Don’t Make The Same Mistake I Did

© By Othmar Vohringer

From the corner of my eye I caught some movement to my left. Lowering the binoculars and turning the head I saw a huge buck casually meandering across the gas pipeline right of way. “Where did he come from?” I mumbled to myself, surprised that I didn’t hear him walking on the frozen ground that close to me. The buck hasn’t see me hidden behind a tree and a few low growing bushes. At least that I did right. Quickly I dropped to one knee, removing the rifle from the shoulder and put it on the bipod all in one move. Then I picked up the binoculars again to check the buck’s rack. He was standing now about 50 yards from me sniffing the ground. Obviously a hot doe walked there and left her calling card.

I noticed right away that the buck had a huge set of antlers. I stopped counting by four. There were a lot more antler points sticking out everywhere. But four was all I needed to know to make sure he was legal to shoot. He was a monster and made my knees wobble. It was as a good thing that I was kneeling on the ground and not standing. I picked the rifle up and aimed at the buck’s vitals but could see through the scope that a few low hanging branches from a small pine covered the spot were I aimed at. If I move just a foot to my right I will have a clear shot. Just as I moved the buck noticed it and looked in my direction. I froze mid-movement. The buck kept looking at me not quite sure what I was. Then I moved another inch or two – I had to or risk getting a cramp in the leg – and that did it. The buck still didn’t know what I was but deemed it wise to get out of there. With one big leap he vanished from sight into the timber.

I never saw the buck coming out of the woodland on my side of the right-of-way-line, because I was looking trough the binoculars into the far distance down the slope. The spot were the buck walked into the open was just about 20 yards from my position, but I did not notice him until he passed my peripheral vision and was almost across the 45-yard clear cut. Would I have done what I always preach in my seminars and courses and looked first close around me and then slowly zoom out in the far distance I would have seen the buck standing just inside the tree line and could have been ready for him the moment he stepped out. Talking about preaching but not doing, how could I be that stupid and not following my own advice?

Because I disregarded my own advice and searched in the distance first, I missed the rare opportunity to shoot a big monster mule deer buck. Tow days since that blunder and I still could kick myself for disregarding the most basic rule of deer spotting. Don’t make the same mistake. Always look for deer in your direct vicinity first. Slowly and intensely scan the immediate area inch by inch all around you for any sign of deer. Then gradually increase the search yard by yard into the distance. But that just shows you. Even the so-called “experts” make sometimes mistakes that cost them deerly.

But all is not lost – at least I hope not. The buck is still in the area and I will be back on that spot by Monday or Tuesday afternoon, employing one of my scent strategies that have worked very well for me in the past. I will lay a scent trail, using doe-in-estrus-urine, in a huge figure of eight intersecting several deer trails on either side of the clear cut. On the narrowest point of the figure eight there will be several scent locations placed within shooting distance. The idea is that any buck walking along on any of the trails (click on image below to see scent trail layout) will pick up the scent and follow it to the edge of the timber and walk right into one of my shooting lanes. Depending on the weather condition and deer action I may even mix a few deer calls in or some light antler rattling to give the set up a bit more realism and emotion. This usually gets bucks fired up and forget about all caution.



Tags: Mule Deer, Trophy Buck, Binoculars, Hunting, scent Trail, Deer Scent, Deer Calls, Rattling Antlers, Hunting Tips

Big deer Contest – Ben’s Minnesota Bow Buck

© By Othmar Vohringer

Here is another young hunters entry. Ben Walsvik from Minnesota sat on a warm early season evening in his stand and despite mosquitoes and doubts in his stand choice he stayed just a little bit longer and was rewarded handsomely for his patience.

Congratulations Ben to a very nice buck and good luck in the contest.

Here is Ben’s story and picture. Enjoy!

Big Deer Contest Entry #005

It was September 13th, less then two weeks until my 18th birthday and the opener of the 2008 Minnesota bow season. I got to my stand, a homemade hang-on, about 5 in the afternoon, whit about 3 hours of light left.

The day was warm, with a slight breeze not just best hunting conditions but I was still pumped since that morning I had watched this place from a distance and had seen a couple of bucks pass by. Two mosquito-filled and a deer-less hour later I was beginning to doubt my stand choice.

