Deer Hunting. There’s an App for that.

Deer Hunting. There’s an App for that.

By Troy Knoll

I remember it like it was yesterday…my first solo bow hunt. My Father walked me to a permanent tree stand in the predawn darkness and made sure I was situated before leaving for his stand.  We said our “good lucks” and I was on my own. I can remember being uneasy as I was making something out of every shape that appeared as daylight approached.  I knew Dad would be back around ten but until then I was on my own.  As a thirteen-year-old kid in 1987 I was amped to be bow hunting on my own for the first time, as this was what the men in my family did. My Dad, My Uncles, and my Grandfather all bow hunted so I was ready to prove I was the man too but I have to admit I was a little bored… And it had only been about a half hour. The sun came up and the visions of monster bucks with their breath highlighted by the sun as they chased a doe by my stand had not come to fruition…I know it takes patience but I was getting kind of fidgety.  25 years later as a father of 3, I now see just how quickly kids get bored and jump from toy to toy or channel to channel on television. It’s really no wonder young hunter numbers decline steadily.

When I think about hunting today I really look forward to getting away from the day to day. A good sit in a big ol’ cherry tree is some fantastic therapy for dealing with the stresses of a hectic life. I still have those same dreams of big bucks today while awaiting the morning light. There is one big difference… My smart phone usually lights up my face.  I admit it... I still get a little bored every now and again in the stand. They say that a bad day of hunting is still better than a good day at work and this may be true, but I still wish there was a buck behind every tree. Its not only boredom that a smart phone can help with. There are many reasons for carrying the latest and greatest techno gadget into the woods with you this season and I’m going to give a run down on some of the best.

            The first and I would say most important reason would have to be safety. While it is always wise to let someone know where you are hunting and when you will be home, plans change, and you may need to move to a different location or hunting grounds all together. A quick call or text can let a loved one know your whereabouts should there be an emergency. Speaking of emergencies, a mobile phone is your best chance to summon help after a fall or other type of injury. The key is to make sure the phone is charged or it will do no good. When you are having a medical emergency a mobile phone can be your best friend.

Looking back on my Dad telling me he would be back to pick me up all those years ago I cant remember a time that he was ever late. I guess if he ever had been I would have only forgiven him if it were because of a big buck coming his way.  Things are totally different now. Any hunter can instantly connect with Dad or any hunting partner in the field via text message, phone call, or email for that matter.  This can be useful in many ways. Say there is a big boy headed your way and you have previously made plans to meet your buddy for lunch. You will probably have some time to give a quick text to explain the situation. Or what if you score and need help dragging the beast to the truck…you got it, call the boys up and get them to drag your deer out for you because you are obviously more awesome than them and they owe you.

Of course the only reason you are so awesome and have had such great success on this hunt is because of your iPhone right? How can a smart phone help you kill a deer you ask? There are a ton of apps out there designed with sportsman in mind. Everything from mapping apps to weather. I will give you a quick rundown of how many times I use my iPhone during the course of any given hunt and you will understand why bucks are constantly walking up to me just so I will shoot them. Actually, you will probably wonder how I see any deer at all with the amount of time I spend staring at my celly…

            The first time I use my iPhone on any day of hunting is when the Alarm wakes me up. Once I finish hitting that snooze button I check MyCast for the umpteenth time before getting out of bed. It probably hasn’t changed since I checked it before I went to bed but what can I say… I’m a little obsessed. I then probably send out some Texts to make sure the boys are all up and don’t oversleep.  Now I’m on the road and using it again… No, not texting and driving… I’m listening to my tunes on the iPod or Pandora. What if I’m in a new area like a trip out west for giants? I could use the GPS to get to the spot or Around Me to find and open coffee shop or gas station. My battery is dying and we are just getting started. Better leave it plugged in for the ride.

Ok we just pulled in to the lane and parked… Can’t find my release in the dark. No problem with my trusty iPhones handy dandy Flashlight. Once found I am on my way but I notice the wind is hitting me in the back of the neck. Hmmm, might have to change stands but what is the wind expected to do? One quick look at ScoutLook and I know hours in advance what the wind is doing and where my scent cone will be headed. The next problem is that the 2 stands I have to choose from for that wind have so many good bucks I don’t remember which I like best so I get out my iPhone and go through my Trail cam Photos to choose the best one to go after. (That may be a little far fetched but you get the point) Once the stand is decided on I use my 

MotionX-GPS to view the easiest route into the stand. I can’t remember how deep the one ravine is so I check my Topo Map and now I’m on the right track.

