Wayward Outdoors

The dictionary defines wayward as one’s stubborn pursuit of something opposite of what is expected. Wayward Outdoors was formed with one goal in mind, document the experiences of the everyday outdoorsman. No outfitters, no guides, and no private leases. All of which have become the expectation. We will capture all the work and dedication that goes into doing it all on your own. This is our pursuit and we will share the journey with you every step of the way.

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Hunters Kloak Review

By: Robert James

  Hunters Kloak is a new product that’s just hit the market. It’s a device that accepts different scent cartridges and emits the scent into the air to be used as either a scent attractant or as a cover scent. Whitetail deer are very curious animals by nature, and this product could certainly help someone out trying to harvest a doe or a young buck by luring them in. By using the acorn, sugar beet, or apple cartridges you can lure them in to find food. I find this very helpful to someone that hunts public land and is unable to bait. In the event that you want a cover scent then I would recommend earth scent.

The Hunters Kloak mist system is easy to set up and use. It takes approximately 4.5 hours to fully charge the battery. Then you simply open the bottom door, insert the cartridge of your choice, close the door and hold down the power button until all the lights light up. Next just press the power button multiple times to cycle through the mist interval settings. You have the options of it misting every 3 seconds, 6 seconds, 9 seconds, or 30 seconds. If you run the mist system a 3 second interval then the battery will last approximately 10 hours. At 30 seconds the mist system will last 45 hours. As the mist system is running you can check the status of your battery by pressing and releasing the power button. If all 4 lights light up then it’s at or close to 100%. If only 1 light lit up then you’re down to 25%. Once your hunt is over, to turn it off you simply press the power button and hold it down until the lights all go off.

After using this product for the past month, it’s hard to determine just how effective it is. I still hunt with the wind, I clean all my cloths and bath with Xout Odor, and I then used this as a cover scent by hanging it in the tree with me. I will say that I haven’t been busted all season. However, I can’t say as to just how far the scent will travel before it dissipates. If you bait with apple flavored corn then this could be a good tool to make the deer think that it has been resupplied. Also if you’re trying to harvest a bear on public land this could likely attract them if they get close enough to smell it. If you’re interested in trying the Hunters Kloak mist system on your next hunt then visit your local Walmart to purchase your own. If you would like to find out more about the Hunters Kloak mist system then feel free to click on the hyperlink here.

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Whitetail Report 10/13/2017

By: Robert P. James

Overview

Just as I mentioned in the previous report, we would experience a short lived cold front on the 11th and it turned out to be very successful for many hunters across the Midwest and into Arkansas. The long range forecast doesn’t look to favorable for deer hunting over the next few weeks. Arkansas will warm back up to a high temperature of 91 degrees on October 14th and a cold front will push through on the 15th dropping our high temperature back down to 72 for the day. Temperatures from there on will gradually rise and be stagnant as far as they have it predicted currently, with a few chances of rain along the way. As the 15th will be the last major drop until the last week of October it would be wise to hunt that day if you have a mature buck on any kind of pattern as the pre rut will begin soon and mature bucks will begin to lock down with those first available doe’s.

Arkansas

 The 15th of October is the last good cold front that Arkansas will see until we get down to the last week of October. Hunters all over the state have experienced a surge of buck activity with this past cold front as many bucks have begun making scraps and fresh rubs along their travel routes. Much of the state can expect to see small amounts of rain on Sunday morning, followed by a drop in temperatures. The high temperature on Sunday will be 69 and a low of 45 making it an excellent opportunity to catch deer up feeding earlier than normal. Followed by this we can expect to see a sharp rise in barometric pressure following the front making Monday morning a primetime to be in the stand as many mature bucks will likely be on their feet with the low temperatures and high barometric pressure.

 www.wunderground.com is one of the best weather sites to follow as they show you a detailed forecast of the predicted temps and barometric pressure. I also use it to look back at historical data on when I receive day time photos of my bucks that I’m trying to harvest. Below is a sample of the 10 day forecast for the upcoming week.

Cody Linker was able to arrow this Arkansas brute at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday morning. The high pressure clearly kept this stud up on his feet just long enough for Cody to fill a tag!

kansas

Matt Winters, from Kansas Premier Outfitters, reported that they’ve only been hunting evenings but conditions have improved in the past week. Kansas will experience yet another major cold front on Sunday October 15th dropping the highs down to 62 and lows to 38. This drop in temperature, and the high pressure that will set in midday Sunday should make for an excellent opportunity to harvest that trophy whitetail that you’ve been after all season!

  Heath Samuels was able to arrow this Kansas giant on a farm they have access to. They credited the success to being able to hunt as a cold front pushed across their area and made deer get up on their feet just early enough to give Heath a shot. Don’t be fooled though, both of these guys put a lot of time and effort into every hunt. Any client they’ve had will certainly be a testament to just how hard they work to make each hunter successful in the field!

Matt Winters made it out Tuesday evening as another cold front passed through Kansas, dropping temperatures down to a high of 43. This set the stage as Matt went in simply trying to get eyes on a buck he’s had on game cam and ended up seeing the buck of his dreams as this double main beam monster came strolling by shortly before sunset! Never underestimate what these guys can do! They’ve had an unbelievable season!

Illinois

Houston Gregory, Illinois Pro Staff member for Wayward Outdoors, has reported that the warm temperatures have certainly made things tough! The past few days he has seen a few bucks up on their feet shortly before dark in the cut corn fields, but no shooters. The predicted storms on Sunday will likely keep them out of the tree as water and camera equipment just don’t mix. But if you can get Monday off then the drop in temperatures and high pressure setting in could make Monday the day that you just simply can’t miss! They’re expecting a high temp of 64 and low of 43.

 Follow along as another epic season unfolds here at Wayward Outdoors. You can keep up through Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Thanks for reading and if you enjoyed this article be sure to give us a like and follow as we update the Whitetail report weekly to bi-weekly based on weather patterns and deer movement. Good luck this season and be safe!