However, it soon gets a lot better. I bit after 7, I begin to hear a deer working its way through the swamp, and 15 minutes later a small 8-point steps out. As it is the first day I let him pass, and am I glad I did! Just about as soon as the 8-point left, out steps a wide racked buck, and my heart goes into overdrive.

He stops about 35 yards away and starts sniffing the wind and looking around, several times looking right at me. After what seemed like an eternity, but was only 5 minutes or so, and many prayers later, he finally turns his head away from me, allowing me to draw. My PSE Mach-X, launching a Rage tipped Easton Axis found its mark. An hour later after a short blood trail, I found my trophy.

If you would like to enter our 2008 Big Deer Contest and become eligible to win a fantastic prize, provided by the good folks at Versus Country, read the contest entry rules here.

Bowhunting, Minnesota, Trophy Buck, Big Deer Contest, Whitetail Buck

Big Deer Contest – Robbie’s Michigan Doubleheader

© By Othmar Vohringer

I am always tickled when hunters send me pictures and stories of their success. I genuinely enjoy others success the same way I do mien. But I am particularly happy when a young or a novice hunter shows off his or her first success. For young Robbie from Michigan lady luck stroked him twice on the same day.

Congratulations Robbie and I hope you have the same luck in the contest as you had with hunting with your father and grandfather.
Here is the story in Robbie’s own words. Enjoy!

2008 Big Deer Contest # 004

It was November 15, 2008, and I was hunting with my Grandpa in Michigan. At 7:45, a buck walked out at 170 yards and I shot him. It looked like a nice buck, only after the shot, I couldn't tell what had happened. I radioed my Dad, and he advised me to wait a while before attempting to track it. At 8:00, I spotted another buck at 155 yards, which was a much bigger deer. I promptly brought up the gun, and shot him. He dropped, and I turned to my Grandpa and said, "He's down, and he's big, let's go get him!" It turns out, that both the deer were 8 points, and I had dropped them both! They were laying not 20 yards away from each other! The bigger buck will score around 120, and the smaller buck is one that I would be thrilled with, but he doesn't look as big next to the big one. So, after an hour of hunting, I have now been promoted/demoted to official deer driver.

I would like to thank my Grandpa, and my Dad for willingly sacrificing most of their hunting time to help a lot of kids (including me) go hunting.

If you would like to enter our 2008 Big Deer Contest and become eligible to win a fantastic prize, provided by the good folks at Versus Country, read the contest entry rules here.


Tags: Big Deer Contest, Young Hunters, Michigan Bucks, Trophy Deer, Whitetail Deer Passion

Big Deer Contest – Jennifer’s Buck

© By Othmar Vohringer

Jennifer sent me her entry for the contest. She is a hunter for the second season and already shot the buck of a lifetime, a beautiful and rare piebald green scoring 158. Congratulations Jennifer to an exceptional deer and good luck in the contest.

Here is Jennifer’s story in her own words.
Enjoy!

2008 Big Deer Contest Entry # 003

My name is Jennifer Scarborough, I'm 25 and I began hunting last year with my dad. He has taught me everything so far. I have been very fortunate to have 2 great hunting years. Last year I got my first buck on my first hunt. This year I had to work a little bit at it. I learned how to use a tree climber stand and learned a lot more patience! I hunted quite a bit this year and wanted to get a nice buck. Boy did I get a nice one on Nov. 9, 2008! I was using a 35th anniversary Horton Crossbow with Horton arrows, sitting in a Summit Viper SS tree climber. Most of my gear is Realtree AP HD. It was a chilly clear morning and I saw a few does...then came my buck. I took the best shot I could and got him! He is an 11-point piebald. His gross score is a 158 6/8 with an inside spread of 21 5/8". He was a 200+lb. deer!

If you would like to enter our 2008 Big Deer Contest and become eligible to win a fantastic prize, provided by the good folks at Versus Country, read the contest entry rules here.


Tags: Big Deer Contest, Piebald Buck, Crossbow Hunting, Deer Hunting, Treestands, Trophy Buck, Whitetail Deer

The BBQ Sauce Buck

© By Othmar Vohringer

It is not often that I post videos on my blog but when my wife pointed the video below out to me on YouTube I was very impressed to say the least. Watch and Enjoy!

