1 00:00:01,360 --> 00:00:05,240 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Wired to Hunt podcast, home of the 2 00:00:05,320 --> 00:00:10,639 Speaker 1: modern white tail hunter, and now your host, Mark Kenyon. 3 00:00:12,039 --> 00:00:15,080 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Wired to Hunt podcast. I'm your host, 4 00:00:15,120 --> 00:00:17,720 Speaker 1: Mark Kenyan, and today on the show we are exploring 5 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:21,840 Speaker 1: the history of the Midwestern white tail management culture and 6 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:26,080 Speaker 1: the story of how Tom Indurbo impacted that, along with 7 00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:39,919 Speaker 1: my recent hunt with him in Wisconsin. All right, welcome 8 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:43,160 Speaker 1: to the Wired to Hunt podcast, brought to you by 9 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:48,599 Speaker 1: First Light, and today we are here to wrap up 10 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:53,760 Speaker 1: my deer hunting season. This is the final episode in 11 00:00:53,800 --> 00:00:59,000 Speaker 1: the series we've done this fall, recapping my travels um 12 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:02,920 Speaker 1: doing this kind of of across the country adventure. If 13 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:05,600 Speaker 1: you haven't heard those, you know I went to Washington, 14 00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:08,160 Speaker 1: d C. I went to Arkansas, I went to Alabama, 15 00:01:08,200 --> 00:01:14,720 Speaker 1: I went to Nebraska, and I went to oh Maine. Yes, 16 00:01:15,040 --> 00:01:19,840 Speaker 1: thank you, Dylan. I forgot about Maine. So those are 17 00:01:19,840 --> 00:01:22,080 Speaker 1: the places I've went. And that other voice you heard 18 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:25,960 Speaker 1: was Dylan Lens one of my partners on those adventures. 19 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:28,440 Speaker 1: Dylan is one of the cameramen we've had joining me 20 00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:31,800 Speaker 1: because we're filming these hunts for a new show will 21 00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:35,360 Speaker 1: be launching next year for Meat Eater and the idea 22 00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:38,080 Speaker 1: here was to put me into brand new situations in 23 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:41,280 Speaker 1: different regions of the country and meet up with a 24 00:01:41,319 --> 00:01:44,520 Speaker 1: local legend of sorts to find out how these people 25 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:47,880 Speaker 1: hunt learned about what they do, and then after that 26 00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:50,920 Speaker 1: go out on my own and try to kind of 27 00:01:50,960 --> 00:01:53,760 Speaker 1: guinea pig what it is that they taught me. So 28 00:01:54,440 --> 00:01:57,640 Speaker 1: I just completed my last hunt of this series, and 29 00:01:57,680 --> 00:02:01,800 Speaker 1: that last hunt was going to Wisconsin with Dylan and 30 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:06,040 Speaker 1: another cameraman, and what I want to do today is 31 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:09,519 Speaker 1: explain to you what this hunt was all about, why 32 00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:12,040 Speaker 1: I wanted to go on this hunt in Wisconsin, what 33 00:02:12,280 --> 00:02:16,839 Speaker 1: some of my thoughts were going into it, and then 34 00:02:16,960 --> 00:02:19,240 Speaker 1: Dylan and I are going to recap what actually happened. 35 00:02:19,639 --> 00:02:21,040 Speaker 1: This is a little bit different than some of the 36 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:24,280 Speaker 1: past podcast we've done about this because I'm not actually 37 00:02:24,360 --> 00:02:27,800 Speaker 1: able to get my expert uh here with me right now, 38 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:30,600 Speaker 1: So it's gonna be me and Dylan talking first, and 39 00:02:30,680 --> 00:02:34,920 Speaker 1: then we'll be joined by our regional expert afterwards, and 40 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:37,600 Speaker 1: just me and him will speak, and that regional expert 41 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:43,000 Speaker 1: is Tom Injurbo. I want to give you a little 42 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:45,320 Speaker 1: bit of background on Tom right now, and then we'll 43 00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:47,280 Speaker 1: have a lot more into his story in his history 44 00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:51,560 Speaker 1: when he joins us. But here's the basic gist of 45 00:02:51,560 --> 00:02:54,120 Speaker 1: of what we're wanting to do with this hunt. As 46 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:55,960 Speaker 1: you've heard in some of these past episodes, I've been 47 00:02:55,960 --> 00:02:59,160 Speaker 1: exploring all these different regions and subcultures of the white 48 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:03,160 Speaker 1: tail hunting world. But up until this point, I'd ignored 49 00:03:03,320 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 1: one big elephant in the room, and that was the 50 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:09,240 Speaker 1: mainstream white tail culture that most of us talk about 51 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:11,600 Speaker 1: and are part of, which is kind of that Midwestern 52 00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:16,120 Speaker 1: white tail, big buck management, all that kind of stuff. 53 00:03:16,160 --> 00:03:18,760 Speaker 1: Most of what you see on tv UM, we hadn't 54 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:21,720 Speaker 1: touched anything like that. So we wanted to have at 55 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:25,200 Speaker 1: least one of these episodes though, where we did explore 56 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:27,400 Speaker 1: that main thing that gets talked about, but we wanted 57 00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:29,680 Speaker 1: to explore it in a different way and kind of 58 00:03:29,720 --> 00:03:34,040 Speaker 1: look at it from a different perspective. So my idea, 59 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:35,960 Speaker 1: and Dylan, you can tell me if you think this 60 00:03:36,040 --> 00:03:38,280 Speaker 1: is a stupid idea or not, But my idea in 61 00:03:38,360 --> 00:03:41,160 Speaker 1: the beginning was why don't we go find one of 62 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:43,120 Speaker 1: the O g s. Why don't we go and talk 63 00:03:43,160 --> 00:03:47,760 Speaker 1: to one of the people that started this culture of 64 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:51,480 Speaker 1: these think you found the the guy, the man that 65 00:03:51,560 --> 00:03:55,560 Speaker 1: is synonymous with, you know, big Midwest white tails. Well 66 00:03:55,560 --> 00:03:57,120 Speaker 1: I'm glad you think so, because that's what I was 67 00:03:57,160 --> 00:04:01,040 Speaker 1: thinking too, because Tom and about, like you said, he 68 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:04,800 Speaker 1: is that guy. Well you know what, rather me introduce him, Dilan, 69 00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:06,880 Speaker 1: why don't you introduce him? Because when you found out 70 00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:09,119 Speaker 1: we were doing this hunt, you were very, very excited. 71 00:04:09,360 --> 00:04:11,960 Speaker 1: My eyes perked up when I heard that we were 72 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:16,039 Speaker 1: going to Tom's place, and it was I mean, Tom 73 00:04:16,279 --> 00:04:18,760 Speaker 1: is just I mean, I'm gonna get a lot of 74 00:04:18,760 --> 00:04:22,440 Speaker 1: these facts wrong, I'm sure, but just hearing his name 75 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:26,080 Speaker 1: all growing up. He is the guy that built Buffalo 76 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:28,760 Speaker 1: County into what it is now as far as you know, 77 00:04:28,839 --> 00:04:32,479 Speaker 1: people knowing that that's a big buck destination. He was, 78 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:37,520 Speaker 1: I believe, the first outfitter in Buffalo County, and um, 79 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:41,520 Speaker 1: you know has been infatuated with big bucks, you know, 80 00:04:41,640 --> 00:04:45,800 Speaker 1: for the past forty years and he started guiding uh 81 00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:48,760 Speaker 1: there back you know, I think it's the early nineties, 82 00:04:48,960 --> 00:04:51,800 Speaker 1: and I don't think he's he said, he hasn't killed 83 00:04:51,839 --> 00:04:54,000 Speaker 1: a deer in those thirty years. He literally just lives 84 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:57,760 Speaker 1: to grow and watch and see other people hunt big bucks. 85 00:04:57,760 --> 00:05:01,120 Speaker 1: So he's a guy that you know, me growing up 86 00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:04,360 Speaker 1: and you know, loving big deer. I knew his name, 87 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:06,719 Speaker 1: and I actually had the chance to meet him a 88 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:10,039 Speaker 1: couple of times growing up, but just knowing how into 89 00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:13,599 Speaker 1: big deer he is was just something that I really admired. Yeah, 90 00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:17,720 Speaker 1: like you said, he he was probably the first, if not, 91 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:21,080 Speaker 1: you know, very close to the first big time outfit 92 00:05:21,120 --> 00:05:23,400 Speaker 1: are like this. You really put Buffalo County on the map. 93 00:05:23,480 --> 00:05:25,560 Speaker 1: And then in the subsequent years, you know, starting in 94 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:28,680 Speaker 1: the late eighties early nineties, all these folks kind of 95 00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:31,720 Speaker 1: flocked to Tom to learn from him, to hunt with him, 96 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:33,400 Speaker 1: to see what he was doing, and a lot of 97 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:36,600 Speaker 1: folks from TV and magazines and all that, and then 98 00:05:36,640 --> 00:05:39,880 Speaker 1: everything he was doing got shared and utilized by all 99 00:05:39,880 --> 00:05:42,960 Speaker 1: those people then kind of spread across the whole country. So, 100 00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:47,120 Speaker 1: you know, one of my theories come into this, based 101 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:48,920 Speaker 1: on talking to a lot of folks, was that Tom 102 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:54,920 Speaker 1: was one of the most influential people in really getting 103 00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:57,960 Speaker 1: us to where we are now with this you know, 104 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:03,680 Speaker 1: whitetail management, quality, deer management, big bucks. Uh. You know, 105 00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:06,200 Speaker 1: everything that we hear about in the Midwest, a lot 106 00:06:06,279 --> 00:06:08,840 Speaker 1: of it comes from or was at least influenced by Tom. 107 00:06:09,040 --> 00:06:12,440 Speaker 1: So my idea here was Let's go and meet with 108 00:06:12,480 --> 00:06:15,599 Speaker 1: Tom and let's get his perspective. Let's hear his story, 109 00:06:15,680 --> 00:06:18,800 Speaker 1: Let's hear what he thinks the history was, and if 110 00:06:18,880 --> 00:06:21,840 Speaker 1: he actually, you know, feels like he was involved in 111 00:06:21,839 --> 00:06:25,320 Speaker 1: this beginning of mainstream white tail culture, and then kind 112 00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:28,240 Speaker 1: of see how that actually started, where these things came from, 113 00:06:28,400 --> 00:06:31,760 Speaker 1: what motivated Tom, what it looked like in the early days, 114 00:06:31,839 --> 00:06:33,720 Speaker 1: and then actually find out how did he do it? 115 00:06:34,080 --> 00:06:37,080 Speaker 1: So I wanted to break down with him, you know, 116 00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:39,679 Speaker 1: how he improved his properties and why is Buffalo County 117 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:41,800 Speaker 1: so great? And why does he have so much success? 118 00:06:41,839 --> 00:06:43,720 Speaker 1: And what does he do on his properties to make 119 00:06:43,800 --> 00:06:46,640 Speaker 1: him so successful? Those are the things I wanted to 120 00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:50,320 Speaker 1: learn about. Rather than doing the same old, same old 121 00:06:50,320 --> 00:06:52,320 Speaker 1: midwestern white tail hunt where you to show up somewhere 122 00:06:52,320 --> 00:06:54,599 Speaker 1: and you shoot a big buck. I thought, let's explore 123 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:57,680 Speaker 1: this interesting story with this really interesting guy, and and 124 00:06:57,680 --> 00:07:00,279 Speaker 1: then yeah, learned something from him from a hunting person active. 125 00:07:00,360 --> 00:07:02,760 Speaker 1: So that was the hope with this hunt and with 126 00:07:02,839 --> 00:07:05,880 Speaker 1: the story I was hoping we could tell That's why 127 00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:13,200 Speaker 1: I went to Tom. Now, I guess short short teaser here, Dylan, 128 00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:16,200 Speaker 1: do you feel like with our trip there we just finished. 129 00:07:16,240 --> 00:07:17,920 Speaker 1: Do you feel like we achieved that part of it? 130 00:07:17,960 --> 00:07:21,920 Speaker 1: Do you feel like, man, absolutely, you you grilled him 131 00:07:22,040 --> 00:07:25,040 Speaker 1: with all those questions that just mentioned in a good way. 132 00:07:25,080 --> 00:07:29,400 Speaker 1: I mean, Tom absolutely loves talking about deer and management 133 00:07:29,440 --> 00:07:32,360 Speaker 1: and you know, history of Buffalo County. So I think 134 00:07:32,840 --> 00:07:35,520 Speaker 1: you guys worked really well together when we were doing 135 00:07:35,560 --> 00:07:39,440 Speaker 1: these discussions, and so many of these you know, things 136 00:07:39,440 --> 00:07:42,240 Speaker 1: that I had been curious about, you know, historically from 137 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:45,720 Speaker 1: Buffalo County were answered and I learned so much more 138 00:07:45,760 --> 00:07:49,480 Speaker 1: about not only Buffalo County, but you know, just even 139 00:07:49,640 --> 00:07:52,840 Speaker 1: his theories on you know, how to kill Big Bucks. 140 00:07:52,920 --> 00:07:55,840 Speaker 1: And to me, it was really eye opening and just 141 00:07:55,880 --> 00:07:59,240 Speaker 1: an absolute blast to be around for it. Yeah. Yeah, 142 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:02,440 Speaker 1: I think Gum, there was a lot of surprising things 143 00:08:02,440 --> 00:08:04,120 Speaker 1: that we'll get into here in a second. I think 144 00:08:04,160 --> 00:08:05,400 Speaker 1: there's a lot of stuff that you and I were 145 00:08:05,440 --> 00:08:08,760 Speaker 1: both like, really, um, it was different a lot of ways, 146 00:08:08,760 --> 00:08:10,640 Speaker 1: which is which is pretty cool. It just kind of 147 00:08:11,240 --> 00:08:13,920 Speaker 1: you know, I love the fact that I'm constantly surprised 148 00:08:14,280 --> 00:08:16,400 Speaker 1: when I talked to different people that do this whole 149 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:19,360 Speaker 1: white tail hounety thing. It's it's not gotten stale yet. 150 00:08:19,400 --> 00:08:21,960 Speaker 1: So that's been that's been encouraging, but what we're to 151 00:08:22,040 --> 00:08:24,840 Speaker 1: do here One Tim does join me later, I'm gonna 152 00:08:24,840 --> 00:08:27,240 Speaker 1: ask him to explore some of these same topics. So 153 00:08:27,280 --> 00:08:29,520 Speaker 1: I want to hear from him again for for everybody 154 00:08:29,560 --> 00:08:31,800 Speaker 1: listening today, a little bit about that history, a little 155 00:08:31,800 --> 00:08:35,000 Speaker 1: bit about that story, um, and then break down some 156 00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:38,120 Speaker 1: of the tactical and management decisions he makes out there. 157 00:08:38,920 --> 00:08:41,160 Speaker 1: But like I said before he joins us, you and 158 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 1: be Dylan need to kind of break down, you know, 159 00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:46,040 Speaker 1: the hunting side of it, and then some of the 160 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:48,920 Speaker 1: stuff I was thinking about ahead of time. And and 161 00:08:49,000 --> 00:08:54,640 Speaker 1: here's here's where this hunt got kind of weird for me, um, 162 00:08:54,679 --> 00:08:56,680 Speaker 1: and you you heard me kind of I know, you 163 00:08:56,760 --> 00:08:59,440 Speaker 1: had a lot of inhibitions coming into this, and it 164 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:01,600 Speaker 1: was kind of kind of interesting for me to see 165 00:09:01,640 --> 00:09:04,160 Speaker 1: that side because I mean me going into this the 166 00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:05,720 Speaker 1: whole time, I was like this is awesome, Like I 167 00:09:05,760 --> 00:09:10,600 Speaker 1: can't wait. Yeah. So so this was a weird one, 168 00:09:10,720 --> 00:09:12,240 Speaker 1: like like I told you, and like we kind of 169 00:09:12,280 --> 00:09:16,840 Speaker 1: reflected on throughout the hunt. Um, Tom, as you mentioned 170 00:09:16,880 --> 00:09:19,439 Speaker 1: your intro right, Tom is an outfitter. He runs Bluff 171 00:09:19,480 --> 00:09:23,760 Speaker 1: Country Outfitters, which is this you know, famous operation brings 172 00:09:23,800 --> 00:09:26,160 Speaker 1: a bunch of hunters in every year. They target great 173 00:09:26,200 --> 00:09:28,920 Speaker 1: big bucks. They have a lot of success. Um. And 174 00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:31,720 Speaker 1: you know, most people within the white tailed world, especially 175 00:09:31,800 --> 00:09:34,679 Speaker 1: like within the media, go to outfitters all the time, 176 00:09:35,000 --> 00:09:37,080 Speaker 1: Like that's just kind of a normal thing that almost 177 00:09:37,080 --> 00:09:41,400 Speaker 1: everybody does. But I actually have not, uh and purposefully, 178 00:09:41,559 --> 00:09:46,680 Speaker 1: I I kind of made it a personal Oh what 179 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:49,400 Speaker 1: would you call it? It was just a thing like 180 00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:51,360 Speaker 1: a rule for me was I'm going to do all 181 00:09:51,360 --> 00:09:53,120 Speaker 1: this stuff on my own. I don't want to go 182 00:09:53,160 --> 00:09:56,199 Speaker 1: with an outfitter. I don't think that would be satisfying 183 00:09:56,240 --> 00:09:58,800 Speaker 1: to me. UM. I want to do this the quote 184 00:09:58,840 --> 00:10:02,440 Speaker 1: unquote hard way. So that was that was my thoughts 185 00:10:02,440 --> 00:10:04,560 Speaker 1: over the last decade plus. So I never went on 186 00:10:04,600 --> 00:10:07,880 Speaker 1: an outfitted hunt like this um for white tails, and 187 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:10,920 Speaker 1: I kind of thought I never would. But when we 188 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:13,400 Speaker 1: started looking into like what do we how do we 189 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:16,120 Speaker 1: explore this Midwest white culture? Who were going to go 190 00:10:16,160 --> 00:10:18,240 Speaker 1: talk to? And when when I kind of struck upon 191 00:10:18,280 --> 00:10:21,640 Speaker 1: the Tom Injurwell idea, I had to kind of come 192 00:10:21,679 --> 00:10:24,040 Speaker 1: to terms with, well, do I want to change that? 193 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:26,200 Speaker 1: Do I want to meet with him and do this 194 00:10:26,240 --> 00:10:29,360 Speaker 1: thing that we want to do? Um? Can I do that? 195 00:10:29,400 --> 00:10:32,000 Speaker 1: In a way that's that's going to be interesting and 196 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:34,719 Speaker 1: satisfying and challenging to me, even though it would be 197 00:10:34,760 --> 00:10:37,040 Speaker 1: an outfitted type experience. And so I kind of wrestled 198 00:10:37,080 --> 00:10:38,640 Speaker 1: with that, and I was uncomfortable with that, and I 199 00:10:38,840 --> 00:10:40,920 Speaker 1: kind of I don't know, I had a lot of 200 00:10:40,960 --> 00:10:46,120 Speaker 1: preconceived notions about outfitted hunts. But what I think finally 201 00:10:46,320 --> 00:10:50,080 Speaker 1: made me realize that I should do this was when 202 00:10:50,120 --> 00:10:53,000 Speaker 1: I got to thinking about, like what the whole premise 203 00:10:53,040 --> 00:10:56,000 Speaker 1: of this year was, which was go experience these things 204 00:10:56,000 --> 00:10:59,400 Speaker 1: that other folks do so that you aren't judging him 205 00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:01,800 Speaker 1: or making us sumptions about them from the outside, but 206 00:11:01,920 --> 00:11:06,000 Speaker 1: actually knowing what it entails firsthand. Right, Like, how can 207 00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:08,000 Speaker 1: I sit here on the podcast and talk about, well, 208 00:11:08,040 --> 00:11:10,040 Speaker 1: you should do this in the South when I've never 209 00:11:10,080 --> 00:11:11,920 Speaker 1: hunt in the South, Or how could I ever do 210 00:11:11,960 --> 00:11:14,520 Speaker 1: a podcast talking about, you know, track and doing the 211 00:11:14,559 --> 00:11:16,720 Speaker 1: snow with someone when I never had the context of 212 00:11:16,760 --> 00:11:19,880 Speaker 1: doing it myself to speak to. So the same thing 213 00:11:19,920 --> 00:11:23,680 Speaker 1: goes for outfited hunts, like thousands of folks going outfitted 214 00:11:23,760 --> 00:11:27,000 Speaker 1: hunts every year, and I have no idea what that's 215 00:11:27,040 --> 00:11:30,480 Speaker 1: actually like. Um, So I figured, you know, what I 216 00:11:30,520 --> 00:11:33,560 Speaker 1: can do double duty with this hunt. I can explore 217 00:11:33,559 --> 00:11:35,760 Speaker 1: this history and the story and learn from someone who's 218 00:11:35,800 --> 00:11:39,400 Speaker 1: managing a property really well, and then also see, you know, 219 00:11:39,440 --> 00:11:42,280 Speaker 1: what is this outfit hunt like? Is it really what 220 00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:45,200 Speaker 1: I've always assumed this like? Is it harder than I realized? 221 00:11:45,320 --> 00:11:49,439 Speaker 1: Is it less fun or more fun? Is it different? Um? 222 00:11:49,640 --> 00:11:51,520 Speaker 1: Rather than judging it from the outside and figure maybe 223 00:11:51,559 --> 00:11:53,240 Speaker 1: you should give it a try, just like everything else, 224 00:11:53,600 --> 00:11:56,040 Speaker 1: and see what the reality is. So getting out of 225 00:11:56,200 --> 00:12:00,440 Speaker 1: outside of your comfort zone by getting pretty comfortable. Yeah, 226 00:12:00,480 --> 00:12:03,120 Speaker 1: that's a good way of putting it. It. It definitely 227 00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:05,199 Speaker 1: was the most well in certain ways, it was the 228 00:12:05,200 --> 00:12:09,040 Speaker 1: most comfortable hunt. In other ways less so. But we'll 229 00:12:09,080 --> 00:12:11,520 Speaker 1: get into that. Um. But yeah, that was I mean, 230 00:12:11,520 --> 00:12:14,800 Speaker 1: that was where my head was at, um coming into it. 231 00:12:14,880 --> 00:12:16,840 Speaker 1: What did you What did you think about that? Like 232 00:12:16,880 --> 00:12:19,400 Speaker 1: when you said you were a little surprised by my concerns. 233 00:12:19,480 --> 00:12:21,240 Speaker 1: When when you kind of heard me explain all this, 234 00:12:21,280 --> 00:12:23,800 Speaker 1: did you think I sounded like a I don't know, 235 00:12:23,960 --> 00:12:27,959 Speaker 1: like A no, not at all, because I I'm pretty 236 00:12:28,040 --> 00:12:30,040 Speaker 1: much in the same boat. I've never hunted at an 237 00:12:30,080 --> 00:12:33,439 Speaker 1: outfitter before either for the same reason of I want 238 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:35,760 Speaker 1: to do the work. I've filmed at a ton of 239 00:12:35,800 --> 00:12:39,760 Speaker 1: outfitters and every everyone you go to is a different experience. 240 00:12:39,800 --> 00:12:41,920 Speaker 1: You know, a lot of more hands on, a lot 241 00:12:41,960 --> 00:12:44,040 Speaker 1: more Here, here's what we got. You can figure it 242 00:12:44,080 --> 00:12:47,679 Speaker 1: out on your own. And um, before we got there, 243 00:12:47,679 --> 00:12:49,520 Speaker 1: it was kind of not knowing what it was gonna be. 244 00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:51,360 Speaker 1: If we're gonna have our hands held the whole time, 245 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:54,720 Speaker 1: or if it's kind of, hey, you got the reins, 246 00:12:54,840 --> 00:12:57,120 Speaker 1: go try and kill a deer. And I think that 247 00:12:57,160 --> 00:12:59,719 Speaker 1: this was a really good experience. Um, you know that 248 00:12:59,840 --> 00:13:02,640 Speaker 1: was kind of on both ends of the spectrum there. 249 00:13:03,240 --> 00:13:06,000 Speaker 1: It was what you wanted to make it, and um, 250 00:13:06,040 --> 00:13:07,760 Speaker 1: you know, coming into it not knowing what it was 251 00:13:07,800 --> 00:13:10,960 Speaker 1: going to be, I've open minded. I guess, yeah, yeah, 252 00:13:11,080 --> 00:13:12,520 Speaker 1: I think that's I think that's a fair way to 253 00:13:12,559 --> 00:13:16,920 Speaker 1: describe it. Um, so let's let's let's walk let's walk 254 00:13:16,960 --> 00:13:19,160 Speaker 1: through it. Let's break down what happened day by day 255 00:13:19,160 --> 00:13:22,840 Speaker 1: and kind of what we experienced, what I thought about it, 256 00:13:22,920 --> 00:13:27,079 Speaker 1: what you thought about how things went, what we learned. Um, 257 00:13:27,120 --> 00:13:29,160 Speaker 1: you know, I was really looking at this hunt as 258 00:13:29,200 --> 00:13:32,080 Speaker 1: a learning experience. This wasn't like I want to go 259 00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:34,920 Speaker 1: and kill a big deer. This was Hey, we're here 260 00:13:34,960 --> 00:13:37,679 Speaker 1: to explore something new, learn a bunch and and yeah, 261 00:13:37,760 --> 00:13:40,800 Speaker 1: of course try to kill a deer. Um. But you know, 262 00:13:41,120 --> 00:13:43,720 Speaker 1: this was this is like a larger thing going on. 263 00:13:43,800 --> 00:13:47,840 Speaker 1: And so that first day we got there and in 264 00:13:47,880 --> 00:13:51,560 Speaker 1: the morning we met with Tom, you me, our other cameraman, 265 00:13:51,960 --> 00:13:55,480 Speaker 1: and how do we start that? Well, you know, I 266 00:13:55,520 --> 00:13:59,280 Speaker 1: guess we started at his house and it was just 267 00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:01,440 Speaker 1: kind of break down the history with him, you know, 268 00:14:01,480 --> 00:14:03,520 Speaker 1: talking about that stuff that you and I kind of 269 00:14:03,520 --> 00:14:07,480 Speaker 1: teed up, learning about how he got started, learning a 270 00:14:07,480 --> 00:14:12,000 Speaker 1: little bit about um, his his story, his hopes and 271 00:14:12,080 --> 00:14:15,240 Speaker 1: dreams leading into this. And then we hit the woods 272 00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:20,560 Speaker 1: and hopped in aside by side, and basically my ask was, 273 00:14:20,600 --> 00:14:22,680 Speaker 1: could just show me around? Could you show me some 274 00:14:22,760 --> 00:14:25,480 Speaker 1: of the most important habitat improvements you make? Could you 275 00:14:25,520 --> 00:14:28,440 Speaker 1: show me some hunting setups? Could you kind of walk 276 00:14:28,480 --> 00:14:30,200 Speaker 1: me through how you do what you do and why 277 00:14:30,280 --> 00:14:33,200 Speaker 1: you do it? Um? This was this was gonna be 278 00:14:33,240 --> 00:14:36,960 Speaker 1: my opportunity to learn the how of how does somebody 279 00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:40,000 Speaker 1: manage a property like this and set up folks for 280 00:14:40,080 --> 00:14:44,560 Speaker 1: success in manage farmland. Um. So that was the plan 281 00:14:44,680 --> 00:14:49,240 Speaker 1: going into it. It was sorry, what we're gonna say, 282 00:14:49,560 --> 00:14:51,760 Speaker 1: I'm just curious, you know, as we were out there, 283 00:14:51,760 --> 00:14:53,640 Speaker 1: I mean, what were you kind of expecting? How did 284 00:14:53,640 --> 00:14:56,120 Speaker 1: it you know, how did it tee up to what 285 00:14:56,240 --> 00:15:00,640 Speaker 1: you had preconceived, you know before we got there. Well, 286 00:15:00,680 --> 00:15:02,800 Speaker 1: you know, I think the first thing I noticed at 287 00:15:02,840 --> 00:15:05,400 Speaker 1: the very beginning, like we we set off from his 288 00:15:05,720 --> 00:15:07,680 Speaker 1: like his lodge set up right, He's got a house. 289 00:15:07,880 --> 00:15:09,520 Speaker 1: His house is there, and there's a bunch of cabins 290 00:15:09,560 --> 00:15:12,160 Speaker 1: around it for for guests to stand, and then there's 291 00:15:12,200 --> 00:15:15,160 Speaker 1: kind of like a main dining area, um. And so 292 00:15:15,200 --> 00:15:17,840 Speaker 1: we set off from there in the side by side, 293 00:15:18,040 --> 00:15:22,360 Speaker 1: and right away he did something that surprised me, which 294 00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:25,080 Speaker 1: was that we set off right from the house straight 295 00:15:25,160 --> 00:15:27,920 Speaker 1: up this big ridgeline, right into the middle of what 296 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:32,200 Speaker 1: looked like some primo bedding cover. That was very surprised, 297 00:15:32,280 --> 00:15:35,240 Speaker 1: right and as we're going I kind of kept glancing 298 00:15:35,280 --> 00:15:39,080 Speaker 1: at him, like, Uh, isn't this not the best isn't 299 00:15:39,080 --> 00:15:40,840 Speaker 1: this not the best idea? I sure hope we're not 300 00:15:40,840 --> 00:15:43,040 Speaker 1: going to hunt somewhere anywhere around this, because he just 301 00:15:43,200 --> 00:15:46,080 Speaker 1: drove right up into the middle of all this timber, 302 00:15:46,120 --> 00:15:50,560 Speaker 1: heading straight up these hills, and very quickly, you know, 303 00:15:50,880 --> 00:15:53,720 Speaker 1: I asked him about that, and he explained one of 304 00:15:53,720 --> 00:15:56,960 Speaker 1: the main things that ended up being a trend the 305 00:15:57,000 --> 00:16:04,000 Speaker 1: whole week was that, right, other than obsessing over minimizing 306 00:16:04,680 --> 00:16:08,800 Speaker 1: his presence on these properties, he does the opposite. And 307 00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:10,480 Speaker 1: this is this is like the theme of the whole 308 00:16:10,560 --> 00:16:13,680 Speaker 1: week maybe, which was instead of minimizing presence, which is 309 00:16:13,680 --> 00:16:16,000 Speaker 1: what I obsess over on most of the properties I hunt, 310 00:16:16,560 --> 00:16:18,160 Speaker 1: and what you know, you're always worried about when you're 311 00:16:18,200 --> 00:16:20,160 Speaker 1: hunting new places, and how to keep pressure low? How 312 00:16:20,160 --> 00:16:21,840 Speaker 1: do you get in here and out of here without 313 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:25,080 Speaker 1: deer ever knowing you were there. He's the opposite. His 314 00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:29,000 Speaker 1: idea seems to be in what's proven to be successful 315 00:16:29,040 --> 00:16:32,240 Speaker 1: for him is be there all the time, make your 316 00:16:32,240 --> 00:16:34,680 Speaker 1: presence known all the time, and the deer eventually come 317 00:16:34,720 --> 00:16:37,680 Speaker 1: to accept it, and they know what's normal and they'll 318 00:16:37,720 --> 00:16:39,640 Speaker 1: let you keep doing it. Now, if you do something 319 00:16:39,680 --> 00:16:42,040 Speaker 1: that's abnormal, then yeah, you're gonna get in trouble. But 320 00:16:42,080 --> 00:16:43,880 Speaker 1: if you stick to the normal and you do the 321 00:16:43,920 --> 00:16:47,680 Speaker 1: normal enough, you can get away with a lot more So, 322 00:16:47,800 --> 00:16:52,080 Speaker 1: he drives around this property his his farms very very often. 