Happy New Year to everyone . Be careful if you are out -n- about . Enjoy the weekend and prepare for the new year .

Snow fell today . Had a total of about 4 - 5 inches . Had a good day at work , but lookin forward to the holiday . Need to catch up on some rest from the holiday weekend . Might take a walk-a-bout in he wilderness here this weekend . The mountains have fresh snow and trackin should be easy . Ill let ya' know .

So I made it back to Utah . This was a better trip , alot smoother with no foul weather . Im getting settled in the room then heading to work for a few hours this afternoon . Thank you for all the well wishes .

Monday morning blues .... I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and enjoyed the time spent with friends and family . I know I did . Now it is back to the norm for me . I have loaded my truck and am heading out back to Utah . Hopefully if time permits , I will see some of you at the Shot Show in Las Vegas the end of January . I did make a few more business contacts of interest over the holiday while I was home . Look for updates on the blog , website , or facebook . As well as changes coming soon to the website and the new site for the archery range www.double-backarchery.com . Be safe and enjoy your ventures . Good luck to all .

Well another weekend has come and gone . This one better than most since I got to enjoy it at home with the family . Ill be heading back out to Utah in the morning . Ill be back at work on Tuesday .
I hope everybody had a good holiday and a safe one .
Im waiting on info to begin setting up the website for the archery range . We are in need of sponsors . It would be good advertising for those interested . Sponsorships are broken down into 6 levels ranging from $50 to $1000 . If interested , let me know . We are looking forward to an exciting year .

Good evening everybody , just a note to keep you all up to date . Be looking for some changes coming to the website soon , as well as a new link to
www.double-backarchery.com .
The new website will be up-n-runnin in the next couple of weeks . It is the outcome of a joint venture between myself and a couple friends . It is the info and story line of an 80 + acre , outdoor , 3-d archery range . We will be having scheduled shoots beginning shortly after the first of the year . Updates and info will be posted on the site as well as contact info , membership info , shoots , prizes sponsorship availability , etc . Hope everybody is stayin warm .

Merry Christmas , everyone . Hope you enjoy the holiday with family and friends .

Good evening to everyone , I made it home - 29 hours later . Had some rough travel with the weather ( alot of highway closures ) . I am glad to be home with the family . I hope everyone gets a chance to visit with friends/family over this joyful season .

Tentative schedule / upcoming events ( others to follow and be posted as available )
January - Shot Show , Las Vegas , Nv
January - end of month - Sportsmans Expo , Springfield , Mo
January - possible buffalo hunt , Utah
January- possible mountain lion hunt , Idaho
February - NWTF convention , Nashville , Tn
February - NWTF Banquet , Rogersville Strutters , Rogersville , Mo
April - turkey hunt , Oklahoma
April - possible turkey hunt , New Mexico
April / May - Guide / Outfitter school , Montana
working on updates for the website, have new Pro Staff / Field Staff positions to announce soon.
As well as other new and exciting news ... keep an eye on the site for updates .

And so comes the snow . I am packing my things to head to the house for a few days as the snow falls outside . I have half a day of work tomorow , then begins the ng drive . I will e chasing the storm as well as driving in it most of the trip . Hopefully the weather man will be off on his forcast (as usual) however , I am scared that luck will have it - today he is correct. There will be no post tomorow as I will be driving . However , I wll post whenI arrive @ home . If the weather is too bad , or the roads are closed , I will be tuning around and returning to Utah . Lets hope for the best , as I wish everyone a safe and uneventful travel season .

Another monday has come and gone . Anxiously awaiting the incoming snow . The weather man is still calling for a fair amount to fall over the next couple days here . Hopefully travel will not be bad for my trip home .

Morning to everybody . Wishing the best to all my friends on th east coastwho have experienced mother natures fury here the last couple days . I am having a sunny sunday in Utah with temps in the low 20's and freezing fog . Looking forward to heading home for xmas . Even if it is only for a couple days , hopefully the weather will allow travel . Taking a break today , gettin things ready for the trip this week , as well as the few days of work I have ahead of me . Happy Holidays everybody .

I hope everybody is having a good weekend . Most should have started your holiday season yesterday . I am still in Utah and will be until wednesday . Then I will be heading home for a couple days weather permitting . They are calling for snow here on monday and tuesday . Hope all is well with everybody , good luck to those in the woods .

Good morning to everyone . We made it through another week ad friday is upon us . This weekend mars the official beggining of the holiday season . I hope everybody travelling has a safe and uneventful trip . I will be travelling myself but not until the middle of next week . Have a safe work day today and enjoy the weekend .

Another day has come and gone , the day started with a little snow this morning . Which ended quickly and had warmer temps to follow .
Christmas is fast approaching as is the New Year .
My eye is doing good under the circumstances .
Keep an eye out on the website for some new links of products available soon .

Words of wisdom , Dont ever get anything in your eyes . I had gotten some metal shavings and dirt in my eye yesterday . We were able to get 3 pieces of metal and some garbage out on-site in the plant medical department by flushing/scraping . Had to go to the dr. though so he could numb my eye and drill out the final piece . Not fun . So here I sit in the hotel with an eye patch on and a scratchy/itchy eye .

So another day has come and gone . Xmas draws near , as does my time at home with my family . Ive got alot planned for the holiday season , along with the time spent with loved ones , I have several buisiness meetings planned as well . I will be making a few calls to sort out and schedule some of the appearances early in the year . I am also working on the buffalo hunt here in Utah , as well as a mountain lion hunt in Idaho , both early next year . Keep an eye on the website for changes coming soon .

Woo hooo , 7 inches of snow yesterday , another 1-2 inches lastnite , and it is steadily coming down now . Gorgeous scenary . Start looking for some changes to the website after the new year . Should be updating some of the links and adding sponsor links as well as an updated schedule for upcoming events in early 2010 . I should have 1-2 local events in Missouri , as well as a possible appearance at the Shot Show in Las Vegas the end of January . Then it will be a possible NWTF banquet in Missouri the beginning of Feb. , the NWTF convention in Nashville the end of Feb. . As details are worked out I will have them posted on the site .

Good morning , hope all is well with everybody . I woke to a couple inches of fresh snow this morning . Have more on the way over the weekend . The mountains here are gorgeous with the fresh snow cover. Ill be outand about toay venturing around sight seeing . Everybody have a good weekend . Be safe and good luck to you if you are in the field .

Hello from Utah , its been slow goin but I got my computer back up-n-runnin . The weather is cold with scattered snow every couple of days . Work is going good as are the travel plans for the holidays .

It is getting cold . Been in the 30's during the day here , and dropping down in the teens at night . The weather man is calling for snow next week . Trying to figure out a schedule for xmas time and travels home over the holidays . Im looking into a possible mountain lion hunt in southeasern Idaho . Sometime after the holidays maybe . I have been talking with some video crews and the possibility of some airtime on a hunting video . It may work out to get the mountain lion hunt done . I am hoping to make it to the Cabelas store outside of Salt Lake for a day over the weekend to work the floor awhile . Ill keep all info posted as I get details worked out .

