What's In A Name?

Welcome to 46 Outdoors

My name is Chris Carson and I hope you enjoy the content offered here. I am the founder of 46 Outdoors. The intention of this site is to bring you informative content in a fun and exciting way that will help you become a better sportsman and grow your passion for the outdoors in general, while helping to instill that same passion in the next generation. I will be working in partnership with Twisted Oak Hunting and Outfitter Supply (of which I am a member) to bring you the most up to date information on products from the hunting and fishing industries.

About the Name 46 Outdoors

Texas 46 is a State Highway in the Texas Hill Country that winds through some of the most beautiful terrain and views Texas has to offer in a generally east/west direction. On the west end sits Bandera, heading east, it runs through towns and communities such as Boerne, Bergheim, Bulverde/Spring Branch, New Braunfels, and Seguin.  Texas 46 generally follows a path that stays near the Guadalupe River once they both come close to each other near Boerne.  

As a kid growing up in San Antonio, TX, I caught my first fish at Boerne Lake; my first hunting trip was to the Rockin' R Ranch near Bandera, TX;  my grandparents lived in a home that towered among the Cypress Trees of the Guadalupe River in Comfort, TX where I fished and had great fun swimming. I went to Camp Stewart near Hunt, TX where I learned to water ski in the Guadalupe River (can you believe there was actually enough water in the river to ski) and caught my first bass (on my own, no help from anyone), and worshiped God on the beautiful banks of the river . In middle and high school I skied, fished and camped at Canyon Lake, Lake Placid, and Lake McQueeny, all impoundments on the Guadalupe River.  My parents and I took many day trips in their motor home to Guadalupe River State Park on TX 46 and Starke Park in Seguin to enjoy the river. During my college years (i spent more time hunting and fishing than going to school), my running buddy and I wore out stretches of TX 46 in our river days all the way from Lake Placid to Canyon Lake to Spring Branch to Bergheim and Boerne looking for new water to fish.  As I grew older I got married at Anhalt Hall on TX 46, and lived in both Bulverde and Spring Branch before moving back to San Antonio.  All these places are either on 46 or within 50 miles or so of this beautiful Texas highway that cuts through the heart of the Texas Hill Country. I think it is fair to say that Texas 46 has been a part of my outdoors life for a long time and (at least for me) carries a little mystique.

After all that, you would think that I have done just about everything an outdoors oriented kind of person could do along this stretch of highway, but no... I have never fly fished and the cold water that is released from deep within Canyon Lake is perfect for Rainbow Trout.  Thanks to Texas Parks & Wildlife (for stocking the Lower Guadalupe River with Rainbow Trout); I have yet another adventure to undertake.  In addition, there is kayak fishing and when the river flows like it did after the spring rains of 2015, there is whitewater rafting.  Cascade and Natural Bridge Caverns offer many opportunities for the outdoorsman and their families as well.

I have been a part of many other outdoors experiences that did not have anything to do with the Texas Hill Country, but home is where the heart is and I always feel like I'm home once I'm near TX 46.

 Now, to bring it full circle, some friends and I (that were much a part of that above) have opened Twisted Oak Hunting & Outfitter Supply, a sporting goods store that caters to the sportsman which is located at the corner of FM 3351 & (you guessed it) TX 46.  When I leave from the store on Saturday afternoons to go hunting at my lease in Hondo, I head West on 46 into Bandera before turning South on 173 to get there.  Interestingly enough, as luck would have it, during a recent fishing trip , my then 9 year old son caught his first fish in the Guadalupe River, just a few miles north of TX 46.

3 Reasons NOT To Walk To Your Stand & How To Pattern That Buck By Driving

In Texas, we have some very large properties to hunt.  To date, I have hunted properties from 200 acres to 12,000 acres.  Some high fenced, most low fenced and I have come to the conclusion, that hunting these properties, of course, requires different strategies,  Strategies change from year to year and from the beginning of the season to the end of the season. But the one thing that stays constant for me is driving to my stand.  Call me lazy or scared of the dark or whatever you want, but a little experience tells me that getting there efficiently without spooking the deer yields better results.