Man it feels good to be back in this stand again. I have not been back here since last year in November when I shot that big buck. It may be the same day…I will check my blog and find out… Wow! Same day!! I need to update all my followers on Facebook and Twitter about this!!! Heck, I may as well make a blog entry as I have about 45 minutes ‘til it gets light outside. I use the Text feature of my blog to update on the mornings events. Through Networked Blogs my blog entry is then added to my Team Overkill Facebook and Twitter pages. A quick smart assed comment via my Personal Facebook to my wife about the fact that she is working and I am hunting and we are ready to wait for daylight. A quick check of the Clock after getting my cameras all in place and I am ready for action.

This morning is moving slow for the peak of the rut. I’m gonna play a quick game of Angry Birds to pass the time. While on the subject of birds…what the heck kind of duck was that buzzing the treetops? A quick check of Delta Waterfowls WhatTheDuck app clears that up. Must be getting close to the morning feed now. I check the HuntCal and find I’m right on the money…If this moon thing holds any weight I could have a push of feeding activity and that may be enough to drag Mr. right out of hiding to investigate.

As I’m checking the Radar to see why it looks like I’m going to be hit by a rainstorm I hear a loud crash…OMG there he is… He is making his way into my shooting lane. How far is he? Now right now I could tell you that I used my iPhone Rangefinder and I could have…but come on, I’m not that reliant on the thing. I have a real rangefinder people!!!

The deed is done! My biggest buck ever is now on the ground! I make a quick update via Text to a few of my friends. I wrap my hands around the massive antlers on the buck and wonder what he scores? I have to take some Pics and check the deer in online before I enter the measurements into Antler Metrix Rack Scoring App… I take the pics and before I post them to MarylandWhitetail.com and all of my other favorite social media sites I run the photo through Instagram for effect and I’m headed back to the truck.

            It’s amazing how many apps are available and how many uses there are for a mobile device these days. Things sure have changed a lot since I was a 13-year-old rookie hunter. Twenty-Five years later I can definitely appreciate the peace and quiet of the outdoors and the time away from the hustle and bustle of every day life. I am trying to instill that in my kids as well but knowing how bored I used to get and still do on occasion, I see no harm in a little game every now and again. I love to take my kids hunting with me and the apps on the phone keep them occupied during the dry spells. While some people scoff at technology and taking it with you on stand, I for one embrace it as just another tool in my arsenal.

Back to my big buck…He is tagged, gutted, pics are taken, and we are back at the truck. I am so pumped and cant wait to get this guy home and show the family. The problem is, I can’t find my keys… Is there an app for that?

            

Anybody that has spoken with me in the last few weeks will tell you I have been in a mood... I was in a mood due to the fact that I had not seen a "shooter" buck since July in 8 different camera locations. What started as one of my best summers with good bucks on all of my mineral dumps quickly went south... 
I was starting to wonder if the amount of does that had taken up residence on the minerals and had been completely camped out all day long had forced the velvet clad bachelor groups away...
I still had the little guys in groups and solo at all locations but all of the nice ones I saw in June had not even made a night time appearance. 

Thats definitely not the end of the world but it sure makes it easier to brave the heat when you have a good reason. 

I had made solid plans to take Doug's Son Tyler to one of my best summer locations after a cool looking mature 3x3 that has no brows. He is heavy and cool looking and Tyler was eager to run an arrow through him. That buck seemed to be a sure bet... until my last camera pull before the opener. Tyler and I checked some cams at other locations before hitting the blind for the evening and I was happy to see one of my bucks was back and in daylight at that. He was on the lower end of my list but he was a step in the right direction. 

Tyler and I struck out his hunt... I say struck out but we had fun. I know when Doug and I were his age the 4 young bucks he passed would have been in deep doo doo  but this is one seasoned vet of a 14 year old so they just kept us entertained...





