Photo Credit: Dennis Lynch

One form of “exotic “ wagering at the racetrack is the Trifecta. This is where you have to pic the top 3 finishers in a race in the order in which they cross the finish line.

I like the tri’s at the track but my favorite Trifecta is actually one I invented this winter and it takes place in the field.

Unless one is lucky enough to live in the Colorado Rockies or near the flooded timber of Arkansas, the winter time somewhat limits your hunting/fishing opportunities and cabin fever can strike at any time.

Most of the time when we think of a hunting trip it involves hours of phone calls planning areas to hunt or fish, sleep, eat, whether to fly or drive and more logistical planning than Patton’s 5^th army. Once the dates are set the packing and buying out of state licenses. But this winter, in the span of 36 hours I got 3 different opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, sporting dogs and comrades.

On Sunday morning, I found myself and one of my nephews Gannon in the reeds on the banks of a farm pond 4 miles from home. At about 8:15, a small flock of 8 Canadians came into our decoys. Bingo! 2 in the game bag.

At about noon while building a fire Woody called to tell me the boys in Woodford County say the doves are coming into one of their cut corn fields. By 12:30 we were loaded in the car and headed to Dry Ridge Road on a beautiful warm winter’s afternoon.

On our way back home, Woody said we should get the dogs some work on quail before going on our annual quail hunt in Western Kentucky in the spring. A quick call to our friend Dennis at Six Mile Creek Hunting Preserve and we had  20 quails arranged to be set out for us the following morning. I know released birds are not the same as a horse drawn quail shoot in south Georgia, but for a good stretch of the legs, dog work and strong fast flying birds you can’t beat it –especially not for $80!

The quail fried up nice over drinks that evening as Woody and I recounted the last 36 hours.

Lots of fun and good times. Not a minute planned and not a minute wasted.

Most of us are not able to do extended hunting trips more than once or twice a season, but what we can all do is take advantage of every opportunity to get out and enjoy the great outdoors as often and in as many ways possible.

Now for my next project, there is a beautiful trout stream just south of Lexington,KY named Boone Creek.  It’s a members only club with big trout and some of the most picturesque scenery this side of Colorado.

My pal Mike Levy is a member in good standing and with an invite from him I could try the Kentucky Superfecta— waterfowl, dove shoot, upland birding and fly fishing for trout.

Mike , if your out there “You have my number.”

In Part I of Shed Hunting Tips for Bone-Heads, Peter Fiduccia provided us all with some background on his experience with shed hunting. Now he’ll teach us the tricks of trade, that will leave you finding shed after shed.

Trail cameras will help you determine when bucks start to drop their antlers, and to help find out where a buck dropped an antler (rarely does a buck drop both antlers in the same place). Trail cameras also help to identify the deer trails the bucks are using which helps to narrow your search.

Dropped antlers don’t always fall to the ground. Sometimes a buck will place a loose antler into a crotch of a sapling tree and pull it off. Bucks will often use thick tangles of briar and mountain laurel patches pull off loose antlers. I have found sheds near cedar fence posts and barb wire fences, two of my favorite hot-spots to find sheds. As the buck squeezes between the strands of wire an antler can get hung up and pulled free.

Another good location to search for sheds is in evergreen thickets. A Christmas tree farm is a sizzling hot-spot. In winter deer seek thick cover and head to places like Christmas tree farms. In the closely grouped trees antlers often branches often knock off loose antlers.

In northern areas deer yards are also good locations to find sheds. Deer yards are one of the few places a shed hunter may end up locating a matched pair of antlers. Entering a deer yard while the deer are using it can cause stress to deer for this reason I don’t recommend searching for dropped antlers in deer yards before the snow has melted and the deer have left.

I have had success locating whitetail, moose, elk and mule deer shed in places that deer have to jump over or across fences or natural obstructions. As they land on the ground the impact often causes an antler to be jarred loose. This also happens when a buck jumps across a stream. Find where deer are jumping a fence by locating a deer trail, tracks, or where deer hair caught in the wire. Walk about 100 yards parallel along a fence on both directions searching from the fence out to about 50 yards. At creek crossing locate the deer tracks leading to the creek and then search both sides of the shoreline.

