Thursday, November 20, 2008

Changes, Take Note

Recently my server went down for a little bit. Dont fret, it should come back up today. I am in the market searching for a new hosting provider. Not that my current provider is bad, but theres better pricing available.

A new website is in design mode. Hopefully with the start of a new year will come a whole new website for OutdoorIntegration.com. This new site will have a new look, new formatting and new interaction that brings the site to life.

Additionally, I am begging work on a new product for Fishing and Hunting. This software will be something that everyone can and most likely will use. I will give people the ability to keep a journal, find weather predictions and much more. I cant let the cat out of the bag yet.

Keep your eyes on the site and get ready for a new year. Great things are on the way.

Please also take note that due to my internet provider blocking my email ports I would prefer you to email me at jeremy.hoffman(at)rocketmail.com(obscured for spam purposes, replace at with @).

Jeremy

Monday, November 10, 2008

November 8, 2008 - Second To Last Saturday

As promised Im back to furnish my findings on what went down in the deer woods on Saturday.

The weather man predicted rain, typically when i hear this if I plan to go out I'll take my blind. Recently I figured it was time to invest in a treestand umbrella, best $11 dollars Ive ever spent. It goes up fast, its light and I wasnt soaked come Saturday morning.

I finally got settled in at 5:30am, a good hour before daylight. I decided not to use a drag figuring the rain would make it pointless. I stayed till 11am and never saw a deer. I think a couple guys have made some wrong moves that caused this. Remember, public land.

Afternoon found me in a funnel Ive been waiting to hunt. Its a long walk with a bunch of gear. Climbed up, pulled the bow up, knocked my quiver to the ground. I went back down for it. After I got to the top for a second time a resident near by started shooting at birds with a .22 cal rifle. I could hear bullets impacting the trees around me and decided no deer was worth dying. I walked back to the truck. It was 4pm, I packed it up and went home.

No deer seen but the kills on the roads tell me the movement must be great, theres dead deer everywhere.

Friday, November 7, 2008

Archery Vacation Close At Hand

My joy and excitement is almost too much to handle. Next week I'll have a solid three days in the woods to relax, take everything in and hopefully harvest a deer.

My tried and true method during this time of year is a drag line. Ive used almost every commercial scent sold in retail stores. Ive also tried a few scents that were once private, smaller operations which have grown. At some point in time theyve all produced results. The cheapest nastiest stuff you can find will bring a deer in on the right day.

Recently Ive happened on to a company in PA. When it comes to dealing with items related to the outdoors. I prefer to give my money to family owned businesses, the little guy if you will. This company is called RealScent. So far I havent seen the product but archers in the forums give it rave reviews. Actually I just got off the phone with the customer service rep who gave me some good information. Having someone to talk to and make sure things are right are a big plus in my book. One thing I really liked was that i can buy massive amounts of doe in heat at a reasonable price. Its always refrigerated and should be here in time for next week. During our conversation I asked about freezing leftovers for the following season. I was instructed to not do that but rather just continue with refrigeration. If this stuff works out, I know who ill be buying from in the future.

Two years ago I took a nice 6pt using a drag line. This deer should have been an 8pt in my opinion but lacked brow tines, common in the area I killed it. I also have been seeing MASSIVE deer recently on my trail cams. A fellow hunter of the area commented on how many big bucks he has seen and I cant help but think that the great food sources combined with the mineral supplements ive been feeding the deer for two seasons have a big part of it. The deer go crazy, clearly theres a lack of what makes antlers grow in this area. Most likely a big cause is the very limited crop rotation. Its always soybeans, alfalfa or corn.

In short, I have about 48 hours in total left in the early archery season, Im pumped up and hope things pan out. This year Ive made a decision to seek out the warmest clothes I can find planning on possibly having to go into late archery season.

Ill try and give a report of my last four days, tomorrow, next Thurs., Fri. Sat.

Good luck, nows the time to make it happen. I want to end with saying, do not give up in the middle of the day. 5 out of the last 6 bucks ive shot were taken between the hours of 10 and 3pm.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Custom Flies

I am now going to offer custom orders of flies. Contact me with what you want and I will give you a price. Prices will vary based on the type of materials that must be used and time to create the fly. Max order of three dozen a person per order.

