So, we're hours away from July, it's 100 degrees and most of Oklahoma is under severe drought conditions. Are you thinking about deer season?
If not then you should be. Now is the time to be scouting! Yea, it's hot, so take all precautions as far as that is concerned. But what a time to be out looking at trails and preparing stands.
It's so hot that most animals are nocturnal, only moving in the day time out of necessity. It's also still 3 months away from archery season, so the deer will have plenty of time to readjust to their old familiar routines.
So get out there, find some trails. Pick out your feeder spots and start doing whatever trimming you have to for your deer stands. Now is also a great time to build some natural blinds. On my personal lease I'm going to build some fallen timber blinds that look just like timber piles, with the area you sit in right at ground level. Should be interesting to say the least, lol. Also, if you trim limbs now when they have foliage on them, you can guarantee you will have clear shooting lanes this fall when the leaves start to fall.
So pick a weekend and get to it! Just stay safe, stay hydrated, and watch for snakes!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Welcome Pro-Staffer Jarrod Hertzler
Pro-Staff Jarrod Hertzler
Staff Sgt. Jarrod Hertzler is an Army veteran who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan over a 10 year Army career. Jarrod is a Scuba Diving Instructor, and a team member on the Carter County, OK Dive Team. After proudly serving his country, Jarrod is now attending the University of Oklahoma majoring in Nursing, with future plans to enlist in the Air Force as an officer. Jarrod enjoys deep sea fishing, diving, and predator hunting.
Staff Sgt. Jarrod Hertzler is an Army veteran who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan over a 10 year Army career. Jarrod is a Scuba Diving Instructor, and a team member on the Carter County, OK Dive Team. After proudly serving his country, Jarrod is now attending the University of Oklahoma majoring in Nursing, with future plans to enlist in the Air Force as an officer. Jarrod enjoys deep sea fishing, diving, and predator hunting.
Summer Is Definitely Here
Well it's June in Oklahoma, but it feels like late August. Highs in the 90's every day, no rain in the forecast, and I'm currently rocking a sunburn.
The good news is that the fish are biting like crazy! I've been tearing them up in a little 2 acre pond in the Chickasaw National Recreation Area. This pond, like many in the park, is very clear and has a clay/sand bottom, with lots of rocks. It is also home to a ton of Hydrilla, a very invasive aquatic plant nuisance that is making a big entrance into southern Oklahoma. Currently the vegetation mat extends about 10 feet off the bank, which makes it difficult to fish, but extremely rewarding also, because it provides incredibly good coverage for my favorite fish: Largemouth Bass.
Yesterday I fished some in the morning and some in the evening, and caught about 18 or 19 largemouth total. Most were in the 1 pound range, but some were in the 3 or 4 pound region. A couple were definitely keepers, but like I always say, a keeper right now is a wall hanger in a few years.
I was fishing Berkley's PowerBait worms, deep purple color with blue flakes and bright red tails. I combined that with 8lb Spider Wire monfilament, which is tough as all get out and casts so smoothly through my refurbished early 90's Zebco 33. Using a small bullet sinker and Texas rigging the worms, they were weedless and could punch right through the vegetation. Catching a decent fish every 5 minutes is fun no matter where you are. The best strikes were right in front of the Hydrilla, but I also caught some hawgs out in the middle of the pond, in the 10 foot range.
If you've got a little farm pond or are lucky enough to have public land with fishing areas, right now is a great time to get out and fish heavy cover in the shallower areas. And remember, no bass can resist a fire tailed plastic worm.
The good news is that the fish are biting like crazy! I've been tearing them up in a little 2 acre pond in the Chickasaw National Recreation Area. This pond, like many in the park, is very clear and has a clay/sand bottom, with lots of rocks. It is also home to a ton of Hydrilla, a very invasive aquatic plant nuisance that is making a big entrance into southern Oklahoma. Currently the vegetation mat extends about 10 feet off the bank, which makes it difficult to fish, but extremely rewarding also, because it provides incredibly good coverage for my favorite fish: Largemouth Bass.
Yesterday I fished some in the morning and some in the evening, and caught about 18 or 19 largemouth total. Most were in the 1 pound range, but some were in the 3 or 4 pound region. A couple were definitely keepers, but like I always say, a keeper right now is a wall hanger in a few years.
I was fishing Berkley's PowerBait worms, deep purple color with blue flakes and bright red tails. I combined that with 8lb Spider Wire monfilament, which is tough as all get out and casts so smoothly through my refurbished early 90's Zebco 33. Using a small bullet sinker and Texas rigging the worms, they were weedless and could punch right through the vegetation. Catching a decent fish every 5 minutes is fun no matter where you are. The best strikes were right in front of the Hydrilla, but I also caught some hawgs out in the middle of the pond, in the 10 foot range.
