Turkey Hunt Vest Essentials, And What Shouldn’t Make The Cut

March 6, 2023/0 Comments/in News /by Hawk Treestands

A mechanic working on broken-down automobiles would never get the job done if their tools were spread over the ground or here and there. Instead, they have a toolbox that keeps all their needed tools at a close distance and, more importantly, neat and organized for them to find what they need quickly. The same goes for a turkey hunter’s vest; I have often quoted veteran turkey hunter and champion caller Matt Morrett when prioritizing a turkey vest. He said, “a vest is a turkey hunters filing cabinet.” Those words have long stayed in my mind because they are true. When wearing a vest, hunters have everything they need to get the job done when calling a spring longbeard into close range.

When packing up your vest this spring, many essential items must never be left behind. At the same time, there are a few things that hunters should opt out of packing. Below is an extensive guide to a properly packed turkey vest, giving turkey hunters a significant advantage.

Turkey Calls

First and foremost, the essential item that every spring turkey hunter should carry in their vest is turkey calls. Many hunters, myself included, have an extensive collection of calls. However, taking every call along would make the hunter look and sound like an old mule hitched to a wagon traveling through the woods on the opening morning of hunting season.

Many hunters carry two or three diaphragm calls when hunting. Three-mouth calls are ideal because they don’t weigh anything, can be used in any weather condition, and keep the hunter motionless. Plus, they sound like a real hen turkey when properly used. Next is a pot-style call, such as the New Zink Calls Thunder Ridge Blaster. A pot-style call creates soft yelps, purrs, and clucks of the wild turkey. These calls have excellent volume and, with the proper striker, can also be used in wet conditions. While mentioning foul weather, a box call, such as the Zink Hick Talker, is perfect for those windy spring days when turkeys have difficulty hearing. The walnut bottom and hickory paddle of the Hick Talker create higher raspy hen sounds that carry excellent through the wind.

The last call that all hunters should have in their turkey vest is one or two locator calls. Locator calls give up a gobbler’s location by shocking them into gobbling at a natural sound. Many hunters carry an owl hooter and a crow call, such as the Hunters Specialties/DOD Crow Call. If your vest is getting too full, narrow it down to only the crow call because it can be used all day.

Mistake: Do not carry a box call in your vest without a built-in silencer to go in between the box and the call lid, as it could result in a squeaky box every time you step, which can spook nearby turkeys.

Essentials

Besides call pockets, many other pockets are included on a turkey vest. These pockets are for turkey hunting essentials such as gloves, facemasks, and extra shells. Turkeys have some of the best vision of any animal; wearing gloves and a facemask is vital to staying concealed from their eyes while traveling to a call. Plus, they help safely keep all exposed skin hidden from other hunters.

Mistake: Always have an extra pair of gloves and a facemask in your vest. If a glove is lost or a facemask can’t be found, it could ruin the hunt because of a gobbler spotting your location.

Tools

As I referred the turkey vest to a mechanics toolbox, it is only fair to list the essential tools that turkey hunters should keep within easy reach. Items such as binoculars and a rangefinder are often needed when hunting. One of the most important tools to keep close is a hand pruner, such as the Hawk Pruner.

A small compact pruner like the ones from Hawk can aid in making a quick ground blind when cover is limited or when clearing those one or two obstacles that could interfere with a shot on a mature gobbler.

Mistake: Using a small hand pruner instead of a saw is much quieter and provides less movement when cutting a quick shooting lane. Turkeys can hear and see much better than humans. A loud noise or unnecessary movement can ruin a hunt quickly.

Extras

There are always a few extra items to pack along in a turkey vest that many hunters typically do not consider. Tick spray or a Therma Cell can make a hunt much more enjoyable, preventing the nuisance of itching and scratching that can cause unnecessary movement. Next is an energy bar, such as an Mtn Ops Protein Bar and a water bottle. A protein bar can boost a hunter’s energy quickly and give them the energy they need to keep hunting. The same goes for water; chasing turkeys up and down the hills and woods can sometimes be exhausting. Staying hydrated is vital when hunting for an extended period.

Mistakes: Do not take a plastic water bottle when hunting. They are noisy and can result in nearby wildlife spooking. Instead, carry a durable bottle such as the Yeti Yonder Bottle, which can hold up through the grind of hunting.

3 Reasons To Keep Game Cameras Going After Season

January 24, 2023/0 Comments/in News /by Hawk Treestands

Over the last few years, my end-of-the-year regimen has become routine. Once the hunting season has drawn to a close, like clockwork, I return to my hunting grounds to take down my Down & Out Warrior Blind and my Hawk hang-on and ladder stands to prevent any weathering or damage that could occur to the seats and straps.

It used to be typical after my stands and blinds had been removed for the season, to shift my focus to predator hunting and the upcoming spring turkey season. That is until I heard another hunter announce that his preparation for the next hunting season began the day after the current season ended, meaning that his work and preparation never stopped. Once I began putting more effort into the entire year, instead of waiting until mid to late summer before I started thinking about deer again, I found my success and overall knowledge of hunting improved.

When trying to manage land and a deer herd, there is always something to do. One could make habitat improvements, plant early-season food plots, and the list goes on. However, one task that has provided its fair share of benefits is keeping my game cameras running for several weeks after the season ends. Below are three reasons hunters should keep their cameras running after the season.

