UPDATES FROM THE PRO STAFF
We are now less than three weeks away from opening day of the 2010 Ohio Archery Season! The Ohio Pro Staff is scrambling to get those last food plots in the ground, hanging stands and making sure their Hoyts are dialed in.
PRO STAFF UPDATES 9-7-2010
East Central -
Michael Ewing & Eddie Pennington 
The season is getting closer and will be here before you know it. We spent a few days putting the finishing touches on a couple of great spots. We got stands hung in a great transition area where we are hoping to get a shot a The King Freak or one of the Tater Island bucks. We also added a new buck to our hit list and he sure is a big one. JUNKYARD visited our mineral lick for seven days in a row and we got over 120 trail cam pictures of him. We can not wait to get in the woods and get after all of our great hit list bucks.
"JUNKYARD"
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South East -
Jason & Ted Huntsman
Dad and I spent the week monitoring and moving trail cams in hopes of adding a buck to our hit list. We didn't have any luck at that but we did notice that about 50% of the bucks that were making an appearance at our cameras had shed their velvet, with the earliest being August 26. Also, the buck pictures are getting less frequent. It's that time of year when things begin to change. That can be good or bad. We'll just have to see.
A Sunday visit with my son Easton to an Oak flat loaded with mature Red and White Oaks revealed that acorns are dropping and unlike last year, there are a lot of them!
With my tiller "out of order" my old buddy Damon stopped by last weekend and worked the ground for the 2 acre plot of Frigid Forage "Big & Beasty Brassica" that I'm seeding today. Lord willing we'll get some rain soon.
Damon spent the week hanging treestands and planting food plots himself. He too noticed the acorns dropping and the velvet shedding.
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South Central -
Jeff Mullins
Last week I moved the "Round Hay Bale Blind" that Justin, Ryan and Imade this summer off to the side of the field so the farmer could bale his lastcutting for the year. We made the blind out of cattle panels, plywood, tarp andhay. I have a few pictures of the build that shows the internal workings. Weplan on using it right out in the middle of the food plot since it won't lookout of place.
I also took some steps to correct my less than
desirable arrow flight this weekend. I had a drop away rest on my bow but it just couldn't drop enough to allow good fletching clearance. 
So I added a wider mouthed drop away for total fletching clearance and I'm very glad I did. Jerry called and he, Erik and I shot our bows at some hanging clay pigeons. My last round I dead centered one at thirty yards...not like my typical shooting.
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Central -
Josh & Lisa Prater
With opening morning fast approaching, time is wearing thin as well as my patience. This summer has flown by and it just seemed like yesterday I was taking down my stands for the year. Now I'm putting them back up. Lisa and I have a new addition to the family this year. Baby Addison was born on August 11th, so needless to say I have been a very busy man, working a full time job, running an archery shop 3 days a week and now being a new dad. All I can say is wow, not enough hours in the day.
However, scouting is still a must. Relizing months ago how busy I would be this summer I knew I would have to adjust my scouting tactics so that I could spend more time with my family as well as develop my hit list for this season. So to cut down on time away from the family I added a couple extra trail cams this year. They are doing the work when I can't. This tactic has produced great results for me. I believe this year's hit list is better than last. One in particlar that has really caught my eye is Mr. Regular. We have a history together and hopefully the story will end this year. Also, my hunting partner Lisa is going to have limited time afield this year due to our new little one. Our friends Greg and Chris McElroy, also Ohio Pro Staff from last season, are expecting a baby any day now. So, this season, Greg and I will be teaming up to film. Despite all the changes in plans we are really looking forward to this season and can't wait to share our adventures with all our viewers as the weekly roller coaster ride unfolds. So good luck to all, stay tuned and God Bless!!!!!!!!
However, scouting is still a must. Relizing months ago how busy I would be this summer I knew I would have to adjust my scouting tactics so that I could spend more time with my family as well as develop my hit list for this season. So to cut down on time away from the family I added a couple extra trail cams this year. They are doing the work when I can't. This tactic has produced great results for me. I believe this year's hit list is better than last. One in particlar that has really caught my eye is Mr. Regular. We have a history together and hopefully the story will end this year. Also, my hunting partner Lisa is going to have limited time afield this year due to our new little one. Our friends Greg and Chris McElroy, also Ohio Pro Staff from last season, are expecting a baby any day now. So, this season, Greg and I will be teaming up to film. Despite all the changes in plans we are really looking forward to this season and can't wait to share our adventures with all our viewers as the weekly roller coaster ride unfolds. So good luck to all, stay tuned and God Bless!!!!!!!!
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North East / South East -
Josh Garrison & Tyler Thomas
Last minute preparations in full swing
August 26 was the first of many for this year in Ohio. The trail camera revealed what we have been anticipating all summer long, “bone”. With the acorns and temperatures slowly dropping, so too is the velvet of the majestic whitetail buck. Seeing the signs and encountering the first small rub of the year has put our excitement and anticipation in over drive. We are making sure all the preparations have been checked off the list so when opening day rolls around it’s 100% focus on the deer. We have checked stands, cut shooting lanes, made sure the Hoyt’s are dialed in, got our packs loaded with all necessary items, and finally, made sure all camera gear is in order before we hit the woods. Tyler and myself cannot wait to hit the stand in a few weeks, but making sure all preparations are done is almost as important as settling that pin and letting that arrow fly. Lord willing, we will be right there bringing the action to you. So remember, don’t slack when it comes to preparing for the season, it will pay off. So for now that’s all, and as always, God bless and safe hunting.