A good idea for the fly fisherman for Christmas would be to ask me to create an order based on location for you. You can then order the box you want from a place of your choice. Add the flies and Christmas morning the fly fisher in your life will have a big smile. If you would like me to choose the box also I can, price will be then included in final price.

814-380-0892

Jeremy

Monday, November 3, 2008

Greg Senyo's Wiggle Stone

Tail, Antennae & Legs: Brown or Black Goose Biots
Body: Black or Brown Dubbing
Rib: Wire of your choice
Mid Connection: 10lb Flurocarbon or Superbraid
Wingcase: Nymph Skin or Raffia
Flash: Perl
Thorax: Color of your choice, greg uses many.

Tie in two goose biots on each side to form the tail.



Tie in ribbing wire



Dub your body and counter wrap the wire.



Cut off the hook point with side cutters, you do not want this because the connection between sections cannot hold the weight of the fish.



Using a piece of mono or super braid, loop it through the hook eye, tie both ends into a second hook and hit it with a drop of superglue.



Tie in your wingcase and flash.



Advance your thread forward and tie in your antennae. These can also be substituted with moose mane for a slimmer more natural look.



Dub a small section and tie in a set of biots on each side for legs.



Take a piece of heavy mono and burn both ends for eyes, this is optional.





Tie in the eyes, dub a small amt, pull over the wingcase and flash and whip finish.

Adams Tutorial

Hook: Size 10-20
Hackle: Brown and Grizzley
Tail: Microfibbets(brown or clear)
Body: Tan Dubbing
Thread: 8/0 Brown Uni-Thread


First, Take FOUR micro fibbets, split them into two.



Use a small amount of dubbing and create a tapered body.



Tie in the base of the hackles. DO NOT TIE IN BY THE TIPS, this creates a POOR look. Use a small amount of dubbing for a base which you will wrap the hackle over. Wrap one hackle at a time. Lash down each hackle.



Add another small amount of dubbing. And whip finish.



If you wish to have a fly which rides more flush with the surface, trim out a small v on the underside.



The adams is an all purpose searching fly, when you cant match the hatch exactly or there isnt a hatch, grab an adams.

If you wish to see a specific pattern please post a comment with your request or email me at jeremy@outdoorintegration.com

Dont forget to check out http://www.steelheadalleyoutfitters.com for the blog over there with fishing reports as well as tutorials from 2008 Orvis Fly Tyer of the Year...Greg Senyo aka George Senko.

Turkeys Everywhere

This hunting season has had very few moments when it comes to whitetail encounters but the turkey population is exploding. Ive seen birds on almost every trip to the woods. Its almost impossible not to see turkeys.

Saturday evening I took a stand that Ive been saving for this time of year. When I hung the stand weeks prior I had turkeys within a hundred yards the whole time. Around 3pm I heard very loud noise above me on the mountain. Assuming they were turkeys(i was hunting deer) I decided to be a little crazy. I called out to them with just my mouth. Within 10 seconds the woods exploded with turkeys flying down off the mountain and lighting in the trees. I waited and waited hoping to get a shot. Didnt pan out but I know of more then one place I have high expectations of filling my tag this fall.

Honestly, if you can call decent and are willing to get in an area where you see bird sign you are almost assured to kill a bird. Get out there and get them!

Trade A Guided Fishing Trip For A Hunt

I would like to trade a full guided trip for a hunt somewhere other then pa. I dont expect it to be a game ranch but at least be put in an area that has good numbers and the chance i wont get ruined by another hunter(private land). If it would be on a ranch i REFUSE to hunt high fenced areas. Must be free ranging whitetail/elk/hogs. I would prefer to trade the trip with an Ohio, Kansas, Iowa or Wisconsin resident.

I would also be willing to trade a guided trip for two in Erie Pa during steelhead season or a stream in Central Pa such as Spring Creek, Little J, Penns Creek or others for EXCLUSIVE rights to a piece of property greater then 50 acres in size with the ability to create at least one food plot.

Im open to quite a few options, bounce one off of me.