Independence Day

The Fourth of July is one of the most celebrated holidays in America.  And rightly so.  But, amidst of all the fireworks, some might lose sight of the importance of this day.

The year is 1776, and the 13 American Colonies have started to fight against Britain.  The Continental Congress, with Thomas Jefferson doing the most of the writing, wrote the Declaration of Independence, stating our, well, declaration of independence from England.  They explained the reasons why they wanted independence and addressed certain grievances that the colonists had against the king.  The Congressmen signed the document on July 4th, 1776.  On July 8th, as the Declaration was being read, bells sounded in joyous harmony marking the birth of a nation!  But, the new country still had a war to wage, and trials fought through, and independence won.  In 1783, it finally came to pass after the surrender at Yorktown.

That is why we celebrate, to mark another year our nation has stood.  But it can only stand as long as we help it to.

Budget Hunter

I wanted to say a few words on my being a hunter.  I am just a teen (a polite one :) , and saved by Jesus).  I don't have a dozen stands or trail cameras.  I don't have a TV show on the Sportsman Channel to give me funds for food plot and habitat management.  In other words, in how much I can do for the property I hunt on is probably just as much as any teen.  I will be honest, a lot of my gear was given to me.  I either asked for it or was given it as a gift (even if I didn't ask).  Most of that stuff I would have bought myself if it had not been given.

I have a $70 Wildgame Innovations Axe 2 gamecamera.
   My bow is a Parker Side Kick.  It performs well for a youth bow, pretty quiet and accurate.  It has the "grow-up-with-Parker" program, which means I can trade in the limbs that came with the bow for thicker limbs for $50.  I get to keep the old limbs for when I go to a new bow and I put the slimmer limbs on for my siblings.
   This I write for the memory of my great-grandfather (dad's side).  A few months ago I posted a picture of my first deer. The gun in the picture is a Winchester Model 94AE, given by my great-grandpa.  He died just a few weeks ago.  I was happy he saw the rifle put to good use before then.  And he was proud of it too.
   All of the land I hunt on is of course, not mine.  I get permission from my grandfather (my mom's dad). You could say that I get a "free lease."  This year my family plans to hunt with me on it, so I have to get a few food plots in to get ready.

I could write more, but, that's all I want to write for now.

Ice Storms

A almost two months ago we had a bad ice storm in my part NC.  Some people were without power for almost a week.  Personally, we regained power after half a day.
A lot of tree tops were down, causing brush piles in many places.  But whole trees went down as well.  In one place a tree caused other trees to fall on other trees that it created a nice sized opening.  My instant thought: food plot!  Bedding and night feeding is close by, and deer have been in those woods.  I've seen a doe and a couple rubs in that location.  I know some that have management plans different from mine, say, planting oaks where trees fell and created an opening, which is fine.

Keep camera's running and keep scouting, because something good will come out of it!

Trail Camera Update

So, in the last post I promised to show you all some of my recent pictures.  Well, here they are:

Apparently deer aren't the only ones at the feeder.

My feeder was a little dirty after the raccoon incident.  But, well, at least some deer are coming.

Short, but I did what I promised!  Until next time!!

Trials and Tribulations of a Treestand

Hello from Snow Camp Outdoors!!  It's been a while, I know, things have been slow and I have some posts drafted, so be ready for some updates in the following weeks (even days!).  Besides that, I recently put up a treestand in my front yard!!  75 yards away from my house with a small food plot in front of it.  Not bad right?  It is a two person stand by Ameristep.

Behind the stand

Next to it, looking up

Looking at it from my plot

The stand is not that high, only 8 feet.  It is really only 20 to 25 yards from my stand to the plot.  It took me and the help of two 9 year old boys to put it up.  But we did it.  

  Once it was up, I tried to tighten the "installation" straps.  Did it, then went to the ratchet straps.  I couldn't figure it out, but eventually I did.  Then, I found the installation straps needed more tightening!  I took maybe an hour, but I was really proud once I put it up, my first stand.

  So, what is the plot?  Well, it's clover and chicory, but it's just coming up.

The feeder is out there mainly to get deer coming into the area.  So when the plot comes up, they'll eat it.  By the way,  I'll post some of my recent pictures soon.  

Until next time!!