Late season deer hunting

It has been a long time since I have been in the wood hunting since I retired early, having a kid in college, signing up for college myself and starting a new career. I have been busy!

This year started off like the last three, to much work and not enough time to hunt. I met a man that had a 30 acre piece of urban property and he invited me to hunt several time this year.
The best time was in November and the bucks were chasing does! I saw several good bucks and two shooters for sure.
I ventured out on one of the first cold days of the year and sat in a tower blind. I patiently waited until shooting light and sure enough I had a few young deer come into the area, followed by some bigger does and then the bucks came.
The small spike came in first, followed by a small four pointer. A few minutes later here comes a 8-pointer. I set my sights on him and thought he would be a good one to arrow. I felt like I was new to bowhunting again since it has been three years since my last kill.
I decided to wait a little longer when a BIG 10 point came in. I focused on him but, he was focused on the ladies. That buck chased the does the whole time he was in the area. Eventually, he turned is attention to the 8 pointer and decided it was time to fight. I think more out of frustration than anything else.
The bigger buck squared off and the two locked up and was tearing the ground up!
About 2 minutes went by until the 8 pointer decided to move on. Well, so did the 10 pointer as well.
For the first sit in 3 years I had a great time, even though I was not able to score on a big buck.

I was off mid week during the late season doe and spike season we have here in Texas and I was able to make my way out to the small property again.
I figured I would get there about 45 minutes before legal shooting time, get settled in and let things calm down. After spraying down with some Tink's Odor Elimination spray and a little Acorn Cover Scent I headed to the blind. Well, as I approached the tower stand the deer were already there. I just made a big loop around them and worked my way to the stand. The deer ran off and in no time they were back. As I was getting settled in they acted as if I was not there. I tried to be quiet but, that didn't happen as planned. Finally, I was nestled in and in just a few minutes deer appeared once again.

The sun was up and I could clearly see the deer feeding on acorns and grazing 18 yards in front of me. The deer were young and I debated whether to arrow one or not.
After a few minutes I decided to take the young doe. I watched her and removed my arrow from my Kwikee Kwiver and knocked it to the string. The deer stood broadside at about 18 yards away and relaxed. I quietly stood up and locked my Tru-Fire Edge 4 finger release release to the string loop of my Mathews MQ1. I took a deep breath and drew my bow and anchored. Everything felt good at this point. I looked through my peep and put the single pin of my HHA Sports Optimizer sight at the right elbow of the deer. I slowly pressed the release and my Winner's Choice string slammed forward turning on the Nocturnal nock and pushing a Carbon Express PileDriver arrow tipped with a BuzzCut broadhead from Magnus Broadheads toward the spot I had placed the green pin.  

The Nockturnal Lighted Nock was on and I could clearly see my arrow heading for its mark. As the arrow made a distinctive thud the lighted nock disappeared into her chest. TWACK!

The deer ran and the arrow made it comply through her chest. There was no doubt it was a PERFECT shot!

The BuzzCut cut a hole clean through her ribs and her shoulder on the opposite side. The broadhead did an excellent job in deflating both lungs as well as putting a good nick in the heart. The holes release blood as if you poured it from a bucket leaving a blood trail anyone could follow.

As the deer vacated the area with the utmost urgency she headed for the stock tank! I saw her run and eventually jump straight into the water. The temperature was 35 degrees and it has been in the 30s for over a week. I'm thinking that water is too cold to get in for a deer but, as soon as I thought it she ran right out of the water and ran another 30 yards before stopping and falling down.

I was pretty pumped up for having the change to shoot a deer this year. After the shot I developed the shakes came to me as did remorse for taking her life. I gave thanks to our Creator for allowing me to kill the deer and providing food for my family. I retrieved my game, tagged it and loaded her up in the truck.

Government Shut-Down: What is Closed to the Outdoorsman?

UPDATE: The Shut Down in Over and it appears the outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen are back in business and can get back out on the water and woods!

