Scouting New Ground...A New Perspective

A couple of the most powerful tools to scouting and hunting whitetails...or muleys...is an updated property map and a cell phone. I've also found that being a bowhunter never hurts either. It's mid March and turkey season is just around the corner. The shed hunting season has been in full swing for most people except me. However, this day was a particularly perfect and mild day so Kaleb Archer accompanied me on a scouting/shed hunting trip to some new territory.

I have turkey hunted a particular unimpressive, but extremely productive, feeder creek in an open pasture for several years now and was totally unaware of the fact the adjacent property was owned or rented by the same individual...duh. This area is far from your prototypical whitetail or turkey terrain. But it really doesn't matter what anyone thinks as "prototypical" because they use the pasture much more than the small strip of cottonwoods following the small creek. Now, what once was a scrubby 'ol rolling pasture with patches of intermediate grass, some dense pockets of yuccas, and mixed in a few deep draws and that is now the type of habitat I have begun to focus my attention on when scouting. Of course, this is post Heads Up Decoy thinking.

The HUD's have totally changed my mind set. In this example,  I look at this skinny 500 yard strip of cottonwoods bisecting a 160 acre piece of ground with 1 or 2 treestand possibilities and the HUD's have turned it into 640 acres of opportunity. Mostly because of it's position. You see this piece of ground abuts some of the best "prototypical" river bottom whitetail habitat in the area. 2 miles of contiguous uninterrupted river bottom with 1-2 miles on each side before a public road. There is river bottom that trickles into the property, but it is essentially open with most of the food sources well beyond the security of the river bottom...meaning they will need to use the pasture to get to the food and most likely an area for big bucks to bed up with a hot doe.

 So when you are out scouting for turkeys or shed hunting, take a fresh look at your hunting area and I hope you come away with a whole new perspective of ideal whitetail habitat...the Heads Up Decoys can do that for you.

The picture above shows the openness of this area with a small slope in the distance with a pocket of dense yucca...an ideal bedding area for a rutting buck with a hot doe. On a side note, the heart of a yucca makes a great back rest or pillow.

 

In the back ground you see the property line. We don't hunt on property lines, but you can see the river bottom bend to the right into the pasture.

The take home message is, use every inch of property you can. The Heads Up Decoys can literally take a wheat stubble field with a terrace, a pasture with knee high cover and some terrain, intermediate grass and yuccas with a few slopes, and turn it into a bowhunting memory you will never forget. The picture below gives you some perspective what little cover it takes to come up with a hunt you will never forget. Be Mobile...Stay Mobile.

Kaleb, I had a great time today buddy. I can't wait until you are toting bow and arrow along side me.

Heads Up Pronghorn

The 2010 Pronghorn season provided some valuable learning points when using the Heads Up Decoy. In a rush to get in the mountains to chase bulls, I ended up taking my buck at a waterhole but thought I'd share a few things that might help others lure in their trophy with the Heads Up Decoy...

While Pronghorn hunting in Colorado, the Heads Up decoy produced a lot of excitement and adrenaline. Keep in mind that all my hunting was well before the Pronghorn rut so the decoy's effectiveness was somewhat diminished, although the reaction I received from bucks was quite encouraging in spite of the early season. I normally utilized spot and stalk tactics in my attempts to close the distance on lone bucks. The Heads Up decoy was always clipped to my hydration pack by using a simple lightweight c-clip. As I low-crawled and closed the distance on these bucks, they nearly always detected my presence prior to reaching bow range, usually around 80 yards (typical for spot and stalk in open country). This is where I employed the HUD, knowing that my traditional stalk was over.

Although the bucks knew something was near, they rarely spooked and became quite curious instead. While staying as low as possible I simply unclipped the decoy, brought it up in front of me, and slid it into the bow mount. Over fifty percent of the bucks actually began getting closer to investigate the newly discovered buck. Often, these bucks would make many approaches before finally leaving the area. Shot opportunities were only hindered by multiple mistakes by me and I'm confident a later season rut hunt would produce even more aggressive responses to the decoy. I can hardly wait to get back out there this season, filling my knee pads with cactus, and decoying in some Pronghorn bucks! This method and species is quickly rising as a favorite of mine. No doubt, the Pronghorn's curiosity can be used against him!

The small size and light weight of the HUD allowed me to combine two styles of hunting into one very effective method. The decoy never hindered my movement while walking, running, or belly crawling across the prairie. I believe that getting close to the Pronghorn before showing the decoy can be very effective and certainly creates excitement; the second those bucks start walking or running in, things happen very quickly.

Best of luck to everyone.

2010 Turkey Season

I have never had a top-of-the-line bow before and when the Hoyt Maxxis came out in 2010, I pretty much knew it was going to be my next bow. Vanderbilt's is our local pro shop and I was basically all-in with the Maxxis, the Hoyt quiver, and the Hoyt drop away rest. Turkey season was right around the corner and what better way to break in a new bow...and a new turkey decoy.