Just a short note . I have made it to Utah ok . Got checked into a hotel and started work this morning . The scenary is beautiful here . Ive seen several mule deer , I here the buffalo hunting here is good as well . Im having computer problems so things will be off/on for a bit . Good luck to everyone hunting . Ill keep you posted on my ventures here .

Good morning everybody . Hope all is well and evryone is enjoying the weekend . I am loaded and heading to Utah for work . I should be there till around the xmas break . In the meantime , I will be posting as I can . Also , will keep you updated on the info as I get it from Rut-Wear . www.rutwear.com , be sure to check out there site , partnering sites and gear . Good luck to everyone who is hunting this weekend .

Good morning on this 'Black Friday' as its so commonly referred to . Not alot goin on here on the homefront . Today is the day of putting up xmas lights and gettin the tree up . Other than that , we wont be out amongst the crowds of shoppers much .

I am getting my gear together for the trip to Utah . I will be out west working for awhile . Keep an eye on the blog for updates , I am going to try to make an appearance at the Cabelas store south of Salt Lake City and possibly a visit to the Bass Pro in Las Vegas . It would be nice to meet some new friends in the area . I am planning on taking a rifle and my bow with me . Hopefully will be able to get some hunting in while Im there .

Another 'Congrats' to my uncle Jackie and my cousin Michael . Here is another nice Indiana buck taken by them .

Happy Thanksgiving ...

Wanted to take the time this morning to wish everybody and your family as well as friends a 'Happy Thanksgiving' and holiday season .

Got notification yesterday , I have been selected to be on the Rut-Wear Field Expert Team . They are a good company offering a variation of clothing and camo gear for big game , upland , and waterfowl hunters alike . Some of there affiliates include , Drake , Mc Alister , and Ol'Tom . Looking forward to the upcoming year involved with them . Look for more info coming soon .
Well another 'rifle' deer season has come and gone . No deer for me . I was reminded by my wife that it has been 3 years since I killed a deer (during rifle season) . I guess I dont find it that challenging . Sure , I tried , and I did miss 2 . I also have alot of photos of them on my phone and alot of memories of watchin them tromp around the woods . Some people would say 'failure' , I look at it as a success . I refuse to kill yearlings , and smaller deer . If more people practiced these ethics , we would have alot more 'trophy' class animals being taken each year . For proper deer management , you have to restrain . This is why I have got the bigger deer on my property . Did I get one , no , did I get shot at one , yes , did I miss , yes-twice on 2 seperate deer . However , next year I will be a little better prepared , as will the deer , and , I will have a better deer herd .
Besides , today the stick / string season comes back in . To me that is more sporting . An age old arguement . Anybody can sit in the woods , wait for a deer to stroll by , and pull the trigger at 100+ yards . Now , put yourself with a stick / string in your hand , try some spot / stalk , get yourself into good bow range and try to hit a deer ( under 40 yards ) . For the record , most bow kills are inside of 20 yards . That goes for deer , elk and bear .

So today is the day - last day of rifle season . I just got back from the woods , was a pretty quiet morning . Except for the rain , wasnt real bad though . Just drizzle and sprinkles . Well , I hate to be a bambi killer , but if nothin else prevails this evening , bambi is groceries . It is back to the stick / string tomorow .
I have to leave Saturday for work in Utah . Ill be gone for awhile , may have to take the bow and a rifle with me out west .
Ive got a meeting this evening with a few key members of the Rogersville Strutters . We are making final changes and finishing touches for our new and exciting venture . Key notes will be explained later .

Well we didnt see anything yesterday evening . We didnt stay out that late either . Ethan was done after about 2 hours . He had been playing all day and he was tired . So we came home early and bbq'd . I did go out this morning for a few hours . Seen 4 deer total , only 1 shooter that wouldnt give me a shot . Ill be back at it this evening for a bit . Tomorow is the last day of gun season and we are supposed to have rain coming in tonite .
The loggers got started on the property today . I talked with them on my way out this morning .

Well , went to the woods this morning early . Seen 3 deer total . No good shooters though . Gonna try to get out again this afternoon and take Ethan with me . This will be the last chance he gets to do any rifle hunting with me before the end of season on Tuesday . Hopefully the deer will be moving . Here's a pic of the family with Santa . Sarah ended up in the picture because Elizabeth wasnt sure what to think of Santa again this year .

No hunting today , atleast this morning . Dedided to sleep in a little with the family . Heading into Bass Pro today . Need to do a little politic'n and pick up a few things . Might even let the kids play in 'Santa's village' and get there picture taken . Hopefully all is well for everyone , and I wish everybody the best in the woods . Be safe , shoot straight , be sure of whats beyond .

Headin out to the woods for an evening hunt . Im sure Ill have my boy with me in the morning . I went out this morning and didnt see anything moving . I walked the north and south edges of the property , painting trees purple (missouri law - no trespass) . After I finished painting , I rewalked and searched for the 2 does again . Still no sign , Im convinced I missed (makes me feel better) . Hopefully this evening Ill see some movement . Rifle season ends Tuesday , then its back to stick / string .

Today was the day , Woke up early and head'd to the woods . Deer started moving early , right before shooting light and were still movin around 9 am . It was really foggy this morning , slowly burned off as the sun rose and air temps followed . I have to admit I made a couple bad shots today . 2 to be exact . I shot at a doe around 7:15 , as I was waiting to give her time to expire , I pulled the trigger on a second doe around 8:15 . I stayed in the blind till around 9 am and then went to investigate . From where I have my blind , I am on a hillside looking east down the hill to a creek bed and up a ridgeline on the other side . I can watch deer move on the whole hillside to the east of me but only have several good shooting windows . As it was , I shot at both doe's in the same area (within around 15 feet) as each other . I found no blood , no hair , did a half circle search in the direction the headed (one went northwest , the other east) to no found sign at all . I felt bad and went to the rifle range to check my scope , that didnt help . Im shootin 2 1/2 " groups @ 100 yards (with 1 out of 3 in the bullseye) . Not sure what happened but I never like leaving wounded game , so off to the woods I went again . Searched the area again , checked my shooting lane , broadened my search area , nothin . Hopefully they were both clean misses . I will be out again in the morning trying to get some groceries . Hopefully better luck .

Ok , so we all know I havent been feeling well lately , hence I havent been hunting much . ( Instead I am going crazy in the house , as well as pissing off my wife - god love her ) . We also all know I have been having problems with people , strangers , hunting on my property . Today I feel better and figure I will go to the property , pull the cards on my trail cams , and maybe hunt awhile if I feel up to it . So I burn out of the house headin to the property , drive like a maniac to get there , sneak out into the woods , pull the card , sneak back to the truck , just to find a strange pickup sitting in my lane . NICE , I think to myself , as I draw my .40 thinkin this will make nice target practice @ 50 yards . Then I hear 'Hey , how yah doin ?? ' ... 'Excuse me and who the $#@& are you!!??!!' I believe is what I said . As the nice gentleman approaches me in his crisp starched uniform , with one hand on his sidearm I might add ... not a good way to meet your friendly neighborhood gamewarden .