I'm not into politics nor am I wanting to make this a political post. I just want to try and inform outdoorsmen and women of closures to some of the national parks in Texas.

While I was at work I heard that the Lyndon B. Johnson National Park, in Johnson City, had been closed. The closing is related to the government shut-down.
I thought I would get search the Internet for all the national parks in Texas to see how many we have and thus how many have been shut-down.

The National Park Service website states, "Because of the federal government shutdown, national parks are closed and the National Park Service website is not being maintained. "

Several hunters and angles frequent the national parks for both hunting and fishing, with the shut-down their outdoors activities will be interrupted.
After a little searching I located several national parks that the shut-down is effecting here in Texas.
Fisherman that access refuges such as the Aranasas National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), Brazoria NWR, Anahuac NWR and the Texas Point NWR will have to suspend fishing these areas until further notice.
Freshwater angles too are having to suspend fishing on Amistad International Reservoir, from the U.S. side because the entire shoreline is controlled by the federal government as part of the Amistad National Recreation Area. If anglers want to haul their boat into Mexico and launch from there you can.

Army Corp of Engineers access points on lakes have also been closed.
 Lake O' the Pines, Lake Lewisville, Grapevine Lake, Benbrook Lake and Sam Rayburn Reservoir, to name few are all closed.
According to ACofE Fort Worth District website:
"***All Campgrounds and Facilities are Currently Closed due to the Government Shutdown***

Of course, all national parks are closed, including Big Thicket National Preserve, Lake Meridith National Recreation Area, Padre Island National Seashore and the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River due to the shut-down.

Then I looked up the national forests and grasslands.
Angelina National Forest (NF), Davy Crockett NF, Sabine NF, Sam Houston NF, Caddo and Lyndon B. Johnson National Grasslands, Black Kettle and Mc Clellan Creek Grasslands, Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grasslands are all closes due to the shut-down.

Bowhunters that have used Fort Hood to hunt will have to hold off as well.
"As a result of the federal government shutdown, the Garrison Commander has made the decision to close the 2013 Fort Hood deer bow hunting season until further notice, effective immediately." according to the Ft. Hood website.
The website stated the decision to cancel deer hunting in the general season has not been decided as of yet and that small game hunting (dove, rabbits, pig and squirrel) is still allowed.
Texas public land hunters will have access to most U.S. Forest Service lands and be able to hunt. The reason for this is the Texas Parks and Wildlife staff is stepping in during the shut-down to assist with the issuance of U.S. Forest Service Antlerless Deer Permits.
Anyone who submitted their name to the drawing should have received their permits prior to the opening weekend.

Good luck hunters, be safe.

Feral Hog Bounties: Some Texas Counties

A couple years back some Texas counties placed a bounty on feral hogs. These counties began giving small bounties on each hog killed by hunters or trappers to try and get more people to kill feral hogs and help reduce their numbers.



Hogs that were trapped and were
later processed. (Hays Co.)

Now some Texas counties are increasing the bounty for feral hogs.
Hayes and Caldwell Counties, in Central Texas, are offering a $5 bounty for each feral hog that is bagged by hunters. The fee is up $2 from last year.
Bastrop County is offering $5,per feral hog, for the first time.
Some counties that offer bounties require hunters to bring in proof of their harvest, like the tail or ear, to receive their bounty.


According to the Texas Agriculture Department feral hogs are responsible for $500 million in damages each year to crops, fences, roads, ponds, fields and feed loss.

Hunting hogs as well as trapping
is an effective way to reduce hog
populations (Hays Co)

It is obvious if we don't get a handle on the feral hog population Texas and other parts of the US will be over run with hogs as well as the destruction to property and other wildlife resources.

The program is funded by the Texas Department of Agriculture Hog Out County Grants Program. Other counties award points for hogs killed or trapped and prizes are awarded to the hunters/trappers.

Hogs at a feeder in East Texas

For more information of the Feral Hog Grant Program click this link.

To see if the county you live or hunt in participates in any "hog eradication" program should check with their County Agriculture Extension Agent.

