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Cahaba River Cameras Young Bucks
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Monthly Archives: July 2013
Primos Buck Roar Call
The Buck ROAR reproduces a deep, resonating aggressive grunt that is made by bucks during the rut. Bucks make this aggressive grunt when they are trying to get an Estrus doe to stop or to warn other bucks to get away from the hot doe they are trailing. Now you can reproduce that aggressive grunt sound bucks make when their testosterone levels are through the roof.
List price: $19.99
Recipe: Neil Halpern’s Venison Meatballs
Last Friday’s Food Fight featured Wild Chef reader Neil Halpern’s Venison Meatballs. Halpern was kind enough to share the recipe, which should be worth up-voting him in the Food Fight.
Ingredients
– 5 large Vidalia onions
– 2 lbs. ground venison
– 2 tbsp. of long white rice
– 1 32 oz. bottle of ketchup
– ½ cup brown sugar
– Juice of 1 large lemon
– Salt and pepper
Directions
Slice the onions and sauté them till they are tender in olive oil. On a clean countertop or sheet pan, flatten out the ground deer. Season it with salt and pepper and add the two tablespoons of uncooked long white rice.
Roll the venison into golf ball size balls.
Transfer the sautéed onions into a mix bowl and add the ketchup, brown sugar, and lemon juice. Stir thoroughly.
Line the meatballs in rows in a 10 x 8 cooking dish and pour the sauce evenly around the meat.
Place the pan into a 300-degree oven for 3 1/2 hours, stirring about every hour until done.
Amazon Jungle Survival Knife with Sheath
Don’t brave the jungle without this knife! The Amazon Jungle Survival Knife is the ultimate in survival knives. It features a drilled guard for strapping and spear applications and heavy jagged sawback ridge design, completed with a corded handle for grip and twine that houses a mini survival kit. The survival kit includes matches, fishing line, a hook, needles and thread, a safety pin, and striking paper. The end of the knife’s handle also features a compass just in case you lose your way. Measures 13″” overall. Includes leather sheath.
List price: $32.00
Is a Shotgun or Rifle Best for Hunting Drones?
One drone flying overhead might not provide a great target-rich environment to test whether a shotgun or rifle would be the best firearm, but it’s a start.
Maybe an AR rifle with a multi-round magazine and holographic sight? Yep, and on semi-automatic (and you anti-gun goobers realize semi-auto and full auto are different things, right? Right?) with good optics, you should be able to perforate a drone several times before it flutters to the ground.
With a shotgun, though, and maybe some buckshot the devastation would be more spectacular. Depending on the altitude of the drone, of course. But at treetop level, a round or two of buckshot could result in a shower of drone guts.
Why the curiosity? Because the good Colorado folks living in Deer Trail are considering issuing “Drone Hunting Permits” along with establishing an anti-drone ordinance. They’re even considering bounties for drones. Sweet.
They say it’s largely symbolic and a reminder that they don’t want anyone using drones to watch Americans going about their daily lives. This definitely is a good reminder to the government, and considering the recent anti-gun legislation in Colorado and the way it was ramrodded through, sounds like the folks in Deer Trail have had enough.
Just let us know where and when we can apply for a Drone Hunting Permit. Hopefully there won’t be any kind of draw or preference point system.
What’s the Secret For Late Season Whitetail Magic?
I smiled when I saw the small group of deer headed for the plot of standing corn. I had been debating my friend Todd Hewing about what was the best late-season food-plot crop for whitetails. Todd argued that soybeans are the ticket, but I would hear none of it.
Common sense — and all that I had read — told me that corn supplies much-needed carbohydrates to whitetails trying to survive brutal conditions. Those carbs are what fuels a deer’s body and creates body heat during digestion.
By Don Higgins
Don Higgins
I would like to think that a lifetime of raising livestock and formulating their feed rations gave me a little more knowledge on feed issues than the average deer hunter possesses. I was certain that I was going to win this debate, and those deer heading toward the patch of standing corn were going to prove it.
