Categories
Quicksearch
Blog Administration
Related Sites
Syndicate This Blog
Friday, August 22. 2008
Tough old doe
Seeing pics of a grizzled old doe brings back memories of my personal vendeta with a similar doe. Every time I would setup on her she would bust me. I spent most of the season trying to out smart her. She was living in a small patch next to a pond right off a gravel road. My stand site was in view of the road. I was probably 45 yds off the gravel.
One day I snuck in with a rake and raked away the leaves under an old white oak tree next to the pond,exposing the acorns still left from earlier. I let the area rest a couple days and snuck in a full hour before daylight from the downwind side and busted deer off the tree. I hurried and setup my climber and got up the tree as they crossed the road and circled around me. I heard them cross back on the road further down,behind me. I climbed extra high and when they popped up over the hill they just milled around but didn't catch wind of me.
I heard them as they snuck back into the bottom and I began my wait. 2 hours later out they came with the big doe in the lead. Now,in my haste I had climbed a tree about 15yds up the hillside instead of the tree I had planned. Now I was out of range. She had won again,I thought.
As they gobbled up the acorns I thought about all the time I had spent after this 1 deer. It was harder than any buck I had went after. She had a sixth-sense about her and could pick me out of a tree faster than anything. If I set up on her coming out of the bottom, she would be coming in and bust me before I could even turn around or vice-versa. It had become a Quest.
After they fed they started to move off towards the road,away from me. Well, thats it I thought. Then I heard a truck coming down the road. A dumptruck with a loud muffler,loud enough it spooked the doe back up the hill and 15yds out from me. With her attention on the road and the other deer focused on her or the road I drew my bow and at the squeeze of the trigger on my release I ended my quest.
I will remember this hunt always because it definitely was one of the most challenging.
Monday, July 14. 2008
I hate it when:
You pull a cam but forget and then think that it got stolen.That happened today!
You get to the cam site and you've spooked deer. When you get to the cam and switch out cards you find later that it missed the deer you spooked.
Your cam didn't write a single thing to the card for the whole week it was out.
The battery light is on and you find out that it died the same day as your last visit.
We have to vote for the lesser of 2 evils.
Hillary Clinton opens her mouth.
Stupid people breed.That means more stupid people to deal with.
A loud minority over rules the silent majority.
Someone is trying to be politically correct,instead of just saying what he means.
Continue reading "I hate it when:"
Friday, March 14. 2008
XTRA TRAIL CAMERA INSURANCE
You go to run your trail camera only to find out that it's gone!!!!...someone (dirtbag/asshole thief) has stolen it and you get that sick feeling down deep in the pit of your stomach. I hope this never happens to you but in case it does consider the following.
This most certainly is a problem that can and does rear its ugly head sometimes unfortunately!
You install your trail camera in that special place you've picked hoping to get a glimpse of a Big Buck and feeling pretty confident that it will go undetected by prying eyes only to return to find it's GONE!....Oh Shit, Now What???
There is no absolute way to prevent all theft as the thief can always come
back with the necessary tools or for that matter a damn chainsaw and cut the
tree down if they want it bad enough.
The no.1 line of defense is to padlock it to a tree by using a Python Cable Lock or similar device, NO EXCEPTIONS.. I am not familiar with all trail camera brands but, if they have code
loc capability the no.2 line of defense would be to DEFINITELY set it and ACTIVATE it.
(NOTE: Make sure to record your code loc/password info and put it in a safe place for later use/reference in case you need it or forget the password).
This way a thief can't
use the camera without the code/password and would have to call or send the unit
back to the mfg to get it operational again.
The first thing you should do if your trail camera is ever stolen is to call the
mfg of your camera IF it has the code loc activated immediately and let them know it was stolen on this date and you have the code loc set and give them
your cam model#, serial#, date of purchase, etc..... Atleast this way
if the thief does call the mfg or returns it they will no that it's a
stolen camera and they just may be in a position to help you in getting it back. This
is good advice for ANYONE who has a trail camera with code lock
capability. If it does then please set and activate it. This may just
be one of your best options to help get it back if stolen........ REMEMBER....A Python Cable Lock and setting the Code Loc on your trail camera may be the ounce of prevention that's needed to keep you from suffering the proverbial pound of cure.
