Hunting Cabin Update "The New Deck"

Since this video above was filmed we have pretty much got the decking complete. My reclaimed lumber for the deck fell short. I am missing about an 8x5 foot section of decking in the back but it should go quick to finish. It took three adults and 3 kids about the age of 12 to finish the deck to this point in about 11 hours straight. The next day we constructed a storage shed that was prefabbed at my house on a previous weekend. Erecting the 4x8 walls of the shed in 30 mile an hour wind gusts was crazy hard. But the shooting range is coming along nicely.

Trophy Deer on Display

I spent a very expensive visit at the taxidermist this weekend. I picked up a couple of shoulder mounts and some Axis hides from the 2012 hunting season and three antler mounts from 2013. This past 2013 season was not the best on record for sure since we had a great acorn crop. The deer were not moving and not coming to the feeders. Since I was hunting with the kids most of the time, I was unable to really get out and stalk hunt except twice.

Why I use an AR15 for Hunting - Wild Boar Attack!

Using the AR15 for hunting has it's benefits. From the ergonomic design, to the light weight setup. But more importantly, for the semiauto and magazine capacity. Check out this crazy wild pig attack. I bet he wished he has a semiauto.

Stalking Whitetail Deer with the 300AAC Blackout AR-15

If you subscribe to my "TexasNative00" Hunting and Outdoor channel on YouTube, you might see lots of my hunts executed from a blind. Surprisingly I get lots of flack from the haters out there telling me that "that is not hunting, get out and stalk the deer like a real man". Well believe it or not, I only started hunting from a blind and subsequently feeders after my kids came along. With the little ones in tow, I can take them with me to a blind more easier than on a stalk. So please join me below on a typical hunt for me (before the kids came along). On this hunt I am using my newly built AR15 upper chambered in the 300 Blackout. As you will see in the video below, I think this cartridge appears to do very well on the Central Texas whitetail.

Opening Weekend for Deer Season

Opening weekend for White tail deer here in Central Texas has come and gone. Its the one time of the year good friends can get together and tell stories without the looming repercussions of wives and children. Even though we did not have super good luck, it was a fun time for sure. Stay tuned to the YouTube Channel TexasNative00 for more videos. Be sure and give me a shout out on Google+ "TexasNative00".

View from the fire ring after I lost in Texas Hold'em.  See the video below for a tour of the hunting cabin.

Some of the hardware brought out.  From top to bottom: 300 Blackout( seen on my NicTaylor00 Channel on YouTube, Savage 270, Remington 243, ARPerformance 6.8 SPCII (As seen on NicTaylor00)

From top to bottom: Stag 6.8SPCII, 556 M4, Stag Arms 556 (left Handed upper), 556 M4

The law showed up.

One of the guys decided to do some different hunting.  A felony for about $200 worth.

Working on the "Grand Entrance" to the camp.

The finished entrance.  See the video below for an update on the cabin.

Cull White Tail Deer Hunting for Population and Quality Deer Management

Culling low quality antlers is one of the only methods for hunters on low fence properties where having a "captive" deer population is not possible. "Low Fence" basically means the deer are free to roam where ever they choose. "High Fence" properties are properties that have a fence that is impossible for deer to jump. In return, the deer have no freedom to roam outside the fenced area and the gene pool of deer are easily managed. A Low Fence property is much harder to control when it comes to quality of deer. Over the past 10 years or so we have been focusing on low quality antlered deer (deer we believe that will most likely never grow to a trophy quality). While harvesting these lower quality antlered deer, we have also been letting the nicer deer pass and hopefully pass on their genes during breeding season. We occasionally take a "trophy deer" and as you can tell from the photos and video below, we are seeing more and more deer with better antlers. As of September 2013, I have seen only 2 deer that I deemed culls. This is in stark contrast for past years. All of the other bucks I am seeing have really nice antlers for our area.

Youth hunts are a good way to cull deer and keep your tags for a trophy buck.

No Brow tines...

A heavy antlered 8 point

Probably the heaviest deer ever taken in our area.  Video Below!

Snap shot of some of the deer we are seeing before the 2013 season.

Dove Season Opening Day

We took some of the kids dove hunting on opening day. However, our regular hunting ground is without water so I think that limits how the dove fly at our place. Never the less I went for a walk with my son since I figured we would have to go to the dove instead of wait for them. We where right but after an hour and a half of walking we only got two dove. He got one with his Rossi youth 410 and I got one. I lost mine in the tall grass and never found it. One of the other boys took a big Jack Rabbit with his 20 gauge but no dove. No one else got any birds. I guess they should have hung with the Taylor Boys...

Cleaning his dove.

Supplementing his dove with a hotdog.