Search late harvested corn fields for sheds too. Several years ago I was turning under a field of cut corn in early April to prepare the plot for a new crop. Halfway through tilling the field I was turning the tractor to start a new row when I caught a flash of white from the corner of my eye. I stopped the tractor and walked over to the spot and I was delighted to find the main beam of an antler sticking up in the soil. When I picked the antler up it was in prime condition.

Become the Shed!

To find sheds consistently shed hunters learn to think like a buck. Where you would you be when the time comes to drop your antlers? What natural vegetation or man-made objects would you use to help knock off loose, annoying antlers? The successful shed hunter learns not only to look carefully but also where to look for his bone-gold! Train your eyes to scan rather than stare. Don’t only look at the ground but also learn to look at trees, laurel, under-brush and other thick cover at approximate natural height of a buck’s antlers. Look carefully for anything white that looks out of place. Don’t always expect to find the entire antler lying above the ground. Another point to consider is that a shed antler can be entirely or partially covered by leaves and other natural forest debris and is easily passed over unless the hunter moves slowly and inspects any suspect object carefully. Once you established a strategy for locating shed antlers you will develop into a champion antler shed hunter.

Tools of Shed Hunter

When looking for dropped antlers bring along a backpack with shed hunting tools and essentials. You can be afield for hours so pack drinking water to stay hydrated along with a sandwich and healthy energy snacks. Take a small digital camera with and when you find a shed antler take a close-up photo of it where it lays before picking it up. Then take a take slightly wider image of the location and finally a wide shot of the area with the antlers lying on the ground.

Bring a bottle of Windex and a roll of paper towels. Use them to clean any mud, dirt, and other debris off the sheds you find. Rub them gently to remove the dirt. Don’t scrub it too hard or you’ll remove the natural color. Use a black Sharpie to mark the base with the date the shed was found.  If you don’t want to mark the antler make a written note in a log. As your collection of shed antlers gets larger the photos and the written information you recorded will help you recall all the details of where each shed was discovered. Include the exact location, the date, time, and the weather conditions. All the recorded written and photographic information will make the enjoyment and memories of your shed antler hunting adventures last a lifetime! So what are you waiting for Bone-Head? Get out there and go shed hunting!

Oh, the excitement that deer season brings with it each and every year, isn’t it great? Peter Fiduccia of Woods N’ Water Press knows it all too well, and do you know how he keeps that thrill and anticipation running all year long? Shed hunting.

Shed hunting dates back to our earliest ancestors. Cavemen collected antler bones not only to make tools, but also to carve the antlers into jewelry, charms, and trinkets. Native Americans used shed antlers to scrape hides, cooking tools, and for axe and knife handles. Today antlers still hold a special allure as collectibles for people.

Understandably, most hunters want to collect them while they are still attached to the buck’s head, but finding a buck’s dropped antler is equally exciting. A shed antler can serve as a valued trophy and an important piece of evidence. Finding them provides both confirmation and clues regarding which bucks survived the hunting season and winter as well.

I found my first shed antler over 40 years ago. While walking through a laurel I accidently knocked off an antler that was hung up on a branch. It was a small 4-point antler. I was overwhelmed with excitement. Holding the antler I began to imagine what the buck might have looked like with both antlers on his head. That’s the type of exhilaration shed hunting imparts. From that point on shed hunting became an enjoyable pastime for me. Every time I locate a shed deer antler it invokes anticipation, enthusiasm and high hopes for the next deer season.

What also makes shed hunting fun is that it can be enjoyed alone or with family and friends. One of my fondest outdoor memories of our son Cody is connected to finding a shed antler. He was about five years old and was sitting on my lap as I slowly rode him on my lawn tractor around a food plot. All of a sudden Cody yelled “stop dad, I see a buck!” Since it was early May I giggled as I replied to where is he Cody?

“Turn around and I’ll show you,” he said. As we drove back Cody shouted, “Look daddy he’s right there!” I noticed he was pointing his little finger to the ground and as I followed its direction I saw the huge dropped antler! (See photo). Of all the shed antlers I have collected – that one holds a special place in my heart and mind. It also told me that one of the mature bucks I hunted hard for that year but didn’t get survived! Having Cody find it gave me new hope and inspiration for the upcoming deer season.