About 10 years ago, I hunted a property that was about 1200 acres.  There were 10 hunters on the lease and it was frowned upon to drive to your stands.  Especially if you had to pass close by another stand to get there.  So, in the interest of going along and not getting booted off the lease, I walked.  Most of the time, I had somebody drop me off at a gate and walked about 1/2 a mile mostly down a sendero to my stand (thanks to Google Earth, I know this is not an exaggeration).

Here are a few reasons Not to walk to your stand.

Noisy... I stumbled over rocks, tripped on stumps, & sweated (BUCKETS... remember we are in TX).   If there was a deer (much less a buck) bedded down within a mile of that sendero, I guarantee you he slipped out and went the opposite direction once I passed.

Safety... Every Saturday morning for 3 weeks, I got in the stand 30 minutes or so before daylight and right at dawn, a coyote would run right down the same path I took to get to the blind. The first week, I fogged up my scope trying to get a bead on him because I was still sweating.  The second week, I couldn't stop him, and the third week he made his last trip down that trail.  I always wondered if he was trailing me or just happened to be on the same trail.  But even if he was just on the same trail, that is a little disconcerting in itself, because my scent had to be fresh.  He knew I was there somewhere, and he chose to follow the same trail... You do the math!

Photo Courtesy Twisted Oak

Scent Control... Back then, the whole scent control craze was in it's early stages with the new products and scent control technology on the market.  It was new to me anyway. My idea of scent control then was more cover scents or lures than elimination. Couple that with hunting the wind and the fact that my blind was 100+ yards away, I was not too concerned.  However, we as hunters and bowhunters have learned a thing or two about scent elimination and how to use these lures and scents more effectively.  If we minimize our footprints, we minimize our scent trail.

Several years later, after many of the original members of the lease left and my friends and I took over, we relaxed those rules and allowed people to drive to their stands.  My buddy Trae had an electric golf cart re-purposed as a hunting vehicle.   He once dropped me off at my blind (a different location), I hopped out and walked about 20-30 yards to my stand.  About two hours later, while I had deer at the feeder, a doe came wandering down that road.  We had corned the road too, so she had her head down sniffing and looking for more corn.  As soon as she got to the spot where I stepped out, she stopped, threw her tail in the air, looked at the blind, and started blowing and stomping.  I was busted.  She didn't see me, she didn't wind me, she winded my trail.  From that point forward I got dropped off at my ladder.

Think about it, even if you are very careful, walking down that sendero and a deer is bedded up just over the ridge (but you don't know that), you are headed into the wind, you are wearing soft pliable soled boots that don't make noise, your backpack is soft and quiet, you are doing everything right. You slip over that ridge and there is your dream buck.  He knows you're there now, but you don't. You walk up within 10 feet of him and he bolts.  He's not stopping until he is 2 counties away from there.

Now, same story, but now you are driving down that sendero.  The buck hears you coming.  His flight response kicks in as you get closer and he runs, but since the rancher drives through there everyday or few days (let's be honest, that IS WHY the road is there), you keep going and he only runs to the other side of the pasture or he jumps the closer fence and heads down into the creek bottom. Now, at least your buck is still in the same county and you might just see him chasing a doe or checking a scrape later in the day.

Also, consider this, you may have just reinforced to this deer that this is a good place to bed.  He heard you coming, his escape route worked, he is still alive, and HIS doe is still back in the area he just bolted from.  Chances are, he's coming back... and now YOU have him patterned.

www.twistedoakhuntfish.com

8 Tips For Walking To Your Deer Stand

For quite some time now I have hunted on properties where I could drive (or be driven) to my stand. In fact, my friends and I have spent many a dollar on golf carts, ATVs, UTVs, and compact 4x4s, to get us to our stands. However, this year I find myself in the position of walking into my stand locations and this has had me thinking about preparing for that walk to my stand. How do I get there without spooking that big buck?

Fortunately, I have experience to draw on here as about 10 years or so ago I was on a lease where we walked to our stands. In my opinion, I think walking in is way over rated for a number of reasons, but that is another story (literally) and like it or not, I will be doing my share of it this season.

Control your scent... Go through your normal scent control routine and wear your scent controlled clothing. Use a cover scent if that is what you do.  I have been known to step in cow manure to kill the scent of the road and no telling what other scents are on my boots. (again, this is a another story by itself). Make sure you use a scent control spray AFTER you get out of the truck.