I was actually hunting on Todd’s property when this event took place. Todd had already filled his tags and had offered to place me in a stand that overlooked a 4-acre plot, half of which was in standing corn and the other half in standing soybeans. The snow cover and extreme cold were the final ingredients needed to get the deer on their feet before dark.
Todd’s instructions were simple, “Just call me when you get home this evening and tell me which food source you saw the most deer feeding in.”
With the first group of deer headed toward the standing corn, I was feeling pretty good about myself. However, doubt crept in when those deer barely broke stride as they walked through the standing corn and into the soybeans … where they stopped to feed.
By the time darkness and frozen feet forced me from my stand, more than 30 deer were feeding in the soybeans; none in the corn. In fact, I didn’t witness a single deer feeding in the corn during the entire hunt.
Because Todd is a good friend, I didn’t mind calling him and relaying my surprising report. He wasn’t surprised in the least. In fact, he informed me that every winter the deer on his property hardly touch the corn until the soybeans are gone.
That hunt took place about 15 years ago before many of today’s food-plotters were even contemplating this new addiction. Luckily for me, Todd taught me a valuable lesson that day that might have taken me years to learn on my own: When the late-season weather gets brutal, nothing is more appealing to hungry whitetails than a patch of standing soybeans.
Nothing!
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Why Beans?
Whitetails crave soybeans during the late season for several reasons. First, there’s likely not another food source at this time of the year that comes close to offering the same level of protein. I have personally sent a sample of soybeans (in the pods, which is how deer eat them) to an independent lab for testing and found they consist of nearly 30 percent crude protein.
Soybeans are a great source of nutrition for white-tailed deer.
Shelled corn, on the other hand, consists of only 8 percent protein. Protein is a very important component of any feed ration, and all forms of wildlife naturally crave what they need. During winter, there’s likely not another food source in most areas that can compare to the protein content offered by soybeans.
Furthermore, and probably more important to whitetails at this time of year, soybeans are also high in fat (due to their oil content). A whitetail utilizes this fat as energy to increase body heat. Considering these factors, it is no wonder why whitetails are so attracted to soybeans during the late season.
However, to suggest soybeans are strictly a late-season food source for whitetails would be highly inaccurate on my part. Sure, soybeans stand alone in terms of attractiveness to whitetails in December and January, but they also attract deer with regularity from the time they sprout in late spring until the very last bean has been devoured from a plot in winter.
While hunting, I have personally witnessed mature bucks feeding in soybean food plots from the first days of October’s early archery season right through the last day of the late season in January. More important than the opportunities that soybeans offer to the whitetail hunter is the nutritional benefit they provide whitetails after the hunting season has closed — when they need it most. Harsh winter weather can have a major impact on the health and well-being of whitetails. Soybeans can help deer get through this tough period and allow them to enter spring in better condition.
Getting Started
You have probably guessed by now that soybeans are far and away my favorite food-plot crop. Why? Because they are good for deer and deer hunting! Although they are one of the easiest crops to grow, they do present some challenges. Primarily, deer are so attracted to soybeans that they can wipe out a young stand about as fast as the seeds germinate. There are several ways to combat these problems.
First, soybean plots should be as large as possible … within reason. A small plot simply does not have the food volume to withstand browsing pressure. I would never consider a soybean plot that is smaller than ½ acre — 2 or 3 acres is much better. However, even 3-acre plots can be too small if they’re planted in areas with high deer densities. Experience will tell you how much acreage you’ll need to devote to your soybean plots.
If your plot acreage is limited, don’t give up on soybeans just yet. There are other methods to control browsing pressure enough to get a soybean stand established. The results are generally worth the effort.
If you live in agricultural country where farmers are growing a lot of soybeans, wait about two weeks after they’re done planting their fields before planting your soybean plots. This will give the whitetails a chance to find and key-in on large bean fields. This will reduce early browse pressure on your plots.
Besides maximizing the size of your soybean plots and strategically planning the timing of your actual planting, there are even more options to help you establish a bean plot. Several companies offer fencing products to keep deer from entering food plots until the plots have grown to a point where they can withstand browsing deer.