Big Deer Contest – The Tyson Buck

© By Othmar Vohringer

Gerry Tyson from Minnesota sent me his Whitetail Deer Passion – 2008 Big Deer Contest submission entry. Gerry shows us a fine example of a Minnesota – another big buck state – deer that he shot with a bow on October 31 of this year. Here in his own words is how he did it.



2008 Big Deer Contest entry # 002

Friday evening Oct. 31 I managed to run out to my deer stand after working late, at about 5:20 this big buck walked in after making a few grunt calls.

It was about a 25 yards shot and I tracked him for only 70 yards before finding this 9 point big guy!!! I took him to John's Taxidermy in Hastings where he weighed it and measured the rack.

The buck dressed out at 223 lbs., has a 19 3/4" inside spread and green scored aprox. 140. When I got home John called and said the deer was about 9 1/2 years old, (grandpa of the woods)!!! This is my first trophy buck by bow hunting so he's going on the wall.

Thanks for sharing your hunt with our readers and good luck in the contests.

Take part in the Whitetail Deer Passion 2008 Big Deer Contest and become eligible to win a 2 disc DVD set of Whitetail Revolution read more about it here!

Tags: Trophy Buck Contest, Minnesota Trophy Deer, Bowhunting, Big Deer, Whitetail Deer, Whitetail Deer Passion

Preparing Your Firearm For The Cold Winter

© By Othmar Vohringer

As November rolls around most states and Canadian provinces close archery season and open the muzzleloader or general firearm season. In order to keep your firearm shooting well and accurate in temperatures below the freezing point special attention needs to be given to muzzleloaders and rifles.

A good friend of mine recently saw a great looking buck but when he pulled the trigger on his rifle nothing happened. The lubricant in the trigger housing had jelled in the cold temperature preventing the firing pin form moving. Frozen firing pins are not the only problem occurring in sub zero temperatures.

The drastic temperature change that occurs in a firearm that is brought from a warm room to the cold outdoors and vise versa will create condensation inside the barrel and action. The steel expands and contracts with the temperature changes and that can influence the accuracy of your gun negatively.

To make sure that your firearm is in top shooting form in sub zero temperatures take it completely apart and remove any trace of oil or other lubricants with a degreasing agent. This will ensure that the firing pin will work flawlessly every time you pull the trigger.

It is not always possible to store a ( locked and secured ) firearm overnight in your truck, which would be the most ideal way to prevent condensation from occurring so this is the alternative for the firearm that sits in the house overnight:
Take it completely apart and when the parts have adjusted to the room temperature wipe all the condensation off the parts and then wipe the parts and the barrel inside and outside with a water repellant like Teflon or silicon impregnated cloth/barrel swabs. It is important that you get rid of any moisture in and outside of the firearm otherwise the moisture will freeze up the moment you bring the rifle outside in the morning.

Hunting during the coldest time of the year can be very productive and carefully winterizing your firearm will guarantee that it will perform the task when that big buck stands in front of your sights.

Tags: Firearms, Deer Hunting, Late Season, Winter, Winterize Fireamrs

Stalking The Forgotten Art

© By Othmar Vohringer

Before the dawn of modern treestands, hunters successfully stalked deer with rifle and bow. Unfortunately these days many hunters have lost, or never tried, to stalk within shooting range of a deer and those that do try from time to time will have you known that it doesn’t work well.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Michigan’s Benoit family, affectionately known as America’s First Family of Deer Hunting, have dozens of book sized whitetail trophies on the wall and written many books on stalking deer. Treestand hunting has proven to be very successful for a number of reasons. But sometimes it is better to become active and take the hunt to the deer, rather than waiting for the deer to come to us.

The rut is one example where stalking deer can be more successful than sitting in a treestand. During the rut bucks keep on the move all day long and it is hard to predict where they will turn up next. A hunter may sit for many days in a treestand without ever seeing a buck. This is a good time to hunt from the ground and stalk a buck near a doe bedding or feeding area

In the winter, in most of North America, the departures fall to sub zero figures. This makes sitting motionless in a treestand for any stretch of time a battle of endurance and can lead to hypothermia. The cold winter is the perfect time too for hunting on the ground and tracking a deer.