Post Season Inventory

One of the most significant reasons for keeping multiple game cameras in place post-deer season is to take inventory of the deer herd and record which bucks made it through the season. On several occasions, many of the bucks who left the area earlier in the year or were pressured out of the area during the peak of hunting season will return to the area to try to gain a few pounds to help them through the winter. I often begin my supplemental feeding efforts days after the season ends. After the feed has been placed, I set up my Wildgame Innovations Wraith 2.0 Camera a few feet away; then, I leave the area for several weeks before returning.

By obtaining an accurate count of what bucks survived the year, hunters can get a head start on their hitlist for the upcoming season. On multiple occasions, I have also had bucks that I had never encountered before showing up at the feed sites during this portion of the winter. When they decide to make an appearance, I make mental notes and focus my prep work on keeping the bucks I have and attracting neighboring deer for the upcoming year.

Shed Antlers

Hunters should keep cellular cameras to monitor when bucks begin shedding their antlers. When the hunting season is still in progress, many hunters have camera sites where most of the bucks spend time. Instead of taking these cameras down post-season, leave them up as these areas are ideal for a cellular camera, such as the Wildgame Innovations Encounter 2.0, due to bucks grouping back up.

When a cellular camera is in place, the hunter will have a more accurate time frame of when they need to start looking for sheds. By knowing precisely when bucks drop their antlers, hunters can avoid making multiple trips to search the ground when it may not be the right time. Fewer visits to the area can also have more bucks coming into the location because they are not being spooked by hunters who are stomping around the area in search of sheds. Instead, wait until pictures of bucks with no antlers show up, then begin the search. The chances of finding more antlers in one specific area will increase dramatically.

Monitor Feed And Minerals

One of my favorite post-season camera setups includes using my camera over an area where I have supplemental feed and minerals in the same picture frame.

With feed and minerals in place, I can accurately monitor what deer want and need. By having cellular cameras in place, I know when deer are low on feed and need more. The more critical factor is when suddenly, a week or two period will begin when most deer use the minerals. When this period occurs, I ensure I have multiple mineral sites for deer to consume.

This higher mineral consumption typically occurs during January or February and can be one of the most crucial times for bucks to ingest these much-needed minerals. Bucks consuming minerals during this period can vastly restore what their bodies lost during the rut and fall season, which can do wonders for them. The faster the recovery rate, the less stress on their bodies, which equals better antler growth the following year.

Using Blinds For Late-Season Success

December 6, 2022/0 Comments/in News /by Hawk Treestands

By: Heath Wood

Many hunters spend their off-seasons preparing for the future, hoping that the upcoming year will bring about the mature buck of their dreams.

Months of hard work and preparation have hunters setting their sights on a period that is often the season’s main event, sweet November. Yet, when the latter portion of the season arrives, they look back on that treasured time, only to analyze what they did wrong and why things didn’t go as planned. If you enter the month of December with a buck tag still in your pocket, don’t lose hope, there is still adequate time to take advantage of the late season and wrap your tag around the leg of the buck of your dreams.

Blinds Near Food

One of my favorite tactics for hunting during the late season is using blinds to make the needed adjustments to gain the upper hand on bucks.

At the end of the year, areas near food are one of the best places to find deer movement. Several factors play into why deer are predictable at being on a significant food source later in the year. The first element is that bucks are coming off the rut, in which the excessive traveling and hunt for does in estrus have taken a toll on their bodies and health. To replenish their fat and energy to a normal level, deer will feed heavier at this point. Typically, winter is also when colder temperatures arrive across the country, and deer require more food to stay warm. Bucks working on regaining their health and adding to their body weight are why having a ground blind or elevated stationary blind near food is necessary.

Keeping an elevated box blind, such as The Office Box Blind from Hawk, is the ideal location to hunt late-season bucks. A field will likely be full of deer when hunting over late-season food sources. When hunting in a blind such as The Office, hunters have the advantage of keeping noise control to a minimum and their thermals trapped inside, which helps prevent deer from smelling them. Not to mention, during the cold winter month, they can stay much warmer and more comfortable compared to sitting in an open treestand.

Mobile Adjustments With Ground Blinds

Although box blinds are great for hunting during the colder late season, hunters must keep a portable blind such as the Hawk Mancave Ground blind if quick adjustments are needed to get on the path of a mature buck and make the harvest.

This past year, the Midwest suffered a severe drought throughout the spring and summer. With very little rain, food plots didn’t grow as expected, and many other factors that stem from dry weather dramatically changed the deer’s travel patterns. Personally, I dealt with dry conditions near my home in southern Missouri throughout the entire summer, which resulted in using ground blinds during the late season. In one of the places I hunt, the deer share the timber, fields, and water with the landowner’s cattle. In a typical year, the farmer will move the cows to pastures far from the area where I hunt. In the summer, I hang most of my treestands based on past experiences and normal travel patterns from the deer. However, this year due to a lack of rain, the landowner’s pastures suffered and failed to produce enough food for the livestock. The lack of green pastures resulted in the cattle being in the areas where I hunted when fall arrived. With all the remaining grass going to the cattle, plus a massive acorn crop, the deer movement patterns were dramatically different from the past. All my pre-hung stand locations saw deer movement at a minimum throughout the rut and during the season’s prime.

