Perfect Combination For Deer Hunting: Cold Weather and Rut Action (Episode 261 Transcript)
This is the video transcript. To watch the video for this episode click here.
GRANT: Thanksgiving is a very special time of year for the Woods family. It’s not only deer season, it’s a time we slow down and celebrate all the protection and provisions provided us by the Creator. This is a time of year when we can all come together as a nation, reflect on our heritage; think about the message of our founding fathers and spend some quiet time being thankful. The Woods family hopes you and your family have a great Thanksgiving.
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GRANT: I had the opportunity to bow hunt before Missouri’s gun season opened November 15th. Intern Daniel and I selected a stand we call 50 Acre East. Just to the south of the stand, there’s approximately 50 acres. We went in by hand and cut almost all those cedars, leaving a mature oak every 80 to 100 feet, and then, did a series of prescribed fires. And that created a beautiful savannah habitat, and on the north side of this slope is rich acorns. So we’re in between an acorn feeding area and a south slope bedding area, hoping to catch deer passing in between.
GRANT: (Whispering) November 13th. Cold morning – 22. Coldest morning of the year, so far. Feeding area to our north, but north is cold. Bedding area on this south ridge – cut over area all grown up. I think deer are gonna be moving into that sunny south facing slope to get warm, on this cold morning.
GRANT: (Whispering) Front one. Perfect. Perfect.
GRANT: (Whispering) Get down.
GRANT: (Whispering) The plan worked perfectly. Whoo. 30 yards, with a bunch of clothes on. I got to tell you, I was a tad bit nervous, but we’ll watch the replay. But what I saw looked perfect. It look good for you, Daniel, and the camera?
GRANT: (Whispering) Looked right in the pocket, to me. I heard a crash. Whoo. I just want to share a little bit more strategy. We’ve got a crosswind, actually, coming right through here. When you’re hunting mature bucks, if the wind is perfectly in your favor, that’s probably not where a buck is gonna be. I like to be a little dangerous when I’m hunting mature bucks and have a crosswind, or something, where the buck feels like it’s in his advantage. I bet we see some more deer this morning.
GRANT: Unlike areas where most the landscape is covered by row crop and very little cover, it can be tough to pattern deer on a property that’s almost all timber. Finding these little bottlenecks, like between an acorn rich area and a south slope bedding area, and where the slope is a little easier to cross, can be just as valuable as where two fence rows cross between bean and cornfields. It wasn’t long ‘til Daniel and I heard footsteps coming from the north side of the slope.
GRANT: It was as if these deer had read the script and stand placement was perfect, which is rare, in areas where timber is the primary land cover.
GRANT: The buck apparently didn’t read the script as clearly as the doe, because he wasn’t on the same path and was gonna pass downwind and out of bow range from our stand.
GRANT: It was a great combination of cold weather and rut action. As he ended up circling downwind of our stand and coming back around, giving us a better view.
GRANT: I hit my grunt call, once again, to try to get him in shot position, but I know better. Once a buck hears a grunt, he’s almost always already pinpointed the source of sound.
GRANT: And as he came around, he busted me in the tree.
GRANT: It ended up he was a prime three year old, and I would’ve passed him anyway, but I hate giving up stand location to a good buck.
GRANT: I don’t know if I’ve had an arrow this covered with blood this year, or in quite some time. It is a – gosh, that Havoc just really wreaked havoc. It is red. This arrow’s black, folks. You can look up here. It’s that color. Look how red this is. I mean just compare the difference there. Have you got good light on that? I mean that is just, my gosh, that is shocking to me.
GRANT: I’ve been connected with a lot of shoulders, this year, with the Havoc and they are not letting me down, so…
GRANT: Oh, it’s a big Ozark Mountain doe and here we are, right there. Right behind the shoulder. I was just an inch too high from where I was aiming. When I first get arrows, I weigh ‘em, and number ‘em right on the fletching with a Sharpie, to know which ones I want to shoot during hunting season. This is number 36. This is the fourth deer I’ve tagged with number 36, this year. Still in great shape. I’m gonna take it home, clean all the blood off of it really good, get the scent off of it. We’re gonna be able to see the BloodSport again. Put her back in the quiver, and I hope we see number 36 fly again soon.
RAE: Give it a piggyback ride. (Laughing)
GRANT: It’s a piggyback turkey. Okay. Take off, girl.
GRANT: I’m just as excited to take my daughters, Raleigh and Rae, hunting as I am to be hunting myself, or working on habitat projects. I’ve never pushed them to be hunters. I’ve just allowed them to tag along and try to keep each experience fun. And that means more than going deer hunting, sit down, shut up, and don’t move for three hours. It means helping on habitat projects, going trapping, going fishing, and learning an appreciation for the great outdoors.
