Need I say more? Between the drought and the unseemly heat, the reports from the woods seemingly couldnt get much worse. Throw in Blue Tongue deaths in the state and you have the makings of one of the worst hunting years in decades. It is surprising to see how quickly all of our work in developing animal habitat - I wont just say deer because it is deer, turkey, birds and more - undone so easily.

While talking to hunters in the area and watching local forums, it has been evident that everyone is having the same results. There have been deer killed to be sure. But what is most telling is how few sightings there have been and - buckle your seatbelts kids - fewer people still getting into the woods! I am very surprised by the number of people staying out of the woods  due to the heat. It was 90 degrees here today and we have had less than an inch of rain in the last 2 months. It’s dry and it’s hot and it just isnt a nice time to get out. Lows are staying in the 60’s and 70’s still. The weather prognosticators say that by the end of the coming week we should have highs in the 70’s. I’ll believe it when I feel it.

H ow goes it in your neck of the woods?

I dont hold police officers, cashiers or accountants to a different standard than anyone else. It does make the news however when one goes bad. What is especially of interest to readers of this post is that in this case, the allegations are leveled against two officers of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Most hunters in Tennessee have had the opportunity to meet someone from the TWRA and have found them to be great guys. Because of my past association with the local chapter of Safari Club International, I have made the acquaintance of 9 or 10 of these fellows and found them to be stand up guys. TWRA requires that their officers have a bachelor’s degree in biology or the like and so they are generally woods-smart, even for those in the law enforcement side.

Reports came from the eastern part of the state where the bear hunting season has been open for 2 weeks. The reports say that a group of hunters saw 2 groups of 2 men enter an area where bait was found. In this case, the bait was a half-buried barrel of donuts. I am fortunate that I too did not get caught as I am especially fond of donuts though I have never consumed them from a half-buried barrel (there is a Krispy Kreme here in Chattanooga - nuff said).

Two of the four men are purported to be TWRA officers.

I know that law enforcement people are exposed to the temptations of bribery and special favors. TWRA officers probably less so than say a narcotics detective in a big city but there are opportunities just as well. You know that the officers that have never succumbed to the temptation cringed when they saw the story. Unfortunately they will get painted with a broad brush and heaped in with the bad cops. Is it fair? No. Is it reality? It surely is.

Every year about 20-people (I refuse to call them hunters) are found guilty and punished for hunting over bait in Tennessee. These people are a disgrace to everything that every decent man and woman that plays by the rules whether it is hunting or tiddlywinks. The thing to do is to remember that in the world of law enforcement, there are good cops and bad cops. The good ones often suffer more than the bad ones.

Stay honest

Stay cheap

It had to happen. Their amicable relationship couldnt go on forever. Well it’s not exactly the breakup of the Beatles or anything but reports from around the state indicate that the bachelor groups are already dissolving and the bigger bucks are not popping up on trail cams.

If you make a habit of ticking off the progression of the annual deer biological changes, this puts you one step closer to that magical time of the year when the boy deer get stupid and the girl deer get nervous.

It is interesting to see another year where the use of crossbows is legal in this state. I am seeing more people in the market for crossbows than ever before. The high cost of most decent crossbows will keep the Budget Hunter from jumping into the deep end of the pool for a while but, just as things have gone with the evolution of the compound bow, slightly used crossbows will pop up on the market and the chance for yours truly will present itself.

It is the 2nd weekend of bow season and I’ve yet to darken the forest. Highs this weekend are in the mid 80’s and still no rain in sight. I could put a glass of water on the ground and have deer come from miles around I think. Of course that would be hunting over bait and illegal so it will have to remain conjecture. Speaking of hunting over bait, two officers with the TWRA have been accused of hunting over bait. I’ll talk more about that in my next post.

Stay cheap

Bow season opening is always quieter than the 2 yet to come - muzzle loader and rifle but this season appears to be starting off quieter than most. Between the heat and a killer disease, this season looks to be off to an auspicious start. Deer reports seem low and the lack of hunters braving 90+degree heat may have a lot to do with it. This week’s temps promise more of the same with record breaking or near all-time highs on slate for nearly every day. I urge any fellow Tennesseans to shoot me a message to let me know how their opening went or even if they went out last weekend. I skipped it in favor of some auto repair and couch vegetation in light of the heat.