To make the proper adjustments to increase my chances during the remainder of the season, I reverted to a method I have used in the past: using a ground blind to quickly move into a new area where deer movement is more prominent. When deer become pressured due to hunting or are pushed out of an area by livestock or unpredictable weather conditions, as with my hunting area, they will move their travel routes to gain better access to food, cover, and water. Because this is a temporary move, I want to avoid moving treestands to that area or taking the risk of spooking deer. Instead, I used a portable Hawk ground blind and made a quick setup in the new area. To help determine where to move into an area with a ground blind, use a cellular game camera to help pattern where mature bucks are located. One of my favorite things about late-season occurs when new bucks, or bucks who have gone MIA throughout the rut, start popping up on my Stealth Cam cameras. Often, a couple of weeks after the rut is done, bucks will begin to return to their usual grounds along with newcomer bucks who seek out does that may be getting ready to come into estrus during the second rut. With cellular cameras, the hunter can observe when bucks are most active, then move into the area with their blind and hunt. Often, hunters harvest mature bucks during this period, which they have never encountered before.

Best Days to Deer Hunt

November 8, 2022/0 Comments/in News /by Kevin Kelsey

By: Heath Wood

With today’s technology, hunters have access to many platforms that can help determine the best time to hunt deer. While many rely on these technologies, others base superstitions on the best time to hunt. Some even reflect on past hunting experiences and base their predictions on past success. With many opinions and resources to help hunters, the question still gets debated year after year, when are the best days to deer hunt?

For the past fifteen years, my co-workers and I have each gotten one day off through the week of the Missouri firearms portion of deer season. After having two years of success while taking off on Thursday, I developed somewhat of a superstition of my own, and for the better part of ten years, I have hunted on Thursday each year. Ninety percent of the time, I have harvested a deer on my day. Is it good luck or just great timing?

On November 18^th, 2021, I began the morning sitting inside my Hawk Down and Out Blind, watching a small open field that sat perfectly between two large sections of hardwood timber. It was Thursday of the opening week of Missouri’s firearms season, and I had high hopes that my successful streak would continue. I watched two smaller bucks come to a scrape during the mid-morning, along with multiple does. Then, out of the timber came a mature ten-pointer that had appeared on my Stealth Cam Fusion X camera the week before. After the buck pushed a doe around the small field for a minute or two, I acquired an opportunity and made a successful shot on a great southern Missouri buck.

I have been blessed to take a deer on my day off for several years. I’ll keep counting it as a blessing, yet is luck on my side, or is Thursday good timing for deer movement? There are historically good days when it comes to shooting a mature buck. Many apps and hunt predictions also forecast specific days as a great time to hunt. Below are the dates and why they are ideal times for deer hunters to be successful.

October 31^st, Halloween Day

Halloween day is historically one of the best days for deer hunting for many hunters. Many hunters have experienced mature bucks beginning the anticipated rut during the last of October. Typically, somewhere around October 15^th, scrapes begin showing up, and bucks start leaving their scent for does and other bucks as a sign that they are in the area. Around Halloween day, many bucks begin leaving the scrapes and start chasing does to find which ones are ready to breed. Since bucks are up on their feet, hunters have recorded deer movement as excellent during this time.

Because Halloween is the beginning of the actual rut, younger bucks are also eager to find a hot doe. With eager young bucks nearby, Halloween is a great time to break out the grunt calls and rattling antlers to signify a young buck getting to the does before the mature buck, making elder bucks eager to respond.

Enjoy The Hunt More With A Box Blind — Rut Action

November 12^th-20^th

Although it is not narrowed down to one specific day, the week surrounding November 12^th– 20^th is historically when the rut is in full swing in most parts of the country. In this time frame, bucks are locked down with does, chasing is full-blown, and the bigger mature bucks seem to come out of hiding to breed as many does as possible.

During the peak of the rut, hunters should take every opportunity available to hunt. My scheduled day off through the Missouri firearms season often hits close to the peak of the rut for most deer, thus being the reason my day off seems to produce successful hunts year after year. As with last year’s hunt, I try to take the opportunity to sit in a comfortable blind, such as the Down and Out blinds, and sit all day if necessary. By having a comfortable seat, plenty of room to stretch and move, and an area to bring along a few snacks and drinks, I can sit for an extended period.

If I had only one day of the year to hunt, it would be any day from the 12^th to the 20^th of November.

December 10^th

One of the most exciting and prosperous times for many hunters occurs during the peak of the rut. Bucks are noted as becoming less focused on their survival instincts and only thinking about breeding, allowing hunters to see and harvest bucks when they usually wouldn’t be visible.

The good thing for hunters that missed the window of opportunity to harvest a buck during the peak of the rut is that there is a second chance. Often referred to as the second rut.

Many does who did not get successfully bred come back into estrus twenty-eight days after their first estrus cycle. What that means for hunters is if most does come into the first estrus, around the 12^th of November, twenty-eight days later would be December 10^th. Bucks begin seeking does again during that time, giving the hunter an excellent opportunity to harvest a mature buck.

Each year, the specific days when hunters have the best chance of harvesting a buck change. Many different factors, such as weather, can play a role. However, historically the days listed above have been noted for producing the best opportunities to harvest mature bucks.

