Well this past week has been great! We had a good christmas and then took my new squirrel dog that came from VA out for a hunt. In about an hour Ash, my cousin and myself had 12 squirrels in the bag. The next morning we left for the hill country with both Ash and Cari taking deer with their bow. Cari a 10pt and Ash a doe. Had great fun with everyone else at the lease even with the cold and wind. We hope you a great holiday as well.

Now is the time to find hunting supplies, especially bowhunting supplies on clearance at the walmart stores here in E TX. They are selling broadheads, arrows and other accessories for more than 50% off. I bought 12 packs of broadheads, 1 ameristep lockon and 16ft climbing sticks, along with a 15ft ladder stand and some other stuff for like $175. Here in another month the shotgun shells and camo clothing as well as any other stuff will also sale for a lot less than normal. Don’t miss out as there will be red tagged items in your stores as well when the hunting seasons close.

The deer movenent has really slowed down the last 2 weeks with the temps in the 80’s and the acorns still falling. The deer are mainly moving at night during these warm spells but roaming in the daylight hours during these little 1-2 day cold snaps. We really need a good cold front and a hard wind and some rain to get rid of these acorns. Most have quit hunting, but our little bunch still needs to take about 20 more deer to meet our quota that the bioligist requires. We have until the end of Feb though and the weather will turn around by then, Jan and Feb are really good months to pattern and harvest deer on food sources just like in the early season.

We have harvested some nice deer here in ETX this year with several 150 and 160 class deer being reported as well as a 17pt that went 175 taken in Newton Co. On our place their have been several in the 140’s and one in the 150’s, with them being 5 1/2 years old and older. Our counties way to the south and west in the hill country and south tx have been doing real well with several deer over 200 taken as well as one that went in the 270’s gross. Monsters have also been coming back across from old mexico as that country that is usually dry had a great winter,spring and summer with lots of plant growth and flooding waters and it is really showing up in the horns. A record setting year for sure.

Duck hunting during the first split has went well for most everyone I have talked with. Several of the guys I work with went this morning and killed their limits with no problem. I am hearing of really good hunting on the sulphur and red river as well as on some of the major E TX lakes. Dam b is full and loaded with vegetation and has been holding a fair number of birds and has been giving up limits to everyone that I have talked to that is hunting it. The creeks are full of wood ducks with all the acorns that are falling and are perfect for jump shooting.

I have bought a finished squirrel dog out of VA and am awaiting his arrival. When he gets here we are going to hunt him hard and see how many squirrels we can finish the season out with. Here in Texas not a whole lot of people squirrel or rabbit hunt any more, but we have beagles and now a feist to extend the season with. Squirrel season closes the first weekend in feb and the limit is 10 per day. There is no closed season or bag limits on rabbits.

There is plenty of time to do lots of hunting, so dont let the warm weather end it for you. Get out there and get with it, you cant kill them sittin on the couch wathin football.

It was a warm sunday evening a coupe of  weeks ago that my daughter and I set out on a little short hunt just a few minutes from the house. We pulled in around 4pm and eased into the woods shotguns in hand. In less than 30yds in a cat squirrel took off through the trees and a load of number 5’s from the old 870 brought it down.

After the shot there were more squirrels barkin in the distance and we eased towards them and sat down next to a large oak. In a coupe of minute another young gray was moving in front of us and the little over and under 28ga Ashlyn was toting broke the silence again with another tender squirrel for the fryin pan.

We were slowly easing along the creek when a couple of woodies jumped up and I downed a hen with the one shot I could get off before they were gone. After wading in to get her I was glad that it was 70dgrees with the water temp about the same. Bet many folks can’t claim that in their neck of the woods in late nov. we continued on down the creek and collected another fine little gray.

As we were again coming up on the creek I could hear the wood ducks below us under the edge of the bank. I got Ash up to the edge and told her she had first shot. At the next step several birds got up and she dumped her first duck in the creek. Ducks continued to get up and she missed her next shot and I took over while she was reloading and downed a drake, now back in action Ash also got a drake with her 4th shot.

We chased one more squirrel around for a while before he got away from us after being missed numerous times by both of us, then it was time to head out as the light was fading fast. Back at home we cleaned our take and took them in and cooked them up. Nothin beats fresh game on the stove.

This quick and easy bread tastes like home-baked yeast bread, and it is excellent with chili and other hearty stews. It tends to harden quickly, but there are seldom leftovers.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

3 cups self-rising flour
4 Tablespoons of Honey
1 egg
1 bottle room temp. beer (12 oz.) (try Guinness Stout for dark, rich bread)
1/4 stick of butter - melted
Optional – 1 cup of sautéed (caramelized) onions

Butter (or use non-stick spray) a loaf 9” x 5” loaf pan and set aside. In a large bowl, combine the flour, honey, egg and beer (or onions) then mix well. The mixture should be sticky. Pour mixture into the loaf pan. Cover with paper towel and let stand in a warm place for 15 minutes.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Pour melted butter over bread and bake 5 minutes more or until bread tests done.Turn immediately out of baking pan; cool for 10 minutes before serving or slicing (thick slices are best).

