My deer season started a day early on Thanksgiving, when I discovered my hunting blind was stolen. Which eliminated the spot I had planned to hunt. Without a blind or stand, the chances of getting busted increase greatly there.

  I decided to hunt from the ground and post up where I had a good view of a large portion of the property. With plenty of cover in front of me I had figured I would get a good shot at a deer. Which if I had a doe tag, I would have had plenty of shot opportunities on opening day. It has been a bitter cold season and aside from the first day, deer have not been moving on the property. On occasion a doe would be seen, but nothing with a rack. I have one more day open to get out there. I will sit in another spot and see if a giant strolls by. 

We purchased a Top Point R.T.H.  compound bow for our 17 year old son, who has a tendency to change his mind. I had done a fair amount of research before purchasing such low budget archery equipment. And I was very surprised to find many good review videos on YouTube. So we placed the order. And I had excepted the possibility of having wasted my money. However, pleasantly surprised would be an understatement.

Specs:

Overall length – 30”

Weight – 3.6#

Draw weight – 30-70#

Let off – 75%

The quality of the bow is very good. And though time will be the real judge, the bow is surprisingly solid. However the accessories are of less quality. The rest especially, it is an odd three brush shoot through design that tears fletchings up as the arrow passes through it. It will be the first upgrade made. The sights are very nice, basic hi-viz pins. The quiver, stabilizer and peep all do their intended jobs as they should. The bow has performed very well thus far. Without a chronograph I can’t give a fps for arrow speed but it is no slouch and penetrates deep into our bag target. My boy has consistently laid three arrows on top of each other within a 2” or better group. It may not be stealthily quiet, it is not particularly loud either.

I believe this bow is on par with some of the other ready to hunt offerings from the bigger more popular brands out there. It really is a great budget friendly option for anyone needing a new bow. This bow can be purchased from Amazon and Temu for around $200 ready to hunt, I would suggest swapping out the rest at the time of assembly but ultimately that’s up to you.

My wife and I managed a local campground and due to differences of opinion, we decided to move on. This was not expected and definitely not planned. Our camp was in the campground we managed. However it has always been a dream of mine to own a camp, no rented sites, and no leases. And after looking at several properties and a severe decline in morale, my wife Amber and I found our property and wasted no time purchasing it. Prepping a site and moving our cabin, and everything we had on our campsite was like riding a tornado. Everything had to happen fast as we wanted to be able to enjoy our camp. There has been many hours spent cutting Trees, clearing brush and there is going to be many more hours spent making it a property we can enjoy for many years to come  It's just the beginning for our camp affectionately referred to as "Aspen Hollow". 

This was going to be the season I bagged that giant, strutting tom all turkey hunters dream of. This was going to be the season I got it right. I even picked up a new shotgun just for the occasion. A Stevens model 320 which has proven to be a reliable, budget friendly pump gun. I even ordered a Gobble Stopper Xtreme choke tube from Tru-glo. And my Beaver Creek Game calls “Rubber Necker” box call arrived just in time. This season was in the bag.

Back to the choke tube. The Stevens 320 uses a Browning Invector standard thread pattern. I could already see the feathers fly. Except I ordered the choke tube for a Browning Invector Plus; it is not the same threads as the standard. My replacement wouldn’t arrive until after the season started. Lesson learned!

The season opener, May first, finally arrives. Up at 4:30 am, off to a section of State Game-lands that I know to hold turkey. I get set up and start playing music with the new Rubber Necker. I’ve got a gobbler love struck almost immediately. But try as I might, he was more interested in the hens in front of him than the one trying to lure him away from his flock. With a noon cut off and no commitment from “Mr. Tom” I decide to try another setup. As we work our way down a hillside to a patch of trees, suddenly there’s a bird. We change routes, head uphill slightly and across the hillside. There is a gobbler and his mate, 45 yards away and staring right at us. I know I can make the shot. I also know the pattern is going to be much wider without the turkey choke. I fired and…MISSED. I sent what was about to be my first turkey on a mad dash to the nearest brush pile.

The rest of the season went in a similar fashion. Set up, call, gobbles in response, but no commitment from tom. My setup was always just a bit off. What was to be a sure thing, turned into a learning experience in a hurry! And that’s okay with me. There’s always the Fall.

Apparently on January 20, of 2025 two suspects thought it would be fun to harass and run over a Red fox multiple times with their sleds. Whether or not the fox survived his injuries is unclear. This happened in Heidelberg township, Lebanon county, Pennsylvania. The PA Game commission is looking for more information concerning this case. I learned of it from the Operation game thief, Pennsylvania Game commission Facebook page. 

Whether this was a couple kids or adults is still unknown. Either way I hope they are found and charged immediately. This behavior gives outdoorsmen/women a black eye. Are all people who ride snowmobiles heartless animal abusers? Of course not, but that will be the narrative. And let’s be honest, hunters, trappers and anglers get enough shit from the anti’s. 

Update: Due to pressure from social media the suspects turned themselves in  to authorities.