Public Land Bowhunting During The Pre Rut

October 11, 2022/0 Comments/in News /by Kevin Kelsey

By: Heath Wood

While participating in an October managed archery deer hunt in southern Missouri, my father, brother, and a few friends would all arrive a day before the two-day hunt to scout for the most deer sign to then be able to hunt that area throughout the weekend.

The large Missouri ranch consisted of nearly 24,000 acres. After entering a draw, three hundred bowhunters were selected to hunt for two days. When three hundred hunters take off from one location, nearby deer will likely feel hunting pressure.

Our group didn’t have much luck during the first few seasons we were drawn. Yet, I was intrigued at how a few hunters consistently scored a mature buck.

I loitered the area when visiting the conservation department check-in station, trying to learn the hunter’s secret. I questioned hunters about where they hunted and how far they traveled. Most of the bucks harvested during the two-day hunt were taken towards the back end of the ranch that bordered public land. The Missouri Department of Conservation owned the ranch we were hunting. However, everything inside the border fence (not a high fence) was prohibited from hunting, except during the two-day managed hunt. The deer inside the ranch fence were free-range deer that could easily travel from public land to the managed area as they pleased. During the two-day hunt, it seemed as if the ranch deer fled farther distances to avoid the hunting pressure, and that is where the hunters were able to harvest mature bucks.

Fast forward twenty-five years later, and I find myself hunting public land and reverting to those hunters who hiked deep into the timber to avoid pressure from other hunters to find bucks with the same idea. I am forever grateful to have lived my entire life in a small rural area in southern Missouri. In our area, many people’s way of life revolves around hunting and fishing.

When the November firearms portion of deer season occurs, our small rural area quickly becomes populated with hunters, ready to take on the ten-day season. Many of the public land in our area reminds me of the days we hunted the managed deer hunts with numerous other bowhunters. Every access point for miles typically has a vehicle parked and hunters nearby. For many years, I would become discouraged by the number of other hunters hunting private land. Little did I know, I was missing out on excellent hunting opportunities.

After contemplating public hunting opportunities near my home, I had a change of heart. I thought to myself, I should be glad that there are as many hunters who love the sport of deer hunting as I do. Never wanting to be pessimistic about fellow hunters, especially in the present time, our country needs as many hunters as possible. I also began searching for different times and tactics to how I could successfully hunt public land.

Beat The Crowd

Most visiting hunters who hunt public land transpire during the firearms season, near the rut, in early to mid-November. To gain an advantage, I try to hunt public land during pre-rut in mid-October. By hunting several weeks before the rut, I can hunt while deer are traveling on their natural travel routes instead of areas where they seek cover when hunting pressure has peaked. In mid-October, hunters can search large timber areas where acorns are falling, and deer feed heavily, preparing for the upcoming rut. Big timber areas are also ideal locations for hunters to find buck signs such as rubs and scrapes on hunting public land. I constantly look for food sources such as acorns and water from creeks or natural ponds. I also try to find draws, pinch points, and the side of ridges where bucks often travel out of sight. When I find good signs that bucks are nearby, I return with my Hawk Rival Lite Hang On, Helium Climbing Sticks, and bow. With the lightweight setup of the Rival Lite and Helium Climbing Sticks, I can easily backpack them into an area, hunt, and travel back out. Traveling with my equipment helps to avoid leaving my stand in place for other hunters to find my hunting area or, even worse, have my stand stolen, which unfortunately happens when hunting in public areas.

Pack Up and Go The Distance

My first choice is to hunt before others. However, when hunting in public areas where many others are doing the same as myself, I revisit the days of management hunts and follow in the footsteps of those hunters, putting on my Tenzing Lumber Pack, and walking into an area much farther than the average hunter. While walking beyond the average distance, I use a hunting map app such as OnX Maps. Again, I look for draws, pinch points, and ridges where bucks have likely relocated to avoid hunting pressure.

When hunting deep into an area, it is vital to pack for an entire day. If the hunter invests the extra effort to travel farther than others, only to hunt a couple of hours and then walk back out, the additional labor is pointless. Instead, pack a Tenzing pack with plenty to drink and a few snacks to last through several hours of hunting.

When hunting deep into a public land area, I choose to go into stealth mode. I do not use any calls, scents, or other tactics to lure deer. Instead, I wear quality clothing camouflaged from head to toe; it keeps me warm and dry for an extended period. The goal is to stay quiet and be patient. If the hunter stays invisible, often mature bucks ease their way through, trying to avoid pressure, providing the perfect opportunity to harvest one.

How To Properly Cut Shooting Lanes

September 6, 2022/0 Comments/in News /by Kevin Kelsey

By: Heath Wood

Have you ever had the feeling that someone is watching you? Or maybe the hair sticks up on the back of your neck, and you get goosebumps and feel that something isn’t right. Some refer to this feeling as a sixth sense. The definition of a sixth sense is “a supposed intuitive faculty giving awareness not explicable in terms of normal perception.” Below the definition was a sentence that stated, “Some sixth sense told him he was not alone.”

Many deer hunters who have spent ample time in the wild have more than likely experienced deer freezing in their steps, possibly homing in on their form of a sixth sense. The deer stay motionless for several seconds while they smell and look around, trying to figure out the feeling that has come over them. When the deer finally follow their instincts and explode out of the area, many blame the deer’s nose for identifying the hunter. However, that isn’t always the case.