Broadheads: What are the Differences?

Ask any bowhunter "What is the best hunting bow?" and you will usually hear, Bear, Bowtech, Diamond, Martin, Mathew's, PSE with other hunters agreeing that each bow is good and has great qualities.

Ask a bowhunter "What broadhead is good for hunting?" and the answers and facial expressions can be very interesting. There are only three types of broadheads on the market, the cut-on-contact, fixed blade, and mechanical and they range from 2 bladed, up to 6 blades, or cutting surfaces, with cutting diameters from 7/8" up to 3".

With all the opinions, marketing hype, and arguments in the bow hunting world about broadheads, how is someone going to decide what to use? Do your own research based on what your bow set up is and the type of animals your are primarily going to be hunting.

The Different Broadheads


Cut-On-Contact (COC) Broadheads 
This type of broadhead is original design and probably the oldest style of all the hunting tips. The tip is constructed with a sharpened edged point and has to 2 cutting edges. Although it too is a fixed blade, the tip design is where it gets the name cut on contact. This design had been napped from stone for many years, placed in a hand carved wooden arrow held in place by sinew and was effective for hundreds of years. Various designs of stone hunting heads were created to hunt different game. The forged steel broadheads came later which were also attached to a wooden arrow by splitting the wood and held in place with leather. Forging a cone at the base of the broadhead allowed the arrow to slipped over the tapered end of the wooden arrow shaft. Traditional COC blades still to this day are glued to a tapered end of a wooden shaft. There are also 3 blade COC broadheads on the market as well for both wooden arrows and modern arrows with screw in inserts.

 

Magnus Stinger BuzzCut
with bleeder blades

The modern COC such as the Magnus Broadhead has a main blade with 2 cutting surfaces secured in an aluminum ferrule that will screw into the arrow insert. You also have the option of a 4 bladed broadhead which has an additional 2 cutting blades called "bleeder blades". There isn't a chisel point or a pointed cone like on a standard fixed blade broadhead so as soon as this blade makes contact with the hide it begins to cut. Magnus BuzzCut Broadheads have a serrated blade which has a devastating effect on game. Magnus Broadheads also has Snuffer SS is a stainless steel 3 bladed COC broadhead. The Snuffer SS is a great broadhead for someone that  wants a 3 bladed COC broadhead.

Doe I shot with a Magnus BuzzCut.

A COC broadhead is ideal for lower poundage bows because they are able to cut through hide vs. having to punch through the hide of an animal. Once the COC broadhead cuts through the skin and muscle and enters the chest cavity the COC broadhead immediately begins cutting soft tissue and creates the hemorrhaging process. The doe I shot (pic right) was broadside and when she moved the right leg I delivered the arrow to her chest out of an Ameristep Brickhouse ground blind. The picture was taken immediately after I located here 20 yards away.

COC broadheads fly really well out of the package even when used in the fastest bows. There is little worry about them not planing or not hitting the target where your filed points are hitting. Despite some belief these broadheads are strong and can hold up to hitting bone. Blood trails are great with a COC broadhead as well. I have shot many deer with Magnus Broadheads (Classics, Stingers and BuzzCuts) and never had a blood trail that I disliked.  The cutting diameter of ranging from 7/8" up to 1-1/2"  with most of the COC broadheads on the market, which is ample for creating a good wound channel and blood trail.  Although I prefer and highly recommend the Magnus BuzzCut 100 gr 4 bladed broadhead there are many other COC that will provide great results.
A few other companies that carry 2 and 3 bladed COC broadheads are Thunder Valley Magnus Classic, New Archery Products (NAP), Zwickey, Carbon Express Broadheads, Steel Force, Muzzy Phantom, Woodsmen, and G5 Montec.

