Is he back? And on his way to growing bigger than ever? Whether or not this Texas buck is the same deer captured on film back in 2016, it’s certainly one fine specimen, and a great way to kick off our HIT LIST contest.
One of the neat things about game cameras is their ability to help you monitor the health and growth of your local deer herd. Mike Hedlund of Arlington, Texas, knows this feeling well, as he uses a battery of game cams to keep tabs on his Texas lease.
This year Hedlund, 70, is especially proud of a buck with which he appears to have some recent history. Look closely at the deer that helped Hedlund become the Week One winner of the HuntStand Big Buck HIT LIST contest and you will notice not only its impressive width, but also the beginnings of its distinctive, dominant right-side brow tine.
“The first photo (above) of this buck was taken early on 6/2/17, at a protein feeder at the edge of a tree line and an open field,” Hedlund said.
“The second picture (above) of the same buck, was taken on 6/7/17 at a corn feeder approximately 200 yards down the same treeline. At this point, we believe this to be a buck we saw this past season, a deer we believe to be 4 1/2 years old,” Hedlund continued.
“The third photo (above) shows what we believe to be this same buck, a photo taken on 1/28/17, at another protein feeder.
“The fourth photo (above) shows this buck at another area of the ranch, back on 11/27/16. All photos were taken on our lease in Texas.”
For his Week One win, Hedlund will be sent a new-for-2017 Thermacell MR450 Handheld Repeller (see image above), valued at $35. More good news? There are 11 more opportunities to win a MR450 of your own.
To enter the HuntStand 2017 Big Buck HIT LIST contest, simply send us a few clear, digital trail cam photos (two to four) of a buck (or bucks) taken in the summer of 2017 (day or night images, photos accepted through Sept. 18). Include a few sentences detailing the type of terrain/area where the image(s) were captured (field edge, favorite stand site, etc.) and some info on the buck(s) pictured. Do you have any history with the buck? Is the buck a likely newcomer to your area? Is it somehow unusual or unique for the area? What weapons/seasons will you use to hunt the pictured buck(s)?
Along with your photos, include your full name, age, photo date(s) and state, and also be sure to include your mailing address. Your e-mail subject line should read: Big Buck HIT LIST! Send your photo(s) and requested info to: [email protected]
Thermacell took years of feedback from their customers aimed at the Handheld Repeller, and completely revamped the design, creating the new MR450. The redesigned grill allows for better airflow in an upright position, which helps emit a more-effective zone of protection if attached to your belt. The ignition switch is 50 to 80 percent quieter, and every unit comes with a belt clip for easy access and storage.
Maybe the most exciting feature is the indicator light, which illuminates when the unit has reached the appropriate temperature to emit the zone of protection. The indicator light will also let users know when the unit is running low on fuel—rather than being attacked by mosquitoes. The MR450 uses the same mats and butane cartridges as previous units, so users will experience the same mosquito-free sits in treestands and ground blinds.
