This past Friday found me and hunting partner Cory McBride making our third weekly trip out to the farms to check on the feeders and trail cameras. As always, we were filled with anticipation - like kids on Christmas Eve. With several big deer hanging around last year, our hopes have been high that some of them made it through the winter and would soon show up again on the trail cams.
Our first stop was the Split Creek Farm, where we had gotten pictures a week earlier of three bucks – two of which had antlers out as wide as their ears, but neither showing much in the way of mass. Though the corn was nearly gone and the mineral lick was showing some signs of use, we were extremely disappointed to only have 22 pictures on the Moultrie cam. Of those 22 pictures, not a single buck had been digitally captured – big disappointment. I have a hard time believing that this particularly area is not getting more deer traffic than I am catching in the pictures. With trails coming off the surrounding ridges in all directions, this spot appears to be the perfect funnel – at least in theory! For now, we decided to give the area one more week, and left the camera in the same spot. However, if this Friday proves as disappointing as last, it will be time to reevaluate our location and head back to the drawing board. Next, we were off to the Ridgetop Farm.
Things seemed to be looking up when we arrived at our next spot and I saw that there were 219 new pictures on the Moultrie. I quickly popped the memory card out of the trail cam and into my laptop so that Cory and I could begin the process of evaluating each and every picture. Picture after picture revealed numerous does, along with two small bucks and one buck that has some potential for next year. We also had our share of raccoon pictures and a few of a stray cow that can't seem to stay away. But none of "Big 8" or any of the other good deer that seemed to adorn our trail cam pics all last season. With their absence comes doubt, and with doubt, questions. Is it too early? Too hot? Or have the bucks moved on to greener pastures? Only time will tell. One thing is for sure - we will keep filling the feeders and keep monitoring the trail cameras. Yes, we may have to change locations from time to time, but we are determined to find the biggest deer on our hunting grounds and pursue them relentlessly this fall!
Our hope is that you will come along and join us. We will keep this blog updates with regular posts and video, and we would love to hear your feedback. Tell us what you think of our efforts, and share your tips and advice. One thing we are not is experts! While we've learned out share of tricks over the years, we still get humbled and reeducated every fall! So kick back, hang out, and enjoy the ride….I know we will!
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