Wednesday 26 September 2018

Tree Thrasher Game Call

Tree Thrasher

Are you looking for a unique and alternative approach for calling in deer? Tree Thrasher gives you a 3 in one call to simulate and manipulate deer activity!

Manipulate deer activity without making deer swing out of their relaxed state… Every deer call has one thing in common for attracting deer. But, the function of these calls is to either anger or warn deer that you are in the area. We have all used these calls, and in turn when they do work you have a buck or a doe that is on high alert when in range. This causes a heightened possibility of the whitetail ducking the arrow or picking you out in the stand. The Tree Thrasher has reversed that concept and taken calling in whitetails to the next level. Weighing in at less than 5 oz., this 3 in 1 system allows you to attract mature bucks and does without creating an environment where they are on edge. Sound natural and relaxed with the Tree Thrasher. Lets break these calls down. 

Leaves Crunching

During the fall, what is the best way to pinpoint deer? We listen for those dried up leaves crunching underneath the hooves of that mature whitetail. The middle section of this call simulates just that. We are now the only animals that listen for this. Whitetail are social animals and are always listening for nearby crashing/walking. To achieve this call, all it takes is a Pull, twist, an smash to achieve this sound.

Twigs Breaking

Twigs and other foliage breaking are another key aspect in deer activity. What do all bucks do? They make scrapes and they rub trees to show dominance and let other deer know that they are in the area. The clip on the side of this call snaps to not only manipulate a twig break but to help simulate a buck making a scrape. When you put both the leaves crunching and twig breaking sounds together you will achieve just that! A quick and easy way to attract deer into your shooting lane.

Antlers in a Tree

The realism of creating this scrape sequence would not be complete without adding one more call into the mix. The call incorporates leaves crunching and twigs breaking, but it is lacking one thing. Antlers. The three prongs protruding from the call serves as tines to complete every aspect of the call and its possible calling sequence. Just scrape up the bark on the tree you are sitting in and you will see results! Spark curiosity and imitate the wild with just one call!

Owner and designer Todd Pringnitz talks about how he uses the call:

“The typical response from deer is 10 minutes after calling. A couple branch breaks to get their attention, a bit of leaf noise, then stop. Follow up with a grunt 30 seconds later, and let it go. It’ll make your spot their next destination but they usually don’t come barging in which is good.”

 

See below for The Tree Thrasher video!

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Monday 24 September 2018

Grill the Perfect Venison Steak

How to Grill the Perfect Venison Steak

How to Cook Venison Steak

These 5 tips on how to cook the perfect venison steak will help you become the best chef at this summer’s barbecues.

Now that Memorial day has come and gone we can (un)officially say that summer is here. Summertime means big fish, good beer and plenty of cookouts. It’s a great excuse to eat up some of the meat that you spent all of last fall chasing and cutting up. One of my favorite summertime choices to grill is venison steak, which can be pretty tricky to grill due to the thin cut of some of the pieces. Follow these 5 tips on how to grill the perfect venison steak and your friends will be coming back for more over and over again at your next party.

Whether you cut up your own deer and elk or have a butcher do it, many times you’ll find that the steaks are cut an inch or less thick. This requires some TLC on the grill so as not to burn them to charcoal. Here are a few tips on how to make them medium to medium rare.

Rare Venison Steak

Venison can also be eaten rare or medium rare and tastes best that way just like beef does.

1. Cook it While it’s Cold

A lot of people and chefs will tell you that you should cook a beef steak at room temperature, but that’s not the case with a thin venison steak. Thick steaks take longer to cook and the thinner venison meat that does not have as much fat on it will go from rare to extremely tough, very fast. Keep the venison steaks cool so that the outside has time to char before it cooks the inside of the steak to nothing.

2. Better with Butter

There are plenty of steak houses and backyard chefs that know that adding butter can make a steak better, and venison is no exception. Feel free to brush a thin coat of butter on the steak before grilling it. This will make a nice crusty sear on the exterior of the meat.

3. Keep the Grill Hot

While some people cook with a two level heat set up on their grill, with venison steaks, keep it hot. The high, intense heat will be sure to sear the outside, and since the interior of the meat cooks rather quickly anyway, you’ll get that good crust on the meat.

4. Keep the Lid Off

When you’re cooking a thicker steak, leaving the lid off will help cook the interior of the meat. This is what you do not want to have happen when you are cooking thin cuts of meat. Leaving the lid off will ensure that the outside gets cooked while the interior stays medium rare and doesn’t over cook. Make sure that you watch the meat too so that it doesn’t get overdone.

