Category: Hunting Blog

Turkey season opened in Missouri yesterday.  I had the opportunity to go hunting with my father, Glen Woods.  He is 79 years old and harvested his first gobbler!  21.6 lbs, 10” beard, 1 3/16” spurs.  I went out again this morning with Brad.  We saw turkeys, but there weren’t any gobblers within shooting range.

Growing Deer together,

Grant

Yesterday I took my oldest daughter, Raleigh (11), turkey hunting after church.  It was really important to me that she be able to harvest her first turkey.  Her patience paid off, she had a clean kill at 19 yards.  Raleigh used a 20 gauge shotgun loaded with 7 ½ shot.  (I like these lighter loads when taking a youth hunting so they don’t become fearful of the recoil.)

Growing deer (and turkeys) together,

Grant

Information is crucial to every hunter and land manager.  That is why I was so excited to see these Reconyx pictures.  The bucks are holding their antlers late in the season.  This indicates good herd health and tells me to schedule my shed hunt later next year!  I also love to know where the deer are bedding down.  I can’t wait until next year……

Growing Deer together,

Grant

Yesterday Brad, Bill and I did a 120 acre prescribed fire. Towards the end of the day Brad found a shed from a buck we call Barely 10. He was tired from walking up and down the hill all day, but not too tired to carry out a nice shed.

Growing Deer together,

Grant

It is amazing how much difference a day can make.  This past weekend we had ice and snow.  Today it is in the sixties and sunny.  Wheat and clover plots are popping and I’m sure the turkeys like it.  I’m on my way to work in Mississippi and Alabama where I can enjoy being outside and working in some warm weather.  The soil sample results should be back today.  As soon as the ground dries out it will be time to spread Antler Dirt and prepare for spring food plots.

Growing Deer together,

Grant

We had a great time at the shed hunt this past Saturday. Despite the cold and rain about 50 guests walked the fields and bedding areas. We found several sheds and I appreciate all those who participated. The largest shed was half of a 140+ class buck that had been photographed several times by our Reconyx units. Ricky Minton, owner of Outer Armour blinds found it. You can view several images of the shed hunt at the GrowingDeer.tv gallery.

Growing Deer together,

Grant

I returned from working in Illinois yesterday!  Whew, it’s very wet in west central, Illinois!!  Many farmers will be late planting corn this year.  I only found one shed while working on a great property – North Creek in Knox County – 1,300 contiguous acres of prime private whitetail habitat.  If most bucks haven’t shed their antlers there yet, it is a sign of excellent herd health!

Growing Deer together,

Grant

I recently had a conversation on Petersen’s Bowhunting Radio about deer and predators.  You can listen to the podcast for free.

I was walking early this morning and heard the first two gobblers of the year. I’m always excited about turkey season but hearing those first repeat gobblers makes me think about listening points and places to call.

Winds are predicted to gust in the 30+ mile an hour range this week as some fronts pass through. After this passes, Brad and I will be starting our prescribed fire program this year. Weather permitting we anticipate burning 530 acres at The Proving Grounds this year.

Growing Deer together,

Grant

Brad just took down the stands at The Proving Grounds.  That always means turkey season will open soon!  We take down our stands because trees expand an inch or more in circumference as the sap begins to rise.  This is a bit of a hassle, but it’s much safer to remove stands and inspect them before hanging them again this coming fall.  In addition, if the stand’s strap is extremely tight on the tree, it can cause sever damage to the tree.  It’s a shame to damage a tree that is in a great location.  Be safe and remove your stands.

Growing Deer together,

Grant

Yesterday Brad and I hosted a field trip for a college wildlife class.  One of our study points during the tour was at a Trophy Rock mineral station.  Twenty young biologists now know the benefits of providing natural minerals to wildlife.  The students were energetic and inquisitive.  It’s great to interact with young minds that are passionate about wildlife.

Growing Deer together,

Grant