The deer played hardball this past weekend for Parker Dyche on the TN Youth Deer hunt, so when a coyote popped out in the field, Parker didn't waste any time setting up for the shot.  Parker was hunting with a muzzleloader and dropped the hammer on this coyote at 135 yards!  Well done, Parker!  

A big congrats to Bo Baker and his dad, Barry, on their TN Youth Hunt success this past weekend.  Bo and Barry were set up in a Double Bull blind on the edge of a food plot when deer began to show up. Bo made a great shot and the deer nearly crashed dead in their lap.  Way to go, Bo!  

My little boy, Aidan, has been tagging along on hunts with me since he was 3-years old.  He has videoed a number of bow kills for me in Montana where he was to young to hunt.  When we moved back to Tennessee (a state that allows little kids to hunt) he was thrilled at the thought of finally being able to hunt for the first time. We had some close calls last year but it never happened. I've been encouraging him with the fact that this year would be the Year of the Deer for him. It's been a long time coming, but this past weekend it happened! On the TN Youth Deer Hunt Aidan killed his first deer! After a slow morning in the blind, we had two does step out in the field in the last 45 minutes of daylight. We had set up the Primos Shack Attack blind on the edge of a freshly mowed field. The deer had no idea we were in the world. Aidan made a great shot, and the deer ran just 40 yards before crashing in the woods. When we found the deer in the woods the party began! I grabbed Aidan in a huge bear hug, and we danced around in celebration. I slapped his back and squeezed him tight in proud excitement. I honestly don't know who was more excited. 
What makes the hunt even sweeter is the fact that Aidan killed the deer in the same field I killed my first deer with a bow back in high school. It was a very special hunt in many ways. Way to go Aidan! 

I made my first sit in a fresh stand I hung on the new farm my family just bought. Trail cam pix showed deer activity at this spot every morning for the last week. I've pretty much been snake bit since opening day so I decided to make the move to go in and punch some doe tags at this stand.  Deer activity came from every direction. After being winded by several deer on the approach I finally had a few come in and do right.  It was great to draw first blood on the new farm and put some meat in the freezer. 

Things are cranking up in the deer woods. It seems the October lull may be short lived as deer activity seems to be picking up, young bucks are on the move, and rub and scrape activity is showing up more and more. These are the days we dream about all year!  

Barry continues to do work on the ladies with his Mathews...

The 2014 TN Archery Deer Season is rollin! Here's Barry and Thomas after running a little Doe Patrol on a great morning in the deer woods.