Mark’s Blog

As I have explained before, I’ve got a great job. I get to talk “Whitetails” with Hunters from all over North America. I love to hear their stories whether they are successful, have close encounters, or suffer from pure frustration.

The stories I really find intriguing are the “get away” tales.  How  Odocoileus Virgianus…or as I call him Mr. Nocturnal Disappearous can flat out vanish.

Like the story about the one who only travels in a drainage ditch to stay below the line of sight, or the one who swims out into a beaver pond and submerges his head so just his nose is above water.

How about the one who belly crawls through knee high CRP and slips past eight hunters who have the field “surrounded”. I can almost picture them (the hunters) yelling “Come out with your hooves up”……….not this time chumps!

There is the old buck who camps out (beds) inside an old abandoned barn, or the ones who swim a swift moving river or a mile wide lake.  How about the one that spent all gun season perched on top of a muskrat house in the middle of a cattail swamp in the upper midwest?

Like great magicians…they are masters of illusion, poof, they are gone! Like the Wizard of OZ said “Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain”.  Makes me think that maybe Houdini was part Whitetail! You gotta love it !

Good Hunting.

Mark

As some of you may know, I make my living as a Professional Pilot, which helps support my deer hunting addiction. While flying across country the other day, my partner on the flight deck and I were playing the “trying to stay awake game”(if the public ever knew what really happened on  flight decks, they would all drive to their destinations,  I do !).

The question was asked what man’s greatest invention is. Jake, my flying partner (and hunting buddy) voted for the computer chip.  A good answer and certainly marvelous things have come from it in the last 30 years.  Lap tops, robotics, iPods (my kids favorite), cell phones, space travel, advancements in medicine, etc. There is no question the computer chip certainly has made our lives easier.

My answer you ask? Fire. Now before anyone says “Man didn’t invent Fire” maybe “harness” is a better term. But just imagine how those first Brontosaurus Ribs tasted (can you say BBQ!), or how it warmed up a dark, damp, Cave, or Teepee on the Dakota Prairie.  Envision the Roman’s forging a metal sword, or the local Blacksmith re-shoeing your horse.  Pioneers drying wet clothing from a Missouri river crossing while trekking west. Heck, even Jack Daniels needs charcoaled barrels to make his fine adult beverage.

Remember roasting marshmallows when you were a kid? Or a warm fire back at camp after chasing Elk on a snowy mountain top. How about fighting for a spot next to the fireplace at Cracker Barrel before ordering Uncle Hershel’s Breakfast, or the sound of wood cracking under a heavy iron skillet filled with fresh Walleye at a classic Canadian Shore lunch. 

As I write this, it is 61 degrees here in Mississippi on March 1st.  I am sitting in front of my fire pit in the back yard, mesmerized by the sound of the crackling flames and its warm glow.  Yup, my vote for man’s greatest invention….. fire.  I just want to know when Michael Dell can come up with a longer lasting battery for my laptop!

Mark Bernegger

Ahh Spring, Budding Trees, Fishing, Turkey Season, and the annual cleaning of the Man Cave (the Garage).  Nature jumping back to life from the grip of Old Man Winter.

 Spring is also a great time to get ready for next Deer Season. It wouldn’t be long and those bucks that gave you the slip you last season will start growing their antlers back. This is my seasonal reminder to freshen up my mineral licks and search for potential locations to start another. The next 4-6 months is when your whitetail population will utilize and get the most benefit from these licks. 

Every spring before “green up” I pack a lunch, take my aerial map, and pick a section of my hunting property I normally don’t spend much time on. With map in hand, I get “intimate” with it by walking every inch.  While “exploring” I mark unique features such as game trails, potential treestand locations, water crossings, and certain types of trees such as white oak or persimmon.  It is amazing how pieces of the “puzzle” come together using this method of scouting. Combine this technique with shed hunting and it makes a fun filled day in the woods. Throw in a morning turkey hunt and it’s the Super Bowl of a spring day.

Another great spring scouting tool is to fly over your property in a small plane. If you know someone with a pilots license great! If not, just visit your local airport or look in the Yellow Pages under Air Services or Aircraft Charter.  Tell them you want to fly over your hunting property.  A four seat Cessna will cost approximately $125 an hour to rent with pilot. Take two of your hunting buddies and divide the cost by three.  If you have never done this before trust me, it will be the best “scouting” money ever spend. You will be amazed at what can be seen from low level flight.  Of course best time to do this is before the trees get their leaves. Be sure to take your aerial map with you so discoveries and unique features can be marked down while airborne.

Now clean up that Man Cave and get scouting….there is only  185 days until season kicks off, time is short !!

Mark Bernegger

Swine, Hogs, Pigs, Razorbacks, Piney Woods Rooters…whatever you want to call them, parts of the country have populations reaching epidemic populations.

