The Importance of Scouting, Part 2: Stolen Camera
July 21, 2011 by CollegiateCamo · Leave a Comment
Written by CollegiateCamo Pro-Staffer Brad Tansey
Well, I’m writing this blog a little sooner than I’d like to. I went to check my trail camera Tuesday to find that it was stolen. I had it cable locked with a pad lock to boot. I guess the saying of a lock only keeps an honest man out rang true in my case. For someone to steal another man’s equipment is beyond me. People that do this shouldn’t be allowed to even step foot in the great outdoors. It’s people like that who give hunting a bad name in general!
I’ve seen my fair share of cameras in the woods. Not once has it ever come across my mind to steal it. That is someone’s hard-earned money. Last year, I noticed a fairly expensive camera near a stand I had. When I passed it, I thought in my mind “Hey that is a really good spot. I hope it doesn’t get stolen.” I hope that man had more luck with his camera than I did. I only had my camera for a week and a half. Needless to say, I’m not buying another. It’s appalling that this is what we as hunters and outdoorsmen have sunk to.
This is something that will probably only get worse. It makes me sick to my stomach to even think about it. My buddy has had three cameras stolen in the last four years. He even had someone cut down the tree it was mounted to because he had it enclosed in a welded steel box. Now that’s just wrong!
People that steal equipment or anything for that matter need to take a look at themselves in the mirror and realize what they are doing is dead WRONG. No wonder I can’t get hunting permission anywhere anymore. It’s because of morons (and I say morons because I shouldn’t type what I really think) like that disgrace the hunting industry.
Oh well. I’m done ranting. Maybe I’ll just start scouting harder. You know what? I’m going to chalk this up as a lesson learned. Now I’m going to kill an even bigger buck because I’ve got more drive to do it. Don’t worry, when (not if) I do, I’ll be sure to let you know all about it.
The Importance of Scouting Deer in the Summertime
July 17, 2011 by CollegiateCamo · Leave a Comment
Written by CollegiateCamo Pro-Staffer Brad Tansey
During the summer months, I try to learn about every deer on the property I plan on hunting in the fall. By doing this, I learn the habits and tendencies of the deer.
For example, a few weeks ago, I saw four bucks in a group feeding one evening. After watching where the deer went into the woods, I decided to put up a trail camera. I’ve never used a camera before this year. It’s definitely a great buy because I’ve learned I have at least six different bucks on the property. Now, don’t get me wrong, I can’t guarantee these deer will be there come September 25, which is the opening day for Ohio’s bow season. But I can guarantee if the big I seen, I’m going to do my best to close the deal on him.
I’ve learned more about scouting this summer than in my other 10 years of hunting whitetails. I’ve never tried any minerals or anything like that. I’ve always thought it was considered cheating. The truth is, in my opinion, that couldn’t be further from the truth. There is a lot of benefits to using food and minerals for the deer.
I put out some corn and created a mineral lick for the bucks. Since I’ve never used any of this gear, I didn’t know what to expect when I went to check my camera for the first time. I was surprised to know that there was a few deer over the week that came to the site religiously. Now, as you can tell in the photos, there isn’t any monster deer here from what I’ve seen. But there is a blurry photo of what looks to be an 8-point. He’s one of the four bucks I saw feeding in field a few weeks ago.
I got about 80 pictures from the first week. The 40-pound bag of corn was gone. There was a few squirrels, rabbits and raccoons that ate some of the corn, but the majority of the photos were of deer. I’m surprised that the majority of the deer were bucks! That’s a good problem to have sometimes.
I’m still waiting to go back and check the camera to see if I was able to get any better pictures of the 8-point. If I do, I’m sure you’ll hear about it!
First Bow Hunting Trophy
January 20, 2011 by CollegiateCamo · 1 Comment
Written by Pro-Staff team member Brad Tansey
4:30 a.m. came early September 26 as I woke up to head out into the deer stand for the second day of Ohio’s archery season. I chugged about half a pot of coffee and gathered my gear together to head out.
When my dad and I arrived at the woods, we decided I was going to hunt a ladder stand that was set up in the early summer that was positioned between a corn field and a bedding area. He was going off to hunt a different part of the property, so both of us had a good chance at seeing some deer.