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Whitetail Report 10/05/2017

By: Robert P. James

Overview

The first week of October appeared to be a bust for the majority of hunters. There were certainly a few deer killed with it being the season opener for Illinois and the second week for Arkansan’s to climb a tree. The second week of October appears to be more promising, at least for a day. It’s certainly debatable as to whether or not it’s worth taking a day of vacation this early in the season or not, but if you’re seeing a trend with a buck on the Northeast winds as cold fronts move through then Oct. 11th  just might be your day! A cold front will be pushing across the Midwest on Oct. 10th through the 12th providing a high temperature in the mid to low 60’s and a low in the low 40’s. This will be a considerable drop in temperature for this early in the year, so it may be worth looking at. Temperatures will slowly rise again and the long range forecast is expecting another push around October 18th, although it doesn’t look to be as significant as the upcoming drop on the 11th.

  Arkansas

  The warm temperatures have kept many hunters out of the woods if they are targeting a mature buck. Some however, have braved the blistering hot weather and mosquitos for a chance at old sad daddy. Arkansas is will see the cold front I just mentioned on October 11th. Unfortunately it’ll just drop temps to the low 70’s for us and a low in the mid 40’s. Just prior to its arrival we’ll experience high temperatures nearing 90 degrees so it could be just enough to catch a mature buck coming out early in the evening to begin feeding.

Zane Ludwick, Arkansas Pro Staff member for Wayward Outdoors, has this nice 8 point on camera. Just like many others are experiencing, he’s only out at night right now.

On Sunday October 1st, despite warm weather, 9 year old Bryar Cullum was able to stick an arrow in this nice buck with his Barnett crossbow! The buck appeared just after 7 p.m. at 20 yards and needless to say, his father Darrin was very proud!

kansas

Matt Winters, from Kansas Premier Outfitters, reported that they’ve only been hunting evenings but conditions have improved in the past week. They’ve began seeing bucks enter the fields anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour before dark. The next cold front they will be expecting will arrive on Oct. 10th and will provide high temperatures in the low 60’s and a low in the low 40’s. As farmers are in full swing of harvesting, fresh cut corn fields will provide ample food and reduce the amount of cover available for those Kansas giants that we’re all after!

Here are a few pics of some of the deer that Matt has on the hit list this season.

Illinois

Houston Gregory, Illinois Pro Staff member for Wayward Outdoors, has hunted hard the past week as his season opened up on October 1st. He decided to not chase “Too Tall” as he felt the warm weather would severely reduce his chances of getting a chance at this trophy buck. Instead he has spent his time on a new property, hunting a pinch point with a good acorn flat and water nearby. He saw a good 100” buck on an evening sit, but nothing else so far. The next cold front will affect them on Oct. 11th as they’ll experience a high in the mid 60’s and lows in the low 40’s.

In case you missed the last report, below is a picture of Houston’s buck he nicknamed “TooTall”.

Follow along as another epic season unfolds here at Wayward Outdoors. You can keep up through Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Thanks for reading and if you enjoyed this article be sure to give us a like and follow as we update the Whitetail report weekly to bi-weekly based on weather patterns and deer movement. Good luck this season and be safe!

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Whitetail Report   09/25/2017

By: Robert P. James

Another summer has passed us by and the leaves have begun to change color. As the sap flows from the tree tops, back into the roots, temperatures drop, days get shorter and hunters start climbing into their stands waiting for that one opportunity at a buck of a lifetime.

  Arkansas

 I was late getting cameras up this year, but I managed to get them out at the end of August.  Luckily I found a nice white oak flat where a few acorns had begun to fall and captured a picture of this nice up and comer strolling through.  

  Hopefully when I get back to check my camera I’ll have a better buck in the area but either way, come November, you just never know what is going to come through a good pinch point like this!

 I recently scouted a new piece of public property and shed hunted it last spring with my dog Sonny. We didn’t find any sheds but I found the sign I needed, to convince myself that I had to at least run cameras in that area to see what was hiding behind the curtains. After my camera was up for 2 weeks, I checked it to find this incredible public land double main beam buck on it.

Archery season opened up on September 23rd, but temperatures got as high as 92 in much of the river valley, making hunting difficult for many Arkansas hunters. On the 28th, Arkansas will experience our first cold front of the season with an 11 degree drop in temperatures making the high 81 and the low on Thursday night in the mid 50’s. I for one will be in the stand and hoping to get a glimpse of this double main beam monster that I’ve been drooling over. The dry weather and hot temperatures that we have experienced lately could certainly provide a good opportunity to hunt a good water hole on an afternoon hunt. There’s an abundance of White Oak acorns now, so that will be a primary food source for many deer, as the foliage they browse on during June and July is too tough to eat for the most part. There are also a number of fruits that have become ripe in the past week such as Persimmon and muscadine which could also be very attractive to deer on the way to their favorite acorn flat in the evening.

Kansas

This year Matt Winters, a well-known and respected guide for Kansas Premier Outfitters, has agreed to give me updates throughout the season for Kansas. He noted that the combinations of hot temperatures and late harvest have made things difficult for hunters lately. There are still a few remaining bean fields that have edible foliage but overall as corn fields have begun to be harvested they are seeing most deer begin to transition to feeding on the corn left behind from the combines.  He also stated that early in the season like this they only hunt evenings due to the small likely hood that one could even beat a mature buck back to his bedding area before daylight. The same cold front that we will see the results of on the 28th will be impacting them on the 26th. The 27th will be the first dry day they expect to see after the front passes, so he’ll be headed to the stand to hunt a 6 year old deer that he has been following all summer.   

Illinois

Houston Gregory, Illinois Pro Staff member for Wayward Outdoors, is patiently waiting as his archery season doesn’t open up until October 1st. Fortunately for him, this cold front that is being ushered across Kansas as you read this will arrive in Illinois on September 30th, providing a low of 47 degrees to lead them into opening day and a high of 77 degrees on the season opener. Houston has a buck that he’s followed for the past couple of seasons known as “Too Tall”. This deer has absolutely blown up this season as you can see from this trail cam picture Houston received awhile back.

  The hot temperatures lately has kept Houston and Shane out of the woods, primarily to keep their scent out and in turn have less of an impact on his hit list buck “Too Tall”. Hopefully, before long you’ll be watching “Too Tall” as he takes his final steps to the base of a tree with Houston and Shane awaiting his arrival.