323 00:16:52,160 --> 00:16:54,880 Speaker 1: He goes and checks trail cameras very often. He checks 324 00:16:54,920 --> 00:16:58,640 Speaker 1: a whole lot of trail cameras. He is checking out 325 00:16:58,640 --> 00:17:01,440 Speaker 1: betting areas, checking out trans a scenario, is checking out ponds, 326 00:17:01,560 --> 00:17:05,080 Speaker 1: checking out food sources. All the time. It was mind boggling. 327 00:17:05,840 --> 00:17:08,000 Speaker 1: It really was just to you know, it's almost like 328 00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:11,240 Speaker 1: he treats his farm like like a park, Like he's 329 00:17:11,240 --> 00:17:12,760 Speaker 1: all over the place, and the deer just kind of 330 00:17:13,640 --> 00:17:16,040 Speaker 1: do their thing, you know, they're used to it. Yeah, 331 00:17:16,200 --> 00:17:19,359 Speaker 1: And I think what's interesting is that one of the 332 00:17:19,400 --> 00:17:22,400 Speaker 1: coolest things about Tom that I picked up was just 333 00:17:22,520 --> 00:17:29,200 Speaker 1: like this childlike fascination with deer and being around them 334 00:17:29,240 --> 00:17:32,600 Speaker 1: and seeing them and watching them and studying them. You know, 335 00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:35,560 Speaker 1: he is just in love with these critters. I mean, 336 00:17:35,640 --> 00:17:39,080 Speaker 1: I mean, really, really, really is fascinated interesting by them. 337 00:17:39,119 --> 00:17:42,120 Speaker 1: I mean we we talked about this one night when 338 00:17:42,119 --> 00:17:43,760 Speaker 1: you and I were hunting. I recounted one of these 339 00:17:43,760 --> 00:17:46,920 Speaker 1: stories he told me, and I might get the details wrong, 340 00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:49,520 Speaker 1: but he was telling me about this time when he 341 00:17:49,520 --> 00:17:51,439 Speaker 1: had been out just driving around or I think just 342 00:17:51,480 --> 00:17:53,600 Speaker 1: walking around. He was walking around somewhere in the middle 343 00:17:53,600 --> 00:17:55,920 Speaker 1: of the summer, I think it was, and came into 344 00:17:55,960 --> 00:17:57,960 Speaker 1: some bedding areas walking through there, and he bumped a 345 00:17:57,960 --> 00:17:59,920 Speaker 1: deer out of his bed. I can't remember if he 346 00:18:00,040 --> 00:18:02,000 Speaker 1: is a dough or fawn or young buck. Something like 347 00:18:02,040 --> 00:18:04,760 Speaker 1: that bumped this deer off his bed. The deer bounded 348 00:18:04,800 --> 00:18:06,800 Speaker 1: off like ten paces and then stopped and then just 349 00:18:06,840 --> 00:18:09,960 Speaker 1: stared at Tom. And Tom thought, huh, let's see off 350 00:18:09,960 --> 00:18:12,080 Speaker 1: close and get to him. So he just starts walking 351 00:18:12,080 --> 00:18:14,080 Speaker 1: towards that deer and then decides, I'm gonna walk right 352 00:18:14,119 --> 00:18:16,360 Speaker 1: to the deer's bed. So he walks right to where 353 00:18:16,359 --> 00:18:18,280 Speaker 1: that deer had been bedded. The whole time just kind 354 00:18:18,280 --> 00:18:20,840 Speaker 1: of softly talking to the deer, just kind of saying, hey, 355 00:18:20,960 --> 00:18:23,360 Speaker 1: little guy, how you doing it? Looks like a nice day. 356 00:18:23,480 --> 00:18:27,120 Speaker 1: This is a great spot to bed. And he eventually 357 00:18:27,119 --> 00:18:30,000 Speaker 1: gets to the deer's bed. The deer meanwhile still standing 358 00:18:30,040 --> 00:18:34,000 Speaker 1: ten paces away, not moving, just standing in there watching Tom. 359 00:18:34,119 --> 00:18:37,800 Speaker 1: Tom then lays down into the bed and this great. 360 00:18:37,920 --> 00:18:40,919 Speaker 1: He lays down into the bed, all the while still talking, 361 00:18:41,000 --> 00:18:43,840 Speaker 1: still looking at the deer. Then he starts picking up 362 00:18:43,880 --> 00:18:46,520 Speaker 1: acorns or leaves and kind of starts pretending like he's 363 00:18:46,520 --> 00:18:48,600 Speaker 1: eating them and kind of dropping them. So he's kind 364 00:18:48,600 --> 00:18:51,400 Speaker 1: of bringing up to his mouth and dropping it, kind 365 00:18:51,400 --> 00:18:53,679 Speaker 1: of just acting like another animal. I think was what 366 00:18:53,720 --> 00:18:56,480 Speaker 1: he was trying to do here. Then he curled up 367 00:18:56,520 --> 00:18:58,639 Speaker 1: in that bed as if he was going to sleep. 368 00:18:59,200 --> 00:19:04,000 Speaker 1: And then here's the really he said, he literally fell asleep. 369 00:19:04,160 --> 00:19:06,719 Speaker 1: He fell asleep, took a cat nap in the deer's 370 00:19:06,760 --> 00:19:09,200 Speaker 1: bed while the deer was just standing there watching them 371 00:19:09,240 --> 00:19:10,960 Speaker 1: all the while, just to kind of see what would happen, 372 00:19:11,040 --> 00:19:12,840 Speaker 1: what would the deer do, what would you think about this? 373 00:19:13,320 --> 00:19:16,200 Speaker 1: And if I remember the ending here, he woke up 374 00:19:16,240 --> 00:19:18,560 Speaker 1: like a couple of minutes later something or five minutes later, 375 00:19:18,720 --> 00:19:20,919 Speaker 1: and the deer was still there just watching him, thinking 376 00:19:21,040 --> 00:19:24,720 Speaker 1: what is this guy doing? Um? Yeah, I just feel 377 00:19:24,720 --> 00:19:29,320 Speaker 1: like like that's like the perfect like illustration of a mad, 378 00:19:29,720 --> 00:19:33,720 Speaker 1: curious scientist, right, like just that's how infatuated he is 379 00:19:33,720 --> 00:19:36,200 Speaker 1: with these animals, like he just wants to experiment with them. 380 00:19:36,520 --> 00:19:39,840 Speaker 1: Pretty cool. I think that was like perfectly illustrated, Like 381 00:19:39,840 --> 00:19:43,800 Speaker 1: it was a perfect character portrait of Tom injerbo Um 382 00:19:43,840 --> 00:19:45,600 Speaker 1: and so and so we got to kind of see 383 00:19:45,600 --> 00:19:47,200 Speaker 1: a little bit of that that first morning when we 384 00:19:47,280 --> 00:19:49,560 Speaker 1: drove up there. We went to this first big timber 385 00:19:49,680 --> 00:19:52,280 Speaker 1: point and he showed us like, hey, this is one 386 00:19:52,280 --> 00:19:54,480 Speaker 1: of these main betting years, these deer like to bet on. 387 00:19:55,200 --> 00:19:57,760 Speaker 1: I'd say it was like standard what you would expect 388 00:19:57,800 --> 00:20:00,280 Speaker 1: in hill country. Right, it's like big timber. This is 389 00:20:00,280 --> 00:20:03,159 Speaker 1: coming off of high fields and off of these points. 390 00:20:03,280 --> 00:20:05,719 Speaker 1: There's doze better. There's bucks better down off of them 391 00:20:05,720 --> 00:20:08,800 Speaker 1: a little bit. Um. You know these bucks at these 392 00:20:08,800 --> 00:20:11,240 Speaker 1: deer in general could bet up there, they could seed 393 00:20:11,240 --> 00:20:13,480 Speaker 1: down the valley in front of them. They could smell 394 00:20:13,600 --> 00:20:15,320 Speaker 1: stuff coming up from behind him if the wind was 395 00:20:15,359 --> 00:20:20,800 Speaker 1: blowing down that direction. Pretty ideal stuff. Um. He's got 396 00:20:22,119 --> 00:20:27,159 Speaker 1: ponds put in, many different ponds, put into ideal locations 397 00:20:27,200 --> 00:20:29,760 Speaker 1: back on these betting knobs and ridges. Um. And then 398 00:20:29,760 --> 00:20:32,520 Speaker 1: he sets up you know, hunter setups off of these 399 00:20:32,560 --> 00:20:35,960 Speaker 1: betting areas. Um. It seems like he likes to put 400 00:20:36,000 --> 00:20:39,520 Speaker 1: these ponds back in the cover tight to the betting areas, 401 00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:42,359 Speaker 1: off these like kind of edges where wind where your 402 00:20:42,359 --> 00:20:46,400 Speaker 1: wind could blow off the top if you wanted. Um. 403 00:20:46,440 --> 00:20:48,359 Speaker 1: I'm trying to think of any other details of that 404 00:20:48,440 --> 00:20:50,760 Speaker 1: first specific setup we went to. We kind of grilled 405 00:20:50,800 --> 00:20:53,120 Speaker 1: him on how he makes these ponds, what he's thinking about, 406 00:20:53,160 --> 00:20:56,400 Speaker 1: but he's when he makes his ponds. Um. But more 407 00:20:56,480 --> 00:21:00,720 Speaker 1: than the specifics of that, one thing stood out to 408 00:21:00,720 --> 00:21:03,720 Speaker 1: me at that first location. I'm wondering if it's the 409 00:21:03,760 --> 00:21:05,960 Speaker 1: same thing that stood out to you, do you can 410 00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:08,959 Speaker 1: you guess what I'm thinking of? Um, there was a 411 00:21:08,960 --> 00:21:12,600 Speaker 1: lot that stood out to me, but I guess the 412 00:21:12,680 --> 00:21:14,359 Speaker 1: one thing that I was kind of shocked by was 413 00:21:14,440 --> 00:21:16,360 Speaker 1: the camera placement. I don't know if that's where you're 414 00:21:16,359 --> 00:21:20,199 Speaker 1: going with this, but yes, yes, okay, cameras man. This 415 00:21:20,320 --> 00:21:22,320 Speaker 1: is more of this mad scientist thing that I kind 416 00:21:22,320 --> 00:21:25,160 Speaker 1: of gathered from Tom throughout the week, But just an 417 00:21:25,440 --> 00:21:30,199 Speaker 1: overabundance of trail cameras, right, I don't know what what 418 00:21:30,359 --> 00:21:34,000 Speaker 1: scientists needs as much data. You know. Tom takes trail 419 00:21:34,080 --> 00:21:37,399 Speaker 1: cameras to a level I've never seen before. Absolutely, I 420 00:21:37,440 --> 00:21:41,600 Speaker 1: mean unbelievable. And what's what's interesting is it's not just 421 00:21:41,720 --> 00:21:44,320 Speaker 1: that he has like a lot of cameras screwed out 422 00:21:44,359 --> 00:21:46,920 Speaker 1: across the property. Like if someone said, hey, I've got 423 00:21:46,920 --> 00:21:50,600 Speaker 1: a hundred cameras over my thousand acres or acres or something, 424 00:21:50,600 --> 00:21:54,359 Speaker 1: it's like, well, that's a lot of cameras, but that's 425 00:21:54,440 --> 00:21:58,320 Speaker 1: not necessarily what makes Tom's trail camera strategy so unique. Yes, 426 00:21:58,359 --> 00:21:59,840 Speaker 1: he has a lot of cameras, but he has a 427 00:21:59,840 --> 00:22:04,760 Speaker 1: lot of cameras in the exact same places. I mean 428 00:22:05,280 --> 00:22:07,879 Speaker 1: this spot, this first location we drove up to to 429 00:22:07,920 --> 00:22:10,320 Speaker 1: give you an example of this, there's this this point. 430 00:22:10,359 --> 00:22:13,760 Speaker 1: Imagine this point coming off of the ridge and there's 431 00:22:13,760 --> 00:22:16,800 Speaker 1: a pond. The pond is like ten yards by ten 432 00:22:16,880 --> 00:22:19,119 Speaker 1: yards wide maybe give or take it's that size. And 433 00:22:19,160 --> 00:22:22,440 Speaker 1: then this little bedding area that this little flat point 434 00:22:22,480 --> 00:22:25,880 Speaker 1: on the top of the point is maybe an acre 435 00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:29,400 Speaker 1: ish acre and a half maybe something like that. Wouldn't 436 00:22:29,400 --> 00:22:31,040 Speaker 1: you say, like the reason we could just kind of 437 00:22:31,080 --> 00:22:34,240 Speaker 1: see from the pond and just from this spot that 438 00:22:34,280 --> 00:22:36,240 Speaker 1: we could see from the pond, this little acre ishu 439 00:22:36,280 --> 00:22:41,359 Speaker 1: little flat spot. There were two cameras on the pond. 440 00:22:42,080 --> 00:22:45,359 Speaker 1: There was two cameras about thirty yards down the hill 441 00:22:45,560 --> 00:22:48,720 Speaker 1: pointing at two different spots where deerhead bedded. And there 442 00:22:48,800 --> 00:22:51,760 Speaker 1: was I think three more cameras up the point within 443 00:22:51,800 --> 00:22:55,280 Speaker 1: the next fifty yards on different trails. So he had 444 00:22:55,320 --> 00:22:59,000 Speaker 1: I think seven cameras in an acre in one acre 445 00:22:59,680 --> 00:23:04,000 Speaker 1: in got you know, like within a seventy yard span 446 00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:08,440 Speaker 1: of space. I think seven cameras. Just this wasn't unique 447 00:23:08,560 --> 00:23:12,520 Speaker 1: in this spot, I mean this was the property, yeah exactly, 448 00:23:12,560 --> 00:23:14,320 Speaker 1: I mean that was like the thing is that you'd 449 00:23:14,320 --> 00:23:17,280 Speaker 1: find spots like this, these hot spots where he would 450 00:23:17,280 --> 00:23:20,400 Speaker 1: have it blanket coverage. There was a little turnip food 451 00:23:20,400 --> 00:23:22,440 Speaker 1: plot we eventually get to that we'll talk about later 452 00:23:23,000 --> 00:23:27,440 Speaker 1: where just in this little food plot within a thirty 453 00:23:27,520 --> 00:23:30,600 Speaker 1: yard wide circle, there was four of them and two 454 00:23:30,640 --> 00:23:33,920 Speaker 1: of them were three cameras. So they're cameras that take 455 00:23:33,960 --> 00:23:37,720 Speaker 1: pictures in all directions too. So I mean he double 456 00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:42,159 Speaker 1: triple quadruple, you know, checks every possible place hit hit. 457 00:23:42,200 --> 00:23:44,119 Speaker 1: And his whole point is when I asked him about 458 00:23:44,160 --> 00:23:46,680 Speaker 1: with this, was that you know, you miss a ton 459 00:23:46,880 --> 00:23:48,600 Speaker 1: when you have just one or two cameras out there, 460 00:23:48,640 --> 00:23:51,040 Speaker 1: because deer don't always do what you think they go 461 00:23:51,080 --> 00:23:52,439 Speaker 1: in front of it, they go to the side of it, 462 00:23:52,480 --> 00:23:54,360 Speaker 1: even if they pass in front of it. Cameras miss 463 00:23:54,400 --> 00:23:56,639 Speaker 1: a lot of deer sometimes, and he doesn't want to 464 00:23:56,640 --> 00:24:00,240 Speaker 1: miss anything. So so the main thing I saw Allen 465 00:24:00,480 --> 00:24:04,159 Speaker 1: was first the situation we just described, whether they'd be 466 00:24:04,160 --> 00:24:06,800 Speaker 1: like this betting area or that food plot, where he'd 467 00:24:06,880 --> 00:24:10,480 Speaker 1: have these clusters of cameras, four or five, s eight 468 00:24:10,520 --> 00:24:14,040 Speaker 1: cameras all in a tiny little area um seemingly a 469 00:24:14,080 --> 00:24:16,159 Speaker 1: hotspot of sorts he had that this betting area. I 470 00:24:16,200 --> 00:24:18,640 Speaker 1: think there's another betting area we explored later that day 471 00:24:18,680 --> 00:24:21,520 Speaker 1: that had something kind of similar. The turnip plot stood 472 00:24:21,520 --> 00:24:26,080 Speaker 1: out to me. Um. He then also had individual cameras 473 00:24:26,640 --> 00:24:31,240 Speaker 1: on basically every trail. It seemed like almost every time 474 00:24:31,280 --> 00:24:33,440 Speaker 1: you saw a trail somewhere there would be a camera 475 00:24:33,480 --> 00:24:36,639 Speaker 1: point on it. Any random location coming off of a ridge, 476 00:24:36,720 --> 00:24:40,080 Speaker 1: coming down off a field, there was cameras hitting all 477 00:24:40,119 --> 00:24:42,399 Speaker 1: of those major runways at least, and you could see 478 00:24:42,760 --> 00:24:45,080 Speaker 1: you could very clearly see the major runways because there's 479 00:24:45,080 --> 00:24:47,760 Speaker 1: snow on the ground, so you know these are spots 480 00:24:47,760 --> 00:24:50,360 Speaker 1: I guess historically always get used. Tom knows that puts 481 00:24:50,480 --> 00:24:54,760 Speaker 1: cameras on them. Um. And then at least when I'm 482 00:24:54,800 --> 00:24:57,960 Speaker 1: thinking back on some of the fields that we drove around, 483 00:24:58,520 --> 00:25:01,119 Speaker 1: UM he had a lot like lining field ed just 484 00:25:01,240 --> 00:25:05,520 Speaker 1: like every I don't know, fifty two a hundred yards. 485 00:25:05,560 --> 00:25:08,440 Speaker 1: On several of these fields we checked, there was cameras 486 00:25:08,480 --> 00:25:10,600 Speaker 1: along the edge. They're kind of on these like two 487 00:25:10,640 --> 00:25:15,080 Speaker 1: tracks that run around the outside edges. So here's a lot. 488 00:25:15,119 --> 00:25:17,439 Speaker 1: I can't remember what the total number of cameras was 489 00:25:17,520 --> 00:25:20,040 Speaker 1: that he runs. Do you remember I think I remember 490 00:25:20,119 --> 00:25:23,359 Speaker 1: him saying somewhere between a hundred and seventy and two 491 00:25:23,480 --> 00:25:25,920 Speaker 1: hundred for some reason, sounds familiar. I know he had 492 00:25:26,520 --> 00:25:30,320 Speaker 1: because I think he counts the degree cameras as three 493 00:25:30,359 --> 00:25:35,040 Speaker 1: cameras because they take three photos. Okay, so he's been 494 00:25:35,080 --> 00:25:39,520 Speaker 1: a lot in short um. So Yeah, that was that 495 00:25:39,600 --> 00:25:41,480 Speaker 1: was really interesting. That was one of those things that 496 00:25:41,520 --> 00:25:46,040 Speaker 1: stood out. And actually, you know, I could see myself 497 00:25:46,680 --> 00:25:49,439 Speaker 1: taking a little something from that and applying it to 498 00:25:49,480 --> 00:25:51,120 Speaker 1: some of the places I hunt. Not to the same 499 00:25:51,160 --> 00:25:55,160 Speaker 1: degree he does, but I mean there's there's basically nowhere 500 00:25:55,160 --> 00:25:58,359 Speaker 1: where I run multiple cameras in the same small area. 501 00:25:58,760 --> 00:26:01,760 Speaker 1: I think I've got one food plot where I've done 502 00:26:01,760 --> 00:26:04,200 Speaker 1: that before, But you know, it makes a lot of sense. 503 00:26:04,200 --> 00:26:07,080 Speaker 1: He's probably right. And I actually sometimes many times have 504 00:26:07,640 --> 00:26:09,639 Speaker 1: cameras just sitting in my barn that I don't end 505 00:26:09,680 --> 00:26:11,760 Speaker 1: of using, you know, for one reason or another that 506 00:26:11,840 --> 00:26:13,760 Speaker 1: I've just kind of deployed him in various properties and 507 00:26:13,760 --> 00:26:15,360 Speaker 1: I end up having more than I need for that 508 00:26:15,520 --> 00:26:18,080 Speaker 1: time of the season or whatever. I probably could better 509 00:26:18,200 --> 00:26:22,640 Speaker 1: utilize them by you know, double covering or triple covering 510 00:26:23,080 --> 00:26:25,960 Speaker 1: these very very very best spots. Yeah, that was really 511 00:26:26,000 --> 00:26:27,760 Speaker 1: eye opening and I know, you you know, you think 512 00:26:27,760 --> 00:26:29,359 Speaker 1: about it and a lot of times you are hunting 513 00:26:29,359 --> 00:26:31,600 Speaker 1: and you see a deer that skirts, you know, just 514 00:26:31,640 --> 00:26:33,840 Speaker 1: outside out of range or just behind a camera that 515 00:26:33,880 --> 00:26:36,520 Speaker 1: you would have never known about. So that that really 516 00:26:36,520 --> 00:26:38,240 Speaker 1: did kind of open my eyes to the same kind 517 00:26:38,240 --> 00:26:40,000 Speaker 1: of thing of you know, maybe I am missing quite 518 00:26:40,000 --> 00:26:42,720 Speaker 1: a bit of intel. Yeah, I think I think I'll 519 00:26:42,760 --> 00:26:44,239 Speaker 1: be trying to change that a little bit this year, 520 00:26:44,280 --> 00:26:46,199 Speaker 1: at least on the properties that I'm hunting, you know, 521 00:26:46,480 --> 00:26:48,919 Speaker 1: frequently year every year. Kind of some of my local 522 00:26:48,960 --> 00:26:51,760 Speaker 1: spots that I'd like to know really really well and 523 00:26:51,760 --> 00:26:54,200 Speaker 1: that I can monitor, you know, all year long or 524 00:26:54,240 --> 00:26:57,399 Speaker 1: all season long. You know, it makes sense to really 525 00:26:58,080 --> 00:27:02,480 Speaker 1: really blanket covers those things just from just the learning perspective, right, 526 00:27:02,520 --> 00:27:05,320 Speaker 1: I mean, it's just fun to see what's out there. 527 00:27:05,359 --> 00:27:09,240 Speaker 1: And I realized, you know, even checking cameras where there's 528 00:27:09,280 --> 00:27:11,960 Speaker 1: a like, for example, there's a spot on one of 529 00:27:11,960 --> 00:27:15,119 Speaker 1: my local farms where I do have two cameras on 530 00:27:15,200 --> 00:27:17,520 Speaker 1: either side of a field where there's there's a field 531 00:27:17,560 --> 00:27:19,960 Speaker 1: that narrows down into a little finger and it it's 532 00:27:20,200 --> 00:27:26,520 Speaker 1: at its narrowest point, it's probably eight yards across, maybe 533 00:27:26,520 --> 00:27:29,840 Speaker 1: a little less maybe seventy eight yards across, and at 534 00:27:29,840 --> 00:27:32,280 Speaker 1: that narrowest point, I have a camera on either side 535 00:27:32,440 --> 00:27:36,120 Speaker 1: pointing into the middle of the field, and I can 536 00:27:36,200 --> 00:27:41,160 Speaker 1: see many times where there's deer near. So let's say 537 00:27:41,240 --> 00:27:44,399 Speaker 1: Camera A is on the north side and it is 538 00:27:44,440 --> 00:27:46,480 Speaker 1: taking a picture of what's closest to you, but it 539 00:27:46,520 --> 00:27:48,600 Speaker 1: can also you know, capture stuff that's on the other 540 00:27:48,640 --> 00:27:51,920 Speaker 1: side of the field just by luck, right, And there's 541 00:27:51,920 --> 00:27:53,879 Speaker 1: a lot of times where I will get pictures of 542 00:27:53,880 --> 00:27:56,280 Speaker 1: a big buck on this one just by luck. Like 543 00:27:56,320 --> 00:27:58,000 Speaker 1: it's actually taking a picture of a doll that's ten 544 00:27:58,080 --> 00:27:59,959 Speaker 1: yards in front of it. But then the far background 545 00:28:00,080 --> 00:28:01,640 Speaker 1: you can see, oh wow, there's a big deer over 546 00:28:01,640 --> 00:28:04,680 Speaker 1: there that's on the side where the other camera is. 547 00:28:05,160 --> 00:28:07,800 Speaker 1: That that other camera never happens to pick up because 548 00:28:07,840 --> 00:28:10,040 Speaker 1: that deer popped out behind it or around it, or 549 00:28:10,040 --> 00:28:11,960 Speaker 1: it was never quite close enough for you know, there's 550 00:28:12,000 --> 00:28:14,520 Speaker 1: all these different ways that can happen. So I mean, 551 00:28:15,880 --> 00:28:18,320 Speaker 1: I think that we miss out on a ton. So 552 00:28:19,160 --> 00:28:21,520 Speaker 1: that's one change I'm I'm gonna make next year is 553 00:28:21,600 --> 00:28:23,560 Speaker 1: just pick that up a little bit in a few 554 00:28:23,560 --> 00:28:26,600 Speaker 1: spots um, And you know, I think outside of that, 555 00:28:27,160 --> 00:28:29,520 Speaker 1: you know, we we we went around his property, about 556 00:28:29,520 --> 00:28:32,560 Speaker 1: half of the property his main property. That first day, 557 00:28:33,040 --> 00:28:35,240 Speaker 1: we got to see two of those big betting knobs. 558 00:28:35,720 --> 00:28:37,879 Speaker 1: You know. See how he implements these ponds, which is 559 00:28:37,920 --> 00:28:40,280 Speaker 1: a really big part of his strategy. It seems like 560 00:28:40,280 --> 00:28:42,240 Speaker 1: he puts in a pond like every one of these 561 00:28:42,280 --> 00:28:46,480 Speaker 1: good Um locations, almost every one of his main hunter setups, 562 00:28:46,480 --> 00:28:49,120 Speaker 1: that seems like in these high ridges and points has 563 00:28:49,160 --> 00:28:52,480 Speaker 1: a pond near it. Um. He also I saw a 564 00:28:52,520 --> 00:28:55,680 Speaker 1: pretty somewhat frequent trend where he would have these very 565 00:28:55,680 --> 00:28:58,440 Speaker 1: best points that come off so there's a crowd field 566 00:28:58,480 --> 00:29:01,200 Speaker 1: the very top, and and these points come off of 567 00:29:01,240 --> 00:29:03,800 Speaker 1: those tops into the timber, and then he would have 568 00:29:04,200 --> 00:29:07,320 Speaker 1: a little tiny food plot inside the timber waves like 569 00:29:07,320 --> 00:29:10,320 Speaker 1: a little staging plot. And then further behind that, so 570 00:29:10,400 --> 00:29:13,400 Speaker 1: farther down the point, he'd have a pond. And then 571 00:29:13,680 --> 00:29:15,560 Speaker 1: at the very end of that is just straight timber, 572 00:29:15,720 --> 00:29:18,080 Speaker 1: good cover. That's where the betting is happening. And there 573 00:29:18,160 --> 00:29:20,280 Speaker 1: was several different places that we saw that looked just 574 00:29:20,320 --> 00:29:22,800 Speaker 1: like that, right, Yeah, And that was pretty cool because 575 00:29:22,800 --> 00:29:26,320 Speaker 1: that's replicable, right, I mean, you can have the setups 576 00:29:26,320 --> 00:29:29,040 Speaker 1: in several different locations as they're heading off to these 577 00:29:29,320 --> 00:29:31,680 Speaker 1: you know, bigger food sources. So it made complete sense 578 00:29:31,720 --> 00:29:34,920 Speaker 1: to me. Um, you know for for hunting very smart 579 00:29:35,160 --> 00:29:41,360 Speaker 1: you know, um uh defined movements. Yeah, it was sort 580 00:29:41,400 --> 00:29:44,280 Speaker 1: of you know, there were certain things like that that 581 00:29:44,320 --> 00:29:46,440 Speaker 1: were like Jeff stir just light like take some of 582 00:29:46,440 --> 00:29:48,600 Speaker 1: the things that you and Jeff do and applied in 583 00:29:48,640 --> 00:29:50,960 Speaker 1: like Tom's own way. Right, He's got He's creating a 584 00:29:51,000 --> 00:29:54,200 Speaker 1: line of movement there that's going to get deer moving 585 00:29:54,240 --> 00:29:56,560 Speaker 1: through a place that you can hunt but in daylight. 586 00:29:57,080 --> 00:30:00,000 Speaker 1: So that was a cool thing to see. He also 587 00:30:00,120 --> 00:30:03,000 Speaker 1: made a point about how important those water holes are 588 00:30:03,080 --> 00:30:05,840 Speaker 1: during the rut. You know, deer aren't very well bucks 589 00:30:05,840 --> 00:30:09,840 Speaker 1: aren't very food focused during the rut, but when they're 590 00:30:09,840 --> 00:30:12,080 Speaker 1: cruising from betting area to betting area to betting area 591 00:30:12,080 --> 00:30:14,240 Speaker 1: looking for does, they're going to need that water. And 592 00:30:14,280 --> 00:30:17,040 Speaker 1: so he really finds that those ponds help suck deer 593 00:30:17,120 --> 00:30:19,120 Speaker 1: just a little bit closer to the stand locations and 594 00:30:19,200 --> 00:30:22,200 Speaker 1: stopped them along these routes. So Hunterson get a shop. 595 00:30:23,240 --> 00:30:25,800 Speaker 1: Um So, so that was a big thing that stood out. 596 00:30:25,840 --> 00:30:30,440 Speaker 1: So the the ponds, the kind of transition lines where 597 00:30:30,560 --> 00:30:34,000 Speaker 1: pat where kind of package those things altogether the trail cameras, 598 00:30:34,080 --> 00:30:36,120 Speaker 1: those things stood out. And then the other big thing 599 00:30:36,200 --> 00:30:38,360 Speaker 1: was that, you know, there's a ton of food. I mean, 600 00:30:38,520 --> 00:30:41,560 Speaker 1: he had a lot of food out there. He rents 601 00:30:41,560 --> 00:30:43,840 Speaker 1: out his main farm fields to a farmer, but then 602 00:30:43,880 --> 00:30:48,560 Speaker 1: he's got spots where he leaves crops standing. So, for example, 603 00:30:48,600 --> 00:30:51,080 Speaker 1: down the bottom of one of these areas, he had 604 00:30:51,080 --> 00:30:54,880 Speaker 1: a ton of standing beans, and on another area he 605 00:30:54,920 --> 00:30:58,680 Speaker 1: had some standing corn and he had turn up food 606 00:30:58,680 --> 00:31:00,920 Speaker 1: plot that we talked about. There are a couple other 607 00:31:00,920 --> 00:31:03,600 Speaker 1: turnip food plots like we discussed kind of in this cover. 608 00:31:04,280 --> 00:31:08,960 Speaker 1: So food is another big part of what he's doing. Um. 609 00:31:09,000 --> 00:31:13,280 Speaker 1: I think this main section that we were hunting or 610 00:31:13,360 --> 00:31:15,920 Speaker 1: kind of exploring was he's got like a three acre 611 00:31:16,040 --> 00:31:19,080 Speaker 1: farm of his own, and then he had access to 612 00:31:19,120 --> 00:31:21,760 Speaker 1: a neighboring property that was I don't know, something similar 613 00:31:21,800 --> 00:31:26,320 Speaker 1: to that. And so you know, across all that, I 614 00:31:26,320 --> 00:31:28,440 Speaker 1: don't know. I mean, if you think about all the 615 00:31:28,560 --> 00:31:31,720 Speaker 1: standing food we saw between the corn on the top, 616 00:31:32,440 --> 00:31:34,760 Speaker 1: the turnip plots, I can think of like three or 617 00:31:34,800 --> 00:31:38,040 Speaker 1: four food plots like that, then the standing beans in 618 00:31:38,080 --> 00:31:41,040 Speaker 1: the bottom, the standing corn and beans, and the second 619 00:31:41,120 --> 00:31:43,680 Speaker 1: valley that we hunted that first night, there was some 620 00:31:43,720 --> 00:31:46,320 Speaker 1: standing corn across the way. I mean, if I had 621 00:31:46,320 --> 00:31:50,840 Speaker 1: to make a very just like gut guess there's probably 622 00:31:52,840 --> 00:31:56,800 Speaker 1: five to ten acres of standing up food think something 623 00:31:56,840 --> 00:32:01,040 Speaker 1: like that. Yeah, so was another thing, right, I mean, 624 00:32:01,160 --> 00:32:03,440 Speaker 1: and I think that's a pretty consistent thing anyone who's 625 00:32:03,440 --> 00:32:07,280 Speaker 1: managing property for deers, you know, dear live and breathe 626 00:32:07,800 --> 00:32:10,440 Speaker 1: with their stomachs, like their world revolves around their stomach. 627 00:32:10,520 --> 00:32:14,160 Speaker 1: So making sure you've got that, um, and and that 628 00:32:14,240 --> 00:32:15,880 Speaker 1: was that was the stuff that really stood out from 629 00:32:16,040 --> 00:32:18,600 Speaker 1: what's he done to his property kind of perspective? Was 630 00:32:18,640 --> 00:32:22,080 Speaker 1: there anything else that you noticed outside of that? Now? 631 00:32:22,160 --> 00:32:24,160 Speaker 1: I think a lot of those things were you know, 632 00:32:24,280 --> 00:32:28,000 Speaker 1: very significantly eye opening um to me, especially just the 633 00:32:28,000 --> 00:32:30,600 Speaker 1: way that he approaches his property and accesses it. But 634 00:32:31,280 --> 00:32:35,040 Speaker 1: other than that was you know, relatively straightforward. Yeah. So 635 00:32:35,120 --> 00:32:37,880 Speaker 1: I think it's a perfect segue then into like our hunt, 636 00:32:38,000 --> 00:32:40,000 Speaker 1: because that's when we got into like some of his 637 00:32:40,080 --> 00:32:45,160 Speaker 1: hunt setups and his access and exit kind of methodology. Um. 638 00:32:45,200 --> 00:32:46,760 Speaker 1: You know, as I've tried to do in all these 639 00:32:46,840 --> 00:32:51,440 Speaker 1: hunts this year, I've I've really tried to take the 640 00:32:51,480 --> 00:32:55,800 Speaker 1: local experts, uh perspective and and trust it and try 641 00:32:55,800 --> 00:32:58,640 Speaker 1: it right and and try to do things the way 642 00:32:58,640 --> 00:33:01,040 Speaker 1: they do and you know, see if I can learn 643 00:33:01,040 --> 00:33:03,960 Speaker 1: from that and figure that out. And so that's where 644 00:33:04,040 --> 00:33:06,400 Speaker 1: some stuff in Tom's playbook kind of threw me for 645 00:33:06,440 --> 00:33:09,880 Speaker 1: a loop. Um. You know, after that first kind of 646 00:33:09,920 --> 00:33:13,120 Speaker 1: midday scouting around, driving around, seeing the place, picking his 647 00:33:13,160 --> 00:33:16,840 Speaker 1: brain about stuff, you know, we started looking into like, okay, 648 00:33:16,880 --> 00:33:19,360 Speaker 1: we're some different spots that might make sense to start hunting. 