Like Zebra Mussels, Lamprey Eels, and Fire Ants…these eating machines are raising havoc wherever they live. Capable of three litters a year (6-12 per litter) these predators (yes, predators) are destroying habitat and wildlife at an alarming rate. Like Vacuum cleaners on 4 legs, nothing is safe in their path. A hogs diet can include, (and not limited to), snakes, acorns, farm crops, grubs, road kill, turkey eggs, whitetail fawns, etc. Bottom line? Nothing is safe in their path.

I have witnessed a single hog run a herd of deer, and flock of turkeys off a food plot. A dozen hogs can turn a $1000 clover patch into a rooted up mud hole overnight. With no natural enemies, mostly nocturnal, and arguably the smartest animal in the woods, populations are exploding out of control all across the country.

State Wildlife Agencies are worried, with many states allowing hunting at night and spot lighting. Several states have no closed seasons, which tell me they are taking this invasion serious. A well know wildlife biologist told me “If you don’t have hogs now, it’s only a matter of time and you will”.

We (sportsmen, landowners, farmers) have a responsibility to address this epidemic by hunting, trapping, and using trained dogs……whatever it takes. And just because you live north of the Mason-Dixon line, don’t think you are immune, these rooting devils are showing up in places like IL,WI, MI, PA.

Trust me, I pledge to do my part to keep their populations in check, and when I do……Please pass the biscuits and gravy.

I have been a  pilot for 30+ years, with twenty four of those professionally. I have flown dozens of different Airline and Corporate Aircraft. Large, sophisticated jets have redundant systems, meaning if one system fails, the other(s) will back it up.  Each of these aircraft have what is called a Minimum Equipment List or “M.E.L.” The M.E.L. tells the pilot the minimum amount of equipment  needed on that aircraft to safely complete a flight.

Well I have an M.E.L. for when I go hunting.  Items that I consider the “minimum” to go hunting with, for a safe, enjoyable experience in the outdoors. My Back/Fanny pack always contains the following items:

Binoculars
Range finder
Scent Killer
Multi-tool
Gutting/Skinning Knife
Safety Harness
Nylon Cord
Cell Phone/Signaling Device
Water/Sports Drink
Compass/GPS
Matches/Lighter
Flashlight
Gardening Tool

Now before you say I am a walking advertisement for the Cabala’s…let me explain.

-Binoculars…I immediately saw more wildlife after breaking down and buying a high quality pair of binoculars. They help me see better (and clearer), especially in low light conditions. “Quality” is defined as the best pair you can afford…don’t waste your money on a $49,$99 or even $150 pair.  Even if it takes several years to save up for it, trust me, it WILL increase your success.

-Scent Killer….what they can’t smell, they can’t detect…if you are like me…I am usually sweating by the time I reach my stand….My wife says I need all the help I can get !!

-Range finder…especially important when hunting a new area….don’t risk wounding an animal because of misjudging a distance.

-Multi-tool…to many uses to cover here! Worth every penny. I use mine everyday at work, play, hunting, fishing, etc. A must for every Outdoorsman.

-As great as the Multi-tool is…..gutting/skinning calls for a “knife” !

-Safety Harness…Need I say more?

-Nylon Cord…from pulling your gun/pack up into your stand, to emergency repairs,first aid, drag line, etc…handy, handy, handy.

-Cell Phone/Signaling Device…You never know when it might save your bacon.

-Water/Sports Drink…keep yourself hydrated.

-Compass/GPS…Even on your Uncle Lee’s Farm….you can get turned around tracking a wounded animal on a dark, rainy night.

-Matches/Lighter…For that warm fire (or signaling) when you forget to take your compass!

-Flashlight…next to the Multi-tool…a must.  Spend the extra $$ and get a REAL flashlight…it is worth it.

-Gardening Tool…I know, sounds funny, but I love to make mock scrapes, plus it gives you a place to relieve that Sports Drink (which is a whole other Blog).

There, that’s my M.E. L. …Yours  may vary slightly…develop your own and see if helps make your outdoor experience more enjoyable.

Mark

I have a great job. I get to talk “Deer” to hundreds of hunters from across North America all year long. The kind of hunters who think about the majestic whitetail 24/7, guys whose wives and girlfriends think they are nuts. My kind of guys!

While talking to these fanatics, one conversation almost always comes up….”I buy quality seed, run soil tests, and fertilize, my food-plots are a thing of beauty, like something from a magazine, however, all I see are does and small bucks.

My advice to them? “Back Off!”

