Stuck in the Rut

Make sure to check out Petersen’s BOWHUNTING’s October edition, which is our 2010 Whitetail Issue. This special issue hits newsstands Sept. 7 and is jam-packed with information designed to get you ready for a successful fall hunting seasons.

Some of the highlights of the 2010 Whitetail Issue include:

* Field Editor Bill Winke’s Top 10 Rut Tactics

* Treestand Placement Strategies from North America’s Top Whitetail Outfitters

* An insightful feature on locating and hunting mature, big-woods bucks

* Still-Hunting Strategies

* A Report on the Varied Rut Timing Across the South

* A Breakdown of the Year’s Best New Camouflage Patterns

* And Much More!

Make sure to look for Petersen’s BOWHUNTING on your local newsstands and pick up your copy before they’re gone.

Well, it’s time for the latest installment in my ongoing series of trail camera updates, and as you can see from the photo above, we’ve identified another good buck in our hunting area. This one was captured by my buddy Keith at the family farm, which is a few miles from my home. This will be Keith’s first year bowhunting, and he’s already got his name on this one! He’s got a lot to learn about how hard bowhunting can be, but I hope he pulls it off. This would be a dandy first buck with the bow. If nothing else, I am glad to see Keith’s enthusiasm for archery and bowhunting. It’s been a lot of fun running trail cams with him this summer and seeing him become a good shot with his Mission Eliminator bow. I don’t have much doubt that he’s more than capable of making a good shot. Now, all we need is for this guy to show up under his tree…

In addition to the big 8-pointer, who is just outside the ears (you can see that clearly in some of Keith’s other shots), there are a number of young bucks, does and fawns working the farm. Plenty of standing corn and soybeans right now makes it difficult to tell exactly what kind of deer activity we’ll have come November, but at this point, it looks fairly encouraging. Here are a few other shots from this week:

One more thing I wanted to note is the new trail camera I got recently from Wildgame Innovations. Actually, they sent me two new cameras, but so far, I’ve only gotten to use one of them. It’s the IR3d, and it’s a slick little unit. Basically, this is a trail camera for dummies, because you can’t program it. You just put in the batteries and an SD card, mount it to the tree and turn it on. The settings can’t change. It takes 3 MP still photos 24 hours a day, with a one-minute delay between shots. It takes color photos during the day and black-and-white photos at night using the 18 high-intensity LEDs. The entire, compact unit is weatherproof and covered in Realtree camo. I really like this camera. The only thing I wish you could change is making it takes multiple photos every time it’s triggered instead of just one. However, for what is is, I am fairly impressed.

Figured I would share a few of my latest trail camera photos from Pennsylvania. For those of you familiar with the Keystone State, these shots are from an undisclosed location in Schuylkill County. Nothing too jaw-dropping here, but at least we’ve got some decent deer activity. There’s still plenty of time to go before the season, and I’m hoping a bigger buck (or two or three) will show up. Some of the locals claims there’s a “monster” running around, but you always wonder if their idea of monster is the same as yours, you know?

There’s a doe with twin fawns that have been regulars, plus a decent 8-point buck and one or two smaller bucks that seem to be passing through a couple times a week. Here’s a look at what I got. I plan to possibly check a camera at a more productive area in Lehigh County this weekend, so stay tuned…

Mom and the kids hanging out. If anyone ever wonders how much energy a doe uses nursing two, fast-growing fawns, look at this doe. She’s all ribs and skin, yet the food supply is tremendous. There are about 100 acres of soybeans literally 50 feet from where she’s standing here, plus ample corn and a fruit orchard within several hundred yards. At this time of year, as the fawns are growing and preparing for their first winter, mom just can’t hardly eat enough to keep her own body going and produce the milk her hungry kids are no doubt still sucking down!

I hung one of those Buck Jam Hard Cooked Suckers from Evolved Habitats and the deer seem to like it pretty much. Here, one of the fawns is checking it out as mom and the other fawn hang out in the background.

