Well, the farmers just cut the hay in the field next to my house.
You can run, but you can’t hide Mr. Groundhog!

We have a great view of the whole field now, and it’s a lot of
fun to watch deer come out to feed in the evenings with the kids.

That gives me a great idea for this week’s tip. Read below to see
what it is.

Good hunting and God bless,

Dave

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Mental Notes and Digital Images

Long range scouting of fields is a tried and true technique for
determining when and where deer are entering a food source
in the evening.

This is critical information to have at your disposal when
determing where to set your stand to hunt.

If you’re lucky enough to see a big buck enter the field you’re
scouting, don’t get distracted by admiring his rack and lose
track of where he first appeared.

Here’s a tip to help you pinpoint the all important location that
you need to remember.

Make a mental note of something that stands out in the vicinity
of where he entered the field. Maybe it’s a tree that’s a little
taller than the others, or has a unique shape or color. There
could be some hay bales in the area, or a clump of dirt.

Now, determine the proximity of the reference point you’ve
selected to the spot where the buck showed up.

You get the picture. Speaking of pictures, why not take a digital
camera along and zoom in for a snapshot of where he came from?

You’ll have plenty of time to size up his antlers while he feeds
after you’ve made sure to record the exact location of his entry.

• Brush it in to blend with your surroundings
• Place it in the shadows when possible
• Clear debris inside the blind to reduce noise
• Use the debris to pack the bottom edge on the outside to
  create a scent barrier
• Keep the windows to your rear closed
• Wear black clothes especially gloves and hat