 A turkey decoy had been in the back of my mind since the beginning, but what kind of turkey decoy was the question. When the Heads Up Decoy Bow Mount materialized, it was designed with some really sinister thoughts of pronghorns at point-blank....and turkeys.

The original turkey decoy idea deviated from the integrity of the HUD's and it was time to rethink the turkey decoy concept and redirect. There were some sleepless nights, which isn't unusual for me given I am trying to get a new business off the ground. The first prototype deviated from my partial body concept, the second prototype was too expensive to sell, and the last prototype had one minor...well...major problem, "How to attach a real fan?"

Already into the turkey season, I was scrambling around trying to "rework" the decoy so I could actually get someone to purchase it in the future. I am not exactly sure how it came about, but the thought of cutting the center out of a strutting turkey and attaching a real fan seemed to be...well...doable. I cut out the center of my original prints and laid it on a fan I had and...bah-da-bing...bah-da-boom...there it was. It was go time. The Heads Up Tom Turkey Decoy was born and it was again, designed to be versatile.

My wife and I have 2 older children and 2 younger children and at the time, the youngest, Kori, was practically brand new. Turkey hunting time was limited at best, but one fine day I was able to accomplish what I set out to do with the HUD Tom Turkey. My goal was to smoke a tom with the decoy in the Bow Mount.

I was in the middle of a wide open pasture working a tom and hen when the tom had had enough of my presence. He left his hen and strutted right into me. I was hiding behind the decoy and fan inserted in the HUD Bow Mount. The tom strolled right in and I was able to easily draw my bow, settle, and...well...MISS! I buzzed the tom's head to the left with a Magnus Bullhead. The arrow flew true, but my aim was off. I had mixed emotions. I was totally STOKED that I was able to get a tom close enough to shoot with the decoy in the Bow Mount, but bummed that I missed when he was soooo close. I was trying to film myself and as the tom was approaching, I heard the camera die on me.

The next week found me picking just the right day to leave the day job early. I marinaded in Off bug spray and picked up prostaffer Justin Sherfick's Double Bull blind and camera. I nestled myself on the edge of an alfalfa field where we had seen turkeys spending the afternoon there on a daily basis. It wasn't long when activity began to pick up. Several hens came up and out of a small wooded draw and headed towards the creek to turn up cow pies. One lone tom later appeared and could not resist a look. He amble across the alfalfa field and strutted right into the decoy set. He was beautiful. Rio Grande tom turkeys are really beautiful birds.

I ranged the edge of the field where I assumed my shot would be. He strutted right in to that very spot eyeballing his competition. I settled my pin on his head and WHIFF! I gave the tom a reverse mohawk. I was utterly disappointed. I couldn't believe I missed again. Well, I did get some great footage.

The Heads Up Decoys are an exciting brand of decoys that are extremely effective and versatile. The Tom Turkey decoy is certainly one we will have loads of fun with. We look forward to the 2011 turkey season and hope to get some redemption. We wish everyone great success this turkey season and we hope the HUD's helps you. Please enjoy the footage by clicking the youtube link below.

2010 Turkey Hunt

Heads Up Decoy Tom Turkey Decoy

Heads Up Decoy is excited to finally introduce our version of a usable and versatile tom turkey decoy. The Heads Up Decoy Tom Turkey Decoy.

Honoring the integrity of our partial body decoy characteristics, the Heads Up Tom Turkey Decoy essentially takes the center circle of a strutting tom and gives it life by sliding a real turkey fan into the "Fan Slot". The "Fan Slot" secures the real turkey fan into anatomical position completing the decoy and adding realism.

 

As a veteran turkey hunter, I have seen many different turkey decoy set ups...and have used many decoy set ups myself. If a fan with no body can work, then a fan with a partial body will work better. And given the fact that...again...we have designed a hassle free decoy...I believe I have design the ultimate tom turkey decoy that embodies the term "versatility". Realism being obvious, versatility, and above all, usability is something I take great pride in when designing the Heads Up Decoys. I want the Heads Up Decoys to work in conventional settings, and to create opportunities when conventional tactics need to be abandoned and a more aggressive and unconventional application needs to be implemented.

As we have proved through the use of our other decoys, we believe this decoy will result in opportunities when opportunity doesn't seem likely because we have designed the "hassle" out of the decoy as can sometimes be the case with the 3D full bodies. I agree, the 3D Tom decoys look great, but they are pretty much stuck where you put them.

Wanted to touch on a few philosophies on why this ended up being the design. One...pretty much most experienced turkey hunters have chucked out a hen turkey decoy and "offed" a tom or a jake. And, pretty much most experienced turkey hunters have repeated this several times over...and if you haven't...you will. So, we do not include a turkey fan with this decoy. If you have a garage or shed full of fans, and you don't like toting a 3D around, but would like to have a tom or jake decoy...then this is the tom turkey decoy for you.Two...I personally believe that this decoy will be more effective than a 3D just because of the simple fact that you can create opportunities that may not have been available with the use of the other bulkier more cumbersome decoys.