No hunting for me today . Slept through my alarm this morning , then woke up to damp drizzle , clouds , fog , and wind . Hasnt changed all day . Made for a good day for me to take med's all day and get some rest . Hopefully I will not only feal better tomorow , but make it out hunting as well . Did have a phone discusion with the power company today in regards to a security light on the property .

So it appears the deer have gone nocturnal on me . Havent been seeing much movement during daylight hours since the middle of last week . I snuck in today and pulled my card from my trail cam . Have a few descent shots of some deer and some turkey . Most of the deer movement has been early am before shooting light and the middle of the night . Hopefully I will catch a break at some point .

Congrats to my Uncle Jackie , he got this 9 point yeeterday in central northern Indiana . As for me , nothin . Im feelin a little down in the dumps today , however it off to the woods for me this afternoon . Good luck to everybody ...

Opening day of deer season today , spent 8+ hours total in the blind . Spent the morning with my son and I went out this evening by myself . Ripley's 'Believe it or not' - did not see 1 deer today . Dont ask me , I have no answer . Heard alot of shooting early in the day coming from state land about 3/4 mile away . Usually that pushes the deer to our place for sanctuary . This evening I only heard 4 shots in the far off distance . We have rain coming in tonite , with possible strong storms tomorow evening . I will try again tomorow and see what happens .

So I did go to the property yesterday evening and sit in the blind just to observe . Didnt see any bucks while I was there but did see plenty of shooter does . Me and Ethan should have a good morning tomorow for the rifle season opener . Look for changes coming to the website . I am working on some info updates , as well as sponsor links and hunt info . I have team'ed up with an outfit from Florida that arranges hunts for disabled Veterans and children alike . They video and air on television starting next summer . We are working on a deal for a hunt here in Missouri either next spring for turkey or fall for deer . This may turn out to be a partnership with our local chapter of the NWTF , The Rogersville Strutters . Ill post info and links for application process on my website as well as any and all upcoming and new info . I have also been working on teaming up with several other outdoor companies . Look for new changes coming soon .

So no hunting today . Trying to stay off the property and let the deer get used to the blind bein up and not spread any scent . Anxiously waiting for Saturday morning . Im not sure who is more excited , my son or myself . We have both been checking and rechecking our gear . Packing and repacking our backpack . The excitement in his voice and the expression on his face is priceless as he talks about the upcoming hunt .
We did meet with the builder this morning for our cabin on the property . They are as excited as we are as well . Hopefully be able to break ground after the holiday season . Not much else goin on . I am working on getting with my IT guy ( Clay ) , to get some updates and changes made on the website . Should have a fresh look on the front page and a few changes with the links .

So here is the best pic off the trail cam this week . Hopefully this guy shows up to visit while Ethan and I are gun hunting this weekend . Rifle season opens on Saturday . I did manage to get our pop-up set for us today while I was at the property . Im sure once Ethan see's this pic , he wont want to be gettin out of the blind much .

No hunting today , spent the morning at the local shooting range . Wanted to make sure all is good for this coming weekend (Opening of rifle season) . I did get some stuff together to take to the property tomorow . The weather man cant make his mind up , so even though me and my son had built a 3-sided blind , I am going to set up our pop-up (just in case) . I want to have it up a few days prior . Always a good idea , if you are going to hunt out of a pop-up , set it up a few days before if at all possible . Give the animals a chance to get used to it . Really , how would you feel if some stranger just showed up and popped a tent in your front room ??? ( Think about it ... ) I also want to pull the card on the camera one more time before rifle season opens . Want to check travel times . This way we can leave it all alone for a few days and let the habitat get back to normal . Remember , while you are tryin to scout , check cameras , set blinds/stands ... try to get in / out as fast and as silent as possible . Plan your strategy , straight in / out ( dont wander around ) . Also , practice scent control ( dont wear greasy work clothes / boots to your favorite hunting spot ) , treat the situation as if you were really hunting . Try not to brush up on or touch any vegetation , so you dont leave any unwanted scent behind . Also , leave the cigarettes and chew in the truck .

WORD OF WARNING .... So I get up this morning and head to the property for a good day of hunting . Im on stand by 5:30am , sun breaks a little after 6:00am , Im enjoying the scenary . Not bad for a Monday morning . Around 9:30am or so , I decide to get down , check the blind that me and my son had built for upcoming rifle season . All is well there , seen a few deer movin on the distant hillside (good for them its not rifle season yet - I hope that cant read a calendar) . On my way back to my truck , I stop to check another one of my stands , what do I find ...??... Some jack has been hunting out of the stand and even felt comfortable enough to leave his gear keeper tied up . Just to let YOU know .. its pretty apparent you are on private property , not only is it posted , about a quarter of it is fenced , we have a partially cleared building site , as well as a cleared building site with a well/septic/power . IF I CATCH YOU , I will not ask you who you are , where you came from , or what you are doing ...!!!! I can answer all of those questions for you ... AFTER I defend myself and my property with force . You know who you are , and you know who I am . GOOD LUCK .

So another weekend has come and gone ... Unemployment keeps goin up (10+ %) , foreclosure rates are still at an all time high , Bankruptsie's are settin' another record , and I have still NOT put any groceries in the freezer . Oh yeah , we do have a medical plan now though ... or do we . Ok , wife had drill this weekend , I had the kids . I have realized ... I am not a housewife ... haha . Had my 'stuff' ready , as soon as my wife brought my truck home and it hit the driveway ... I was in . Ive got my bow , my boots , my camo , calls , rattlin horns , yahda yahda yahda , I think Im ready to hit the woods in the mornin . If there is any more $#:? I need to take , please send the UPS truck to my property , I will meet him at the lane . This is the last week for bow season (temporarily) , rifle season opens the 14th here in Missouri . My son is excited and cant wait to hit the woods with me , probably a good thing - he has better eye sight than me . Ill keep you posted .

Conrat's again to Adam . Here is a better pic than the one sent lastnite . Not sure on green score yet . I will post it when I here .

Congrats to my buddy Adam . A 'Muzzy moment' , dropped this 14 point non-typical at nightfall today in Illinois .

I didnt do it !!??!!

Thought this was a funny pic off my trailcam .


Nothing new to post today . Im working on a deal with http://www.secoutdoors.com/ as a future rep for the midwest area . Hopefully good things will come to both of us out of the deal . No hunting today . Ive spent the day on the phone dealing with builders , operators , and loggers . Working on getting the property a little more ready for semi-residential habitat .

