Here's a few pics of wood ducks that were taken by my trail camera in the spring of 07'. Not only do these ducks naturally nest here, but we also have approx 20 wood duck boxes that a buddy of mine maintains. He also bands the females off their nest for the USFWS. Needles to say, there are a bunch of birds that hang around here. So I attached my camera to a tree along the river that our farm owns up to. This area is like a back bayou off the main river. I run a "homebrew" camera that has a faster trigger speed, and better pic quality, than a commercial unit. This was my first attempt and they turned out pretty good. I have big plans for 2008 with this.....I want to get a pic of a banded bird, showing the band we put on......

Here's a couple of buddies from fall of 2006, Gary and Rick.....The top buck is a very typical 8 point with a 19" spread. Very nice buck for the area he hunts....buck of a lifetime. Gary arrowed that deer the last week of October one day ahead of us arriving at the cabin. There is was sitting by the window, waiting for us to show up. We walk in and he's just a grin'n......Then we notice that giant hanging in the back yard....Wow!!! Ricks buck came from the same area on opening day of gun season. I was hunting at our farm around home, and at dark, I see a truck drive on the property. Gary and Rick get out and said he killed a nice doe that morning and were dropping it off at the processors. I ramble on about my day, and finally ask to see the "doe". Punks, they got me......Big solid 8 pointer.....Way to go..... You have to remember that were we all hunt is heavily pressured, and most deer don't make it past 1.5 years. Lots of spikes, forks and basket 6 pts are killed every year. Only a few deer make it to maturity, and they are even harder to hunt. There may only be one or two days a year they are kill able. Most are totally nocturnal, and seldom move during daylight. Proper scent control, hunting the wind, keeping the pressure off, being quiet, are just a few of many areas that need to be addressed to kill a big boy. They are not STUPID!!!

Just a few random pics from the fall of 06'. Who doesn't like big buck rubs......and the thought of arrowing what made them. I had to throw in a pic of me on the way to my stand. The camera was set up over a scrape that my brothers 7 pt pic was taken at. The last 2 pics are a buck that was photographed when his velvet was just starting to peal off, and then again a few days later with a branch in his rack and hard horned.....pretty cool. Trail cameras are not only a great way to find what hangs out in your hunting area, but a great excuse to get in the woods........

November 2006

This is my son Hunter.....he his my pride and joy!!! I love it when he wants to tag along with me in the woods. We've been out together deer hunting, turkey hunting, spotting deer and setting out trail cameras. How proud of a dad I am to be able to share Gods woods with my son....This is time that is precious and humbling. I hope that as he grows we can strengthen our bond as father and son, as well as hunting buddies!!!!! Love ya lots, Bubba!!!

Younger Bro's Big Buck Down...

Sat. November 4 2006

This is my brother Dan, he also has a passion for bowhunting. I helped him haul this brute out of the river bottoms on our farm. This pig came in all rutted up, and he arrowed him at 5 yards, dropped him right there. I was at home and he called.......he was pumped up. I told him to relax, enjoy the time and not fall out of his stand, I would be on my way. Beautiful buck...way to go!!! Unbeknowst to me at the time I had a pic of this buck on a trail camera 3 days earlier!!!

October 1 2006....Opening day of Michigan's archery season. I hunted with my brother Dan at our family farm. It was a Sunday I will never forget. The sun was out. It was 55 degrees with a 5mph SSW wind. I debated were to hang that night pacing on the ridge top. Finally I settled in 22 ft up in a 10" tree on the west side of the farm. I had soybeans up the hill to the north, and thick river bottoms that went for miles to the south and west. I knew they were hitting the bean field hard this time of year......7:15pm a basket 6 pt came through the thicket within 5 yards to the west of me.....I let him go up the hill to the beans. Wow, first buck of the year!!! 7:40 pm another deer from the thicket....Big Buck!! He came to the base of my tree and looked up at me!!!!! I remained calm, drew, and shot straight down between his shoulder blades...After a 1 hr wait we started to track with our flashlights. We stopped at the ridgetop and said a prayer. It was on....Dan and and I found him after 10 minutes. Amen, thank you Lord.......10 points with kickers!!!! A very exciting day in the woods!!!!

Turkey season 2006....My good friend, Rick, guided me on this hunt behind his house. He had roosted the birds the night before. Daybreak came and the birds hit the ground about 150 yards away from us. After some sweet talk'n to them they spotted my decoys....it was on!!! 2 Toms came a runnin' at my jake decoy. They wanted to show my deke who was boss....Unfortunately for them, my Rem 870 12 gauge is the boss!! First turkey, what fun. We celebrated by golfing 9 holes!!! Thanks Rick