Build It and They Will Come

Opening morning of the 2007 deer season found my son and I hunkered down in multiple layers of clothing, trying to keep from freezing to death in a deer stand. My son had already filled his buck tag during the black powder season. Not being an avid deer hunter myself, he decided ol’ dad could use some help. After suffering for about an hour and a half, not seeing many deer, and really needing to use a restroom, we decided to call it a morning.

Three-thirty that afternoon found us back at the deer blind. As we settled in for the evening, the drama of Mother Nature started to unfold before us. To our right was a nice 8-point buck and a doe feeding on the corn. After studying the buck intently for quite some time, I decided to pass on him. To the front of us were two spike bucks sparring and fighting; rearing up on their hind legs, putting on quite a show. My son and I found this quite entertaining. More wild turkeys than we could count were scratching, pecking and foraging in the area next to the fighting bucks. Off to our left were numerous does and fawns quietly grazing. Why were we so fortunate to observe so much wildlife at once? Simple: food plots.

Within an easy rifle shot of the deer blind are two clover patches, two corn feeding areas, a hay grazer, a millet patch plus a milo plot. Trees have been trimmed for shooting lanes, brush has been piled for the quail and rabbits, and paths have been mowed in the underbrush to allow easy movement for the deer to travel from one area to the next. This parcel of land was purchased by my son two years earlier. After many hours of planning and hard work, plus a few dollars, it was quite fulfilling to watch all the wildlife enjoy the fruits of his labor.

About four-thirty my son caught a glimpsed of a nice buck slipping through the brush. After what seemed like an eternity, the buck finally provided me with a clear shooting lane. One well placed shot later, I had just harvested my first “big” buck! The big, wide grin on my son’s face meant as much to me as bagging the nice buck. It was definitely a cherished father-son moment.

Build food plots and habitat and the wildlife will come.

This also works with people. Build a strong outdoor relationship with a wife, son, or daughter. Possibly a neighbor kid, nephew or niece, or even a co-worker would enjoy the outdoor experience with you.

Maybe, just maybe, the next time you want some company on your next outdoor excursion and you ask one of these individuals to go with you, maybe they’ll come! It could be quite rewarding!

Build it and they will come!