When to Begin Shed Hunting

The unfortunate fact about finding shed antlers is it isn’t always easy. There are ways however, to help shed hunters increase their odds of locating dropped antlers. If you live in northern climates begin to search for sheds soon after snow melt. The best time to start searching for sheds is usually late April. Over the years I have found most of my shed antlers in May while I’m planting food plots or hunting for turkey. Planning a shed hunting excursion in April or May will help you to locate antlers that haven’t been chewed by mice or other rodents yet.

Tips on Where to Locate Shed Antlers

Locate where deer were feeding most from January to March. That will quickly help you determine where their bedding areas were. That time of year deer are primarily concerned with food and bedding. Therefore, they instinctively locate their beds as close to the winter food sources as possible.

Stay tuned for part II of  Shed Hunting Tips for Bone-Heads — tips and suggestions for “Bone-Heads” (a term I coined to describe people who have become addicted to shed hunting).

There’s no better way to spend a cold winter day than to cook up a delicious, warm meal made straight from the yield of your recent hunt. Especially when it’s Super Bowl Sunday! Mark Huelsing from Sole Adventure, is no stranger to this idea and with his Southwestern Venison Chili, we have a good feeling you’ll be drooling by end of this.

Winter is a time for the hunter to enjoy his harvest. My favorite winter meal is cooking up some Southwestern Venison Chili. There are endless ways to prepare a chili, but here is my favorite.

Southwestern Venison Chili

Ingredients

• 2lbs ground venison
• 2 large onions, diced
• 28oz diced tomatoes
• 2 cans Rotel (1 hot, 1 medium)
• 1 can white corn
• 2 cans black beans
• 1 can pinto beans
• 1 can red kidney beans
• 1 package ranch dressing mix
• 1 package taco seasoning

Directions

• Brown the venison in a skillet with the onions.  Once cooked, drain excess fat.  At this point you can either transfer all ingredients to a large pot and cook over the stove, or transfer all ingredients to a slow cooker and cook on medium.  I prefer the later.

Toppings

• Optionally garnish with shredded Monterey jack cheese, sour cream, and tortilla chips.

Enjoy!

As a child, Laura Schara loved to join her father on his pheasant hunts and the memories she made on these adventures still serve as a few of her fondest ones. That’s why when presented with the opportunity to join her dad and sister on a pheasant trip to South Dakota; she couldn’t have been more excited.

My sister and I have spent many years following my dadthrough pheasant fields in South Dakota. As children, holidays meant family road trips to pheasant country, where the birds seem to flush out of the brush similar to pigeons in a New York City park. So when I got the call to put a weekend on the calendar for some pheasant hunting with my dad and sister in Chamberlain, South Dakota, it immediately was jotted down in permanent marker. This year however, was extra special, as my 8-year-old nephew, Jake, was tagging along.

Photo Credit: Andy Lee

Photo Credit: Andy Lee

We’re excited to be featured in the men’s southern lifestyle guide Bearings.  In the article ”Filson in the Field,”  the gentlemen put our gear to work in the field.

There is so much new fangled hunting gear out there these days. High-tech gadgets and fancy apparel have flooded the market, and something has been lost in the shuffle. Hunting is a heritage sport, passed down from generation to generation; part of its appeal is the timeless and classic nature of it. This goes for the gear as well.

Making “tough, comfortable outdoor clothing for hunters and fishermen, engineers and explorers, mariners and miners,” the Filson company was originally formed in 1897 to serve the men of the Great Klondike Gold Rush. Because of this, founder C.C. Filson could only produce the very best – it was a matter of life and death for his customers.

Photo Credit:David McClelland

Photo credit: Kristen Monroe

For every hunter out there, nothing can relate to the excitement and the memories made during that first hunt. For Kristen Monroe, her first duck hunt was certainly no exception to this well known fact. Plus to make this hunt even more unforgettable, she got to share it with some of the guys from Ducks Unlimited.

As 2011 comes to an end, many of us give thanks and reflect on the past. For us hunters, every hunting experience is special for different reasons. There is one particular hunt that comes to mind that I am especially thankful for; my first duck hunt. Not just because of the beautiful pintail drake I took home, but for the new friends and knowledge that was gained. Mike Checkett and Chris Jennings of Ducks Unlimited hosted the 3^rd annual Women’s Media Camp at Bay Flats Lodge in Seadrift, Texas. Understanding the relationship between conservation and hunting has always been important to me. Checkett and Jennings were the perfect teachers. 12 women including myself, walked away from this camp with a better understanding of duck hunting, an appreciation for the value of wetlands, and how Ducks Unlimited works to preserve and restore them.