GRANT: November 15th was the opening morning of gun season, here in Missouri. Rae and I decided to go to the same blind where she tagged a doe a couple weeks ago in youth season. While Raleigh and Adam went to another blind we call Boom North.
GRANT: Rae and I chose this stand, because the forecast called for a south wind. The stand’s actually located between Tracy’s Field to the north and Blue Hole to the south, but even more important, it’s right on the west side of those two fields. The magic to that is in the morning, and the thermals are cold, your scent’s gonna go to the lowest spot, just like water, and follow that creek right down the side of the field. So the only area we’re really giving up is deer entering Blue Hole from the west. The rest are 270 degrees. We should be in good shape to see deer.
RAE: (Whispering) It’s the first day of regular gun season. I just got a doe out of this stand, and we’re gonna go and see if I can get a nice big buck.
GRANT: Wasn’t long into the morning, until Rae and I clearly hear the deer walking close to the stand. Clearly in Rae’s effective range, but he’s going almost dead away from us, and we couldn’t tell exactly how old he was, and Rae was more than happy to give him a pass.
GRANT: (Whispering) I’m gonna get the camera.
RAE: (Whispering) Okay.
GRANT: (Whispering) You see the deer?
RAE: (Whispering) I see it. I see it.
GRANT: We’re pointed north, now, looking into Tracy’s Field. As Rae looks around and spots a better buck in the south end of the Blue Hole field.
GRANT: (Whispering) Is that the one you want to shoot?
RAE: (Whispering) Uh, It’s nice. It’s big. Let me count it.
GRANT: (Whispering) You want to shoot it?
RAE: (Whispering) Yeah.
GRANT: (Whispering) Not yet.
RAE: (Whispering) Not yet, I know. Will this be my last deer for the season?
GRANT: (Whispering) Yeah. It’s up to you whether you shoot.
GRANT: (Whispering) It’s a good deer. It’s up to you. It’s up to you. Tell me, before you shoot.
RAE: (Whispering) I’m – okay.
GRANT: (Whispering) Are you gonna shoot?
RAE: (Whispering) Not right now. No.
GRANT: (Whispering) Okay.
GRANT: Once Rae’s got her gun on the FieldPod, she’s tracking the buck just fine, but he’s certainly moving too much to offer a clean shot.
GRANT: (Whispering) That’s a pretty good deer, Rae.
RAE: (Whispering) Okay.
GRANT: (Whispering) Tell me, before you shoot.
RAE: (Whispering) All right.
GRANT: (Whispering) Wait until he gets really broadside.
RAE: (Whispering) I know.
RAE: (Whispering) Okay. I’m gonna take him in like…
GRANT: (Whispering) No, no, no, no. Wait for him to stop.
RAE: (Whispering) Okay.
GRANT: (Whispering) He’s not going anywhere.
RAE: (Whispering) That’s what I mean. Once he stops.
GRANT: (Whispering) Are you stable? Can you get right on him?
RAE: (Whispering) Yeah. Once he stops.
GRANT: (Whispering) Can you still see him?
RAE: (Whispering) No.
GRANT: (Whispering) Or is he behind the trees?
RAE: (Whispering) He’s gone.
GRANT: (Whispering) Here he comes back down. Here he comes. Oh, I’m not – he’s behind the tree, for me.
RAE: (Whispering) I know. He’s…
GRANT: (Whispering) Wait for him to stop. Now.
RAE: (Whispering) He’s jogging.
GRANT: (Whispering) Yeah. He’s gonna stop.
RAE: (Whispering) Yeah.
GRANT: (Whispering) Are you on him?
RAE: (Whispering) No. Not yet.
GRANT: (Whispering) Is your scope okay?
RAE: (Whispering) Yeah. It’s fine.
GRANT: (Whispering) Can you still see him?
RAE: (Whispering) Yeah. He’s crossing the road now.
GRANT: (Whispering) Can you see him?
RAE: (Whispering) Yeah.
GRANT: (Whispering) Okay.
RAE: (Whispering) He’s just turned away.
GRANT: (Whispering) He’ll come back up. He doesn’t…
RAE: (Whispering) He’s…
GRANT: (Whispering) If he turns, you should put it on him.
RAE: (Whispering) Okay. What-
GRANT: (Whispering) Are you stable?
RAE: (Whispering) Yeah. He’s still moving, though. I can’t see him, now, because of the tree.
RAE: (Whispering) Okay.
GRANT: (Whispering) He heard that. Can you see him?
RAE: (Whispering) Yeah. I can see him, now.