Pocampo
Wednesday, March 12. 2008
Homebrew Camo
I have really been getting into the homebrew camera's and wanted to share what I have been doing with Liquid Nail camo on my camera box's. This is something I am still learning how to do, but wanted to share a few pics so it gives you an idea of what is involved. You are only limited by your imagination as to what can be done.
1st step is to put a good amount of LN on box to be camo'd
After a few minutes spread it around some.
Check for tackiness every so often. It needs to be tacky to "sculpt".
When it is tacky and sculptable get ready to put some spray paint on.
Now you can do some sculpting on the box.
Let dry for a day or so. Once dry, turn over and do the other side.
Here is my completed homebrew. It is a Sony p32 with a BigFoot controller board.
Hope this was helpful for you. It is not very hard and if you are unsure about it, try it on a piece of cardboard before doing a camera case.
BlackHillsDave
Sunday, March 9. 2008
What the Hell??
3/9/08
The wife and I went to the farm on Friday just to see the snow and decided to spend the night. We had brought along our daughters dog,Roscoe. He's a full blooded Lab.
Woke up the next morning to 22* and sunshine. The dog and I went outside to check the "depth" of snow and he proceeded to run around and check everything else that was sticking out of the snow. I went back inside and started getting breakfast ready.
We heard Roscoe barking like he was going to kill something so we looked outside and saw he had an animal cornered by the old chicken coop.Couldn't tell what it was because it was down at the end of the yard about 125 yds away. I grabbed my rifle and went out the door. Looking thru the scope I saw something I never thought I would see here. An Armadillo! I called the dog and when he cleared the area I shot.
Now I've got the armadillo hanging in a tree about 4' off the ground with a cam on it to see if anything will try to eat it.
Update on this: Nothing touched the nasty critter. Finally knocked the thing down and still nothing touched it. 7/14/08
Saturday, March 8. 2008
Portable Deer Blind Heater
I don't know if you can still buy/find one anymore, but I use a Coleman Propane Radiant Heater with a 3500-5000 BTU adjustable input. It uses the 1# gas bottles. It has a 6"x11" adjustable reflector on the front and is very lt wt, about 3# including gas bottle. It has an Electronic Ignition and no matches are required.
It also is very stable with a 7"x12" footprint and will not tip over. On high it is very quiet and ten yards from the blind you can't hear it working. My son and I use it in our Double Bull (cloth) ground blind when the weather turns real cold and the blind measures 6'x 6'x 6' high. Set on low it will keep the temp inside the blind @ appx 60 degrees and on high it will get up to about 70 degrees. You can comfortly sit without a coat, gloves,hat, etc on, or for that matter boots either, if you want to warm your toes.
I have never experienced any problems with carbon dioxide while using our Double Bull cloth blind with only a small amount of ventilation. A cloth blind will naturally breathe better than a rigid plastic model though.I have used this portable heater for over 3 years and am so impressed with it, if I could locate another one I would buy it just for a spare.
A hunting buddy of mine uses a Mr. Buddy heater and he likes it also. When the going gets tough and you want to stay out all day you can't beat a good ground/elevated blind and a propane heater with a heat reflector to keep you warm.
For the hard core guys that want to hunt out of a treestand or still hunt on the ground when it gets really cold can still use this as an option for a place to go to warm up and to rest, eat, etc and still be out hunting. I would definitely invest in one.
IMO this is a must have hunting accy for anyone who hunts out of a blind when it gets bitter cold.........Good Luck!
Pocampo
Friday, March 7. 2008
All Weather Trail Camera Hood
I started with a green 5 gallon bucket from one of our local grade school cafeterias which gets pickles in them. You could use any color but I suspect green,black or gray would be the best base color. You can also purchase them at your local hardware or building supply stores.
Start by cutting the bucket in half lengthwise with a jigsaw, hacksaw, etc....you will end up with 2 pcs that have a curved roof with a halfmoon shaped backwall for fastening to a tree.
Next cut the bucket to length but leave atleast one of the stiffner rings on the end for added support. You should end up with about a 10" min or 14"+ max length piece to suit most all applications. I use a 10" length with just the camera fastened to a tree and 14" length when using the Reconyx Adjustable Versa Mount holding the camera to the tree.
