For parents and veteran hunters alike, taking kids hunting can be one of the most rewarding experiences in outdoor life. For many, growing up learning to hunt was as natural as learning to tie their shoes or ride a bike. For others, the option to go hunting as a kid (for any number of reasons) simply didn’t exist. But, when many of those same youngsters were exposed to hunting as adults, they fell in love with the sport and became hooked for life.
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When it comes to planning a hunt, the options are endless. Some hunts require little more than a loose timeline, a packed lunch, and a loaded gun, but others can be much more daunting, even for an experienced hunter. A turkey hunt one county over is a far cry from stalking elk through the Rockies, but if you’ve never done either, you’re still starting from square one.
That’s where hunting guides and hunting outfitters come in – someone else with the knowledge and skill to help close the gap between you and the game you chase.
But, don’t be fooled – the two titles are not mutually exclusive.
Question – where the heck did deer season go? I’ve been planning to catch y’all up on all of my hunting adventures this fall, but time has absolutely flown by and I have No. Idea. Where. It. Went. And now its over… As of yesterday – New Year’s Day – our whitetail season is officially closed. [Oh hey Happy New Year, by the way!]
Since I did so much hunting from very beginning of the season, I figured it would be easiest (and shortest) to give you a quick rundown of all of the hunts leading up to my [first] success… What a doozy.
The early winter doldrums can be a frustrating time for whitetail hunters, as the bustling rut activity tapers off into the silence of vacant woods and unfired guns. It is often turns off like a light switch: Deer seem to be running everywhere at the height of the rut, and then it’s over as quickly as it began. The peak breeding period may have passed, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a successful hunt in the post-rut weeks of deer season. Deer are creatures of habit, after all, so a few simple adjustments to your hunting strategies can help you bag a mature buck when you least expect it.
As the days get shorter, a good scope (like my Leupold VX5-HD) will help maximize the length of your hunt.
For a hunter, few things can be more frustrating than pursuing a downed animal across rugged terrain or in deep woods, thick with underbrush. The feeling of excitement after taking a shot at that trophy buck can quickly be replaced by one of hopeless failure once hours of searching have left you empty-handed. It’s a situation all hunters do their best to avoid. We’d love for every shot to be perfectly placed, dropping game in its tracks—but that’s just not how hunting works. Deer are incredibly strong creatures, and the adrenaline surging through their bodies often gives them the strength to run an astonishing distance, even with a mortal wound. We owe it to our game to give our best efforts for recovery. Following these simple steps can lead you straight to success.
The Bright Side of the Road for The WON is sponsored by Leupold.
Recently, I found myself faced with a “tough” decision. I put “tough” in quotes because it was also quite a delightful decision: I needed to purchase a new rifle. Over the summer, I was partnered with Leupold Optics here on Women’s Outdoor News, and the amazing Leupold team was kind enough to send me a box full of new gear including a scope – the VX-5HD 3-15x44mm CDS-ZL2. (!!!)
If you’ve been following along on social media you may have noticed that I’ve recently been promoting something called the Sportsman’s Box. I’ve been receiving one monthly since early summer, and recently was lucky enough to become a member of the Sportsman’s Box Field Operative Team! I am super excited to be working with such a great company and so many amazing other field ops in the outdoor industry.
So, what exactly is Sportsman’s Box?
I recently shared some shed hunting pointers over at Women’s Outdoor News – expanding on my original list of tips and tricks – how you, too, can have a successful shed hunting season.
Well, we are officially into 2017. Happy New Year Friends! It’s interesting… Sometimes deer season seems to slowly fizzle out as we approach the final day – January 1st – here in South Carolina. With all of the excitement and activity surrounding duck season and the hunts each week and weekend, going after deer sometimes gets put on the back burner. Sure, I always get in the woods in the evenings before and after a duck hunt, hoping to see a nice buck or just bag a doe so we can all have some meat. And I thought that’s how this year’s season was going to end.
But… Sometimes, deer season doesn’t fizzle out.
I know, I KNOW! It has been aaaages since I posted a recipe here at bright side outdoors. Way too long! Trust me, I’ve been cooking with all the game I can get my hands on, and I have a recipe for you at last.