It was the place where I went on my first hunt with my father. It was a 200-acre section of large timber with a few small fields. I remember how as I child, I stumbled along trying to keep up with my father. We had walked down the clear wooded road leading to a knee-high fescue field with a beautiful pond in the corner. Even though that was 35 years ago, I still remember what everything looked like. I can visually recall many hunts we encountered on the large patch of timber set within walking distance and across the road…
Author: Heath Wood
Heath Wood
Heath Wood resides with his wife Faron and their son Carson in Mountain View, Missouri. His writings have been published in many major hunting magazines such as Predator Xtreme, Bowhunting World, Gun Digest, Turkey Country, and Game and Fish. As well as several websites and blogs for over 15 years. His favorite topics include, but are not limited to deer, turkey, and predator hunting. Wood is a member of the Mossy Oak pro staff where he can often be found sharing tips and stories through his writings on MossyOak.com. He has also appeared on Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World TV, Hunters Specialties The Stuff of Legends, Hunters Specialties popular DVD series Cuttin' and Struttin', and NWTF's Turkey Call TV. Heath loves helping introduce newcomers to the sport of hunting and working with the youth in any way possible. Wood also enjoys serving up delicious wild game recipes and trying to master his favorite BBQ dishes, many of which have been featured in hunting and fishing publications. This outdoor cooking passion has led to Wood serving on the Traeger Grills Outdoors Pro Team.
If someone asks me to say the first thing that comes to mind when I think of deer hunting, my answer is summed up in one word: Scent. Many aspects of the world of deer hunting revolve around scent. As hunters, we must eliminate our human odors and any foreign smells that may cling to our clothes, gear or anything else we take into the field. For the deer, every aspect of their daily lives, 365 days of the year, revolves around their nose and what they smell. Scent is how they identify and communicate with one another. It is…
What shooting rest is the best? As a mature eastern gobbler made its way down the steep hill and out into the lush green grass, I stood in my treestand, trying to remain hidden as I tucked in behind the white oak tree. My mind quickly began racing with ideas of how to get my crossbow in position and make the shot without the gobbler catching sight of my movements. The day had already proved to be one in which things had not played in my favor. Earlier that morning, well before sunrise, I quietly made my way along…