Carry a good flashlight (or headlamp) with a red filter or bulb (and a spare pack of batteries)...  Studies have shown that deer don't see the color red that well, go ahead and turn on that light.  It is much better to shine a red light than to trip over a rock or walk into a thorny situation.

Clear your path... Walk to your stand once or twice before deer season.  Make sure you path is clear of obstacles. Remember that something as simple as brushing up against a limb can leave human odor. When clearing that path, don't be stingy cutting that path back, but don't clear cut the forest either.

Mark your path... some landowners will frown upon the use of flagging tape and for good reason. I wouldn't want orange flags all over my property. If this is an issue, lay some tree branches down along the path at intervals and fashion them into arrows if necessary to point the way. Don't rely on landmarks. Even if you don't want others hunting your stands, you really don't want them wandering all over you area looking for your hidden stand. By the way, I have ended up lost headed to my own stand before, so don't think it won't happen to you.

Keep your backpack organized and quiet... Invest in a good QUIET backpack that will carry what you need to the stand.  When purchasing a backpack, rub it against itself or your clothes and think about what and how you will wear it. How much noise will in make? I once had a backpack that had so many pockets and crevices that I had to wad up a jacket and put it in the main pocket just to have something in there to give it some body.  I was glad I did though, because the jacket came in handy once when a cold front blew in while I was in the stand. Also, you are constantly handling that pack. It probably has snacks in it (or did at some point), or it rode in the truck with you, so don't forget to give it some attention during your scent routine. Stow all your gear and don't let items dangle.

Carry a deer call... If you stumble or crash into a bush, let out a bleat or grunt and pause for a few seconds.  Animals wander around at night too. Make them think you are just passing through.  Remember, you don't know if they are there or not, and they won't want to blow their cover if you aren't right on top of them. If you do stumble upon a deer bedded down, keep moving and don't make eye contact.  If you walk right on by, they might not run so far.

Photo by: Chuck Crowsey

Enter your stand early...  When heading out to your stand, think about getting there early.  Most of the time, a deer won't bolt out of a bedding area unless they are completely spooked. So, if you are detected and you can get there without completely spooking them, you might get a second chance if you can get settled quickly and wait them out.

Treat your daytime walk to the stand like a spot and stalk hunt... Always carry your bow or rifle as you would if you were going to stalk a deer to kill it, because you just might. Of course, gun and bow safety always comes first, but stop and glass every now and then; move slowly and methodically. I once had a hunting buddy tell me a story about jumping a buck on the way to his stand.  He was unprepared for the encounter. While he was in a stare down with this animal he was fumbling around for ammo and this big buck bolted before he could get a round chambered. While it made for a great story back at camp, it would have been better over fresh backstrap!

In general, the same rules apply.  You must fool the eyes, ears and nose to fool the deer.  This is not an easy task and can be tricky, but if you follow the simple guidelines above, you will minimize your chances of spooking that big buck.  It's not just the buck you have to worry about.  While that doe or little spike is blowing and stomping, and you are staring at each other trying not to move, that big buck is slipping off undetected.

So, what about you?  Feel free to comment and let me know... What do you do to slip into your stand undetected?

www.twistedoakhuntfish.com

Hunting The Rut

Don Bell, Founder of Code Blue Scents has spent more than 30 years researching deer behavior specifically in regards to scrapes and human scent management. In a FREE SEMINAR this Saturday, September 12, 2015 at 11:00 AM, Don will explain the rut and dispel our misconceptions at Twisted Oak Hunting & Outfitter Supply. If you want to hunt that buck of your dreams this season (not just anything that strolls out in front of your feeder) and feel confident in you strategy, be there on Saturday.  You won’t be disappointed.

When thinking about the rut, I (probably like you) have always had in my mind the images of bucks chasing does until they are both completely exhausted by the chase.  I know that this is part of the process, but I have learned that there is so much more to it.  If you are anything like me, you have had re-occurring dreams of that chase unfolding in front of your stand while you carefully blurted out a “meh” to stop this insanity while you took the shot.

I have since learned bits and pieces of other theories many of which probably hold an ounce of truth or without the correct context mean absolutely nothing.  I can’t tell you how many times I have tried mock scrapes, rubs, etc. How many times have you been winded by that big buck because you didn’t have sufficient scent control or more importantly and more likely you disturbed the habitat entering your stand?  The answer is that you probably don’t even know because you never saw or heard him. 