This is the best buck I have photographed on this particular property.  A nice 8-pointer that should be roughly even with the ears. Although a buck like this is nothing in the Midwest, the deer population is Schuylkill County, Pa., isn’t all that high, and hunting pressure is intense. Most hunters in these parts would consider this guy a “shooter.”

An earlier photo of what I believe is the same 8-point buck at the Buck Jam lollipop. Notice the difference between the two photos and the dates. The buck added a good bit of antler in two weeks!

I think this is a slightly smaller buck running in the area, though it possibly could be the same one.

Raccoons are always a factor when you put any kind of food-type product around your camera sites, and this one is a nice, fat specimen that would be prefect for a ‘coonskin cap!

Up until today, it had been a pretty blah summer in terms of the images my friends and I were getting on our trail cameras. Mostly just your typical collection of does, fawns and dink bucks, plus a bunch of raccoons. But this morning, when I got into the office, I had a nice batch of photos from a friend. These got me pretty pumped up, as they were taken only a few hundred yards from one of my favorite stands. Of course, a lot can change between now and fall, but hopefully some of these guys will still be hanging around come October!

Check out the latest episode of Petersen’s BOWHUNTING Radio. Join Editor Christian Berg and Steve Scott, vice president of The Whitetail Institute of North America, as they discuss tactics for successful food plots and better bowhunting.

Listen to the FREE podcast HERE.

York County WCO Chad Eyler, left, holds the 16-point rack of an illegally killed buck, for which Michael Eugene Sponseller, 19, was found guilty and ordered to pay $6,100 in fines and restitution. York County Deputy WCO Robert Simmonds, right, holds the 14-point sheds of the same deer that were found in York County and helped solve the investigation. (PGC Photo/Joe Kosack

DNA EVIDENCE HELPS CONVICT YORK COUNTY TROPHY-BUCK POACHER

YORK, Pa. – Michael Eugene Sponseller Jr., 19, of East Berlin, Adams County, was found guilty and sentenced to pay $1,100 in fines and $5,000 in replacement costs for the unlawful poaching of a trophy-class white-tailed deer in York County, according to Pennsylvania Game Commission officials.  The sentence was handed down, on June 29, by Senior Magisterial District Judge Roger Estep, after a hearing in West Manchester Township, York County. Sponseller also faces revocation of hunting privileges for up to six years.

Sponseller was found guilty of unlawful taking and possession of game or wildlife; unlawful devices and methods for using a motor vehicle to locate the deer; trespass on private property while hunting; and false or fraudulent statements on reports.

In September 2009, Sponseller and another individual were travelling in a vehicle on Hoke’s Mill Road in West Manchester Township, when they spotted a 16-point white-tailed deer in an adjacent field from the roadway.  Sponseller stalked and killed the deer, using archery equipment, during a closed season.  The defendant took possession of the unlawfully killed trophy buck and claimed to have killed the deer during the open archery deer season in Lycoming County.

Game Commission Wildlife Conservation Officer Chad Eyler, of York County, and Deputy Wildlife Conservation Officer Robert Simmonds received information regarding the unlawful killing of the 16-point buck and began an investigation in October.  Eyler and Simmonds found that the trophy class deer was indeed unlawfully killed during the closed season for deer in September.

Eyler and Simmonds, along with Game Commission Wildlife Conservation Officer Darren David, of Adams County, retrieved evidence of the illegal killing, including the 16-point rack, the cape, and numerous other items that pointed to the unlawful killing of the deer.

A West Manchester Township police officer contacted Eyler and informed him that he possessed a set of 14-point white-tailed deer shed antlers that were found in the early part of 2009 in the vicinity of the unlawfully killed 16-point buck.  The officer believed these to be the sheds from the unlawfully killed 16-point buck.

“White-tailed deer shed their antlers on an annual basis,” Eyler said. “The sheds were found about one mile from the place of the unlawful killing.”

Eyler and Simmonds inspected the 14-point antlers, along with certified Boone and Crockett Club Official scorers, and had each rack measured for their green score.  The green score for the 16-point rack was 175 7/8.  The score for 14-point shed rack, which was turned over to Eyler by the West Manchester Township Police Officer, was 151 3/8.