Follow along as another epic season unfolds here at Wayward Outdoors. You can keep up through Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Thanks for reading and if you enjoyed this article be sure to give us a like and follow as we update the Whitetail report weekly to bi-weekly based on weather patterns and deer movement. Good luck this season and be safe!

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Top 4 Trail Camera Setups

Written by: Robert James

    Another year has passed. After a very successful season for our team in Season 6, it makes it hard to believe that Season 7 could be much better for team members. Throughout Season 6 we were able to harvest 7 mature bucks with 4 of them captured on film. Our main goal will be to close that gap this year and capture more of them on film. I had a pleasant surprise when I pulled a camera down the other day that I had left up all summer. I had a few small bucks on camera that will be good up and comers in the future.

    There are plenty of does in that area, so I know that I’ll have some good rut activity when the time comes. With season approaching fast, I went ahead and set out 6 trail cameras in locations where I felt I could get a decent inventory of my public land locations that I’m interested in hunting. Some locations I walked this past spring, finding some good sign that there are mature deer in the area. But, 2 of these locations are brand new. I located these spots last fall but only drove by and never had the time to go walk and investigate. Although I didn’t see any sign of giant bucks in those areas, there are definitely good bucks nearby. In this article, I want to give you my Top 4 tail camera location setups.

#1  Pinch Points between bed and food

    This type of location seems like a no-brainer, but can often times be difficult to narrow down. In the Midwest it’s a little simpler if you can view the bucks in a bean field and know what direction they came from, but in the south this can be a little tricky. In big timber areas I try to find old rub lines and follow them to see where they are headed. Often times they’ll lead you to either a good bedding area or to a food or water hole. If they lead to food or water you know that the bed for this buck is back the other direction, making this a trail to be interested in.

    Studies completed by QDMA have determined that mature deer rarely travel far from their beds during the early season before dark. In the morning it’s even worse due to them generally returning to their bedding area at least 1 hour before daylight. So your best bet for killing your target buck will be in the evening right before a good cold front moves through. I try to get close to the bedding area where I can set a stand and safely get in without bumping him. If he shows up on my camera too late, I know that I will have to move closer or wait until early November. Often times there may be multiple trails in this general area with many different rub lines coming together if it’s a true pinch point. In this case, I focus on an area where multiple trails cross so that I can determine which trail my target deer is using the most.

#2  Food

    This one should be no surprise, but can often be difficult to narrow down the perfect location for a camera with multiple trails leading out in a field. I generally find that on row crop fields there will be 1 corner that sees the majority of the traffic. Many times the corners of the field also generate a pinch point by being a short distance to a river, drainage, or another field. If there is much buck traffic through there, you can count on finding fresh tracks in the mud. In big timber areas I look for a good White Oak stand. I know that come the end of September here in Arkansas the White Oaks will be raining acorns that will immediately become a preferred source of nutrition for Whitetails. I generally locate a dim trail passing by and have my camera covering that as well as the White Oaks that I know have acorns to drop. Not all trees will produce the same so be sure to observe the tree tops with binoculars to find one with a large number of acorns.

#3  Water

    During the late Summer months and leading into Fall, water holes can be dynamite! Often times these are the driest months out of the year making good water holes hard to find. Water holes offer hunters a great opportunity to get a good inventory of what deer are in the area and may potentially stay until the season starts.   Hanging cameras near row crop fields can be a tough as they are generally in river bottoms, making locating the main water source difficult. In big timber up near the ridge tops a good wildlife pond or even better a natural spring can pay big dividends to the whitetail hunter. I always face my camera to the pond so that even if they don’t come to the specific spots the camera is pointing, they will hopefully trigger my camera and I’ll still get a picture of them even if it’s from a distance.

#4  Scrapes

    There’s no doubt that scrapes are excellent locations to get an inventory of the bucks in your area during the rut, but did you know that deer visit them year round? Locating a community scrape is helpful as you will see bucks passing by periodically throughout the year to hit the licking branch or scrape. This is a great way to determine what bucks are still in your area for the upcoming season.

    If you enjoyed this article then please follow us on our social media pages, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. And be sure to check back as I’ll begin my Whitetail report in mid-September once again. You can also view each of our episodes on Vimeo and our Website for free.

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Staying On Your Game After The Season

Written by: Houston Gregory

I have asked this question and have been asked by others. “What to do about staying on top of your game during the off season?” There are hundreds of answers to these questions, and for the most part there really isn’t a right or wrong answer. There are a few things though that I make sure are a priority for me, making sure you stay in tune with your bow, spend time shed hunting, and keep a good record of the deer population.

Stay Tuned

         Most people will talk about tuning their bows during the off season, but I like to make sure that I also stay in tune with my bow. One thing I like to do in is find local 3D bow shoots. These shoots are a great way to practice judging yardages without the use of a range finder. Everyone knows there isn’t always time to grab that range finder if the big boy comes in fast and you haven’t had time to range different objects. Shooting in the back yard with a buddy is great as well, We find ourselves playing games with our bows such as Horse or Pig like in basketball or playing tic-tac-toe. Doing things such as these, definitely help keep you focused on shooting your bow to its fullest potential.

Shed Season

        Now let’s talk about looking for sheds in the late winter/early spring time. This is in my opinion, is one of the best you can do to learn more about the deer in your area. With sign still on the ground from the previous season, you can learn more about your deer’s patterns along with determining which bucks survived the harsh winter. I have found that once the rut is over the bucks go back to using their more secluded trails, so when I head out to shed hunt I like to take a couple of trail cams with me. When I find a big shed, I will hang a camera up to watch that area until later in the year. This will help me determine if that particular buck is still using that area, in hopes to gather enough information to chase him during the early part of the upcoming season.

Record Keeping

           Finally, let’s discuss keeping a good record of what’s going on with your herd. Personally, I try to keep some form of journal as to what deer I found sheds of, and the location. When I find a younger buck’s sheds I like to come up with a name for him right away. This helps me figure out what deer it is if I get a picture of him that next season. Also, when you’re out and about scouting, try to record how many does you saw and the location. That will help you determine what your buck to doe ratio is and help you to know if you should harvest a doe or two or just let them walk for a year. There are plenty of properties that we hunt around here that have a higher population of does and some that do not. This has been determined by keeping records of the properties.