Fixed Blade Broadheads

4 bladed chisel point broadhead

The fixed blade broadhead is the modern broadhead on the market with many models offered in this style. and are probably the most commonly used by bowhunters today. Most of the fixed blade broadheads have either a chisel point or a cone shape tip that has to punch through the hide of an animal before it begins cutting tissue. The fixed blade broadhead can come with 2, 3, 4 or 6 blades however, most common fix blade broadheads come in 3 and 4 blade. The fix blade broadhead comes assembled in the package for ready to use application, but these blades can be removed so the blades can be replaced in the event they become dull or broken.

3 bladed cone point

A fixed blade broadheads require a higher poundage bow to be able to punch through the hide and some muscle tissue. Once it has penetrated and into the chest cavity the blades begins to cut soft tissue.Fixed broadheads often fly very well out of low poundage bows but often with higher poundage bows they will tend to plane or drift off there mark. Additional tuning of your bow or broadhead may be needed to assure that the fixed broadhead hits where the field points do.

Blackbuck Antelope I shot
Muzzy 100 gr 4 bladed
broadhead @ 42 yards.

Fixed broadheads do hold up well when striking bone because of the tip design however, because of the tip size when it strikes bone it will have a great reduction in speed and penetration. Cutting diameters of fixed bladed broadheads range from 1" up to 1-1/2" and with 3 to 4 blades these broadheads can also create good blood trails and tissue damage.
I have used a 4 bladed fixed broadhead before and had no blood loss despite making a perfect double lung chest shot from an elevated position. The doe that I shot ran 30 yards before piling up in an open field. The Blackbuck Antelope (pic right) ran 100+ yards after being delivered a lethal hit from 15 foot tall ladder stand.
I am not going to list all the companies that offer fixed bladed broadheads just because there are so many however, New Archery Products (NAP), Muzzy, Slick Trick, Wasp are a few companies that offer a good Fix blade broadheads. Look at any major online archery supply and you will find many more fixed broadheads.

Mechanical Broadheads
The mechanical broadhead have been around for some time however the popularity if the Rage Broadheads makes it appear that they were the leader in the industry. Believe it or not mechanical broadheads date back to the 1950's. I can remember the Puckett BloodTrailer Broadheads that were sold in retail stores several years ago but were not highly sought after. In the early 1980's prototypes for Mar-den Vortex Broadheads were created and the Vortex broadheads are still in production today.

L to R: Geronimo solid ferrule, Ply-Flex
Barbed Fishing Point,
Red Bow Star Point (1953),
Pioneer Game Tamer (aka: Pizza Cutter)
Mechanical Killer

Fast-forward in time and you will find now there are many more mechanical broadheads on the market. There are 2 and 3 balded mechanical broadheads and even a COC broadhead with mechanical blades behind the main blade. Puckett's had a piston design,  traditional over tip broadheads, which used O-rings to keep them closed, have been popular for many years and now the slip-cam design and similar rear deploying broadheads floor the market today.  The cutting diameter on mechanical broadheads range from 1-1/2" to 3", which will leave a gaping hole.

NAP BloodRunner

Rage Broadheads have become a very popular broadhead and well sought after. Their slip cam technology assured that the blades are open fully when they reach the animal's hide. Typically, a mechanical broadhead requires a higher poundage bow, however Rage has designed a mechanical for low poundage bows.
A mechanical broadhead does tend to fly more like field points and planing is not an issue, a wider cutting diameter allows for a bigger hole, more tissue damage and larger blood trails. A mechanical broadhead is not a substitute for not tuning your bow. In order for a mechanical broadhead to get optimal penetration your bow must be tuned.

A deer shot with a
Mechanical Broadhead

Even though the mechanical broadheads have made a significant improvement in the past several years they are still not as popular as Cut-on-Contact or Fixed Blades. The opening of mechanical broadheads pulls a little energy from the arrow that could otherwise be directed to arrow penetration. The concern that deployment failure will occur and still occurs from time to time.
Mechanical broadheads with the over the tip design can cause arrow deflection at extreme angling shots.   Even though the cutting diameter is large with mechanical broadheads it doesn't mean it is better. The large blades means more hide, tissue and muscle to cut, which could lead to reducing the arrows speed and preventing the arrow from passing through the animal. Also, having the blades move and the sear length they could strike bone which can cause arrow deflection, blade breakage of the small and thin blades, or arrow deflection.