649 00:33:19,360 --> 00:33:21,480 Speaker 1: And of course, you know, hunting food sources in the 650 00:33:21,560 --> 00:33:23,600 Speaker 1: late seasons is the name of the game. Let's find 651 00:33:23,600 --> 00:33:25,840 Speaker 1: where the best food sources are. Let's find out where 652 00:33:25,840 --> 00:33:28,960 Speaker 1: the most dear activity is. And then you know, let's 653 00:33:29,200 --> 00:33:32,760 Speaker 1: pick a spot where we can hunt without getting picked 654 00:33:32,760 --> 00:33:37,120 Speaker 1: off and blown out. And so I thought, you know, 655 00:33:37,680 --> 00:33:40,600 Speaker 1: we'd be really thinking about win direction, we'd be really 656 00:33:40,640 --> 00:33:42,760 Speaker 1: thinking about Okay, let's find a spot we can access 657 00:33:42,760 --> 00:33:47,880 Speaker 1: without spook and deer um. And Tom had a couple 658 00:33:47,920 --> 00:33:49,760 Speaker 1: of surprising perspectives on this. And when he gets on 659 00:33:49,840 --> 00:33:51,560 Speaker 1: here later, I'll press him on this a little bit 660 00:33:51,600 --> 00:33:58,040 Speaker 1: more and have him explained. Um. But in short, he 661 00:33:58,160 --> 00:34:01,800 Speaker 1: was not as worried about excess and exit as I was. 662 00:34:01,880 --> 00:34:04,120 Speaker 1: And he was not as worried about the wind direction 663 00:34:04,200 --> 00:34:09,680 Speaker 1: many times as I was in both cases because of 664 00:34:09,920 --> 00:34:13,319 Speaker 1: kind of going back to the original original kind of 665 00:34:13,360 --> 00:34:15,560 Speaker 1: thing he does, which is make his presence known all 666 00:34:15,600 --> 00:34:19,720 Speaker 1: the time. And so his idea was, Man, I wouldn't 667 00:34:19,760 --> 00:34:22,000 Speaker 1: worry about your wind too much here, because the wind's 668 00:34:22,040 --> 00:34:24,719 Speaker 1: gonna do crazy things. With all these hills, there's not 669 00:34:24,800 --> 00:34:26,440 Speaker 1: a lot you can do to get away with it. 670 00:34:26,880 --> 00:34:31,200 Speaker 1: But these deer in many cases will forgive that. Um. 671 00:34:31,480 --> 00:34:33,760 Speaker 1: Same thing with access and exit. I was worried about 672 00:34:33,760 --> 00:34:36,120 Speaker 1: coming into For example, one of these fields we ended 673 00:34:36,160 --> 00:34:38,719 Speaker 1: up hunting was in the bottom, and then there was 674 00:34:39,080 --> 00:34:41,279 Speaker 1: timber on these ridges all around it, and I thought, man, 675 00:34:41,280 --> 00:34:43,520 Speaker 1: there's gonna be deer betting off these points and these ridges, 676 00:34:43,880 --> 00:34:46,680 Speaker 1: and if we go walking into this bottom, they're gonna 677 00:34:46,680 --> 00:34:49,640 Speaker 1: see us and they're never gonna come down and feed. Yeah, 678 00:34:49,680 --> 00:34:52,200 Speaker 1: a lot of it, like the access really just felt 679 00:34:52,480 --> 00:34:55,359 Speaker 1: kind of like taboo, like you know, you're getting in, like, man, 680 00:34:55,400 --> 00:34:58,400 Speaker 1: this this can't be right, This can't be how this 681 00:34:58,520 --> 00:35:01,200 Speaker 1: is done, you know, and go and behold. It ended 682 00:35:01,280 --> 00:35:04,359 Speaker 1: up working out, yeah, exactly. And so that first night, 683 00:35:04,360 --> 00:35:06,200 Speaker 1: you know, we decide, okay, let's just hunt an easy 684 00:35:06,200 --> 00:35:09,840 Speaker 1: spot for the first night, and just kind of it 685 00:35:09,960 --> 00:35:11,600 Speaker 1: was kind of I don't want to say it was 686 00:35:11,640 --> 00:35:13,960 Speaker 1: a throwaway hunt, but it was, let's just get a 687 00:35:14,000 --> 00:35:17,600 Speaker 1: good intro for the show, let's kind of observe, let's 688 00:35:17,640 --> 00:35:20,160 Speaker 1: bring both cameraman along someone. We can bring both guys 689 00:35:20,160 --> 00:35:22,480 Speaker 1: along and film a bunch of different kind of discussions 690 00:35:22,520 --> 00:35:24,400 Speaker 1: and stuff like that. So we hunted one of these 691 00:35:24,400 --> 00:35:27,520 Speaker 1: bottom fields. This setup I just described, there was a 692 00:35:27,680 --> 00:35:31,920 Speaker 1: narrow valley, the headed you know, off of the main valley, 693 00:35:32,040 --> 00:35:34,440 Speaker 1: and in there was a strip of standing corn and 694 00:35:34,480 --> 00:35:38,440 Speaker 1: a strip of standing beans, and Tom had a kind 695 00:35:38,440 --> 00:35:41,600 Speaker 1: of elevated box blind of sorts. Um it was like 696 00:35:41,600 --> 00:35:43,719 Speaker 1: one of those cloth sided box blinds that's on like 697 00:35:43,719 --> 00:35:47,640 Speaker 1: a five ft tower. Then would be a spot that you, 698 00:35:48,000 --> 00:35:51,520 Speaker 1: me and Tyler could all fit in and we could 699 00:35:51,520 --> 00:35:53,359 Speaker 1: film and do a bunch of stuff like that. And then, 700 00:35:53,360 --> 00:35:57,120 Speaker 1: like I said, there's kind of this this v almost right, 701 00:35:57,120 --> 00:36:01,000 Speaker 1: there's this v of two points and timber on all 702 00:36:01,040 --> 00:36:03,960 Speaker 1: those and thick bedding cover and stuff, and you know, 703 00:36:04,000 --> 00:36:05,719 Speaker 1: to make a long story short, on that night's hunt, 704 00:36:05,760 --> 00:36:08,120 Speaker 1: the idea was hopefully deer would come off of those ridges, 705 00:36:08,600 --> 00:36:11,879 Speaker 1: dropped down and feed into our field. Uh, some did 706 00:36:11,960 --> 00:36:13,839 Speaker 1: not as many as that we thought there would be, 707 00:36:14,320 --> 00:36:16,799 Speaker 1: but this was a warmer day and I think we 708 00:36:16,840 --> 00:36:20,480 Speaker 1: saw like five does come down started feeding, and then 709 00:36:20,480 --> 00:36:24,160 Speaker 1: a coyote ran through and spooked everything. So, you know, 710 00:36:24,239 --> 00:36:26,840 Speaker 1: who knows what impact that coyote had another deer that 711 00:36:26,920 --> 00:36:30,800 Speaker 1: might have been coming our direction, but they were definitely 712 00:36:30,880 --> 00:36:34,040 Speaker 1: on edge by that yoke. I mean they bugged out 713 00:36:34,040 --> 00:36:36,840 Speaker 1: of their heart. So that was the first day. That was, 714 00:36:37,000 --> 00:36:39,120 Speaker 1: you know, just let's learn the lay of the land 715 00:36:39,200 --> 00:36:44,440 Speaker 1: kind of day. Now the second day we you know, 716 00:36:45,400 --> 00:36:48,400 Speaker 1: as is the case with most late season hunts, usually 717 00:36:48,440 --> 00:36:52,600 Speaker 1: it's a evening focus. Right. Typically morning hunts are very 718 00:36:52,600 --> 00:36:55,080 Speaker 1: low odds because a lot of these deer, especially if 719 00:36:55,080 --> 00:36:57,040 Speaker 1: you're trying to kill the mature buck, they get back 720 00:36:57,040 --> 00:36:59,520 Speaker 1: to bed very early, and so it's hard to get 721 00:36:59,560 --> 00:37:02,920 Speaker 1: into these places without spooking deer off the food sources 722 00:37:03,000 --> 00:37:04,960 Speaker 1: or spooking deer that have already come into the betting 723 00:37:04,960 --> 00:37:09,080 Speaker 1: areas um. And so why a lot of people don't 724 00:37:09,160 --> 00:37:12,040 Speaker 1: hunt mornings is that, man, you might have like a 725 00:37:13,080 --> 00:37:15,319 Speaker 1: chance of spooking those deer in the morning if you're 726 00:37:15,320 --> 00:37:17,520 Speaker 1: trying to hunt them, but have a very low chance 727 00:37:17,520 --> 00:37:19,160 Speaker 1: of killing anything. And so what you're doing is you're 728 00:37:19,239 --> 00:37:21,799 Speaker 1: educating your deer and then screwing up your chances for 729 00:37:21,880 --> 00:37:25,279 Speaker 1: an evening success when these deer do seem to move 730 00:37:25,320 --> 00:37:29,319 Speaker 1: a lot more during daylight in late season. So you know, 731 00:37:29,360 --> 00:37:32,600 Speaker 1: that's been my typical experience most places. I asked Tom, 732 00:37:32,640 --> 00:37:35,000 Speaker 1: and you know these guys, if that's what they see 733 00:37:35,040 --> 00:37:38,040 Speaker 1: here too. They said that, yes, that is usually the case. 734 00:37:38,160 --> 00:37:39,680 Speaker 1: So we decided at the beginning of the trip at 735 00:37:39,760 --> 00:37:41,960 Speaker 1: least we would focus just on trying to have like 736 00:37:42,000 --> 00:37:44,360 Speaker 1: some really great evening hunts and then if it, you know, 737 00:37:44,360 --> 00:37:46,200 Speaker 1: if we got desperate towards the end, we might switch 738 00:37:46,239 --> 00:37:49,960 Speaker 1: things up. Um. So that second day it was another 739 00:37:50,080 --> 00:37:53,839 Speaker 1: scouting day and then we're gonna hunt that evening. So 740 00:37:55,400 --> 00:37:57,640 Speaker 1: what do we do. We filmed more stuff with Tom, 741 00:37:57,680 --> 00:38:00,000 Speaker 1: and then midday we've hopped on the side by side 742 00:38:00,080 --> 00:38:01,799 Speaker 1: again and then had him kind of give us a 743 00:38:01,800 --> 00:38:03,520 Speaker 1: tour of the other half of the farm that we 744 00:38:03,560 --> 00:38:07,719 Speaker 1: hadn't seen yet. Yeah, and that was awesome area. I mean, 745 00:38:08,960 --> 00:38:11,160 Speaker 1: after seeing you know, the area on the first day 746 00:38:11,200 --> 00:38:13,040 Speaker 1: and then going to this other area and just the 747 00:38:13,080 --> 00:38:16,120 Speaker 1: amount of sign uh you know, tracks and you know, 748 00:38:16,239 --> 00:38:19,080 Speaker 1: just obvious sign that hey, there's a heck of a 749 00:38:19,160 --> 00:38:21,719 Speaker 1: lot of deer hanging out here during the daylight. You know. 750 00:38:21,800 --> 00:38:23,360 Speaker 1: It was kind of cool to see all that, and 751 00:38:23,760 --> 00:38:27,960 Speaker 1: that that was the big thing. Was like, okay, for 752 00:38:28,000 --> 00:38:29,839 Speaker 1: this kind of hunt in this kind of place, it's 753 00:38:29,880 --> 00:38:32,080 Speaker 1: just a matter of like, figure out what's the food 754 00:38:32,080 --> 00:38:34,439 Speaker 1: source the deer keying in on it right now. And 755 00:38:34,640 --> 00:38:37,879 Speaker 1: pretty quickly when we drove up to that other half 756 00:38:37,880 --> 00:38:39,799 Speaker 1: of the farm and went to the top fields there, 757 00:38:39,880 --> 00:38:42,160 Speaker 1: we realized like, oh wow, this is where all the 758 00:38:42,200 --> 00:38:44,960 Speaker 1: deer are. You know, compared to everything else, there was 759 00:38:45,120 --> 00:38:49,000 Speaker 1: way more activity, way more tracks. Um, And it was 760 00:38:49,040 --> 00:38:51,080 Speaker 1: just very clearly spelled out in the snow. You can 761 00:38:51,120 --> 00:38:53,360 Speaker 1: see him just tearing up this turnip plot in the top. 762 00:38:53,800 --> 00:38:56,480 Speaker 1: You can see lots of tracks in the cut corn. Um. 763 00:38:56,760 --> 00:38:58,719 Speaker 1: We we did another one of those drive up through 764 00:38:58,719 --> 00:39:01,440 Speaker 1: the bedding areas kind of things, so we saw tons 765 00:39:01,480 --> 00:39:03,960 Speaker 1: of trails through there. We saw tons of beds. You 766 00:39:04,000 --> 00:39:05,759 Speaker 1: could just see like, okay, there's a lot of deer 767 00:39:05,760 --> 00:39:08,480 Speaker 1: in here. Pretty quickly I realized, all right, this is 768 00:39:08,560 --> 00:39:11,719 Speaker 1: this is the region I want to hunt tonight. Um. 769 00:39:11,760 --> 00:39:14,200 Speaker 1: This seems like where most of the food action is 770 00:39:14,400 --> 00:39:18,120 Speaker 1: and so this is another thing that surprised me. We 771 00:39:18,200 --> 00:39:19,960 Speaker 1: get up there and we're looking at stuff and there's 772 00:39:20,000 --> 00:39:22,320 Speaker 1: a little turnip food plot I don't know, like a 773 00:39:22,600 --> 00:39:27,360 Speaker 1: half acre something like that, and just ripped up. So 774 00:39:27,360 --> 00:39:30,120 Speaker 1: I was thinking, man, this looks great. Um. Then I 775 00:39:30,160 --> 00:39:32,480 Speaker 1: was talking through like, okay, what's the wind gonna do today? 776 00:39:32,560 --> 00:39:34,600 Speaker 1: And was you know, I thought, oh, this is due, 777 00:39:34,640 --> 00:39:36,560 Speaker 1: this would be just fine. And again Tom was like, man, 778 00:39:36,600 --> 00:39:38,279 Speaker 1: don't don't worry about the wind too much. Appear. I 779 00:39:38,360 --> 00:39:41,400 Speaker 1: was like okay, um, but it seemed it could be okay. 780 00:39:41,440 --> 00:39:45,040 Speaker 1: But the big thing that surprised me, um, you know, 781 00:39:45,080 --> 00:39:47,239 Speaker 1: I asked him if he had pop up blinds and 782 00:39:47,239 --> 00:39:49,600 Speaker 1: if we could use one. He said, yeah, definitely, he said, 783 00:39:49,640 --> 00:39:51,920 Speaker 1: but don't try to hide it. And I said what 784 00:39:52,400 --> 00:39:54,640 Speaker 1: he said, Yeah, don't don't try to hide the blind, 785 00:39:54,719 --> 00:39:57,919 Speaker 1: just pop it out in the open um. And that 786 00:39:57,960 --> 00:40:00,960 Speaker 1: one really surprised me too, because you know, if ever 787 00:40:01,000 --> 00:40:03,400 Speaker 1: I'm going to use a ground blind, I either want it, 788 00:40:03,680 --> 00:40:06,120 Speaker 1: you know, set up way way ahead of the season 789 00:40:06,160 --> 00:40:08,200 Speaker 1: so it's just there forever and the deer get used 790 00:40:08,239 --> 00:40:10,400 Speaker 1: to it, or if I have to pop it up 791 00:40:10,400 --> 00:40:12,799 Speaker 1: and hunt it soon I'm gonna try to brush it 792 00:40:12,840 --> 00:40:14,719 Speaker 1: in and hide it as best as possible so that 793 00:40:14,760 --> 00:40:17,920 Speaker 1: the deer just can't notice it. And that was not 794 00:40:18,040 --> 00:40:22,439 Speaker 1: Tom's program, again, just against every instinct that we had 795 00:40:22,480 --> 00:40:27,279 Speaker 1: coming into it, right. His his explanation was that if 796 00:40:27,360 --> 00:40:30,040 Speaker 1: you try to hide it, they're still going to see it, 797 00:40:30,320 --> 00:40:33,439 Speaker 1: and that's actually gonna surprise them more because they won't 798 00:40:33,520 --> 00:40:35,799 Speaker 1: notice it until they get closer, until they like kind 799 00:40:35,800 --> 00:40:37,319 Speaker 1: of see something a little bit off, and then they 800 00:40:37,320 --> 00:40:39,200 Speaker 1: study it for a while and then they'll freak out 801 00:40:39,480 --> 00:40:43,960 Speaker 1: because it was it was jarring. His his recommendation was 802 00:40:44,040 --> 00:40:46,319 Speaker 1: to instead put it out in the open and they'll 803 00:40:46,360 --> 00:40:48,960 Speaker 1: notice it from afar and they'll kind of examine it 804 00:40:49,080 --> 00:40:52,040 Speaker 1: and then they'll be okay with it. Um And I think, 805 00:40:52,200 --> 00:40:54,719 Speaker 1: you know, he didn't exactly say this, but after I 806 00:40:54,719 --> 00:40:56,960 Speaker 1: thought about it and watch what happened, you know, I 807 00:40:57,000 --> 00:41:00,280 Speaker 1: think pop up blinds like this and big new pieces 808 00:41:00,280 --> 00:41:03,759 Speaker 1: of farm equipment or new blinds or new vehicles. I 809 00:41:03,760 --> 00:41:06,000 Speaker 1: think those kinds of things just kind of show up 810 00:41:06,040 --> 00:41:08,200 Speaker 1: all over his farm at different times of the year 811 00:41:08,560 --> 00:41:10,839 Speaker 1: and are there, and the deer see that and they're 812 00:41:10,920 --> 00:41:13,680 Speaker 1: used to it. So a big block showing up in 813 00:41:13,680 --> 00:41:16,239 Speaker 1: the middle of nowhere is like, that's just another day 814 00:41:16,239 --> 00:41:18,160 Speaker 1: and day in the life around here for these deers, 815 00:41:19,000 --> 00:41:22,120 Speaker 1: and they don't have negative consequences. I think that's probably 816 00:41:22,160 --> 00:41:24,759 Speaker 1: the big things. Like, you know, most of the year, 817 00:41:24,920 --> 00:41:29,120 Speaker 1: all the stuff's going on, and people aren't shooting these deer. Right, Um, 818 00:41:29,200 --> 00:41:31,759 Speaker 1: the vast majority of the bucks aren't getting shot at, 819 00:41:32,480 --> 00:41:34,480 Speaker 1: a lot of the does aren't getting shot at. So 820 00:41:34,600 --> 00:41:38,360 Speaker 1: ninety probably of the deer that live in these hundreds 821 00:41:38,400 --> 00:41:41,000 Speaker 1: of acres are never having a negative consequence to a 822 00:41:41,000 --> 00:41:43,880 Speaker 1: blind popping up brand new. So they're just used to 823 00:41:43,920 --> 00:41:48,399 Speaker 1: seeing these things pop up and there's nothing bad to happen, 824 00:41:48,520 --> 00:41:50,640 Speaker 1: so they just carry on. And so I think they're 825 00:41:50,680 --> 00:41:54,720 Speaker 1: just conditioned to, you know, seeing intrusion and being okay 826 00:41:54,719 --> 00:41:57,239 Speaker 1: with it. Yeah, And so you know, even though you 827 00:41:57,280 --> 00:41:59,160 Speaker 1: and I are both like, man, this feels like it's 828 00:41:59,160 --> 00:42:02,120 Speaker 1: not gonna work, we we decided to try it anyway. 829 00:42:02,200 --> 00:42:04,239 Speaker 1: So we went back up to that turnip plot later 830 00:42:04,320 --> 00:42:07,719 Speaker 1: that night and set up a pop up blind right 831 00:42:07,760 --> 00:42:10,000 Speaker 1: on the edge of this plot, basically right out in 832 00:42:10,040 --> 00:42:13,160 Speaker 1: the open, I mean, very visible. Did not put anything 833 00:42:13,200 --> 00:42:15,279 Speaker 1: around it, did not try to brush it in at all, 834 00:42:16,360 --> 00:42:20,720 Speaker 1: and you know, basically two make a cliff notes version 835 00:42:20,719 --> 00:42:23,080 Speaker 1: of this hunt. Had a bunch of deer come out 836 00:42:23,120 --> 00:42:26,480 Speaker 1: towards the end of the night, and these deer come 837 00:42:26,800 --> 00:42:29,719 Speaker 1: came right into that food plot, right around it, and 838 00:42:30,040 --> 00:42:33,040 Speaker 1: pretty much didn't give that blind care in the world. Yeah. Yeah, 839 00:42:33,080 --> 00:42:35,320 Speaker 1: that was shocking. And if a few deer were like 840 00:42:35,360 --> 00:42:37,040 Speaker 1: stopped and looked at it for a little bit, but 841 00:42:37,080 --> 00:42:38,759 Speaker 1: then they just kept on feeding. We had deer that 842 00:42:38,800 --> 00:42:40,799 Speaker 1: fed within five yards of it, ten yards of it 843 00:42:41,560 --> 00:42:44,279 Speaker 1: um this brand new blind that had been sitting there 844 00:42:44,320 --> 00:42:47,640 Speaker 1: no more than a couple of hours, and they were 845 00:42:47,680 --> 00:42:52,040 Speaker 1: just like, yeah, let's eat. So I think it helps. 846 00:42:52,080 --> 00:42:54,799 Speaker 1: When it was you know, what was the temperature that day, 847 00:42:54,840 --> 00:42:57,520 Speaker 1: I think zero degrees or four degrees or something like 848 00:42:57,560 --> 00:43:00,279 Speaker 1: that with a wind chill, so yeah, so much you know, 849 00:43:00,360 --> 00:43:02,960 Speaker 1: harsher windfields. So yes, that's got very good point. That 850 00:43:03,040 --> 00:43:06,040 Speaker 1: second day, the the temperature dropped out of the bottom 851 00:43:06,080 --> 00:43:09,839 Speaker 1: and we got to you know, negative temperatures and these 852 00:43:09,880 --> 00:43:12,440 Speaker 1: deer obviously we're really key done the food then. And 853 00:43:12,440 --> 00:43:14,960 Speaker 1: that was another thing Tom set both about the wind 854 00:43:15,160 --> 00:43:18,600 Speaker 1: and like intrusion. He basically said, these deer are going 855 00:43:18,680 --> 00:43:21,600 Speaker 1: to be so food crazy right now. They're just not 856 00:43:21,600 --> 00:43:24,080 Speaker 1: going to care about a whole lot else. And you know, 857 00:43:24,120 --> 00:43:25,719 Speaker 1: we saw it that night. But the big thing that 858 00:43:25,719 --> 00:43:27,400 Speaker 1: stood out to us was that while we had a 859 00:43:27,440 --> 00:43:30,560 Speaker 1: decent number deer that came into our location, um I 860 00:43:30,600 --> 00:43:34,479 Speaker 1: don't know, I mean, you know, there was like maybe 861 00:43:34,600 --> 00:43:37,920 Speaker 1: six seven eight deer that came out to feed in daylight, 862 00:43:37,960 --> 00:43:40,840 Speaker 1: and then after shooting light, another group of deer started 863 00:43:41,000 --> 00:43:44,880 Speaker 1: working in. But that whole time, about a hundred and 864 00:43:44,880 --> 00:43:48,000 Speaker 1: fifty yards or so down the field was where this 865 00:43:48,120 --> 00:43:50,960 Speaker 1: patch of standing corn was, and we saw just a 866 00:43:51,000 --> 00:43:54,080 Speaker 1: boatload of deer hitting that all night. It just seemed 867 00:43:54,080 --> 00:43:55,799 Speaker 1: like every time we looked down there, there's another deer 868 00:43:55,800 --> 00:43:58,200 Speaker 1: popping out, another deer popping out, another deer popping out. 869 00:43:58,880 --> 00:44:01,040 Speaker 1: So the big take way for us then after that 870 00:44:01,160 --> 00:44:03,560 Speaker 1: night was I think we really need to be down there. 871 00:44:04,400 --> 00:44:06,640 Speaker 1: They seem to be keying in on that corn more 872 00:44:06,719 --> 00:44:11,400 Speaker 1: than the turnips. So that was a big aha. Night 873 00:44:11,520 --> 00:44:15,640 Speaker 1: number two got really really cold and they hit up 874 00:44:15,680 --> 00:44:18,279 Speaker 1: on the corn. They really want those grains, I guess, right, 875 00:44:18,320 --> 00:44:22,160 Speaker 1: getting the carbs, getting the energy, kind of recouping from 876 00:44:22,200 --> 00:44:40,520 Speaker 1: the Arctic tundra temperatures. So that was day two. So 877 00:44:41,040 --> 00:44:44,640 Speaker 1: then day three, you know, same deal. Weren't gonna hunt 878 00:44:44,640 --> 00:44:46,880 Speaker 1: the morning, We're going to hunt the evening. And I 879 00:44:47,000 --> 00:44:49,760 Speaker 1: knew that we wanted to be on that standing corn, 880 00:44:50,680 --> 00:44:53,440 Speaker 1: and there was another box blind set up on that 881 00:44:53,520 --> 00:44:56,400 Speaker 1: standing corn that seemed like, hey, you know there's a 882 00:44:56,440 --> 00:45:00,480 Speaker 1: location there where we want to be. It is abolished, 883 00:45:00,560 --> 00:45:03,120 Speaker 1: these deer should be used to it. That probably makes sense. 884 00:45:03,719 --> 00:45:05,360 Speaker 1: But we had this wind that was kind of blowing 885 00:45:05,400 --> 00:45:08,480 Speaker 1: from the timber out towards the field, and I remember 886 00:45:08,520 --> 00:45:10,239 Speaker 1: talking to Tom and saying, hey, you know, I'm gonna 887 00:45:10,280 --> 00:45:12,920 Speaker 1: want to go towards that standing corn, that groundbl or 888 00:45:12,960 --> 00:45:15,239 Speaker 1: that box blind is there. The wind's gonna kind of 889 00:45:15,280 --> 00:45:18,200 Speaker 1: blow out to the edge. Though, Um, you know, I'm 890 00:45:18,200 --> 00:45:20,160 Speaker 1: a little unsure if I want to hunt there because 891 00:45:20,239 --> 00:45:22,759 Speaker 1: if deer dew come out on the far left of us, 892 00:45:22,920 --> 00:45:27,360 Speaker 1: they might wind us. So once again Tom said, no, 893 00:45:27,880 --> 00:45:30,960 Speaker 1: don't worry about that, hunt that spot. If you like it, Um, 894 00:45:31,239 --> 00:45:35,000 Speaker 1: you'll be okay. And again I decided to trust him 895 00:45:35,040 --> 00:45:37,160 Speaker 1: on it because he proved to be true the night before. 896 00:45:38,840 --> 00:45:40,880 Speaker 1: And so this is this is the this is an 897 00:45:40,920 --> 00:45:43,120 Speaker 1: interesting part of the night because we go get into 898 00:45:43,120 --> 00:45:45,799 Speaker 1: this box blind this box blind is very tight. It's 899 00:45:45,880 --> 00:45:51,920 Speaker 1: tighter than what we're expecting. So sure. Yeah, so we're worried, like, 900 00:45:51,960 --> 00:45:53,520 Speaker 1: how in the world are we both gonna fit in 901 00:45:53,640 --> 00:45:55,800 Speaker 1: here and have room for you to film and me 902 00:45:55,920 --> 00:45:58,320 Speaker 1: be able to shoot. We ended up taking there was 903 00:45:58,360 --> 00:46:00,480 Speaker 1: two chairs in there. We took one of the chairs 904 00:46:00,520 --> 00:46:03,080 Speaker 1: out and hit it underneath the blind and that gave 905 00:46:03,160 --> 00:46:05,400 Speaker 1: us just barely enough for him to operate. You had 906 00:46:05,480 --> 00:46:07,920 Speaker 1: to sit on your knees while I was in this 907 00:46:08,080 --> 00:46:11,760 Speaker 1: little tiny chair thingy um. Yeah. It was not ideal 908 00:46:11,840 --> 00:46:14,560 Speaker 1: at all, but we made it work. Yeah, And and 909 00:46:14,680 --> 00:46:17,320 Speaker 1: we kind of had to choose a side that I 910 00:46:17,360 --> 00:46:20,640 Speaker 1: would shoot out of. And you know, we we based 911 00:46:20,719 --> 00:46:22,840 Speaker 1: which direction I faced based on what we saw the 912 00:46:22,960 --> 00:46:25,000 Speaker 1: night before. It seemed like most of the deer had 913 00:46:25,080 --> 00:46:28,000 Speaker 1: come out on the north side, so I positioned my 914 00:46:28,080 --> 00:46:30,080 Speaker 1: shot myself to be able to shoot to that side. 915 00:46:30,760 --> 00:46:33,280 Speaker 1: And we said, well, if something comes out to the south, fish, 916 00:46:33,800 --> 00:46:36,120 Speaker 1: we'll have to do like a little fire drill and 917 00:46:36,200 --> 00:46:39,320 Speaker 1: switch positions. So let's not do that unless we absolutely 918 00:46:39,360 --> 00:46:43,200 Speaker 1: have to. Um, and we kind of practice what are 919 00:46:43,239 --> 00:46:44,759 Speaker 1: we gonna do in this situation? What are we gonna 920 00:46:44,760 --> 00:46:47,680 Speaker 1: do in this situation. We got the windows set and situated, 921 00:46:47,719 --> 00:46:53,279 Speaker 1: and as I don't know, within an hour ish deer 922 00:46:53,360 --> 00:46:57,440 Speaker 1: star coming out, and yeah, the parade really took off 923 00:46:57,520 --> 00:46:59,879 Speaker 1: from there. Yeah. It was you know, dough dough, dough, 924 00:47:00,200 --> 00:47:04,040 Speaker 1: little dough, little buck dough dough, and pretty quickly deer 925 00:47:04,080 --> 00:47:07,799 Speaker 1: were coming out on our down wind side and giving us, 926 00:47:07,960 --> 00:47:11,120 Speaker 1: you know, a free pass, not not winding us. So 927 00:47:11,280 --> 00:47:13,440 Speaker 1: that was encouraging. I remember thinking to myself, all right, 928 00:47:13,440 --> 00:47:17,000 Speaker 1: you know this could work. And it was super duper cold. 929 00:47:17,480 --> 00:47:19,040 Speaker 1: This was you know, I don't I can't remember what 930 00:47:19,120 --> 00:47:21,800 Speaker 1: the temperature was that day, but again in the negative 931 00:47:22,040 --> 00:47:24,440 Speaker 1: you know, I think negative ten or something windshill probably 932 00:47:24,480 --> 00:47:26,960 Speaker 1: something like that. I think the real temperature was like 933 00:47:27,120 --> 00:47:30,120 Speaker 1: zero or negative one, something like that. And you know, 934 00:47:30,200 --> 00:47:36,080 Speaker 1: these deer one of that corn. So the highlights of 935 00:47:36,280 --> 00:47:41,320 Speaker 1: this evening came I think the last hour hour fifteen 936 00:47:41,640 --> 00:47:47,000 Speaker 1: probably when we looked across the way and in the 937 00:47:47,040 --> 00:47:50,320 Speaker 1: way to envision this is we're on this this box 938 00:47:50,440 --> 00:47:52,920 Speaker 1: blind is on the edge of the timber and a 939 00:47:52,960 --> 00:47:56,880 Speaker 1: cut corn field. But the top of the center of 940 00:47:56,960 --> 00:47:59,640 Speaker 1: this field is high, like the center of the field 941 00:47:59,719 --> 00:48:03,520 Speaker 1: is the ice point of this hill. This ridge and 942 00:48:03,640 --> 00:48:07,520 Speaker 1: then the field drops down towards us in the timber, 943 00:48:07,760 --> 00:48:11,840 Speaker 1: so we are lower on the hill looking acrossed, you know, 944 00:48:11,960 --> 00:48:14,520 Speaker 1: at the side the hill slope kind of And like 945 00:48:14,600 --> 00:48:16,360 Speaker 1: I said, most of us cut corn except for this 946 00:48:16,400 --> 00:48:17,960 Speaker 1: patch just right in front of us. That the patch 947 00:48:18,040 --> 00:48:21,960 Speaker 1: of standing corn was maybe I don't know, maybe half 948 00:48:22,000 --> 00:48:26,640 Speaker 1: acre standing corn around the um, and it's cut for 949 00:48:26,719 --> 00:48:28,920 Speaker 1: the first like fifteen yards or so in front of us, 950 00:48:28,960 --> 00:48:32,080 Speaker 1: and then the standing corn begins. And then they're standing 951 00:48:32,160 --> 00:48:34,279 Speaker 1: corn to the left and to the right of us, 952 00:48:34,400 --> 00:48:39,000 Speaker 1: about forty five yards or so down give or take 953 00:48:39,040 --> 00:48:42,759 Speaker 1: maybe a fifty and and that's the setup. And with 954 00:48:42,880 --> 00:48:46,000 Speaker 1: about an hour and fifty minutes left in daylight, I 955 00:48:46,080 --> 00:48:47,960 Speaker 1: camera if it's you or me who spotted him first, 956 00:48:48,000 --> 00:48:49,680 Speaker 1: But a buck came over the top of that hill 957 00:48:50,280 --> 00:48:53,759 Speaker 1: off to our south, coming in our direction, and then 958 00:48:53,840 --> 00:48:56,440 Speaker 1: another buck behind it. The first buck was what ended 959 00:48:56,480 --> 00:48:58,880 Speaker 1: up being what looked like a two year old, like 960 00:48:59,680 --> 00:49:01,920 Speaker 1: I don't eight year eight point or something like that. 961 00:49:02,080 --> 00:49:05,680 Speaker 1: I think it had a split on one side, so 962 00:49:05,800 --> 00:49:08,040 Speaker 1: he was first, and then behind it was a big 963 00:49:08,160 --> 00:49:11,520 Speaker 1: buck and this deer was like I think it was 964 00:49:11,560 --> 00:49:16,719 Speaker 1: a nine point right um, tight and tall, like imagine 965 00:49:16,800 --> 00:49:21,279 Speaker 1: like a fifteen maybe fifty inches wide, sixty inches wide 966 00:49:21,400 --> 00:49:26,800 Speaker 1: something like that. Um, and then like really tall twos 967 00:49:26,880 --> 00:49:32,120 Speaker 1: and threes, And right away I'm like, Okay, that's that's 968 00:49:32,160 --> 00:49:35,000 Speaker 1: a shooter buck. And something we didn't talk about at 969 00:49:35,000 --> 00:49:38,200 Speaker 1: the beginning, which we probably should have, was what qualifies 970 00:49:38,320 --> 00:49:41,040 Speaker 1: the shooter buck out here? And this is a brand 971 00:49:41,040 --> 00:49:43,480 Speaker 1: new thing for me, So so this is something we 972 00:49:43,520 --> 00:49:48,920 Speaker 1: should explain. Um, I've never hunted a place where I 973 00:49:48,960 --> 00:49:52,360 Speaker 1: couldn't shoot whatever I wanted. Um, but here on on, 974 00:49:52,880 --> 00:49:56,160 Speaker 1: you know Tom's place, because he has you know, clients 975 00:49:56,280 --> 00:49:57,839 Speaker 1: coming in and wanted to hunt with him that are 976 00:49:57,880 --> 00:49:59,600 Speaker 1: coming here and wanting to get a crack at a 977 00:49:59,760 --> 00:50:02,120 Speaker 1: good deer, at a big buck. You know, he's set 978 00:50:02,760 --> 00:50:05,719 Speaker 1: kind of minimum size guidelines to try to, you know, 979 00:50:06,160 --> 00:50:08,880 Speaker 1: get people to pass on younger bucks so there can 980 00:50:08,960 --> 00:50:12,400 Speaker 1: be more older, bigger deer for future people. So basically, 981 00:50:12,480 --> 00:50:15,400 Speaker 1: what he told us was that a hundred and forty 982 00:50:16,120 --> 00:50:18,359 Speaker 1: is the minimum size for a buck that you can 983 00:50:18,440 --> 00:50:22,399 Speaker 1: shoot unless it is like an obviously big mature buck 984 00:50:22,800 --> 00:50:25,399 Speaker 1: that has like poor antler genetics. And I think that's 985 00:50:25,400 --> 00:50:28,360 Speaker 1: something that he was kind of telling us because you know, 986 00:50:28,440 --> 00:50:30,520 Speaker 1: I demonstrate to him that I know what a mature 987 00:50:30,560 --> 00:50:33,080 Speaker 1: buck is and I could tell, like, what would qualifies that. 988 00:50:33,320 --> 00:50:34,800 Speaker 1: So I think when he was talking with us, he 989 00:50:34,880 --> 00:50:36,279 Speaker 1: was basically saying, hey, you know, if it's a deer 990 00:50:36,320 --> 00:50:38,719 Speaker 1: like this, so he obviously knows a big old buck 991 00:50:38,760 --> 00:50:41,680 Speaker 1: that doesn't have potential from an antler perspective, that would 992 00:50:41,680 --> 00:50:43,640 Speaker 1: be a good one to shoot. And I guess but 993 00:50:43,800 --> 00:50:45,560 Speaker 1: he says, nobody else really wants to shoot those deer, 994 00:50:45,560 --> 00:50:47,400 Speaker 1: but I would be happy to shoot those deers. So 995 00:50:47,520 --> 00:50:49,920 Speaker 1: I told him, man, yeah, I'd happily take one of those, 996 00:50:50,200 --> 00:50:53,359 Speaker 1: you know, those bully bucks that no one else wants. 