By “Back Off”, I mean move those Box Blinds, Ladder and Loc-On Stands back off the food plot. The biggest mistake I see hunters make is to set their stand right “on top” of their food plots. Move those blinds and stands 20-100 yards off the plot, preferably on the downwind side. Brush in around your blinds/stands to help them blend in with their surroundings. I know one very successful hunter who actually builds “Camo Walls” leading to and from his blinds. By doing this he does not spook or educate the deer to the blind location. A bit excessive yes, but you can’t argue with his trophy room !

Another consideration is when hunting food plots, try to only hunt them once a week, and only during the afternoon hours. Morning hunts tend to run deer off the plots. A food plot should be a place for a whitetail to feed, and feel safe. Remember, a relaxed deer is a dead deer!

So the next time you visit your hunting property, go to the center of the food plot and see how you can “Back Off”. This will lead to more deer and bigger bucks.

Mark

I discovered a way to “Hunt” Whitetails  24/7…..365 legally. How do I do it? Trail Cameras.  Now before you say “I have been doing that for years”, lets step back in time.  A few years ago, I purchased a Trail Camera and went off to the woods. Back  in their infancy, these units were primitive, complicated to use, and went through batteries like Clinton through Interns. I got frustrated in spending  hard earned cash at Wally World’s Photo  Department on rolls of film that might have a couple of “usable” pictures, and the rest of the roll either under/over developed, and worthless.  Needless to say, it did not take long to lose my enthusiasm (and pocket change).

Now lets step into the present. Having received permission to hunt a new piece of property, and my job having me traveling 16 days per month….I needed to find out what kind of deer this property held.  With the the price of digital cameras getting below $300, I decided to bite the bullet and try a trail camera again.  I did my research, scoured the Cabela’s On-line product reviews (a great feature) and settled on a Moultrie I Spy60.

After  only two weeks of “camera hunting” I have 12 different bucks on disk.  Every week, I swap out the memory disk (watching the wind and using proper scent control). My wife says I am like a child on Christmas morning when I sit down at the computer to see what “new” deer have shown up.  What a great tool….I get to “hunt” year round and enjoy these deer in the off season.  My favorite time to trail camera hunt? Starting the day after season closes of course!  This allows me to see what bucks made it through hunting season and I immediately start a plan of action for next year.

24/7….365.

I swear it is the most fun you can have with your clothes on !!

Mark

I think everyone will agree the future of our sport is the “utes” (see the movie “My Cousin Vinny”) of this country. Getting kids involved and keeping them interested in hunting can be a real challenge. I know a lot of anxious fathers cannot wait for “Jr” to reach that age when they can go with them on a hunt. These guys are so excited they actually sap the fun out of the experience.

I have a friend John (name changed to protect me!) who could not wait for his son to be old enough to join him in the field. On Jr.’s first hunt, an excited John hauled his son (7) out of bed at 4am on a very cold, windy morning. They stumbled through the dark (and scary) woods for 30 minutes and climbed into a two-person ladder stand for almost 4 hours. Needless to say, it was difficult for Jr to sit that long with cold feet, an empty stomach, and his father fussing at him every few minutes to be still. To this day, John cannot understand why Jr. does not want to venture along again.

Remember, kids growing up these days have more entertainment and recreational opportunities than we did while growing up. Skate boards, video games, I-pods, My-Space, text messaging, soccer, etc. are all competing with hunting for your kids entertainment activities. And the worst part is most of these other forms of entertainment give instant feedback…. unlike sitting in a freezing cold deer stand all morning and not seeing an animal.

I think if we make the sport a relaxing, enjoyable experience, we can keep the kids interested. I’ll give you an example. I am blessed with three girls. Believe it or not, there was actually a time before shopping, driver’s licenses, cars, and boyfriends, that they actually liked spending time with me. I would take them on an afternoon hunt to one of the Sportsman’s Condos on the property. I would pack them a snack, let them bring their Game Boys (set on silent!) and would have a set of binoculars for each of them. I planned our afternoon hunts to arrive about 1 hour before dark. They were comfortable and entertained. When a squirrel or a Redbird would appear, they stopped playing their Game Boys and we looked through the binoculars and we talked about what we saw. They would ask questions about where it came from, where it lived, what it ate, etc. Lots of times I would see an animal and not say anything…..you should have heard the excitement when they spotted it before Dad did!

But my biggest secret was using a deer decoy. I would put it out in the field 50 yards or so in front of us and run a fishing line to the cloth tail I had made. When a deer stepped out into the field, I would let them take turns twitching the fishing line to make the tail move. I designated the “non-tail wagger” to be the scout and give us a description of what the “live” deer was doing. At the supper table that night they would give their mother a recap of the afternoon events. I have some great memories of the time spent together before the “Dad I need $20 for gas” years.

Bottom line? Don’t rush them, and make it fun.

And by-the-way…..silly whitetails………decoys are for kids.

Mark