Well the turkeys finally mada an appearance . I havent seen them in awhile . Spent a couple hours in the stand this morning . Didnt really see anything . I do have more good news however ,,, Be sure to check out Athens Archery ( www.athensarchery.com ) . They have a very nice line of bows with new things in the works . I was informed lastnite late that I had been selected for there Field Staff . Start looking for me in local bow shoots as I am now representing Athens Archery - Field Staff / Dead Center Archery - Staff Shooter .

No hunting today . Spending it at home workin on the yard , gettin ready for winter . I did manage to pick up some new 'No Trespas' signs for the property . I figure Ill hunt in the morning , pull the card on my camera , hang signs all in one shot tomorow morning .
For those interested , be sure to check out our new web partners site www.outwriteoutdoors.com . Check there site for all your buyers guide / tactics / product reviews . I should have a hard link for them soon posted on my website www.moprostaff.com . Ill be updating the site and makin some minor changes in the near future .

So I spent the morning in the stand again , no real deer to speak of , no shooters anyways . Ive been holding off trying to cull the heard a bit of older mature does . Rifle season opens the 14th and then I will target my non-conformative bucks to weed out of the gene pool . I have seen a total of 3 different button bucks , as well as 2 spikes . The next few years will be a growing stage and should prove well . I did some walkin today and found a few new rubs and alot of sign . Im gettin ready to do some more select cutting on the property , as well as clearing alot of the under brush on the front half . I want to open up the woods a bit for better view and to let some of the cedars have a better chance . Wanted to let everybody know , I got the official word on Sunday , I have been chosen by Dead Center Archery , www.deadcenterarchery.com , as a Staff Shooter . I am awaiting word from a couple other companies on different deals . Im lookin forward to getting more involved with the 3d shooting and competition .

Well , another day of deer season has passed and yet still no 'groceries' in the freezer . I spent the morning in one of my stands , as well as this evening . I didnt see anything moving around this morning however this evening I did get to watch a button buck mull around without a care in the world , he just doesnt realize how grateful he should be that I am managing the deer population on my property , and today he was lucky enought o be a blue collar worker . Even without any trophy to speak of , I am pleased with - take that back , I should say that I am blessed and fortunate . For today I have witnessed things that most will never come to enjoy . As the sun rose in the east this morning , I sat still in my stand . Taking in the fresh crisp air as the suns rays began to tingle my face with warmth . This afternoon , I watched the button buck play , witnessed the sun setting to the west , as the blue sky faded from fire orange to purple . The full moon was cresting the treeline on a distant ridgeline to my east , lighting up the ending daylit sky . As I watched the moon rise over the ridge , it dawned on me , everything I could see from my stand to the ridge top , belongs to me . If I got anything else in the bag today , it is the joy of being my own man in my own little place in the world . Today , my place , was better than disney land .

No deer today . I passed on a couple shooter doe's this morning in hopes of the big boy following them in . He failed to get his invitation . However , there is always tomorow . Weather has gotten nice here . The rain is gone for awhile . Temps at night in the mid 40's with highs during the daytime reaching in the mid-high 60's . Should be this way most of the week .

Happy Halloween ??!!??

No hunting today . Spent the day at home with my family , workin in the yard . I am planning on going to "church" tomorow , services start at shooting light in the morning and last until the 'mystical flight of the arrow' has spoken . Should be about as nice as it was today , mid 50's to low 60's , slight breeze , sunny .

Ok , so I spent the morning on stand . Never had any good size shooters within archery range . I did however get quite the show from these 2 playin under my stand .

Its been wet and windy here all day . I woke up early thinking of hunting . The wind has blown all day and the rain blew in before daybreak . We have had alot of thunder and lightning today as well . Im keepin an eye on the weather map to see what tomorow may bring . Looking forward to our rifle season opening soon (Nov. 14th)

Funny stuff ...

Roping A Deer------- ( Names have been removed to protect the Stupid )

I had this idea that I was going to rope a deer, put it in a stall, feed it up on corn for a couple of weeks, then kill it and eat it.The first step in this adventure was getting a deer. I figured that, since they congregate at my cattle feeder and do not seem to have much fear of me when we are there (a bold one will sometimes come right up and sniff at the bags of feed while I am in the back of the truck not 4 feet away), it should not be difficult to rope one, get up to it and toss a bag over its head (to calm it down) then hog tie it and transport it home.I filled the cattle feeder then hid down at the end with my rope.The cattle, having seen the roping thing before, stayed well back. They were not having any of it.After about 20 minutes, my deer showed up -- 3 of them. I picked out.. .. A likely looking one, stepped out from the end of the feeder, and threw.. My rope. The deer just stood there and stared at me.I wrapped the rope around my waist and twisted the end so I would have a good hold. The deer still just stood and stared at me, but you could tell it was mildly concerned about the whole rope situation.I took a step towards it...it took a step away. I put a little tension on the rope and then received an education.The first thing that I learned is that, while a deer may just stand there looking at you funny while you rope it, they are spurred to action when you start pulling on that rope.That deer EXPLODED.The second thing I learned is that pound for pound, a deer is a LOT stronger than a cow or a colt. A cow or a colt in that weight range I could fight down with a rope and with some dignity.A deer-- no chance.That thing ran and bucked and twisted and pulled. There was no controlling it and certainly no getting close to it. As it jerked me off my feet and started dragging me across the ground, it occurred to me that having a deer on a rope was not nearly as good an idea as I had originally imagined.The only up side is that they do not have as much stamina as many other animals.A brief 10 minutes later, it was tired and not nearly as quick to jerk me off my feet and drag me when I managed to get up. It took me a few minutes to realize this, since I was mostly blinded by the blood flowing out of the big gash in my head. At that point, I had lost my taste for corn-fed venison. I just wanted to get that devil creature off the end of that rope.I figured if I just let it go with the rope hanging around its neck, it would likely die slow and painfully somewhere. At the time, there was no love at all between me and that deer. At that moment, I hated the thing, and I would venture a guess that the feeling was mutual.Despite the gash in my head and the several large knots where I had cleverly arrested the deer's momentum by bracing my head against various large rocks as it dragged me across the ground, I could still think clearly enough to recognize that there was a small chance that I shared some tiny amount of responsibility for the situation we were in, so I didn't want the deer to have to suffer a slow death, so I managed to get it lined back up in between my truck and the feeder - a little trap I had set before hand...kind of like a squeeze chute.I got it to back in there and I started moving up so I could get my rope back.Did you know that deer bite? They do! I never in a million years would have thought that a deer would bite somebody, so I was very surprised when I reached up there to grab that rope and the deer grabbed hold of my wrist..Now, when a deer bites you, it is not like being bit by a horse where they just bite you and then let go. A deer bites you and shakes its head --almost like a pit bull. They bite HARD and it hurts.The proper thing to do when a deer bites you is probably to freeze and draw back slowly. I tried screaming and shaking instead. My method was ineffective. It seems like the deer was biting and shaking for several minutes, but it was likely only several seconds.I, being smarter than a deer (though you may be questioning that claim by now), tricked it.While I kept it busy tearing the tendons out of my right arm, I reached up with my left hand and pulled that rope loose. That was when I got my final lesson in deer behavior for the day.Deer will strike at you with their front feet. They rear right up on their back feet and strike right about head and shoulder level, and their hooves are surprisingly sharp. I learned a long time ago that, when an animal -- like a horse --strikes at you with their hooves and you can't get away easily, the best thing to do is try to make a loud noise and make an aggressive move towards the animal. This will usually cause them to back down a bit so you can escape.This was not a horse. This was a deer, so obviously, such trickery would not work. In the course of a millisecond, I devised a different strategy. I screamed like a woman and tried to turn and run.The reason I had always been told NOT to try to turn and run from a horse that paws at you is that there is a good chance that it will hit you in the back of the head. Deer may not be so different from horses after all, besides being twice as strong and 3 times as evil, because the second I turned to run, it hit me right in the back of the head and knocked me down.Now, when a deer paws at you and knocks you down, it does not immediately leave. I suspect it does not recognize that the danger has passed. What they do instead is paw your back and jump up and down on you while you are laying there crying like a little girl and covering your head.I finally managed to crawl under the truck and the deer went away.So now I know why when people go deer hunting they bring a rifle with a scope to sort of even the odds.