Stalking and tracking a deer is a special challenge for every hunter but by observing and training a few basic skills that are already in all of us we can become successful at hunting bucks at eyelevel. Here are a few of the common mistakes hunters make and how to remedy them. It may be easier that you thought.

The most common problem in tracking or stalking is speed. Most hunters got to fast. If you move more than half mile, depending on the terrain, in an hour you go way to fats. Deer key in on movement and if they see something move that doesn’t look quite right they are gone. Move very slowly, no more than two small steps at a time. Then stand still and observe the area all around you.

Looking for the whole deer. If you can see the whole deer it is likely that the deer can see you too. Look for parts of deer such as the flicker of an ear the glint of an antler or a horizontal line. Lock for everything that could be a deer. That brownish tree stump 50 yards away could be a bedded deer. The odd branch on the bush 60 yards ahead could be an antler. When deer bed or stand still they blend perfectly into their surrounding. A deer trackers best friend is a pair of good quality binoculars. Use binos constantly to look through the thicket and into the trees for any sign that could be part of a deer.

Did you know that deer have very sensitive hearing? To them the usual heavy human footfall sounds thunder. Deer are also paranoid, each unusual sound gets their attention and the human cadence of steps is a dead giveaway to any deer. Part of a successful stalk is to sneak around the woods silently. Before you make a step look briefly on the ground and memorize the branches, twigs and other forrest debries on the ground. Wear a boot with a light sole such as a hiking boots. This lets you feel the ground. If you do make a noise by stepping onto a branch stand absolutely still and watch all around you. A deer that heard the noise might get up. Do as the deer do and look for movements. It also helps to carry a deer or turkey call with you. Should step on a twig or brush against something make a deer or turkey sound.

Deer can see you if you are skylight or stand in the open. Use every bit of advantage you have to stay hidden from full view by staying below a ridgeline, using the vegetation and shadows to advance in your approach. You should wear full camouflage including head, face and on the hands.

Some hunters still-hunt an area as a method of scouting. Still hunting and tracking, like any other hunting method, works best in an area that you have scouted previously. In order to be successful you need to know where the deer are and what they are doing. If you do not know then the risk of “bumping” into deer and scaring them are to big.

I highly recommend to read Big Bucks the Benoit Way. With lots of tips and how to advice this book is considered the deer tracking hunters Bible.

Tags: Deer Hunting Tips, Still Hunting, Spot and Stalk, Treestand, Hunting Method, Whitetail Deer Hunting

Big Deer Contest – The ten point Illinois bow buck

© By Othmar Vohringer

The first 2008 Big Deer Contest Entry is from Adam and his Illinois bow buck. Here is Adams story and picture of the Illinois buck.

2008 Big Deer Contest entry # 001

“I took this southern Illinois ten pointer with my bow on November 7,2008 at 7:20am, on Shawnee National forest in Pope county, Illinois.

I rattled him in at 6:50 am and took a thirty-yard broadside shot and missed. I grunted and bleated a few more times and he came back to the same spot I had just missed him. The second shot hit its mark and the buck walked about 20 yards laid down and expired.

It is my first big buck with a bow. I scored the buck at 125 gross and 115 net. It was thirty-eight degrees and sunny. I had put out hunters specialties premium doe estrus doe urine and Hunters Specialties mega tarsal buck lure. I took him with a PSE Stinger set at 67 pounds and Beman bowhunter 340 carbon arrows topped with 100 grain Montec broadheads. It was my first time hunting outside of my home state of Georgia. It is a memory that I will cherish forever."

Congratulations to a fine buck Adam and good luck in the contest. Adam is the writer of theDeer Hunting Big Bucks blog.

Take part in the Whitetail Deer Passion Big Deer Contest and become eligible to win a 2 disc DVD set of Whitetail Revolution read more about it here!