For a white-tailed deer to be considered a trophy-class buck, it must Boone and Crockett green score at 115.  According to the Pennsylvania Big Game Records Book for 2009, the 16-point trophy class buck would have ranked 16th in the Non-typical White-tailed Deer-Archery Category, had the deer been killed in a legal manner.

Eyler and Simmonds submitted both the 16-point rack from the unlawfully killed deer that the defendant claimed to have killed in Lycoming County, and the 14-point shed rack that was found in York County, to Dr. Jane Huffman, director of the Northeast Wildlife DNA Laboratory, Applied DNA Sciences, East Stroudsburg University, to compare DNA from each rack to see if the racks were from the same deer.  After DNA extraction from both sets of antlers, Dr. Huffman determined that the racks were from the same deer.

This evidence, coupled with additional expert testimony at the hearing, proved that the 16-point deer lived in and was unlawfully killed in York County, not the more than 110 air miles away in Lycoming County, as the defendant alleged.

Eyler and Simmonds filed the charges on Sponseller at the conclusion of the investigation in March.

Due to the 16-point buck being considered trophy-class under Game Commission regulations, upon conviction, Sponseller was sentenced to not only pay the $1,100 in fines, but also to pay $5,000 in replacement costs for the unlawful killing.

The replacement costs were adopted by the Board to enhance penalties associated with poaching and deter poaching activity.  All costs that were associated with the DNA services that were provided by The Northeast Wildlife DNA Laboratory were paid for by the members of the Pennsylvania Deer Association.

“This case took months of investigation, DNA analysis, evidence collection, interviews and legal preparation,” Eyler said. “While we are pleased with the successful conclusion of this case and the fact that Sponseller was held accountable for his crime, this is an unfortunate example of how one violator can steal wildlife from legitimate hunters and others who enjoy seeing wildlife in Pennsylvania.

“On the positive side, this is a perfect example of concerned citizens, different agencies, conservation associations, police departments, members of the York County District Attorney’s Office, and the Pennsylvania Game Commission coming together to solve a major wildlife crime in York County. Without these individuals, and the outstanding corps of Deputy Wildlife Conservation Officers that we are blessed to have in York County, and throughout this Commonwealth, crimes against our natural resources would go unnoticed and unpunished.”

Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne illness in North America and Europe, and caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. Deer ticks, which feed on the blood of animals and humans, can carry this bacteria and spread it when feeding. I’ve been hunting since I was 10 and even though I’ve flicked numerous ticks off of myself, friends and even my wife, I’ve never felt completely comfortable sharing the woods with Lyme disease infected bugs. Like many hunters and outdoorsman, I’ve tried sprays and have taken the common precautions to avoid their attack, however they seem to always get a free ride back to my house and garage. To top it off, I live in central Minnesota and if you’re not familiar with this area, it’s basically a breeding zone for Lyme disease — ticks galore!!

After turkey hunting with my wife last year and flicking off at least 20 ticks (one in which was stuck to her side), I was excited this year to hear about Gamehide’s new line of insect repellent apparel. To help defend yourself against those pinpoint sized little devils, Gamehide introduced ElimiTick Tick-repelling clothing. Featuring Insect Shield repellent technology, the new garments feature a man-made version of a natural insect repellent found in chrysanthemum flowers, which is then bonded to fabric fibers. And because ElimiTick bonds the repellent to fabric fibers, you get better coverage than you would with sprays, and ultimately increased repellency. Plus, Gamehide advertises the apparel to retain its effectiveness over 70 washings; basically beyond the expected life of the garment. Even after 70 washings, tests show that the repellent is 97.9-percent effective on ticks.

Odorless and invisible, ElimiTick apparel is the first ever EPA-registered Insect-repelling clothing, and can be worn by hunters of all ages. And because it is odorless, it’s ideal for chasing sense-driven game animals who rely heavily on their sense of smell to avoid danger. Deer, elk, bear, it doesn’t matter what you decide to hunt.