One of these products is simply an electric fence that some plotters have adjusted to fit their application. Another product uses electric fence stakes around the edge of a food plot to support a ribbon that’s been soaked in deer repellent. The idea with both products is to keep deer out of the food plots long enough for the soybeans to get some sizable growth before removing the barriers and letting the deer in to feed. I must admit I don’t have any personal experience with either product and have heard good and bad reports from those who have tried them.
Milorganite® is another interesting product that has shown promise in controlling browsing whitetails in soybean plots. Developed in Milwaukee, Wis., in 1925, Milorganite® is a fertilizer product made from human waste taken from sewage lagoons. In tests conducted by researchers at the University of Georgia, Milorganite® has proven effective in repelling browsing deer and other wildlife from various plants, including soybeans. The product can be purchased in 50-pound bags at many farm and home supply stores. I could actually devote an entire article to this one topic, but instead I suggest that anyone interested in trying this product or desiring more information, simply do an internet search.
Many of today’s soybeans are Round-Up Ready™, meaning that you can spray these soybeans with a glyphosate herbicide and it will not harm the soybean plants but will kill the weeds (Round-Up™ is a trade name for glyphosate).
I typically wait for the vegetation in my soybean plots to reach 12- to 18-inches tall and then spray the plot with glyphosate. The weeds will then be killed and the soybean plants will be left to grow with little or no weed competition. I am currently experimenting with deer repellent sprays that I’m mixing with glyphosate and spraying over the soybeans. My goal is to be able to spray my soybean plots one time and kill all the weeds in the plot and deliver a repellent that will allow the soybeans to grow for a longer period before deer browse them. Once the repellent has worn off, the soybean plants should have reached a size where they can then better withstand browsing pressure.
Soybean Seed
When I started planting soybean food plots, I would simply get some seed from my neighbors who are farmers. It was hit or miss. Some years, it worked great and I would enjoy some excellent hunting action throughout the season. Other years, it didn’t work out so well because the soybeans would “shatter.” That’s a farming term that simply means the bean pods would split open and drop the soybeans onto the ground.
I probably don’t need to tell you that a soybean food plot with beans lying in the mud or under a few inches of snow is not a good thing. Production agriculture is not concerned with soybeans that remain shatter resistant into January and February — long after the normal harvest season — but, for the food-plotter, this is very important.
Along with some business partners, I began testing different varieties of soybeans to find those that are the most shatter resistant. Today, we market a soybean seed blend based on the shatter resistance of the soybeans within the blend. Our tests have proven the soybeans in this blend will remain in the pods well into the spring months.
HIGGINS: NO OFF SEASON WHEN IT COMES TO PLANNING! Click Here
There has also been some recent interest among food-plotters in “forage” soybeans. These plants have larger leaves and generally grow to taller heights than traditional “ag” soybeans, thus, producing more browse per acre. Forage soybeans are also supposed to regenerate quickly after they’ve been browsed. My experience with forage soybeans showed that the extra forage produced per acre came at the cost of less actual soybeans produced. In other words, the extra forage produced was a benefit during the growing season, but it came at the expense of the actual soybean yield, which is important later in the year when quality food sources are limited.
Having done many side-by-side trials with various soybean varieties, I’m convinced forage soybeans are not the best option in my region. However, I do believe they have their place for the food-plotter. When deer really need them, forage soybeans cannot compare to shatter resistant ag soybeans in terms of the quality and quantity. This is largely due to the fact that most forage soybeans are longer maturing, meaning they do not have a chance to fully mature in my region before they’re killed by frost.
My honest opinion: In Southern states, forage soybeans are likely a great option for whitetail food-plotters. The longer growing season in this region gives them time to mature, thus producing a good crop of soybeans after a long growing season of providing leafy forage. Incidentally, we have sent comparable leaf samples to an independent lab from both forage soybeans, as well as shatter-resistant ag soybeans, and found no significant difference in the quality of the forage. In fact, the analysis of shatter-resistant soybeans came back just a tad better in terms of crude protein and relative feed value than the forage soybeans.