Spent the morning in a tree , crystal clear sky this morning , stars abundant , calm wind , gorgeous sunrise , trees turning fall colors and falling everywhere . It was something to witness first hand , too bad no deer moving . Right after shooting light , the wind picked up (still blowing @ 20-30mph) , a thick fog rolled in and blanketed my ridgeline . The clouds and fog are gone but they have left the wind behind with us to deal with . Supposed to have strong rains coming in the next 48 hours . Not sure how much hunting Ill be getting in .

Well , I made it out to the property today . Didnt do any hunting , just wanted to look around and check for sign and tracks . Seen alot of both . I guess the weather here has been kind of damp since Ive been out of town . Today it is kind of dreary out , raining this morning . The weather man is calling for stronger rain towards thursday this week . I did see alot of fresh tracks and scat , deer and bobcat . Ill be making plans to get out this week to do some hunting .

Home sweet home ... took a layoff this morning after work and have made it home . Now to do my laundry and get some rest . Hopefully Ill have a chance to get out hunting in the next few days . Should be home for about a week before heading out to work again .

Job is winding down . Made it this far through the layoffs , hopefully mine will be coming soon . Looks like possibly tonite or tomorow . Be good to travel home and spend some time with the family . Then it will be - 'off to the woods' . Try to get some hunting in before I head off to work again . Not sure where the next job will be yet . I plan on staying home for about a week . Good luck in the woods for those of you out this weekend hunting .

Snow ....

Had temps in the low 30's lastnite , even had a few snow flurries ... ahh . Im glad my tour here in Kansas is coming to an end. We are looking at the last round of layoffs this weekend . Then its home to the family and in the woods to get some groceries .

NWTF Convention

Morning all , just a short note bfore I lay down to get some rest . Wanted to let everyone know , I have heard from the almighty Mossy Oak Pro Staff Regional Manager, Looks like yours truly will possibly be working the Mossy Oak booth at the convention . Be sure to stop by and say 'hello' if you attend . It is in Nashville, Tn., in February . I look forward to meeting everyone .

The weather has been nice the last few days here in Kansas . Sunny skies and warmer temps . I do believe we have rain heading our way for a couple days . Also looks like I will be heading to the house soon , possibly this weekend . Will be nice to get home and get out into the woods . Would like to put some groceries in the freezer with my bow before rifle season opens in November . Also need some time to start sorting through my gear and getting ready for my December bear hunt in North Carolina .

Two sunny days in a row... NICE . It sure beats the 30 degree temps we have at night . Only about a week left until I head home and hit the woods again . Cant wait to see the fall leaves on the ground .

Sunshine atlast ..

The sunshine has arrived... It appeared like the rain was gone , we had a sunny day in Kansas on Friday . We did get a brief downpour overnite while at work with some lightning , however it was short lived and had moved out by this morning . The temps have warmed up as well . We have been seeing alot of deer movement here in the early morning , about an hour before shooting light . Atleast I know there moving . Good luck to everyone

Good morning ...

How is everybody doin ?? Any good deer stories to share ?? I am still in Kansas . Seems like the weather has broke here and the rain has gone away for a few days . Warmer temps comin in for a few days . Been busy with work and tryin to line out family vacation , hunting , work , future plans . I wish everybody the best in your travels and outings. It will be a couple weeks before I am able to get back in the woods .

Sorry...

Im sorry I haven made an update to the post's in a couple days . I had to motor my way up to Wichita , Kansas for work Monday . Since then it has been mayhem . Im ack now though . I hope eyone is having good luck in he woods . Im lookin forward to getting home and getting back out in the stand . Been making plans for Spring turkey hunts , as well as plans tottend the February NWTF Convention in Nashville . Hopefully it wont be another 3 days before I post again . Send pics of our successful hunts . Good luck ...

Should have went to the woods ...

Would have been a good morning to be out in the woods . Mid 40's temp , light breeze , cloudy sky's . I woke up early with a runny nose and a sore throat . Figured I had enough on my plate for the day since I am packin up to head for Wichita , Kansas for a couple weeks . Ill be up there working . Good luck to everyone hunting . Dont forget to get you rifles sighted in . Rifle season is comin up quick . Pay attention to the website over the next few days . Have some changes in mind and some more links to be added .

Deer management

I kind of started managing our property when we first bought it a few years back . Ive read articles and talked with profesionals , but pretty much just took a straight forward approach and did what I thought was right . From a couple scattered feeders , a few spaced out small food plots , mineral licks , water , right of ways , select hunting . This buck is 1 of 3 that I know I have on the property as of now on camera . I have seen bigger but believe they could just be pass'n through . Ive got this tight basket 8 , a forked horn 4 and 1 spike for sure . The does have been thinned out with several 2 year olds and atleast 3 yearlings . I do have 1 older doe that needs to be taken out of the mix yet . They are not record class deer , however they are all product of my work .

Rain , rain , and more rain ....

The rain is starting to let up a little as well as move out of the area . the cold front is pushing in along with a little wind . Should make for a good evening hunt in the woods .
The meeting went well lastnite with the Rogersville Strutters . They have a full plate already with up-n-coming events and participation , and already makin plans for next year .
I also ran into an old friend today , Al Baird . Ive known Al for several years now since we have been around the area . Al is the owner of a local gun / pawn in Rogersville . You can find him behind the counter of Silver Creek Gun & Pawn ( 417-753-GUNS and WWW.SILVERCREEKPAWN.COM ) Be sure to tell him I sent yah in . He's got a good supply of ammo , along with long guns and hand guns alike .

Events of the day ...