997 00:50:53,760 --> 00:50:55,680 Speaker 1: But other than that, you know, you had to make 998 00:50:55,680 --> 00:50:58,760 Speaker 1: a quick judgment on you know, what's a one forty 999 00:50:58,760 --> 00:51:00,719 Speaker 1: plus buck or not. And this buck that came out, 1000 00:51:01,400 --> 00:51:04,200 Speaker 1: you know, right away I thought, man, that's definitely a 1001 00:51:04,280 --> 00:51:06,279 Speaker 1: one forty plus buck, but it did look like a 1002 00:51:06,360 --> 00:51:10,320 Speaker 1: possible three year old. Um, you know, there could be 1003 00:51:10,360 --> 00:51:12,080 Speaker 1: tricks being playing of this time of year because this 1004 00:51:12,239 --> 00:51:14,319 Speaker 1: is very very late in the year. They've been run 1005 00:51:14,480 --> 00:51:16,719 Speaker 1: down from the rut, so this is definitely the smallest 1006 00:51:17,000 --> 00:51:18,719 Speaker 1: these deer will look at this time of year. So 1007 00:51:19,040 --> 00:51:21,759 Speaker 1: that's you know, if he was four, it wouldn't shock 1008 00:51:21,880 --> 00:51:25,279 Speaker 1: me either. Um. But the one thing I did know 1009 00:51:25,440 --> 00:51:28,600 Speaker 1: is like, man, he definitely meets the antler size minimum. Um, 1010 00:51:29,360 --> 00:51:33,440 Speaker 1: that's that's a buck you gotta take. Ye. So you know, 1011 00:51:33,520 --> 00:51:36,240 Speaker 1: we all got we were super excited, we got into position, 1012 00:51:36,600 --> 00:51:39,640 Speaker 1: we're getting ready, and his running buddy comes. He walks 1013 00:51:39,760 --> 00:51:42,120 Speaker 1: right to the corner of the corn and then comes 1014 00:51:42,200 --> 00:51:43,840 Speaker 1: into the cut part in front of it and starts 1015 00:51:43,880 --> 00:51:46,440 Speaker 1: walking down the edge in front. And I'm thinking, my goodness, 1016 00:51:47,000 --> 00:51:49,000 Speaker 1: these deer are gonna walk right in. They're gonna walk 1017 00:51:49,160 --> 00:51:51,080 Speaker 1: right in the edge of the standing in the cut corn, 1018 00:51:51,680 --> 00:51:55,040 Speaker 1: and they're coming across. And I thought, wow, these bucks 1019 00:51:55,080 --> 00:51:56,800 Speaker 1: are gonna come right across, and I'm gonna have a 1020 00:51:56,880 --> 00:52:01,640 Speaker 1: fifteen yard shop broadside shot hopefully at this buck. Um. 1021 00:52:02,480 --> 00:52:04,719 Speaker 1: And I just remember thinking, as this buck was approaching, 1022 00:52:04,800 --> 00:52:07,160 Speaker 1: like all right, man, just like this is business time. 1023 00:52:07,320 --> 00:52:10,400 Speaker 1: Just focus on what you gotta do. You focus on 1024 00:52:10,680 --> 00:52:13,440 Speaker 1: you know, getting a good you know, get get your 1025 00:52:13,480 --> 00:52:16,279 Speaker 1: anchor points right, tak your time. You know. I just 1026 00:52:16,400 --> 00:52:18,439 Speaker 1: was kind of like coaching myself through that moment because 1027 00:52:18,440 --> 00:52:20,160 Speaker 1: it seemed like this is going to happen. And then 1028 00:52:20,239 --> 00:52:23,160 Speaker 1: that big one got to the same corner as the 1029 00:52:23,239 --> 00:52:26,200 Speaker 1: younger buck did and stopped there and I'm not thinking, okay, 1030 00:52:26,680 --> 00:52:30,360 Speaker 1: you know, he's gonna turn, and he turned, but instead 1031 00:52:30,400 --> 00:52:33,239 Speaker 1: of turning walking down the edge, he slipped into the 1032 00:52:33,320 --> 00:52:38,279 Speaker 1: standing corn, and from there we progressed. I don't know 1033 00:52:38,360 --> 00:52:41,440 Speaker 1: how this how long this was, Dylan, It seemed like forever. 1034 00:52:41,840 --> 00:52:43,919 Speaker 1: Maybe it was ten minutes, maybe it was a half hour. 1035 00:52:44,160 --> 00:52:45,880 Speaker 1: I don't know how long it actually was. But for 1036 00:52:45,960 --> 00:52:50,439 Speaker 1: a long time I sat there, clipped on holding my boat, 1037 00:52:50,840 --> 00:52:54,160 Speaker 1: waiting as this buck kind of worked his way into 1038 00:52:54,200 --> 00:52:56,080 Speaker 1: the standing corn, and then he'd work his way down 1039 00:52:56,160 --> 00:52:58,000 Speaker 1: to the edge of the standing corn, but not quite 1040 00:52:58,040 --> 00:53:00,120 Speaker 1: come out, and then he'd go back up for lear 1041 00:53:00,120 --> 00:53:02,640 Speaker 1: in the standing corn, all the while like slowly working 1042 00:53:02,680 --> 00:53:05,279 Speaker 1: his way down closer to us, but never coming all 1043 00:53:05,320 --> 00:53:09,719 Speaker 1: the way out. Yeah, extremely frustrating, you know, especially for 1044 00:53:09,960 --> 00:53:11,560 Speaker 1: you know, kind of the position that we were in 1045 00:53:11,719 --> 00:53:14,120 Speaker 1: and that small blind and trying to hold still this 1046 00:53:14,200 --> 00:53:17,960 Speaker 1: whole time. Was it was difficult, super difficult, And I 1047 00:53:18,160 --> 00:53:21,279 Speaker 1: just needed him to come down a little further and 1048 00:53:21,480 --> 00:53:23,680 Speaker 1: step out of the corn, and he just wouldn't do it. 1049 00:53:23,920 --> 00:53:26,239 Speaker 1: He he just kitt he kind of get really close, 1050 00:53:26,280 --> 00:53:28,319 Speaker 1: he'd angle that way and then up, angle that way, 1051 00:53:28,400 --> 00:53:31,560 Speaker 1: up and slowly working his way down across. He eventually 1052 00:53:31,640 --> 00:53:33,919 Speaker 1: made it to the point that if that standing corn 1053 00:53:34,080 --> 00:53:38,080 Speaker 1: wasn't there. Um, you don't trying to remember if he 1054 00:53:38,160 --> 00:53:42,080 Speaker 1: ever was shootable through the front window, I think he 1055 00:53:42,080 --> 00:53:45,040 Speaker 1: would have been shootable through the front window. And yeah, 1056 00:53:45,719 --> 00:53:49,399 Speaker 1: um but again corn in the way couldn't do it. Yeah, 1057 00:53:49,520 --> 00:53:51,359 Speaker 1: but it just seemed like any moment he was going 1058 00:53:51,480 --> 00:53:53,640 Speaker 1: to and his his running buddy was right in front 1059 00:53:53,680 --> 00:53:56,600 Speaker 1: of us in range easy shot at him. So I 1060 00:53:56,680 --> 00:53:58,680 Speaker 1: just thought like, eventually, this guy is gonna work with 1061 00:53:58,800 --> 00:54:02,560 Speaker 1: it down there. But these deer, who had been given 1062 00:54:02,640 --> 00:54:06,520 Speaker 1: us the free pass on so much else, finally kind 1063 00:54:06,560 --> 00:54:09,239 Speaker 1: of gave us a hard time. When one of these 1064 00:54:09,320 --> 00:54:13,279 Speaker 1: doughes got close to our blind and noticed that chair 1065 00:54:13,960 --> 00:54:17,279 Speaker 1: that we had hidden underneath the blind, and she just 1066 00:54:17,440 --> 00:54:20,400 Speaker 1: got spooked by it was something out of place, but 1067 00:54:20,719 --> 00:54:22,759 Speaker 1: I guess different enough from what they usually see, and 1068 00:54:22,800 --> 00:54:24,480 Speaker 1: she couldn't pin it. She couldn't figure out what it 1069 00:54:24,680 --> 00:54:27,600 Speaker 1: was or something enough that she freaked out and she 1070 00:54:27,840 --> 00:54:30,880 Speaker 1: blew at it and bounded off. And one thing I 1071 00:54:30,920 --> 00:54:33,279 Speaker 1: will say about these deer, while they gave us a 1072 00:54:33,400 --> 00:54:36,520 Speaker 1: lot of grace and a lot of other places. They 1073 00:54:36,640 --> 00:54:41,000 Speaker 1: definitely have like a a mass. They act like a swarm, 1074 00:54:41,120 --> 00:54:43,440 Speaker 1: like if you ever watched each other, they do trust 1075 00:54:43,480 --> 00:54:46,880 Speaker 1: each other. And if you've ever seen like a video 1076 00:54:47,040 --> 00:54:49,640 Speaker 1: of bait fish in the ocean, when like if one 1077 00:54:49,719 --> 00:54:52,319 Speaker 1: fish goes one direction, the entire school of fish all 1078 00:54:52,440 --> 00:54:54,719 Speaker 1: goes with it, right, like a big, huge bait fish ball. 1079 00:54:55,080 --> 00:54:57,120 Speaker 1: That's kind of how these deer worked. There was probably 1080 00:54:57,200 --> 00:55:00,719 Speaker 1: like twenty maybe more deer in the standing corn by 1081 00:55:00,760 --> 00:55:04,520 Speaker 1: this point, and when that one deer spooked, everything went 1082 00:55:04,640 --> 00:55:06,600 Speaker 1: running like the whole school of bait. It's just like 1083 00:55:07,360 --> 00:55:10,360 Speaker 1: just like a bomb exploding. This like half acre patch 1084 00:55:10,440 --> 00:55:13,520 Speaker 1: of corn exploded in in dear and they all go 1085 00:55:13,680 --> 00:55:17,160 Speaker 1: running out of there, including the shooter buck. They all 1086 00:55:17,200 --> 00:55:19,440 Speaker 1: go running off. They stopped like they all run like 1087 00:55:19,520 --> 00:55:22,120 Speaker 1: fifty yards sixty yards something like that and stop and 1088 00:55:22,160 --> 00:55:25,000 Speaker 1: then look back and kind of I this situation. And 1089 00:55:25,080 --> 00:55:29,160 Speaker 1: then of the deer just slowly worked their way back 1090 00:55:29,200 --> 00:55:31,560 Speaker 1: to the corn. But the one deer that didn't was 1091 00:55:31,680 --> 00:55:34,120 Speaker 1: the shooter and he just kind of slowly worked his 1092 00:55:34,200 --> 00:55:37,319 Speaker 1: way away. Yeah, of course, so he slowly walked away 1093 00:55:37,640 --> 00:55:39,880 Speaker 1: walked back in the woods. It seemed like that was 1094 00:55:39,880 --> 00:55:41,600 Speaker 1: going to be the end of it. Was super exciting 1095 00:55:41,640 --> 00:55:43,960 Speaker 1: to see a good one. Disappointed that it worked out. 1096 00:55:44,440 --> 00:55:48,719 Speaker 1: And then like ten fifty minutes later, look over that 1097 00:55:48,920 --> 00:55:51,160 Speaker 1: same hill that the bucks came from the first time, 1098 00:55:51,440 --> 00:55:53,360 Speaker 1: here comes another big buck, like big buck coming and 1099 00:55:53,360 --> 00:55:56,120 Speaker 1: I remember thinking, kind of looked at the first dear 1100 00:55:56,280 --> 00:55:59,200 Speaker 1: first glance, and I thought, man, like, how did he 1101 00:55:59,280 --> 00:56:01,520 Speaker 1: get all the way over there? And then it pulled 1102 00:56:01,560 --> 00:56:03,640 Speaker 1: him a binoculars and I realized it was a different deer. 1103 00:56:04,680 --> 00:56:08,280 Speaker 1: This one was like just a standard kind of heavy 1104 00:56:08,480 --> 00:56:11,240 Speaker 1: ish eight pointer, you know, maybe like the one twenties, 1105 00:56:11,640 --> 00:56:13,800 Speaker 1: But pretty quickly you could just see like a bigger, 1106 00:56:14,360 --> 00:56:18,200 Speaker 1: heftier body like this was a dear deer, no doubt, 1107 00:56:18,360 --> 00:56:20,520 Speaker 1: definitely a mature bucks. So I thought, okay, this is 1108 00:56:20,600 --> 00:56:23,600 Speaker 1: one of those bucks that Tom would really like, misshoot um. 1109 00:56:23,880 --> 00:56:27,759 Speaker 1: So that I got re excited, and we again got repositioned, 1110 00:56:28,239 --> 00:56:31,080 Speaker 1: got all set. He came into the exact same thing 1111 00:56:31,280 --> 00:56:33,879 Speaker 1: that that first buck did. He worked his way down 1112 00:56:34,000 --> 00:56:36,719 Speaker 1: to the front corner of the corn, stopped there, kind 1113 00:56:36,760 --> 00:56:39,360 Speaker 1: of looked around, and then instead of working along the 1114 00:56:39,440 --> 00:56:42,799 Speaker 1: front edge, he stepped into the standing corner again, yep, 1115 00:56:43,320 --> 00:56:47,600 Speaker 1: and the exact same thing played out. He kind of 1116 00:56:47,719 --> 00:56:50,959 Speaker 1: slowly fed his way through, sometimes very close to the front, 1117 00:56:51,400 --> 00:56:55,080 Speaker 1: but never all the way out, working his way across, 1118 00:56:55,239 --> 00:56:57,759 Speaker 1: closer and closer and closer to us, and eventually was 1119 00:56:58,360 --> 00:57:01,520 Speaker 1: right in front of us. I mean, the most perfect, 1120 00:57:02,000 --> 00:57:05,800 Speaker 1: beautiful broadside twenty yard shot you could ever ask for, 1121 00:57:06,160 --> 00:57:09,080 Speaker 1: except it was blocked by you know, six rows of 1122 00:57:09,160 --> 00:57:11,560 Speaker 1: standing corn. There's just no way you could shoot through. 1123 00:57:12,880 --> 00:57:16,000 Speaker 1: And that's what happened all the way until dark. That 1124 00:57:16,120 --> 00:57:18,320 Speaker 1: buck stayed there, every once in a while, angling like 1125 00:57:18,440 --> 00:57:20,160 Speaker 1: he might come a little closer and step up, but 1126 00:57:20,280 --> 00:57:22,640 Speaker 1: never doing it. And we were just stuck there, freezing 1127 00:57:22,680 --> 00:57:25,960 Speaker 1: our hands off, ready for it, hoping he would come, 1128 00:57:26,160 --> 00:57:30,240 Speaker 1: but never would, and she didn't ended, and we were 1129 00:57:30,280 --> 00:57:32,080 Speaker 1: never able to get a crack at either one of 1130 00:57:32,080 --> 00:57:36,280 Speaker 1: those deer. That was a very sombry ride back, Yes 1131 00:57:36,640 --> 00:57:40,280 Speaker 1: it was. It was. It was a fun hunt. I 1132 00:57:40,360 --> 00:57:42,840 Speaker 1: mean I really thought, for you know, for an hour 1133 00:57:42,920 --> 00:57:44,560 Speaker 1: and fifteen minutes or an hour and a half or 1134 00:57:44,640 --> 00:57:47,360 Speaker 1: an hour whatever that time period ended up being, from 1135 00:57:47,400 --> 00:57:49,400 Speaker 1: the time that first buck showed up, I mean that 1136 00:57:49,680 --> 00:57:52,400 Speaker 1: entire time, it basically felt like we're going to get 1137 00:57:52,400 --> 00:57:56,080 Speaker 1: a shot, like we're in it on edge, and you know, 1138 00:57:56,200 --> 00:57:59,160 Speaker 1: every little thing you do has you worried because there's 1139 00:57:59,160 --> 00:58:00,840 Speaker 1: a ba jillion deer around you. I mean there was 1140 00:58:00,880 --> 00:58:05,720 Speaker 1: thirty forty plus deer around the whole time, so so 1141 00:58:05,840 --> 00:58:09,760 Speaker 1: many eyeballs, so many noses, so much potential for something 1142 00:58:09,840 --> 00:58:12,640 Speaker 1: to go wrong. That was just you know, trying to 1143 00:58:12,680 --> 00:58:15,360 Speaker 1: make sure you don't make any off move make sure 1144 00:58:15,400 --> 00:58:17,920 Speaker 1: you don't make any low click or clank or movement 1145 00:58:18,160 --> 00:58:22,360 Speaker 1: or I mean it was it was very tense, tense 1146 00:58:22,480 --> 00:58:26,440 Speaker 1: hunt exciting, but tense um And I know you were 1147 00:58:26,440 --> 00:58:28,520 Speaker 1: struggling because you were kind of like on your knees 1148 00:58:28,640 --> 00:58:31,720 Speaker 1: and just not having a chair, and you know, with 1149 00:58:31,840 --> 00:58:34,480 Speaker 1: how cold the temperatures were, I couldn't have a tripod, 1150 00:58:34,560 --> 00:58:36,960 Speaker 1: so I was holding the cameras and fingers were freezing 1151 00:58:37,080 --> 00:58:39,760 Speaker 1: and blood was getting cut off too my toes because 1152 00:58:39,800 --> 00:58:42,080 Speaker 1: I was sitting funny and having to try and Readjust 1153 00:58:42,160 --> 00:58:45,720 Speaker 1: it was just I was very relieved when we finally 1154 00:58:45,760 --> 00:58:48,840 Speaker 1: got out, if that makes sense. As for as much 1155 00:58:48,880 --> 00:58:50,600 Speaker 1: fun as it was, it was kind of like who 1156 00:58:50,800 --> 00:58:54,440 Speaker 1: we made it? Yeah, for sure, And uh, the one 1157 00:58:54,480 --> 00:58:56,520 Speaker 1: of the thing of note that happened that night were 1158 00:58:56,760 --> 00:58:59,560 Speaker 1: you know, we we drove in a side by side 1159 00:58:59,600 --> 00:59:02,400 Speaker 1: up there, and we had parked it on the other 1160 00:59:02,480 --> 00:59:04,480 Speaker 1: side of the hill and walked down and so we 1161 00:59:04,600 --> 00:59:07,280 Speaker 1: had to walk out again. And so I'm thinking, man, 1162 00:59:07,360 --> 00:59:09,880 Speaker 1: there's no way this is gonna work, or not that 1163 00:59:09,960 --> 00:59:12,160 Speaker 1: it's not gonna work. But I remember stressing about this 1164 00:59:12,280 --> 00:59:14,680 Speaker 1: access thing too. This is another deal where I thought, man, 1165 00:59:14,800 --> 00:59:16,160 Speaker 1: how are we ever going to get out of these 1166 00:59:16,600 --> 00:59:21,080 Speaker 1: field setups without spooking deer again? Tom told me, don't 1167 00:59:21,120 --> 00:59:23,120 Speaker 1: worry about it. You could just walk out, hop on 1168 00:59:23,200 --> 00:59:26,000 Speaker 1: the side by side, drive out. They're not really gonna care. Um. 1169 00:59:26,840 --> 00:59:29,840 Speaker 1: And I guess the I guess this happened the night before. 1170 00:59:30,200 --> 00:59:33,280 Speaker 1: Maybe I don't know what night this happened, but it 1171 00:59:33,360 --> 00:59:35,560 Speaker 1: was either that the first night that we hunted the 1172 00:59:35,600 --> 00:59:38,160 Speaker 1: turnips or the second night when we hunted that standing corn. 1173 00:59:39,000 --> 00:59:41,560 Speaker 1: We we I use a coyote howl to scare the 1174 00:59:41,600 --> 00:59:43,880 Speaker 1: deer away out of sight, and then we worked our 1175 00:59:43,920 --> 00:59:46,800 Speaker 1: way down. I remember walking though to the canam or 1176 00:59:46,880 --> 00:59:48,880 Speaker 1: to the side by side whatever. I don't know. Brandon's 1177 00:59:49,040 --> 00:59:51,439 Speaker 1: so used to saying that, uh, walking to the side 1178 00:59:51,480 --> 00:59:53,960 Speaker 1: by side, and we got to it, and you could 1179 00:59:54,000 --> 00:59:55,640 Speaker 1: see all these deer on the other side of the 1180 00:59:55,760 --> 00:59:59,800 Speaker 1: hill just standing and watching you, and they don't care 1181 00:59:59,840 --> 01:00:01,640 Speaker 1: in the world. Hey, just get out here so we 1182 01:00:01,680 --> 01:00:04,040 Speaker 1: can go back to eat, please exactly. They wouldn't spook. 1183 01:00:04,160 --> 01:00:05,480 Speaker 1: And I just remember kind of looking at you and 1184 01:00:05,600 --> 01:00:07,400 Speaker 1: laughing and shaking my head, and we hopped in the 1185 01:00:07,440 --> 01:00:10,160 Speaker 1: side by started and started driving away, and the whole 1186 01:00:10,320 --> 01:00:12,320 Speaker 1: rest of the drive, going down the side of the 1187 01:00:12,520 --> 01:00:14,360 Speaker 1: field and the woods, I was just kind of looking 1188 01:00:14,440 --> 01:00:17,600 Speaker 1: around for deer and like just kind of marveling to myself, Man, 1189 01:00:17,680 --> 01:00:20,760 Speaker 1: this is crazy out here, while also thinking, man, my 1190 01:00:20,960 --> 01:00:25,560 Speaker 1: fingers are so cold, and I've got these two competing thoughts. Man, 1191 01:00:25,640 --> 01:00:27,840 Speaker 1: these deer crazy, and man, my fingers are cold. And 1192 01:00:27,840 --> 01:00:29,560 Speaker 1: I'm just kind of scanning this way and that, and 1193 01:00:29,600 --> 01:00:31,280 Speaker 1: then all of a sudden, behind me, you say, Mark, 1194 01:00:32,360 --> 01:00:35,240 Speaker 1: and I spin kind of I looked towards you, thinking like, oh, 1195 01:00:35,280 --> 01:00:37,120 Speaker 1: there must be a big box somewhere. The very first 1196 01:00:37,120 --> 01:00:38,919 Speaker 1: thing I thought was like, he sees a big giant buck. 1197 01:00:38,960 --> 01:00:40,640 Speaker 1: And as I kind of turned to look towards you, 1198 01:00:41,640 --> 01:00:43,640 Speaker 1: I kind of turned the steering wheel a little bit 1199 01:00:43,680 --> 01:00:49,760 Speaker 1: more too, and then then just smash You're telling this story, 1200 01:00:52,760 --> 01:00:56,520 Speaker 1: and I actually I smashed right into one of his 1201 01:00:56,640 --> 01:00:59,600 Speaker 1: trail cameras that he had on, like a trail camera 1202 01:01:00,480 --> 01:01:04,320 Speaker 1: steak on the edge of the field. I'm like, oh, 1203 01:01:04,920 --> 01:01:07,200 Speaker 1: and You're like, oh, man, you just you just shattered 1204 01:01:07,240 --> 01:01:10,680 Speaker 1: that thing into a million pieces. And then by the 1205 01:01:10,760 --> 01:01:12,520 Speaker 1: time I kind of registered what had happened, I had 1206 01:01:12,520 --> 01:01:14,960 Speaker 1: already driven like forty yards past it. I was like, oh, 1207 01:01:15,120 --> 01:01:18,160 Speaker 1: come back get it tomorrow. And so so that was 1208 01:01:18,160 --> 01:01:22,360 Speaker 1: a little embarrassing, but um but that was that was 1209 01:01:22,480 --> 01:01:23,919 Speaker 1: that night. I mean, that was a heck of a hunt, 1210 01:01:24,560 --> 01:01:28,480 Speaker 1: super close call. Um well, that was fun. And I 1211 01:01:28,480 --> 01:01:30,040 Speaker 1: remember at this point in the hunt, I had a 1212 01:01:30,120 --> 01:01:34,360 Speaker 1: couple of thoughts about the whole outfited hunt experience. I 1213 01:01:34,400 --> 01:01:38,320 Speaker 1: remember thinking, like, it's weird. I did feel like just 1214 01:01:38,440 --> 01:01:44,400 Speaker 1: uncomfortable still playing Like it was like it's like when 1215 01:01:44,400 --> 01:01:46,360 Speaker 1: you go to an Airbnb or something, you go and 1216 01:01:46,400 --> 01:01:48,800 Speaker 1: you realize, like, I'm in somebody's else, I'm in somebody 1217 01:01:48,840 --> 01:01:50,880 Speaker 1: else's house. That's a good way to think about it. 1218 01:01:51,000 --> 01:01:53,840 Speaker 1: That's an interesting, interesting perspective. But yeah, I could totally 1219 01:01:53,880 --> 01:01:56,440 Speaker 1: see that. Yeah, So I mean I felt like, hey, 1220 01:01:56,520 --> 01:01:58,800 Speaker 1: it's a nice house, it's a very nice house, and 1221 01:01:59,040 --> 01:02:02,160 Speaker 1: I'm glad they're letting me use it. Um. It's very 1222 01:02:02,200 --> 01:02:05,440 Speaker 1: conveniently located. It's well stocked with food in the pantry. 1223 01:02:06,000 --> 01:02:07,920 Speaker 1: But the whole time I just felt kind of like, 1224 01:02:09,040 --> 01:02:11,600 Speaker 1: like it just felt a little uncomfortable. I didn't feel 1225 01:02:11,680 --> 01:02:14,520 Speaker 1: quite at home because like I hadn't set these places 1226 01:02:14,600 --> 01:02:16,040 Speaker 1: up and I wasn't doing it quite the way I 1227 01:02:16,240 --> 01:02:20,160 Speaker 1: do it usually, and uh, like I didn't have control 1228 01:02:20,240 --> 01:02:23,800 Speaker 1: over the situation, and that still made me feel uncomfortable. Um. 1229 01:02:23,920 --> 01:02:27,120 Speaker 1: At the same time, though, I was like recognizing, like 1230 01:02:27,360 --> 01:02:30,000 Speaker 1: I get why people like to go to Airbnb's. You know, 1231 01:02:30,200 --> 01:02:32,840 Speaker 1: I can see that it's nice to have a place 1232 01:02:32,920 --> 01:02:34,880 Speaker 1: like this that you wouldn't have access to otherwise. And 1233 01:02:34,920 --> 01:02:36,480 Speaker 1: it's nice to be able to go somewhere and see 1234 01:02:36,480 --> 01:02:38,040 Speaker 1: a lot of deer, and it's nice to have a 1235 01:02:38,160 --> 01:02:41,240 Speaker 1: chance to experience these things that you hear about. Um. 1236 01:02:42,000 --> 01:02:44,160 Speaker 1: And I recognized that most people don't have as much 1237 01:02:44,240 --> 01:02:45,960 Speaker 1: time as I have to put into doing all this 1238 01:02:46,080 --> 01:02:50,160 Speaker 1: kind of stuff myself. UM, So so I could I 1239 01:02:50,240 --> 01:02:53,360 Speaker 1: could see why, you know, it's an appealing thing and 1240 01:02:53,520 --> 01:02:55,680 Speaker 1: why you know, Tom brings a lot of value to 1241 01:02:55,720 --> 01:02:57,520 Speaker 1: a lot of people because of that. So that was 1242 01:02:57,600 --> 01:02:59,560 Speaker 1: kind of like my midway through the hunt. I was 1243 01:02:59,640 --> 01:03:03,800 Speaker 1: starting to see that side of things too. Now I'm 1244 01:03:03,800 --> 01:03:06,600 Speaker 1: going to kind of fast forward through the next two hunts, 1245 01:03:06,720 --> 01:03:09,320 Speaker 1: two days worth the hunts, because I hate to say it, 1246 01:03:09,680 --> 01:03:14,440 Speaker 1: but we kind of peaked on night number three. I'll 1247 01:03:14,520 --> 01:03:16,600 Speaker 1: just kind of I'll just give you the give you 1248 01:03:16,800 --> 01:03:22,600 Speaker 1: the headline right there. We peaked shooters at twenty yards 1249 01:03:22,640 --> 01:03:24,200 Speaker 1: and don't get a shot off. It's kind of hard 1250 01:03:24,240 --> 01:03:26,760 Speaker 1: to top that again because that is that's a feed 1251 01:03:26,800 --> 01:03:28,880 Speaker 1: in itself, especially as late in the season as we 1252 01:03:28,960 --> 01:03:31,120 Speaker 1: had it. It really is. And I remember thinking, like 1253 01:03:31,400 --> 01:03:34,520 Speaker 1: I didn't want to say it out loud, but you know, 1254 01:03:34,920 --> 01:03:38,480 Speaker 1: you usually don't get more chances than that. You usually, 1255 01:03:38,480 --> 01:03:40,760 Speaker 1: if you if you do everything right at a place, 1256 01:03:41,240 --> 01:03:42,760 Speaker 1: you know, on a hunt, on a trip, if you 1257 01:03:42,840 --> 01:03:45,200 Speaker 1: get a shooter buck in range, it's usually like your 1258 01:03:45,240 --> 01:03:47,280 Speaker 1: best chance, and it's gonna be hard to repeat it again. 1259 01:03:47,400 --> 01:03:49,480 Speaker 1: You get two of them in the same night, Like gosh, 1260 01:03:49,640 --> 01:03:52,000 Speaker 1: just gonna be hard to have that happen again so perfectly. 1261 01:03:52,800 --> 01:03:55,920 Speaker 1: Now this is a special place. These are different kinds 1262 01:03:55,960 --> 01:03:57,920 Speaker 1: of deer. So I remember telling myself, man, maybe this 1263 01:03:58,000 --> 01:04:00,680 Speaker 1: is the kind of spot that magic can happen twice. Um. 1264 01:04:01,000 --> 01:04:03,200 Speaker 1: And so we had two more days to hunt, and 1265 01:04:03,600 --> 01:04:05,200 Speaker 1: it was time to pull out all the stops. So 1266 01:04:05,280 --> 01:04:07,640 Speaker 1: we decided to start hunting mornings. So we found some 1267 01:04:07,720 --> 01:04:10,400 Speaker 1: different betting locations that were farther away from this food 1268 01:04:10,480 --> 01:04:13,200 Speaker 1: source than I thought. Man, if we hunt these spots, 1269 01:04:13,240 --> 01:04:15,720 Speaker 1: we might be hunting different deer and we might you know, 1270 01:04:15,880 --> 01:04:21,560 Speaker 1: not mess up our evening location. Temperatures got real cold again. Um. 1271 01:04:21,720 --> 01:04:24,760 Speaker 1: The first morning it was like negative for something. It 1272 01:04:24,880 --> 01:04:27,840 Speaker 1: wasn't as bad. I didn't see hardly anything. Saw one 1273 01:04:27,840 --> 01:04:31,439 Speaker 1: little buck in one dope before shooting light. That next 1274 01:04:31,600 --> 01:04:34,560 Speaker 1: night or that night, we tried to adjust our set 1275 01:04:34,680 --> 01:04:36,920 Speaker 1: up on the standing corn further down so that we 1276 01:04:37,000 --> 01:04:39,240 Speaker 1: could intercept these deer when they came to the corner 1277 01:04:39,440 --> 01:04:43,720 Speaker 1: before they went into the standing corn. But we tried 1278 01:04:43,760 --> 01:04:45,760 Speaker 1: the pop up blind trick there, and that day the 1279 01:04:45,840 --> 01:04:49,040 Speaker 1: deer weren't buying it. For whatever reason. The pop up blind, 1280 01:04:49,080 --> 01:04:51,560 Speaker 1: they're kind of got deer uncomfortable. And then when they 1281 01:04:51,600 --> 01:04:55,040 Speaker 1: eventually did get down wind in certain locations, those deer 1282 01:04:55,120 --> 01:04:59,040 Speaker 1: got wiggy. And so several times throughout the night we 1283 01:04:59,120 --> 01:05:01,480 Speaker 1: had Dear Good uncome infortable and kind of bust up 1284 01:05:01,520 --> 01:05:06,080 Speaker 1: the bait fish pile. Um, the bait fish ball what 1285 01:05:06,160 --> 01:05:10,600 Speaker 1: I'm trying to say. So then day five we go 1286 01:05:10,880 --> 01:05:14,320 Speaker 1: hunt another bedding year in the morning. It's like negative 1287 01:05:14,400 --> 01:05:18,800 Speaker 1: twenty that day, very cold day on stand and that 1288 01:05:18,920 --> 01:05:21,600 Speaker 1: was a cold one. Got in there super early too, 1289 01:05:21,640 --> 01:05:23,360 Speaker 1: because this is a spot like I really wanted to 1290 01:05:23,400 --> 01:05:26,520 Speaker 1: get into. This seemed like an absolute dynamite betting point 1291 01:05:27,120 --> 01:05:29,680 Speaker 1: way back in there. Um we got in there an 1292 01:05:29,720 --> 01:05:32,440 Speaker 1: hour and a half before daylight, and I thought, man, 1293 01:05:32,440 --> 01:05:34,240 Speaker 1: we're gonna go for it, and we did, and we 1294 01:05:34,320 --> 01:05:37,560 Speaker 1: froze our tails off and just saw some does. So 1295 01:05:37,760 --> 01:05:41,000 Speaker 1: then it's the last hunt last night. I'm knowing these 1296 01:05:41,040 --> 01:05:43,200 Speaker 1: bucks are coming to the standing corn, but like, how 1297 01:05:43,280 --> 01:05:46,000 Speaker 1: can we get to a spot where we can intercept 1298 01:05:46,080 --> 01:05:48,320 Speaker 1: these deer when they come from the other side, Because 1299 01:05:48,360 --> 01:05:50,040 Speaker 1: it seemed like all the bucks we saw were coming 1300 01:05:50,120 --> 01:05:52,800 Speaker 1: from the other side of the hill, coming over the field, 1301 01:05:52,880 --> 01:05:55,400 Speaker 1: then dropping down to us. And so I knew I 1302 01:05:55,480 --> 01:05:59,720 Speaker 1: wanted to be down on the south uh southwest corner, 1303 01:06:00,400 --> 01:06:02,960 Speaker 1: but you know, doing what the pop up blind wasn't working, 1304 01:06:03,600 --> 01:06:06,600 Speaker 1: and so I thought, Okay, let's get rid of everything 1305 01:06:07,040 --> 01:06:10,240 Speaker 1: that has made deer uncomfortable. So let's go Let's get 1306 01:06:10,280 --> 01:06:12,400 Speaker 1: that office chair that we put underneath that one blind, 1307 01:06:12,520 --> 01:06:15,480 Speaker 1: Let's hide that again. Let's tear down the pop up 1308 01:06:15,520 --> 01:06:18,360 Speaker 1: blind again. Let's take that out of here. Let's remove everything, 1309 01:06:18,680 --> 01:06:21,840 Speaker 1: and let's set up with my sticks and saddles in 1310 01:06:21,920 --> 01:06:24,160 Speaker 1: a tree down in this corner and see if we 1311 01:06:24,200 --> 01:06:27,560 Speaker 1: can hunt this location without the deer wigging out. The 1312 01:06:27,880 --> 01:06:30,560 Speaker 1: night before and when you told me this plan, I 1313 01:06:30,640 --> 01:06:33,400 Speaker 1: was like, you really thought of everything here here, You're 1314 01:06:33,480 --> 01:06:36,200 Speaker 1: covering all your basis. Well, I just really wanted to 1315 01:06:36,280 --> 01:06:40,400 Speaker 1: work out I really, I really thought, man, there was 1316 01:06:40,400 --> 01:06:42,480 Speaker 1: still a ton of deer hitting this food source. They 1317 01:06:42,520 --> 01:06:45,960 Speaker 1: were all focusing in this little area. Um. You know. 1318 