Tags: Big Deer Contest, Illinois Buck, bowhunting, PSE Bow, Beman Arrows, Deer Scent, Montec Broadheads, Whitetail Deer Passion

Minnesota woman bags monster buck

© By Othmar Vohringer

Holly A. Heyser from the NorCal Cazadora blog posted a great story of Kelly Gustafson, 23, of Welch, Minnesota and her incredible 27-point monster buck that she shot with her muzzleloader. Gustafson named the brute “Lesnar Buck” in honor of her favorite fighter Brock Lesner, former University of Minnesota wrestler. With three broken tines from previous fights the 27-point buck seems worthy of that nickname.

Kelly Gustafson shot the buck on Saturday, Nov. 8 – That’s the same day my two day mule deer buck hunt got spoiled by thick fog and ice rain – on her family's property along the Cannon River near Welch. Because Gustafson's husband works for a local hunting products company, Robinson Outdoors, she and her buck will be featured in next year's catalog.

You can read the full story on the NorCal Cazadora blog and on twin Cities.com Pioneer Press

Tags: Minnesota Trophy Buck, Big Whitetail Deer Bucks, Muzzleloader Hunt, Women Shoots Big Buck

Saskatchewan Monster Buck

© By Othmar Vohringer

A fellow Canadian hunter sent me this picture of a huge Saskatchewan monster buck taken this year. Unfortunately the sender of the picture was not able to provide me with more information other than the buck was shot with a muzzleloader sometime this year.

This is a dream buck any which way one looks at it, big heavy antlers with long tines and lots of mass. I counted 16 points and a few kickers. What a brute!

I bet that deer would get Mike’s heart pumping too over at the Mike Hanback’s Big Deer blog.

Saskatchewan has been a big buck hot spot for many years and each year the deer taken get bigger. This strengthens my feeling that the next world verly likely could be be shot somewhere in Saskatchewan and it may not take that long either.

Don’t forget to take part in the 2008 Big Deer Contesthere on the Whitetail Deer Passion Blog. We have a fantastic prize to give away.

Tags: Saskatchewan Monster Buck, Whitetail Trophy , Big Buck

Big Deer Contest 2008

© By Othmar Vohringer

The annual big deer contest has become a tradition here at Whitetail Deer Passion over the past three years. The prize for the winning entry is very special and has been provided by the good folks at Versus Country - home of the best hunting shows on TV.

The winning prize for this year’s contest is a 2-disc set of Whitetail Revolution with over three hours of pure hunting excitement and thrills to be enjoyed by the avid whitetail deer hunter. Whitetail Revolution features an all-star cast of North America’s top whitetail deer experts: Larry Weishuhn, Mark Kayser, Ron Spomer and Mike Hanback. These avid hunters travel to the far corners of the North American continent in search of the biggest whitetail bucks while demonstrating aggressive hunting tactics from rattling to spot-and-stalk to deer drives. These experts share their secrets and combined wealth of knowledge for more accurate tracking and rattling in the monster buck of your dreams. Besides the exciting hunts and know-how, Mike Hanback shares with you the locations and profiles of the continent’s best whitetail deer hunting locations. This DVD set is a must-have for every serious whitetail hunter.

Big Deer Contest 2008 rules:

The contest is open from November 12, 2008 and closes on January 31, 2009 midnight (Pacific Time Zone).

All legally taken deer (doe and bucks of all sizes) with bow, crossbow, muzzleloader, shotgun and rifle are accepted. Each entry will be numbered. On the closing date the numbers will be entered into the computer and the winner will be established through a random number chosen by a special computer’s “random number program”.

Only one submission per family and only by the hunter who legally took the deer is permitted to enter the contest. The only expectation to this rule is where a parent or other legal guardian enters the contest on behalf of an underage child.

All entries will be posted here at Whitetail Deer Passion in the order they are received. By entering the contest the contestant grants us all the rights to republish the story and picture in any way we see fit for promotion or publication in other outlets such as print or web based media.

The winning contestant will be personally notified after January the 31st 2009.

Contest submission guideline:

The entry picture should depict the animal in a non-offensive and ethical manner. (No blood and guts picture). Submit the picture with a short description of the hunt (no more than a paragraph or two), plus some technical data such as type, model and brand of bow or firearm, ammunition, arrow, broadhead, treestand, blind, camouflage, scent and other “gadgets” that were used on that hunt. Also include the name and age of the hunter and the location where the deer was taken and the weather conditions plus what time (morning, afternoon, evening) of day the deer was shot.