As I walked into the woods, I heard the leaves crunching in front of me. I quickly shut my flashlight off and continued to my morning set up. As I got to the stand, I could hear deer rummaging throughout the woods. I scurried to get my bow and gear pulled up. With about 45 minutes before light, I had to sit and listen to the deer all around me without being able to get any shots because of darkness.
After about 15 minutes, the footsteps walked away, and when first light came, there was not a deer in sight.
As I turning around to check out what was happening behind me, I noticed movement out the corner of my eye.
A flock of turkeys was making their way towards my stand. These turkeys made the most noise I’ve ever heard! As I watched these birds walk directly in front of me, I noticed something move behind them.
A buck had been following the flock. As I watched the buck rake his antlers in the branches, I instantly got the shakes. I was jacked up.
The buck was behind some brush about 40 yards away, and I didn’t know if he somehow walked away without me seeing him.
After what felt like an eternity, I watched the buck make his way in front of my stand. When he walked in front of a large oak tree, I pulled my PSE Nova back and stopped the buck exactly 20 yards from me. I settled my 20-yard pin behind the shoulder and squeezed the release.
The arrow cracked the buck, a little too far back, and he took off. I seen the arrow, and it looked like a liver shot.
I waited about an hour and then the hunting party and I went to look for my deer.
We found him about 200 yards from the stand. He was a 9-point buck, my first deer with a bow. He’s not a monster by any means, but he is a trophy in my book.
Another Great Deer Taken in Kansas
December 21, 2010 by CollegiateCamo · Leave a Comment
This beautiful deer was shot by Keith Reagan from Jackson, Mississippi during open weekend of firearms season in Kansas. It is the result of one happy hunter enjoying deer hunting in Kansas! Kansas is well-known for big deer.
Pro-Staffer’s Deer Taken in Kansas
December 17, 2010 by CollegiateCamo · 1 Comment
This beautiful deer was taken in Kansas during archery season by our own Pro-Staff member, Jeremy Romain. Nice deer, Jeremy!
Shootin’ Bucks and Watchin’ Football
November 15, 2010 by CollegiateCamo · Leave a Comment
Here are pictures of our founder, Marty (a Kansas State University Wildcats fan and student) and his mom, Pam (University of Missouri Tigers fan) showing off Marty’s 8-point buck taken down in Mizzou territory. The irony is that this buck was taken the same weekend Mizzou beat K-State. Kansas State may have lost on their field, but our own K-state fan won in the field!
Speaking of bucks going down, our Pro Staffer Donny “Gatorman” Bartow (Georgia Bulldogs fan) shows that he doesn’t just take down alligators! Check him out with this 13-point, 225-pound beauty.
Congrats on your teams’ wins and congrats on your beautiful trophies!
Speaking of which, don’t forget about our “Decal your Trophy” decals. You shoot your buck, then send us the picture, and we’ll make it into a custom decal just for you. Keep on sending in those field photos and we will keep posting them!
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- 8-Point Buck
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- 13-Point Buck
Collegiate Camo at the North East Iowa Outdoor Expo this weekend!
April 15, 2010 by CollegiateCamo · Leave a Comment
Hello, loyal viewers! CollegiateCamo has partnered with The Plain Outdoors magazine this weekend at the North East Iowa Outdoor Expo. We will have all of our great Iowa Hawkeyes, Northern Iowa Panthers and Iowa State Cyclones decals there. Remember that there is special trade show pricing at these events. All designs are available if you prefer our plain, waterfowl, antler or pheasant designs!
The Plain Outdoors will also be raffling off some decals, so make sure you get there and get registered early! The North East Iowa Outdoor Expo will happen at All Seasons Center, located at: 770 7th Street NE, Sioux Center, IA 51250.
You can find us at the North East Iowa Outdoor Expo on Friday, April 16 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday, April 17 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Make sure to come out and meet the Plain Outdoors staff and visit their booth. Maybe you could even make it into one of their issues with your buck trophy pictures! (Not to mention win some CollegiateCamo camo college decals.)