A deer spends every day of its life in one area. When one thing is different in an area they see and smell every day, they sense that something isn’t right. Often, hunters go into an area and hang a treestand, then cut a few shooting lanes to have a clear shot of a deer while hunting. At that moment, when hanging stands and cutting shooting lanes, the hunter can use tactics to later prevent deer from balking on their preferred travel route.

Cutting Proper Shooting Lanes

When cutting shooting lanes, it is vital not to make it look like a logging crew followed you after setting your stand locations. Cutting as few limbs as possible is critical while providing adequate space for the arrow or bullet to travel without hitting any obstructions.

When cutting limbs and brush for proper shooting lanes, I prefer taking someone along with me to help guide a better path. After placing my stand in the tree, I strap myself in with a safety harness and sit down as if I were hunting. I look around at all my possible shot opportunities and ensure I have clear shots. Next, whoever is on the ground uses a pole saw such as the Hawk Helium Pole Saw and helps clear obstructions. When removing limbs, it is essential not to remove the entire tree or sapling if possible. I try to remove obstructions six feet up and higher yet still have a clear shot of a deer. By leaving the base of small trees or saplings, deer are less likely to recognize something missing from their daily surroundings.

When picking out shot opportunities, it is essential to keep cover between the deer and your treestand to avoid being seen. One of the most significant factors for deer catching a sense of a hunter in the area is because they catch movement or see something in a tree that is not there on a daily routine. When picking out shooting lanes, it is vital to cut lanes, not open the entire area. Give yourself five to six scenarios for deer to travel through while keeping yourself concealed.

Clean Up The Area Afterwards

To avoid deer perceiving something that looks different in their area and to keep themselves concealed, the hunter should clean the area after trimming lanes to make it look and smell as before hanging the treestand. I try to use a scent elimination regimen when hanging stands and cutting shooting lanes. Even though I am not hunting in the area at that time, I do not want to fill up my hunting area with human scent. I try to spray down myself, including the bottom of my shoes or boots. I spray my stands, ropes, straps, and accessories with Hunters Specialties Scent-A-Way spray. The goal is to reduce as much human presence as possible.

After eliminating human odor, I remove all limbs, branches, and brush I cut out of the area. I use as many as I can to camouflage around my stand, especially behind where my body silhouette would be when looking up from the ground. Not only does it help me to stay concealed, but it also takes away the vast difference in appearance that multiple trees, limbs, and other trimmings laying out of place create. Anything a deer notices that is not commonplace is fuel for their sixth sense that can ruin a hunt.

Final Preparation

After everything is complete with my stands and shooting lanes, my last task before hunting is using a rangefinder and marking multiple areas for different yardage. After all shooting lanes are cut, I like to return to a hunting position and use my Vortex Impact 1000 rangefinder to mark yardage that can help when archery hunting. I identify landmarks such as specific trees, rocks, and stumps and mentally mark them as an aide when deciding which sight to use on my bow. In each shooting lane that I make, I range different objects. I note those same objects every time I hunt until I memorize them.

By having multiple shot scenarios ranged before hunting, I am better prepared, giving deer no time to become aware of their surroundings before making the shot.

All Day Sits Pay Off During The Rut

October 28, 2021/0 Comments/in News /by John Fennell

By: Heath Wood

The Power of Patience

After a mid-November morning of bucks cruising, chasing, and multiple encounters with deer the entire hunt, I was eager to see what the rest of the day had in store. At 11:30 a.m., a good friend who hunts in a tree stand nearby texted me and asked if I would like to join him for a quick bite to eat. He told me that he parked on the backside of the property where we both were hunting. The morning’s hunt was full of action; however, my stomach was empty.

After a short drive to meet up with my friend, I was welcomed with a bag full of elk snack sticks, sliced cheese, and crackers laid out on the bed of his truck, like that of a buffet. I stuffed my face with snacks and then headed back to my tree stand to settle for the afternoon and evening hunt. I was amazed at how many deer I witnessed moving through the timber during the early afternoon. At a time of day when I would typically be sitting at camp or home, the deer were already on their feet.

At 2:00 p.m. that afternoon, I was fortunate to harvest a mature buck who was cruising through trying to find any does that were in estrus. If it weren’t for sitting all day, I would not have been there when he came through, or even more concerning, I would probably have spooked the buck when walking in if I had been following my usual hunting schedule.

Plan for Comfort

When hunting mid-November or when the rut is in full swing, it is a good idea to take your playbook or your game plan and throw it away. One of the most exciting things about hunting the rut is that you never know what the deer will be doing or where they will be. The unpredictable nature of bucks during the rut is why it is crucial to find a spot that you know deer usually travel and sit all day. To sit all day, one must be ready to endure ten or more hours in a ladder stand, tree stand or blind. When sitting for long periods, you must consider these three factors—comfort, hunger, and boredom.

Remaining comfortable throughout the day means to have an excellent place to sit and to stay warm. During the rut is one of my favorite times to put in an entire day of hunting. Whether rifle hunting or bow hunting, I prefer using a ladder stand with enough room to sit to ensure I stay comfortable. The 20′ Big Denali 1.5 Man SLS Ladderstand from Hawk is one of my favorite ladder stands. The Big Denali features one of the most oversized seats ever on a ladder stand. The Mesh Comfort seat is 26″ wide and has a 23″ contour backrest. The extra room in the seat and the large area to rest my feet, I can sit comfortably for hours.