Rain , rain , wind , more rain , oh yeah - lets not forget the infrequent lightning strike and an occasional rumble of thunder . The day didnt start out too bad , cloudy with a slight breeze . Just before lunch , the weather went south . By mid afternoon there has been reports of several areas in Missouri that had already logged several inches of rain , with more to come . There was no hunting today , not sure yet what tomorow will bring . The weather is calling for rain all through the night continuing into morning . If all holds true , Ill try to get out tomorow evening , maybe take out my son with me .
Tonite is the monthly stated meeting for the Rogersville Strutters (local chapter of the NWTF) . Meeting starts @ 7pm . Hope to see you there .

Good evening to everybody , I would like to ask everyone to thank my IT Guy , Clay . He has gone out of his way to help me in setting up the website , makin constant changes at my beckin call , as well as guiding me in the Blog set-up and helping me with other computer issues . 'Thank You Clay' . I ask this of everyone for a couple reasons , 1) You read this post in which he helped create and maintain 2) You enjoy the site in which he created and again ... maintains 3) Clay is a special person who as of the last 72 hours , has become sick and been confirmed to have the 'Swine Flu' - aka H1N1 . Aside from all we enjoy , and the things we love , take a minute to think of 'Clay' . He has been , is , and will continue to be ... part of what you enjoy (Every time you view the BLOG , check the Website , visit the Online Store , or simply think of what it all stands for and who it becomes)

Made it too the woods today . Was out for around 4 hours this morning . Strong storms blew in early (around 5am) , the rain / wind started to taper off around 8am or so . I didnt see anything moving after the storms , however I did manage to scout alot of my property . With the dampness , made it easy to get around quitely . Did see alot of tracks as well as some well defined trails up on the ridgeline . Spotted a couple rubs as well . Still haulin wood off trying to clean up the place .

For those of you getting out to hunt - Good luck and keep after'em . I was in the woods today , but again cutting firewood . Tryin to clean out the building site and make it easier on my dozer . Didnt have any descent pics on the trail cam . I did move it towards the backside of the property today . Seen alot of fresh tracks though . The sky has clouded up here this evening , they are calling for rain late tonite and tomorow . If its wet in the morning Im gonna try to get out and do some spot-stalk . Not much else goin on .

Here is a pic of my buddy Cody Rosier and his daughter Dana . I was lucky enought o catch this show in Galveston a couple weeks ago at a little bar in West Beach called WOODYS , love the place . You can find him on Facebook under 'Cody Rosier Band' . He is from College Station , Texas , does alot of shows around the area , just opened up for David Allen Coe . Look him and the band up , good stuff .

Sunday , Sunday , Sunday

No hunting for me this weekend . My wife is busy with the guard so I am home with both the kids , catchin up on my 'Honey do' list . Makin plans for the upcoming week . We had another cold front come through , you could see the cloud cover blow in as I was BBQ'n yesterday evening . Temps dropped down in the mid 40's overnite . Only going to warm up to the mid 50's today . Hopefully the wind will stay down . Im going to try to mow the yard today . Plan on cutting wood again tomorow on the property . Sorry no blog post yesterday , I was updating some of the bio stuff on my blog page and discussing changes to the website . Should have a few things added/changed on the site soon . Dont forget to check out the store , use the search engine to look for your goodies . Big discounts and large inventory of items . (blinds , calls , cases , knives , treestands , targets , etc.)

More Congrats in order ...

I meant to post this earlier . My buddy Paul up @ SUNRIZE SAFARI'S dropped this bear rescently with his bow . I should have this pic up-n-posted soon on my website under his info/link on the Friends/Outfitters page .

No hunting for me today . I spent the majority of the day out yesterday . Storms blew in early afternoon and the wind hasnt let up yet (20-30mph) . Im gonna give it a break for a couple days and hit it again the first part of the week . Good luck to all who venture out .

No luck yet ...

Spent daybreak on stand , to see nothing . It started raining by 8am and wind was kick'n pretty good out of the east . Hope to make it out again this evening for awhile . May try another hunting location . Dont forget all you archery fans , today is opening day for fall turkey in Missouri (shotgun) . Dont be suprised if your hunting state land and you run across another hunter or have another hunter stroll past your stand . Be safe , Be successful .

To the woods ...

No stick / string in hand though , instead it was a chainsaw and a gallon of gas , along with alot of low mumbled foul language . Today I cut firewood , and not even for myself or family . Were just tryin to clear out some of the left overs from the loggers and a few smaller trees . Didnt see anything while I was there besides a lizard and a couple squirrels . I did think about squirrel stew , however I didnt think the .40 cal. would leave much for stew . I am planning on hunting tomorow . We have a strong front coming in mid afternoon , calling for high winds and lots of rain . The temps have been cooler so we will see . I should be in the woods before sun - up and plan on stayin till either I get a deer , I run out of arrows , or my stomach folds me over like a warped mattress . Wish me luck , -n- good luck to everyone else who chooses to weather the storm .

Congrat's in order ...

Congrat's to my buddy Cody . He took the time to enjoy the outdoors with his son this past Sunday evening on an archery deer hunt . They werent so lucky with the deer , however , Cody did take his first archery turkey . What a better way to enjoy and savor the moment/memory than with a loved one . Especially a child . Knowing Cody , I am sure he set a good example for his boy . Im sure neither will soon forget the moment together .
For those of you that dont know , Cody Wilson is the President of the local NWTF chapter in Rogersville . I encourage all avid turkey hunters and hunters alike to give them a call and check them out . Especially if you have children . They are very child oriented and really take the time to care , as it shows . They are also very active with the JAKES program . I am a member of the NWTF , as my son is a member of the JAKES program (thanx to Cody) . There can be no better reward for us then to pass on the knowledge we have and share of the outdoors with our children . Our children will thank us , as will there children thank them . A timeless tradition dating back further than we can imagine and carying on with every trip we take into the woods with our young'uns .

No hunting today...

Didnt make it out this morning hunting . Did go out and set-up my trail cam , checked for tracks , measured and flagged for fence / gate , etc. Didnt see anything while I was out . Really windy here today . Did get a report from a friend that lives about 40 miles east of me , has a pic on one of his trail cam's of a big cat dragging a deer off by its throat . Said he couldnt tell how big the deer was but it was a buck . Had alot of reports and sightings of big cats around the area . Conservation doesnt confirm or deny the presence , they do however have a Investigation Team just for big cat sightings . Just to let you know , it is illegal in the state of Missouri to kill a cat - unless you are in immediate danger or it is doing damage to your property (ie-killing your livestock) , however , if you do kill a cat , you must immediately call the conservation dept. (phone # and web address on my website) and turn over the whole carcass/animal to them within 24 hours . Bears are the same , illegal to kill , must report it , not sure if you have to turn it over to them or not , just dont do it to be safe . If you live around me , you can travel the 45 minutes to Arkansas , which has a bear season , and kill one legally . Think before you shoot , always make sure of what is beyond your intended target , even when bow hunting . With todays modern bows shooting 300+fps , it is easy for a pass through and wounding another deer on the backside .