In conclusion a Cut-On-Contact broadhead in my opinion is going to be the best all around broadhead to use for any game animal in the world and with any bow and it can leave a nasty wound and create rapid blood loss.

The COC broadhead can easily penetrated the course hair and thick hide of a big Texas hog, pass through an New Mexico elk with ease. It can also be shot at long ranges while hunting Muleys and Pronghorn from traditional archery (recurve, long or self bow) and compounds of any draw weight or draw length with filed point accuracy as well.  However, always make sure that your gear is in great working order, properly tuned (paper tuned), and that you practice on a regular basis before you can expect any broadhead to be effective.

Whatever broadhead that you select use MUST be sharp and shot placement is the key to taking down any animal. The double lung shot with a razor sharp broadhead is going to do the job every time!

2012-2013 Hunting Season: Just Around the Corner!

Well, it is that time of year. Our necks start welling up and we start getting our hunting gear together in anticipation for the new hunting season. I can't wait!

Here in Texas we are a "bow only" hunting family and use archery gear not only during the Archery Season but during the General Deer Season as well. However, whatever method you choose to hunt it is important to inspect all your gear prior to the hunting season, cleaning, and giving everything a good tuning up, esp archery equipment. The last thing we need is a hunter getting injured when it can be prevented.

Firearms
For shotguns and rifles, make a really good inspection of your weapon and give it a good cleaning before going afield. Make sure you check for any barrel obstructions, makes sure that the action is functioning properly,etc. Inspect your ammo. Make sure that you are carrying the correct shot shell/cartridge for the shotgun/ rifle you are going to be hunting with. The last thing you need is the wrong shell to get into your weapon and when you shoot it blowing up your barrel and you become injured.
For scoped rifles check to make sure your reticle is not broken, all the screws and your base and scope rings are secure and site it in just to make sure your still zeroed in.

Archery Gear
If you are using archery gear, inspect your bow, arrows and all the accessories that go with your bow.
Local archery shops like, Archery Country (Ausitn, TX), Double G Archery (Georgetown, TX) and
K.C. Outdoors (Spicewood, TX), can service most all bows for a minimal cost.
The last thing you need is to pull back your bow and a string or cable comes apart, you drop away arrow rest (Trophy Taker Rests) is not raising or falling correctly, then when you activate your release (Tru-Fire Releases) it doesn't open smoothly or you realize your (HHA Sports) sights  needed to be re-adjusted when you see your arrow veering away from its intended target. Not a good feeling when something goes wrong when it could have been prevented way before getting in your stand.
All broadheads (Magnus BuzzCuts) need to be inspected and the sharpness checked. Even broadheads that have just been sitting in the (Kwikee Kwiver) quiver all year needs to be inspected for sharpness. Arrows cn become dull in the quiver just by the blades rubbing on the quiver inserts. Most all broadhead (Magnus Stingers) blades can be "touched up" with a sharpening stone or a sharpening tool such as a AccuSharp Knife Sharpener.

Hunting Clothing
Get the camo (Feather Flage Ducks in a Row Camo) out and get it washed in some scent elimination detergent (Tink's Odor Eliminating Detergent) and put in a carbon bag (Tink's Carbon Bag) or a RubberMaid type tote that you can seal and prevent odors form getting to your clothing. Don't over look your hunting boots and hunting bags either. These items are equally as important as your camo clothing.

Blinds, Stands and Safety Gear
Another important thing to check is your hunting stands, blinds and safety gear. It should go without saying that any worn or used safety gear/ harness should be replaced. Your hunting stands should be inspected for worn or damaged parts and if parts are damaged they should be repaired or replaced before using them.

Any time you are hunting from a elevated stand please wear a safety harness to prevent serious injury from falling. Think about your family, wife, kids, etc!