GRANT: (Whispering) Is there a limb in the way?
RAE: (Whispering) Yeah.
GRANT: (Whispering) Okay. Just wait until he comes out of the limb.
RAE: (Whispering) Okay.
GRANT: (Whispering) He’s gonna come back. He’s needs to come back a little bit. Now, you can see him good. Can’t you?
RAE: (Whispering) Yeah. He’s still turned, though.
GRANT: (Whispering) Yeah.
GRANT: (Whispering) Put it right behind the shoulder and squeeze the trigger.
RAE: (Whispering) Right now?
GRANT: If – if you’re on him, right behind the shoulder. Right behind it. Not on it. Right behind it. Right behind it. Squeeze the trigger. If you’re on him. Follow through. Follow through. Take a deep breath and follow through.
GRANT: You nailed him. You nailed him.
RAE: He’s running, though.
GRANT: Yeah. You nailed him.
RAE: Okay. I had it right behind the shoulder.
GRANT: Yeah.
RAE: Like I could…
GRANT: I could tell Rae was a little anxious, because the buck ran out of the field. That’s probably due to the fact that she just shot a doe and dropped it in its tracks. This deer was strongly quartering away, only taking out one shoulder, and on such shots, deer are gonna run a short distance.
RAE: I got a buck.
GRANDPA: You got another buck?
RAE: Yep.
GRANDPA: Wonderful.
RAE: Hey. I got a buck.
TRACY: All right. Where are you?
RAE: Oh. We’re down at your field, again.
RAE: Looky. Right up there, looky.
GRANT: Goodness, Rae. He’s right there. He didn’t make it 50 yards. Good God, girl. That’s no track job. That’s just a side job.
RAE: That was awesome.
GRANT: Look how far that is.
RAE: That’s awesome.
GRANT: That’s a good deer.
RAE: It started walking back and forth across the field, and it wouldn’t stop for me to be able to get a good shot. Finally, Dad grunt called and got him to stop for a little bit. Then, he kept on walking. Dad grunt called once more, and I got my sights right on it.
RAE: Hmm. Hmm. Really is big. His antlers are really green.
GRANT: Yeah. Where they’ve been rubbing the bark?
RAE: Hmm-hmm. He has a little tiny tine growing out right here.
GRANT: Anything else you want to say?
RAE: The blood trail was really good. Although, I found him before that. I shoot the Winchester .243, and it’s really good. I love it. It’s my favorite gun I’ve ever shot. And so far, with my 200 yarders, I think that it shoots pretty good, so yeah. Two for two.
GRANT: Rae and I were enjoying the event, inspecting her deer, and looking at the antlers when I noticed I had a message on my phone.
GRANT: Oh my.
RAE: Oh my what? Is it huge? Is it the George?
GRANT: It’s a double day, Rae.
RAE: Woo-hoo.
GRANT: You both. You’re both jamming.
RAE: Oh yeah.
GRANT: You’re high fiving.
RAE: Chris can get both of us, now.
GRANT: Both of ya.
RAE: Hey. We could get some sister sundaes for those…
GRANT: Sister sundae.
RAE: Sister sundaes.
GRANT: This is gonna be so awesome. Hey. Did I hear a shot up there?
RALEIGH: Yeah.
GRANT: Tell me about it.
RALEIGH: Oh, I think I got a…Drifter.
GRANT: Drifter? That’s huge, Raleigh.
RAE: That’s awesome, man.
GRANT: You’re the girl.
RALEIGH: Thank you.
GRANT: That is so awesome.
RAE: That’s awesome. Is – is Drifter bigger than mine?
GRANT: Rae. (Laughing) Rae wants to know. Probably a little bit. Rae killed a deer that…
GRANT: Stay tuned next week and see what exciting news she was sharing with Rae and I.
GRANT: The Woods’ girls double, on opening morning.
RAE: Yeah.
GRANT: You are the girl. Really. And she made an awesome shot. Deer didn’t even make it, probably, 50 yards, and it was a tough shot.
GRANT: I hope you have an opportunity to get out this week and enjoy Creation with your family, but as always, the most important thing you can do is find a quiet place, slow down, and listen to what the Creator is saying to you. Thanks for watching GrowingDeer.tv.
RAE: His name is Boo Joe.
GRANT: Boo Joe?
RAE: Boo Joe.
GRANT: I am gonna go ahead and take all the shells out, because we know Boo Joe ain’t running nowhere.
RAE: Yeah.
GRANT: The booger man ain’t coming, so – and if he does, Daddy can work this gun really quickly, but I don’t think I need to, because I know the Woods girls can take care of me. That’s awesome Rae.