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We’re starting a new tradition of Pre Deer Camp as a way to enjoy the camaraderie of deer camp while building excitement for the coming season while getting help with some of the chores related to the season. Thursday night we reviewed last September's camera data and compared it to this years...

Nice shade trees and a steady breeze offset the heat as we enjoyed the 5th annual New Hope Creek Deer Coop gathering on our farm. The meeting was a great success with nearly 20 landowners representing about 1600 acres gathering to discuss all things Whitetail, while enjoying venison slam...

I enjoyed my first dove hunt using a nice O/U my wife bought for me a couple of years ago. My friend, who is the landowner, said the action was slow, but the shotgun felt good and brought down 6 birds, which will be dinner tomorrow night.

We planted ten apples, two pears and two plum trees when we moved to the farm in 2017. That first year we had to replace two apples and both plums due to deer and drought. This year we had our first three pears (delicious) and first bushel of apples. I wish I had known of this forum back then...

I put in for a managed hunt near where I live with the “assurance” it would take three or four years to be drawn, based on the odds. My intention was to build up some points to ensure a draw once I retire. To my surprise, I was chosen this year—which means I am not ready! The park is 10 miles...

In 2022, Native Hunter posted a thread about his Lawnmower plot. Rather than revive that old thread, I thought I would start a new one for those using this simple, but often effective, method for food plotting. With limited time, I took advantage of work taking me 1 1/2 hours from our cabin...

Invasive plants susceptible to prescribed burns (meaning controlled fires can be used as a management tool to help control or eliminate them). Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) can be controlled, especially with winter burns Bush Honeysuckle: A common invasive shrub that can outcompete...

Special thanks to Admin Bill for agreeing to add this forum! Over the past years, I’ve read many posts promoting burns for invasive control, site prep and supporting the early successional vegetation so important to the wildlife we love and appreciate. The goal of this forum is to have a place...

I had the privilege of being invited to speak on the Main Beam Podcast this past Wednesday. The episode went live yesterday. It's pretty much 90 minutes of talking about the deer hunting, with a focus upon the senior deer hunt initiative that is close to my heart. It was fun being in the...

Have a blessed and safe July 4th.

The Missouri Department of Conservation in partnership with Quail Forever and two wildlife foundations hosted a quail habitat field day for landowners. Here are the key take homes and some pictures: 1) The best tool is a September burn rotation every three or four years. 2) Unlike deer plots...

This thread continues a three year tradition of attempting to forecast the upcoming deer season. This is the 8th season on our property, and the doe/buck ratio seems to be much better. So far, all the does are dropping single fawns. The coyotes are out in number. Two target deer survived, and...

With the closing of my in-laws estate, my wife and I now have 1/3 ownership of 45 acres in hunting unit 176 near Tower, MN. Her brothers don't hunt anymore, so the property is not hunted, at least from what I know. Growing up, my wife saw deer, bear and moose sightings regularly. Today, bear and...

While I should be planting, a friend and I are riding the Rocky’s in our RZRs. After hearing Spencer talk about going to Colorado to ride his side-by-side for four years during deer camp, I finally threw out the gauntlet and said, “Let’s go.” I bought a low-mileage 2019 RZR 900 ESP trail model...

The original week of my scheduled first hog hunt was met with a blizzard that shut down I-44 and brought record-low temperatures to Missouri and Oklahoma. We had to postpone the trip for two weeks, but on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, my three colleagues, who I count as close friends, joined me on a...

Your first piece of property. It’s always interesting to hear how folks acquired their first piece of property. Keep the story short, and share any insights that might help new members navigate their landowner dreams! Our was 8 acres with an 800 sq/ foot 2/BR, 1B log cabin purchased in 2012...

I am taking our senior leadership team to Mangum, Oklahoma for a hog hunt in Mid-February. This will be the first hog hunt for us all. We'll be hunting four locations on two farms, and the local conservation officers, who is a friend, is baiting the sites for us. I'm taking an AR with red-dot...

What is your acorn strategy? This past weekend's tree survey suggests this will be a bumper acorn year. I have burr oak acorns the size of golf-balls and other white oak acorns showing in abundance. This will be the first year the farm has a tower blind well situated for the acorn drop, plus...

This question is based on another thread on e-bikes. Getting to the stand with minimal disturbance is a priority for most of us. So, what have you found that works best to get to your deer stand?

In May of 2023 I posted a “deer season forecast” based on early trail cam photos. Although it is well past May, I will continue the tradition and post the anticipated harvest for the 2024-25 season. Feel free to respond with your “forecast” for the upcoming season. 2024 marks the 7th season...