The Hog Days of Summer

by LOU MARULLO | TF&G Hunting Editor

LISTEN: (5 minutes, 22 seconds)

 

MOST OF THE HUNTERS IN TEXAS find themselves scratching their heads wondering what to do during the summer months. A good old fishing hole comes to mind but if tossing a line in the water is not your thing, then what to do? Let me give you some ideas. 

Of course, you can always choose to hunt exotics year-round, but if you are looking for some real excitement, might I suggest hunting hogs and leave the rifle at home. Hunting pigs with a stick and string will surely remind you where all your nerves connect! Now THAT’S some excitement!

The first time Chester invited me to hunt with him, he said in a very calm voice that we would be hunting hogs. I never gave it much thought until I read a little bit about these beasts and what they were capable of with those huge tusks. By accepting his invitation, I was convinced that I had momentarily lost my mind. However, I never had so much fun, so much adrenaline rushing through my body. And isn’t that one of the main reasons we get up at dark thirty and try our luck at having a successful hunt?

Mid- summer is also a fantastic time to get an early start to do some scouting. After all, deer season is not that far off. Check to make sure the whitetails are using the same trails they normally use. Has the landscape changed in any way? I went back to my hunting spot before with some lopping shears, a shovel and a rake. Why you may ask? Deer are lazy creatures, and they will seek the easiest route through the woodlot. Why struggle and walk through a thick patch of thorns when they can just walk around it? With just a little work you can actually funnel the deer right to your favorite tree stand. I find a nice trail and at a certain point, I block it with tree limbs, brush and anything else I can find in the woods. Then, using my lopping shears, I start cutting a trail so it will go about 20 yards from my stand. I make it as obvious as I can by clearing a path and then raking the path clean. The whitetails that use that trail will soon start using your man-made ambush path bringing them closer and closer until they are in your sights and about to have a bad day! Just remember to wear rubber boots and latex gloves to help keep your human scent to a minimum.

These warm summer months are also an excellent time to go through your inventory of hunting supplies and order what you may need before you cannot find them, or they may be out of stock. I just recently checked my broadhead supply. I found that I needed them for both bows, compound and crossbow. Last season I tried some lighted nocks on my crossbow. I picked ones that light up blue. WOW! Those really are fantastic. I ordered more already, and they should be at my house next week. As a matter of fact, I am going to order some for my compound as well. I just have to make sure I order the right size.

Batteries are a must for any hunter, and I have a nice supply of AA’s. I mean look at what you would use them for. A range finder, walkie-talkie, flashlights and any scouting cameras you may have out in the field. That is an awful lot of batteries. The cameras alone will take 8 batteries each. 

Take this time to go through all your tree stands in detail. Check and make sure that all the nuts and bolts are tightened and in place and they are lubricated. You really should set them up in your yard and try them out. Do any of them creak or groan when you distribute your weight at various angles? Man, you do not want to be in your stand and watch a beautiful buck step in range only to have that faint sound of metal on metal. If you neglected to lubricate your tree stand, then you will understand just why they are called “whitetails.”

I don’t know about you, but this child needs to purchase some new camo this year. My hunting camo is so faded, you can no longer see much of a design. Any deer looking at me will pick me out with no trouble at all. To him, I will look like one solid color. And that is out of place in his living room.

That reminds me. If your stands are already up, bring along a friend and climb up on your stand. You will be surprised how fast things grow. Suddenly, what was a clear shot before, no longer exists. You might need to clear a little for a clean shot or you may have to clear a lot. Just remember, you are in the deer’s living room and he will need time to get used to the new look. It may take him some time to feel safe there so the quicker you take care of that, the better it will be.

As you can see, it takes some time to properly get ready for opening day. It is a horrible feeling when the night before the season begins you realize you cannot find something you know you need! It may be a new pair of boots, your deer calls, binoculars, just to mention a few. So, make it easy on yourself and get ready now so you can have plenty of time to make sure you are prepared. And most of all…

Have fun and hunt safely.

 

Email Lou Marullo at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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