On to day two... I took My Son Dawson in with me to run cam... We almost didnt go because the wind was not perfect... It was close and looking worse for the upcoming week so I figured it was doable. We got in early. It was flawless and quiet. Once Dawson was all strapped in we only had to wait about a half hour before the flood of does and fawns began their assault on the minerals. Its pretty fun to watch and kept us busy and alert for the entire evening. I really didnt have the highest hopes for seeing the buck as he had only made one daylight appearance and 2 during the previous nights but it was nice just to be out there again with my Buddy for our first hunt of the season.



We were about to throw in the towel. It was getting really dark under the thick summer canopy. I looked over my shoulder one last times and all hell broke loose... I saw one large antler side and assumed it was the buck we were there for but the 3 others behind him made me pull up the binoculars to see who they all were. It was a group I had not see since the 1st week in June and they were coming in like they owned the place. And that big side I saw belonged to one of my top of the list bucks... "The Big 9"!!! Well at least that is what he was last year and I couldnt tell what he would finish up with from the last pic on June 6. It didnt matter because I knew he was a good one and I was getting ready...

Last years trail cam pics of the 9

 



This year in early June... (Click for vid)



I scanned the others as best I could just in case... I saw a basket 8 and a 120 class 8 and some other big sucker that I couldnt place. I didnt look too long as the big 9 was closing fast. I drew the bow as he went behind a tree and as I came to full draw he was at about 10 yards and facing me... I peeked back and asked Dawson if he had him but man was it dark... Dawson said he thought he did... The bucks were all jockying for position and it made my target jump to the left a little offering me the broadside shot at 8 yards but putting him behind a tree for Dawson. I knew at this point they were soon to hit my wind and I had to act. I said HEY... The buck stopped... I placed what looked like all of my tiny pins on the bottom of his chest... I squeezed and watched that laser disapear behind his shoulder... He ran into the dark woods and I watched his white belly roll in the tall grass... DONE in less than 50 yards!!!

Could not believe what he had grown into when we walked up to him... I thought it looked like he was going to put something on that Right side G2 but I couldnt tell... I didnt know he was going to be a 5x5!!! Good Stuff!!! 152 2/8 is the final gross!!! Vid is not the greatest but the high fives in that tree with my Son cant be beat!!!

Now I can relax...







Hinky came and tried some different angles with us...

Bastid Yards

I have had quite a few people asking me recently about my pin gap on my hunting rig.  I get questioned a lot about my 33 yard pin. I wrote an article last season about this so I am going to repost it here for those that missed it.

I have changed a few things since I wrote the article. Mainly the distance I am practicing out to this season.

I am shooting the same pin gap but am able to move my bottom pin down my scale to 80 yards and I shot a ton this season with a longer bar and a single, moveable pin out to 100 yards... Shooting that distance WILL make you focus on the issues a lot more and make your closer shots so much easier.

Here is a good 90 yard group... You can see where I have the sight dialed to 90. On the shorter bar hunting set up I have my 4th pin down set to 40 and I can move it to 80

See what happens when you move a little closer...

Anyway,  Here is the article...

“Bastid” Yards

I will never forget my first trip to the IBO worlds. It was the first trip I had ever had to travel and stay away from home to participate in and I was excited. Tom Jarels and I had been tearing up the local 3D courses in our respective classes. Tom was shooting MBO. (Who knew he would go on to be a the IBO World Camp and Triple Crown Champ a few years later.) I was shooting MBR and my bow was basically set up the same as my hunting rig.  We were nervous but riding high because of our recent successes. I wouldn’t say that I had any aspirations of winning the thing but I had no clue the butt kicking I was about to receive.

We had no idea what to expect as we pulled up in the fog that morning. Walking from the car to the practice butts we were blown away by the amount of shooters. Just about every bow you could imagine with every class of shooter. We found an empty spot and picked a dot to fling a few arrows before start time. I was shooting like a champ and Tom was too. We even remarked to each other about some of the pitiful groups we were seeing on either side of us. We even picked out a few of the big names and watched them for a while. Some were just as incredible as we had heard while others had Tom and I scratching our heads. I had an immediate rush of confidence as Tom and I wished each other luck and parted company for the start of the shoot.