Diehard water fowlers live for the smell of marsh; the passion for ducks is in their eyes. I couldn’t wait to find out what made duck hunting so exceptional. My hunting group included Jennings, veteran outdoor communicator Laurie Lee Dovey, and Bay Flats lodge guide David McClelland. It was exciting to hear the ducks from afar, and the anticipation of my first shot. Dovey, Jennings, and McClelland educated me about duck identification and the significance of it. Don’t ever shoot the wrong kind of duck; you can get in a lot of trouble. Watching flock maneuvers can be helpful for identification; Pintails, mallards, and wigeon form loose groups while teals and shovelers usually fly in close bunches. Expert duck hunters are amazing; they also identify the duck by listening to their wing beat and call. Did you know not all ducks quack? Ducks also whistle, grunt, or squeal. Although Dovey has been in the outdoors industry for decades we shared the moment of shooting our first ducks together. All we had to do was combine shotgun skills, and a little tenacity. A lot of questions were answered that day sitting in the costal marsh blind.

Jennings explained the importance of the healthy wetlands, Ducks Unlimited works year round to protect. Wetlands are the key to keeping the wildlife abundant and crucial for a healthy living environment for people. They help purify the water by removing nitrogen and phosphorus along with any toxic chemicals that may exist. Marshlands are home to more than 900 wildlife species and they also help control soil erosion and subduing floods.

There is nothing comparable to hunting with likeminded individuals and swapping stories for a few days. Ducks Unlimited managed to evoke the love for waterfowl and wetlands in many women media members that didn’t already have it. In 1937, a small group of sportsman started a group with a single mission, habitat conservation. To this day 12 million acres of the most critical habitat for waterfowl has been conserved and restored. Congratulations for becoming one of the most effective conservation groups in the world Ducks Unlimited and Happy 75^th anniversary!

Tommy Ellis enlightens us on how he maintains the traditional heritage of hunting while incorporating social media and technology to keep him connected. For him, this combination works harmoniously and helps him get the best out of both worlds.

The outdoors is about traditions and passing them along, I have believed this since I started hunting and fishing as a kid tagging along with my Grandpa fishing. He would drive down to the pond in his green and black Studebaker truck to show me how to catch bluegill. To find out what was happening in the area we went to the general store down the road to talk to local farmers. The original version of social media, you asked friends when you saw them. Today it is important to keep traditions alive in our more modern world where technology is such a big part of many peoples‘ lives. I am a tech lover, laptop, smartphone, things to gather and pass along information. This is how I happily combine the two.

Social media, including blogs, have become a great way to stay in touch, meet people and pass along our knowledge to others, especially kids that were born into technology. I find social media has some of the best sources of conversations, products and contacts you could ever find. I talk daily with people all over the world, mainly through Twitter, some as friends, others as outdoors folks or business. Social media has changed how many of us stay in touch.

As we share a successful hunt, good fishing trip or nice hike the responses you get will keep you excited. Friends from across the world add pictures or stories that make you want to get out and enjoy our world. It is their enthusiasm and friendship makes it easy to remain thrilled at what I do which I would never have if not for technology and social media

Peter Fiduccia, aka the Deer Doctor, is truly an expert in the field when it comes to hunting. In his first blog with Filson Life, Peter explains a vital aspect to having a successful hunt and how he stays warm in the field, and his eyes on the prize, even in the most extreme conditions.

The most important elements to a successful hunt include accurate shooting skills, cutting edge tactics, and maximizing time afield. Without the complete combination of these basic strategies, hunting success declines considerably.

For example, on a recent hunt in Newfoundland my guide and I were forced to sit for hours at the edge of a bog in a small group of Tuckamore trees waiting for a bull moose to get up from its bed. Occasionally, we could see his huge antlers as he moved his head. It motivated us to remain in the uncomfortable conditions of sitting on wet, soggy, ground in frigid, bone chilling winds and freezing rain and snow.