Now cut (2) vertical slots 2" long x 1/8" wide about 8" apart centered in the backwall as high up as they will fit under the roof. Now take a 2" wide adjustable web belt appx 5'-6' long and run it through the slots.
I then took a piece of camo 3D netting and stapled it on over the roof with the edges bunched up and hanging down somewhat unevenly with a T-50 stapler. Bend the staples over on the inside when done. The color of the bucket shows through the cutouts in the camo netting and adds to the 3D effect.
Note: the backwall of the bucket has enough flexibility in it to conform to the shape of most trees making it very rigid if you tighten the belt sufficiently.
This hood is all weather proof, very light weight and will not rust or deteriorate like metal or wood and blends in well and helps conceal your camera while also protecting it against the elements.
I have used this all weather hood on a Reconyx RM45 as well as a Moultrie I-60 and it doesn't effect the IR flash or the pic quality. I think the key is to not use an overall length (10"-14") longer than necessary.
Pocampo
Thursday, March 6. 2008
Combo Climber/Deer Hauler/Camp Cart
Whatever the task at hand it's best to use the right tool for the job. If you want portability, deer cart/hauler and convenience as your top priority why not try a climbing treestand that can do it all.
Have you ever considered a climbing treestand that coud be used for both like the Tree-Lounger. It has a set of accessory add on heavy duty 20" spoke wheels which attach with 4 bolts and wing nuts and converts it to a handy camp cart/ deer hauler. This way you will save a trip back to the truck if hunting a long way off the road and have heard from others that the treestand is very comfortable. The trade off is weight and I think without the accessory wheels it weighs appx 25#, and with the wheels included it is appx 30#.
I believe this deerstand is no longer being marketed by Bob & Margaret Hice but is still being mfd and marketed by another well known big game hunter.
You might try www.treelounge.com for more info.
This is just another tool option to choose from
Pocampo
Tuesday, March 4. 2008
Leupold Scope Lens Screw In Caps
Just a heads up
If you are using a Leupold scope and plan to install a set of Leupold screw in Flip-Back Caps beware you will probably have to remove and re-install scope to put them on.
I tried to install a set on a 10ML-II using a Leupold scope with 40mm objective bell, Leupold 2pc bases and med rings and it wouldn't work as the tab on the lens cap will hit the barrel preventing you from screwing it in. If you plan to use these lens caps then you may want to install them at the same time you install the scope or give yourself enough time to re-sight in before going hunting.
They are very high quality and are expensive $30ea (objective or ocular) even when bought from Cabela's. From Leupold they are about $100ea.
That brings up another question. Why doesn't Leupold atleast furnish a set of plastic lens caps with their scopes seeing as how expensive they are and other scope brands costing half as much DO!!!
Never have figured that one out yet
Pocampo
Bow Sight That Does IT All
For a reliable bow sight that does it all check out a Savage Quick Click Ranger. This is a good repeatable sight but isn't
sold at most archery dealer/pro shops because of the high price. You sight it in
based on a chronograph reading at 3'and also @ 20yds on the ground. You are now set
to shoot point blank out to 70yds with just a click of the sight lever which can
be set to repeat in 1, 5 or 10yd increments. It is a somewhat bulky sight but
very well made of metal and not plastic. I have used one for several years and found
it very reliable and accurate. It can be used with a single conventional pin or a pendulum
sight. I am using a Savage pendulum sight with my Matthews MQ1 setup and found it to
work great. I have shot several deer in the last 20yrs with a pendulum sight and
wouldn't go back to a conventional pin as it takes all the guesswork out.
The only downfall I found was that you could
only use 4 of the 5 arrow slots on the Matthews attached quiver. One arrow had
to be left out to accommodate the sight adjustment lever. If you are into an accurate, adjustable, well made sight where you can use 1 pin to shoot out to 70yds then I think you owe it to yourself to check this one out and maybe just take her out for a road test.
Pocampo
Sunday, March 2. 2008
Are you in the NRA?
With the current elections looming, things are not going to look good for gun owners. One way to help protect your gun rights is to join the NRA. I am a Life Member and have been for a long time. If you would like to join or get more info please use the following liks.
For information and news on the 
If you are a Life Member or have been a member for 5 years or more there is a ballot in the current American Hunter and American Rifleman. Please take the time to look the ballot over and send it in. Ballots have to be received by 27 April,2008. Just one more way we can exercise our voting power.