Don't forget that those pop-up ground blinds need to be checked out too! The last think you needs is a scorpion or some spider falling on you and stinging you before first light on opening morning.
Ground blinds should also be checked every time you start to get in them for snakes or other critters, possum, coons, or spider monkeys that may jump out at you are make you hurt yourself! Okay, I'm not sure if we have feral spider monkeys, but you get the point.

Pre-Season Practice SessionsI highly recommend getting out the range and shooting a few rounds onto a quality paper target or sending a few arrows into a 3-D target (Delta/McKenzie Target) to get dialed and ready for the opening season.
I know most dedicated archers as well as gunners are practicing through out the year. We shoot 3-D tournaments, 3-D targets at home and hog hunt during the off season to keep our skills up. We are always inspecting and maintaining our gear during the "off season" and if something goes wrong we can address most all serious issues way before the season starts.

The Texas hunting licenses are on sale now and the beginning of the Dove Season for 2/3rd of Texas starts September 1st, 2012. Don't wait until the last minute to get a license.

If you are in need of a Hunter's Education Course check the Texas Parks and Wildlife's Hunter Education Classes of their website. Every hunter (including out of state hunters) born on or after Sept. 2, 1971, must successfully complete a Hunter Education Course. If you are not able to complete a Hunter Education Course you may receive a one time deferral.

Hunter Education Deferral cost is $10 and allows a person 17 years of age or older who has not completed a hunter education program to defer completion for up to one year. A deferral may only be obtained once and is only valid until the end of the current license year. For more information about a Hunter Education Deferral view the Texas Parks and Wildlife Hunter Education website.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife has a list of locations that are offering a 2-Day Hunter Education Course, I also am a Texas Parks and Wildlife Hunter Education Instructor and would be willing to hold a small class of a minimum of  5 students, just Contact me and we can set up a class. Class cost is $15

Hunting Season Start Dates
For a complete listing of seasons by animals visit the TWPD website: Texas Hunting Season Dates by Animal, but here are a few to get you started.

Dove Season will begin Sept. 1st, 2012 North and Central Zones and close Oct. 24th. and Sept. 21 will open the South Zone and will close Oct. 28, 2012.
Archery Only Season: Sept. 29th-Nov. 2, 2012.
Youth Special Season: Oct. 28 and 29 and Jan. 7th-20th, 2013
General Deer Season: Nov. 3rd- Jan.6th, 2013, for North Texas counties (212 counties) but for South Texas counties (30 counties) the season will end Jan. 20th, 2013.

For those of us that may not have access to private land to dove hunt check out Texas Parks and Wildlife Annual Public Hunting. There are thousands of acres through out Texas to hunt dove once you have purchased a Annual Public Hunting Permit for $48. Once you purchase a APH permit the TPWD will send you a booklet that lists all of the public hunting areas in Texas. This is the 2011-2012 booklet in PDF format.
One of the area that I take my boys is Granger Lake Wildlife Management Area for dove hunting and I have bow hunted hogs there before as well.

Remember to inspect all your hunting gear and equipment, have a current hunting license on you at all times while hunting, know the bag limits and any special requirements when you are afield this year.

Be safe and good luck this season!

Odor Eliminating and Cover Scents for Bow Hunting

Many people are not sure what works or just flat refuse to spend the money on commercial products to wash their hunting cloths, body, or to apply before and during their hunt. Some folks just prefer to pick something up that is just scent free or the other philosophy is "Just hunt the wind". That is all fine but have you ever thought that you are always upwind of some animal in the woods. Big bucks circle around before entering an area, so I bet he will be downwind and pick you out before you see him. Making sure you are as scent free as possible is very important, especially if you want an opportunity to arrow a big mature buck!

With so many odor eliminating products on the market people have a hard time selecting something off the shelf. When I am working at Academy Sports and Outdoors people often ask me, "What works the best?" I tell them that I have tried several different products over the years like, Scent-Away, Scent Shield, Dead Downwind, peroxide and baking soda, etc, but the one I feel has worked the best is Tink's brand of Odor Eliminating Products.