Perfect for spring and early seasons, and when ticks start showing themselves in large numbers, ElimiTick apparel is designed to be effective all year long. The tick-repelling line of clothing is offered in a number of items including their Button-Up Shirt, Long Sleeve Tech Shirt, Five Pocket Pant, Cover-Up Jacket and Hat. More items coming in 2011.

Any step toward precaution and the prevention of Lyme disease is a step in the right direction. Don’t make the same mistake many hunters have in the past when it comes to protecting yourself in the field.

For more information on Gamehide’s ElimiTick apparel call 888-267-3591 or go to www.gamehide.com

A Scioto County, Ohio, man pled guilty to four wildlife violations in Adams County Court on Friday, April 30 and was ordered to pay $23,572.05 in restitution, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Wildlife.

Johnny B. Clay, 37, of Minford pled guilty to four charges including taking a deer in a closed season, hunting without permission, no hunting license and no deer permit. The Honorable Judge Roy E. Gabbert Jr. presided over the case and ordered Clay to pay $1,500 in fines, an additional $134 court costs, and to forfeit the deer as well as the bow he used to kill it. In addition, Clay will lose his hunting privileges for life. Clay had 10 prior wildlife convictions for deer violations and has spent time in jail for several of those offenses. He will be entered into the Wildlife Violator’s Compact and most likely will lose hunting rights in 33 other states.

The Division of Wildlife is also imposing restitution for the deer in the amount of $23,572.05. This is in accordance with Ohio’s revised restitution law for illegal taking of white-tailed deer. The law went into effect March 2008 and allows the Division of Wildlife to seek an increased recovery value on all illegally harvested wildlife.

The typical trophy deer, scored according to Boone & Crockett (B&C) guidelines, netted an impressive 197 2/8. This deer was the largest typical white-tailed deer harvested in North America during 2009. In Ohio, this deer would rank fourth all time in the Buckeye Big Buck Club records.

Concerned citizens contacted Ohio Wildlife officers Chris Rice and Chris Gilkey about the questionable taking of the trophy deer in March 2010. Upon closer investigation, the officers discovered that the deer was unlawfully taken in Adams County, Ohio during 2009. Clay then checked the deer in as a Kentucky archery kill.

The Division of Wildlife is encouraging citizens to report any illegal activity they observe by contacting the TIP line. Tips may be phoned anonymously to 1-800-POACHER.

Make sure to check out the June issue of BOWHUNTING, which hits newsstands on Tuesday, May 4. This issue is jam packed with bowhunting features and product coverage, including:

* Stealth hunting whitetail strategies from Field Editor Bill Winke

* A Nebraska Merriam’s turkey adventure with Field Editor Eddie Claypool

* A bowfishing feature with tips to help you get started on the water

* 2010 buyer’s guides for arrow shafts and release aids

* A review of 14 new crossbow models for 2010

* High Grade Bow Report on the new Quest Primal

* Cam-Tuning Tips from Randy Ulmer

* And much more!

GAME COMMISSION RELEASES 2009-10 DEER HARVEST ESTIMATES

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Game Commission today reported that hunters harvested an estimated 308,920 deer in the state’s 2009-10 seasons, which is an eight percent decline from the previous seasons’ harvest of 335,850.

Hunters took 108,330 antlered deer in the 2009-10 seasons, down 11 percent from the previous license year’s harvest of 122,410, but similar to the 2007-08 harvest of 109,200.  Also, hunters harvested 200,590 antlerless deer in 2009-10, which is a six percent decline from the 213,440 antlerless deer taken in 2008-09.  The 2007-08 antlerless deer harvest was 213,870.

Bureau of Wildlife Management personnel currently are working to develop 2010 antlerless deer license allocation recommendations for the April Board meeting.  Calvin W. DuBrock, Game Commission Bureau of Wildlife Management director, said that in addition to harvest data, the staff will be looking at population trends, deer reproduction, forest regeneration, and deer-human conflict for each Wildlife Management Unit (WMU).

Harvest estimates for 2009-10 seasons are based on 105,192 usable harvest report cards (41,251 antlered; 63,941 antlerless) returned by hunters to the Commission, which included 64,945 reported by mail and 40,247 reported by the new online harvest reporting system.  Reporting rates are determined by cross-referencing these report cards with the data collected from the 24,839 deer (7,942 antlered; 16,897 antlerless) examined by Game Commission personnel in the field and at processors.