No luck today

Made it to the woods for the first time this evening . Got out a little late but figured I would try . NOTHIN , didnt see a thing . Did find some tracks and some coyote scat on my way in . The weather was extremely warm today compared to the past week . Temps gonna drop tonite and stay cooler for the next week or so (50's at night , mid 60's to low 70's during the day) . Going to try again in the morning . Wish me luck and 'Good luck' to ya'll .

A Gorgeous morning in the Ozarks ...

Yes Im home . Drove in last nite and arrived around 7 am . Had a nice drive and got to enjoy the sunrize over the Ozark hills this morning , low laying haze in the valleys with a little cloud cover , tint of red in the east as the sun rose , and some lightning in the distance . Glad to be home with my loving family , friends , and my personal retreat in the woods . Hopefully be able to get a little rest today and come this evening Ill be sittin in the woods , bow in hand .

Food Plots

Ok , so Ive been out of town goin on a couple weeks now . I guess the weather at home has been damp for the most part . Ive had a friend checkin my property for me since Ive been gone . Food plots and scattered forage areas are doin good . Cant wait to get home and set on stand .

Damp weather prevails ...

The weather has returned . Alot of rain scattered across the midwest and deep south . Hopefully with cooler temps again on the way , our hunting season will dry out a bit . Remember, just because you havent been in your stand , doesnt mean nobody else hasnt . Spiders , hornets , bee's , snakes , etc. All use our stands while were not in them . Share it with caution , try to inspec before you are suprised .

Good news from Missouri ...

Ive been bummed since season has opened at home and I am in Texas. I did here from a good friend today (Damon) , who did manage to harvest a nice 6 point . Im glad some of you can get out and enjoy it .

Deer season is upon us ...

Alright folks , the weather is upon us . I have not been hearing of too many success stories . Fall is here , the leaf's are turning , cooler temps . Take your time , if you havent already got your scouting done , do it . Get ready for changing weather patterns , and rifle season .

Dont FORGET ...

Treestand Safety ... For those of you getting ready to hit the woods this weekend . Remember to wear you safety harness device while in your stand . Not only will you be proteting yourself , you can set a good example for anybody who may be with you . Dont let your families future FALL prey to your hunting enjoyment .

Nice weather in Houston

Not exactly deer hunting weather down here , it was 87 today . I talked to a couple friends back home , no luck today in the woods . I guess the rain there boogered it up . Im hearing that my job here will last till somewhere around October 22nd . We'll see how that works out . Take care and good luck in the woods if you can get out.

Bummer deal for opening season ...

Looks like I wont be making opening morning for archery . I had to travel lastnite to Houston , Texas for work . Ill be here for several weeks at the least. Good luck to everyone who gets out tomorow .

Feeder scavengers ...

Parting shot of a couple of corn thieves on my property . This is the last set of pics for awhile . Took down the trail cam for opening bow season . Good luck .

Bow shoot today

Morning everyone , spent some time on the property yesterday evening . looking around at sign and checkin movement . Should be a nice season . Dont forget , today is the bow shoot in Rogersville . It is sponsored by the local NWTF chapter , The Rogersville Strutters . They will also be having a JAKES event for the younger ones . I hope to see you there .

Dreary day ...

Weather started out nice today , then it clouded up and started to drizzle a little . One of those days that I should be sitting in a treestand with my bow ....5 more days . Food plots are lookin good , planted some more fall seed blend extending down the lane on our property , that was a chore . Long land and its only DOWN hill one way .
Dont forget about the banquet in Republic tonite , 6 pm . Grant Woods will be the guest speaker , lecture will be on whitetail , other reps will be present . Dinner I believe to be bbq . See you there , Bill

Visiting Bass Pro Shops in Springfield , Mo.

Be looking for myself and a handful of other Pro Staff members soon . We are planning on a visit to the Springfield store sometime soon . Looking like possibly the 26th of September . Ill keep everyone up to date . Hope to see you there .

What is it ???

Had alot of opinions off of several different sights , is it a lion or a bobcat ??? By the size in comparison to a deer standing in the same general area , the back and shoulders are between 20"-24" high , it doesnt have any spots by this pic , as well the body is about the same length of a fawn . You make the call ..?!?

Say 'CHEESE'

Just hangin out enjoy'n the view . Life is good .

Uh Ohh ...

Sorry no post yesterday . My son had oral surgery and was not feeling well after . Thanx for your concern . However , I did make it to a regular stated meeting for the Rogersville Strutters , a local chapter of the NWTF . If you belong or want to join , contact them and get involved . It is a very active chapter that is really focused on involvement of the children . http://rogersvillestrutters.webs.com/ .
I look forward to seein you around . Bill

Hey , who's this little guy spoiling my picture ???

Alot of events coming up ...

For all those interested , there is a slew of events coming up in my local area . I will be attending a couple few of them , if you see me , stop and say 'Hello' . On Sept. 5th in Branson is the 'Friends of the NRA' banquet , on Sept. 5th in Republic , there is a Outdoors Hunting Banquet at the Calvary Baptist Church , there will deminstrations , seminars , vendors , etc . On Sept. 12th in Rodgersville , the local chapter of the NWTF JAKES , is having a function with games , lectures , giveaways , etc . Should be alot of fun for the kid in all of us . Ill be lookin forward to seeing you out-n-about .. Bill

Season is getting close ...

Hopefully the weather will hold on for us . From the way its been the last few days I have heard alot of people talking 'its gonna be a long winter' or 'its gonna be a wet/cold winter' . It was a little brisk this morning at 5:15 holding a cup of coffee and noticing that it was only 47 degrees out . Fall hunting season is just around the corner (sept. 15th) . Hopefully the cooler temps will hold on . I never did care much for hunting the opening day of archery , and sweating while in the woods .

What does , or what doesnt the weather man know ...

I am still amused by the forecast of 'partly cloudy' or 'partly sunny' . To me it seems like the weather is just an educated guess . As like most Americans , I can open the door , walk outside , and tell you what my weather is . This over rated , educated guess , of 'partly cloudy' or 'partly sunny' bull@*!@ is crap . This is in my eye on of the many reasons why our cable/phone/cell/electric bills are so astronomical profuse that our economy is crap . We are paying for cable, satellite , etc. . , not cheap either , in which we have the 'Weather channel' , trained and highly educated meteorologist , but yet , they can not predict the weather correctly , nor tell the difference between 'partly cloudy' or 'partly sunny' . I surely hope our future , our children , hold more for us then an educated guess .... Hell , I can tell you now , it is partly cloudy out and humid ... anymore educated bull*$@! for me to contend with today ??? I didnt think so .

Weather prevails ...

Damp day today . Looking forward to the weekend with cooler temps and sunshine . Should be nice to BBQ . Also looking forward to checking the trail cam again . Should have more pic's to post by Monday . Sept. 15th is just around the corner .

Nominated Photo ...

Here is the pic that got 'Trophy Shot of the week' on 'Huntin the World Southern Style' .

Happy B-day to me ...