So lets get cracking and send these entries in by email and may your entry be the winner of Versus Country 2-set DVD Whitetail Revolution.

Tags: Big Deer Contest, Deer Hunting, Whitetail Revolution DVD, Versus Country, Whitetail Deer Passion, Big Deer Contest Rules

This is the weekend to be out hunting

© By Othmar Vohringer

All across North America a huge cold weather front has moved in over night from the pacific and heading now east. Here in our region the temperature dropped from a balmy 50F (10 C) to 30F (0 C) over night with light snow flurries and up to two inches in elevations above 1,800 ft. (560 m) see level.

What this means is that you should be out hunting this weekend, the rut will kick in hard and deer will move all day long. Don’t forget to take rattling antlers and scent with you. This is a good time to rattle a big buck in or fool him with doe-in-estrus scent.

In a few hours I am heading out with my friends to the hunting camp north of Merritt, BC. We have planed the trip a few weeks ago and now it just got better with the weather change. I will be hunting hard all day long and hope you do the same this weekend. It is not going to get much better than this. If any of you shoot a buck this weekend, send me a report and picture.

Good luck to everybody and be safe.

Tags: Rut, deer Hunting, Rattling Antlers, Deer Scent, Doe-In-Estrus, Cold Weather Front

In the pursuit of big bucks

© By Othmar Vohringer

By the time you’re reading this I will be off again in the pursuit of a huge mule deer I have encountered a two weeks ago. After spotting the 5 x 6 monster dozing in the shadow of a big sage bush I stalked to within 150 yards of him. It took me almost two hours to cover the half-mile distance that separated me from him. The countryside these buck calls home consists of rolling hills in the grassland area of our province.

Big mule deer are smart and always bed down in a location that enables them to observe the area for along distance. It took all my stalking savvy, using every little advantage to hide my approach from the every alert eyes of that hunter wise monarch. Once in my final position I raised my rifle, the crosshairs of the scope centered perfectly. Instinctively the trigger finger bent when it felt right. The Weatherby Vanguard .270 barked loud into to silent wilderness sending a deadly Federal Premium 130 grain Nosler Partition bullet on its way.

The buck jumped up looked quick around and then in typical mule deer fashion made his way over the ridge. I could see through my scope that I missed him about ten inches over his back. How could that happen? I am not that lousy, in fact I am actually a very decent marksman. Then it seemed to come back to me that I just before the hunt dropped the rifle on the ground. Not much, it only was about a foot or two off the truck bed. Better check the scope and the zero.

Sure enough when I inserted the laser light into the barrel and aimed at a stone hundred yards away the crosshairs of the scope where off about three inches to the right and four inches high. Back to the shooting range and get that fixed right away. The rifle shoots dead on again and tomorrow (Friday) afternoon I am out in mister mule deer’s range until Tuesday night when I will come back home, hopefully not alone.

I am new to this mule deer hunting and there is much to learn. Mule deer are a very different breed from whitetails. I have been saying to my wife just the other day. “If I would be hunting whitetails for that many weeks that I am after mule deer, the freezer would be full and a rack or two would adorn my office wall by now.”

Here are a few pictures to show you what around here mule deer country looks like. Enjoy.

Rolling hills with ravines, over grown gullies, deep saddles and big dark old growth timber plus ever changing winds and thermals are an old mule deer bucks kind of paradise and a hunters nightmare.

Possible new state bowhunting record

© By Othmar Vohringer

In most U.S. States and Canadian provinces the early bowhunting season is over, and already the Internet is buzzing with news of huge whitetail deer bucks been taken everywhere.

An email that was sent to me claimed that Kyle Simmons, a bowhunter form Iowa, had arrowed the new possible state record buck. I could not find any additional information about the buck and if it really is the new Iowa state record. But it is a monster any which way you look at it.

The buck has 28 points and it looks like it will score close to 270”. The deer was taken on in October and we have to wait for the official drying period to be over before we get the final score on the bucks rack.

If any of you reading this has more information about this buck please shoot me a line. Thanks