01:06:46,200 --> 01:06:48,240 Speaker 1: We did consider like should we go to the other 1319 01:06:48,320 --> 01:06:50,520 Speaker 1: side of the field and try to guess where they're 1320 01:06:50,520 --> 01:06:52,640 Speaker 1: popping out? Like should we set up closer to the 1321 01:06:52,720 --> 01:06:54,800 Speaker 1: bedding and try to guess where they're coming out of that? 1322 01:06:54,920 --> 01:06:57,720 Speaker 1: But it just seemed like, man, there's a million places 1323 01:06:57,800 --> 01:07:00,680 Speaker 1: they could bet over there. We don't have any intelligence 1324 01:07:00,720 --> 01:07:03,560 Speaker 1: on that specifically, we didn't have more days to observe 1325 01:07:03,600 --> 01:07:06,640 Speaker 1: and then make an adjustment. I just I felt like 1326 01:07:06,720 --> 01:07:08,640 Speaker 1: there was a great chance we'd go over there and 1327 01:07:08,800 --> 01:07:11,160 Speaker 1: see the bucks come out, but you know, we'd have 1328 01:07:11,280 --> 01:07:13,080 Speaker 1: like a one and ten chance of picking the right 1329 01:07:13,120 --> 01:07:16,040 Speaker 1: trail that they come out on. So I just felt 1330 01:07:16,120 --> 01:07:18,800 Speaker 1: more comfortable having seen what the deer were doing at 1331 01:07:18,800 --> 01:07:21,160 Speaker 1: the food with my own eyes, that I could pick 1332 01:07:21,200 --> 01:07:24,680 Speaker 1: the right location. And so there was one tree we 1333 01:07:24,720 --> 01:07:27,840 Speaker 1: could get in that spot. It was a bitch of 1334 01:07:27,880 --> 01:07:30,760 Speaker 1: a tree to get in. We had a heav time, 1335 01:07:31,560 --> 01:07:34,720 Speaker 1: but we got up in it, and uh, the story 1336 01:07:34,760 --> 01:07:38,120 Speaker 1: of that night was that it worked mostly in that 1337 01:07:38,680 --> 01:07:42,120 Speaker 1: tons of deer came out and the deer didn't spot 1338 01:07:42,200 --> 01:07:43,880 Speaker 1: us up in that tree because we picked a tree 1339 01:07:43,920 --> 01:07:46,120 Speaker 1: that had good cover. We got up high, we were 1340 01:07:46,160 --> 01:07:48,640 Speaker 1: well positioned. So we we beat their eyes that night 1341 01:07:48,880 --> 01:07:50,960 Speaker 1: like we did not do the day before, and we 1342 01:07:51,040 --> 01:07:53,000 Speaker 1: beat their noses like we couldn't the night before. We 1343 01:07:53,560 --> 01:07:55,280 Speaker 1: you know, we got super high. So I thought, was okay, 1344 01:07:55,360 --> 01:07:58,040 Speaker 1: the winds a little better today, we'll hopefully blow over 1345 01:07:58,160 --> 01:08:00,040 Speaker 1: some of these deer. I use a lot of it 1346 01:08:00,120 --> 01:08:02,560 Speaker 1: was jammer, and I used the ozonics machine that night too, 1347 01:08:03,200 --> 01:08:05,320 Speaker 1: and I think between all those things we were able 1348 01:08:05,360 --> 01:08:07,080 Speaker 1: to get away with it. So we beat him. We 1349 01:08:07,160 --> 01:08:08,920 Speaker 1: beat their noses, We beat their eyes. We were in 1350 01:08:09,000 --> 01:08:13,000 Speaker 1: the right position. The temperature was super duper cold, it's 1351 01:08:13,120 --> 01:08:16,040 Speaker 1: really high bare metric pressure. It just seemed like this 1352 01:08:16,240 --> 01:08:19,920 Speaker 1: is it. And you know, as the deer were filing out, 1353 01:08:20,000 --> 01:08:21,880 Speaker 1: I mean they started early. It was, you know, two 1354 01:08:22,400 --> 01:08:25,559 Speaker 1: hours at least two hours before daylight, and deer were 1355 01:08:25,800 --> 01:08:31,439 Speaker 1: the dear prey was going on. Um. But unfortunately shooter 1356 01:08:31,520 --> 01:08:34,240 Speaker 1: bucks never showed up by us. We did see in 1357 01:08:34,320 --> 01:08:37,800 Speaker 1: the last like twenty minutes or something, two decent bucks 1358 01:08:37,880 --> 01:08:40,280 Speaker 1: did come over that came out on the other side 1359 01:08:40,320 --> 01:08:42,679 Speaker 1: of the field, and one of them was a buck 1360 01:08:42,720 --> 01:08:44,600 Speaker 1: that we knew for sure we couldn't shoot because he 1361 01:08:44,640 --> 01:08:46,720 Speaker 1: had a busted main beam on one side, and they 1362 01:08:46,760 --> 01:08:48,840 Speaker 1: knew that was a buck that Tom had specifically shown 1363 01:08:48,880 --> 01:08:51,200 Speaker 1: us pictures of him, said that that's when he wants 1364 01:08:51,240 --> 01:08:54,160 Speaker 1: to make it. And the other one, you know, I 1365 01:08:54,240 --> 01:08:57,960 Speaker 1: don't know if that was a shooter or not. It was, Yeah, 1366 01:08:58,560 --> 01:09:01,080 Speaker 1: it was like it would have been a tough one 1367 01:09:01,160 --> 01:09:03,400 Speaker 1: to pass on the last night of the season, right, Yeah, 1368 01:09:03,479 --> 01:09:05,080 Speaker 1: I think he he would have been one of those 1369 01:09:05,160 --> 01:09:07,000 Speaker 1: deer that was like, he's an eight pointer that probably 1370 01:09:07,000 --> 01:09:09,920 Speaker 1: doesn't have a whole lot going on from an antler perspective, Um, 1371 01:09:11,040 --> 01:09:13,600 Speaker 1: that was probably mature, and so I think that was 1372 01:09:13,680 --> 01:09:16,160 Speaker 1: one thing we'd be okay taking. So if you would 1373 01:09:16,200 --> 01:09:18,439 Speaker 1: have come out in our direction, I probably you know, 1374 01:09:18,800 --> 01:09:20,160 Speaker 1: if I could have got a better eye on him 1375 01:09:20,160 --> 01:09:22,160 Speaker 1: and confirmed my thoughts. He was when I was thinking 1376 01:09:22,560 --> 01:09:25,320 Speaker 1: that I'd take a crack app but they came out 1377 01:09:25,320 --> 01:09:26,800 Speaker 1: on the other side and he end up chasing some 1378 01:09:26,920 --> 01:09:29,479 Speaker 1: does over there and running way off the other direction, 1379 01:09:29,520 --> 01:09:32,080 Speaker 1: and then you know, that was that was basically the night. 1380 01:09:32,160 --> 01:09:36,000 Speaker 1: We saw tons of deer, but yeah, they didn't quite 1381 01:09:36,560 --> 01:09:38,439 Speaker 1: do what we needed the right buck didn't quite do 1382 01:09:38,520 --> 01:09:41,719 Speaker 1: what we needed him. That was a hunt man, Yeah, 1383 01:09:41,880 --> 01:09:43,320 Speaker 1: and that was I mean, that was a blast. It 1384 01:09:43,360 --> 01:09:45,360 Speaker 1: was a great way to wrap things up to to actually, 1385 01:09:45,479 --> 01:09:47,400 Speaker 1: you know, at least be in deer the last night 1386 01:09:47,439 --> 01:09:48,920 Speaker 1: and feel like you were in the game till the 1387 01:09:49,040 --> 01:09:52,160 Speaker 1: very end. Yeah, exactly. And you know, I felt good 1388 01:09:52,160 --> 01:09:53,720 Speaker 1: about the fact that, you know, we tried a couple 1389 01:09:53,760 --> 01:09:57,840 Speaker 1: of different variations on hunting this little patch, we figured 1390 01:09:57,880 --> 01:10:00,840 Speaker 1: out the spot that would work really well, and you know, 1391 01:10:01,280 --> 01:10:03,519 Speaker 1: they didn't show up that night, but it was it 1392 01:10:03,600 --> 01:10:06,200 Speaker 1: was still like a small, a little, tiny, small victory. 1393 01:10:06,840 --> 01:10:10,439 Speaker 1: Um and you know, it showed to me that you know, 1394 01:10:10,479 --> 01:10:13,240 Speaker 1: these things aren't guaranteed outfitted hunts, you know, are not 1395 01:10:13,560 --> 01:10:16,160 Speaker 1: a shoeing that it's it's still hunting in a lot 1396 01:10:16,200 --> 01:10:21,680 Speaker 1: of ways. You know. Um I I would tell you that, 1397 01:10:22,920 --> 01:10:26,759 Speaker 1: like Tom, a lot of my enjoyment comes from everything 1398 01:10:26,840 --> 01:10:28,679 Speaker 1: that leads up to the hunt. You know, he talked 1399 01:10:28,680 --> 01:10:30,759 Speaker 1: about the fact that he doesn't shoot deer himself anymore, 1400 01:10:30,800 --> 01:10:33,880 Speaker 1: but he's still studying the trail cameras and hanging the 1401 01:10:33,960 --> 01:10:37,200 Speaker 1: cameras and putting up sets and putting food plots and 1402 01:10:37,560 --> 01:10:40,200 Speaker 1: doing all the you know, all the different work throughout 1403 01:10:40,200 --> 01:10:43,599 Speaker 1: the year. Like that's his fun and and that's definitely 1404 01:10:43,720 --> 01:10:45,479 Speaker 1: for me a lot of it too. And so I 1405 01:10:45,600 --> 01:10:48,240 Speaker 1: missed that, Like I missed what I love so much 1406 01:10:48,240 --> 01:10:50,040 Speaker 1: about hunting some of the farmland stuff and hunt in 1407 01:10:50,040 --> 01:10:52,160 Speaker 1: the Midwest is the fact that I got to have, 1408 01:10:52,400 --> 01:10:54,559 Speaker 1: you know, the summer and the scouting and the trail 1409 01:10:54,640 --> 01:10:57,719 Speaker 1: camera work, and I got to maybe do some habitat improvement, 1410 01:10:57,800 --> 01:10:59,280 Speaker 1: or I got to set up trees, or I got 1411 01:10:59,360 --> 01:11:02,760 Speaker 1: to pick out these things. Like all that puzzle work 1412 01:11:03,439 --> 01:11:06,439 Speaker 1: is is really my favorite thing. So I missed that. 1413 01:11:07,439 --> 01:11:09,479 Speaker 1: I missed not being able to do that. But you know, 1414 01:11:09,640 --> 01:11:12,080 Speaker 1: from like a simple type one fun of going somewhere 1415 01:11:12,080 --> 01:11:14,360 Speaker 1: and getting to see a lot of deer and you know, 1416 01:11:14,520 --> 01:11:16,840 Speaker 1: learning some stuff about how people do it in different places. 1417 01:11:16,920 --> 01:11:19,280 Speaker 1: Like it was. It was super fun from that perspective. 1418 01:11:20,040 --> 01:11:23,120 Speaker 1: So do you think, like looking forward, would it have 1419 01:11:23,240 --> 01:11:25,280 Speaker 1: to be a kind of a similar situation to this 1420 01:11:25,439 --> 01:11:28,080 Speaker 1: to do another outfitted hunt or you know, is this 1421 01:11:28,200 --> 01:11:30,639 Speaker 1: something that you're just gonna kind of, you know, maybe 1422 01:11:30,680 --> 01:11:36,479 Speaker 1: pass on in the future. You know. I I don't 1423 01:11:36,520 --> 01:11:40,160 Speaker 1: want to say never, because who knows, maybe there'll be 1424 01:11:40,280 --> 01:11:43,360 Speaker 1: something like this where there's a person or a story 1425 01:11:43,479 --> 01:11:47,000 Speaker 1: or an experience I want to explore. Um. But I 1426 01:11:47,200 --> 01:11:53,080 Speaker 1: don't see me doing an outfit hunt again. Um. And 1427 01:11:53,320 --> 01:11:57,000 Speaker 1: and I say that in no way because of like 1428 01:11:57,160 --> 01:11:59,680 Speaker 1: my experience there with Tom, because like the setup he 1429 01:11:59,720 --> 01:12:04,160 Speaker 1: has it is incredible, really really nice people, I mean, 1430 01:12:04,240 --> 01:12:07,160 Speaker 1: great experience, and I can I'd recommend you know, this 1431 01:12:07,280 --> 01:12:09,280 Speaker 1: place to anyone who wants to try hunt like this. 1432 01:12:09,479 --> 01:12:11,680 Speaker 1: My my dad was saying like maybe I want to 1433 01:12:11,680 --> 01:12:13,519 Speaker 1: do something like that when I was explaining to him, 1434 01:12:13,560 --> 01:12:15,960 Speaker 1: and I was like, yeah, this would be perfect for you. Um, 1435 01:12:16,080 --> 01:12:19,400 Speaker 1: you love it. Um. So this is in no way 1436 01:12:19,880 --> 01:12:24,200 Speaker 1: a negative comment about Tom's outfit there. It's just that 1437 01:12:24,479 --> 01:12:27,960 Speaker 1: I think that I really get a lot of my 1438 01:12:28,200 --> 01:12:31,000 Speaker 1: enjoyment out of like the type two stuff that leads 1439 01:12:31,080 --> 01:12:35,000 Speaker 1: to the fun eventually, and and I think that's more 1440 01:12:35,040 --> 01:12:37,400 Speaker 1: of what I want to keep going for. So I'm 1441 01:12:37,400 --> 01:12:39,320 Speaker 1: glad I did it, though, like I'm glad I experienced it. 1442 01:12:39,360 --> 01:12:42,240 Speaker 1: I'm glad I got to meet Tom and see how 1443 01:12:42,320 --> 01:12:45,960 Speaker 1: he does does things and pick his brain, and UM, 1444 01:12:46,760 --> 01:12:48,920 Speaker 1: super glad that I got to see that and experience it. 1445 01:12:49,160 --> 01:12:51,519 Speaker 1: And UM, you know, I think coming out of it, 1446 01:12:51,640 --> 01:12:54,880 Speaker 1: two big things stand out other than like all the 1447 01:12:55,080 --> 01:12:58,920 Speaker 1: tactical stuff we talked about, but more experientially, two things 1448 01:12:59,000 --> 01:13:03,680 Speaker 1: stand out. Number One, you know, Tom's just we we 1449 01:13:03,800 --> 01:13:06,479 Speaker 1: mentioned this already, but just his his love, like his 1450 01:13:06,880 --> 01:13:11,080 Speaker 1: deep seated passion for this stuff just comes through so clearly. 1451 01:13:11,240 --> 01:13:13,439 Speaker 1: He is just obsessed with these critters. And I think 1452 01:13:13,479 --> 01:13:16,360 Speaker 1: what makes it so cool to me is that he's 1453 01:13:16,439 --> 01:13:21,240 Speaker 1: not shooting these deer himself. Ever, He's not spending hundreds 1454 01:13:21,240 --> 01:13:23,759 Speaker 1: of hours studying trail cameras, and I mean he studies 1455 01:13:23,840 --> 01:13:26,120 Speaker 1: them NonStop. It seems like every single time you go 1456 01:13:26,200 --> 01:13:28,200 Speaker 1: into there, he's in there. Looking at pictures. He just 1457 01:13:28,400 --> 01:13:31,720 Speaker 1: loves it so much. And he's out there watching these deer, 1458 01:13:31,800 --> 01:13:35,120 Speaker 1: filming them at nights in the summer, scouting shed hunting, 1459 01:13:35,360 --> 01:13:38,519 Speaker 1: doing all this work and he's not doing it to 1460 01:13:38,640 --> 01:13:41,000 Speaker 1: post a picture on Instagram and tell people the great hunter. 1461 01:13:41,800 --> 01:13:44,479 Speaker 1: That was also, you know, just crazy for me because 1462 01:13:44,520 --> 01:13:46,920 Speaker 1: I'm you know, there's so many names in this industry 1463 01:13:47,040 --> 01:13:49,600 Speaker 1: that it's so ego driven, and people want to do 1464 01:13:49,720 --> 01:13:51,439 Speaker 1: a lot of this research and stuff just so they 1465 01:13:51,479 --> 01:13:54,080 Speaker 1: can almost like put their patent on it. Right, I 1466 01:13:54,200 --> 01:13:55,880 Speaker 1: figured this out. This is the way it works, this 1467 01:13:56,000 --> 01:13:58,320 Speaker 1: is what you have to do. And Tom comes at 1468 01:13:58,360 --> 01:14:01,640 Speaker 1: it from just such a stance of curiosity that he 1469 01:14:01,920 --> 01:14:04,120 Speaker 1: literally just wants to figure them out for it for 1470 01:14:04,320 --> 01:14:07,559 Speaker 1: his own amusement, you know, his own enjoyment. And he's 1471 01:14:07,600 --> 01:14:09,240 Speaker 1: not trying to put a spin on and of hey, 1472 01:14:09,439 --> 01:14:10,800 Speaker 1: this is the way it has to be done. This, 1473 01:14:11,040 --> 01:14:15,040 Speaker 1: you know, I figured this out. It's he just enjoys it. Yeah, exactly. 1474 01:14:15,160 --> 01:14:17,600 Speaker 1: And that was just like that was so impressive to 1475 01:14:17,680 --> 01:14:22,479 Speaker 1: me and refreshing and and it just it just came 1476 01:14:22,520 --> 01:14:24,960 Speaker 1: out of this thinking so highly of Tom because of that. 1477 01:14:26,160 --> 01:14:29,240 Speaker 1: The second thing that really stood up to me and 1478 01:14:29,360 --> 01:14:31,759 Speaker 1: this is an aspect of like this kind of outfitted 1479 01:14:31,840 --> 01:14:34,760 Speaker 1: hunting experience that I did not expect or wasn't thinking 1480 01:14:34,800 --> 01:14:37,400 Speaker 1: of at all. But you know, we got to meet 1481 01:14:37,400 --> 01:14:39,120 Speaker 1: a lot of other people there camp. There was other 1482 01:14:39,200 --> 01:14:41,200 Speaker 1: hunters in camp. There was guys like we're just like 1483 01:14:42,080 --> 01:14:45,880 Speaker 1: coming in to help out um, and everyone we talked 1484 01:14:45,920 --> 01:14:50,080 Speaker 1: to talked about the fact that it's it's such a 1485 01:14:50,400 --> 01:14:53,240 Speaker 1: community that's been built there. Like everyone that hunts there 1486 01:14:53,280 --> 01:14:56,639 Speaker 1: now is buddies. Everyone there like is almost like family. 1487 01:14:57,000 --> 01:15:02,400 Speaker 1: It's a very very you know, very community based kind 1488 01:15:02,439 --> 01:15:05,880 Speaker 1: of experience, which is pretty cool considering you know, he 1489 01:15:06,040 --> 01:15:08,280 Speaker 1: was one of the first outfitters to do it, and 1490 01:15:08,720 --> 01:15:12,040 Speaker 1: you know, so many other places don't have that feel 1491 01:15:12,200 --> 01:15:15,040 Speaker 1: of you know, returning guests every year and everybody being 1492 01:15:15,120 --> 01:15:17,240 Speaker 1: a family. So for this place to be one of 1493 01:15:17,280 --> 01:15:20,240 Speaker 1: the first and still be this way where it's not 1494 01:15:20,439 --> 01:15:23,240 Speaker 1: just profit driven it's about you know, a community and 1495 01:15:23,320 --> 01:15:26,400 Speaker 1: a sense of family, is pretty darn cool. I think, Yeah, 1496 01:15:26,560 --> 01:15:28,880 Speaker 1: I think that's that's the big thing is you know, 1497 01:15:29,040 --> 01:15:31,920 Speaker 1: he said, mostly everyone that comes now is a long 1498 01:15:32,040 --> 01:15:34,519 Speaker 1: time repeat guests. They don't advertise, they don't try to 1499 01:15:34,560 --> 01:15:37,040 Speaker 1: get new people. It's just basically the people have been 1500 01:15:37,080 --> 01:15:39,840 Speaker 1: coming forever that keep coming. They just keep coming. So 1501 01:15:39,960 --> 01:15:41,920 Speaker 1: now it's it's like a group of hunting buddies that 1502 01:15:42,040 --> 01:15:44,720 Speaker 1: just gets together at different points in the season and 1503 01:15:44,800 --> 01:15:47,280 Speaker 1: they all come together and they eat, you know, lunch together, 1504 01:15:47,320 --> 01:15:49,360 Speaker 1: and they eat dinner together, and they tell stories and 1505 01:15:49,400 --> 01:15:51,800 Speaker 1: they look at pictures and they watch videos, and they 1506 01:15:52,479 --> 01:15:55,880 Speaker 1: go down there and shoot pool and and it's it's 1507 01:15:55,960 --> 01:15:57,920 Speaker 1: really about that for a lot of these guys. I 1508 01:15:57,960 --> 01:15:59,559 Speaker 1: think a lot of people love to go there and hunt, 1509 01:15:59,600 --> 01:16:01,680 Speaker 1: and they know that Tom's got a great area and 1510 01:16:01,760 --> 01:16:05,280 Speaker 1: there's great deer um. But there's numerous people they told 1511 01:16:05,360 --> 01:16:07,639 Speaker 1: us about, including a guy there, Dave, who was there 1512 01:16:07,680 --> 01:16:10,360 Speaker 1: for a few days, who you know, he's technically a 1513 01:16:10,439 --> 01:16:12,640 Speaker 1: paying customer, but he comes down in the spring, in 1514 01:16:12,680 --> 01:16:14,400 Speaker 1: the summer, in the fall just to help. He's out 1515 01:16:14,439 --> 01:16:17,519 Speaker 1: there like blowing off the driveway, he's out there helping 1516 01:16:17,560 --> 01:16:20,600 Speaker 1: hang stands, he's doing all these things because because this 1517 01:16:20,760 --> 01:16:24,000 Speaker 1: community of folks that started out as outfitted paying clients 1518 01:16:24,040 --> 01:16:27,040 Speaker 1: have now become a part of this extended family um. 1519 01:16:27,840 --> 01:16:30,200 Speaker 1: And and that's something that I just thought was really interesting. 1520 01:16:30,280 --> 01:16:32,640 Speaker 1: It was cool to see and I can kind of 1521 01:16:32,880 --> 01:16:35,599 Speaker 1: understand the appeal of that for for people that maybe 1522 01:16:35,680 --> 01:16:39,439 Speaker 1: don't have a tight group of hunting buddies already, or 1523 01:16:39,520 --> 01:16:41,880 Speaker 1: that don't come from like a family who did this 1524 01:16:42,560 --> 01:16:45,479 Speaker 1: or community that does this. Like I can very much 1525 01:16:45,600 --> 01:16:48,160 Speaker 1: see how being able to go to one of these 1526 01:16:48,240 --> 01:16:50,719 Speaker 1: camps like this right away can give you a headstart 1527 01:16:50,760 --> 01:16:53,800 Speaker 1: on on you know, emerging yourself in a community of 1528 01:16:53,880 --> 01:16:56,000 Speaker 1: like minded people that have a passion for this that 1529 01:16:56,120 --> 01:17:00,400 Speaker 1: can teach you things that. Um, I could really like that. 1530 01:17:00,560 --> 01:17:02,760 Speaker 1: That surprised me. That was interesting to me. And and 1531 01:17:02,840 --> 01:17:05,960 Speaker 1: I can just see the love for this place and 1532 01:17:06,160 --> 01:17:09,479 Speaker 1: in each other that you know is in this camp, 1533 01:17:10,120 --> 01:17:12,599 Speaker 1: So that that was a big thing for me too. 1534 01:17:14,280 --> 01:17:16,439 Speaker 1: So I don't know, man, that was That's where I 1535 01:17:16,560 --> 01:17:19,240 Speaker 1: was at coming out of this. I thought, I thought, 1536 01:17:19,320 --> 01:17:23,120 Speaker 1: Tom obviously knows what he's doing. He's super passionate about it. 1537 01:17:23,240 --> 01:17:25,680 Speaker 1: Was was very interesting and surprising how we did some 1538 01:17:25,800 --> 01:17:28,080 Speaker 1: of it. I thought it was a cool property. I 1539 01:17:28,200 --> 01:17:33,000 Speaker 1: enjoyed seeing the deer. Was really impressed with that community aspect. UM. 1540 01:17:33,200 --> 01:17:35,200 Speaker 1: I like the fact that Tom really just kind of 1541 01:17:35,280 --> 01:17:38,320 Speaker 1: he gave us the tools, but and he give us 1542 01:17:38,360 --> 01:17:40,160 Speaker 1: the access, but then he kind of just let us 1543 01:17:40,160 --> 01:17:42,880 Speaker 1: do what ever wanted. I appreciated that. That was surprising me, 1544 01:17:42,960 --> 01:17:44,880 Speaker 1: and I was very very thankful of that too. It 1545 01:17:44,960 --> 01:17:46,600 Speaker 1: wasn't here's where you're gonna sit, here's the way you 1546 01:17:46,640 --> 01:17:48,360 Speaker 1: gotta do it. It was kind of, hey, this is 1547 01:17:48,439 --> 01:17:51,000 Speaker 1: what you make it. Yeah, I was. I was very 1548 01:17:51,080 --> 01:17:52,920 Speaker 1: worried about that too leading into it, like are they 1549 01:17:52,960 --> 01:17:55,160 Speaker 1: gonna hand hold us or not? Let us kind of 1550 01:17:55,240 --> 01:17:56,760 Speaker 1: do our own thing, And so I thought that was 1551 01:17:56,880 --> 01:18:00,960 Speaker 1: super cool, and um, you know, overall, a really positive 1552 01:18:01,000 --> 01:18:05,479 Speaker 1: experience him. We didn't kill anything. But as I've learned 1553 01:18:05,640 --> 01:18:08,880 Speaker 1: on this this whole season, it's it's it's a lot 1554 01:18:08,960 --> 01:18:12,639 Speaker 1: more about the process than it is about the end result. 1555 01:18:12,840 --> 01:18:15,280 Speaker 1: And while this was a different process, this wasn't the 1556 01:18:15,320 --> 01:18:17,320 Speaker 1: kind of process I've had in other places. It was 1557 01:18:17,320 --> 01:18:19,479 Speaker 1: still a cool learning experience and it was still a 1558 01:18:19,600 --> 01:18:24,280 Speaker 1: great peek behind the curtains of a really interesting way 1559 01:18:24,320 --> 01:18:28,360 Speaker 1: of doing things, an interesting person, and um, in short, 1560 01:18:29,320 --> 01:18:32,680 Speaker 1: you know, just another expression of the crazy things we 1561 01:18:32,800 --> 01:18:37,000 Speaker 1: do because we love white tails. That's right. So any 1562 01:18:37,040 --> 01:18:39,120 Speaker 1: final thoughts from you, Dylan or should we uh should 1563 01:18:39,160 --> 01:18:42,960 Speaker 1: we wrap this segment up and then get Tom on here? Um? 1564 01:18:43,080 --> 01:18:45,920 Speaker 1: I think get Tom on here get his expertise. I mean, 1565 01:18:46,000 --> 01:18:48,160 Speaker 1: I'm just I just want to express how grateful I 1566 01:18:48,360 --> 01:18:50,080 Speaker 1: was to be along for this, because this is a 1567 01:18:50,160 --> 01:18:52,720 Speaker 1: dream come true. It's a very full circle trip for me, 1568 01:18:52,960 --> 01:18:55,559 Speaker 1: so it was awesome to be along for it. Well, 1569 01:18:55,560 --> 01:18:58,479 Speaker 1: I'm glad you were. You've been a great addition to 1570 01:18:58,520 --> 01:19:01,720 Speaker 1: the team, my friend. I've always felt really confident when 1571 01:19:01,760 --> 01:19:03,040 Speaker 1: you were out there with me. I knew you'd be 1572 01:19:03,080 --> 01:19:06,320 Speaker 1: able to handle yourself well, get some great footage and 1573 01:19:06,960 --> 01:19:10,040 Speaker 1: and not screw up the hunt. So kudus, kudos to you, buddy. 1574 01:19:10,600 --> 01:19:13,479 Speaker 1: Right on. Man, all right, let's take a break here 1575 01:19:13,840 --> 01:19:17,000 Speaker 1: and then I'll go Tom on to uh discuss some 1576 01:19:17,040 --> 01:19:33,280 Speaker 1: of these things in more detail. Okay, Now with me 1577 01:19:34,040 --> 01:19:38,280 Speaker 1: is the man himself, Tom Injurbro. Tom, thank you so 1578 01:19:38,400 --> 01:19:41,920 Speaker 1: much for being here with me. Oh it's a pleasure. Yeah, 1579 01:19:42,320 --> 01:19:45,800 Speaker 1: I really, I really enjoyed our time down there with you. Uh, 1580 01:19:45,920 --> 01:19:48,439 Speaker 1: I guess so we can have two weeks ago and uh, 1581 01:19:48,600 --> 01:19:51,840 Speaker 1: you know, Dylan and I just finished a conversation in 1582 01:19:51,960 --> 01:19:55,080 Speaker 1: which I kind of talked through day by day, what 1583 01:19:55,240 --> 01:19:57,720 Speaker 1: we did, what we saw, you know, some of the 1584 01:19:57,800 --> 01:20:00,200 Speaker 1: things we were asking you about. But I wan to 1585 01:20:00,280 --> 01:20:02,639 Speaker 1: get you on here to give me the real story 1586 01:20:02,960 --> 01:20:05,880 Speaker 1: straight from straight from you, rather than me trying to 1587 01:20:06,160 --> 01:20:09,880 Speaker 1: recount everything. So, um, I guess if you're up for it, Tim, 1588 01:20:09,920 --> 01:20:12,960 Speaker 1: I want to rewind the tape way back to the beginning, 1589 01:20:13,200 --> 01:20:16,120 Speaker 1: because you know, one of the things that both Dylan 1590 01:20:16,160 --> 01:20:18,439 Speaker 1: and I agreed on, and really why I was so 1591 01:20:18,600 --> 01:20:20,560 Speaker 1: excited to come down there and meet with you this 1592 01:20:20,720 --> 01:20:26,799 Speaker 1: year was your early impact on deer and deer hunting 1593 01:20:26,880 --> 01:20:29,200 Speaker 1: and really where we're at now, so much of that, 1594 01:20:29,360 --> 01:20:32,479 Speaker 1: A lot of that began with you know, some of 1595 01:20:32,520 --> 01:20:34,360 Speaker 1: the work and some of the videos and some of 1596 01:20:34,439 --> 01:20:36,679 Speaker 1: the influence you had back in the eighties and nineties. 1597 01:20:36,720 --> 01:20:39,000 Speaker 1: So can you just can you tell me that story again? 1598 01:20:39,080 --> 01:20:41,679 Speaker 1: Can you tell me how you ended up in Buffalo County, 1599 01:20:42,200 --> 01:20:45,200 Speaker 1: how you ended up filming deer and and then eventually 1600 01:20:45,320 --> 01:20:50,760 Speaker 1: managing and helping other people hunt them. Where did that begin? Oh? Well, 1601 01:20:51,160 --> 01:20:57,040 Speaker 1: I guess it was love of actually guess after uh 1602 01:20:57,600 --> 01:20:59,800 Speaker 1: in the sixties, getting out of the navy. Of them 1603 01:21:00,000 --> 01:21:01,880 Speaker 1: in the navy for four years, and they came back, 1604 01:21:01,960 --> 01:21:04,760 Speaker 1: went back to college for a while, and I kind 1605 01:21:04,760 --> 01:21:07,360 Speaker 1: of got lost in the hills down here knowing that 1606 01:21:07,479 --> 01:21:10,800 Speaker 1: big boxers showing up and coming out about can here. 1607 01:21:11,200 --> 01:21:13,360 Speaker 1: But we were kind of the first bowl hunters in here. 1608 01:21:13,840 --> 01:21:16,240 Speaker 1: Back at that time, there wasn't not much written on 1609 01:21:16,640 --> 01:21:19,080 Speaker 1: whitetail deer, and so we kind of had to just 1610 01:21:19,240 --> 01:21:23,200 Speaker 1: learning on our own. We I just couldn't get enough 1611 01:21:24,280 --> 01:21:26,320 Speaker 1: in the hills and hunting in the fall, so I 1612 01:21:26,640 --> 01:21:28,719 Speaker 1: tried to spend as much time down here as I could. 1613 01:21:28,800 --> 01:21:33,479 Speaker 1: And as time progressed, h you know, other people caught 1614 01:21:33,520 --> 01:21:37,960 Speaker 1: onto the the potential in the area here and and 1615 01:21:38,200 --> 01:21:41,360 Speaker 1: it took off from there and we ended up years 1616 01:21:41,439 --> 01:21:44,680 Speaker 1: later started losing at that. When we started out, we 1617 01:21:44,720 --> 01:21:48,599 Speaker 1: could hunt on any farm, all farmers that welcome you there. 