2010 Southern Trophy Hunters Big Buck Expo

Lakeland. Not sure how we got picked to host this event, but God bless us, we did! This weekend is the return of the Big Buck Expo at the Lakeland Center. Here is all the information about this year's show, lifted straight from their website...I'm nothing but a filthy plagiarizer.

Muzzy Hunting Camp Backwoods Adventures

For the very first time, the hosts of the Pursuit Channel's Backwoods Life television show and the Backwoods Life Radio Show, Michael Lee, Kevin Knighton, and Trey Wetherington will be joining the Muzzy Hunting Camp at this year's Big Buck Expo's. In their seventh year in outdoor television these good 'ol Southern boys are sure to bring a backwoods spin to the already popular and entertaining Muzzy Hunting Camp sessions. Michael, Kevin, and Trey have hunted all over the united states and beyond for anything from whitetail to alligators to antelope with their southern roots and backwoods ways of getting the job done. As award winning tv hosts and radio personalities, these guys are sure to liven things up at this year's expos!" Check the guys out at www.BackwoodsLife.com

Flint Knapping & Primitive Archery with Billy Berger

Whether we hunt with a .270 Remington or the lastest Mathews Bow, as hunters most all of us are fascinated by our hunting ancestors who truly did things "the hard way". Billy Berger has spent the last 20 years perfecting his primitive weapon skills. Billy not only Builds bows, Arrows and Knaps Arrowheads, he hunts with them! If your asking, the answer is yes! He does put meat in the freezer each year. Make sure you stop by the Midwest Land Company booth and see Billy at his trade; it's amazing! Check the em out at here!


Equip 2 Conceal Firearms Courses

Equip 2 Conceal Firearms Group offers educational courses in firearms training taught by NRA Certified Instructors. Our courses will meet and exceed the Training requirements necessary to receive your Florida Concealed Carry License which is also valid in over 30 states. Our company and our course has been featured on ABC, CBS, & FOX NEWS! Our staff of 26 instructors includes prior Military and current Law Enforcement. The cost is $90 class includes your CWP packet with application, passport photo, notary service, Range fee, firearm rental, ammo, and target. After completion of the class you get your Certificate to apply to the state for your Concealed Weapons License. You can pre-register for any of our upcoming classes by visiting www.equip2conceal.com or toll free 866-371-6111.

Don't Miss Hunt Church with Randall Myers

Sunday Morning, Muzzy Hunting Camp room ~ Don’t miss Randal Myers at our pre-show Sunday morning service. Randy is an avid outdoorsman and a true follower of Christ. Randal is a good ‘ol Southern boy. Born and raised in the Deep South and serving in ministry most of his adult life. Currently he and his family are living in Lakeland and he is the preaching minister of Highlands Church of Christ in Lakeland. I have personally had the pleasure of hearing Randal speak; you will not regret spending time with him. The show opens at 10 a.m., however the Sunday Morning Service is open to both exhibitors and the public at 9 a.m. Hope to see you there!

Gun Store: New This Year!

We'll have a special gun Section this year hosted by Shoot Straight. All the top brand names in rifles, pistols and optics will be available for sale at show only prices.

Deer Scoring

Bring your buck and have find out just how big he really is, OFFICIALLY. Official scorers will be on hand all weekend.

Friday July 9, 2010 - 3pm-8:30pm

3:00 pm Show Opens
5:00 pm DNR-Public Land Hunting/Law Changes Q&A
6:00 pm Primitive Archery - Billy Berger
7:00 pm Muzzy Hunting Camp
8:30 pm Show Closes

Saturday July 10, 2010 - 9am-6pm

9:00 am Show Opens
10:00 am DNR-Public Land Hunting/Law Changes Q&A
11:00 pm Muzzy Hunting Camp
12:30 pm Equip to Conceal - Weapons Training
1:30 pm Primitive Archery - Billy Berger
3:00 pm Muzzy Hunting Camp
6:00 pm Show Closes

Sunday July 11, 2010 - 10am-5:00pm

9:00 am Church Service
10:00 am Show Opens
11:00 am Muzzy Hunting Camp
12:30 pm Equip to Conceal - Weapons Training
1:00 pm Primitive Archery - Billy Berger
2:30 pm Muzzy Hunting Camp
5:00 pm Show Closes

Basic ticket prices are $10....and whatever the Lakeland Center charges for parking. I enjoy this event every year as a chance to look through new hunting gear, get a feel for hunting trends, and catch a seminar or two. This Friday I will be handing out swag with fellow Mossy Oak ProStaffers. Hope to see you then.

Guest Post - Connecticut Deer Hunting

To me, deer hunting is more than an opportunity to escape the house, put some meat in the freezer, or hang horn on the wall. It's a discipline, and I take every chance allowed to learn more about my craft and how it is practiced in various parts of the country.

As such, I invited the author of Whitetail Woods, Rick Kratzke, to share what the hunting experience around his stomping grounds of Connecticut is all about, and he kindly offered this post.

In some ways, Connecticut is a state much like Florida - strong populations of whitetail, passionate sportspeople, yet largely ignored by the hunting press because neither region is known for B&C antlers.

So thanks to Mr. Kratzke, and I hope his information will help advance your education of whitetail deer hunting.


Connecticut offers some good Deer Hunting
By: Rick Kratzke / Whitetail Woods

Well I received a request to do a guest post for Ian Nance of "The Wild Life" and I was happy to oblige. I know Ian is from Florida so I am going to talk a little about deer hunting in New England - Connecticut to be exact.

I live in what is called the "quiet corner" which is the northeast corner of Connecticut. I have lived in CT. all my life, but I have only been hunting for what will be 20 years this coming season. I have been lucky enough to take quite a few deer in that amount of time. For me, I started out bowhunting then picked up the shotgun then muzzleloader and rifle. After injuring my shoulder I gave up bowhunting and stayed with the firearms. I always did better when the temperatures dropped anyway.

Just an FYI, if you can not hunt with normal archery equipment in CT. due to a medical injury you can apply for a handicap license to hunt with crossbow, with a doctors approval.

Typically in Connecticut, bowhunting season starts about the middle of September and pretty much goes right to the end of December with a couple of slight breaks.

Shotgun & Rifle opens in mid November; for state land shotgun it is split into two parts: "A" season which is lottery and "B" season which is not. Private land is both A & B combined.

Muzzleloader season starts early December and goes to just before Christmas.

I can say that in the northeast part of Connecticut there is a lot of hardwoods, swamps & laurels. The hardwoods consist of a lot of Oaks both white and red. When the white oaks are abundant you really don't see the deer as much because they stay where the acorns are which means you have to put in some scouting time to find them.

I have hunted everything from the hardwoods to the laurels and into the swamps which I really like. Back in 2007 I harvested this 7 point buck which was walking between the edge of a swamp and a small dried up pond that was surrounded with laurel bushes. He dressed out at 150 pounds.

Connecticut does offer a lot of different areas to hunt including farm land, if you can get permission. Deer totals the past few years, in my opinion, have been increasing so the opportunity is there to fill a tag or two.

I hope you enjoyed this short post and invite you to stop by and browse my "Whitetail Woods".

Connecticut's 2010 Hunting and Trapping Field Guide