If you've got a little farm pond or are lucky enough to have public land with fishing areas, right now is a great time to get out and fish heavy cover in the shallower areas. And remember, no bass can resist a fire tailed plastic worm.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Coyote Hunting
Every now and then I like to mix it up. Deer hunting is the best thing ever invented, and I live for spring turkey season. One thing I know however is that coyotes can have a devastating effect on the wild deer and turkey populations, from eating freshly born fawns to unhatched turkey eggs and poults.
One of my favorite things to hunt are coyotes. It's a cool mix of hunting for me. Camo is essential. So is scent control. Coyote's can smell very, very well and they commonly circle downwind to try and pick up on a scent before they come in to a decoy.They can also detect movement from a long distance, and they have excellent hearing. In addition to needing to set up in a good place to begin with, you also get to use decoys and calls.
Calling can be accomplished by a few ways, by using hand calls, your own vocalizations, or electronic calls. I know many hunters are incredibly proud of their ability to closely mimic an injured rabbit, but I prefer to use electronic calls. The main reason is I can quickly switch sounds, and they project far further than I am able to with a hand call, allowing me to cover a larger distance from each stand. Calls range from hurt cotton tail and jack rabbits, to challenge howls and barks of other coyotes.
Decoys can also be used. There are lots of different types and models. I use a Mojo Critter Predator Decoy. It has a great action, and is tall so it can be seen from long distances.
There are also models that have the call module and speaker inside of the decoy itself, and these work pretty well too.
As far as weapons, you can pretty much use anything you want to. By far the most commonly used caliber is the .223, usually paired with good optics. Anything you use for deer gun hunting is probably acceptable, and even calibers like the .243 are often used. Most serious hunters carry a long range rifle like a .223, .243, .308, or 30-6, and pair it with a good 12 gage shotgun for close range shots. I've even seen some hunters recently on the Sportsman Channel calling in and killing coyotes with a compound bow. One would be inclined to think a crossbow would be an equally good choice.
However you decide to do it, planning out and executing a successful coyote hunt can be incredibly fun and addicting. There is nothing like calling in 3 or 4 dogs at the same time, and the frenzied action that breaks loose after the first shot is cut loose. It's also a great way to spend the day with your hunting buddies and take a break from the usual solitude of deer season.
One of my favorite things to hunt are coyotes. It's a cool mix of hunting for me. Camo is essential. So is scent control. Coyote's can smell very, very well and they commonly circle downwind to try and pick up on a scent before they come in to a decoy.They can also detect movement from a long distance, and they have excellent hearing. In addition to needing to set up in a good place to begin with, you also get to use decoys and calls.
Calling can be accomplished by a few ways, by using hand calls, your own vocalizations, or electronic calls. I know many hunters are incredibly proud of their ability to closely mimic an injured rabbit, but I prefer to use electronic calls. The main reason is I can quickly switch sounds, and they project far further than I am able to with a hand call, allowing me to cover a larger distance from each stand. Calls range from hurt cotton tail and jack rabbits, to challenge howls and barks of other coyotes.
Decoys can also be used. There are lots of different types and models. I use a Mojo Critter Predator Decoy. It has a great action, and is tall so it can be seen from long distances.
There are also models that have the call module and speaker inside of the decoy itself, and these work pretty well too.
As far as weapons, you can pretty much use anything you want to. By far the most commonly used caliber is the .223, usually paired with good optics. Anything you use for deer gun hunting is probably acceptable, and even calibers like the .243 are often used. Most serious hunters carry a long range rifle like a .223, .243, .308, or 30-6, and pair it with a good 12 gage shotgun for close range shots. I've even seen some hunters recently on the Sportsman Channel calling in and killing coyotes with a compound bow. One would be inclined to think a crossbow would be an equally good choice.
However you decide to do it, planning out and executing a successful coyote hunt can be incredibly fun and addicting. There is nothing like calling in 3 or 4 dogs at the same time, and the frenzied action that breaks loose after the first shot is cut loose. It's also a great way to spend the day with your hunting buddies and take a break from the usual solitude of deer season.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Oklahoma Weather
Been a busy last few days here in Oklahoma and my attention has been elsewhere.
Our prayers and thoughts go out to all the tornado victims. I'll have some new content up both here and on the facebook page tomorrow.
Our prayers and thoughts go out to all the tornado victims. I'll have some new content up both here and on the facebook page tomorrow.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Pro-Staff Tab
Hey everyone. At the top of the page there is a tab for our Pro-Staff. Give it a look!
And thanks to everyone who doubled our facebook likes in one days time. 7 more likes and we give away a vehicle decal to one random fan.
And thanks to everyone who doubled our facebook likes in one days time. 7 more likes and we give away a vehicle decal to one random fan.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
New Pro-Staff
I'll be announcing the names and bios of my first two pro-staff members by tomorrow. I'm really excited to have these guys on board and they'll each be a huge asset to the RDO team.
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