Got notification that one of my photos has been picked as the 'Trophy Shot' of the week by the crew over at 'Huntin the World Southern Style' . Congrats to me and 'Thank You' to them . This is the same pic that is displayed on the top of my 'Friends and Outfitters' page of my website .

Trail cam ..

Put the camera out yesterday afternoon , had 20 pics by this morning . This was one of the better ones .

Fall is upon us ...

Made note today while on the property , some of the leaves are starting to turn already . Not only that , the weather is lookin pretty good for opening week of archery season . Next week our highs are only going to be in the mid 70's , lows in the 50's , partly cloudy most of it . Hopefully it will stay that way . This will be the coolest opening week of archery I have seen in the area since we moved here , if the weather holds . Feeders are all filled (for the last time) , and camera's have been set with fresh batteries / memory cards . It is illegal to bait in Missouri , however , it has to be removed a minimum of 10 days prior to season . Our season opens Sept. 15th , check your local laws to be sure you are not in violation of any game laws .

Pro Staff update ..

Just been informed , I am also included on the Browning Pro Staff team as a member of the Mossy Oak team . Both exceptional companies and highly rated in the industry . "Thank you" to both .

Online Store ....soon to be ..

Currently workin on the online store . It should be up-n-runnin within the next week . Keep your eyes open and check it out . How close is deer season ???? Right around the corner , oh yeah ..

Long Day ...

Well , the loggers have finished select cutting around my property where our building site is going to be . They should be removing there equipment this next week . Hopefully , my 'Dozer Dude , will have the time to get out on the property in the next few weeks to clear the building site-n-build the damn . Im sure all the ruckus will run the deer off for awhile . Thats O.K. , Ive got all season for groceries .
Something to think about ... If you have property , and you want to build a stand , cut some trees , trim shooting lanes , etc .... It would have been better to be done with it by now , However , Equipment kind of peaks the curiousity of deer . If it doesnt directly affect them , they dont mind . Alot of times they will come in close to observe or investigate .

Decisions ...

Im trying to decide on a new shotgun ... Pump , or semi-auto ???? Both have advantages and disadvantages . Im really used to a pump , however a semi could be helpful on a half fallin bird or one on the run after a miss . Im sure this is an age old question , only time will tell .

There is nothing like living in the Ozarks ...

My son started school today . Watched the bus pick him up , took pic's , went to the property to check trax and feeders , waited for the bus to drop him off , bbq'd dinner . I realized today , I love my life , and my property , as we have managed it properly for deer / turkey . I seen alot of trax and fresh scat . However , its not the same without my children by my side . I enjoy the time I share with them , even if it means the excited burst they get when a struttin tom walks into view , or a shooter management buck steps into bow range , and my son yell's "Shoot him daddy , shoot him!!!" - as the buck runs off . Our children are our future , teach them well , teach them as you have been taught + what you wish you would have been taught . As long as I can go to the woods with my children and see a smile , I have got my trophy for the season ....

1st Spring turkey hunt scheduled ...

For those interested , Ill be hunting at the 'No Mercy' hunting ranch in Oklahoma the begining of spring season (April 6th/7th) . Ill be there for 3-4 days after Easter . Drop me a line or call Ryan if you are interested in an excellent hunt .

Scouting ...

Everybody should have been up to date on this , if not , Start Now .... Season opens in less than a month . You should have already scouted your hunting area , patterned deer in the area . Its not too late , with the rescent rains , the ground is damp . Makes for quiet travells in the woods . Dont over do it , just get an idea for now where you want to place that stand or blind come opening morning . Keep your eyes peeled for early sign of turkey in your hunting area , its nice knowing that you have an early chance at opening deer or turkey come September 15th with a bow .

So much for Mondays ...

Today started out early , lookin pretty productive . Met with business friends in Springfield early (accomplished nothing) , met with other business friends in Nixa later (ahh , so so , possible good things) , Storms blew in early afternoon , rain comin down by the buckets , heard from logging crew working on my property - to wet for them to finish work today / maybe tomorow as well (so goes it) , Did get reports of large flock of turkeys and several deer seen today on the property (priceless) .

Where did the weekend go ??!!??

Here we are , late Sunday evening . I got a phone call early a.m. Saturday and had to drive to Decatur , Il. to spend the afternoon discussing business . Took the family and we spent Sunday afternoon with family and friends bbq'n , in between the rain . The drive home was a wet one . We finally made it home and couldnt be happier . Looking forward to the new week . I did receive decals in the mail over the weekend . The store is starting to stock up and should be ready to go online soon . Take care , Bill

What a morning ...

It is a gorgeous morning here in the Ozarks . To remind everyone , the Fall Hunting Classic is going on in full swing at most Bass Pro shops around the country , stop in and get geared up for fall . If you havent already , which you should have , already dug out your bows , dusted them off , wax the string , and PRACTICE . Season is coming upon us quick . Shot placement , very important .

FYI ...

Just for your info ... Alot of people travel to this area to eat at Lamberts cafe , which does have good food , however-if your in the area and an avid sportsman (or woman) , I would recommend you to travel off the beatin path to a little store located near the heart of Ozark , called Doc' Hollidays . Its a local pawn shop , however they deal with an extensive line of firearms , long guns and pistols alike . As well as a steady stock of ammo . If they dont have it , generaly they can get it . Try it out , ask for Richard , tell him I sent yahh . Take care , Bill

Heres a pic of the girls before they went off to the academy .

Morning ...

Another day , more changes are coming to the website . Keep your eyes peeled for that . Also have a Facebook page up now , more pictures on there . Should have some supplies coming in within the next week or two to stock up the store contents . Keep an eye out for that as well .
I was informed yesterday , late , That I have a close personal friend doing taxidermy this summer/fall . All they are offering out of there shop is european mount work (beetles) . Possibly be offering the camo dipping as well . Ill keep you posted with a link and phone # soon . Take care , Bill

Update on our dogs / website ...

Things are starting to look better , the website is really coming along in a short period of time , any suggestions-let me know .
Just talked with Gary over at the dog training facility , Summer has moved on and is now being trained at another facility to be a diabetic seizure dog . Rusty however , has completed the drug training and is going to work for American Airlines in the Dominican Republic . The best to both of them .
Ive been working on scheduling fall/spring hunts . Look for info on those soon . Take care , Bill

Finally on Facebook ...

Morning , been busy this morning with the computer . Making plans for spring turkey trips and setting up a facebook page , take a look at it . Still working on this site , there is more to come in the near future , keep an eye on it . Take care , Bill

Dog days of summer ..

Good morning fellow outdoorsman , another hot sticky day in the ozarks . For those of you in the area look for me at Bass Pro in Springfield today . I will be in / out today during the hunting classic . Be sure to stop me and say 'Hello' . Its a new season upon us and I have a large shopping cart with my name on it . Until next time ... Bill

About time ....

Here it is , the new website . Up and running for now , soon to add pic's , store , and more content . Keep an eye on the changes as we go . Thanx for stoppin by , Bill