        While everyone has their own way to stay on top of things during the off season, these are just a few of my favorites. Everyone has their own way, and for most of us the season never really ends. Whether we are shooting, scouting, working food plots, or just updating our records, deer hunting is always on our minds. Remember not to neglect family time during this time of year. You don’t want your significant other giving you the evil eye when you want to head out. We hope you enjoy being a part of Wayward Outdoors as much as we enjoy you being a part of us. Until next time, keep looking for more episodes, stay safe, and god bless each and every one of you. 

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4 tips to improve your shed hunting abilities

Written by: Craig Wall

For the longest time, shed hunting to me seemed about as productive as chasing Bigfoot. I had seen photos and heard tales of people finding giant matched sets while out on a leisurely stroll, but never laid eyes on one myself. I had attempted to look for sheds on several occasions and had come up with exactly zero hunks of brown gold to show for it. Finally, a couple of years ago I changed up my tactics and have been able to start gathering a nice collection of antler. I am by no means a shed hunting expert but hopefully for those of you that struggle like I did, these tips will help put you on the fast track to your next great find.

Tip #1: Look Up

When I first began shed hunting, I meticulously dissected every inch of ground with my eyes and I slowly crept along in the woods. I mean I had never found a shed, I didn’t want to accidentally walk past one! What I found was that I ended up spending 2 hours looking for sheds and the amount of ground I covered was roughly the equivalent to a large area rug. Finally a friend of mine told me to look up, and start walking. So I started scanning the ground roughly 10 – 15 yards ahead of me while keeping a nice steady pace. This way I am covering a ton more ground with my eyes which increases my chances of finding a recently dropped shed.

Tip #2: Practice

This sounds odd when you are talking about shed hunting, but one thing I realized when I finally found my first shed was that I had been looking for the wrong thing. I was searching for a single tine or tiny piece of antler barely sticking out of the leaves. For the most part that’s not the case, a lot of the antlers I find are just sitting there uncovered and easy to spot once your eyes know what they are looking for. In order to help train your eyes, take a couple of sheds out into the woods (if you’re like I was you will probably have to swallow your pride and ask a friend if you can borrow a couple) and give yourself some blind retrieves. Turn your back and chuck the antler behind you. You should know the general area where you threw it, but your eyes will have to do some searching to pick it out among the brush. Do this a few times in a variety of environments (short glass, leaves, brush piles etc.), just try not to lose your buddy’s hard earned antlers.

Tip #3: Cover Ground

There is really only one key here. Be prepared to wear out some boot leather. There is no better way to increase your chances of finding sheds than to cover as much ground as possible. Pack a bag with some water and snacks and plan on spending some time hiking your favorite hunting spots. One of the best parts about shed hunting is that it can be enjoyed by everybody in the family even if they don’t like hunting. Get the wife, the kids, the family pet and go on a hike. No telling what other treasures you might stumble across, just be prepared for your wife and kids to probably end up finding more sheds then you and to hear comments such as, “So what’s so hard about this shed hunting thing?”

Tip #4: Cover the RIGHT Ground

When I first started trying to get buddies together to go shed hunting, we covered an area like a fine tooth comb. Working each section in a grid pattern as if we were searching for a trophy buck after losing the blood trail. We eventually started each picking a deer trail and walking it out. I have actually found a majority of my sheds this way, especially in areas where there is mildly dense brush. My theory is that the low hanging limbs and saplings give lots of obstacles for a buck to walk through, which means a lot more things to snag a loose antler and knock it to the ground. Another favorite spot of mine to search is pine thickets or any other well known bedding areas. Bucks tend to spend a lot of hours in their bedding area this time of year which means a lot of time spent in one place where their antlers could fall. Of course I have read all the articles about fence rows and creek crossings, but in all honesty I have never found a single antler in any of these shed hunting “hot spots”. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t check them out, but since these type of locations can usually be searched rather quickly, I tend to prefer saving them for last after I’ve covered some of my more desirable locations.

               The most important thing though is to have fun. Enjoy being in the outdoors, and don’t forget to take these opportunities to do some scouting for next year. You will be traveling into some locations you most likely can’t step foot in during the season, and a lot of the sign from this past year is still fresh on the ground. So from one shed hunting junkie to another, I hope these tips help you out in some way and have a fun and safe shed season.

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Our newest Pro Staff members try to get their first buck down on video in their home state of Illinois

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Shed Hunting Dog Training Tips

Written by: Robert James

Step 1: Obedience

I’m not a professional dog trainer, nor do I claim to be. But obedience is a very important step in order to begin any type of training. I personally took my dog “Sonny” to a trainer for both obedience and retriever training. While there he also whistle trained him. I highly recommend whistle training any hunting dog, as it makes it much easier to give commands in the field.

Step 2: Play Time

If possible start them out young. Get a shed antler and tease them with it. If your dog has the drive to play fetch or retrieve then there’s a good chance they have the potential to make a good shed dog. A young dog will have a shorter attention span so you may have to do multiple sessions and spread them out. Be sure to do this in an area where they can easily see where the antler has landed.

This process is repetitive as I always start out with this to help get them excited about antlers. As you get further into the program, I recommend using a product by Dokken’s called “Rack Wax”. You can find this product at Cabela’s or Gun Dog Supply without a problem. This is a wax that has been combined with the scent of the glands located at the base of the antlers to help your dog recognize the smell when he comes across fresh deer sheds in the woods. Start out by putting a lot on it in the beginning and then reduce down to using very little later on.

During this stage it is also very important that you establish a specific command for finding antlers and be consistent. For my dog I use the command “Dead” when I have him looking for a dead bird and “Search” when looking for deer antlers. Each time that you throw the deer antler and have you dog retrieve it use the command word so they get used to hearing it and make the connection.

Step 3: Search

The next step is to continue Step 2, but now we’re going to throw the shed into waist high grass. This will teach the dog to use their nose. Just as in retriever training begin with singles and then go to doubles or triples as they get better. Be sure to put Rack Wax on it though so that they can find the antler easier. Always praise them when they do good and every once in a while just tease them with it and give them an easy throw to keep them interested and having fun.