My confidence quickly turned to a severe case of pucker factor as I made my way to the target I had been assigned. I stepped to the first stake and gazed at the McKenzie Whitetail that seemed to be 50 plus yards. I kept pondering the max yardage rule as I introduced myself to the competitors in my foursome.  After all the introductions and handshakes were out of the way it was time to draw cards for shooting order. Guess who was picked first? Unbelievable, my luck.

Knowing that there was a 50 yard max rule in the IBO I already knew which pin I was going to use. I had a 20, 30, 40, 50 yard pin to choose from…No brainer. I remember thinking something that has helped me through a ton of tough shots. “With all these people watching, it would be a bad time to look like a chump so remember your form.” I drew the bow, settled in, placed the pin on the 10 ring and squeezed… Pinwheel!!! I think my eyes were closed when I heard a couple of my new friends say “great shot” and “center10!!!”  They were saying how I must have not been nervous and looked like I had been doing this a while. They had no idea. I was a complete disaster inside but had somehow just pulled off a flawless shot.

That shot was not the only good one I made throughout the next few days, but it definitely wasn’t the norm. I chalked a lot of the poor showing on my part up to the excitement of the tournament experience. After all, it was my first time at a major. There was one thing that was brought to light during the weekend though. If you already have an issue or flaw in your setup or your form, It WILL be magnified by excitement or nervousness.

One of the major issues I had seen through my time in smaller tournaments or a lazy afternoon shoot around with friends had been my pin gap.  I am not the tallest guy on the range so that leaves me in a bind right off the bat. Unless you have monkey arms, being short leaves you with a short draw length and that typically means a slower bow.

I had always set my pins, as Im sure most archers do with the typical 20, 30, 40, and 50 yard pins. Not having the speediest of bows meant that the gaps between the pins are pretty wide. Couple that with the fact that I am not the best judge of yardages and I was in deep doo doo. When you are judging a small deer target at 37 yards in your mind and put a 30 and 40 yard split on the body with a wide gap you may have one close to the top and the other close to the bottom of the animal. This is not the best feeling if you are already unsure of the yardage you have chosen. After some iffy shots and the discussions of yardages with my competitors afterward I was asked about my pin setting by one of the guys.

I cannot remember the guys name but he gave me a tip that has stuck with me for all these years. He showed me his sight, which happened to be the same as mine, but his gaps were a lot smaller. He told me it wasn’t totally due to speed but just the way he set them. He said I should pick my strongest yards and maybe play the averages on shots that I would encounter.  His yardages were something like 23, 35, 42, and 51 if I remember right. He asked me how many times do you actually shoot a target at exactly 20 or 30? He had a point. I picked his brain a little more as we shot and was starting to see the benefits. Always one to try and better my shooting, I could not wait to get back on the practice range at home. I finished that tournament pretty low in the standings. I was happy that I had not blanked any targets at least because of how difficult it was compared to anything I had ever encountered, but I also had a new plan to get better for future tourneys and maybe even the deer woods.

Up until this season I have used this method only for target archery. I was pretty confident in the fact that I would be able to use my rangefinder under hunting situations and would not encounter this “doubt” in my yardages. That was until I missed the biggest deer I had ever shot at last season on opening day.  I have never been one to make excuses and I have no intentions on starting now. I take full responsibility for the miss. It wasn’t the bow. The deer didn’t jump. There was no wind or rain. I just plain blew it. The big boy came out like he was supposed to. I had him pegged and we knew it. I was calm and cool even asking Jeff if he was steady on the cam and was he ready for me to shoot. Everything was perfect but this one little thought in my head.

I had changed to a heavier arrow just a few weeks before the season opener. The change did not seem drastic. Just a few tweaks to the sight here and there and I was back in business. The main difference was the extra gap in the pins. No biggee right? I had a range finder and the bow was grouping fantastically. My brain was not so sure. I honestly just did not like the sight picture. I convinced myself it was because I was just to used to the tight pin gaps I had been looking at all season with my faster hunting bow.

I pulled my bow back on the deer that I thought was at my 28 yard marker. Pretty easy right? Put the 30 yard pin on his heart and let her eat!!! Wrong…the key word in that last statement was “thought” I was not sure. It happened so fast I second guessed my self. I thought, “maybe I should just give it a little more”, and I eased the 30 up toward center body. Bad move! As I released I watched the arrow skip off of the bucks back sending him away in a hurry and me into a deep depression.

