Portable Stands

It's always nice to have an assortment of permanent stands overlooking your favorite spots. We have quite a few stands, some buddy stands, lock-ons, ladder, house, situated through-out the properties we hunt. Something I really enjoy though is picking up my Summit portable stand and hitting the woods. Portable stands have come a long way from there original designs. They've been converted from heavy, bulky, rather tedious set-ups to a more sleak, lightweight, easy to install, extremely comfortable stands. The variety of areas you can cover quickly is what attracted me to this style of hunting quite a few years ago. It allows you to really see what is happening on your property and find locations for your permenant stands. I can go from a good bean field during early bow season, to a plentiful acorn drenched oak ridge, then a great rutting / breeding area, back to a favorable food source in the late season. If you haven't invested in a portable stand, look around at the various styles and price ranges. Find one that suits both and hit the woods in search of an unchartered territory. Good Luck!!!

"Your adventure begins at DAYBREAK"

Tame the heat during early bow season

Wow, it's such a gorgeous day today. It's overcast, slight breeze, mid 80's...reminds me of early bow season. Which reminds me I need to get my Under Armor, bug suit and ThermaCell out and make sure everything is in good working order. Those are three things I can't do without when early season rolls around and the mosquito's are on the prowl. Another good idea is to find a good hydration backpack to have the H2O readily available on those long trips to the stand or when dragging your harvest out. The early bow season, though sometimes unbearable, can be tamed with a little preperation and the right gear. Happy Hunting!!


"Your adventure begins at DAYBREAK"

Baiting vs Trails

When I go deer hunting I want to see deer, thats the point of going right? I grew up hunting over corn piles, mineral blocks, food plots and would see deer on a fairly regular basis. The more experience I got watching deer and their behavior is that they seemed to come in cautiously. They almost know that what they're munching on isn't natural in their habitat. About 7 or 8 years ago my father and I started using our potrtables and setting up over well used trails on oak ridges, bottoms and where small pines met mature pines. We didn't see the amount of deer as we would over baited areas, but there was something interesting I noticed. I started seeing better quality bucks. The bucks I saw seemed very relaxed and just took their time, unless the rut was in full effect. Also the doe's seemed less nervous and didn't spook as easy as over baited areas. Now when we scout after the season has wrapped up we start looking for more heavily used trails in new locations for the next season. I still love to hunt the baited areas early and late, but when the bucks seem to disappear I'm going back to that well used trail.

"Your adventure begins at DAYBREAK"

Wanna Beat The Heat?

For those of you who can hit the lakes during the summer months in the dead of heat, my hats off to you! Don't get me wrong when the bites on and strong, heat's not an issue. When the bite goes away I'm beating the heat and watching the stars and moon while I wet a line. Summer time night fishing is a blast and alot cooler. Taking your time during night fishing you can rake up some incredible numbers and a chance at a wall hanger. I enjoy using plastics and jigs with rattles in shallow water around structure and using a finesse retrieve. The report I'm getting the last few weeks in our local lakes is they are killing them and a few have been hawgs. The next time the bites not there and you're tired of wiping the sweat out of eyes, look for the night time bite. Enjoy!!

"Your adventure begins at DAYBREAK"

Public Hunting Land

Hunting land this day and time is hard to come by. The land is either too expensive, taken by another hunt club, owned by large crop farmers that want allow hunting, or owned by animal lovers or by landowners who have had trouble with other hunters!! When we're able to score a great piece of land we need to treat that land and the owners with the utmost respect. We're not only representing ourselves, but Hunters in general. It may be a good idea to start looking at public hunting land as a means to fulfill your passions. Not all of us have access to great public land, but if you do you may want to start learning that land as well as you know your own backyard. If you're willing to walk a few miles, you can find incredible hotspots on public land. A few years back I was hunting some public land in South Carolina. My father, a friend and I had walked a good piece back and found some great trails so we all spread out a few hundred yards and set up. About an hour before dark I heard something tearing up the woods in front of me and all of a sudden an amazing high racked buck, looked to be a 150 - 160 class, came running wide open. The angle I had on him and the trees in front of me didn't offer a clean shot, so I saw a clearing he was headed towards and before he got there he spun around on a dime and was gone. My heart sank and I still think about that big boy, from that moment on I was a believer in Public land hidden gems. Next time you have a chance to give public land a try just remember that your buck of a lifetime could be roaming around.

Bow Hunting

I've been looking at new bows lately and can't really make up my mind. My father has a Mathews and I love it. The speed is amazing, it's as quite of a bow as I been around, it's light and is very balanced. I have a Pearson Renegade I've owned for at least 8 years and have harvested many deer with great accuracy. I added a pendulum site a year ago and it is grouping the best I've seen it. Do I need a new bow? Is the hype of something brand new and of the latest technology really a big enough draw for me to give up ol' trusty. I guess the grass may not always be greener on the other side!!


"Your adventure begins at DAYBREAK"

Summer Bass Fishing

It's the summer time and bass fishing has gone deep again... so you would think. I've been hitting the lakes the past month and the water temps are around 85 - 88 degrees. I love fishing Texas Rigged with 1/8 oz. - 1/4 oz. weights and a 5" creature bait... it's my confidence set-up. I started a few weeks ago in deeper water around points and deeper secondary coves only to be a little disappointed. I changed my water depth and retrieval speed and bingo, my bites and catches increased. Since then I have been searching out 2' - 6' depths along the sunny side of the lakes and around fallen trees and shore structure. It may change tomorrow but until the bites stop that's where you'll find me!

I would love to hear your confidence set-ups as well as see your trophy photos. Happy Fishing my friends!

"Your adventure begins at DAYBREAK"

Whitetail Deer Bow Hunting

Well, hunting season is eleven weeks away and I'm getting geared up. I live on the border of North and South Carolina so I enjoy early bow seasons. We start around September 10th and go through January 1st. I love the chance to tag a full velvet buck, although I've only had the pleasure of harvesting partial velvet bucks... I'm still on the quest and hopefully this is the year! Whatever your dreams are this season I hope they all come true!

I would love to see your velvet trophies, so please share your photos with me.

"When the daybreaks, magic happens"