Step 4: Eye Sight

In this stage we will train our dog to use their eyes. You can buy some foam board from your local arts and crafts store and cut out some silhouettes of antlers. Make different shapes and make them fairly large. You’ll need some good size wire to stick up in the foam antler and use this to stick it in the ground so that the silhouette will stand up. I recommend to apply Rack Wax here as well and spread out your sheds over a fairly large area to help make it realistic. Try to use an area with short grass or a good mix of short to shin high grass. It’s important that your dog can see the silhouettes so that he learns to go look at things that look like and antler to determine if that is what it is. When doing this stage you’ll need to have your dog at heel while you’re out away from the sheds a good distance. When you get to where he can see the silhouette, give your command so that he knows to start looking. Your dog should find them on their own and bring them to you. Then give your command again and repeat the process until all sheds have been retrieved.

Step 5: The Real Deal

In the final step, make it as realistic as possible. Hide the sheds over a broad area with different types of habitat. Make sure that you know where each one is, I recommend hanging some flagging near them up high or mark them on your phone. Approach and give the command just as in Step 4 but this time no silhouettes will be used. I still use Rack Wax, but I just put a little on the base. Also try to keep your scent off the antlers as much as possible. Continue this whole program until your dog has shown to be a shed hunting pro.

Each year I go back through these steps to keep my dog sharp, and I do it extensively for about a month prior to going on a shed hunt. When keeping your dog at the house, don’t just let them lay around and chew on deer antlers. Everyone thinks that will make them want them, but realistically it just makes them not as excited to see one. It should be a special thing to get to play with deer sheds and this will make your dog have much more drive to find them. I hope this helps and for any questions feel free to email or send us a message on any of our social media platforms.

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Whitetail Report - 12/05/2016

Written by: Robert James

It’s early December and here in Arkansas we’ve reached the tail end of the rut. Many Arkansas hunters have had an amazing year. Despite the unseasonably warm temperatures, many hunters have been able to capitalize on the few cold fronts that we experienced and harvest a trophy buck in their areas of the state. If you’re like me and haven’t been able to seal the deal just yet, then don’t give up. Right now we’re experiencing the secondary rut. If you’re in an area that has a large doe population in comparison to the number of bucks then it is very likely that some of your does didn’t get breed. Does will go into estrus for a few days and when they’re not breed they go back out and come back into heat 28 days later. This is often referred to as the secondary rut or pickup breeding. Find the does and you’ll find the bucks. Being late in the season and with the major cold front that we will experience towards the end of the week, your best bet to catch a cruising buck will be on a major food source on an evening hunt. Be sure to brace yourself, your younger bucks are already spent and if you catch a buck chasing a doe it will likely be 3.5 years or older. So get back out and don’t give up, there’s still plenty of time to harvest that trophy of a lifetime, and if nothing else that big buck that you lost track of in August might just show back up as they fall back into their bachelor groups before long.

On Thursday, December 1st Pro Staff member Devin Russell decided to hop in the stand the evening before a good cold front was expected to arrive. I happened to be off work so I went along and planned to film his hunt. We climbed in the tree about 2:15pm and were surprised to see that there were 2 scrapes freshly cleaned out. Just before 4:00pm I got sick to my stomach and had to bail for a few minutes. I climbed down and ran to a gas station nearby and relieved myself. By the time I got back Devin had already had a spike nearby his stand. This stand site was on private property in an Urban Zone and Devin had made sure to keep bait out to help hold his doe group in his area. About 4:45pm a red fox slipped by Devin as he just missed it by inches. Finally at last light he could see a few of his does starting to come in towards his bait pile. Next thing he knew, the big 8 was slowly working his way to the scrape just 15 yards from his stand. Devin was able to get the camera recording and waited patiently as the big 8 stepped into his shooting lane and he ended his chase.  The deer he had waited all season for, had 1000’s of game cam pics of, and the best buck on that property had finally showed with just minutes before shooting light would come to an end. This incredible Arkansas main frame 8 point scored an impressive 129 6/8”, with even more impressive 21 4/8” main beams!

So find those fresh scrapes and hop in the stand overlooking a good food source and maybe lady luck will be on your side! Happy Hunting!

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Whitetail Report - 11/14/2016

Written by: Robert James

Arkansas

The week of November 5th – 12th turned out to be a productive week for many hunters in the Natural State. A good cold front arrived on November 11th which ushered in a good drop in temperatures just in time for the rifle season opener. Pro Staff member Zane Ludwick took advantage of this cold front and jumped into his stand on the morning of November 12th. He stated that they experienced good deer movement from the time they climbed up the tree, until the time they stuck an arrow in this nice 10 point. The hunt was captured on film and you’ll be able to view it on our website in the next couple of weeks.

On November 7th my friend Jeremiah Diffee was able to harvest a beautiful public land whitetail with archery equipment. On his first morning in the stand he had a shooter walk by and he released an arrow. He said he hit high so he gave it a little time before he got down and began trailing it. His arrow didn’t have any blood, but he had a little blood on the ground to follow. Him and Jimmy Lindsey tracked the deer until midnight and then resumed at first light the next morning until noon. They were unable to continue following the trail so he climbed back in the tree for an afternoon hunt.

Deer have an area that is every bow hunter’s nemesis known as “No Man’s Lands”. This is an area just below the backbone and above the vitals where all your arrow hits is muscle. The muscle is known as the back strap. Most of the time, the animal will live without any life threatening effects.

On Jerimiah’s afternoon hunt he was sitting in the stand when a doe came in feeding on acorns. Right behind her was this nice 8 point. This time he settled his pin and placed a perfect shot. The deer had nearly 6” bases and was aged at 3 ½ years old!

On November 8th my friend Jimmy Lindsey placed a perfect shot on this big Arkansas public land 7 point. The deer was aged at 5 ½ years old. The evening before he had 5 bucks pass by his stand including a young 120” 10 point and a nice young 8 point. At that point he could tell that bucks were starting to cruise as he had placed his stand in a good travel corridor where multiple trails lead down into 1 drainage.

Kansas

Devin and myself hunted everyday in Kansas from November 5th – 12th. We started things off with a bang after I harvested a 4 ½ year old 11 point on my first morning sit. As the week progressed the deer movement seemed to dwindle down. The stagnant temps made deer movement minimal but fortunately towards the end of the week we saw an increase in movement as bucks began entering into the seeking and chasing phase. After a few slow days we finally laid eyes on the buck we had been chasing at noon on November 12th. We now know where he is staying, but of course it would be on another property that we can’t hunt. Hopefully when Zane shows up this next weekend he’ll make the mistake of coming back over to our farm to check does.

