In the Summer of 2015 We got a nice young buck on camera we thought in a couple years would be a great buck. The Fall we seen him jog across the field and both of us hunting knew he would be special. In 2016 he would show up on the Browning trial cameras each time we checked them. Late Season on opening day we saw each other and we gave him a pass and we jogged across the Fusion food plot. In 2017 he would show up more and more on the trail cameras. One afternoon during riffle season as I was coming in I seen what dirt being tossed in the air. As I got done to it, it would be him and a buck we called the kicker buck going at it. As they was locked up I got out of the ATV and grabbed my riffle and watched. As they separated Mo Wide ran up the hill and the Kicker buck had fatal wounds to his neck and was loosing a lot of blood as well as had a fracture to one of his legs. So I did the right thing and harvested the Kicker buck! In 2018 it was a strange year. We had no pictures of Mo Wide and could not figure out where he went or what happen to him. As bow season become rifle season not a single hunter seen him. So as Spring came in 2019 he would show back up! We all was excited for his returned. We worked on trying to figure out his pattern but each time he seen a new camera we would find a way to move around it. We got him on video mode the first of November 2019 but no one seen him. As the season ended we had no more trail camera pictures of him. On Sunday May 3rd as Mike and Peyton was doing some work mowing for a food plot this Fall they found him. It has been one heck of a game of cat and mouse for sure. Mo Wide would of been 6 1/2 this Fall. Hunting is not just about the harvest, or feeding the family. Is about the memories you make and we sure made them memories with Missouri Wide.
Here is a hunting story by staff member Brian McKillip, of Iowa on what hunting means to him.
When I reflect back on the years of hunting as a young man to where I Am today at age 51 has been quite a journey. At an early age and living on the edge of town I was never in the house and always spent my time tromping through the woods and creek stomping every spare moment I had and as most folks my age we had to provide our own entertainment and was allowed to roam as a free range chicken with little or no supervision.It wasn't until I was a teenager that I started trapping and hunting small game such as squirrels, rabbits and the occasional late evening coon hunts when we used to get $50-$60 a hide. Everything I learned was self taught so I had my share of mistakes but one thing was for sure I enjoyed every minute of it. Today just the smell of the woods after a light rain reminds me of my childhood of spending endless hours lost in my own little world. I remember the first time I ever had an encounter with a whitetail while running my traps I was about bulldozed down as a giant doe came crashing through the edge of the cornfield with a buck following close behind and as I look back to that cold fall morning, that would be one of many great chases during the rut that I would experience.
As the years went by so did my time spent in the woods as raising a family I found myself staying closer to home and it wasn't until my son was age 10 or so that he showed an interest in hunting which my younger brother took him out on a deer hunt and even though they never seen any I thank him everyday for creating that spark that has allowed me to spend the last 16 years sharing a common bond between my son and daughter that could never be put into words. My son has by far taken it to the next level as he lives and breathes spending time in the outdoors and is now instilling that passion with anyone that has the same desire especially with the youth including my granddaughter. My son also got me involved 5 years ago with assisting with a local disabled veterans archery hunt for whitetails and his ultimate goal has been set on finding opportunities to help disabled or less fortunate younger people the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors as he has. My daughter just as my son has taught me valuable lessons while spending priceless hours in the outdoors. There are too many memories to list but one that always sticks out that grounded me and sums up all that I've shared with this brief summary is a morning that my daughter and I were sitting in a small creaky ole'double deer stand that was barely large enough for the both of us as we waited in the early morning hours of frigid late winter temperatures and as mid morning approached we decided to call it and head to the house and no sooner than we climbed down the ladder several does came crashing through the woods nearly knocking us over as had happened many years ago I immediately started fumbling for my primer to allow my daughter a chance to take a shot and as I turned around she was on the ground laughing her tail off from being startled by the deer and watching her dad reactions as he struggled to get the gun loaded. By then it was too late and truth be known there wasn't a chance to start with and then my little girl said to me which I'll never forget; Dad, sure I'd love to have gotten a deer but just the time we spend together is worth more than anything she could ever ask for.This is what hunting means to me, finding happiness and sharing your passion with those around you building memories that will last your life time and beyond.
Enjoy your days with family and friends in the great outdoors!!
Persistence
When it come to turkey hunting so many factors play in. Do I call now? Do I wait? How long do I wait? Am I calling to much or not enough? Do I put decoys out? If I do, how many? Do you I use a Jake with a Hen or just a Jake?
This past turkey season all these factor in and made this hunt a challenge and where persistence would pay off. On opening morning of the 2015 Missouri turkey season I thought I would seal the deal with four Tom's and eleven Jakes right in front of me. I sure was wrong. A group of Jake's would chase the big Gobbler off I was after. Mornings would go bye with the same result. The Gobblers would come out then the Jake's would follow and chase the big Tom away and push the three other Gobblers out of reach. I decided to pop up a blind in the middle of the field one morning with no luck as the Jakes would surround my blind keeping the other birds away. On the 9th morning I tried no decoys and moved to a new location. Once again the Gobblers would just circle me and walk up a hill by where my truck was parked. So the next morning I moved close to my truck and again just out of reach. I tried everything in the book but nothing seem to work for me.
