Daryl: This is pretty interesting really. I haven't told anyone about this yet. I've had multiple people tell me I should put one of my bootcamp sessions on video. It sounds good but I'm convinced it might not be the same as being there. I mentioned the fact watching a video of it would be similar to watching a war movie versus actually being in a war with bad guys shooting at you. It's a whole different perspective. That being said, I also feel there are "secrets" I've never divulged in my hunting techniques to many, if any. I'm getting up in years and I think it's time. I am having two whitetail bootcamp sessions this spring (2018). I know I've said it before but these will absolutely be my last ones. They are just too physically demanding on me. So, I've already started a new DVD venture that will (unless I'm totally wrong) open a lot of eyes and change the way a ton of whitetail fanatics will hunt for the rest of their lives.
I'll say right now that there is not one big secret, but there are a ton of pieces to the puzzle a lot of guys are missing. And it's the sum total of those pieces when properly placed that will increase your success dramatically.
Now the good news, I've actually started TWO new video/DVD projects. The first I plan to title "Out And About" (Out in the timber and About whitetails), with a sub-title of "Techniques and Strategies for Trophy Whitetails". My newest DVD "The Crooked Hat Chronicles" was compiled footage of over 700 hours of personal film/tape. It was a monumental task to edit that so it made some sort of sense. Yes, I added a few segments on tips and techniques but this next one will be the meat and potatoes rather than throwing out a crumb or two.
I've already got some of it filmed. Now it'll just be a matter of bringing some important stuff together without making it too overwhelming. I'm convinced a viewer has to be educated AND entertained a little in order to keep it interesting. Once finished it'll just be a matter of editing it before production.
Now, more good news. I've already started yet another DVD that will be totally different than any that have been done before (that I know of).
I shot that nice buck this fall on October 30, 2017 (173 6/8" 7.5 yr. old.. thank you very much God!) So.. just prior to that I had a brainstorm. I went into an area deep within a block of mature timber and set up a situation similar to how I normally hunt, except I didn't hunt it. I "detailed" the set-up; hinge-cut a couple trees; barricaded a little at precise angles; doctored a couple scrapes/ overhead limbs; raked it out to create some visuals and generally nudged their normal movement to one precise spot. Then I put a trail camera on that spot and set it up to record ten-second video clips rather than just photos. I put the camera out on October 24, 2017 then backed out for just shy of a month. What I ended up with was 458 ten-second video clips documenting the major portion of the whitetail rut this fall. Each ten-second segment contains the Date; time; moon phase; temperature, etc.
The end result was mind blowing in my opinion. You could watch wild, free-ranging whitetails going through the progression of their rut totally unmolested and natural. The viewer can watch/feel the pulse of the rut; the calm relaxed demeanor of the herd basking in the glory of a great mast crop and mild October days; then the temps start to drop, some frosts hit; the leaves turn brown and start to clear out. The smell is in the air. The bucks are ready but the does aren't. Cruising bucks; sparing; etc. Then all of a sudden someone flips the switch and the peak of the rut is apparent. Wow... active chasing at full speed, etc. You get to watch normal everyday deer activities that most of the food plot sitters have only heard about. Not only is it educational but it will light the spark on what it's really like when you/we aren't there.
I already had all 458 clips burnt onto DVD discs. Next I need to edit a master and do an audio overlay to explain some findings, then make a master and produce it. I plan on titling this one, "Charting The Whitetail Rut 2017".
Anyway... stay tuned and have patience. I'll get these done as soon as I can. Thanks. bw p.s. Daryl please send your USPS mailing address to
[email protected] and I'll send you a freebie of my Crooked Hat Chronicles just because you got the fire going under me again for the next ones. I like to share. Thanks. bw