Im not going to go as far as to say that using this alternative yardage system would have killed that deer for me but I need to try something new and I know how much it helped me on the 3D course. Theoretically I would have shoved my 26 yard pin on center body which would have put my 20 on his heart and 33 on the top of his lungs….Dead critter!!!

Now it’s a new year and I have vowed to never let this happen to me again. I am at least going to do everything in my power to keep it from happening. Now equipped with a faster bow ( I know speed isn’t everything and I have never been consumed by it but I just NEED some right now) and some lighter arrows, I am changing my hunting bow sight system to “bastard yards”!!!  I may be different for anyone else, but I am going to explain how I cam up with my pins and why it works for me.

I always start out by picking my favorite yardage. Over the years I have determined that my 33 yard pin is my favorite.  I just seem to spend a lot of time shooting targets at this distance. It will work good in the deer woods for me as well because I generally do not shoot to many animals over 35. I then set a 20. Then I take the rest of the pins and fill in the gaps making a nice pattern. I just want it to be even, clean, and easy to see.  For years my pins have come out like this on my 3D bow…20, 26, 33, 38, and 43 yards.  This season with my new blazing fast Elite Pulse I have only one difference.  I noticed the 20 was shooting low. This is a really cool thing. Its not only fatser than any hunting bow I have shot but right up there with my fastest 3D rig as well!!!

Speed may not be the end all be all, but I have a ton of confidence in this rig. What I may lack in penetration, I make up for in pinpoint accuracy. I have been shooting this set up for a month now and love it. I actually just shot fantastic round of 3D with the bow and all I will do is put broadheads on the arrows to step into the deer woods.

Im not sure if the bastard yards method will be the answer for me this season. I feel like I need to change something and shake things up a bit.  The method has proven itself to me on the range so hopefully I will get the same results in the field. Maybe this time next year I will be writing a different story about how getting myself out of a rut helped me tag a rutting buck. 

Boy did I drop off the face of the earth...

I would have to say this is the longest I have gone without updating the blog... Not for lack of doing what we do or even lack of content... Just busy with the kids, and fishing... and kids, and building a duck boat, and kids... oh yeah and work. But whatever, here is the good news...Its only 62 days til we can shoot stuff and 69 days til the archery season begins here in Md. We had another stellar Turkey season. Paul and I kept the Facebook page ablaze with pics of our hunts. Paul was his normal self burning up the Gobblers in 2 states and guiding some first timers to their first birds... I had a great season taking Gobblers in 2 states and filming with my Son Dawson as Doug and Kevin both took their first Longbeards...

I already have competition on a new WYLD dump!!!

This bachelor group has been visiting every morning for the last week...  I have a scrappy one in the mix...

Man I hated scratching this call up...

I got this call from Gene last year and swore I wanted to put it in a case for safe keeping... But I had heard his glass calls sing so I had to scratch her up and put her to work... 2 days in the field and 2 Toms to her credit... The proof is in the puddin'!!! Thanks for making a sweet sounding and beautiful call Gene!!!

Pics of the birds still to come...

Last minute adjustments...

Man these old decoys make for some great Bullhead Targets... Ever since I upgraded to these ridiculously realistic Avian X decoys I have been steady lopping off heads...

Made a couple adjustments and needed to verify... I can shoot Slick Tricks and Bullheads in the same hole as my field points...

And then on to my Remington 870... I am using a M.A.D Max choke... I have been using Winchester 5s or 6s for years but wanted to play around this year. I tried Hevi-Shot Magnum Blend 5,6,7 (That was expensive)

Not sure if it was worth it... I noticed it was a little tighter in close which could be good but could be bad...

Here is a pic of 15 yards...

Then I tried it at 35... I didnt shoot many because of the cost but I saw what I needed. The deal with these shells was supposed to be more coverage downrange... It was very even and covered the paper well. Here is a pic turned backward so you can see the holes better. I can count on 2 fingers the amount of times I have had to shoot over 30 yards anyway...

Good Luck out there Y'all... Im getting excited!!!

Turkey headshots in our future...

Are you pickin' up what they're puttin' down?

I get more and more into this every year... Couldn't wait to get out and start sheddin!!! I know its a little early but knowing a couple are on the ground via trail cam.... we had to give it a try.