The Heads Up Tom Turkey is very versatile. It is sold with a ground stake extension for conventional set ups, but can be used handheld to add movement if you are belly crawlin in the middle of the wide open. The turkey fan will mask your movement. Important point: The handle angle can change because the "Fan Slot" connections slide on the main support frame so you can use the decoy...or decoys...hint hint...in your Heads Up Decoy Bow Mount. In April 2010, I absolutely blew an opportunity to harvest a turkey with the decoy in the Bow Mount. He came right in and I buzzed his nugget at 20 yards...he would have come closer had I not thought I had him dead to rights. The Contour HD camera would have come in handy that day.

The decoy will be available for shipment beginning of February...or sooner. Thank you for your interest and please enjoy the 1 minute promo video I put together describing the decoy by clicking the link below. I CAN'T WAIT FOR APRIL!

Heads Up Tom Turkey Promo Video

In Pursuit of the Colorado Big 8

I first picked up a bow in 1997 after moving to Eagle, Colorado. I still shoot that old Jennings; it is the only bow I've ever owned. Somewhere along the way I settled on a goal of completing the Colorado Big 8. This journey is well on its way with the 2010 season contributing another three species to the quest. I was fortunate to take a Pronghorn, a Rocky Mountain Goat, and a Cougar with bow and arrow.

I am a dedicated do-it-yourself bowhunter and take pride in this type of hunting style. I savor the challenges encountered while hunting without "professionals", and often by myself. Although the typical bowhunting season may only last a number of weeks in Autumn, it is certainly a year-round activity. Planning, reading, scouting, and making plans dominates the remainder of the year and helps pass the time until I can again strap on boots and smear camouflage face paint. The 2011 season presents an opportunity to close out my Big 8 adventure. A Mule deer buck is my final target and my Heads Up Decoy will certainly be along for the action.

Elk hunting is my bread-and-butter and I enjoy the elk rut more than any other season. The magic of high alpine meadows and aspen groves filled with bugles is fuel for my soul. I've had the good fortune to take many bulls over the years and a couple of trophies. All of my elk have been killed on public land in over-the-counter (OTC) units of Colorado. These amazing creatures humble me each year and never fail to teach another lesson (or a dozen) along the way. This year's highlight was a particular day in the late bow season when my hunting partner and I spent most of a day among a wild bunch of rut-crazed bulls. There must have been over 15 bulls all hanging out together with only a handful of cows between them. All of the bulls were big enough to command some harem of their own, but they all mingled as one, big, pissed-off family! The bugling action was tremendous and the Heads Up Decoy was making a laughing stock out of many bulls. We called an uncounted number of bulls, passed on some, missed others and had a fantastic day. My partner killed one of the biggest bulls at 12 yards when he came in on a string to my calls and decoy. I've always said that I am a far better hunter than shooter and I proved it once again on this day, shooting high on a second giant bull (probably a blessing anyhow as we already had 800 pounds on the ground to deal with).

My most difficult hunts along the way have been solo hunts for a Rocky Mountain Bighorn ram and Rocky Mountain Goat. The physical and psychological challenge of these hunts was awesome and the terrain was often treacherous. Many moments during these adventures are burned into my memory forever and I can replay them in my mind at will. I look forward to my upcoming high alpine Mulie hunt and expect that it will offer some of the same challenges and hazards.

Best of luck to everyone next season. I look forward to spending a bit more time on the Heads Up blog reading and sharing more stories to pass the spring and summer months. I've made a resolution to get back into top shooting form of years ago; that big velvet buck napping in an alpine meadow may only give me one opportunity to close out my Big 8 quest.

2010 Kansas Season Recap

I spent the month of November in hot pursuit of a mature Kansas mule deer. I had multiple close encounters with the buck, but ultimately was unable to get the job done. He was killed during rifle season leaving me without a solid plan for the remainder of the season. I am hoping for some luck between now and sun down on the 31st. Regardless of the outcome, I have had a great hunting season. I have posted a story detailing several encounters with the non-typical that haunted my dreams throughout the 2010 season at http://www.sitkaprostaff.com/.

Eastmans Bowhunting Journal Cover Story

I wanted to recognize and congratulate Heads Up Decoy Pro Staffer, Matt Palmquist, for having his cover story in the 2010 November/December Eastmans Bowhunting Journal.

Heads Up Decoy had an interesting "behind-the-scene" presence in this magazine. Matt being a prostaffer, Corey Jacobsen whose Elk101.com webisodes HUDs sponsors, and "This is my DIY"...submitted by the good friend of Aron Snyder...prostaffer of HUDs...who was along and used the decoy to help harvest that elk. In addition to my standard Gear Give Away recognition.

Congradulations again Matt...that is one awesome animal. Click on the picture below for the full story.