Neutralizing odors and keeping odors eliminated while in the stand is the key to success. The product I use is: Tink's Odor Eliminating Products as well as Tink's Cover Scents. Like I mentioned earlier, I have used many products but I believe Tink's Products are the best for neutralizing, eliminating and preventing odors. The first step is to neutralize any odors, but keeping odor off is equally important so using a product that inhibits the growth of bacteria is a necessity while in the field and this is the reason we use Tink's Odor Eliminating Products, it does exactly what it is designed to do.  The Byotrol Technology that goes into every bottle of Tink's odor eliminating products is the reason it is so effective!

Tink's Odor Eliminating Products  have been independently tested by a company in Round Rock, Texas. The result of the testing showed that the odor eliminating products that carry the Tink's name are more effective than their competitors. The scientific research is even more proof that Tink's works better then other products.

To see a video from the Independent Lab. (click the link to the left) for more information about the testing.

Tink's Odor Eliminating Products

I have had several deer down wind that were not spooked or visibly alarmed while I sat 15 yards from them in a brush ground blind. Also, I have arrowed and video taped many deer within 20 yards while using Tink's Odor Eliminating Products.

Using a cover scent keeps you hidden as well. When using a cover scent use something that matches your area. You can't go wrong with Tink's Earth Cover Scent any where you hunt. The fresh dirt smell is a natural smell and could even lure in a deer fooling him to believe another buck is making a scrape in his area.

Cover Scents

Tink's Coon Urine and Tink's Red Fox P are also good cover scents. Coon urine is great for tree stand users while Fox P is more suited for ground or brush blinds.

In Texas we have a lot of cedar, so using Tink's Cedar Cover Scent is more applicable than using Tink's Pine Cover Scent. The Tink's Acorn Cover Scent works very good in Texas as well, and the aroma of the acorn can also lure a deer into your shooting lane. I really liked using Tink's Skunk Cover Scent however, the wife didn't like when I used it but it worked very good and a little goes along way!

There are some other things, you as a hunter, need to do to prevent being "winded" by the nose of the whitetail to be successful in the woods.

Avoid bad habits on stand!

Smoking or the use of oral tobacco while in the stand will decrease your success. I used oral tobacco for years. My first hunting season tobacco free was the year I saw more deer than ever while sitting on stand, shot bigger deer and had more opportunities at taking deer!

I took a friend of mine hog hunting with me once. I had hogs coming in every evening and was confident we both could get an arrow into a good hog. After taking the time to get scent free, he decided he needed a cigarette...needless to say no hogs were seen that evening.

During the hunting season avoid wearing cologne, after shave or scented deodorant. Give your vehicle a good cleaning as well. The lingering odors from that cologne, after shave, the pizza you carried home, or the hamburger you had for lunch can linger in your vehicle and though you may not smell them any longer they could carry over onto your hunting clothes and spoil a good hunt.

I will spray down my vehicle seats and the floorboard  with Tink's Odor Eliminating Product the night before I set out to the woods to prevent transferring odors to my clothing or body.  I have always changed into my hunting clothes when I get to our hunting property, but if my seats are full of odors it will transfer over to my clothes.

Carbon Bag

Have a couple sets of hunting underwear; t-shirts, socks, underwear that are separate from your everyday underwear. These items should be washed with hunting clothes and kept with them until you are ready to go hunting. Of course all your hunting apparel should be kept in a scent free bag, like a Tink's Carbon Bag or clean tub, such as a Rubbermaid tub, to prevent odors from collecting on your hunting clothes.

Try to fill up your vehicle the day before you set out to your hunting spot. Gas fumes on your hands, in your hair, etc will be harmful to your hunt.

Although there are probably hundreds of other things to avoid or tips we can mention, I will stop with just these few.

Keeping as scent free as possible and using covers scents will increase your odds in harvesting mature big game animals!


