Rut Heating Up in Sika Country

Posted up in a sika hole lat night with a 15 yard shot max. After much heat and no bugles the last week last night was the opposite with 3 to 4 different stags heard. My vocalizations brought nothing but some distant splashing. My partners bugle and whine brought a hind then a six pointer chasing. he didn't get a shot because of the stag's hind chasing antics which got the adrenalin pumping.

Will try tomorrow morning unless its a hard rainout. I will be testing out a new sika decoy the following few weeks. I have had success in the past using a sika decoy but this one is top shelf. I'll get some photos of it up shortly with a description of its great features. Stay tuned............

Also, I received and have sold most of the 20 bags of MWC Fatal Attraction that I picked up yesterday. I have a few left at $19 / 50 lb bag. I can't wait to get some out and get a camera on it. It smells great and should be quite an attractant. Stay tuned and read about it on the MWC site.                                                         

Rainy (I'm glad) Monday

Raining steady today which is really good for the two food plots that were planted yesterday. A couple more days of rain will do it. We headed to the whitetail woods this morning with a couple of stands to place. Turns out we just put up one. It looks like a good doe spot.

We didn't find the killing tree so the stand was't put up. We looked around and found another good deep woods rub. If you look you can still see the bark...still wet. I had another friend mention finding woods scrapes and rubs a lot earlier than what he ever seen in the past

Just read that Jason and Pilchard went after a sika this am. Jason cow called, the hind ran in and Pilchard let the air out of it. Great job guys...active hunting.

Foot Plot Planting Pre Rain

Well, two perennial food plots were planted by Jay Klaverweiden on our Somerset property this afternoon. If we get the 60% rain tonight and 80% rain tomorrow it should get them off to a good start. They will end up primarily Durano Clover plots for the next few years. I know the deer will take a liking to them. We also took down two little used ladder stands and will place them in key positions at the Delaware farm. I'll get some photos of that on tomorrow. I'm glad the weather is starting to get cooler now.

Hot Saturday

I headed to one of my Dorchester sika spots this morning but ended up scouting and not really hunting. I checked out a new area for travel routes. Once I found those I selected a tree and marked / cut my way to and from it. Had to cut through poison most of the way. I used to get it badly as a kid. Now that I'm the opposite maybe this old crusty skin won't be affected. I guess I'll find out within the day. I can bow hunt it and also see a good ways for gun season.

Blackwater opened its doors to bowhunters today and I was surprised to see a lot of pickups in the parking lots. I hope someone kills some deer and doesn't get too badly sunburned. Thumbs up to all who put up with the heat.

After church tomorrow....two food plots get planted in Somerset ahead of the rain. The plots have already been herbicided and disced. It should be just right. Will post some pics of that tomorrow. A compadre and I will also be taking down some ladder stands and taking them to Delaware to put up, hopefully, before the whitetail rut.

Any Sikas Here

Still scouting for sika sign every chance I can get now. I think they were here...

Also found some wallows that were dry of course but being made none the less. This is one of three within 20 yards. Camera showed three different 6 pointers at the wallow site in two evenings.

Good Day Yesterday

I drove to Hagerstown and spent the day with my parents celebrating dad's birthday. He was 88 yesterday and we all rejoiced because 1 year ago he had a heart attack and we didn't think he'd make it home. He's given his heart a break by going from his pre heart attack weight of 246 to a new lean and mean 186. I really enjoyed our time together. If you still have 'em don't forget to tell your parents you love them and spend some time with them...thats all they want.

Scouting the Whitetail Woods

Did some scouting this morning and found some great sign. The photos are of an ultra fresh scrape and rub in the mature woods. You can see the bark (it was still moist) laying at the base of the sapling. I wonder how big he was. A camera will be in place soon.

                                           

Saturday Eve Sikas

Well, I found out why hunters have not been seeing sikas the last two days. I was driving past Percy Ransome's property, Tall Timbers, and came upon two sika hunters. The first was a guy named Chris, who I had met last year and the other was none other than Bobby Velvet.*** He is scaring all the sikas out of Dorchester County....its sad to say the least.  He was a walking billboard for the best camo...Ultimate Camo. I had my UC hat on ...the shirt was in the wash. Good seeing both out there. The mosquitoes were not bad at all.
***
Note: Bobby Velvet is actually Bob Lynch a design specialist for Creative Outdoors which he owns. He created and designed my website, Wildlife Advantage and some others you have probably seen. If you are interested in having a fantastic website contact Bob at 410-456-9971)

My stand overlooked some great habitat that yielded a few sightings but no shots. I heard  1 bugling stag tonight.