1618 01:21:49,120 --> 01:21:52,600 Speaker 1: They were eating up their crops and they wanted to, 1619 01:21:52,960 --> 01:21:55,719 Speaker 1: you know, get rid of them as they could. So anyway, 1620 01:21:55,800 --> 01:21:58,800 Speaker 1: we we uh had kind of the run of the 1621 01:21:58,880 --> 01:22:03,240 Speaker 1: place for years. And then and then I started catching 1622 01:22:03,280 --> 01:22:05,760 Speaker 1: on and what was here for bucks? And and we 1623 01:22:05,880 --> 01:22:08,639 Speaker 1: started filming deer and we were trying to shoot big ones, 1624 01:22:08,720 --> 01:22:12,160 Speaker 1: and it got to be kind of a passionate when 1625 01:22:12,200 --> 01:22:15,000 Speaker 1: the partner of hunting was who could get the biggest 1626 01:22:15,000 --> 01:22:16,840 Speaker 1: one on film every year? If we weren't true and 1627 01:22:16,840 --> 01:22:19,400 Speaker 1: then we always we didn't want it. We loved our 1628 01:22:19,479 --> 01:22:23,040 Speaker 1: time in the woods so much that, uh, we didn't 1629 01:22:23,080 --> 01:22:25,760 Speaker 1: want to use our tag up. So even if we'd 1630 01:22:25,800 --> 01:22:28,679 Speaker 1: probably been counter hundering for the ends deer, I still 1631 01:22:28,760 --> 01:22:31,040 Speaker 1: had a day left the hunt. We'd probably passed them 1632 01:22:31,479 --> 01:22:36,160 Speaker 1: in film because I said I still had one more day. Yeah. 1633 01:22:36,840 --> 01:22:39,320 Speaker 1: It was this love of love of hunting and you know, 1634 01:22:39,560 --> 01:22:43,360 Speaker 1: they're enjoying nature. And that's why I started filming dere 1635 01:22:43,439 --> 01:22:46,400 Speaker 1: and that just kind of grew from there. As years 1636 01:22:46,439 --> 01:22:49,799 Speaker 1: went by, we started losing land, the leasing and stuff, 1637 01:22:49,840 --> 01:22:53,280 Speaker 1: and and I realized that if we if I didn't 1638 01:22:53,320 --> 01:22:55,200 Speaker 1: buy a farm or something down here in place to 1639 01:22:55,240 --> 01:22:57,320 Speaker 1: hunt out, what's going to have a place to hunt. 1640 01:22:57,400 --> 01:23:00,960 Speaker 1: So I ended up buying this, I said tonox and 1641 01:23:01,280 --> 01:23:04,400 Speaker 1: was the intention of hunting. And now I've been in 1642 01:23:04,439 --> 01:23:08,120 Speaker 1: there thirty years. And the first year I was here, 1643 01:23:08,120 --> 01:23:09,640 Speaker 1: I was trying to figure out how to pay for it, 1644 01:23:09,680 --> 01:23:12,880 Speaker 1: because I I wouldn't know what money I was spending 1645 01:23:12,960 --> 01:23:18,800 Speaker 1: most of my time money and uh anyway, I was 1646 01:23:18,880 --> 01:23:23,880 Speaker 1: asked by a local taxi river uh shot, that if 1647 01:23:23,920 --> 01:23:28,680 Speaker 1: I take some guys hunting that year, and which I did, 1648 01:23:28,880 --> 01:23:33,560 Speaker 1: and I enjoyed it. A company and stuff and and 1649 01:23:33,760 --> 01:23:36,120 Speaker 1: it took off on me, and I just think it 1650 01:23:36,280 --> 01:23:38,640 Speaker 1: was kind of by accident that I got it. No outfitting, 1651 01:23:38,720 --> 01:23:42,360 Speaker 1: but it was it was the fun of it allowed 1652 01:23:42,400 --> 01:23:44,400 Speaker 1: me the time to be in the woods every day 1653 01:23:44,520 --> 01:23:48,040 Speaker 1: and in film deer and studied deer, and that's just 1654 01:23:48,640 --> 01:23:51,600 Speaker 1: kind of part right from there and grew and I 1655 01:23:51,720 --> 01:23:55,320 Speaker 1: got to spend full time hunting deer year round, getting 1656 01:23:55,360 --> 01:23:59,760 Speaker 1: set up for hunters to come. And I as what 1657 01:24:00,160 --> 01:24:04,600 Speaker 1: enjoyed was you know, the studying deer and trying to 1658 01:24:04,680 --> 01:24:07,120 Speaker 1: figure them out. And it was the challenge of it, 1659 01:24:07,280 --> 01:24:09,840 Speaker 1: I think that And if I could put a hunter 1660 01:24:09,960 --> 01:24:12,800 Speaker 1: on a good buck, it was just a feather in 1661 01:24:12,880 --> 01:24:16,680 Speaker 1: my hat, you know. It was exciting for me, you know, 1662 01:24:16,760 --> 01:24:20,439 Speaker 1: as if I was going to shoot it. So I didn't. 1663 01:24:21,160 --> 01:24:23,479 Speaker 1: That's all it all came about. And ended up buying 1664 01:24:23,520 --> 01:24:26,679 Speaker 1: a farm here, and the outfit anything took all off 1665 01:24:26,760 --> 01:24:30,639 Speaker 1: on me, and it just allowed me, h time, more 1666 01:24:30,720 --> 01:24:33,640 Speaker 1: time to spend you know, studying deer, hunting deer and 1667 01:24:35,400 --> 01:24:38,040 Speaker 1: film them in the summers, you know, and when they're 1668 01:24:38,080 --> 01:24:42,720 Speaker 1: on their summer feed. And and I actually started with 1669 01:24:44,479 --> 01:24:47,960 Speaker 1: when I first started hunting down here, video cameras just 1670 01:24:48,160 --> 01:24:54,200 Speaker 1: came out and uh my my brother in law bought 1671 01:24:54,240 --> 01:24:57,559 Speaker 1: a VHS camera at the time and were just all 1672 01:24:57,640 --> 01:24:59,559 Speaker 1: new one the market to take that downer and fill 1673 01:24:59,680 --> 01:25:02,320 Speaker 1: some of the big bucks, and which I did, and 1674 01:25:03,000 --> 01:25:05,120 Speaker 1: at the end of the year, I had a lot 1675 01:25:05,160 --> 01:25:07,200 Speaker 1: of photos of hours and hours of it, and I 1676 01:25:07,320 --> 01:25:09,639 Speaker 1: kind of so I'm always going to sit and watch 1677 01:25:09,680 --> 01:25:11,560 Speaker 1: all this, So I kind of took the highlights and 1678 01:25:12,000 --> 01:25:16,439 Speaker 1: copied them over onto the tape, and and the tape ax. 1679 01:25:16,600 --> 01:25:19,720 Speaker 1: I gave it to the neighbors that which were basically, 1680 01:25:20,720 --> 01:25:22,720 Speaker 1: you know, the meat hunters are like we used to 1681 01:25:22,800 --> 01:25:25,519 Speaker 1: hunt the earth back in the day, and and they 1682 01:25:25,600 --> 01:25:29,680 Speaker 1: only hunted the farmers only hunted opening weekend usually with 1683 01:25:29,800 --> 01:25:32,479 Speaker 1: their relatives and stuff. So I gave them a copy 1684 01:25:32,520 --> 01:25:34,800 Speaker 1: of this tape. But it was boxed in there that 1685 01:25:34,920 --> 01:25:38,280 Speaker 1: we were grunting in and and bucks that they were 1686 01:25:38,320 --> 01:25:43,519 Speaker 1: shooting that year, and they were pretty excited about seeing that, 1687 01:25:44,320 --> 01:25:46,960 Speaker 1: and it was a whole new aspect of hunting kind 1688 01:25:47,000 --> 01:25:49,320 Speaker 1: of form. So they showed it to their all the 1689 01:25:49,439 --> 01:25:52,320 Speaker 1: relatives are hunting, you know, they're hunting gang, and they 1690 01:25:52,360 --> 01:25:55,479 Speaker 1: showed it to their friends and they all started calling 1691 01:25:55,600 --> 01:25:59,120 Speaker 1: me and wanted a copy of this tape and and 1692 01:25:59,360 --> 01:26:03,880 Speaker 1: ended up I had six hundred calls on the wanted 1693 01:26:04,240 --> 01:26:07,840 Speaker 1: wanting this copy of this table. At the time, uh, 1694 01:26:08,040 --> 01:26:10,640 Speaker 1: you know, editing and stuff was kind of an infancy, 1695 01:26:10,760 --> 01:26:14,840 Speaker 1: and I ended up I tried, couldn't find a place to, 1696 01:26:15,600 --> 01:26:17,720 Speaker 1: you know, at the time, to get him copied over. 1697 01:26:17,800 --> 01:26:20,400 Speaker 1: So I ended up buying six at old VHS players 1698 01:26:21,120 --> 01:26:25,320 Speaker 1: copying them over, and at home did five at a time, 1699 01:26:25,400 --> 01:26:29,240 Speaker 1: and and then from there I got a call from 1700 01:26:29,920 --> 01:26:34,160 Speaker 1: Robert Manning, which was q d M was just kind 1701 01:26:34,200 --> 01:26:37,479 Speaker 1: of getting started at the time, and their advisory board 1702 01:26:37,560 --> 01:26:41,840 Speaker 1: was the thirteen biologists and the different universities that had 1703 01:26:41,920 --> 01:26:45,400 Speaker 1: dear study programs. It was James Crowle from Texas and 1704 01:26:45,520 --> 01:26:52,639 Speaker 1: Harry Jacobson's Mississippi, David Gwen from Clemson, and the Robert 1705 01:26:52,680 --> 01:26:55,360 Speaker 1: Manning was the chairman of the board for the new 1706 01:26:55,479 --> 01:26:58,160 Speaker 1: organizations started up. And they asked me if I could 1707 01:26:58,200 --> 01:27:01,520 Speaker 1: send a copy of this tape to those thirteen biologists. 1708 01:27:02,520 --> 01:27:07,040 Speaker 1: And basically all it was was my year of hunting 1709 01:27:07,520 --> 01:27:12,679 Speaker 1: and what I saw, and they all looked at the tape. 1710 01:27:12,680 --> 01:27:15,640 Speaker 1: They were having a meeting in Atlanta for the organization 1711 01:27:15,760 --> 01:27:19,920 Speaker 1: and and they were in the process of doing a 1712 01:27:20,080 --> 01:27:24,400 Speaker 1: video tape to promote their organization, and after the meeting 1713 01:27:24,520 --> 01:27:27,200 Speaker 1: invited me down there. I didn't actually go on, but 1714 01:27:27,960 --> 01:27:30,760 Speaker 1: they after the meeting they called me and asked me 1715 01:27:31,280 --> 01:27:36,160 Speaker 1: if they could use my tape and and they would 1716 01:27:36,200 --> 01:27:38,479 Speaker 1: fly up here and do a three minute blurk about 1717 01:27:38,520 --> 01:27:41,760 Speaker 1: their organization at the end of the tape, and that 1718 01:27:41,960 --> 01:27:45,599 Speaker 1: you could do this anywhere and that, and that's kind 1719 01:27:45,600 --> 01:27:47,720 Speaker 1: of how it all took off on me. And uh, 1720 01:27:48,280 --> 01:27:51,759 Speaker 1: you know, one thing, I do another and the first 1721 01:27:52,680 --> 01:27:58,160 Speaker 1: so I had this tape anyway I they had. I 1722 01:27:58,240 --> 01:28:01,400 Speaker 1: had to go in and re edit it because back 1723 01:28:01,439 --> 01:28:03,680 Speaker 1: in the day, every time you copied it over you 1724 01:28:03,800 --> 01:28:08,320 Speaker 1: lost the generation and quality, and so I had to 1725 01:28:08,400 --> 01:28:10,680 Speaker 1: get all the original footage and redo it. So they 1726 01:28:10,760 --> 01:28:12,679 Speaker 1: paid me to go. I went to a public TV 1727 01:28:12,840 --> 01:28:16,400 Speaker 1: station it goes down to ten at night and opened 1728 01:28:16,400 --> 01:28:18,240 Speaker 1: a date in the morning. I'd work all night, and 1729 01:28:18,360 --> 01:28:21,479 Speaker 1: I worked about a month on it and put it 1730 01:28:21,560 --> 01:28:24,760 Speaker 1: all back together again and put there in their little 1731 01:28:24,800 --> 01:28:29,080 Speaker 1: burp in it about their organization. And then they sent 1732 01:28:29,200 --> 01:28:31,880 Speaker 1: it out to all their members that would join them. 1733 01:28:32,000 --> 01:28:36,640 Speaker 1: So that kind of was took off. And and uh 1734 01:28:37,760 --> 01:28:40,680 Speaker 1: back the first you know, at the time, there was 1735 01:28:40,800 --> 01:28:43,479 Speaker 1: really nothing out there. There wasn't no Old Door Channel 1736 01:28:43,640 --> 01:28:46,680 Speaker 1: or any other hunting. The first shows that were on 1737 01:28:46,880 --> 01:28:49,920 Speaker 1: on hunting and white tails was Jackie Bushman was on 1738 01:28:50,320 --> 01:28:55,080 Speaker 1: TNN and he came and hunted with me here and 1739 01:28:56,400 --> 01:29:00,280 Speaker 1: he held up the tape. And that's what I really 1740 01:29:00,360 --> 01:29:04,720 Speaker 1: realized what national advertising was because my phone ranking off 1741 01:29:04,800 --> 01:29:07,519 Speaker 1: the hawk steady for three days straight until you know, 1742 01:29:07,680 --> 01:29:11,960 Speaker 1: from five in the morning until midnight, and it was 1743 01:29:12,400 --> 01:29:15,240 Speaker 1: it was crazy. So it took off on me. But 1744 01:29:15,320 --> 01:29:17,719 Speaker 1: it was all by accident. It wasn't that I planned 1745 01:29:17,760 --> 01:29:20,720 Speaker 1: on making a tape or doing anything. And the same 1746 01:29:20,760 --> 01:29:23,639 Speaker 1: as my own plating business. So when I got this place, 1747 01:29:23,760 --> 01:29:27,519 Speaker 1: I I thought, well, I know what I liked in 1748 01:29:27,880 --> 01:29:31,840 Speaker 1: a white tail hunt, and every year I would make 1749 01:29:31,880 --> 01:29:34,760 Speaker 1: a list of what would make the hunting better for 1750 01:29:36,040 --> 01:29:38,759 Speaker 1: all clients that came in and make my life easier, 1751 01:29:38,880 --> 01:29:42,960 Speaker 1: basically make it more efficient. So we would we would 1752 01:29:43,000 --> 01:29:46,200 Speaker 1: make a list and prioritizes and have the do the 1753 01:29:47,200 --> 01:29:49,679 Speaker 1: every year. I had to do the things that would 1754 01:29:49,800 --> 01:29:53,160 Speaker 1: were the biggest issues that would make it easier and 1755 01:29:53,560 --> 01:29:56,320 Speaker 1: more efficient than and then all took off from there. 1756 01:29:56,439 --> 01:30:01,000 Speaker 1: I I thought at the time too, that maybe you know, 1757 01:30:01,080 --> 01:30:03,400 Speaker 1: how am I going to get poping young bucks for 1758 01:30:03,479 --> 01:30:05,840 Speaker 1: these hunters? And it's hard enough for me to try 1759 01:30:05,920 --> 01:30:11,519 Speaker 1: to shoot one myself. And uh so anyway, but I 1760 01:30:11,640 --> 01:30:15,040 Speaker 1: didn't realize the time, but by having hunters and when 1761 01:30:15,080 --> 01:30:17,040 Speaker 1: I had in the follow during the rut, but if 1762 01:30:17,040 --> 01:30:19,200 Speaker 1: I had twelve guys in the woods on stands, I 1763 01:30:19,280 --> 01:30:22,519 Speaker 1: set up an approach. You get them into a certain 1764 01:30:22,560 --> 01:30:26,240 Speaker 1: approaches and stuff. I was learning it, you know, twelve 1765 01:30:26,320 --> 01:30:28,600 Speaker 1: friends as fast as if I was just doing it 1766 01:30:28,760 --> 01:30:30,960 Speaker 1: on my own, because I'd be sitting in one spot 1767 01:30:31,200 --> 01:30:35,400 Speaker 1: versus twelve, you know. And it really taught me, you 1768 01:30:35,520 --> 01:30:39,200 Speaker 1: know past I mean it was like you you saw 1769 01:30:39,320 --> 01:30:42,320 Speaker 1: trends and things and and that's how it kind of 1770 01:30:42,320 --> 01:30:45,639 Speaker 1: all began. And so here we are down the road, 1771 01:30:45,800 --> 01:30:50,720 Speaker 1: and I'm loving it as much as ever around cameras now. 1772 01:30:50,840 --> 01:30:54,120 Speaker 1: And you know, of course, everybody you know over the 1773 01:30:54,240 --> 01:30:57,800 Speaker 1: years has progressed to a point where it's it's uh, 1774 01:30:58,240 --> 01:31:00,040 Speaker 1: it's still a real fun for me. But was and 1775 01:31:00,120 --> 01:31:02,120 Speaker 1: I don't think i'd be doing it. But the challenge 1776 01:31:02,200 --> 01:31:05,840 Speaker 1: of hunting older bucks is this fun because they're a 1777 01:31:05,880 --> 01:31:09,639 Speaker 1: different animal than you know, two or three year old deer. 1778 01:31:09,960 --> 01:31:12,760 Speaker 1: So once they get AIDS on them, they they live 1779 01:31:12,800 --> 01:31:15,519 Speaker 1: a different lifestyle, which is it is the fun part 1780 01:31:15,560 --> 01:31:18,280 Speaker 1: about trying to figure them out. So I love, I 1781 01:31:18,400 --> 01:31:23,040 Speaker 1: love that you still have that same genuine passion for 1782 01:31:23,240 --> 01:31:26,160 Speaker 1: I mean that came through so clearly to me spending 1783 01:31:26,200 --> 01:31:28,240 Speaker 1: that time down there with you that you are just 1784 01:31:28,520 --> 01:31:30,280 Speaker 1: as eight up with this stuff now as you were 1785 01:31:30,400 --> 01:31:33,479 Speaker 1: thirty five years ago or whatever it was when these 1786 01:31:33,560 --> 01:31:36,760 Speaker 1: things began. Um, But I'm curious, Tom, you know you 1787 01:31:37,040 --> 01:31:39,840 Speaker 1: you you had this videotape that you just were trying 1788 01:31:39,880 --> 01:31:42,080 Speaker 1: to share the neighbors, and then it ended up exploding 1789 01:31:42,160 --> 01:31:46,400 Speaker 1: and spreading around the country. All these people watched these videos, um, 1790 01:31:47,000 --> 01:31:49,880 Speaker 1: seeing what you're doing, seeing the deer you were passing on, 1791 01:31:50,040 --> 01:31:53,479 Speaker 1: seeing what was possible. Then you started improving your own property, 1792 01:31:53,520 --> 01:31:55,599 Speaker 1: and you had clients coming down, and like you said, 1793 01:31:55,680 --> 01:31:58,560 Speaker 1: there was folks and TV shows and folks and magazines 1794 01:31:58,600 --> 01:32:00,560 Speaker 1: and all these different guys came down a hunted with you, 1795 01:32:00,680 --> 01:32:02,479 Speaker 1: and they saw what you were doing and how you 1796 01:32:02,560 --> 01:32:05,599 Speaker 1: were doing it. And so you had this massive network 1797 01:32:05,680 --> 01:32:08,400 Speaker 1: of people that were either watching you or learning from 1798 01:32:08,479 --> 01:32:11,360 Speaker 1: people that hunted with you and learned from you. And 1799 01:32:11,880 --> 01:32:13,760 Speaker 1: all these folks now are picking up on the things 1800 01:32:13,840 --> 01:32:17,479 Speaker 1: that you in many ways started or popularized. How does 1801 01:32:17,520 --> 01:32:22,240 Speaker 1: it How does it make you feel when you hear 1802 01:32:22,439 --> 01:32:25,960 Speaker 1: about that impact that you had and how many people 1803 01:32:26,760 --> 01:32:29,320 Speaker 1: have come to hunting or learned about hunting from you 1804 01:32:29,560 --> 01:32:32,080 Speaker 1: in some way? What does that bring to mind for you? 1805 01:32:32,120 --> 01:32:37,960 Speaker 1: How do you feel about that? You know, it isn't 1806 01:32:38,520 --> 01:32:40,320 Speaker 1: you know what I mean? I guess it. I guess 1807 01:32:40,360 --> 01:32:43,240 Speaker 1: I don't look at it as any big deal. Really, 1808 01:32:43,360 --> 01:32:47,040 Speaker 1: it's that It's just I just feel pretty humble about 1809 01:32:47,320 --> 01:32:51,120 Speaker 1: you know, it was just a passion of trying to 1810 01:32:51,280 --> 01:32:54,360 Speaker 1: learn about something that then I still have, I guess 1811 01:32:54,439 --> 01:32:57,560 Speaker 1: because you never really mastered on a white tailor or 1812 01:32:57,720 --> 01:33:01,240 Speaker 1: the hardest big game animal or is to uh, you 1813 01:33:01,280 --> 01:33:04,680 Speaker 1: know that we ever achieved any now. And I realized 1814 01:33:04,720 --> 01:33:07,720 Speaker 1: that over what I learned from my hunters too was 1815 01:33:08,000 --> 01:33:10,559 Speaker 1: good because there's some good hunters that have come through here, 1816 01:33:10,640 --> 01:33:14,400 Speaker 1: and just about everybody in the industry hunted here, you know, 1817 01:33:14,600 --> 01:33:17,760 Speaker 1: sometimes one time or another. But the people you met, 1818 01:33:17,880 --> 01:33:21,880 Speaker 1: and and I don't really feel like it's it was 1819 01:33:21,960 --> 01:33:27,080 Speaker 1: just something I enjoyed doing, and and it this is 1820 01:33:27,160 --> 01:33:30,560 Speaker 1: what it is that is that all developed, you know, 1821 01:33:31,040 --> 01:33:33,559 Speaker 1: it's likely. I guess if you spend enough time at anything, 1822 01:33:33,600 --> 01:33:36,679 Speaker 1: I guess I feel blessed that I was a lot 1823 01:33:36,800 --> 01:33:39,160 Speaker 1: of the time to spend that at which I still do. 1824 01:33:39,560 --> 01:33:42,800 Speaker 1: You know something right now after season here and I 1825 01:33:43,640 --> 01:33:47,360 Speaker 1: I've spent the last month to running cameras, getting a 1826 01:33:47,400 --> 01:33:49,960 Speaker 1: new inventory of what there are left out there. And 1827 01:33:50,800 --> 01:33:53,080 Speaker 1: as they say, final shid yesterday, if I saw the deer, 1828 01:33:53,200 --> 01:33:54,960 Speaker 1: I saw him out of the house, commanu was once 1829 01:33:55,040 --> 01:33:58,160 Speaker 1: I gone, and knowing the deer very well. And when 1830 01:33:58,200 --> 01:34:01,200 Speaker 1: I'm checked my cameras and there's orm light there yesterday, 1831 01:34:01,320 --> 01:34:03,760 Speaker 1: so he I know, I knew was the day he 1832 01:34:03,880 --> 01:34:07,280 Speaker 1: said last year, and I know the day said this year. 1833 01:34:07,280 --> 01:34:09,439 Speaker 1: He's about two weeks earlier this year. A lot of 1834 01:34:09,520 --> 01:34:12,200 Speaker 1: times they said just about the same day every year. 1835 01:34:12,320 --> 01:34:15,920 Speaker 1: But to be able to have the time to do that, 1836 01:34:16,120 --> 01:34:19,240 Speaker 1: I think that's what I've been. You know, if you 1837 01:34:19,479 --> 01:34:22,080 Speaker 1: really feel blessed about that, that it's all evolved into that. 1838 01:34:22,200 --> 01:34:24,880 Speaker 1: So it is your own job for me kind of 1839 01:34:24,960 --> 01:34:29,560 Speaker 1: that I enjoy doing. Now, what about what about the 1840 01:34:29,680 --> 01:34:33,360 Speaker 1: impact you felt? So so tell me if this is 1841 01:34:33,400 --> 01:34:37,080 Speaker 1: true or not. But my reading of the situation is 1842 01:34:37,160 --> 01:34:40,080 Speaker 1: that you know, in the years after that videotape caught fire, 1843 01:34:40,200 --> 01:34:42,720 Speaker 1: and in the years after you started outfitting, you know, 1844 01:34:42,840 --> 01:34:45,960 Speaker 1: more and more people in Buffalo County started practicing some 1845 01:34:46,160 --> 01:34:49,320 Speaker 1: form of deer management, some kind of habitat management. And 1846 01:34:49,360 --> 01:34:51,920 Speaker 1: the same thing happened across the Midwest right to the 1847 01:34:51,920 --> 01:34:54,280 Speaker 1: point where we are today, where it's one of the 1848 01:34:54,760 --> 01:34:58,280 Speaker 1: main ways that people participating hunting is managing the property 1849 01:34:58,320 --> 01:35:01,479 Speaker 1: for deer quality. Deer management pretty prevalent in one form 1850 01:35:01,560 --> 01:35:03,640 Speaker 1: or another. So this thing that was kind of a 1851 01:35:03,720 --> 01:35:08,080 Speaker 1: little idea thirty years ago is now almost everywhere. What 1852 01:35:08,320 --> 01:35:11,400 Speaker 1: have been the would have been the pros and cons 1853 01:35:11,520 --> 01:35:13,479 Speaker 1: of that for you personally in your little neck of 1854 01:35:13,520 --> 01:35:15,840 Speaker 1: the woods. Have you seen things change? Have you seen 1855 01:35:15,880 --> 01:35:18,439 Speaker 1: the neighborhood change? Has been good? Has it been bad? 1856 01:35:18,600 --> 01:35:23,200 Speaker 1: What's what's that looked like in your experience? Well, I 1857 01:35:23,600 --> 01:35:26,880 Speaker 1: you know, looking at the whole picture of it, I 1858 01:35:26,960 --> 01:35:32,639 Speaker 1: mean back when we started hunting, and back high school 1859 01:35:32,720 --> 01:35:35,240 Speaker 1: and back where everybody went up north funning because it 1860 01:35:35,400 --> 01:35:38,559 Speaker 1: was the North Woods had been logged off, and back 1861 01:35:38,640 --> 01:35:41,760 Speaker 1: in the fifties and sixties and even before that that 1862 01:35:42,200 --> 01:35:46,720 Speaker 1: was where over there were the Midwest here, Um, you know, 1863 01:35:46,880 --> 01:35:51,120 Speaker 1: hunting was basically family groups that did your drives and 1864 01:35:51,720 --> 01:35:54,599 Speaker 1: and shot there for meat. And I guess the enjoying 1865 01:35:54,720 --> 01:35:58,240 Speaker 1: the hunting tool, and there was the hunting camps up 1866 01:35:58,320 --> 01:36:02,200 Speaker 1: north and stuff do management. I think a lot of 1867 01:36:02,280 --> 01:36:05,600 Speaker 1: people had the wrong I had the wrong idea on it. 1868 01:36:06,200 --> 01:36:09,240 Speaker 1: As far as all people on big horns or something, 1869 01:36:09,720 --> 01:36:12,200 Speaker 1: it isn't really about the horns at all for me 1870 01:36:12,360 --> 01:36:15,160 Speaker 1: at all. It's just it's about a mature animal that 1871 01:36:16,080 --> 01:36:19,439 Speaker 1: is wiser, and it's just a challenge of going after 1872 01:36:20,520 --> 01:36:23,000 Speaker 1: and not just seeing something run across the field shooting it, 1873 01:36:23,160 --> 01:36:25,960 Speaker 1: you know, it was like following him and watching him 1874 01:36:26,040 --> 01:36:29,560 Speaker 1: from your year what and learning about his lifestyle kind of. 1875 01:36:30,200 --> 01:36:33,880 Speaker 1: I think overall impact, I mean a lot of people 1876 01:36:33,960 --> 01:36:39,759 Speaker 1: were really against you them because they they basically enjoyed 1877 01:36:39,920 --> 01:36:42,840 Speaker 1: what they were doing and shooting any deer or whatever, 1878 01:36:43,040 --> 01:36:45,880 Speaker 1: you know. And of course they only spent Most people 1879 01:36:46,360 --> 01:36:49,439 Speaker 1: were busy with their jobs and their lifestyles which they 1880 01:36:49,479 --> 01:36:51,559 Speaker 1: only had a weekend or two to get out there 1881 01:36:51,600 --> 01:36:53,240 Speaker 1: in the year. They did couldn't have the time to 1882 01:36:53,360 --> 01:36:56,120 Speaker 1: spend in the woods to you know, so what if 1883 01:36:56,680 --> 01:36:58,760 Speaker 1: they weren't used to seeing a lot of deer, just 1884 01:36:58,960 --> 01:37:01,800 Speaker 1: that one or two days year maybe you know. And 1885 01:37:02,720 --> 01:37:06,639 Speaker 1: and the impact I mean not that there. People nobody 1886 01:37:06,720 --> 01:37:10,200 Speaker 1: likes to change. People are big creatures I have, but 1887 01:37:10,280 --> 01:37:12,320 Speaker 1: in a way too so they don't like to change 1888 01:37:12,400 --> 01:37:15,080 Speaker 1: any thing in their life style. But you know, as 1889 01:37:15,160 --> 01:37:18,120 Speaker 1: far as how much it caught on around all over 1890 01:37:18,160 --> 01:37:21,440 Speaker 1: the country, you can really see that and what's harvested 1891 01:37:21,520 --> 01:37:24,920 Speaker 1: every year now for age class deer or what people 1892 01:37:24,960 --> 01:37:28,160 Speaker 1: are doing that, I mean, it's they must of them 1893 01:37:28,280 --> 01:37:31,040 Speaker 1: come through here. All the big ones shot around Canada 1894 01:37:31,160 --> 01:37:34,000 Speaker 1: or the US every year come here. My son works 1895 01:37:34,080 --> 01:37:37,080 Speaker 1: with the closely brack and they you know, and paints 1896 01:37:38,200 --> 01:37:40,800 Speaker 1: hand oil, paints these antlers off the original they do, 1897 01:37:41,520 --> 01:37:45,080 Speaker 1: you know, replicas of especially the world class deer that 1898 01:37:45,160 --> 01:37:47,720 Speaker 1: are shot every year around the country. So I get 1899 01:37:47,760 --> 01:37:50,000 Speaker 1: to see all those and stuff. But I mean the 1900 01:37:50,240 --> 01:37:55,400 Speaker 1: amounted deer. There was never any numbers of deer shot 1901 01:37:55,520 --> 01:37:57,760 Speaker 1: years ago like there is now that are you know, 1902 01:37:57,920 --> 01:38:02,200 Speaker 1: all are huge deer two hundred deer plus and you 1903 01:38:02,320 --> 01:38:05,160 Speaker 1: never saw that years ago. Too much one here and there, 1904 01:38:05,320 --> 01:38:09,720 Speaker 1: you know. No, I don't know impact on you know, 1905 01:38:10,040 --> 01:38:14,200 Speaker 1: it's just up to people what they what they get 1906 01:38:14,240 --> 01:38:16,200 Speaker 1: out of it or what they like They what they 1907 01:38:16,360 --> 01:38:19,680 Speaker 1: like out of their hunting or whatever. It's important for 1908 01:38:19,840 --> 01:38:22,560 Speaker 1: me and has been for years for young hunters to 1909 01:38:23,160 --> 01:38:27,040 Speaker 1: shoot their first deer, that's probably the most memorable hunt 1910 01:38:27,280 --> 01:38:29,559 Speaker 1: they'll ever have in their lifetime. And I had too 1911 01:38:29,680 --> 01:38:32,720 Speaker 1: young twin girls shoot their first deer here this year 1912 01:38:33,160 --> 01:38:36,200 Speaker 1: the Cross Bowl and they're they're nine years old and 1913 01:38:36,920 --> 01:38:43,000 Speaker 1: they the satisfaction I got as watson them was just tremendous. 1914 01:38:43,120 --> 01:38:46,439 Speaker 1: And so it is all about, you know, big handler 1915 01:38:46,600 --> 01:38:51,679 Speaker 1: dear for everybody's I hunted over the years or thirty years, 1916 01:38:51,760 --> 01:38:56,080 Speaker 1: most you know, we shot just whatever. I uh, first 1917 01:38:56,120 --> 01:38:58,600 Speaker 1: time hunters. I've probably had a hundred of them in 1918 01:38:58,680 --> 01:39:02,519 Speaker 1: here the shot their first here that that was probably 1919 01:39:02,520 --> 01:39:05,519 Speaker 1: the most exciting thing they'll ever have in their life, 1920 01:39:05,600 --> 01:39:10,640 Speaker 1: you know. So I guess, I guess impact on the 1921 01:39:10,800 --> 01:39:14,280 Speaker 1: area here and stuff it It definitely is a big 1922 01:39:14,400 --> 01:39:19,080 Speaker 1: impact because land prices one out of site. It's that's 1923 01:39:19,160 --> 01:39:22,880 Speaker 1: a I guess that I don't know if that's good 1924 01:39:23,040 --> 01:39:25,439 Speaker 1: or bad or whatever. They came in and brought up 1925 01:39:25,520 --> 01:39:30,560 Speaker 1: land for honey. It did allow you know, landowners or 1926 01:39:30,640 --> 01:39:33,760 Speaker 1: farmers and stuff to sell off these of Atlanta and 1927 01:39:34,360 --> 01:39:37,519 Speaker 1: it really increased the value of their properties for them. 1928 01:39:38,479 --> 01:39:41,040 Speaker 1: But then then also taxes go up because of that. 1929 01:39:42,080 --> 01:39:46,320 Speaker 1: It's you know, there's it's a catch twenty two kind 1930 01:39:46,320 --> 01:39:48,040 Speaker 1: of all the way around when you look at it, 1931 01:39:48,160 --> 01:39:51,800 Speaker 1: for as that aspect that a lot of people can't 1932 01:39:51,800 --> 01:39:55,519 Speaker 1: afford to you know, by land, especially for you know 1933 01:39:55,640 --> 01:39:58,320 Speaker 1: in certain areas where it has gone on a site 1934 01:39:58,400 --> 01:40:01,840 Speaker 1: like that. Um and I say, taxes go up as 1935 01:40:01,960 --> 01:40:05,000 Speaker 1: land prices go up. Also, so the people who are 1936 01:40:05,120 --> 01:40:08,240 Speaker 1: forced to sell off pieces of the small problem of farmers, 1937 01:40:08,400 --> 01:40:10,920 Speaker 1: especially sell off of woodland or something that they didn't 1938 01:40:10,960 --> 01:40:13,720 Speaker 1: really use anyway, you know, they to be able to 1939 01:40:13,840 --> 01:40:17,920 Speaker 1: keep their family farms stuff. And it's everywhere you go. 1940 01:40:18,080 --> 01:40:21,160 Speaker 1: I mean, when when it gets more people in the world, 1941 01:40:21,200 --> 01:40:25,880 Speaker 1: there's more in demand for things, and and there's so 1942 01:40:26,000 --> 01:40:29,160 Speaker 1: many things that cost that even crop prices or anything. 1943 01:40:29,240 --> 01:40:32,519 Speaker 1: You know, you can see that in a in Iowa 1944 01:40:32,560 --> 01:40:35,759 Speaker 1: if you look at over the years where land prices 1945 01:40:35,800 --> 01:40:37,960 Speaker 1: have gone, the price of corn goes off, the price 1946 01:40:38,000 --> 01:40:43,320 Speaker 1: of land coach away up and everything. So it's a 1947 01:40:43,320 --> 01:40:44,920 Speaker 1: there's a lot of ways to look at it, but 1948 01:40:45,120 --> 01:40:48,479 Speaker 1: it's I don't know, it's been just a fun time 1949 01:40:48,560 --> 01:40:51,679 Speaker 1: for me for really being able to spend the time 1950 01:40:51,760 --> 01:40:55,120 Speaker 1: at it, you know, and follow these deer and learn 1951 01:40:55,160 --> 01:40:58,519 Speaker 1: about them. And and I've been here thirty years and 1952 01:40:58,560 --> 01:41:00,679 Speaker 1: I have not shot a deer in my offen thirty 1953 01:41:00,760 --> 01:41:05,120 Speaker 1: year or so. That's pretty that's pretty crazy when they 1954 01:41:05,160 --> 01:41:09,599 Speaker 1: think about it. So why why is that? I wondered 1955 01:41:09,640 --> 01:41:13,120 Speaker 1: about that? That shocks me. You've been in arguably the 1956 01:41:13,439 --> 01:41:16,479 Speaker 1: best place to hunt deer in the world, quite possibly, 1957 01:41:16,600 --> 01:41:18,600 Speaker 1: or one of the very best at least, and you 1958 01:41:18,760 --> 01:41:21,880 Speaker 1: love this thing more than almost anyone. You're ate up 1959 01:41:21,920 --> 01:41:25,200 Speaker 1: by it. But you've chosen not to kill a deer 1960 01:41:25,280 --> 01:41:30,679 Speaker 1: in thirty some years. Why, well, I get, I guess 1961 01:41:31,439 --> 01:41:33,880 Speaker 1: was the hunters I have in here? You know, Uh, 1962 01:41:34,280 --> 01:41:38,320 Speaker 1: this year we got we shot fourteen pop and young 1963 01:41:38,439 --> 01:41:43,760 Speaker 1: bucks that were twelve or more. And uh, for me 1964 01:41:43,920 --> 01:41:46,840 Speaker 1: to get a mature deer like that. And once you 1965 01:41:46,880 --> 01:41:50,840 Speaker 1: get over get over the hump of getting age on 1966 01:41:51,000 --> 01:41:54,200 Speaker 1: deer in your area, you can shoot you know, big 1967 01:41:54,240 --> 01:41:58,240 Speaker 1: deer like that every year. It basically common sense to say, well, 1968 01:41:58,280 --> 01:41:59,960 Speaker 1: if I don't shoot him at one or two or 1969 01:42:00,080 --> 01:42:02,679 Speaker 1: three years old, he's going to be there at four 1970 01:42:02,840 --> 01:42:05,960 Speaker 1: or a great percentage of them will be. So we'll 1971 01:42:06,000 --> 01:42:08,600 Speaker 1: just shoot the four year olds, and but if you 1972 01:42:08,640 --> 01:42:11,640 Speaker 1: shoot them all off every year before they get to 1973 01:42:11,760 --> 01:42:14,960 Speaker 1: that age and never have there like that, Um I 1974 01:42:15,360 --> 01:42:19,320 Speaker 1: I I get my satisfaction out of being able to 1975 01:42:19,720 --> 01:42:23,160 Speaker 1: learn from every year. And it just kind of cast 1976 01:42:23,280 --> 01:42:25,080 Speaker 1: my too, because I follow some of these bucks. I 1977 01:42:25,240 --> 01:42:28,760 Speaker 1: follow some of them up over ten years old every year, 1978 01:42:28,920 --> 01:42:32,840 Speaker 1: and and every time I see him and learn a 1979 01:42:32,920 --> 01:42:35,920 Speaker 1: little bit more about him, I realized that, you know, 1980 01:42:36,240 --> 01:42:39,000 Speaker 1: such a small percentage ever get that age, because there's 1981 01:42:39,600 --> 01:42:43,320 Speaker 1: there's so many ways that they die from infections or 1982 01:42:43,479 --> 01:42:47,720 Speaker 1: hit by cars or you know, fight and they get it. Uh, 1983 01:42:48,360 --> 01:42:51,559 Speaker 1: there's just a small percentage that ever get that old. 1984 01:42:51,600 --> 01:42:54,240 Speaker 1: But when they when they do get shot, it's like, well, 1985 01:42:54,320 --> 01:42:57,960 Speaker 1: it's kind of a anticlimatic for me because you know, 1986 01:42:58,280 --> 01:43:01,560 Speaker 1: you get you've in so much time with idea for 1987 01:43:01,720 --> 01:43:04,280 Speaker 1: many years, and you know where he lived, what he 1988 01:43:04,360 --> 01:43:07,120 Speaker 1: does or whatever. But realizing that they're at the end 1989 01:43:07,160 --> 01:43:10,200 Speaker 1: of their their lifestyle. And that's why I realized that 1990 01:43:10,280 --> 01:43:13,120 Speaker 1: there they're they're gonna be dead anyway in a year 1991 01:43:13,200 --> 01:43:18,080 Speaker 1: or so. So it isn't it isn't. It doesn't affect 1992 01:43:18,120 --> 01:43:20,960 Speaker 1: me so too much. Like some people ask me that, oh, 1993 01:43:21,040 --> 01:43:23,639 Speaker 1: what do you feel about that when he gets out, Well, 1994 01:43:24,080 --> 01:43:28,320 Speaker 1: it isn't there. They're a commodity like raising the crop, 1995 01:43:28,479 --> 01:43:31,680 Speaker 1: you know, and it's like a farmer raising cattle or 1996 01:43:31,760 --> 01:43:34,720 Speaker 1: beef cattle or butcher in them for the you know, 1997 01:43:34,840 --> 01:43:38,360 Speaker 1: the meat and whatever. You know that. I mean, it's 1998 01:43:38,520 --> 01:43:41,439 Speaker 1: it's really no different. You're almost just you're raising I 1999 01:43:41,520 --> 01:43:43,679 Speaker 1: look at it like this raising cattle in a way. 2000 01:43:43,800 --> 01:43:47,160 Speaker 1: You know, you're you just kind of target certain ones. 2001 01:43:47,240 --> 01:43:50,040 Speaker 1: And there's there's I would say eight percent of the 2002 01:43:50,160 --> 01:43:54,880 Speaker 1: deer out there never are trophy potential. They may may 2003 01:43:55,000 --> 01:43:58,599 Speaker 1: get one fifty and at the tops and stay there 2004 01:43:58,680 --> 01:44:02,000 Speaker 1: with this beautiful box, but there they're never going to be, 2005 01:44:02,479 --> 01:44:07,240 Speaker 1: you know, a monster buck or whatever. So probably should 2006 01:44:07,280 --> 01:44:09,760 Speaker 1: be shot at a younger age. For the genetics, you 2007 01:44:09,880 --> 01:44:12,320 Speaker 1: do what you look at these game farms that are 2008 01:44:12,400 --> 01:44:16,000 Speaker 1: raised deer and they got two deer their first reacts 2009 01:44:16,040 --> 01:44:19,320 Speaker 1: and all, and there's it's all genetics and less stress 2010 01:44:19,400 --> 01:44:22,880 Speaker 1: and whatever. We're there in the wild, they're stressed all 2011 01:44:22,920 --> 01:44:25,320 Speaker 1: the time. Basically we have we have a lot of 2012 01:44:25,400 --> 01:44:31,800 Speaker 1: predators here, basically kyles and and bobcasts and there's like 2013 01:44:32,000 --> 01:44:34,880 Speaker 1: they're wolf on once in a while in this area. 2014 01:44:34,960 --> 01:44:38,520 Speaker 1: But I mean in certain areas that they're they're constantly 2015 01:44:38,760 --> 01:44:42,519 Speaker 1: stressed for their life, so they don't they never have. 2016 01:44:42,720 --> 01:44:46,000 Speaker 1: That's a big as far as growth wise on a 2017 01:44:46,120 --> 01:44:51,080 Speaker 1: deer that keeps them, you know, not like these deer 2018 01:44:51,120 --> 01:44:55,360 Speaker 1: that are not stressed on game farms and the genetic 2019 01:44:55,520 --> 01:44:58,080 Speaker 1: lines on them. But the genetics are here and there 2020 01:44:58,120 --> 01:45:00,320 Speaker 1: are in a lot of areas that I I've seen 2021 01:45:00,400 --> 01:45:03,360 Speaker 1: over the years or around the country, it's producing big 2022 01:45:03,439 --> 01:45:06,040 Speaker 1: deer and all once they started doing you know, q 2023 01:45:06,240 --> 01:45:08,840 Speaker 1: d M and getting some age on them, there there's 2024 01:45:08,920 --> 01:45:12,800 Speaker 1: a good genetics most all over, you know. So this 2025 01:45:13,000 --> 01:45:17,000 Speaker 1: this kind of brings to mind one of the a 2026 01:45:17,160 --> 01:45:21,760 Speaker 1: popular critique on deer management, which is when when some 2027 01:45:21,880 --> 01:45:27,519 Speaker 1: people hear stuff like, you know, managing deer like like 2028 01:45:27,680 --> 01:45:32,920 Speaker 1: a hearticle, it's like you're managing cattle. You're harvesting these deer, 2029 01:45:33,080 --> 01:45:36,080 Speaker 1: you're selectively kind of choosing which ones make it to 2030 01:45:36,160 --> 01:45:38,840 Speaker 1: older age classes. You're kind of nurturing them along. Some 2031 01:45:39,040 --> 01:45:42,639 Speaker 1: people look at this and they say, well, you're taking 2032 01:45:42,680 --> 01:45:46,120 Speaker 1: the wildness out of hunting, You're taking the difficulty out 2033 01:45:46,160 --> 01:45:49,639 Speaker 1: of hunting. You know, this isn't really quote unquote hunting anymore. 