On the 11th day of hunting my son Peyton who was 6 wanted to go. Now having a six year old that has never went on a turkey hunt can be a real challenge. We was going to be in a blind so that was going to help with all the movement. Its all ready so hard to solo film a turkey hunt, but now to do it with a six year old even raised the stakes.
We got in the blind and he went right asleep. I set out the decoys and came back inside to set all the cameras up and get things ready. About thirty minutes went by and it was getting light and a big Tom would gobble about 60 yards from us. He shot up like a rocket. "WOW" he said and I had to smile. Well the hens would fly out fist and I had to explain that we could only shoot a bearded turkey. The big three year old would walk out at 200 yards to our right with a couple hens. Peyton said "call dad call" So I did but he was not going to come into us with the hens right there. Peyton was getting frustrated because the Tom would not come in and wanted me to call more! But I had to explain that he was with that hen and we went to a every fifteen minutes of calling. The first time I called he had a roar of three birds right behind us at ten yards. Peyton looked out the back window and told me they was 50 turkeys behind us. Now he is six and I know that the three, two year old birds had to be the ones behind us. We had a hen who heard us and walked right in front on the blind and stayed out about forty yards. As the birds made their way around to our right they would come out into the cut field we was watching. First came a group of Jakes and they ran right towards the bigger bird to chase him off. The next three birds came right to the hen. I could not get a shot in fear o hitting two birds. What seemed like an hour they hung up about 45 yards together. Peyton and I just enjoyed watching them and they started walking to our right and Peyton set down and I told him to cover his ears. As the last bird separated from the other two I pulled the trigger. BOOM! I said "I got him buddy" "What, no" he would say. I said "I got him Buddy" He jumped up and said "Yes, this is my best day ever!" "I am so proud" he would say. Peyton would try climbing out the window to run to the bird, as he was so excited.
So Persistence is what got the job done that day and having a special hunting buddy with you. Its a hunt that we will always remember. To watch the hunt visit http://insidethehunt.com/video/view/father-and-son-first-turkey-hunt-together-27
What hunting means to team member JD Sharrett of illinois.
The word hunting has many meanings to me. These meanings have been passed down by others as well learning on my own. However the outcome is a heritage I hope to pass on to my children. Many of the hunting lessons I’ve learned I can respectfully thank my Dad, Uncles, and the knowledge I’ve traded with my cousins. You see, hunting has been a part of my family as long as I can remember. Whether its chasing whitetails or stalking the pesky squirrel, hunting has not only taught me how to shoot straight it’s also brought a tighter bond with family. However that’s not the only benefit I get from hunting
The biggest benefit I get from hunting is a bit of inner peace and a brief moment from reality. As I sit out in the woods, listening to the outdoor world come to life in the morning or feeling the sun rays warm embrace during mid morning , heck you can’t forget the experience of an Ol’ Gobbler strutting around and gobbling in plain view. That to me is a bit of peace and allows me to see what the good lord has truly made and allows me to experience in a moment of serenity and quite stillness, as sometimes we live fast lives and don’t get to slow down and appreciate the finer moments nature has to offer
Top 3 Places to Find Deer Sheds
If you haven’t laid your hands on his antlers yet this season now is the time! The deer will not be attached, but the reward of finding his prized jewels can give you some closure for the year. At most you will know he is alive and hopefully bigger next year. One thing is for certain, there isn’t too much else to do during this lag time for the die-hard whitetail enthusiast, so why not jump back into the woods and look for some deer sheds.
Shed hunting can be extremely satisfying or can be awfully difficult. Some hunters get a slap in the face for a second time, without finding a single shed! Most of the time those hunters aren’t looking in the right places.
You have to treat shed hunting like you would deer hunting, there’s not really a difference except the habits of the deer during late winter. For that reason you have to know when to look, and even more importantly where to look.
Right around now, late January- March, deer begin dropping antlers. The majority of a whitetails day during the winter months is trying to soak up all the warmth it can get. We praise the sunrays on those cold late season sits, deer are the same. This is why bedding/cover especially of southern orientation are number one on the list for shed hunting. It’s almost as if deer switch from mammals to reptiles and bask like a snake, warming up until they are finally ready to make feeding excursions.
Where they go is next on the list. Beans, corn, brassicas, and browse are all winter food sources. Trails leading to and coming from a standing bean field are a shed hotspot, in the food itself is also worth checking out. If the crops are cut learn, scout, and hypothesize what food sources are available and test your theories.
If both of these areas are fruitless, check obstacles in funnels where deer are forced to jump or duck. Creeks, fences, ditches, roads, and thick overhanging branches are all great places to find sheds hanging around. Often that little jolt or bump is all they need to drop.
Here are some last minute tips, when you begin to find sheds start your circles, working your way out further and further because you often find numerous sheds in one area. If you have multiple properties start with the least pressured spots as they often become deer havens once the shooting stops. Get out early, you don’t want to find a half chewed antler or even worse the tracks and imprint of a shed recently picked up by a trespasser in your favorite spot. Finally, get out period, too many let laziness and the cold winds keep them indoors. Sheds are white gold, prized jewels of the buck you’ve been chasing all season. Don’t let him slip away again. Start in the best spots, likely places where you will find you very own goldmine, and get rich in bone!