The other critical factor in sitting comfortably for an extended period is dressing in layers to adjust to the weather. By dressing in layers, you guarantee that you will be warm in the mornings when it is colder. As the day progresses and temperatures begin to climb, you can shed a layer and remain comfortable without leaving the ladder stand.

Sitting in 20' Big Denali 1.5 Man SLS Ladder stand

Hunters Get Hungry

Hunger can end a hunt faster than you can say biscuits and gravy. It is a good idea to take a few snacks in your backpack to prevent cutting your hunt short and risk being absent from the stand when a mature buck decides to venture through. On a cool fall morning, while sitting in a ladder stand or tree stand, it is common to start feeling hunger pangs after the morning action slows down. This is especially true during the rut; you never know when the moment of truth will present itself. I take a few snacks and drinks with me in my bag to help keep myself in the stand when the action happens.

In the past, I have even packed my lunch to avoid leaving the area. However, I usually keep my lunch in my vehicle, and I get out of my stand during mid-day, only to eat, then climb back into the stand as soon as possible.

Boredom Saves the Buck

The last of the three risk factors for cutting a hunt short is boredom. During the rut, there is usually a lot of action throughout the day. However, there will still be times when nothing is going on. It is easy to let your mind wander during such times. A cell phone is a lifesaver for a roaming mind. When activity slows, grab your phone, check social media, play games, check the weather, or whatever to occupy your mind to prevent boredom. If you are not much of a smartphone kind of person, I use my hunting accessories as tools to prevent boredom. When hunting during the rut, using a grunt call or rattling antlers can sometimes help lure in a buck. They can also be used when times get slow, and you become bored.

A Good Backpack Leads To Good Results

You want to speed up the action anyway, why not make a few grunts or compose a rattling sequence. Other hunting accessories are used the same way. Hunters often carry a backpack or bag such as the Tenzing/Mossy Oak Bottomland Hangtime Day Pack. A hunt backpack like the Hangtime Day Pack keeps all gear, snacks, drinks, and anything else you might need during the hunt always organized and within reach. When times get slow, I get my Vortex Viper HD binoculars out of my pack and slowly scan my entire surroundings. Occasionally when scanning with binoculars, you will spot deer movement that you may have failed to notice with the naked eye.

The rut is a favorite time of the year for all deer hunters. The action is like no other time of the year, and the chance of taking mature buck increases. Do not miss out on this magical time by being absent when it occurs.

Enjoy The Hunt More With A Box Blind

October 7, 2021/0 Comments/in News /by Hawk Treestands

By: Heath Wood

Opening day of the firearms deer season is like Christmas to some hunters. Deep down in my heart, I am a bowhunter. I love the thrill of the challenge, and I enjoy the vast number of days to hunt; I love everything about it. However, even with my passion for bowhunting whitetails, I must say, there is nothing like the opening week of the firearms season.

I have spent my entire life being born and raised in a small rural town in southern Missouri. In Missouri, the firearms portion of deer season is typically ten days long and occurs during mid-November. With the firearms season only being a short period, one time a year, those ten days seem more like a holiday in my hometown. A couple of days before the season, the grocery stores become busy with hunters who will spend the next few days at a deer camp with family and friends. The gas stations are booming, and the sporting goods counter at the local Wal-Mart is backed up with people waiting to buy their licenses. The frenzy that occurs every year during this time is something that hunters like myself relish.

I look forward to each year because of the excitement that feeds from everyone, including my family and friends. A special time fueled by the highly anticipated opening day. Every year, I have always thought about how the seriousness of hunting seems to drift away, and hunters perform a more carefree hunting style. For example, for many years, my dad and I would take a Thermos full of hot coffee, snacks, and my grandma’s homemade apple pies to the stand with us during the first few days of the season. It is funny that two weeks prior, when I was in a treestand bow hunting, I had washed my clothes in odorless detergents, sprayed down with odorless sprays, and whatever else I could think of to up my chances in beating the whitetail’s nose. However, deer didn’t seem to smell all that during the firearms season in a mysterious yet comical way. We know that is not true; the reality is that people enjoy being outdoors and making memories with their family and friends and have stopped thinking as much about the actual harvesting of an animal and what precautions go with it.

Years past, I have been guilty of taking firearms season as seriously as bowhunting. Yes, firearms season should be taken seriously, and yes, it is still essential to take precautions, practice scent control, and be an excellent hunter to harvest a mature buck. Yet, it is vital to relax and have fun while doing so. However, over the last couple of years, I have somewhat re-discovered a more enjoyable experience by hunting from a box blind such as the Down & Out Warrior Blind. One of the biggest reasons hunters enjoy hunting from a box blind is being concealed. Being hidden allows the hunter to get by with more movement than if they were sitting in a treestand. Other perks of hunting from a box blind are the ability to stay warmer by having a wind block on all four sides and the opportunity to run a portable heater in the blind when temperatures get colder. Also, when hunting in the Down & Out Warrior blind, I have room to sit my Hawk Denali Blind Chair inside and hunt with the luxury of having a comfortable swiveling chair that features an armrest to rest and relax while waiting for the opportunity to harvest a mature buck.