2034 01:45:49,800 --> 01:45:52,720 Speaker 1: That is that's a critique that sometimes gets thrown at 2035 01:45:52,800 --> 01:45:56,560 Speaker 1: this style a way of experiencing deer hunting. What do 2036 01:45:56,600 --> 01:45:58,960 Speaker 1: you what's your take on that? Is that rubbish? Do you? 2037 01:45:59,520 --> 01:46:04,000 Speaker 1: What do you think on that? Well, you know, I 2038 01:46:04,040 --> 01:46:06,960 Speaker 1: don't think you know, I guess I guess the probably 2039 01:46:07,120 --> 01:46:09,680 Speaker 1: is how you look at it. I mean, it's to me, 2040 01:46:09,960 --> 01:46:13,679 Speaker 1: it's it's just more of a challenge. Is the harder 2041 01:46:13,840 --> 01:46:18,479 Speaker 1: thing to to achieve to get uh a deer with 2042 01:46:18,680 --> 01:46:22,640 Speaker 1: age on it there, they're much more there there. It 2043 01:46:22,760 --> 01:46:27,600 Speaker 1: Actually it's a harder hunt because you you there's so 2044 01:46:27,680 --> 01:46:31,360 Speaker 1: many things that there are different animal and they have 2045 01:46:31,520 --> 01:46:34,600 Speaker 1: learned over the years that that's how they survived. So 2046 01:46:35,840 --> 01:46:41,400 Speaker 1: um it it's fun. I mean, and it doesn't I 2047 01:46:41,439 --> 01:46:44,240 Speaker 1: guess if you look at it's not for everybody. Probably 2048 01:46:44,320 --> 01:46:46,800 Speaker 1: that once they're culture. If they want to go on 2049 01:46:46,960 --> 01:46:49,600 Speaker 1: on a weekend and shoot a deer, that's you know, 2050 01:46:49,880 --> 01:46:54,360 Speaker 1: especially you know, that's up to it's an each individual 2051 01:46:54,520 --> 01:46:56,840 Speaker 1: and if they don't have time to spend out there, 2052 01:46:57,080 --> 01:47:00,360 Speaker 1: you know and really see nature how it is all 2053 01:47:00,439 --> 01:47:03,760 Speaker 1: these Uh that was the thing with archery hunting versus 2054 01:47:03,840 --> 01:47:07,200 Speaker 1: gun hunting, where uh it allows you that you have 2055 01:47:07,320 --> 01:47:09,439 Speaker 1: to be close to it there, you know, and get 2056 01:47:09,800 --> 01:47:13,080 Speaker 1: you get to watch them more and and see the reaction, 2057 01:47:13,200 --> 01:47:17,240 Speaker 1: and you you have to make your reactions in close range. 2058 01:47:17,800 --> 01:47:20,759 Speaker 1: That's changed a little bit now with cross bowls and stuff, 2059 01:47:20,800 --> 01:47:23,439 Speaker 1: where they're more like rifles where you can just shoot 2060 01:47:23,479 --> 01:47:26,160 Speaker 1: it when you see it out there somewhere. Used to 2061 01:47:26,240 --> 01:47:28,439 Speaker 1: be they got to be within like twenty yards or 2062 01:47:28,720 --> 01:47:32,519 Speaker 1: last or thirty yards, you know, to get close, and 2063 01:47:32,560 --> 01:47:35,760 Speaker 1: you've got to see a lot of interaction and in 2064 01:47:36,040 --> 01:47:38,800 Speaker 1: deer and family groups and bucks and you know, and 2065 01:47:39,400 --> 01:47:41,800 Speaker 1: and then to make your move when they're close to you. 2066 01:47:42,800 --> 01:47:48,880 Speaker 1: Where I'd say probably of uh, you know, hunts that 2067 01:47:49,240 --> 01:47:52,280 Speaker 1: went bad because they couldn't get away with any movement 2068 01:47:52,400 --> 01:47:54,240 Speaker 1: or anything, whether they're that close to them because they 2069 01:47:54,280 --> 01:47:57,800 Speaker 1: are so alert. But I don't know, you know, it's 2070 01:47:57,840 --> 01:48:00,920 Speaker 1: something it's each individual what they want out of hunting, 2071 01:48:01,040 --> 01:48:05,120 Speaker 1: I guess, you know, And and I don't know if 2072 01:48:05,160 --> 01:48:08,080 Speaker 1: there's a you know what quite The answer is there, 2073 01:48:08,160 --> 01:48:12,880 Speaker 1: I guess is it's a personal thing to everybody that 2074 01:48:13,000 --> 01:48:15,240 Speaker 1: does hunt, I guess, and all they want to or 2075 01:48:15,320 --> 01:48:17,880 Speaker 1: what they want out of it, and what you put 2076 01:48:17,960 --> 01:48:20,519 Speaker 1: into it is really what you get out of it, 2077 01:48:21,400 --> 01:48:26,200 Speaker 1: you know, I guess that's oh, I guess that's sort 2078 01:48:26,240 --> 01:48:28,880 Speaker 1: of Oh. I look at the more you put into something, 2079 01:48:28,960 --> 01:48:31,200 Speaker 1: the more effort it is, and the more work you 2080 01:48:31,320 --> 01:48:34,000 Speaker 1: do at it, the more meaning it has to you 2081 01:48:34,160 --> 01:48:37,799 Speaker 1: in the end. You know. Yeah, Well, it's it's evident 2082 01:48:38,400 --> 01:48:43,320 Speaker 1: watching you, the the investment you put into these these 2083 01:48:43,360 --> 01:48:47,000 Speaker 1: places and animals that you hunt or help other people hunt. 2084 01:48:47,080 --> 01:48:50,760 Speaker 1: I mean, that's it's pretty apparent you you live for 2085 01:48:50,840 --> 01:48:53,040 Speaker 1: this stuff. So why why don't shift a little bit 2086 01:48:53,120 --> 01:48:55,640 Speaker 1: into that side of things and how you do that, 2087 01:48:56,000 --> 01:48:58,360 Speaker 1: what you're actually doing out there on the land. Um. 2088 01:48:58,960 --> 01:49:00,519 Speaker 1: You know, I got the chance to right around with 2089 01:49:00,600 --> 01:49:02,839 Speaker 1: you and do some scouting to check out the property, 2090 01:49:03,000 --> 01:49:05,920 Speaker 1: to see different parts of your farm. Um, I noticed 2091 01:49:06,000 --> 01:49:08,000 Speaker 1: there were handful things that stood out to me. Is 2092 01:49:08,320 --> 01:49:12,719 Speaker 1: is something that seemingly you find really valuable? But I'm curious. 2093 01:49:12,880 --> 01:49:15,519 Speaker 1: Rather than me putting my assumptions on you, I would 2094 01:49:15,560 --> 01:49:18,080 Speaker 1: just like to know from your perspective, what do you 2095 01:49:18,160 --> 01:49:21,840 Speaker 1: think have been the very most important habitat improvements you've 2096 01:49:21,920 --> 01:49:25,160 Speaker 1: made over the years to make this property, this farm 2097 01:49:25,720 --> 01:49:31,400 Speaker 1: what it is now. Well, I looked at it, but 2098 01:49:31,560 --> 01:49:34,519 Speaker 1: he's agree logically and say, well, Okay, you're hunting an 2099 01:49:34,560 --> 01:49:38,880 Speaker 1: animal that lives. He has his senses and he has 2100 01:49:39,640 --> 01:49:45,439 Speaker 1: that's how he stays alive. Basically with this is sight, smell, 2101 01:49:45,600 --> 01:49:51,640 Speaker 1: and and and then there it's all about feed for 2102 01:49:51,840 --> 01:49:57,360 Speaker 1: animals and and habitat of of where you know, security 2103 01:49:57,479 --> 01:50:01,799 Speaker 1: where they can live and not get bothered basically and exists. 2104 01:50:01,840 --> 01:50:05,200 Speaker 1: And so I think, what I looked at that and 2105 01:50:05,640 --> 01:50:09,040 Speaker 1: some of that stuff you when you you just you 2106 01:50:09,120 --> 01:50:13,000 Speaker 1: observed sign and what deer were doing, and then you said, 2107 01:50:13,040 --> 01:50:16,719 Speaker 1: well what could I do to make that better or whatever? 2108 01:50:17,600 --> 01:50:22,960 Speaker 1: And one thing I noticed was like, uh, watering holes 2109 01:50:23,120 --> 01:50:27,040 Speaker 1: or like I remember hunting area years ago and I'd 2110 01:50:27,160 --> 01:50:29,080 Speaker 1: walk in on a log and road and there was 2111 01:50:29,280 --> 01:50:33,080 Speaker 1: spots where the skids and top of skitters and you know, 2112 01:50:33,200 --> 01:50:36,360 Speaker 1: dug holes, and and there were mud holes when it rained, 2113 01:50:36,400 --> 01:50:39,040 Speaker 1: and there was peppered with deer tracks around them. I thought, 2114 01:50:39,520 --> 01:50:42,519 Speaker 1: you know, water is a key, especially in country like 2115 01:50:42,640 --> 01:50:45,800 Speaker 1: this where there's these high ridges and there's no water 2116 01:50:45,920 --> 01:50:47,920 Speaker 1: on top. They gotta go all the way down the 2117 01:50:48,000 --> 01:50:50,479 Speaker 1: bottom of the water. And I thought, well, if you 2118 01:50:50,560 --> 01:50:53,280 Speaker 1: put in a little pond or a little watering hole, 2119 01:50:54,000 --> 01:50:57,479 Speaker 1: even just a mud hole, Uh, they could hold water. 2120 01:50:57,640 --> 01:51:01,200 Speaker 1: So we ended up putting in ponds and at little 2121 01:51:01,280 --> 01:51:03,799 Speaker 1: ponds that were there with a small cat. We probably 2122 01:51:03,840 --> 01:51:07,280 Speaker 1: dig them, push the top dirt off and then dig 2123 01:51:07,400 --> 01:51:10,640 Speaker 1: the clay out, dig a little deeper and then just 2124 01:51:10,800 --> 01:51:14,080 Speaker 1: making a you know, impression there and push the clay 2125 01:51:14,160 --> 01:51:17,599 Speaker 1: back in, drive over with a cat, and and where 2126 01:51:17,720 --> 01:51:20,240 Speaker 1: the spots we put them in, we learned quick that 2127 01:51:20,439 --> 01:51:21,880 Speaker 1: you don't want to put them in any kind of 2128 01:51:21,960 --> 01:51:25,439 Speaker 1: a drainage or wash or anything. You want to almost 2129 01:51:25,439 --> 01:51:27,439 Speaker 1: put them in on a flat or just off the 2130 01:51:27,600 --> 01:51:31,320 Speaker 1: hillside a little bit. And the other thing was were 2131 01:51:31,439 --> 01:51:35,599 Speaker 1: the deer for their senses would be that they could 2132 01:51:35,640 --> 01:51:38,240 Speaker 1: see around. They if they put them in down in 2133 01:51:38,320 --> 01:51:42,439 Speaker 1: the hole or something, they were always literally going there 2134 01:51:42,479 --> 01:51:44,760 Speaker 1: because they're down in the hole and for predators to 2135 01:51:45,400 --> 01:51:48,479 Speaker 1: you know, come in on them or whatever. So they 2136 01:51:48,640 --> 01:51:51,320 Speaker 1: like to be more open when they can see out. 2137 01:51:51,920 --> 01:51:54,000 Speaker 1: And the other thing was putting them in and where 2138 01:51:54,000 --> 01:51:57,560 Speaker 1: you have good oaks or good trees for shades, so 2139 01:51:57,720 --> 01:52:01,280 Speaker 1: they didn't it was just rain water, so vote would 2140 01:52:01,360 --> 01:52:03,439 Speaker 1: evaporate out. It was out in the middle of a 2141 01:52:03,560 --> 01:52:06,800 Speaker 1: field or something musically hot spells, it all evaporated out 2142 01:52:06,840 --> 01:52:10,720 Speaker 1: pretty fast. Where and then we just probably bulows in 2143 01:52:10,800 --> 01:52:14,400 Speaker 1: a little fly above the pond to just to run 2144 01:52:14,560 --> 01:52:17,360 Speaker 1: water into it when they did rain. So they're all 2145 01:52:17,439 --> 01:52:20,280 Speaker 1: just you know, rainfill pond and most have been very 2146 01:52:20,320 --> 01:52:24,640 Speaker 1: good and they worked out put them in um you know, 2147 01:52:25,720 --> 01:52:28,080 Speaker 1: and then thinking well during the rout these bucks are 2148 01:52:28,360 --> 01:52:31,880 Speaker 1: they're not feeding or anything, they're not interested in feed, 2149 01:52:32,479 --> 01:52:35,400 Speaker 1: so they that they got a water so they'd end 2150 01:52:35,520 --> 01:52:37,800 Speaker 1: up we put them in on these ridges where there 2151 01:52:37,880 --> 01:52:40,960 Speaker 1: was big betting areas for those and put them in 2152 01:52:41,040 --> 01:52:43,600 Speaker 1: just off the sides of them where they travels in 2153 01:52:43,680 --> 01:52:45,720 Speaker 1: and out. For these bucks that come in during the 2154 01:52:45,880 --> 01:52:48,320 Speaker 1: rout to get in there looking for a doll. But 2155 01:52:48,439 --> 01:52:51,920 Speaker 1: invariably they go to that pond of water because and 2156 01:52:52,200 --> 01:52:54,240 Speaker 1: we have a pond up on a hill area. We've 2157 01:52:54,240 --> 01:53:00,240 Speaker 1: shot over off that pond when well it isn't we've 2158 01:53:00,240 --> 01:53:02,599 Speaker 1: got a couple of years, we've got three off there 2159 01:53:03,240 --> 01:53:06,080 Speaker 1: in in in a week. You know, there's different bucks 2160 01:53:06,160 --> 01:53:08,679 Speaker 1: coming in there looking for those. So there's different bucks 2161 01:53:08,720 --> 01:53:10,760 Speaker 1: there every day from maybe off the ways. They're not 2162 01:53:11,479 --> 01:53:14,439 Speaker 1: not even a resident box that would come in there 2163 01:53:14,640 --> 01:53:17,240 Speaker 1: trying to push out some those that are coming into 2164 01:53:17,280 --> 01:53:19,280 Speaker 1: heat or check it out and they go to the pond. 2165 01:53:19,840 --> 01:53:22,240 Speaker 1: So that's why probably one of the big things feed is. 2166 01:53:23,080 --> 01:53:27,360 Speaker 1: You know in this country, you know there there to 2167 01:53:27,400 --> 01:53:31,519 Speaker 1: get used at certain things, like people adapt for food. Uh, 2168 01:53:32,080 --> 01:53:36,040 Speaker 1: you have likes and dislikes. And I noticed that we 2169 01:53:36,120 --> 01:53:38,480 Speaker 1: used to go to Canada. I was to a Saskatchewan 2170 01:53:38,600 --> 01:53:41,800 Speaker 1: shed hunt, and every year got up there and they 2171 01:53:41,840 --> 01:53:44,519 Speaker 1: didn't have much feed anywhere in the winter. If there 2172 01:53:44,520 --> 01:53:46,600 Speaker 1: were a stand in the wheatfield or whatever you're in 2173 01:53:46,720 --> 01:53:48,479 Speaker 1: the area, was there, or they were all in the 2174 01:53:48,600 --> 01:53:52,000 Speaker 1: feed lots at the at the ranchers. So they all 2175 01:53:52,080 --> 01:53:55,360 Speaker 1: bunched up wherever there was feed. Well, they said, oh, 2176 01:53:55,439 --> 01:53:59,280 Speaker 1: you gotta plant sunflowers. They god, they just demolish those things. 2177 01:53:59,320 --> 01:54:02,320 Speaker 1: And well I did, and it was all birds and 2178 01:54:02,400 --> 01:54:05,360 Speaker 1: there was no dear because here they had so many 2179 01:54:05,400 --> 01:54:08,200 Speaker 1: other good you know, much other good food to eat 2180 01:54:08,240 --> 01:54:14,559 Speaker 1: like alfalfa, clover, acorns and and apples, and they got 2181 01:54:14,600 --> 01:54:17,160 Speaker 1: everything else that they didn't touch. The sunflowers. The only 2182 01:54:17,200 --> 01:54:19,080 Speaker 1: reason they ate them up there was the only feed 2183 01:54:19,160 --> 01:54:21,720 Speaker 1: they had to eat, you know, So they that's why 2184 01:54:21,760 --> 01:54:24,360 Speaker 1: they ended up there. But I'd look at things like 2185 01:54:24,439 --> 01:54:26,919 Speaker 1: that and said, well, what what is the most important 2186 01:54:27,000 --> 01:54:30,800 Speaker 1: thing and food is one which I'd leave soybeans. Every 2187 01:54:30,880 --> 01:54:34,560 Speaker 1: year I leave fields so soybeans and and corn to corn. 2188 01:54:34,680 --> 01:54:37,280 Speaker 1: I noticed it's more of a filler. I don't know 2189 01:54:37,440 --> 01:54:40,840 Speaker 1: how they'll eat. They like grazing it off the ground, 2190 01:54:40,920 --> 01:54:42,840 Speaker 1: but versus on the stock. The only reason I at 2191 01:54:42,920 --> 01:54:46,240 Speaker 1: least standing fields around here and there Sometimes if we 2192 01:54:46,320 --> 01:54:49,520 Speaker 1: get deep snow and ice storms, or they can still 2193 01:54:49,600 --> 01:54:51,520 Speaker 1: get at it. It's a little harder for them to 2194 01:54:51,600 --> 01:54:55,440 Speaker 1: eat the office of a cob hanging there. But the 2195 01:54:55,760 --> 01:54:59,080 Speaker 1: beans are good year around. They eat the leaves off, 2196 01:54:59,120 --> 01:55:02,440 Speaker 1: and I film, you know, fashion groups of boxed in them, 2197 01:55:02,520 --> 01:55:06,160 Speaker 1: and in July and August, and then they eat the 2198 01:55:06,240 --> 01:55:08,640 Speaker 1: leaves off, and they'll eat every leaf off the whole field, 2199 01:55:08,720 --> 01:55:11,040 Speaker 1: and the beans are still on there. And then in 2200 01:55:11,160 --> 01:55:14,120 Speaker 1: the fall and now at the time, right now I 2201 01:55:14,160 --> 01:55:16,520 Speaker 1: can look out there and poundered order under the bean 2202 01:55:16,560 --> 01:55:19,280 Speaker 1: fields I haven't around my house. I'll have a hundred 2203 01:55:19,320 --> 01:55:22,280 Speaker 1: deer in here wintering in the beans, and they'll usually 2204 01:55:22,360 --> 01:55:25,120 Speaker 1: eat them out if you've got depending on how big 2205 01:55:25,200 --> 01:55:26,960 Speaker 1: you heard is or how many jeer, and they'll come 2206 01:55:27,000 --> 01:55:30,480 Speaker 1: from several miles away. The fine feet if it gets 2207 01:55:30,800 --> 01:55:33,840 Speaker 1: you know, Spiarce in the winter if it like a 2208 01:55:33,920 --> 01:55:37,200 Speaker 1: lot of farms take all the crops off so there 2209 01:55:37,320 --> 01:55:41,080 Speaker 1: is nothing to eat. But uh and and and even 2210 01:55:41,160 --> 01:55:44,360 Speaker 1: in winters. I found out that if you have a 2211 01:55:44,520 --> 01:55:47,480 Speaker 1: mile winter here with these steep slopes and buffalo here, 2212 01:55:48,120 --> 01:55:50,800 Speaker 1: they melt off fairly easy. But it's twenty degrees they 2213 01:55:50,840 --> 01:55:53,920 Speaker 1: saw slopes melt off and they get at you know, acorns. 2214 01:55:53,960 --> 01:55:56,760 Speaker 1: If you had a good acorn cropper, they got browlers 2215 01:55:56,800 --> 01:55:59,920 Speaker 1: they can eat. They'd rather eat that than standing corn 2216 01:56:00,280 --> 01:56:04,560 Speaker 1: or something or ah. Even beans that they will be 2217 01:56:04,640 --> 01:56:06,800 Speaker 1: on beans at night, but I mean during the day 2218 01:56:06,840 --> 01:56:10,879 Speaker 1: they're browsing on and they'll they'll lose the natural browls 2219 01:56:11,920 --> 01:56:13,520 Speaker 1: if they can get out of us sold I try 2220 01:56:13,600 --> 01:56:17,520 Speaker 1: to fill in those gaps. You know what what is important? 2221 01:56:17,560 --> 01:56:21,680 Speaker 1: Water is the key. Even one one interesting thing I 2222 01:56:21,760 --> 01:56:24,680 Speaker 1: figured always on our ponds when we put them in, 2223 01:56:24,840 --> 01:56:29,920 Speaker 1: thinking that yeah, there they're gonna use them during the 2224 01:56:30,040 --> 01:56:33,560 Speaker 1: rut when they're dehydrated, their run steady, and they they 2225 01:56:33,640 --> 01:56:35,920 Speaker 1: got a drink that they come in. But early in 2226 01:56:36,000 --> 01:56:39,320 Speaker 1: the year in September October sometimes we'd have like a 2227 01:56:39,440 --> 01:56:44,600 Speaker 1: long dry feller drought kind of and the ponds ithology 2228 01:56:44,720 --> 01:56:48,000 Speaker 1: that there should be on those ponds steady, you know, 2229 01:56:48,400 --> 01:56:51,400 Speaker 1: and they weren't. I'd sit those ponds and when't see nothing. 2230 01:56:51,760 --> 01:56:57,120 Speaker 1: You finally figured out that early in September and October 2231 01:56:57,720 --> 01:57:02,200 Speaker 1: it's usually at nine it gets real foggy at night 2232 01:57:02,320 --> 01:57:05,920 Speaker 1: and and there's so much uh really didn't do on 2233 01:57:06,360 --> 01:57:09,800 Speaker 1: on the plants on it. So they're getting there h 2234 01:57:10,560 --> 01:57:14,040 Speaker 1: helf water off the plants. So it came down to 2235 01:57:14,480 --> 01:57:16,920 Speaker 1: if it was windy or not. So if it was windy, 2236 01:57:17,000 --> 01:57:20,120 Speaker 1: it would dry out the fell fulfill tos standing crops 2237 01:57:21,200 --> 01:57:23,680 Speaker 1: and they wouldn't get any moisture off them, so they'd 2238 01:57:23,760 --> 01:57:27,040 Speaker 1: have to go to the ponds. But if they didn't 2239 01:57:27,480 --> 01:57:30,160 Speaker 1: if it was windy, it wasn't windy and it was 2240 01:57:30,200 --> 01:57:33,560 Speaker 1: a real heavy do they get plenty of moisture just eating, 2241 01:57:34,280 --> 01:57:38,000 Speaker 1: you know, with thelfelf our clover or something, and they 2242 01:57:38,040 --> 01:57:40,880 Speaker 1: didn't have to go to the pond. So, uh, that 2243 01:57:41,080 --> 01:57:43,200 Speaker 1: was kind of an eye opener for me. But I 2244 01:57:43,240 --> 01:57:46,360 Speaker 1: started to watch the wind and and you could tell 2245 01:57:46,440 --> 01:57:48,080 Speaker 1: when they were going to be on the ponds or not. 2246 01:57:48,960 --> 01:57:52,040 Speaker 1: So real quick on the pond topic, before going further, 2247 01:57:52,840 --> 01:57:54,680 Speaker 1: can you can you give me a little bit more 2248 01:57:54,800 --> 01:57:57,680 Speaker 1: detail on how to do those right, because I think 2249 01:57:57,720 --> 01:58:00,400 Speaker 1: that was really one of the things thattood out to 2250 01:58:00,480 --> 01:58:02,200 Speaker 1: me is just how many ponds you put in and 2251 01:58:02,240 --> 01:58:04,160 Speaker 1: the care you put into those. You mentioned that you 2252 01:58:04,320 --> 01:58:05,960 Speaker 1: like to put them on the ridges, You like to 2253 01:58:06,160 --> 01:58:08,400 Speaker 1: use a you know, a doze or to carve out 2254 01:58:08,400 --> 01:58:10,240 Speaker 1: a hole. You mentioned that you like to put them 2255 01:58:10,280 --> 01:58:14,040 Speaker 1: back there, you know, near oaks off those points. But 2256 01:58:14,120 --> 01:58:16,360 Speaker 1: can you give me any more specifics on how big, 2257 01:58:16,880 --> 01:58:20,920 Speaker 1: how deep, what you use to line them, any mistakes 2258 01:58:21,000 --> 01:58:25,360 Speaker 1: people used to make? Okay, so you first thing we 2259 01:58:25,520 --> 01:58:28,400 Speaker 1: do I have we ended up actually is I had 2260 01:58:28,520 --> 01:58:31,160 Speaker 1: die with a small cat that put in all my ponds, 2261 01:58:31,240 --> 01:58:34,480 Speaker 1: and I actually only guys call me and we go 2262 01:58:34,600 --> 01:58:38,120 Speaker 1: and look at other areas and layout ponds for them 2263 01:58:38,280 --> 01:58:42,440 Speaker 1: or to put them. The key to orders I look 2264 01:58:42,480 --> 01:58:45,600 Speaker 1: at a like a ridge system or something, or where 2265 01:58:45,680 --> 01:58:49,680 Speaker 1: there's big bedding areas off these you know, tops of 2266 01:58:49,760 --> 01:58:52,920 Speaker 1: these ridges off just off the sides, and trying to 2267 01:58:53,000 --> 01:58:55,200 Speaker 1: look at travel routes in and out of the ridge 2268 01:58:55,240 --> 01:58:57,560 Speaker 1: is just all over the edges, a little bit off 2269 01:58:57,640 --> 01:59:01,879 Speaker 1: the tops and not like I said, if there's a drainage, 2270 01:59:01,920 --> 01:59:04,640 Speaker 1: if it's a valley or anything that drops you get 2271 01:59:04,680 --> 01:59:08,280 Speaker 1: a heavy rain, it's gonna wash your pondo. So all 2272 01:59:08,360 --> 01:59:10,840 Speaker 1: we put them in it would be taking place out 2273 01:59:10,880 --> 01:59:13,840 Speaker 1: of the drainage, just upper ways on the side a 2274 01:59:13,920 --> 01:59:18,360 Speaker 1: little bit and uh, you know, travel cord or in 2275 01:59:18,440 --> 01:59:21,000 Speaker 1: and auto origin and then take a small cat, probably 2276 01:59:21,040 --> 01:59:25,120 Speaker 1: dig him down. I say, you push off the Usually 2277 01:59:25,640 --> 01:59:28,440 Speaker 1: this area has a lot of clay in it, and 2278 01:59:29,440 --> 01:59:32,640 Speaker 1: usually we push off all of the like the leaves 2279 01:59:32,680 --> 01:59:36,880 Speaker 1: and black dirt on top and which would be just loose, 2280 01:59:37,520 --> 01:59:40,800 Speaker 1: you know, fairly loose dirt and push that off. So 2281 01:59:40,960 --> 01:59:43,840 Speaker 1: you hit the clay and push the clay out and 2282 01:59:43,880 --> 01:59:47,040 Speaker 1: then probably dig that thing. You're probably done, i'd say, 2283 01:59:48,240 --> 01:59:51,960 Speaker 1: probably end up down about six seven eight ft and 2284 01:59:52,160 --> 01:59:55,440 Speaker 1: then you and then you don't don't have to be 2285 01:59:55,520 --> 01:59:57,560 Speaker 1: a very big area. You just wanted big enough so 2286 01:59:57,680 --> 02:00:00,800 Speaker 1: when you get rain in it, it's not can evaporate 2287 02:00:00,880 --> 02:00:02,840 Speaker 1: out over the summer if you get a dry spell, 2288 02:00:03,000 --> 02:00:06,400 Speaker 1: so you probably just probably then you push the clay 2289 02:00:06,480 --> 02:00:08,360 Speaker 1: back in it and then drive over with a cat. 2290 02:00:08,480 --> 02:00:11,520 Speaker 1: You just make like a bowl. Um and it's probably 2291 02:00:11,600 --> 02:00:18,160 Speaker 1: only it's probably I don't know, at across maybe and 2292 02:00:18,240 --> 02:00:20,200 Speaker 1: then my own maybe or however you are a put 2293 02:00:20,240 --> 02:00:22,120 Speaker 1: it then it don't make any difference. Just those holes 2294 02:00:22,280 --> 02:00:26,160 Speaker 1: enough water that it won't evaporate out in a dry spell, 2295 02:00:26,600 --> 02:00:28,480 Speaker 1: you know, so they always have water, even if it 2296 02:00:28,520 --> 02:00:31,040 Speaker 1: gets down to you know, an insu or two water 2297 02:00:31,800 --> 02:00:34,160 Speaker 1: mud and stuff. They they'll be in their use. And 2298 02:00:34,480 --> 02:00:36,839 Speaker 1: you know, then it gets to be like a gathering 2299 02:00:36,960 --> 02:00:39,440 Speaker 1: spot form, you know where they always hang around those 2300 02:00:39,480 --> 02:00:41,840 Speaker 1: spots because family groups are there all the time and 2301 02:00:42,760 --> 02:00:47,040 Speaker 1: and there's always there at those spots. That's just I 2302 02:00:47,760 --> 02:00:53,240 Speaker 1: As far as putting those ponds in there, I don't, 2303 02:00:53,320 --> 02:00:56,200 Speaker 1: like I said, they're not, the only reason with the 2304 02:00:56,280 --> 02:00:58,960 Speaker 1: trees around it is to keep it from evaporated and 2305 02:00:59,200 --> 02:01:01,920 Speaker 1: to have a you are hunting that you want to get. 2306 02:01:02,400 --> 02:01:05,040 Speaker 1: I always look at the predominant wind on no things, 2307 02:01:05,120 --> 02:01:08,880 Speaker 1: because yeah, that's always an issue. If it's always it's 2308 02:01:09,000 --> 02:01:11,600 Speaker 1: the predominant winds are usually in the fall or north 2309 02:01:11,760 --> 02:01:15,000 Speaker 1: northwest here, so we'd probably put them in over on 2310 02:01:15,120 --> 02:01:17,480 Speaker 1: there on the leeward side of the ridge, you know, 2311 02:01:17,520 --> 02:01:20,920 Speaker 1: on the south southeast side of the ridge, you know, 2312 02:01:21,080 --> 02:01:23,360 Speaker 1: where the wind would come over the top and and 2313 02:01:23,440 --> 02:01:25,600 Speaker 1: it would be more out of the window there too, 2314 02:01:26,320 --> 02:01:28,280 Speaker 1: and there would be the reason that there would be 2315 02:01:28,360 --> 02:01:30,360 Speaker 1: there he could send the whole ridge from there for 2316 02:01:30,480 --> 02:01:34,120 Speaker 1: the north or north it's wind. The trees you look 2317 02:01:34,200 --> 02:01:36,200 Speaker 1: at the I was looking at me where I got 2318 02:01:36,280 --> 02:01:39,600 Speaker 1: a couple of fairly good, nice trees around it, maybe 2319 02:01:39,720 --> 02:01:42,400 Speaker 1: on you know, the down wind side of the of 2320 02:01:42,480 --> 02:01:46,200 Speaker 1: the pond when you put it in. So you gotta 2321 02:01:46,240 --> 02:01:48,120 Speaker 1: play a good place, put a tree, stand in there, 2322 02:01:48,200 --> 02:01:50,880 Speaker 1: and get hid in there where you can shoot the pond. 2323 02:01:53,640 --> 02:01:57,640 Speaker 1: That's that's basically what I look for. And then put 2324 02:01:57,720 --> 02:02:01,520 Speaker 1: the pond in accordingly to so you you said, and 2325 02:02:01,720 --> 02:02:07,400 Speaker 1: the wind you know or you yep, that makes that 2326 02:02:07,520 --> 02:02:11,280 Speaker 1: makes a lot of sense, uh, you speak of your ponds. 