Tink's #69 Lip Curl Buck
added 08-30-2012

Archery Lesson

If anyone wants to learn basic archery, has a youth camp or a retreat that you would like a fun activity, feel free to contact us.

We have the gear to teach archery; one on one or to a group.

We have instructed in public schools, bereavement camps and summer camps in the past. We have been through the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) instructor class and certified through NASP as Instructors and are always excited about teaching kids, or any one else that wants to learn how to shoot a bow and arrow, about the great sport of archery.

We are located in the Southwest Williamson County (TX) area and can travel to Austin, Cedar Park, Georgetown, Leander, Round Rock, and other areas in Willimason, Travis and Burnet counties. We have traveled as far west as Fort Lancaster (TX) and almost everywhere in between to teach archery.

After the Hunting Season Ends: What Can We Do?

Now that the deer season is over what is on the agenda for things to hunt or to do for that matter.

Well, now is the time to look at finding a place to hunt a hog or two, maybe some squirrel or rabbit hunting, 3-D archery tournaments, fishing, or camping out.

There are many great places through out Texas that you can hunt hogs. One of the outfitters we have used, Stretch A String Outfitters, is located in East Texas (Bullard, TX) and offers a great location and accommodations to hunt hogs.

How about public land for some hog, squirrel or rabbits? Texas has many locations where people can hunt feral hogs, and small game animals through out the year (except during special drawing hunts). All it takes it to purchase a Annual Public Hunting Permit (APH) for $48 dollars from the Texas Parks and Wildlife or local retail store, like Academy Sports and Outdoors, where hunting licenses are sold. Once you buy the Annual Public Hunting Permit you will receive, in the mail, a booklet that contains all the locations that you will be allowed to hunt feral hogs and small game.

Let's talk 3-D archery tournaments. Don't let the word tournament deter you from going out and shooting some foam! There are many different levels or classes that you can enter where you will be shooting with folks in your experience range. This is a great way to keeping honed or fine tuning your archery skills by attending some family oriented 3-D shoots. Bring your kids and spouse with you, win a trophy, have some fun!
We are members of Austin Archery Club, located in Austin, TX and would like to invite each of you to come shoot with us.Our monthly schedule of 3-D shoots are located on the Austin Archery Club's events page.
If your interested in more places to shoot some 3-D targets, Hill Country Bowhunters is another local archery club. Kerrville Archery and Bowhunters Association is not to far of a drive from the Austin area to attend a
3-D shoot as well. There you will be able to meet Tink Nathan the creator of Tink's 69 buck lures.
Looking for indoor range just to fling some arrows visit our friends at Double G Archery  (Georgetown, TX) not only is there an indoor range but Double G Archery is a full blown archery shop as well.

How about camping or hiking, visiting historical site, or even bird watching? Texas is host of thousand of acres in state parks, historic sites, state natural area, hatcheries, lakes and rivers for everyone to enjoy. Just visit the Texas Parks and Wildlife's website to find a state park close to you or close to where you will be traveling and visit one of Texas's State Park.

Video Tip

When filming hunts from a ground blind...
Try not to video through the shoot thru netting. This will cause the video to look distorted and if your camera is on auto-focus you will capture the netting and not the action.
What I have done before is remove just enough of the netting so the lens isn't blocked.
Filming through the netting is not advisable but if you find yourself in a position where you have not other choice, take the camera off auto-focus and zoom through the netting to capture the event.


Once you have shot your animal and summarizing what just took place, there is no reason to whisper any longer. The shot from the bow or rifle to the animal has pretty much ran ever other animal away. Talk in a normal voice so the audience can hear you.

"If it don't sound good, it don't look good."
(Forgot who said it, but it has stuck with me!)

Stories, Tech-Tips, tips on Video Taping Your Hunts and Other Information

 Our plan is to get some stories posted on our blog as well as tech-tips, equipment information, videography tips,etc.
Hopefully some good pictures and a video or two, so stay with us and follow us for information and stories!!!