                                                                                 

Talbot County Whitetails

At 6 am I was firmly planted in the treestand I killed a nice whitetail buck last year. The field in front held soybeans. The oaks were heavy laden with acorns. Sounds I'm not used to hearing in Somerset where I hunt a lot were acorns hitting the ground and whitetails crunching them. I hoped to see a nice buck but that wasn't in the cards although I did see two doe/triplets groups. That is a real testament to the fine habitat there. It takes a lot to raise three youngins. I passed on some young ones and the big doe got a pass as I watched her three, still-spotted fawns chase one another around. The friend I hunted with saw similar numbers on the other side of the road. It was a great morning that planted thoughts about sitting in that same tree with some rattling antlers, a grunt tube and bow and arrow. A change of scenery and sounds...sikas tomrrow.

Tomorrow's Hunt

Have been invited to hunt whitetails in the am in the hardwoods of Talbot County. This is the same spot I rattled in and killed a 3 1/2 er last year. I can't wait as I can see a good way and will be able to hear acorns falling like crazy. Also I'll get to hunt with a good fiend and avid sika hunter.

I worked today and with the heat its probably just as good. Will post after the hunt tomorrow.

Good luck if you go >>------------> Doug

Opening Day - Maryland

Sunrise found me perched in a tree in sika country. A bugle while walking in brought a smile but never heard another. I zeroed in on some movement and saw two young sikas (snadwich size) and a sika doe (oven roaster) move past me at about 40 yards. They messed around and then they went out of sight. Heard a commotion and then saw the two young ones chasing each other round and round at full tilt mode. They did that for a good five minutes then left. I got down at 9 am and , while sneaking back to the truck, saw a spike whitetail and a doe feeding on acorns. Not a bad morning at all but no sika for the freezer.

Headed to the new stand I put up the other day and hauled in 50 lbs of corn. It should be ready to hunt on Friday or Saturday. Didn't see many hunters on the way home through sika country.

Stopped by to see how Jason (oakcreek) and his wife did. No bloody hands but a fun morning.

Can't hunt this evening and won't get to go again until tomorrow evening. Until then.......

Sika Country Tomorrow

I'll be heading to sika country tomorrow for the first morning. Since I lost all the food in my freezer this summer I might not be too choosy tomorrow and hope to bring home some of that tasty sika venison. Of course I'll be doing some calling on the Seducer. Don't forget yours if sika is your game.
I wish everyone a fun, fruitful and safe 2010-2011 hunting season. Shoot straight >>---------->

Nice Situation - No Bacon

As we expected, the farmer combined our corn field this morning and we were there on stand. We were ready for deer running all over the place but it didn't happen this time. I saw one fox and one deer come out on my side...too distant for a shot. It was nice being up in the stand watching it happen on a cool, clear morning.

Went over to Whitetail Outpost and met Craig...good guy... knowledgeable. Had him put a large diameter peep on the Drenalin and got some Sika Seducers on his shelves. So, if your on your way to Assateague stag hunting and want to improve your chances be sure and stop and ask Craig for a Sika Seducer and/or a sika silouette. Also got some of BowDeadly's favorite lighted nocks. They are user friendly and are bright... the best I've used so far.

AM- Sika Scout / PM- Whitetail Hunt

In sika country again this morning putting up a bow stand. The spot looks great with plenty of trails and some new wallows. Cleared a couple of shooting lanes and got out. Hope it proves good a little later this month and next.

Headed to the whitetail woods in Delaware this afternoon. Set up in a stand in the big woods near a soybean field. Saw some does and fawns early about 125 yards off. At last light a doe and two fawns come in around me. She was only 20 yards away but it was too late and I couldn't see my pins any longer. Will probably try again tomorrow as the farmer is combining the corn tomorrow. It should have them running crazy.

Pre Season Huntmobile Repair

AAaaahhhh...seemed like wasted time and definitly a big bill but necessary. The brakes needed some work especially since I ride in brackish water sometimes and after 170,000 miles (overdue) I replaced the timing belt and others. Well, at least it won't leave me in some of those "remote" areas because of belts and brakes. Got home in time to complete a merchandise deal with a supplier and put together a ladder stand. Planning on putting it up tomorrow in sika country. Off to shoot a few arrows       >>------->
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                                                                                                                                   Recurve tonight

Dove Hunt Fun

Received an invite from a friend today and, with my love for wing shooting, I gratefully accepted. The owner said the birds had been coming in late so at 3:00 pm six of us headed for the well kept sunflower field. It was hot and extremely windy so there was some fast shooting going on. I set up a decoy on a line to try to attract them into my shooting range. After a big shoot there recently, not a lot of birds came in. My 20 gauge shot straight and by the called quitting time I had 12 birds and declared a limit to the owner came by to pick me up. He said DNR changed the limit to 15 this year so, in reality, I was short three. While racking up one made the mistake of coming too close so I ended with 13. Everyone got some shooting and had a experienced a great day outdoors.
I really appreciated the invite and enjoyed making some new friends and Assategue sika hunters to boot. I just got finished breasting the birds and a dove BBQ for two is in order soon.