Well I finally got my 101 last friday. What can I say but wow!! I really like this bow and have found the one I am going to shoot this year. The 101st is a 36.25   ATA bow with a 7″ brace height. It has both the new roller guard and string suppressor. I shot it with the usual 29″ 70lb 350gr arrow and got a speedy 327 fps out of it. I then backed the bow down to 62lbs with the same 350gr arrow and was still getting 306. Crackers who has a shop and makes custom strings and tuning was able to get 346fps out of one at 61lbs with a 306gr arrow!! This bow is not as quiet as the guardian but is not loud either. The draw is smooth with just a slight hump where it breaks over to a solid wall that you will not creep out of. I am going to get me in a 60lb and shoot it in 3d this year, will have to shoot a heavy arrow to get down to 280fps. The bow has the slim grip that feels great in the hand and is standard on all the bowtechs. This bow is going to be a big hit with both speed and forgiveness. I also shot this bow with a 400gr arrow at 70 pounds and still got 312fps, talk about drive through some flesh. Stop by your dealer and try one, I think you will like it.

It was a nice warm evening. Dad and I had been sitting around camp and talking. Dad said” You ready to get in the stand?” Dad asked.”Yeah. Let’s go.” I answered. We got in the truck and stopped half way to the stand. I asked Dad” Which stand are we going to?” He answered” The Doe Hole.” When we shut the stand door and got quiet we didn’t have to wait long before a whole group of does came in. I picked out a big doe that was leading the group. Dad got the gun up to the window of the stand then I got adjusted putting the stock directly on my shoulder then looking through the sights putting the cross hairs on the shoulder. “BOOM!” Went the 357mag. The doe I was shooting at crumbled to the shot. Dad and I high-fived. “ Another deer in the fridge.” I said.

If you are looking for a smooth, fast 33″ hunting bow the Katerra could fit the bill for you. This bow is pretty much a remake of last years vulcan with some updates. For one the bow has lost almost half a pound and is more portable, though I have always liked the hoyts for being very stable without a stabilizer due to the extra weight of the tech riser. The ata is 33″‘, the brace height is 6″, the cam is the new z3 cam 1/2 in place of the vector cam. The new cam is really smooth and has picked up the speed some as well. IBO rated at 330fps I was able to get 319 out of it at 29″ 70lb with the usual 350gr arrow. With a 30″ draw it will easily shoot the ibo rating and have heard of some shooting the longer draw up close to 340fps. What I like about this bow and its 36″ brother the Katerra xl which has a 7″ brace height is the ability to throw a heavy arrow fast. When shooting the katerra with a 425gr arrow I was still able to get over 300fps with it. With the same arrow out of the xl I was in the upper 280’s(the xl is rated slower than the shorter bow. I shot a 635gr arrow out of the katerra and got 235fps, talk about shoot through something!! I personally like the longer xl due to it being smoother drawing and more forgiving, but you cant really go wrong with either one. The only thing I do  not like about the new hoyts and this years bowtechs as well are the string suppressors. On the hoyt they actually make the bow louder and we have been taking them off. The ones on the bowtech are not as loud but look like an afterthought and are in your line of sight. the hoyt also needs more than the one string silencer that they are putting on the bows now, but I always take them off any way because they dont last long and catwhiskers are quieter in my findings. Other than that they are smooth, fast, and forgiving bows. I love the feel of their grip, not too fat or too thin, or any cold medal to have to hold on to. If your in the market for a new bow give them a try, also when looking for a new bow make sure you shoot every model you can get your hand on and not what somebody is telling you is the best. Archery is very personal and what one person likes another will hate. Try as many as possible and make your own decisions. If your local dealer will not let you shoot the bows first find one that will. You will also come out better going to a proshop over the box stores by getting better service and one on one help. The prices at the proshops are also in line with the box stores if not cheaper, I know I am cheaper than gander mtn or cabelas on most anything.

I hear alot of people are disappointed with Mathews at the moment for not bring out a speed bow and kinda just sticking to the same lines of the last 4 years. It is all over the forums. In light of this though the DXT is a great little bow. With a 29.75 axle to axle, and a weight of 3.75lbs the bow is very hunter friendly. I tested the bow with the usual 29″ draw 70lbs with a 350 gr. arrow. Most short bows will not shoot as fast as their longer counterparts, but this did not factor in here. The dxt shot a 10 shot average of 307 over my chrono, faster than the 33″ drenalin. This bow is just as smooth as the drenalin and also easy to shoot. I figured with the short ata  and 7″ brace height that it would not be forgiving. I was wrong! It is no less forgiving than the drenalin, only difference is I had to move the peep higher and further out than usual due to the short length. A string loop is also a must with the angle at full draw. The dxt has less hand shock than the drenalin both with and without a stabilizer and is the quietest bow that I have in the shop. Shooting some of my 375gr axis hunting arrows through the dxt still turned up a very respectable 293fps, well above the drenalin I am currently shooting. If you are looking for a bow to hunt out of tight spots with, believe this is the one to have. Go shoot one at your dealer and see for yourself. This bow is quieter and faster than the bowtech general and you dont have the gaudy string suppressor staring you in the face.

I have found the broadhead for me. I have in the past and will continue to try all the new heads that  come out on the market, but I have found the hellrazor to be one that I could use from  now on. Weighing in at 100gr and having a cutting diameter of 1 1/8″ the 3 blade head is as tough as they get. We have used one head on 6 deer now with no chipped blades,bends or any kind of failure. They have all been pass throughs and have held up to hitting the dirt and rocks on the other side. I have had really good bloodtrails and nothing has went over 60yds. After harvesting deer with this head and easton axis arrows all I do is wash them off good and sharpen on a flat diamond stone and then strope them on leather. Getting the heads to shave again only takes a few minutes. If you are looking for a tough dependable head where you dont have to fool with replacement blades look no further than the hellrazor.