How nice would it be to have a map showing the exact travel routes, bedding areas, and feeding areas of the local deer herd? That map is available; it’s just a matter of bundling up and hiking through the woods.
One of the most important preparations for deer season is to scout hunting grounds during the late winter/early spring. For some hunters, it makes little sense to prepare for a season six months from now or expect deer to have the same travel and feeding patterns during the hunting season. From my experience, however, now is the perfect time to figure out that perfect ambush point for next bow season.
Unless there has been a major change in the deer’s habitat or there is an intrusive hunter during the season, deer will stick to the same pattern in October that they have now. Deer are creatures of habit, and what they do now is what they will do in the fall.
There are two big reasons why I scout for deer now and not in August. One is the visibility of sign. In the winter, travel routes look like interstate highways, bedding sites look like craters, and droppings pop out like early spring flowers. However, in the summer, deer sign is hidden in the foliage and greenery of the woods. Now is the perfect time to find the travel routes, and staging sites between bedding areas and food plots. During this time, I even plan where I’ll place my stand, cut down shooting lanes, and figure out entry routes into the woods.
The second reason I like scouting in the winter is because I have no fear of spooking deer. Any deer that is jumped now will have no recollection of the incident by next fall. Now is the time to nose around and find a buck’s core area, the thick and brushy out-of-the-way hideout that mature bucks prefer. Any buck that sees me now will have forgotten about it this fall when I will have slipped in and placed my stand on the travel route between its core area and its feeding range, or where the does will be. Finding an ambush point and a quiet path to slip in and out of the woods is much easier now than blundering about the same woods in August and ruining my chances of setting up on that same trophy buck.
Before the mushrooms are up and the fish are starting to bite is the time to get this done. I know I’ll be out there with my 4-year-old in tow because it will be a perfect time to introduce him to the woods and have a little “adventure.”
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Local hunters should be aware that there are several outdoor events taking place across the Wabash Valley and in the state.
One of the best public hunting grounds in the state is in Sullivan County. Fairbanks Landing, 8,000 acres of beautiful, mature woods, was opened two years ago to hunters. The grounds are maintained by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources at the Minnehaha State Wildlife Area. In order to help maintain these new hunting grounds, The Sycamore Trails Fish and Wildlife Committee is sponsoring a cleanup day at Fairbanks Landing. Sportsmen are encouraged to take pride in the new fish and wildlife area by coming together and helping the IDNR clean the property of trash and refuse left behind by polluters. This is a great opportunity to see what the property is like and to clean up one of the best hunting areas in the state.
Anyone interested in helping should meet at the old Fairbanks School (Mammy’s Kitchen) at 8 a.m. on Saturday, March 4. The school is in Fairbanks just off Indiana 63 south of Prairie Creek. American Electric Power is providing lunch at 1 p.m. at Mammy’s Kitchen. Participants need to bring boots and gloves. Trash bags will be provided. Republic Services will be providing Dumpsters at strategic locations and Minnehaha will have some heavy equipment and trucks for larger items.
It sounds like a perfect opportunity to meet some new people, get to know the property and do a public service.
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There are also a couple of National Wild Turkey Federation banquets coming up on the calendar.
n The Wabash Valley Longbeards Chapter in Sullivan County will be having their banquet at the Sullivan Elks Club on March 11. To get more information about times and ticket information, contact Marvin Harris at (812) 696-2464 or by e-mail at harins@aol.com.
n The Crossroads Gobblers Chapter will be having their banquet at the Zorah Shrine in Terre Haute on March 18. This has been the biggest chapter banquet in the state for the past two years. There will be plenty of prints, guns and merchandise raffled away. Once again, Outback Steakhouse will cater the banquet. For more information, contact Bill Holloway at (812) 466-3091 or by e-mail at fhst@aol.com.
Sports
Valley Hunting: Now is perfect time to figure out perfect ambush point for next bow season
- Sports
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Eye on the prize: Indiana State's #23, Taylor Whitley chases a loose ball and is fouled by the Northern Iowa defender as she attempts to get possession of the ball during game action Sunday.
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Time for a pick-me-up
Indiana State’s magnificent 3-point shooting duo of Brittany Schoen and Anna Munn connected at crucial times Sunday in Hulman Center.