The truth is, we already have most of the answers, but if we can put the puzzle together in the right order, we will be much more successful hunters.  Don, who is the hunting industry’s foremost scent specialist will walk us through the process step by step in a fun, informative seminar that is sure to enlighten us.  Hope to see you there.  If you have any questions or would like to reserve a seat, comment below or call the store at 830-336-3364.

Should I Plan My Hunting/Fishing Trips Around the Moon?

As we (here in Texas) begin to look forward to deer season, many avid hunters are planning their vacation time for the upcoming deer season.  Should we plan by the moon phase?

When I was in high school, we lived by whatever rudimentary tables and such that we could find in a magazine.  We skipped out of school when the tables said good fishing (for the record, we were not the brightest and I would never condone such a thing now).  When I crossed the stage at graduation (Whew!), the Vice Principal pulled me in close and said “More studying and less fishing Chris!”.  Little did he (or I for that matter) know, I would end up with a hunting and fishing store and writing about my experiences. 

Photo: Chris Carson

For years now, I have been the proud owner of a Casio Pathfinder watch.  It has a feature that gives you the moon phase and “best times” as told by the number of fish displayed on the watch. To this day, I have a hard time resisting the urge when I see 4 fish on my watch. We have all seen the Solunar Tables printed in magazines (My personal favorite is in Texas Fish & Game Magazine).  There are other products on the market that will predict the best times to hunt and where you should be in order to bag that big buck. Rest assured I will be picking one up soon. In fact, if I can talk my partners at Twisted Oak Hunting & Outfitter Supply into it, we will be carrying something along those lines in the store.  I have my eye on the Deer Hunters’ Moon Guide.

So, should we plan our trips to the woods around the moon? Since I have owned my watch, I have been making observations that I would like to share with you.  As I understand it, there are 4 major /minor feeding times related to the daily lunar cycle: moon overhead, moon under foot, moon rise, & moon set.  Also, we are conditioned to hunt and/or fish in the evening and morning because we believe these to be feeding times or transitional periods or any number of other theories put forth over the years. 

Observations:

1. I do typically see an increase in both deer feeding/movement, and fish biting or surface activity during all of the times mentioned above.
2. The duration of activity seems to be more intense, last longer and be more predictable around a full/new moon.
3. The ¼, ½, & ¾ moons also seem to have the same effect, but to a lesser degree.
4. Usually there is a build up to the peak of activity that lasts several days and a decline, but when it’s done, it’s done. 
5. Weather will impact these observations both positively and negatively depending on the situation. Dropping pressure, front moving in, cold weather, always a good time to be in the stand.
6. This is the best one. When any of those moon phases coincide with or are close to sunset…. You better be ready.  Throw the rut into that equation and/or the right weather… I’m getting excited just thinking about it. If you don’t see anything then, move your stand.
7. UPDATE TO ORIGINAL POST:  You will notice that when major and minor feed times occur, there are tell tale signs.  There is more activity in nature.  The birds are flying and singing, the woods or the water seems to come alive with sounds and activity.  You will see more of the tell tale signs when this occurs, so be where you think you have the best chance at these times, but look for activity where you didn't see it before.  If you're fishing move to it, if you're hunting, think about these places when planning your next hunt.  Your prey hunts during these times; use that to your advantage.

These are just a few observations from a guy who spends a lot of time in a deer stand and on the water, or in a field scanning the horizon for that indisputable shape of a dove headed your way, or easing up on a dog pointing a covey of quail, or calling in a turkey from the next ridge.

Cole's First Redfish 27 7/8"
Photo: Chuck Crowsey

However, I will also tell you that there are times when I want to throw this whole theory out the window.  In fact, a couple weeks ago I went fishing with my brother.  My prediction was: we would catch fish, probably do fairly well, but we were going to have to work for them.  Long days in the boat. A lot of searching. Figuring out what they would bite. I was wrong. We were releasing keeper trout after catching our limit by noon and decided to go see if we could hook up on some reds; where we put 4 or 5 fish in the boat and I personally caught my two biggest Redfish of my life in about an hour.

So, when is the best time to go hunting or fishing? 

As I have learned time and time again… When you can!

31" Redfish
Photo: Chuck Crowsey

Personal Best Redfish as of 3/29/16 @ 31"
Photo: Chuck Crowsey