5. Flip the Meat Once

Only flip the meat once throughout the cooking process. These thin steaks do not take very long to cook and you don’t need to flip multiple times to get them done. Let the steak sit over the burners or coals as long as possible and then flip it. This could take as little as two minutes. The internal temperature of the meat only needs to be 130 degrees when you pull it off. This entire cooking session can take less than five minutes.

Good luck becoming the master of your summer barbecues this year. What are your favorite recipes for venison?

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Thursday 20 September 2018

Puddle Jump Ducks Without a Dog

Puddle Jump Ducks Without a Dog

Puddle Jump Ducks

Puddle Jumping ducks and waterfowl is a fun way to hunt without a dog and get exercise

Duck hunting is one of the most fun activities of the fall, but for those who don’t have dogs or are bored in the mid-day hours, there is a way to hunt and get some exercise. Ducks tend to lay low during the day and hole up in creeks, river bottoms and other marshy areas. You can take advantage of these by being stealthy and active and jumping them off these “puddles”. Follow these tips to get ducks during the day with or without a dog by puddle jumping ducks.

Be Quiet

Staying quiet will help you get closer to the ducks and get easier shots. If they hear you sloshing through the marsh, they’re going to be gone before you get to them.

Binoculars are your friend

Binos are one of the best hunting tools ever invented for anything, including ducks. Scan from roads and fields where you know there are swampy areas that ducks like to be in and you can scout while you hunt. This helps narrow down hunting spots more quickly.

Wear Knee Boots or Waders

Waders can make a hot walk, but having these or knee boots will ensure that you get your ducks if you don’t have a dog. You don’t want to lose that meat, so make sure that you’re prepared to grab what you shoot.

Improved Cylinder Chokes

Using the improved cylinder choke will allow you to get close shots at jumping ducks without destroying all of the meat. I like to use #4 Steel shot for puddle jumping ducks without a dog.

Try puddle jumping mid-day ducks this fall and see what you bring home. You may be surprised at all of the waterfowl you can get at while taking that walk during the day.

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Monday 17 September 2018

BIG BUCK DOWN!

Giant Wisconsin Whitetail Harvest!

A huge Congratulations to Dale Glebke from Wisconsin on his opening weekend GIANT! This buck has 20 points and a 21 inch spread!

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Weekly Morning Trail Mix

Trail Mix

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Tuesday 11 September 2018

Tips For a Successful Archery Season

A Few Tips to Consider For a More Successful Archery Season

By: Todd D. Larson 

With the “Dog Days” of summer upon us here in Wisconsin, I can’t help but let my mind wander a bit and think of the cooler days to come. More specifically, I look forward to when archery season opens up in the middle of September and carries us through the first part of January. For those of us with a passion for shooting bows and letting arrows fly, September 17th, 2016 can’t get here soon enough. And, when January 8th, 2017 comes to a close, it will find many people dragging their feet and just plain wore out from pursuing the most commonly hunted big game species in North America, the whitetail deer. Some hunters will find success early because they will have done their homework and others, well, they’ll be the ones eating their tags walking around like zombies.

In my 41 seasons of chasing these smart and crafty creatures with a bow, I’ve come to understand a few things that I thought I might share to help others be more successful. Here’s the short list…

The Bow

Purchase what you can afford. Buy a quality bow within your budget that feels good each and every time you shoot it. Spend a little more money if you need to in order to get the right fit and don’t buy a particular bow just because of the brand name on it. Remember that this is an investment and something that you will have to enjoy for many years to come. The first step is to decide on the type of bow you are wanting to shoot, (longbow, recurve or compound). Take your time and shoot as many different styles of bows as possible from the various manufacturers. You can narrow it down pretty quickly once the shooting starts. Go to a quality archery shop that is more interested in fitting you with the proper bow rather than how much money they can talk you out of. Most reputable places will spend as much time with you as needed during the selection process. These are the guys that will take care of you when it comes to tuning your bow, cutting arrows, finding the correct release, arrow rest and quiver and any other accessories that you will need. Their job is to get you set up for success and take care of you quickly if something should happen to any piece of your archery equipment.

Shooting

This is as important, if not more important than the bow you purchase. Shoot regularly and consistently; especially when first getting your bow. Many archery shops now have indoor and/or outdoor ranges which allow you to shoot at different distances and at many different types of targets. It’s a blast and challenging all at the same time. Not only that, but you will meet some great people, all with a common interest who are more than willing to help you out. Remember that proper form is key and having a seasoned archer help you get everything dialed in is really important. It certainly will help take away the frustration associated with learning something new.

Another tip; don’t overshoot. What I mean is simply this: Don’t shoot a hundred arrows the first night in your excitement of getting your new bow. You’ll be too sore to even shoot your bow anytime soon after that, thus making the experience less than enjoyable. Keep in mind that you will be using muscles in your arms, neck and back that will need time to strengthen. As those muscles get stronger, shooting more arrows becomes easier. Your draw weight will increase as well, but keep in mind that you don’t need to shoot heavy poundage.