For an explanation of the agency’s deer harvest estimating procedure, visit the Game Commission’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us), click on “White-Tailed Deer” icon in the center of the homepage, then scroll down and select “Deer Research” and click on “Reporting rate variability and precision of white-tailed deer harvest estimates in Pennsylvania.”

Yearling bucks comprised 49 percent of the 2009-10 antlered harvest. Since 2003, the percent of yearling bucks in the annual harvest has varied between 49 and 56 percent.  Button bucks represented 22 percent of the antlerless harvest, which is the same percentage from the 2008-09 harvest.

The 2009-10 hunting seasons marked the first time crossbows were legal in statewide archery deer seasons for all hunters. In those 19 WMUs outside of the three urban areas, the archery harvest increased 13 percent. The proportion of the archery harvest taken by crossbows in the 19 WMUs increased from 15 percent to 30 percent. Crossbows have been legal in urban WMUs of 2B, 5C, and 5D since 2004.

Total deer harvest estimates by WMU for 2009-10 (with 2008-09 figures in parentheses) are as follows:

WMU 1A: 5,500 (5,400) antlered, 10,700 (12,600) antlerless;

WMU 1B: 5,100 (7,500) antlered, 9,500 (13,400) antlerless;

WMU 2A: 6,800 (6,700) antlered, 13,900 (15,300) antlerless;

WMU 2B: 4,300 (4,000) antlered, 20,000 (15,300) antlerless;

WMU 2C: 6,500 (7,500) antlered, 10,900 (12,800) antlerless;

WMU 2D: 10,000 (9,500) antlered, 16,000 (15,600) antlerless;

WMU 2E: 3,700 (5,000) antlered 5,300 (6,200) antlerless;

WMU 2F: 5,200 (7,000) antlered, 6,600 (9,100) antlerless;

WMU 2G: 5,200 (6,800) antlered, 4,200 (6,500) antlerless;

WMU 3A: 3,300 (4,100) antlered, 6,000 (7,500) antlerless;

WMU 3B: 4,900 (5,500) antlered, 9,100 (9,900) antlerless;

WMU 3C: 6,200 (6,300) antlered, 7,100 (7,300) antlerless;

WMU 3D: 3,100 (3,900) antlered, 6,300 (6,700) antlerless;

WMU 4A: 3,700 (4,200) antlered, 7,400 (6,900) antlerless;

WMU 4B: 4,000 (3,900) antlered, 4,100 (3,800) antlerless;

WMU 4C: 4,700 (5,000) antlered, 7,200 (8,000) antlerless;

WMU 4D: 5,000 (6,600) antlered, 7,200 (9,300) antlerless;

WMU 4E: 4,100 (4,300) antlered, 6,300 (7,200) antlerless;

WMU 5A: 2,200 (2,100) antlered, 4,200 (3,800) antlerless;

WMU 5B: 6,000 (6,800) antlered, 11,300 (11,200) antlerless;

WMU 5C: 7,600 (8,700) antlered, 23,200 (20,200) antlerless;

WMU 5D: 1,100 (1,300) antlered, 3,900 (4,500) antlerless; and

Unknown WMU: 130 (310) antlered, 190 (140) antlerless.

Season-specific deer harvest estimates – such as archery and muzzleloader and rifle – by WMU for 2009-10 can also be calculated using harvest data from processors and report cards.

“Although we do not use season-specific harvest data for management purposes, we recognize the public is interested in these harvest estimates,” said Calvin W. DuBrock, Game Commission Bureau of Wildlife Management director. “For that reason only, we provide estimated deer harvest breakdowns for firearms, archery and muzzleloader seasons, but we only use total deer harvest estimates when making recommendations for each WMU.”