Several times my guide began to shiver badly as he was severely underdressed. I knew if the bull didn’t get up soon we could lose the opportunity to get a shot. Minutes later the bull stood up and went to the edge of the bog to drink. I placed the crosshairs on his chest, flipped the safety off, and with one clean well-placed shot the bull dropped in his tracks.

The point is to maximize opportunities to take big game; a hunter has to remain focused on the hunt and not on trying to stay warm. This is particularly crucial when the weather conditions are miserable and uncomfortable. In other words, to take full advantage of hunting prospects always go afield dressed to kill!

I have stalked all types of big game throughout North America over the last 47 years, many times in severe weather conditions. I learned early on that dressing properly was not only the key to taking game, or keeping warm – but it was also an important element to staying alive – especially when hunting at 7,000 to 10,000 feet.

My choice in hunting clothing has always been quality wool products. Most savvy big game hunters are ardent about having a variety of wool clothing in their closet. Wool clothing keeps the body warm and comfortable even in the most hostile weather conditions or bitterly cold temperatures (unlike materials made of polyester that don’t absorb heat from the body). No other material can absorb moisture or keep you as warm as quality wool. Wool is also one of the most durable materials made and will last for many years. It is also ultra quiet which helps hunters get close to game.

A few years ago, on a deer hunt in Saskatchewan, I sat for eight hours each day in a deer blind in temperatures that never climbed above minus 35 degrees! I realized if I was going to get a chance at a Boone and Crockett buck, I had to stay ultra warm in order to maximize my hunting time. Luckily, I was dressed for the extreme conditions.

Each morning I put on my Merino Wool Socks, top and bottom long johns, and a Mackinaw Bib to help keep both my chest and kidneys warm. I also wore an Alaskan Guide shirt and with a heavyweight Double Mackinaw Cruiser jacket. I covered my head (the most crucial body part to keep warm) in a Double Mackinaw Cap and wore Merino Wool Gloves.

This combo of wool clothing protected me from the extreme frigid temperatures and winds that constantly blasted in from the north. On the last hour of legal daylight on the last day of the hunt, I shot a 16-point buck that green scored 207” and netted 198 6/8” Boone and Crockett. Without being able to stay warm on stand, the odds of me remaining afield to see a trophy class buck would have been slim to none! Take my word for it, dressing to kill puts meat in the freezer and trophies on the wall!

Brian is a native of Michigan and has lived in Kentucky for over 16 years. He is an avid hunter, angler, and shooter. He has recently become quite the outdoor blogger and has inspired us to get out, explore and learn something new every day. Today he helps us capture our proudest moments out on the hunt through the lens.

Part of enjoying the outdoors is taking photos to preserve our memories and share them with others. As hunters and anglers, we like to take photos of our game and fish. Here are some simple tips to help you get the most out of your “trophy” pictures.

1. Fill The Frame

It’s important to fill the frame with the subject. Get in close and eliminate distracting objects and backgrounds. Make the hunter or angler and their game or fish the primary focus of the photo. It’s okay to take pictures at various distances, but make sure to get those close-in shots. It’s no fun to have someone take your picture with that nice buck only to find out they stood so far away that you end up as a small part of the photo.

2. Use The Flash

Many of us don’t think to use flash outside. Bright, sunny days provide lots of light, but they can also cause harsh shadows, especially in the woods. If the subject’s face or the animal seems dark, take some shots with the flash to eliminate shadows and brighten the scene. Most sportsmen wear hats and those can cast shadows on the face. The flash can remove those shadows and show detail. Try experimenting with the flash and compare results.

Photo with flash

Photo without flash

3. Check The Focus

Even with today’s auto focus cameras, sharp focus is not guaranteed. Take a moment and make sure the camera has properly focused on your subject and not something else in the scene. Bad focus will ruin a photo even when everything else is right. If you have a dSLR camera and are having trouble getting proper focus, switch to manual focus to get what you want.

4. Change It Up

Another habit we have is taking all of our shots from the same position or angle. Don’t be afraid to move around and take pictures from various angles. Don’t take all the shots standing up if your subject is kneeling. Get down to eye level where you will gain a different perspective. If possible, have your subject move and get different elements in the scene.

These are basic things that can greatly improve your outdoor pictures and give you shots that you can cherish for a lifetime.