Thank you Lord it is finally upon us. Tomorrow morning at shooting light, the pandemonium and the passion that is deer hunting will kick off in Tennessee. I was visiting a friend of a friend at his place yesterday - looking at a muzzle loader if you want to know the truth. Mike Morrow is his name and he has been hunting for about as long as I’ve been alive. Mike has a garage that would make a grown man slobber. You can see right away where his passion lies. One entire wall is covered with about 13 or 14 white tail mounts. Good deer all. He also is a hobbyist drag racer and has more tied up in cars and engines than a lot of people have in their houses. Mike lives just into Georgia and hunts both. For my readers that dont know the geography of Tennessee - Chattanooga sits in the Southeastern most corner of the state. We are 10-minutes from the Georgia state line and 30 from Alabama. North Carolina is about 90-minutes so you can be in a lot of places in a hurry. Well the point of all this is to say that Mike can and does hunt just about anywhere. He has won awards for his archery skills and worked for a while with my cousin in the archery business. I trust Mike’s opinion about hunting. I am sure you know someone that talks a good game but generally is talking from a part of their body not known for words. Mike isnt that guy. So when he said what he said, he really surprised me. To the point that the look on my face made him immediately explain what he meant.

So what did he say? The suspension is killing you isnt it?

Mike said, “We live in the worst place for hunting deer anywhere.” As I said, my response was one of immediate surprise. He qualified his statement by saying that you can - go in any directions North (Kentucky, Illinois, etc), South (Alabama’s black belt), East (Georgia and the Carolinas) and West (Missouri, Kansas, et al) and find better deer. Dang if he isnt right. Tennessee has never been known for producing big deer. We dont have the dirt of some states nor do we have the desire of the bulk of the hunters to lay off the little ones. The TWRA (TN Wildlife Resources Agency) is doing a great job of managing the deer herd in this state. The problem is that there are a litany of issues preventing them from managing for Monster Bucks. A shame really but it is what it is. Does this detract from me and thousands of hunters experience? Heck no. What it does mean is that we here have to be realistic about what we expect to see. Unfortunately it also means that we do have to travel to see th big ones on a regular basis. Sure we will produce some big ones. But never a field full like you can see in Illinois or Iowa.

So tomorrow morning in the darkness, I and thousands like me will see what all our hard work of planting and scouting has gotten us since last winter. And I for one, couldnt care less if I see a 180 class buck, a nice little 8 pointer or a plump doe. The tradition and the passion that we as hunters have is only satisfied when we enter the deer woods and climb a tree or enter a blind. Good luck to each and everyone. Hunt safe, hunt smart and thank a veteran and God Almighty for our wonderful freedom to chase our dreams.

Well the clock is winding down in Big Orange Country. With the Volunteers looking as bad as they have in the Fulmer era, the move this weekend into hunting season will be made even easier. While prowling the local forums I noticed a large number of guns up for sale. Much like the number of boats and motorcycles that suddenly come out if the woodwork at the first sign of Spring, what better time to catch a deal on a gun or bow?

The season opens in two days. I think I peed my pants

Thanks to you guys for your feedback! I enjoy reading your responses and I value your thoughts. Just to prove it, I’m going to buy one! I’d considered them in the past but reading how you feel they are perfect for use while hunting. The greatest thing about the blog world is the sharing of experiences to the betterment of each of our times.

Any other thoughts on alternatives to high-dollar flashlights?

I have mentioned that my wife wouldnt believe me if I told her one of the main things I love the most about hunting is just being in the woods. My blog has focused mainly on gear up until now for a good reason - Season doesnt open for 10-more days! All I can talk about is gear for now - although it looks like Im going to miss opening day due to a baby sitting quandry for my son. But that’s ok because we are blessed with a good long season in Tennessee.

So I mention one of the things I love is being in one of the most beautiful of God’s gifts - the great outdoors. Well now for my deep dark secret. I love camo doodads. I couldnt care less what it is for or how much I’ll use it, if I can get it for less than $5 and it is camouflage, Im on it! Hats are a big thing for me. Gloves too. I might be addicted but I dont care. I’m happy with 90% of my clothing gear. I covet a good wool vest like those in the Cabela’s outfitters style. I’ll get one sooner or later but it wouldnt do for me to have everything now would it? And the way I love to bargain shop for doodads, it would spoil it for me if I had it all.

For those of you that watch the Realtree shows - Road Trips with Michael Wadell, Monster Bucks or any of the Sunday morning shows - you know who T-bone is. Travis Turner, aka T-bone, has graciously allowed me to interview him.  Fans of the show stay tuned. T-bone is coming.

Tell us about what flashlights you’ve had the best luck with. Ground rules is that they cant cost more than $40.00 so this should knock out most Surefires and the like - although I bought my brother-in-law a Surefire Nitrolon flashlight for $39.99 off ebay last year so there may be one or 2 out there with one of those that qualify.

What lights up the night for you? I have one in every bag and no 2 are alike. I prowl over flashlights all the time. Ive used the mini-mag lights and a little of everything else.

So what’s in your pocket, dash or bag?