a lot for genetics or age but you can try and help the nutrition and stress. Put out mineral blocks for nutrition and don’t chase the deer through the woods all year long. 
                Make sure to send in the trail cam pictures you get threw out the year bucks, does, fawns, turkey, and whatever critters end up at your mineral site we want to see them all. At the end of the year we will vote on the best trail cam picture and the winner will receive a Hillbilly Huntin patch. So get your trail cams out and get some pictures

Hillbilly scent tactics

                When it comes to scent you can never be too careful but at the same time I find no need to spend hundreds of dollars on these special clothes that traps your scent inside it. I’m sure I have been winded a few time just like any hunter even the ones on TV using the best of the best when it comes to scent elimination. I’m going to tell you a little about what I do when it comes to scent elimination in this article. Yes I know I just posted an article on scent elimination but that covers what you should do. Everyone has their own tactics and that article describes the basics for scent elimination.
                For my clothes I wash them in scent free detergent and dry them in the dryer with a hunting dryer sheet. When they are dry I will spray them with scent eliminator and put them in a bag and spray the inside of the bag with a cover scent normally fresh earth because I like the smell of dirt. Then I will put them in a bag with cider or pine when I’m in camp. 
                My boots get sprayed down with eliminator and then before I go into the woods I put fox urine on them. My boots are desert combat boots the same one I had when I was deployed. They are nothing special but they work who knows how many miles I have put on those boots not including hunting.
                Before I go into the woods I spray myself down with scent eliminator and cover scent then I use scent wafers on my hat waste and anywhere else I can find to put one. I spray my gear with the same thing.
                Now when I’m in the stand I will chew I will eat nothing really changes. I will even use the bathroom not too far from where I sit or my stand is. During early season any unusual scent can attract a curious deer. When you’re straying from the scent control basics think about the other hunters in the woods and the ones that have been there before you. Try and use/do things that a deer isn’t going to associate with danger. If you spook a young deer and there is a smell not normally in the air from you that deer will connect the smell and your action to danger and it won’t work.
                No matter how much scent control you use it’s not a guarantee the deer won’t wind you. Every deer is different and every hunt should be treated a little different. If I missed a big buck from my stand and I was chewing I won’t chew in the woods from that area because he will smell it and think of danger. That’s what I do for scent elimination and how I feel about it.

Snow in May

        Here in Missouri we have ½ an inch of snow on the ground maybe more and it’s still coming down. It’s not to awful cold so right now would be a good time to head off to the woods if you have nothing going on this weekend.
            Heading off to the woods this weekend but what are you doing there? You’re looking for tracks and bodies. When you’re looking at the tracks look at the size of the tracks your goal is to try and figure out if you have mature or young deer in your area. 
            This trip is more for trying to find out what your heard mostly consist of mature or young deer and how big the heard is. If you don’t see any deer but you find tracks you’re ok don’t fret. Check mineral licks, funnels, along with pond and creek banks. Walk the field edges and ridge tops try and cut trails until you find a well-used trail.
            A young deer and does will have tracks that are pointed almost like a triangle or a heart. A bucks track will be different it will be split the tips won’t touch. You can tell more form the tracks though all mature deer will be a little different there track will be worn down and rounded. They may even be cracked or split. A heavy mature deer track will also have something called a hock mark if they are visible you know you have found a big deer. You can also tell that it’s a big deer if the tracks are spread apart saw a foot and a half. A smaller deer’s tracks will be closer together because there stride isn’t as long. Of course the bigger the track the older the deer keep that in mind.
            If you find a mature buck track in a thick area with old rubs all around and beds you have probably found his core area. Yes his pattern will change come deer season but being a mature buck as he ages his core area will shrink he knows he is safe there and will probably be close to that area. In my mind his core area will still be within 500 yards or less come deer season.

It's May!

            It’s May!!!! Spring is in the air the temperature is going on here in Missouri they are calling for snow which is odd. Spring turkey season is ending and bass tournaments are in full swing. The question is what to do for deer season. To start off with I’m sure being in the woods for turkey season got you in the hunting mood. So let’s talk about what you can be doing now to get you a leg up on other hunters and the deer.
            First try thinking back to last season or go back in your log book and pick an area you think will have deer come next season. Then head to that area on clear some shooting lanes. Don’t do a whole lot of clearing just minor things. In that same area or near it put a mineral block to start a mineral lick.
            Second go through your gear and your notes about your gear arrange it and take accountability of it all so you know what you need and that it’s in the same place and can be found easy. You don’t want to start looking for stuff a few days before you want to be in the woods.
            Third go through your notes from last year and try and come up with a plan for places you want to scout. Figure out what you’re going to try this year that you didn’t last year. Draw up a plan and figure out why it should work better than last year. 
            Take a few days thinking about gear you need and make your list. Use this plan as a rough draft of this season it will probably change a few things as you start scouting.