Sika Wallows

Someone asked about sika deer wallows after I posted a photo the other day after a scouting trip. That photo showed one of three wallows that had dried out. The following are a couple of sika wallows with water /mud in them as they normally look.

First 2010 Bow Hunt - Delaware

The cornfield was getting hammered so I thought I'd take a look. Saw a few deer from the stand...too small or too far. One of my friends took a stand in the woods and saw a few as well...no shots. Nice to be out again to let the stink blow off. Saw a fox, coon and a genuine Delaware wildcat (see photo). All in all just felt good to be out there. Supposed to warm up into the 90s the next few days.

Sika Country Again

Found myself deep in sika territory again yesterday afternoon and evening. This spot was plum full of poison ivy which is less of a problem than chiggars but bothersome none the less. The sikas like it ...not a preferred food but food anyways. I'm glad there aren't chiggars around the marshes. I found some good stand sites and cleared some lanes. . I'll try adding a couple of supporting pics for the first time on this blog. Hope they are not too big.

                                                                                  Found 3 wallow within 50 yards of one another.

Plans now are to head to Delaware tonight and see whats happeneing in the whitetail world.

Hurricane Earl's Day...Continued

Finished late and the wind was absolutely wrong foe where I wanted to hunt from. So, I took the wife out to dinner and came home to practice shooting with broadheads, ate some ice cream and printed Sika Seducer CD covers.

Randall...received your post and received a call from D as well. I will try to make it Monday as well. I'll call you to coordinate.

Hurricane Earl's Day

Took the day to get a lot of honey-do's DONE. An avid Sika Seducer user called and said he was heading for Gander Mtn. for some last minute things before his elk trip on Monday. I went along for the ride. While I was there I saw where Gander had the Sika Seducers prominantly displayed in a case near the Gun Section (nice display). So, if you don't order from the Wildlife Advantage website you can pick them up at:
Anglers, Chesapeake Outdoors, Shore Sportsman, Oak Creek Taxidermy, Woolford Store, Gander Mountain, Winks Sporting Goods and Whitetail Outpost (soon).

I spent the balance of the evening getting all my bowhunting gear in the packs and ready to go. I also got the warm weather ULTIMATE CAMO cleaned and scentfree. This pattern is great if you haven't seen it. Go to their website to order.

Today is grass cutting day then, possibly, a bow hunt in Delaware. I've seen a couple of nice velvet bucks taken so far...one by Michael Hutchinson (Tanktruck on MWC). Congrats Tank.

Will post up again later. Have a great day no matter what you're doing.    Doug

Hot Work Day in Sika Country

Earned some dollars this morning then headed for sika country. The mosquitoes were not too bad but annoying nevertheless. Checked on some stands and cleared out some shooting lanes. Lots of sign...looking good. I can't hardly wait for the 15th...hope we get some cooler weather. Tuesday was another scorcher in Somerset County. We're putting in two acre size food plots.

Well, Hurricane Earl is supposed to visit tomorrow. The latest report says that it is that it may not be too bad for us here on the lower shore. Saturday is supposed to be much cooler so I might climb a stand in Delaware.

Batten down the hatches!!!

First Day of Hunting Season - A New Blog Launched

Well, I guess I should be out hunting since its the first day of bow season in Delaware and dove and resident goose in Maryland but, with a 95 degree temp outside and a post 60 wisdom I had some business chores to accomplish. Thanks to the great expertise of Bob Lynch of Creative Outdoors to counter my lack of, the Wildlife Advantage website has been updated, a fantastic Sika Deer Hitch Cover cover was made available to you at the Products Section and, most importantly, this Gain the Advantage Blog has been set in motion.

My objective for this Blog is to record experiences of mine and close hunting friends about sika deer and whitetail hunting then make observatins that may help you to gain an ADVANTAGE. I will also learn to post some interesting wildlife related photos.

I hope you will visit here often this hunting season. I wish you all a safe and fruitful hunting season and trust that you and your friends will have many great experiences that you will share here.

Best wishes,
Doug Wigfield of Wildlife Advantage  

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