Being warm and comfortable is a huge advantage to staying in the blind longer. Being in the blind longer means more opportunities to catch a mature buck up on his feet during the daytime. The part I enjoy most about hunting in the Down & Out Warrior blind during the firearms season is bringing back those memories of taking along a hot cup of coffee and a few snacks to get through the day. Often, I carry my backpack filled with what I call my blind toys. My toys include things to keep me occupied throughout the day and make the hunt better. I carry my cell phone in my bag for communication, games, and social media, which, to be honest, is what many hunters are guilty of doing while hunting. Besides the coffee and food, other items include a grunt call, gloves, flashlight, rangefinder, and my number one item, binoculars.

When sitting in my box blind, I always have my Vortex Viper HD 12×50 binoculars. Using binoculars while hunting from a box blind allows me to look for any deer in a larger area. By glassing periodically, one can pick up movement that may be missed with the naked eye. Plus, identifying bucks from a distance is more manageable. Yet, most of all, they keep me entertained. The key to all of this is that it helps stay in the blind longer while allowing for a more enjoyable experience.

Another one of the things I love about hunting, especially hunting during firearms season, is hunting with a family member or good friend. One of my best memories while deer hunting is while sitting with my dad during the firearms season. We laugh, we talk, and when enjoy God’s great outdoors together. A box blind such as the Warrior blind is a great way to create memories with loved ones. The Down & Out Warrior blind has enough room for two adults to sit together comfortably. Hunting in a box blind allows for quiet conversations throughout the hunt that can never be matched. Again, a cup of coffee can be enjoyed, along with a snack or two or three. And when the moment to harvest a buck presents itself, you have someone to share the celebration with. That is what hunting is all about.

A box blind can make you a better hunter, period. They can elevate you to see better and keep human scent off the ground; they keep you warm and comfortable throughout the hunt. The Warrior features Mossy Oak Break Up Country camouflage on the outside, so they can also help keep you more concealed. However, making memories and enjoying the hunt drives the excitement you feel each year as a new season approaches. The trophy bucks that are taken along the way are simply a bonus.

The Right Conditions for a Saddle

August 6, 2021/0 Comments/in News /by Weston Schrank, HUNTR

When and How to Pick Up Saddle Hunting

If you are like me, you are likely lured in to the romance of killing a big buck, deep in some public land timber or a swamp. You want to sweat, suffer, and maybe even bleed in the process. You want a chance to create the need of getting so far back you have to pack him out on your back. You’re looking for that suck…as a close-to-home but at the same time rewarding adventure. I totally get it!

More and more of us are engaging with online content that has been resurfacing the opportunities of public land hunting, bedding area hunting, and more recently saddle hunting. The combination of finding a musky old buck bed tucked into some unreachable spot, and the equipment required to reach that spot somehow perfectly blends the hunter and gear nut in all of us. The fun part of this type of hunt happens now in the off-season, dialing in a lightweight setup that is specific to this style of hunting. Usually that gear requires the use of some ultralight hunting gear, sticks, or saddles. So if you are in the position I know I was in last year, then you are likely facing an internal battle of when to drop the climbing stand or hang-on and join the saddle hunting club.

Why Saddle Hunting?

The first and most obvious answer and why you are here in the first place, is that you are saving weight with a saddle compared to tree stands. Whether you are used to climbing tree stands or lightweight hang-ons, the weight is still drastic between stands and saddles. While 21+ pounds was the norm for a climber or a hang-on with climbing sticks a decade ago, today’s industry is cutting that in half, and Hawk is no exception. One of the lightest weight options on the market for a packable climbing stick and hang on setup is the Helium System. Below is that setup and a lightweight climber option, compared to the new Hawk Saddle System.

Climbing Stand Weight

Ultralight Climber – 20 lbs

Hang-On Setup Weight

Climbing Sticks X3 – 2.9 lbs a stick at a total of 8.7 lbs

Helium Ultralight – 11 lbs

This combined setup is just over 19 lbs.

Hawk Helium Saddle System

Helium Hammock Saddle – Entire kit weighs 4 lbs

Climbing Sticks X3 – 2.9 lbs a stick at a total of 8.7 lbs

If you go with no platform (resting your foot on the stick), your total combined setup weight is a measly 12.7 lbs! But if you prefer a platform, it doesn’t add all that much extra weight.

Helium HSP Platform – 1.4 lbs.

Hawk Monkey Bars – 1.6 lbs

As you can see, you are cutting significant weight off a day pack when saddle hunting. Whatever you might be shaving off counts for every pound out on public land. The idea is to make it a mobile hunting setup, something easy and so thoughtless that you take it with you every time, even if you’re planning on hunting on the ground. Saddles by nature offer so many more opportunities other than just weight shaving. It is not a question of if you are going to get a saddle…but when.

When to Switch to Saddle Hunting?

If you find yourself in any of these scenarios, it’s time to get a saddle.