We searched for a loooong time for the match to this guy. We didnt go into his bedroom yet in case he still has it. We only checked the field where the first one dropped. Look at the difference in bases from a 1 year old to a 5 year old...

We found a matched set in the same field about 300 yards apart. The one side was dry but the other had some nasty infection goop on it.

That was Fowl...

This waterfowl season was one for the books. Not because of any great number of limits... because we did shoot quite a few. It was a lot of fun for the sheer amount of family and friends we got to spend the time with and the good times had with everyone.

This year marks the first time we took Abby hunting. She is the greatest house pet of all time at the Knoll house. She listens well and retrieves so I figured what the hay? She loves to bring me antlers and and retrieve anything I throw her so I brought home a couple divers to test her out. She did great bringing them back so it was just a matter of seeing how she would do sitting still and waiting as we call and shoot. I had shot a bunch around her before so I knew she was fine with that. (I would bring a short tether and her kennel)

She did great!!! The worst part about Abby is that she hates riding in the car... I know right? A dog that doesn't like riding in a car? Once we were at the farm she was all about the water... She sat ok for the most part but we tied her close and that kept her still as we shot ducks... She went right out with us to get the first ones... but from then on... She was like a seasoned vet. Abby would bring any we shot back from the water!!! Good times!!!

Andy had never shot ducks before and is a little Gun shy on taking the invite on any waterfowl hunt due to so many "sure thing" hunts going the wrong way. He is a die hard Big Buck hunter and any day away from those bucks is a wasted day... So when we told him we were into them he was skeptical but took the offer and came along.  Now it was not a banner day as far as numbers are concerned but Andy was the big wiener of the day with not only his first duck......... But a banded drake Wood Duck that had been tagged in New Brunswick in August of last year. Lucky SOB!!! Killed his first Mallards and blacks this year with us as well...

That wasn't the only band of the year... We shot a banded bird on one of the most fantastic Goose hunts I have ever been a part of in my life. This hunt was special for a lot more reasons than any number of birds. You see, we cant kill more than 2 geese a day on the Eastern Shore. I have done that plenty of times on my pond throughout the years but dont try for it much as we can straight throttle birds here on the Western Shore with a 5 or even 8 bird limit. So killing 2 of these guys a piece isnt really that big of a deal. Its what went along with it that makes it so special.

I had just been remarking to the boys as we drove home with a limit of ducks that I had never been on a real "Eastern Shore Goose Hunt"... You know the ones... The thousands of pits and blinds and silos and groups of guys we see picking up the spreads as we head home out of Chestertown. Well, I got home and "liked" and commented on a Facebook friends page about the fact that they were beating up the geese when almost as if he had heard me... Bobby Bramble messaged me and invited me down for just such a hunt. Now, I had never met Bobby face to face but felt as though I knew him from the years we have become acquainted on MarylandWhitetail.com. and just like so many folks I have met on there, we share a common bond through hunting, family, and friends in the outdoors that it was a no brainer for me to accept the offer.

The most exciting part was the fact that this guy I had never met before was perfectly fine with me bringing my 5 year old Daughter down for the hunt. Lil Miss Riley is Daddy's Girl in every way... She wants a part of every single thing I do. I thought that this would be the perfect way for her to experience a relatively stress free and relaxing hunt with excitement and success and be able to take our game from the field to the table in one day.

Riley got to play hooky from school and drink coffee with Dad all day... good times!!!

Had a lot of fun with all the kids this year while hunting birds...Its easier than deer hunting because its not so serious and they can relax. I was happy to have my buddy Davey back in the field with me this year... His Son shane is to blame and is soon to be the next "Duck Commander" Good Times!!!

Got into some Divers as well... I would show the pics from a great trip with Paul and I but there is only one pic of evidence due to my iPhone getting ruined when it did the "Polar Bear Plunge" with me... When we shot the last duck for the limit I literally just hid up to my neck in the water.... Figured I couldn't get any wetter? or colder?
This is the last pic.... from Pauls iPhone before it died....

Beat em up pretty good a couple times with Hinky, Ryan, and Michael... Good stuff... Nothin much better than divers when they decoy!!!

Wasnt the best season as far as bird numbers go but I felt blessed to have been able to hunt and share the sport with good friends...