BlackHillsDave
Which Turkey Choke Tube For Mossberg 835?
The Mossberg 835 has an overbored ported barrel and the bore dia is (.775") same as a 10 gauge. It will shoot the best pattern with a choke tube that gives you around (.060") restriction. The (.695") tube that is in the gun now is already at (.080") restriction.
The (.643") tube will probably not pattern well out of the Mossberg 835. Something around (.710"-.715") should work best. In some 835's a plain old modified choke tube will pattern turkey loads the best.
I can't tell the difference in recoil with a ported/non ported choke tube as the 835 already has a ported barrel.
One of the things that you should look for is a choke tube with parallel sides (constriction) for atleast 1", and longer would be better. In tests that have been conducted it has been proven that you need atleast 1" of parallel constriction in a choke tube for best patterns.
The 835 overbore dramatically reduces shot deformation and over-constriction of larger shot charges or shot sizes commonly used for either waterfowl or turkey hunting.
A choke tube with too much constriction will eliminate this benefit and will actually make patterns worse.
Pocampo
Scent Eliminating Clothing:..Real or Fraud
Scent lok clothing does work to an extent, but there is no such thing as totally 100% scent free. To be really effective it has to be total head to toe and it's best to still have the wind in your favor.
I would agree partly that the marketing ploy is designed to catch deer hunters like fishing lures catch fisherman. With that said, I will say this. Anything that you can do to help eliminate human scent/odor that doesn't trigger an alarm response in deer is going to be a definite advantage. If you can't stop human scent all together but can tone down its perceived signal strength the more likely deer are to approach your stand. If they get down wind of your location they may be on alert, but not in the alarm blow-and-go mode .
If you concentrate on the biggest odor offenders on the human body like the head, underarms, feet, privates,etc you will go along way in eliminating or atleast toning down your scent.
There have been alot of deer harvested before the advent of scent lok clothing ,and i'm sure it will continue, but the only 100% sure way to remain undetected, scent wise, is to hunt smart with the wind to your advantage and don't hunt if conditions are not right for that spot therefore wising up the deer and notifying them of your presence causing them to alter their behavior pattern.
Pocampo
The Nose Knows!
A deer's no# 1 defense mechanism as we know is his nose. There is human scent being blown around everywhere you go. It's the strength of that scent that really matters. If it reaches a level that is alarming, the deer will flee the area. If a deer smells human scent or the scent of another predator for that matter and its signal strength isn't alarming, they will be on alert, but not spooked.
As far as urine goes a deer doesn't associate or can't determine human urine from any other urine. They may be able however to pickup certain scent receptors associated with a meat eater/predator/carnivore. I have actually seen the time when deer were attracted to the smell of human urine and some guys have went so far as to use their wives sanitary napkins as buck lure during the rut with mixed results. That takes one hell of alot of nerve and I bet his significant other didn't know about it!!!! The padlock would be on the honey jar for sure if you know what I mean.
The best reason to not urinate around your stand is to prevent drawing attention to any foreign scent which will put the deer on alert as this scent isn't natural to the area and they do not no if friend or foe left it.
The same thing applies to smoking. Except for the hand movements involved, it doesn't unduly alarm deer and they only know it as a foreign odor/scent and do not associate it with humans and at times can actually help mask human scent.
Sometimes I think we may give the deer way to much credit for the ability to reason when actually they are only reacting to one of their six senses. No foreign scent/odor of any kind to the area is best. A deer knows what is and isn't foreign to the area it inhabits daily and calls home.
Dont Forget The Nose Knows!!
Pocampo
Christmas Twice A Year?
for all you gun nuts/lovers/traders like me just a special reminder of the annual spring WANENMACHER'S TULSA ARMS SHOW that is coming up. This is the world's largest arms show held each april and october in the expo center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
It covers 11 acres under one roof and has over 9 miles of isles. You will see so many guns that your "eyes will get sore" from looking, ha,ha and that aint no crap! The spring show will be april 5 & 6, 2008. The fall show is nov. 8 & 9, 2008.
If you have never been then you owe it to yourself to go atleast once, and look on the bright side you can tell the little woman you are going to help her this year by buying your own xmas present and take some of the stress off of her!!!
For more info you can log on to: www.tulsaarmsshow.com
Pocampo