Shoot a draw weight that is comfortable for you. The way that bows are designed today, the arrow will still get there quickly enough. And, a smoother and quicker draw is the one that will increase your chances of success. When I was younger, I shot a draw weight of 70 lbs. or more. Today it’s around 63 to 65 lbs. It makes sense to me to shoot an arrow more comfortably and more consistently. I’ve also come to realize that a faster arrow is not necessarily a better killing arrow. I don’t shoot as many arrows each night as I use to. I would rather shoot fewer arrows and leave on a good note than shoot too many arrows and have them hit all over the target.

Having confidence in your ability and in your shooting distances is key. Be patient, be consistent and have fun. Each and every shot needs to be your best shot. There have been very few times that I have ever had a second chance at killing a deer that I may have missed with my first shot or have made a poor shot on to begin with. Take your time, breathe, relax and visualize the shot before you release the arrow. Make each and every shot count as you only get one first shot.

Practice shooting in various positions. Standing, sitting and kneeling are the most popular. Keep in mind the type of hunting you will be doing, but practice shooting in different positions and situations. If you are hunting from a ground blind, practice sitting on a chair, inside the blind. If you’re going to be hunting from a tree stand, be sure to practice at the height that your stand will be and always, always, always, wear your safety harness. Be certain to clip into a guide rope as you climb up and down from your tree stand. Learn how different angles affect arrow placement when shooting from above and don’t forget to enjoy the view. Hunting from a tree stand is my favorite type of hunting and has been the most productive for me in Northern Wisconsin. Now that we have your bow picked out and you’re shooting like Fred Bear, let’s take a look at your hunting property. 

Property

You have two choices, public land or private land. If you’re fortunate to have a piece of property that you own or have been able to lease, fantastic! I prefer hunting private land or a lease for a good number of reasons. Here are just a couple.

The first and most important reason is safety. You know (for the most part) that you and/or others you may have given permission to should be the only ones on that property. I’ve had some great leases over the years that I shared with my family and friends. It’s fun, comfortable and safe. I have to say that getting these leases wasn’t very easy. I did acquire most simply by calling on a piece of property that was for sale or by knocking on doors in areas that were of interest to me. Always be kind and courteous, thanking them for their time. Be sure to leave your name and number with them. They may not want to lease this property to you this season but that may change down the road. Be able to face rejection when they tell you “no,” but keep in mind that’s all part of the process and all it takes is that one person to say “yes” to your request and you’ll be on top of the world. Hunting property is getting harder and harder to come by so be patient and put in your time.

The second reason is deer management. You will have a direct impact on the deer that reside there. I’m a firm believer in the Quality Deer Management program that more and more property owners and their neighbors are embracing. If you give these deer a chance to grow and keep a healthy buck to doe ratio in the mix you’ll experience hunting like you’ve never seen. The key to making this work is to get your neighbors involved. Experiment with food plots that will hold deer and create bedding areas for the deer, if space allows. For ten months out of the year, all a whitetail thinks about is a place to eat and sleep that is relatively safe. The other two months are spent chasing or being chased around because of the rut. This is certainly the best and most productive time of the year to hunt. And, when it’s kicked into full gear these are my two favorite weeks of the year. Be sure to put your time in on the stand to increase your chances of success. I guarantee that you will see more than at any other time of the season.

Public land is always a gamble. I will say that a good number of deer are harvested on public land. The key to success here is to get off the beaten path and go find those places that other hunters have no desire to be in. You’ll be farther away from your competition and be closer to where these big deer like to hang out. They like solitude, safety and comfort next to a feeding area. Find that place and you’ll find success. Check the laws for using and hanging stands or putting up ground blinds on public property. Know that you are not going to be the only hunter out there and be willing to accept the fact that others may wander in what you like to think is “your area.” Remember that it is public land and that’s just part of the deal. I’ve been there and done that and yes, it is frustrating, but make the best of it.

There is certainly a lot more that I could talk about in regards to increasing the odds of being successful bowhunting this fall and winter. Trail cameras, stand placement and cover scent are just a few more things to consider. Do your homework and prepare yourself to the best of your ability. Read as much as you can and don’t be afraid to ask questions. I have learned, however, that the best lessons come from just taking that first step and getting out and into the woods. Enjoy each and every moment that you’re there and I promise that you will be amazed at what you will learn and see.

One other thing to remember…don’t base your success as a hunter on the size of the deer, the harvest or lack thereof. Enjoy the hunt and the people you share it with. The harvest is just the icing on the cake.

Good Luck this season, be safe and have fun!

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