That evening Devin was able to connect on this nice 8 point instead of eating tag soup! Shortly after we had 2 more nice bucks cruise by our stand. One of which I’ve nicknamed Unicorn for the stray point that protrudes out from his base and towards the middle of his head. Hopefully this 2 ½ year old will make it through the year and provide us with an opportunity next season! Devin shot a really nice buck on the morning of November 9th. Unfortunately, his arrow cut down a small oak sapling and prevented his arrow from getting any penetration. This hunt was captured on film and you’ll be able to watch it all unfold in the coming weeks!

On November 18th a cold front will arrive in Kansas providing the coldest temperatures that the state has seen all year on November 19th! A high of 49 and a low of 27 degrees should make for some excellent sits in the stand for the weekend warriors! I expect the weekend of the 18th to be the best days of the rut as they are just starting to cruise and then you’ll have the cold temperatures forcing the does to get up and feed. If you can focus in on a good travel corridor near doe bedding areas and a good food source then I believe you’ll be in for an amazing day in the stand on November 19th.

You can view all of our episodes online at www.waywardoutdoors.com and follow us on social media at www.facebook.com/waywardoutdoors www.twitter.com/waywardoutdoors www.instagram.com/waywardoutdoors

Good Luck to everyone and Happy Hunting!

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Whitetail Report 11/08/2016

Written by: Robert James

The 2016 deer season has had some ups and downs to say the least for the Midwest and South. We experienced a few good cold fronts early on that some were able to capitalize on and harvest the deer they were after. Here lately has been a different story. The stagnant temperatures have certainly made catching these mature bucks up on their feet more difficult. Unfortunately, the 15 day outlook is calling for more of the same with a few minor drops, but nothing significant.

Luckily for us the rut is upon us and regardless of the temps, when the time is right the mature deer will be in search of a hot doe. Over the past few days in Kansas we have experienced great mornings and slow evenings. Now is the time to think back on the locations that you saw does come into heat last year at this time. Then get your set hung in these spots, sit back, and relax while they drag your trophy whitetail right into your lap.

When I was hunting up here a month ago it was completely the opposite for the field that my stand was overlooking. After seeing a good buck at last light, I chose to go scout the area that he came from the next day. We found some good rubs and a location that brought multiple trails compressed to one 10 x 10 yard area. So I hung a game cam and headed back home. The issue with hunting this location has always been access. I’ve seen good sign in there over the past years but the probability of bumping the deer was too high to even attempt. While waiting at home for the time to get right I scoured over maps and tried to determine my best option for getting to the stand if I had pictures of a shooter when I returned. Finally I made a few phone calls and set things in motion.

The first day in Kansas we arrived right at dark. I planned on checking a few cameras regardless, but we began talking with a landowner and finally I decided to just hold off. The next day we drove around and glassed for deer first thing. After not seeing much from the road we checked cameras and began preparing for an afternoon hunt. We made a few adjustments to my back up set, and then traveled in by boat to access a hard to reach area. By utilizing this entrance route it kept our scent in a very confined space and reduced the amount of area that we would impact on our entrance and exit. After hanging the set and watching our empty cut corn field until dark, we climbed down and headed back.

On the morning of November 6th we had a young buck come by at 15 yards, clean out a scrape and hit a licking limb before moving on. About 30 minutes later we had 6 deer make their way around the end of the point, through the field and back into where we were sitting. 4 of them entered the tree line 60 yards down and a doe and button buck entered at 20 yards from our set. Awhile later we saw a doe and yearling high tail it back across the field. Had she winded us somehow? At this point we were discussing the wind direction and how it really wasn’t all that good for that location and we began plotting on where to move the set to once we took it down. Then, all of sudden I heard footsteps in the leaves behind me. As I turned around I noticed it was the doe and button buck again. Only this time I could see another deer behind them with antlers. Sure enough, the same buck we had on game cam only 5 days prior was on track to give us a chance.

Below you can see the game cam pic of the buck I was able to harvest.

With the doe and button buck at 15 yards, we had to wait to get situated for the shot. The buck hit a licking limb and then began strolling down the trail where he would meet his demise. As he came into my shooting lane I slowly turned around to prepare for the shot. In the process he spooked off something the doe did and jumped over about 3 feet. I immediately came to full draw, settled my pin as he stood still, and sent a 100 grain G5 Havoc broad head right through his pump house! The deer made it about 80 yards before collapsing on the edge of the cut corn field. Devin and I couldn’t have been more pumped!

Last season I harvested this 159” deer on my first morning sit in the stand!

Now this season we got it done on the first morning sit on an awesome 157 2/8” brute. I felt that the deer was 3.5 by looking at the game cam picture. However, after seeing him on the hoof I determined he was 4.5 at least.

Good Luck and Happy Hunting!

[waywardoutdoors]

Whitetail Report - 11/04/2016

Written by: Robert James

We’ve finally made it! November has arrived, but we all find ourselves asking the same question. Where is the Cold weather? Despite popular belief, the timing of the rut occurs very near the same time each year, regardless of the temperature outside. Multiple states have completed fetal surveys where they harvest a number of does from year to year and age the fetus that is found in the mother’s womb. This tells them when the peak rut occurred based off the most popular age of the fetus’.

Truth be told, your best time of the year to hunt is probably during the pre-rut. In October bucks transition from their summer feeding patterns to their winter pattern. This is thought to be one of the best times to harvest a mature buck, if you have his pattern figured out. At the end of October the pre-rut begins. Bucks are ready to breed and does just aren’t coming into heat yet. Regardless of how ready the does are, you will see many bucks nudging does and checking them to see if they’re ready. In the Midwest and down into west central Arkansas we have reached the Pre-Lock phase. I refer to it as a sub-phase of the pre-rut. This is when your mature bucks have found the first doe in their core area that will come in and they essentially go in to lock-down. That buck will stay with that doe until she is finally in heat and ready to breed. While hunting this weekend, a 4 ½ year old 8 point that I nearly killed on October 30th was locked down with a doe on October 31st. Once they breed in a few more days then hopefully we’ll get the weather we need to get deer up on their feet during the daylight. If you think the buck you’re after has entered that pre-lock phase then I would recommend hunting a good food source in the evenings and hopefully that doe will bring your trophy in on a string.

