The last few weeks I have been doing some last minute tweaking getting ready and in anticipation for the “Big Show” that is upon us. I have been moving a few stands to better locations, finishing doing some food plots, checking trail cameras and clearing shooting lanes, these last few weeks. This year it appears I will be hunting in only 3 states with ND, SD and MN getting the nod. I was denied my West River Rifle tag in SD that was a major downer but expect to possibly pick up a archery tag for a few trips out there to the edge of the Black Hills just South of Rapid City.
However, this past Friday at noon the ND archery season opened and even though I was not in ND. I was dreaming of those big bucks the properties we hunt tend to hold year in year out. With even more excitement from every phone cal of confirmation of trial camera and sightings by my buddy Paul. I did however spend this past weekend with Stacie’s family down at her brother Tyler’s in Redwood Falls as her parents came out to visit for the Holiday. Our lil’ boy Gage got to see his Grandma and Grandpa as we worked on Tyler and Sarah’s house doing some remodeling. I did however get to sneak away down to the Honey Hole and check on the property, get one last stand hung and check trial cameras.
This past Summer I have continued to be amazed by a new product that I have been using since Turkey Hunting this Spring. That product is Gamehide’s Elimi-Tick Clothing. With all the Turkey hunting, food plotting, trail camera checking, setting, stand hanging, and lane clearing I have done, I have yet to have a single tick on me while wearing this clothing. 
So what is the big deal??? Well last year while food plotting up on North on the Family Ranch it was not un common to have a half dozen or so ticks on you at days end with one time the day ended for me having 15 of them. 
The neighbors next door actually have called their place “The Wood Tick Ranch” to give you some idea of the type of test I put this clothing through thus far. I have been up on that property 7 different times doing work up there this Summer. So with that property, all my other work in and hunting the woods this Spring and Summer, I’m pretty sure I have put this clothing through a pretty good test with 100% repellency so far. To check out Gamehide’s Elimi-Tick Clothing Line CLICK HERE. I definitely give this stuff two 
and with all the increased tick borne illnesses hitting society today, I’m glad along with my family can sleep better knowing I’m wearing this clothing in the woods.
This year down at the Honey Hole seems pretty normal as there are a few bucks that are real close for me being shooters and one that just might be big enough. Although I did not have a trail cam pic of him this last go around, he is a nice 4×5 that just might be in the mid 130’s and could be calling my name that I have named oddly enough “The Big Show”. Otherwise there are bucks like Beamer who is a real nice 4×4 in the low 120’s, and another decent buck like Curve (a up and comer 4×4). There are not too many bucks down there make it to 3.5 years old as many fall victim to slug hunters at 2.5 years old when they are sporting decent headgear. In my 10 years of hunting this property I have only seen one buck make it past 3.5 years old and only a few past the 2.5 year old mark. Well the time we have waited for all year is here or just around the bend as me trek into mid September here in the next week. All those sleepless nights we lied awake dreaming of Mr. Big are about to replaced with exhaustion and excitement for that opening day sit. Good Luck to everyone this Fall and may your arrow find it’s mark! Until next time Lip is outie!