Season-specific deer harvest estimates are as follows:

WMU 1A: firearms, 3,300 antlered, 7,700 antlerless; archery, 2,130 antlered, 1,780 antlerless; and muzzleloader, 70 antlered, 1,220 antlerless;

WMU 1B: firearms, 3,500 antlered, 7,800 antlerless; archery, 1,580 antlered, 1,100 antlerless; muzzleloader, 20 antlered, 600 antlerless;

WMU 2A: firearms, 5,000 antlered, 11,000 antlerless; archery, 1,770 antlered, 1,390 antlerless; muzzleloader, 30 antlered, 1,510 antlerless;

WMU 2B: firearms, 1,700 antlered, 10,600 antlerless; archery, 2,530 antlered, 7,930 antlerless; muzzleloader, 70 antlered, 1,470 antlerless;

WMU 2C: firearms, 4,500 antlered, 8,600 antlerless; archery, 1,230 antlered, 1,120 antlerless; muzzleloader, 50 antlered, 1,070 antlerless;

WMU 2D: firearms, 6,600 antlered, 11,800 antlerless; archery, 3,320 antlered, 2,050 antlerless; muzzleloader, 80 antlered, 2,150 antlerless;

WMU 2E: firearms, 2,700 antlered, 4,200 antlerless; archery, 970 antlered, 560 antlerless; muzzleloader, 30 antlered, 540 antlerless;

WMU 2F: firearms, 4,200 antlered, 5,500 antlerless; archery, 980 antlered, 520 antlerless; muzzleloader, 20 antlered, 580 antlerless;

WMU 2G: firearms, 4,400 antlered, 2,800 antlerless; archery, 760 antlered, 600 antlerless; muzzleloader, 40 antlered, 800 antlerless;

WMU 3A: firearms, 2,700 antlered, 4,800 antlerless; archery, 590 antlered, 530 antlerless; muzzleloader, 10 antlered, 670 antlerless;

WMU 3B: firearms, 3,700 antlered, 6,900 antlerless; archery, 1,160 antlered, 970 antlerless; muzzleloader, 40 antlered, 1,230 antlerless;

WMU 3C: firearms, 5,100 antlered, 5,200 antlerless; archery, 1,060 antlered, 810 antlerless; muzzleloader, 40 antlered, 1,090 antlerless;

WMU 3D: firearms, 2,200 antlered, 4,500 antlerless; archery, 1,050 antlered, 910 antlerless; muzzleloader, 20 antlered, 750 antlerless;

WMU 4A: firearms, 3,200 antlered, 5,900 antlerless; archery, 450 antlered, 630 antlerless; muzzleloader, 50 antlered, 870 antlerless;

WMU 4B: firearms, 2,900 antlered, 2,800 antlerless; archery, 1,080 antlered, 700 antlerless; muzzleloader, 20 antlered, 600 antlerless;

WMU 4C: firearms, 3,200 antlered, 5,200 antlerless; archery, 1,470 antlered, 1,140 antlerless; muzzleloader, 30 antlered, 860 antlerless;

WMU 4D: firearms, 3,800 antlered, 5,600 antlerless; archery, 1,150 antlered, 880 antlerless; muzzleloader, 50 antlered, 720 antlerless;

WMU 4E: firearms, 2,900 antlered, 4,800 antlerless; archery, 1,170 antlered, 820 antlerless; muzzleloader, 30 antlered, 680 antlerless;

WMU 5A: firearms, 1,600 antlered, 3,000 antlerless; archery, 580 antlered, 670 antlerless; muzzleloader, 20 antlered, 530 antlerless;

WMU 5B: firearms, 3,100 antlered, 7,000 antlerless; archery, 2,840 antlered, 3,000 antlerless; muzzleloader, 60 antlered, 1,300 antlerless;

WMU 5C: firearms, 3,300 antlered, 12,700 antlerless; archery, 4,190 antlered, 8,920 antlerless; muzzleloader, 110 antlered, 1,580 antlerless;

WMU 5D: firearms, 300 antlered, 1,200 antlerless; archery, 780 antlered, 2,620 antlerless; muzzleloader, 20 antlered, 80 antlerless; and

Unknown WMU: firearms, 0 antlered, 170 antlerless; archery, 130 antlered, 20 antlerless; muzzleloader, 0 antlered, 0 antlerless.