Americana Outdoors E-Magazine - October 2019

OPENING DAY IN KENTUCKY Every year the excitement builds as the team of Wade Mid- dleton, Steve Nessl, Kevin Giesecke, Jeff Reynolds, and Michael Wersig prepares to head to Kentucky! Heading out of Texas and joining Salt River Outfitters for the first whitetail hunt of the year has become an annual tradition – and as traditions go, this is one that everyone looks for- ward to for most of the year, and not a single hunter would miss. Since the hunts in Kentucky are evening hunts, as soon as the morning of Opening Day arrived, our team had break- fast, set up targets, and began shooting their bows. For this hunt, the bow of choice was the Cabela’s BlackOut bow equipped with the Garmin Xero Bow Sight . And since this team doesn’t pack light, other must-have gear they brought along included products from Hunting Made Easy, ConQuest Scents, Sawyer Products, and much more!

This hunt is popular for hunters targeting whitetails in velvet as Kentucky’s early season window provides great opportunity for such an encounter. Hunters travel from within and outside the state to try to conquer their quest for a whitetail buck still in velvet. While it is still hunting, and there is no guarantee that every hunter will have a chance to harvest a whitetail in velvet – believe us, three years and there’s a reason we still say the “conquest con- tinues” – just the rush from the chance is enough to keep us coming back. Upon arrival in Kentucky, our team and all the guests of Salt River Outfitters are met with clear, sunny skies and cooler temperatures than normal which has every- one hopeful that the bucks that have been spotted on scouting cameras throughout the summer will be on the move in daylight hours. The evening before the first hunt is pretty typical of a deer camp – folks telling stories, sampling bourbon from the lo- cal distilleries, and plenty of fun and games. At the lodge, Salt River Outfitters knows how to entertain with football, ping pong, an archery range, and even an ax-throwing competition. Our own Steve Nessl uncovered a hidden tal- ent as he dominated the rest of our team in the ax-throw- ing competition!

Hunting from tree stands required having a clear view of the area so the hunter (and in our case, the camera man, too!) can see where a deer may come into sight. To do this, some tree trimming is a must. With the Hunting Made Easy saw and clippers, Wade clipped off some small branches to prepare for his hunt and make sure he had the ultimate view without being seen. As the time approached for the hunt to begin, Wade and crew also sprayed down their gear and clothing with Sawyer’s Permethrin Insect Repellent in order to prevent any unwanted bugs, ticks (yuck!), and mosquitos from being drawn to them. Finally in their tree stands, more prepared than ever, and with high hopes ahead for the next few days, Steve and Wade both have their sights set on a mature whitetail buck still in velvet. Be sure to tune in to see what moves they’ll have to make to get their chances and find out if one or both of them fulfill the Quest.