For the Midwest and down into Arkansas we will be experiencing another small cold front arriving on Thursday. It will arrive in Kansas Wednesday night and Northern Arkansas Thursday evening. We’ll experience a decent drop in temperature but then it’ll slowly warm up over the following days. This front is enough to get our night time temps down into the 40’s though so you can expect to see an increased amount of deer movement in the mornings and evenings with peak rut quickly arriving. Peak rut in our area is typically November 10th – 15th. Our next predicted cold front will be here on November 8th and then we’ll have steady temperatures with highs in the upper 60’s and lows in the upper 40’s  for the Midwest. The long range forecast is predicting another front to arrive November 15th that could drop temps down into the 30’s at night.

With the rut in full swing, take advantage of these cold fronts and use your vacation to capitalize on increased buck movement as they begin to cruise in search of a hot doe. As always, be sure to play the wind and start thinking about good transitions spots for you to catch bucks cruising from one doe bedding area to the next. Also, now is a good time to set your game cameras up on scrapes and get an inventory of what is roaming around in your area.

Good Luck and Happy Hunting!

[waywardoutdoors]

Make your own wild game summer sausage

Written by: Craig Wall

November has arrived and while some of us have already started stashing away perfectly prepared rations of wild game, the end game for most hunters is to have a freezer full of meat come season’s end. The question then becomes, what to do with all that delicious protein. Here is a great recipe for wild game summer sausage that results in a great snack that has the perfect balance of spice and smoke.

Ingredients

- 12 lbs wild game meat (coarsely ground)

- 3 lbs bacon cut into 1″ pieces

- 2 cups chopped jalapenos

- 1 packet Hi Mountain seasoning

- 1 packet Hi Mountain cure

1.       Combine wild game, bacon, seasoning and cure in a large container. Mix well until seasoning and cure are evenly distributed and dissolved.

Note: you can adjust the amount of meat and seasoning according to how big a batch of summer sausage you want to make. Hi Mountain seasoning comes portioned for 15 pound batches.

2.       Run mixture through a grinder to mix thoroughly and grind bacon.

3.       Add jalapenos to the meat and mix until the jalapenos are evenly distributed.

4.       Use sausage stuffer to fill casings. Pack casings as tight as possible to avoid air bubbles. (Note: casings must be soaked in warm water 1 hour prior to filling)

5.       Refrigerate the sausages overnight.

6.       Heat smoker to 140 degrees and smoke the filled casings for 1 hour. You can use the wood of your preference in the smoker, for this recipe we used Hickory wood chips.

7.       Raise the temperature of the smoker to 180 degrees. Smoke sausages until the reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees.  This may take between 4 and 6 hours depending on smoker.

8.       Once the sausages have reached 160 degrees. Remove them from the smoker and dunk them in a bath of ice water immediately. Dry off the casings with a towel, then allow the sausages to dry overnight in the refrigerator before serving.

9.       Slice the Wild Game Summer Sausage and enjoy on its own or with cheese and crackers.

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Aging Whitetail On The Hoof

Written by: Robert James

The only true way to age a whitetail is to look at the jaw bone and see how many teeth they have and how they are worn down. It is good practice to age the jaw on every deer you harvest to help improve your field judging accuracy. There are general characteristics that we can observe in the field to get a good idea of the animal’s age class.  As deer grow older, their bodies get bigger and in the mid to later stages of their life you’ll see the neckline be absorbed into the shoulder and their belly will begin to sag.

1 ½ Year Old

1 ½ year old bucks are relatively easy to identify. They have small racks or even just spikes. Their antlers rarely exceed the width of their ears. They will sport a slim neck and body with long legs. Often times these deer are much less cautious to their surroundings as well.

Below is 1 ½ year old Arkansas buck that I have captured on game cam.

2 ½ Year Old

At this stage of their life they begin to develop a small rack that is most likely just outside the ears. They typically don’t have much mass, but that is certainly more dependent on genetics. The telltale sign is that they still have the same body form of a 1 ½ year old but now you can begin to see a little muscle definition and their tarsal glands will typically have a little stain to them during the rut. If you do any calling during the pre-rut, then these guys are usually the first to show up.

Below is an exceptional 2 ½ year old Arkansas Whitetail that I’ve had on camera since late summer.

3 ½ Year Old

Now we’re getting close to finding a mature deer. Most of the time a 3 ½ year old has developed enough antler for most to shoot, but if you’re managing your property to grow and harvest mature deer then you’re going to want to let these deer walk. When he walks out you’ll notice he has an awfully nice rack and a big muscled up body. But, look closer and you’ll notice how his belly is flat looking and he looks to be in good shape. His neck will swell up during the rut but it still doesn’t quite flow and disappear into the shoulders.  His tarsal glands will be stained but the belly should be your best clue as to what age he is here.

Below is a 3 ½ year old buck that was captured on game camera in Northwest Arkansas a few years ago.

4 ½ Year Old

Finally we’ve made it to a mature deer. At this age class the deer is typically displaying most of his potential in antler growth. Now yes, if you pass him he will most likely get bigger. But at this stage he has just made the highest percentage jump in antler size that he will make in his life. He will still add a little mass and point here and there, but this is going to be his frame. During the rut his neck and body will flow together and look like one. His body will be so big that it actually makes his legs look short in comparison to his younger years. And his belly will begin to show some sagging, but not much. 

Below is a buck I’ve chased for the past 2 seasons in Kansas named “Box Car.” This brute is 4 ½ years old here and I guesstimated him to score close to 175” here.

5 ½ Year Old

This is as good as it gets for most. They’ve most likely reached their max potential for rack size and are showing that “bulbous” or “Roman” nose as many reference. There will be definite sag in the belly and back with a huge body. The legs will still look short and they will most likely begin to decline in antler size shortly after. There are certainly exceptions to every rule, but this is a good rule of thumb.

If you enjoyed this read then please follow us on social media and check by for more articles on our website www.waywardoutdoors.com . Good luck and stay safe this season!