Conclusion
Which soybean variety should you be planting in your food plots? That is something that only you can answer. With all the hype surrounding many food-plot products, I suggest you keep an open mind and do your own informal research. Try different strains to see which seed grows best in your soil.
For starters, if you live in the Midwest or Upper Great Lakes, try shatter-resistant soybeans. In short, if your region typically experiences snow and bitter-cold winters, you will probably find these soybeans offer a prime food source late into the season.
If you live in the South, I would certainly suggest that you try a forage soybean. The longer growing season that you have will allow these soybeans to mature, while offering significant browsing opportunities for whitetails.
Don’t make the mistake that I once did by thinking that another food-plot crop might be better than soybeans, especially during the late season. No matter where you are located, and no matter what your food-plot goals, there is likely a soybean seed product to fit the bill. It’s just a matter of doing a little experimenting to find one that works best for you.
Did I forget to mention that the last four bucks I shot were all taken in the late season … and all were in or near my soybean food plots? Yep, those soybeans work like magic!
— Don Higgins is an accomplished big-buck hunter from Illinois. For more information on his soybean seed blends, visit www.HigginsOutdoors.com.
The Mighty Soybean
* Time needed for maturity: 85 to 110 days, depending on the amount of sunlight and maturity.
* Soybeans thrive in an environment with a PH of 6.5. (a soil sample is always a good place to start when developing a food plot).
* Fungicides will assist in emergence and early spring diseases. Such as Rhizoctonia, Fusarium, Pythium, and Phytophthora.
* They grow best in full sun, and respond well to moist soils.
* Best when planted in warm soils (55 degrees or above).
* Can be broadcast or planted in various row spacing.
* Soybeans prefer warm soils and are susceptible to frost. Plant when nighttime temperatures stay above 40 degrees.
* Soybeans are occasionally susceptible to insects. During heavy infestations, consult your local farm co-op or seed dealer for the proper insecticides to use in your areas.
Moultrie Digital Picture Viewer
Moultrie’s picture viewer allows you quick access to all of your game camera scouting photos and videos. The hand-held picture viewer lets you view your game camera images in the field.
List price: $79.99
Classic Accessories Seat Back Gun Rack (Fits Most SUVs And Pickup Trucks)
The Classic Accessories Seat Back Gun Rack quickly hangs across the seat back in SUVs or pickup trucks to help protect and conceal valuable rifles or shotguns. The rack holds up to three rifles or shotguns, has non-slip foam pocket interiors so your guns will not get scratched, and folds up for easily storage. A great product at a great price. No tools required.
List price: $19.99
Luck Is Where Preparation Meets Opportunity
By Mark Kenyon: If luck is where preparation meets opportunity, then now is the time to make your luck. As a whitetail hunter, there may be no more important time of year than the summer. Why? Because it is the season of preparation. Of hanging treestand, setting trail cameras, planting fall food…
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Outers 28 – Piece Universal Wood Gun Cleaning Box (.22 Caliber and up)
Outers is excited to offer a full line of attractive, wooden specialty kits to perform cleanings quickly and effectively. Each kit is specifically created to work on all different calibers and gauges, as well as for all gun types, and boast an attractive full wood grain appearance for years of enjoyment. This attractive aged oak finished box stores 28 pieces of gun cleaning gear. With premium brass rods and all the necessary mops and brushes to clean 22-caliber gun and large, this box is perfect for keeping all you gun cleaning tools organized. This kit includes a latched wooden storage box, custom parts organizer, 3 solid brass rods (rifle, pistol and shotgun), 8 bronze brushes (22-cal, 270-cal/7mm, 30-cal/8mm, 9mm/.38/.357, .40-45 cal/10mm, 410-ga, 20/28-ga, 10/12-ga), 5 mops (.22-25-cal, .38-357-cal, 410-ga, 20/28-ga, 10/12-ga), 5 spear pointed jags (.22-cal, 270-cal/7mm, .30-32-cal, 35-cal/9mm, 45-cal), 2 slotted patch loops (rifle/pistol and shotgun), double-ended nylon brush, double-ended nylon cleaning pick, 50 cleaning patches, and shotgun accessory adaptor.
List price: $23.95