Seeking Lightweight Gear – if the overall experience of hunting deep in public land is miserable to you, a lightweight setup will allow for a slower burn. There is nothing worse than getting burnout before the rut ramps up.
Employing a Run and Gun Strategy – hunting from the ground or up in trees, sometimes during the same hunt, is the name of the game for a run and gun strategy. A lightweight saddle hunting system facilitates this well.
Hunting Buck Beds – When you need to get in close (within 50-100 yards of a bedded buck or bedroom), lightweight and quiet gear count. Climbers and even hang-on tree stands can be a bit too loud or make that single metal hitting metal noise that tips deer off. A saddle is a lot safer method of hunting when you are getting in tight.
Public Land Hunting – my entire 2019 public land hunting season was spent with a 20 lb climber and it wasn’t fun. I was pushing 1-2 miles in with decently steep Midwest terrain. When I switched to a saddle, I saved my back, my feet, and my hunts.

“Hunting out of a saddle meant that mileage wasn’t a deterrence for me to hunt certain locations in public.”

Awkward Trees – like bedding areas, certain habitats (like old clear cuts, thickets, or even close to habitat diversity) just seem to have smaller trees with more branches. These areas make climbers and hang-on tree stands obsolete. If you are heading into one of these areas or an area with very little trees, always opt for a saddle.

Saddle Hunting Gear List

I’ll end this saddle hunting blog with a short and simple gear list to think about as you’re putting your system together:

Saddle and tethers
Reclining Belt
Ascender
Platform or Tree Ring
Climbing Sticks
Aider
Solid Lightweight Pack
Knee Pads
Public Land Gear Hanger
Backpack Strap

Stand Placement During The Summer, For Fall Hunting Season Success

July 20, 2021/0 Comments/in News /by John Fennell

By: Heath Wood

The excitement of being in the treestand for the first time of the season is a feeling like no other. The anticipation built up throughout the summer months from scouting, checking game cameras, shooting a bow, and hanging stands are enough for any hunter to get a bit jittery come opening day.

As exciting as a new season beginning can be, nothing can dampen the enjoyment faster than realizing, after spending time throughout the summer scouting and hanging stands, that the stand placement is wrong on the first hunt.

Finding oneself in the wrong location begins with what the hunter has done during summer scouting. To confirm that stand locations will be in the right place at the right time, a hunter should have at least three different stand scenarios set and ready before the season begins.

Early Season Stand

One must keep in mind that scenarios change from summer to fall. One of the biggest mistakes I have made over the years has come from patterning deer based on their feeding pattern. During July and August, deer may spend most of their time feeding on green grasses and the abundance of browse found everywhere during the summer.

There are three things to look for when setting an early-season stand location to narrow down a suitable stand location. These three things are high on the priority list in mid-September; food, water, and bedding. Remember that it is still typically warm temperatures during the early season, deer need food and water to survive, and then they lay down to stay cool. To narrow down the right stand location, one needs to find where the least travel is required to get from one priority to another. Again, late summer feeding patterns usually revolve around green grasses; the edge of a timberline that connects with a field, food plot, or crops is an area in which deer can feed then get back in the shade quickly to stay cool. If one can find an area such as this with a pond, creek, or another type of water source nearby, it parallels the perfect early season stand location.

October Stand

During the summer months, deer are in the early season feeding pattern. In September, these areas may seem ideal for encountering deer movement. However, when mid-September and October roll around, the feeding patterns begin to change. For example, in the Midwest, where I hunt most of the time, it is common to see deer change their travel routes about mid-October when acorns begin falling. When travel routes change, the stand at the edge of a food plot or near a field suddenly becomes less likely to encounter deer. How does one find where deer are located most of the time in September, October, and November when hanging stands in July and August?

The first time I saw a good friend of mine walking through the woods in August with a pair of binoculars, looking up in the trees, I thought he had lost his mind. After quizzing him about what he was looking for, I realized he was very knowledgeable about predicting where the best stand locations would be when the season came around. He explained that he searched the umbrellas of the white oak trees to see which had the most acorns developing. In finding these areas a couple of months before acorns were ready to fall to the forest floor and hanging stands nearby these spots months prior, he could be in the prime when the season is in full swing.

The Rut Stand

The most challenging stand location to predict when hanging treestands during the summer is a stand that will be right for when bucks could be anywhere due to having breeding does and nothing else on their mind.

During the rut, a buck doesn’t have a travel route; it is wherever his nose leads him at any given time, which is why it is hard to narrow down one specific stand location. Since it’s impossible to narrow a location down, it is good to have a stand where there is a lot of visible ground. Areas where the hunter knows deer will be feeding, such as food plots, open areas in the timber, or down a power line, are all excellent areas to see farther distances.

When I find a well-open area, I like to use my Hawk Big Horn ladder stand or my Down & Out Warrior Blind on a raised platform. Using either of these stands allows for a comfortable hunt for a more extended period while watching a larger area. By seeing longer distances, one will have more opportunities to catch buck movement because of the amount of traveling a buck does during the rut. When hanging stands during the summer, the hard part is to make sure to have the imagination of what the area will look like when fall arrives. When hanging stands in the summer, the leaves are still in full bloom; grasses, weeds, brush, etc., are all in full foliage as well. When leaves begin falling during November, an area can change in looks quickly if one will remember what an area looked like the season before or visualize an area without the foliage.

To sum it up, the main reason for hanging stands before the season is to have them ready and in place without disturbing deer. By having multiple stands in different time of the year scenarios, the hunter will be in the right place at the right time without detouring the natural movement of deer. When the big buck arrives, you will be ready and waiting.