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Whitetail Report - 10/24/2016

Written by: Robert James

Over the past week there have been numerous reports of hunters having success in the field. Some early in the morning, while others late in the evening. I believe much of this has been due to warm temperatures across all of Arkansas.

Staff member Devin Russell connected with a good deer on October 15th, opening day of muzzleloader season here in Arkansas. This 155” 10 point has haunted him for the past 2 years. He had numerous game cam pics of the buck and all of them at night. On the morning that he harvested this Arkansas public land trophy he came by running off another main frame 10 point with kickers on his G2’s.

The warm stagnant temperatures that we have experienced through the month of October has certainly made it tough for many hunters to connect on their target deer. However, we have seen a few cold fronts give us a break for a day or 2 on a few occasions that made for some successful evening hunts. Anytime you find a break in the temperatures like this you know that the deer will get up and start feeding just ahead of the cold snap. The longer you experience a stagnant temperature in advance of the cold front, the more effect you will see on deer movement.

Co-Executive Producer of Wayward Outdoors, Craig Wall, found success on October 20, 2016 on one such occasion. As mentioned in my previous “Whitetail Report” a cold front was predicted to hit Arkansas on October 21st. Craig and Zane took advantage of the opportunity and left work at lunch on October 20th in order to catch a good sit the evening before the front would arrive. They took a more aggressive tactic by hanging a stand closer to the buck’s bedding area and immediately hunting from that set.

Shortly before dark a nice 8 point, that Craig had numerous game cam pictures of, slipped in for the last time. With the release of an arrow Craig connected on film.  

You’ll be able to see this hunt on an episode in the coming weeks so check back soon.

On Friday October 21st Pro Staff member Shane Sutter connected with this mature 10 point in Illinois. After hanging a second stand in his tree so that they could film the following day, he chose to give it a set and self-film that evening. Not long after climbing in the stand he heard the sound of antlers clanging together. As he sat there he couldn’t believe that someone on the neighboring property was set up so close and calling so aggressively. Shortly after 4 bucks came down the ridge and right by Shane’s set. The last of which was 152” 10 point and his best bow kill to date. The same cold front that helped Craig find success in the field, carried over to Team Illinois as the front hit them a day later.

As for the coming weeks, we expect to see a decent opportunity to knock down some trophy whitetails around Halloween. I’m hoping to give a mature Arkansas deer an early scare by placing a Rage in his cage on October 30th or 31st as we will see a weak cold front arrive on the 30th with a combination of a new moon making the best time to be in the stand between 10:22am – 12:22pm. 

Over the past few days I have received a number of reports of young bucks running around checking does, but no signs of mature bucks showing such interest. I expect the week of Halloween to get bucks really moving around in the daylight and start checking numerous doe group bedding areas for those first does in heat.

The best cold front in the forecast will land on November 5th as I will just be arriving in Kansas. This time of the year is certainly hit or miss. With this date in the long range forecast I’m hoping for it to be more dramatic and really make some of the older deer get up and head to feed, or catch one on his way back to bed down after checking his local doe herd for one in heat that morning. This front is projected to be a 10 degree temperature drop and in my area over the past few years you can certainly catch some shooters up on their feet if you’re in the right hub with doe bedding groups nearby. However, if it turns back hot then you’ll have some boring sits as the deer tend to lay low and move all night. As this next week progresses we’ll continue to watch the forecast and see how our fate is looking.

Erick Hurst found success on the evening of October 22nd when he sent a G5 Havoc right through the heart of this 129” 8 point. This is a deer that he’s had pictures of for the past 2 years and it came in with only a few minutes to spare before losing shooting light.

If you enjoyed this Report and want to read more then check back and follow along with our season through Social Media 

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So put on that camo costume this Halloween with your dark colored face paint and give your trophy whitetail the scare of his life as the last thing he sees is a lighted knock 3 feet away from hitting its target!

Stay Safe and Happy Hunting from the Wayward Outdoors Staff!

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Whitetail Report - 10/17/2016

Written by: Robert James

As each day passes we grow closer and closer to that time of year we all love! The Whitetail rut is just around the corner. Most hunters are drooling over game cam pictures of their target bucks and they know that they could be just a few cold fronts away from connecting.

Here in Northern Arkansas a few folks have already started having success. On October 13th we saw another cold snap that happened to line up with a good time for the morning Moon phase.

Cody Linker was able to help his girlfriend harvest her first deer on that cool crisp morning. Shortly after daylight this beast came strolling by.

Luke Hitt harvested this 153” double drop tine buck in Northern Arkansas on another great buck taken on October 13th.

This certainly shows how the combination of catching a good moon phase with good cold front can truly make the deer get up on their feet. The tool I have been using lately to track the moon phase is called the Solunar Hunting app and can be downloaded for free from the app store.

This weekend the muzzleloader season kicked off in Arkansas and I’m certain some great deer hit the ground even with the weather not cooperating. They’re predicting our next cold front to hit on October 21st with a HI of 66 and Low of 48 that night. That’ll be a drop of about 15 degrees and you can bet those bucks will start cruising in search of those first does in heat!

So far my bucks are only showing up at night, but by November I know that will all change.

As for the Midwest, our team in Illinois found success on Saturday October 8th with just minutes to spare before dark. Team Members Houston Gregory and Shane Sutter have certainly put in a lot of effort to get to this point. With 20 minutes until they lost camera light they heard the sound of deer antlers crashing together as 2 bucks were fighting on the field edge just down from where they were set up. Minutes later they captured they’re first buck kill on film with a deer that they have never seen and who had some awesome character. You’ll be able to watch their hunt on our website in a few weeks as we have decided to go semi-live this season!

On my Kansas trip I didn’t find much success but moved a few cameras around and got a set hung awaiting my return. With most of the crops still in the fields it made it tough to see many deer. However, if you can find a cut corn field then you’ll find deer. I watched a 3 ½ year old 8 pointer dog a few does although they weren’t quite ready. Hopefully, when I return we’ll have a shooter on game cam and get some colder weather.

For more tips and tricks be sure to follow us on all of our social media platforms!

If you find yourself in the woods this weekend, remember SAFETY FIRST! Wear your hunter orange and be courteous of other hunters. Good luck and happy hunting!