2327 02:02:11,360 --> 02:02:14,240 Speaker 1: One of the things that I thought about as you're 2328 02:02:14,280 --> 02:02:16,800 Speaker 1: discussing this was that first pond that you and me 2329 02:02:16,880 --> 02:02:21,080 Speaker 1: went and looked at together. And I remember, you know, 2330 02:02:21,200 --> 02:02:23,840 Speaker 1: kind of asking you some of these similar questions and 2331 02:02:24,120 --> 02:02:26,440 Speaker 1: taking a look at that pond. But what stood out 2332 02:02:26,480 --> 02:02:28,840 Speaker 1: around the pond was the fact that you had two 2333 02:02:28,880 --> 02:02:31,440 Speaker 1: trail cameras point at the pond. You had two trail 2334 02:02:31,520 --> 02:02:34,520 Speaker 1: cameras just thirty yards down the hill pointing at some beds, 2335 02:02:35,080 --> 02:02:37,560 Speaker 1: and then another two trail cameras up the point on 2336 02:02:37,720 --> 02:02:41,480 Speaker 1: different trails, and and I remember being just very surprised, 2337 02:02:41,520 --> 02:02:43,320 Speaker 1: and Dylan and I were talking about this earlier. Just 2338 02:02:43,480 --> 02:02:47,880 Speaker 1: at your your comprehensiveness when it comes to putting trail 2339 02:02:47,960 --> 02:02:51,920 Speaker 1: cameras in you know, areas like this and covering a 2340 02:02:52,000 --> 02:02:54,920 Speaker 1: lot of different angles and different spots. Can you give 2341 02:02:55,000 --> 02:02:57,800 Speaker 1: me your take on on why you do that, on 2342 02:02:57,960 --> 02:03:00,680 Speaker 1: how you think about placing cameras, like like, why was 2343 02:03:00,720 --> 02:03:03,120 Speaker 1: that the spot that you wanted six or seven cameras? 2344 02:03:03,560 --> 02:03:05,520 Speaker 1: And how do you go about thinking through that when 2345 02:03:05,560 --> 02:03:10,160 Speaker 1: you set up other locations. Uh, what I first thing 2346 02:03:10,200 --> 02:03:14,000 Speaker 1: I do is look at, uh what the deer doing 2347 02:03:14,320 --> 02:03:17,840 Speaker 1: at what time of year? Those cameras we saw there 2348 02:03:18,040 --> 02:03:22,680 Speaker 1: were basically put in there for late season in the snow. 2349 02:03:23,640 --> 02:03:26,760 Speaker 1: Uh And um, when I when I look at this 2350 02:03:26,880 --> 02:03:28,960 Speaker 1: in cocate, So when I start out the year, I'll 2351 02:03:29,000 --> 02:03:33,760 Speaker 1: put ah in the summer. They're in the bassard groups 2352 02:03:33,800 --> 02:03:38,160 Speaker 1: on summer feet. So I'll place my cameras um along 2353 02:03:38,480 --> 02:03:41,960 Speaker 1: a corner. I'll drive along the cornfield with the LFL 2354 02:03:42,040 --> 02:03:44,720 Speaker 1: far or clover next to it, and I'll look at 2355 02:03:44,800 --> 02:03:48,560 Speaker 1: where they're eating along the side of the cornfield, and 2356 02:03:48,800 --> 02:03:51,640 Speaker 1: where I see some sign of where they're eating, I'll 2357 02:03:52,160 --> 02:03:56,480 Speaker 1: stick a camera right in the lf off on the 2358 02:03:56,600 --> 02:03:58,880 Speaker 1: edge of the corn, facing kind of down along the 2359 02:03:58,960 --> 02:04:03,240 Speaker 1: corn edge. And and then I'll or I'll put it 2360 02:04:03,320 --> 02:04:05,800 Speaker 1: out in the middle of the alfalfa field. If it's 2361 02:04:05,800 --> 02:04:09,000 Speaker 1: got I have some three sixty cameras, it'll swing and 2362 02:04:09,120 --> 02:04:13,760 Speaker 1: take a picture six different directions with whatever sensor is 2363 02:04:13,800 --> 02:04:16,240 Speaker 1: triggered and put them out in the field. So you 2364 02:04:17,280 --> 02:04:20,120 Speaker 1: because all those they are in groups and baschard groups 2365 02:04:20,120 --> 02:04:22,280 Speaker 1: at that time, you can get just about every buck 2366 02:04:22,920 --> 02:04:26,560 Speaker 1: it's using that on that camera in a week, and 2367 02:04:26,680 --> 02:04:29,600 Speaker 1: so you know what's they're kind of UH as the 2368 02:04:29,800 --> 02:04:32,680 Speaker 1: season for granted, I move those cameras once they leave 2369 02:04:33,760 --> 02:04:39,520 Speaker 1: they make a transition, you know, from UH grazing into browsing, 2370 02:04:39,840 --> 02:04:42,120 Speaker 1: and they'll go when once the acorns fall in the 2371 02:04:42,200 --> 02:04:47,040 Speaker 1: apples fallen in the fall, and on October they move 2372 02:04:47,600 --> 02:04:50,280 Speaker 1: their feed food source from what they eat in the summer, 2373 02:04:50,400 --> 02:04:54,880 Speaker 1: they'll move back into UH browsing more. And then I 2374 02:04:54,960 --> 02:04:57,760 Speaker 1: moved my cameras that they those big box relocate, they 2375 02:04:57,800 --> 02:05:00,560 Speaker 1: leave their bachelord groups and they become more nurse name 2376 02:05:00,800 --> 02:05:04,160 Speaker 1: back into the security spots and rubs show up. I'll 2377 02:05:04,200 --> 02:05:07,480 Speaker 1: put my cameras on rubs in and scrapes that show 2378 02:05:07,600 --> 02:05:10,520 Speaker 1: up and run them on that a while. And so 2379 02:05:10,640 --> 02:05:13,320 Speaker 1: when we were when you were here late season, I'll 2380 02:05:13,360 --> 02:05:17,440 Speaker 1: move them out there. Those ponds freeze over. I'll try 2381 02:05:17,480 --> 02:05:20,520 Speaker 1: to keep them open as much as I can. Uh, 2382 02:05:21,200 --> 02:05:25,640 Speaker 1: that one when to start freezing. But there that's still 2383 02:05:26,000 --> 02:05:28,600 Speaker 1: that's a betting point and that's where they spend the winners. 2384 02:05:28,680 --> 02:05:31,120 Speaker 1: And that that the point that it was right above 2385 02:05:31,240 --> 02:05:33,480 Speaker 1: the pond there we went all to Jackson was dear 2386 02:05:33,520 --> 02:05:36,400 Speaker 1: there when we drove up there, that ran off. Uh, 2387 02:05:36,760 --> 02:05:39,280 Speaker 1: And I had cameras there right, so I have them, 2388 02:05:40,080 --> 02:05:45,040 Speaker 1: um go, I faced some of the cameras towards each 2389 02:05:45,040 --> 02:05:49,120 Speaker 1: other because I get there behind cameras that never get 2390 02:05:49,160 --> 02:05:52,000 Speaker 1: in front of them. So I just learned that over 2391 02:05:52,080 --> 02:05:54,960 Speaker 1: the years that h and the trails coming in and out, 2392 02:05:54,960 --> 02:05:57,680 Speaker 1: and there's certain dear use certain trails so they don't. 2393 02:05:58,400 --> 02:06:01,080 Speaker 1: I might have it on a trail twenty yards over 2394 02:06:01,160 --> 02:06:03,840 Speaker 1: and not get them on and then they're using the 2395 02:06:03,960 --> 02:06:07,840 Speaker 1: next trail over. So uh, that's why I have a 2396 02:06:07,920 --> 02:06:10,200 Speaker 1: lot of cameras in certain spots like that. I put 2397 02:06:10,280 --> 02:06:13,960 Speaker 1: them in bedding points and which was there where they 2398 02:06:14,440 --> 02:06:16,680 Speaker 1: all the beds there and snow when we're up there. 2399 02:06:17,560 --> 02:06:20,200 Speaker 1: And then so that time of the year, I moved 2400 02:06:20,240 --> 02:06:22,600 Speaker 1: the other ones out to the food sources that I've left, 2401 02:06:22,680 --> 02:06:25,760 Speaker 1: like the bean fields, and I up on top on 2402 02:06:25,840 --> 02:06:27,520 Speaker 1: the other side there where you guys were hunting to 2403 02:06:27,760 --> 02:06:30,200 Speaker 1: those turn ups up there, and they were pretty much 2404 02:06:30,240 --> 02:06:36,600 Speaker 1: pounding those things. Uh, the crops themselves. Those turn ups especially, 2405 02:06:36,720 --> 02:06:38,880 Speaker 1: you want to plant them late so they don't get 2406 02:06:38,960 --> 02:06:41,760 Speaker 1: real big because you plan them. I always plan them 2407 02:06:42,120 --> 02:06:45,200 Speaker 1: towards the end of August. Uh. If you put them 2408 02:06:45,240 --> 02:06:47,520 Speaker 1: into early, they get big and they get sour and 2409 02:06:47,840 --> 02:06:51,080 Speaker 1: they don't hit them as much as they would younger. 2410 02:06:51,240 --> 02:06:54,920 Speaker 1: They like younger shoots on all their feet, even even 2411 02:06:55,240 --> 02:06:58,360 Speaker 1: you know, off of clover or anything. It's if clover 2412 02:06:58,480 --> 02:07:02,280 Speaker 1: gets olden stems. Oh, they don't like. They like the 2413 02:07:02,320 --> 02:07:05,640 Speaker 1: new shoots as they come up and more tender food. 2414 02:07:05,680 --> 02:07:12,720 Speaker 1: I guess more better easy. Uh. We certainly, like you said, 2415 02:07:12,760 --> 02:07:15,720 Speaker 1: we certainly saw the deer hammer and those turn ups 2416 02:07:15,760 --> 02:07:17,960 Speaker 1: that you had there no doubt about that. Um. And 2417 02:07:18,000 --> 02:07:19,800 Speaker 1: that was another spot where, like you said, you had 2418 02:07:20,360 --> 02:07:23,040 Speaker 1: multiple cameras set up all around that plot to catch 2419 02:07:23,160 --> 02:07:26,840 Speaker 1: deer and all the different places they might be. One 2420 02:07:26,840 --> 02:07:29,160 Speaker 1: of the things that always kind of not always, but 2421 02:07:29,320 --> 02:07:32,560 Speaker 1: one of the things that perplexed me or that I 2422 02:07:32,680 --> 02:07:34,960 Speaker 1: wondered about with all those cameras that you have, I 2423 02:07:35,000 --> 02:07:37,400 Speaker 1: mean hundreds of cameras that you're running in different places 2424 02:07:37,440 --> 02:07:41,839 Speaker 1: at different times, it seems like, what's what's your process 2425 02:07:42,080 --> 02:07:45,920 Speaker 1: for organizing and studying those photos that you can actually 2426 02:07:46,000 --> 02:07:49,400 Speaker 1: get actionable data out of them. I know you spend 2427 02:07:49,400 --> 02:07:51,520 Speaker 1: a lot of time at your computer studying those pictures. 2428 02:07:52,080 --> 02:07:54,360 Speaker 1: What's what's like the strategy there. How do you go 2429 02:07:54,400 --> 02:07:56,000 Speaker 1: about doing it in a way that you can keep 2430 02:07:56,080 --> 02:07:59,400 Speaker 1: track of deer and and learn stuff from those pictures 2431 02:07:59,520 --> 02:08:04,960 Speaker 1: to act done. Yeah, what what I do is if 2432 02:08:05,280 --> 02:08:08,240 Speaker 1: you know there's the different age class there. You know 2433 02:08:08,760 --> 02:08:10,760 Speaker 1: they're a year and a half, two and a half, three, 2434 02:08:10,920 --> 02:08:15,320 Speaker 1: four or five h I have a folder on every year, 2435 02:08:15,400 --> 02:08:17,720 Speaker 1: so when I get it on a camera, I'll put 2436 02:08:17,760 --> 02:08:19,960 Speaker 1: it in a folder, and then I put them in 2437 02:08:20,000 --> 02:08:24,040 Speaker 1: there by month because different times of the year there 2438 02:08:24,160 --> 02:08:27,000 Speaker 1: do different things, and they live in different areas, like 2439 02:08:27,120 --> 02:08:30,240 Speaker 1: in the summer and summer feed some of these older bucks, 2440 02:08:30,760 --> 02:08:33,480 Speaker 1: they may be a mile or two or they where 2441 02:08:33,520 --> 02:08:35,960 Speaker 1: they where their home security spot is where they will 2442 02:08:36,000 --> 02:08:38,920 Speaker 1: spend a month of October. Then during the rut there 2443 02:08:38,960 --> 02:08:42,520 Speaker 1: wandering all over. But so I put them by a month, 2444 02:08:42,600 --> 02:08:44,560 Speaker 1: and then I keep them from year to year. So 2445 02:08:45,440 --> 02:08:47,440 Speaker 1: if I, if we if I get a buck on 2446 02:08:47,640 --> 02:08:50,280 Speaker 1: it is a notable buck, I'll go back and find 2447 02:08:50,360 --> 02:08:52,400 Speaker 1: him the year before, the year before, the year before, 2448 02:08:52,400 --> 02:08:55,600 Speaker 1: and I'll look at one month where he's at, and 2449 02:08:55,720 --> 02:08:59,080 Speaker 1: then I can tell from year to year they kind 2450 02:08:59,120 --> 02:09:02,680 Speaker 1: of repeat that we've been able to shoot box from 2451 02:09:02,720 --> 02:09:06,200 Speaker 1: one year to the next. On the on the day 2452 02:09:06,280 --> 02:09:09,920 Speaker 1: they show up in a new spot that they haven't 2453 02:09:09,960 --> 02:09:13,160 Speaker 1: been all summer, I'll have cameras are year round on 2454 02:09:13,240 --> 02:09:17,160 Speaker 1: the spot, and the deer will show up maybe maybe 2455 02:09:17,600 --> 02:09:21,440 Speaker 1: be the first of October, maybe via in November. And 2456 02:09:22,000 --> 02:09:25,160 Speaker 1: a year later, right to the day he shows up 2457 02:09:25,200 --> 02:09:28,400 Speaker 1: there again and he hasn't been there all year. And 2458 02:09:28,800 --> 02:09:32,360 Speaker 1: we're able to harvard some good bucks that way. So 2459 02:09:32,600 --> 02:09:35,400 Speaker 1: I try to keep a full and what what what 2460 02:09:35,600 --> 02:09:39,800 Speaker 1: else it teaches me is growth patterns on deer. If 2461 02:09:40,520 --> 02:09:44,640 Speaker 1: I've been interesting to see, you know, dear following from 2462 02:09:44,680 --> 02:09:46,800 Speaker 1: one year to the next and see what they develop 2463 02:09:46,880 --> 02:09:50,360 Speaker 1: into and to see that, you know, what the hell 2464 02:09:50,480 --> 02:09:52,720 Speaker 1: why did they go there? I've noticed on some deer 2465 02:09:52,800 --> 02:10:00,200 Speaker 1: that I by accident, just by finding the sheds and realizing, hey, 2466 02:10:00,280 --> 02:10:02,920 Speaker 1: this is the sheds off this deer. And they have 2467 02:10:03,040 --> 02:10:06,000 Speaker 1: some notable features about them. But they gone from a 2468 02:10:06,160 --> 02:10:10,840 Speaker 1: real nice, you know, realized buck or maybe a hundred 2469 02:10:10,840 --> 02:10:13,920 Speaker 1: and fifty sixties deer and dropped down to something you 2470 02:10:14,000 --> 02:10:15,960 Speaker 1: see out there, and hope, I thought it was a 2471 02:10:16,040 --> 02:10:18,080 Speaker 1: two year old deer, you know the rack size. He 2472 02:10:18,200 --> 02:10:21,160 Speaker 1: went down enough, but he got wounded and and this 2473 02:10:21,360 --> 02:10:23,280 Speaker 1: this health wasn't there, and he just didn't grow in 2474 02:10:23,320 --> 02:10:25,560 Speaker 1: the act the next year. And then once he got 2475 02:10:25,640 --> 02:10:27,800 Speaker 1: his health back, it's following here, he came back. So 2476 02:10:27,960 --> 02:10:31,200 Speaker 1: those cameras showed me a lot of different things on there. 2477 02:10:31,320 --> 02:10:34,080 Speaker 1: What they what they how they develop, what they can 2478 02:10:34,600 --> 02:10:38,880 Speaker 1: you know, what the injuries due to him, what you 2479 02:10:38,960 --> 02:10:41,360 Speaker 1: can just see so much many things on him. So 2480 02:10:41,600 --> 02:10:44,440 Speaker 1: maybe being able to have each deer and have five 2481 02:10:44,680 --> 02:10:49,000 Speaker 1: sixty years of folders and growth on him and a 2482 02:10:49,080 --> 02:10:53,680 Speaker 1: lot of pictures of them each year. Uh, it's interesting 2483 02:10:53,760 --> 02:10:56,360 Speaker 1: to follow that and see what what they what they 2484 02:10:56,440 --> 02:11:00,080 Speaker 1: do or what affects him. And oh yeah, and the 2485 02:11:00,160 --> 02:11:02,600 Speaker 1: weather has a lot to do with a lot of things. 2486 02:11:02,680 --> 02:11:05,920 Speaker 1: And that was something was an eye opener on me too, 2487 02:11:06,040 --> 02:11:08,840 Speaker 1: as we had a real early sprained one year, and 2488 02:11:08,880 --> 02:11:11,120 Speaker 1: I thought, boy, that they are are gonna be good 2489 02:11:11,160 --> 02:11:14,080 Speaker 1: on them. And then it was in the seventies and 2490 02:11:14,160 --> 02:11:16,760 Speaker 1: eighties in March and April and all my tree but 2491 02:11:16,960 --> 02:11:21,760 Speaker 1: it all. And then we had an ice storm, hailstorm 2492 02:11:21,840 --> 02:11:27,040 Speaker 1: and a florado and it shredded all the buds off 2493 02:11:27,080 --> 02:11:31,839 Speaker 1: all the trees. It actually destroyed all the nut crops, 2494 02:11:31,920 --> 02:11:36,160 Speaker 1: the acorns, and all all the apples, and we had 2495 02:11:36,280 --> 02:11:38,440 Speaker 1: nothing in the fall, and there went into the winter 2496 02:11:38,560 --> 02:11:42,120 Speaker 1: with nothing to eat. It just what was ever in 2497 02:11:42,240 --> 02:11:47,280 Speaker 1: the in the spring with that, I mean when we 2498 02:11:47,360 --> 02:11:50,800 Speaker 1: had the ice storm and the hailstorm and stuff, stuff, 2499 02:11:51,320 --> 02:11:53,960 Speaker 1: the fields were so wet and stuff of farmers, we 2500 02:11:54,040 --> 02:11:55,680 Speaker 1: had rain all of me and they couldn't get in 2501 02:11:55,720 --> 02:11:58,760 Speaker 1: the plant crops or nothing got planted. And they went 2502 02:11:58,800 --> 02:12:02,800 Speaker 1: into the winter here. So the only times probably two 2503 02:12:02,880 --> 02:12:06,680 Speaker 1: hundred your under your thing where they had absolutely no 2504 02:12:06,920 --> 02:12:10,880 Speaker 1: feed and they were eating bark off the trees. And 2505 02:12:11,000 --> 02:12:13,960 Speaker 1: I never ever saw that, especially in Buffalo here that year. 2506 02:12:13,960 --> 02:12:16,640 Speaker 1: It was in two thousand and twelve. In two thousands, 2507 02:12:17,240 --> 02:12:21,840 Speaker 1: that winter involved in thirteen state severity index winner was 2508 02:12:21,920 --> 02:12:24,960 Speaker 1: the worst one in over a hundred years for cold 2509 02:12:25,040 --> 02:12:27,400 Speaker 1: and deep snow and stuff. They came off in the 2510 02:12:27,520 --> 02:12:29,840 Speaker 1: spring and they looked at their exca on the camera. 2511 02:12:29,960 --> 02:12:33,040 Speaker 1: They were just getting boning and they had nothing to 2512 02:12:33,120 --> 02:12:37,800 Speaker 1: eat in the spring, and so they they when they 2513 02:12:38,400 --> 02:12:42,120 Speaker 1: actually when they got the feed in the fall, when 2514 02:12:42,280 --> 02:12:44,520 Speaker 1: we because of all the rain, had main and stuff 2515 02:12:44,560 --> 02:12:49,480 Speaker 1: they had they had all the feed. The farmers planted. 2516 02:12:49,960 --> 02:12:51,600 Speaker 1: They had to plant a crop and they had to 2517 02:12:51,640 --> 02:12:55,680 Speaker 1: put it in after August. First they couldn't couldn't harvest it. 2518 02:12:56,240 --> 02:12:59,920 Speaker 1: And they basically planted brassicas with his radishes and turn 2519 02:13:00,080 --> 02:13:03,400 Speaker 1: ups and stuff to break up the soil. And because 2520 02:13:03,440 --> 02:13:05,720 Speaker 1: of all the rain and may, we had a bumper 2521 02:13:06,920 --> 02:13:10,320 Speaker 1: crop of acorns and apples and everything. So once they 2522 02:13:10,400 --> 02:13:13,200 Speaker 1: got that feed, they put this weight on and they 2523 02:13:13,280 --> 02:13:15,080 Speaker 1: put it on in a matter of two months. And 2524 02:13:15,880 --> 02:13:19,320 Speaker 1: and uh, my son's wife shot her first bucket was 2525 02:13:19,400 --> 02:13:22,320 Speaker 1: a six year old buck. We've been following for several 2526 02:13:22,480 --> 02:13:26,120 Speaker 1: years and had the sheds up and they actually lost 2527 02:13:26,160 --> 02:13:30,000 Speaker 1: twenty inches on hornboath to scored one two. We waited 2528 02:13:30,200 --> 02:13:34,360 Speaker 1: live weight. It was three thirteen and he put that 2529 02:13:34,440 --> 02:13:37,280 Speaker 1: weight on in two months. But he was already hard 2530 02:13:37,360 --> 02:13:39,960 Speaker 1: horn when he got the feed, so he sprung back 2531 02:13:40,120 --> 02:13:44,000 Speaker 1: so fast and put all that weight on. But the 2532 02:13:44,200 --> 02:13:47,160 Speaker 1: rats all dropped that year and I looked into been 2533 02:13:47,160 --> 02:13:48,720 Speaker 1: in the record book, there was only a couple of 2534 02:13:48,760 --> 02:13:51,680 Speaker 1: bucks over on fifty register that you're in the bucking 2535 02:13:51,720 --> 02:13:54,480 Speaker 1: Bar in Wisconsin. And it was all to do with 2536 02:13:54,640 --> 02:13:58,720 Speaker 1: that that winter and that spring was all to do 2537 02:13:58,840 --> 02:14:01,480 Speaker 1: with the feed and losing all those crops in the 2538 02:14:01,560 --> 02:14:05,400 Speaker 1: spring or all the acorns and stuff. So that showed 2539 02:14:05,440 --> 02:14:10,160 Speaker 1: me home important acorns, war toolma and apples, but mostly acorns, 2540 02:14:10,200 --> 02:14:14,720 Speaker 1: I think really is a key, you know, for developing 2541 02:14:14,800 --> 02:14:18,320 Speaker 1: good growth on there stuff. I remember you showing me 2542 02:14:18,480 --> 02:14:20,640 Speaker 1: some of these pictures of these bucks that you know 2543 02:14:20,800 --> 02:14:24,280 Speaker 1: lived through that and and seeing exactly what you're talking about. 2544 02:14:24,320 --> 02:14:27,920 Speaker 1: But I also just it stands out to me just 2545 02:14:28,240 --> 02:14:30,640 Speaker 1: how good of records you keep, you know, and the 2546 02:14:30,720 --> 02:14:32,680 Speaker 1: fact that, like you said, you've got these files for 2547 02:14:32,800 --> 02:14:35,280 Speaker 1: every single buck and then you go back in there 2548 02:14:35,320 --> 02:14:38,120 Speaker 1: and you you seem to study them and think about 2549 02:14:38,160 --> 02:14:40,040 Speaker 1: what's going on and connect it, like you said, to 2550 02:14:40,120 --> 02:14:44,080 Speaker 1: weather patterns or food or all these different things going on. 2551 02:14:44,640 --> 02:14:47,200 Speaker 1: I mean, I don't know that that that goes above 2552 02:14:47,240 --> 02:14:50,960 Speaker 1: and beyond what most people do. And obviously that's something 2553 02:14:51,040 --> 02:14:53,560 Speaker 1: that's been helping you, you know, have years like this. 2554 02:14:53,760 --> 02:14:56,760 Speaker 1: We're would you say, seventeen or sixteen or how many 2555 02:14:56,800 --> 02:14:59,440 Speaker 1: how many bucks did you guys kill this year? Fourteen 2556 02:14:59,760 --> 02:15:04,640 Speaker 1: just a ton of and fourteen you know, we're pping 2557 02:15:04,680 --> 02:15:07,880 Speaker 1: younger head. Those two young girls shuit, those two younger 2558 02:15:07,960 --> 02:15:10,520 Speaker 1: deer their first deer and the one one of them 2559 02:15:10,600 --> 02:15:15,400 Speaker 1: was the open young actually scored one thirty. But uh, yeah, 2560 02:15:15,880 --> 02:15:17,760 Speaker 1: it was. It was Yeah, it was a great year. 2561 02:15:17,800 --> 02:15:21,080 Speaker 1: I mean it. And we had they were like I said, 2562 02:15:21,080 --> 02:15:23,000 Speaker 1: we had I think we had twelves that were from 2563 02:15:23,280 --> 02:15:26,040 Speaker 1: over the average the hundred and fifty two inches, which 2564 02:15:26,160 --> 02:15:29,000 Speaker 1: was they were up the pool went down to you 2565 02:15:29,200 --> 02:15:32,280 Speaker 1: one fifty right in there. It's incredible. Well, Tom, I 2566 02:15:32,560 --> 02:15:34,440 Speaker 1: want to I want to be respectfu for your time 2567 02:15:34,520 --> 02:15:36,440 Speaker 1: here and start to wrap this one up, but I 2568 02:15:36,520 --> 02:15:40,520 Speaker 1: do want to ask you one last kind of wide 2569 02:15:40,600 --> 02:15:46,520 Speaker 1: arranging question here. Um. You know, I see I see 2570 02:15:46,600 --> 02:15:51,960 Speaker 1: you in your story as as one about legacy. You know, 2571 02:15:52,320 --> 02:15:55,600 Speaker 1: you seem to have had this far reaching impact, whether 2572 02:15:55,680 --> 02:15:57,840 Speaker 1: or not you meant to, whether or not that's something 2573 02:15:57,960 --> 02:16:00,920 Speaker 1: that you even pay attention to. Um. You know, the 2574 02:16:01,000 --> 02:16:05,000 Speaker 1: people you've influenced, the people you've taught, the things you've 2575 02:16:05,040 --> 02:16:07,920 Speaker 1: done have have trickled out of Buffalo County all across 2576 02:16:08,080 --> 02:16:11,600 Speaker 1: the country, and you you really in a way shaped 2577 02:16:11,640 --> 02:16:15,880 Speaker 1: a whole generation of of folks within the hunting world. Um. 2578 02:16:16,560 --> 02:16:18,560 Speaker 1: And just being there, you know, in person with you 2579 02:16:18,680 --> 02:16:20,640 Speaker 1: and talking to other people in camp, you could just 2580 02:16:20,720 --> 02:16:24,200 Speaker 1: see how you know, everyone everybody that was there. Tom 2581 02:16:25,160 --> 02:16:29,360 Speaker 1: was there because they had developed really close relationships with 2582 02:16:29,480 --> 02:16:31,600 Speaker 1: you and other hunters there, and it really felt like 2583 02:16:31,640 --> 02:16:34,040 Speaker 1: a family. There was guys coming in, you know that 2584 02:16:34,120 --> 02:16:35,920 Speaker 1: have been coming in for years and years and years. 2585 02:16:36,000 --> 02:16:38,840 Speaker 1: There was you know, Matt was there, who had his 2586 02:16:38,920 --> 02:16:40,560 Speaker 1: own farm in the past, and he said, you know, 2587 02:16:40,640 --> 02:16:43,200 Speaker 1: I'd rather not have my own farm and get to 2588 02:16:43,280 --> 02:16:46,040 Speaker 1: go to Tom's more often because of the people there, 2589 02:16:46,120 --> 02:16:49,520 Speaker 1: because of the stories and the camaraderie and and everything 2590 02:16:49,600 --> 02:16:52,640 Speaker 1: else that you've built there, Which is which is all 2591 02:16:52,800 --> 02:16:54,480 Speaker 1: tied into what I want to ask you about, Tom, 2592 02:16:54,520 --> 02:17:00,680 Speaker 1: which is this Now that you know you are, you're 2593 02:17:00,920 --> 02:17:03,760 Speaker 1: you're one of the godfathers of the hunting world. Now 2594 02:17:04,000 --> 02:17:06,680 Speaker 1: you you've you've seen it all, You've shaped a lot 2595 02:17:06,760 --> 02:17:11,680 Speaker 1: of it. When you look into the future, and you 2596 02:17:11,760 --> 02:17:14,600 Speaker 1: think about the next generation of hunters, those folks that 2597 02:17:14,640 --> 02:17:17,520 Speaker 1: are teenagers now or in their twenties or thirties like me, 2598 02:17:18,160 --> 02:17:20,000 Speaker 1: who are going to be the folks that shape the 2599 02:17:20,080 --> 02:17:25,240 Speaker 1: next next generation. What's the message you want to leave 2600 02:17:25,320 --> 02:17:28,120 Speaker 1: with them? If you could tell those people now something 2601 02:17:28,240 --> 02:17:30,480 Speaker 1: that you hope they can do, or hope they think about, 2602 02:17:30,720 --> 02:17:33,400 Speaker 1: or or anything you would pass on to them, now, 2603 02:17:33,520 --> 02:17:38,480 Speaker 1: what would that message be. I would think the key 2604 02:17:38,600 --> 02:17:43,040 Speaker 1: there is trying to get them an opportunity to just 2605 02:17:43,240 --> 02:17:45,200 Speaker 1: get out there and sit in the tree and and 2606 02:17:45,400 --> 02:17:49,280 Speaker 1: see nature. And I think it would if that would 2607 02:17:49,720 --> 02:17:54,400 Speaker 1: spur them into not being able to get enough of it, 2608 02:17:54,879 --> 02:17:58,680 Speaker 1: I would think that that would be the key to Uh. 2609 02:17:59,440 --> 02:18:04,200 Speaker 1: They've got to experience it too to want to, you know, 2610 02:18:04,480 --> 02:18:07,720 Speaker 1: get the passion for it. And I think they you 2611 02:18:07,840 --> 02:18:09,840 Speaker 1: need to do that at a young age. I think 2612 02:18:10,160 --> 02:18:14,640 Speaker 1: you know this usually you know, his life goes on 2613 02:18:14,800 --> 02:18:17,840 Speaker 1: and myself too, and being able to grow up as 2614 02:18:17,879 --> 02:18:22,280 Speaker 1: a kid and do that is the key, because things 2615 02:18:22,320 --> 02:18:25,240 Speaker 1: in life take your other directions, you know, for years 2616 02:18:25,280 --> 02:18:29,280 Speaker 1: and the naybe and stuff and and and you get 2617 02:18:29,360 --> 02:18:33,240 Speaker 1: that age. The teenagers you're chasing girls whatever, and you 2618 02:18:33,320 --> 02:18:35,520 Speaker 1: get away from it, but you always go back to it. 2619 02:18:35,680 --> 02:18:39,080 Speaker 1: Once you get that passion, you don't lose it, you know. 2620 02:18:39,879 --> 02:18:44,080 Speaker 1: And I think the key is is trying to create 2621 02:18:44,160 --> 02:18:47,920 Speaker 1: opportunities to get you know, the opportunity for people to 2622 02:18:48,000 --> 02:18:49,680 Speaker 1: get get out there and do that. A lot of 2623 02:18:50,080 --> 02:18:53,320 Speaker 1: the trouble is so great populations in the cities and 2624 02:18:53,440 --> 02:18:56,280 Speaker 1: suburbs and they don't have the opportunity to be able 2625 02:18:56,320 --> 02:19:00,960 Speaker 1: to experience that, you know, and it uh. I think 2626 02:19:00,959 --> 02:19:04,400 Speaker 1: it would be important for some ideas to you know, 2627 02:19:04,640 --> 02:19:07,680 Speaker 1: start maybe they maybe they could fund something like that, 2628 02:19:07,879 --> 02:19:13,520 Speaker 1: would you know, even pheasants on the Limited or Maimon Foundation, 2629 02:19:13,600 --> 02:19:16,720 Speaker 1: but to have areas where you could they could bring 2630 02:19:16,879 --> 02:19:19,520 Speaker 1: kids in and just to get them to experience that. 2631 02:19:19,959 --> 02:19:22,480 Speaker 1: And I think they get they get hooked theirselfs on 2632 02:19:22,560 --> 02:19:28,000 Speaker 1: it once they once they were able to experience it. Yeah. Yeah, 2633 02:19:28,000 --> 02:19:32,680 Speaker 1: I think that that message of of sharing this hunting 2634 02:19:33,520 --> 02:19:35,800 Speaker 1: lifestyle that we have and helping more people get out there, 2635 02:19:35,840 --> 02:19:38,920 Speaker 1: I think that that definitely resonates. And something you told 2636 02:19:38,959 --> 02:19:42,000 Speaker 1: me last week and we're together that you know, it 2637 02:19:42,120 --> 02:19:44,000 Speaker 1: was interesting to me. You talked about the fact that 2638 02:19:44,440 --> 02:19:46,680 Speaker 1: if this farm that you own right now, if that 2639 02:19:46,800 --> 02:19:49,520 Speaker 1: had been owned by by a single individual who just 2640 02:19:49,640 --> 02:19:52,280 Speaker 1: hunted themselves. You know, maybe there'll be one or two 2641 02:19:52,400 --> 02:19:55,240 Speaker 1: or three people to hunt this farm every year, but 2642 02:19:55,400 --> 02:19:58,760 Speaker 1: in your case, by running the operation you do, you know, 2643 02:19:58,959 --> 02:20:02,000 Speaker 1: dozens of different people get to experience it. And and 2644 02:20:02,080 --> 02:20:04,160 Speaker 1: you've been able to do that year after year after year, 2645 02:20:04,240 --> 02:20:07,959 Speaker 1: introducing or helping dozens and dozens of other folks learn 2646 02:20:07,959 --> 02:20:11,840 Speaker 1: about hunting, experience hunting, sharing that passion you have, um, 2647 02:20:12,160 --> 02:20:15,080 Speaker 1: And I think that's more than anything. I think that's 2648 02:20:15,120 --> 02:20:18,680 Speaker 1: the legacy when I when I from the outside looking in, uh, 2649 02:20:18,920 --> 02:20:21,760 Speaker 1: you know, kind of examine what you've done. That's what 2650 02:20:21,920 --> 02:20:25,240 Speaker 1: stands out to me. And that's what ah, yeah, what 2651 02:20:25,360 --> 02:20:27,880 Speaker 1: makes me admire you. Ton. So, thank you for for 2652 02:20:27,959 --> 02:20:31,680 Speaker 1: being such a great teacher an introducer to the woods 2653 02:20:31,720 --> 02:20:34,120 Speaker 1: for so many folks. And I'm certainly inspired by that, 2654 02:20:34,240 --> 02:20:36,200 Speaker 1: and I hope a lot of other folks are too. 2655 02:20:38,080 --> 02:20:40,000 Speaker 1: I've been a place you're talking with you and I 2656 02:20:40,000 --> 02:20:44,640 Speaker 1: always enjoy talking hunting. Yes, me too, Tom, So, thank 2657 02:20:44,720 --> 02:20:49,280 Speaker 1: you for taking this time. All right, Thank you all right, 2658 02:20:49,280 --> 02:20:51,600 Speaker 1: and that's gonna be it. Thank you for tuning in. 2659 02:20:51,879 --> 02:20:55,240 Speaker 1: I appreciate you following along with this series of stories 2660 02:20:55,320 --> 02:20:58,360 Speaker 1: as I travel the country, hunted in different places, with 2661 02:20:58,520 --> 02:21:02,080 Speaker 1: different people and trying different styles. It has been eye opening, 2662 02:21:02,320 --> 02:21:06,160 Speaker 1: it has been challenging, it has been fun and interesting. 2663 02:21:06,200 --> 02:21:09,200 Speaker 1: It's it's been kind of everything, and eventually I'm gonna 2664 02:21:09,200 --> 02:21:11,360 Speaker 1: be able to unpack all that makes sense of it, 2665 02:21:11,760 --> 02:21:14,440 Speaker 1: see what I can learn from it, see how I'm 2666 02:21:14,480 --> 02:21:16,840 Speaker 1: going to change things or do things more like it 2667 02:21:17,000 --> 02:21:19,440 Speaker 1: in the future. UM been a heck of a year, 2668 02:21:19,600 --> 02:21:22,600 Speaker 1: so appreciate you coming along with that journey and hopefully 2669 02:21:22,600 --> 02:21:26,040 Speaker 1: you've learned something along the way. So that said, let's 2670 02:21:26,040 --> 02:21:28,840 Speaker 1: wrap this sucker up. Thanks for tuning in, have a 2671 02:21:28,920 --> 02:21:32,680 Speaker 1: great rest of your week, and stay wired to hunt.