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METRO ROUNDUP: Coleman sets 200-meter record for Rose-Hulman
Rose-Hulman’s track and field teams had 18 top-10 finishes Saturday at the Monmouth Invitational, which featured some NCAA Division I and Division II schools in addition to several Division III powers.
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Indiana State connects on all 12 of its 3-point shots vs. SIU and sets three NCAA records in process
When you’re a shooter and you’re in a slump, the boilerplate cure is to summon amnesia, forget about your struggles and keep on shooting.
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South’s Lough to wrestle for state title
The day didn’t start in a promising fashion for Wabash Valley high school wrestlers at the Evansville Semistate in Ford Center on Saturday — but it got better as it went along.
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TERRE HAUTE NORTH SECTIONAL: Mooresville tops South for fourth straight title
For Terre Haute South High School girls basketball fans, it might sound good that the Braves did not miss a shot in the first four minutes of their Class 4A Terre Haute North Sectional championship game Saturday.
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BLOOMFIELD SECTIONAL: Sullivan rebounds from tough start for title
It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.
Sullivan struggled mightily in the first half, eerily reminiscent of its eventual elimination in the final seconds of overtime by Edgewood in last year’s Class 3A girls basketball sectional. -
CLAY CITY SECTIONAL: Eels take third straight sectional crown
Clay City stood up to the pressure and to the Shakamak Lakers on Saturday night to win a third straight Class A sectional championship in the Eel Dome.
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NORTH VERMILLION SECTIONAL: Twenty years in the waiting
The Super Bowl came to a new city. A presidential election was ongoing. And Riverton Parke won a girls basketball sectional.
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PREP ROUNDUP: Rox clinch WRC
Class A No. 8-ranked Rockville knocked off Attica 50-35 in boys high school basketball Saturday afternoon, clinching the Wabash River Conference championship in the process.
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Perfect game: ISU shoots NCAA record 12-for-12 from 3-point range in win over SIU
Indiana State set an NCAA record for 3-point percentage and consecutive 3-pointers made Saturday afternoon in Hulman Center, connecting on all 12 attempts during a 78-68 win over Southern Illinois.
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Time for a pick-me-up
- Local Interest
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METRO ROUNDUP: ISU track athlete selected as MVC scholar-athlete of week
Indiana State senior Ernest Rollins has been selected the Prairie Farms/Missouri Valley Conference Male Scholar-Athlete of the Week it was announced Friday.
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Union season more fun with Talpas around
The Union boys basketball team has had its share of fun moments in the past, arguably the most fun being its Class A state runner-up in 2000.
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Injury bug follows girls into postseason
Who’s healthy is the question at least three of the four teams will be asking tonight when Class 4A girls high school basketball sectional play begins at Terre Haute North.
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A day later, Giants basking in win
A little more than nine hours after the New York Giants registered their second Super Bowl triumph in four years, coach Tom Coughlin and quarterback Eli Manning met with the media covering Super Bowl XLVI one last time Monday morning.
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METRO ROUNDUP: Evans, West receive track accolades
Two Rose-Hulman track and field athletes received weekly honors from the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference on Monday.
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METRO ROUNDUP: ISU track athlete selected as MVC scholar-athlete of week
- High School
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South’s Lough to wrestle for state title
The day didn’t start in a promising fashion for Wabash Valley high school wrestlers at the Evansville Semistate in Ford Center on Saturday — but it got better as it went along.
- TERRE HAUTE NORTH SECTIONAL: Mooresville tops South for fourth straight title
- BLOOMFIELD SECTIONAL: Sullivan rebounds from tough start for title
- CLAY CITY SECTIONAL: Eels take third straight sectional crown
- NORTH VERMILLION SECTIONAL: Twenty years in the waiting
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South’s Lough to wrestle for state title
- College
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Masked man: Indiana State's Justin Gant (5) passes to a cutting player Saturday at Hulman Center.
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Indiana State connects on all 12 of its 3-point shots vs. SIU and sets three NCAA records in process
When you’re a shooter and you’re in a slump, the boilerplate cure is to summon amnesia, forget about your struggles and keep on shooting.
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ISU's Webb wins heptathlon
Indiana State’s Robert Webb captured the heptathlon Saturday at the Grand Valley State Big Meet as he totaled the second most points in ISU history while dominating the event. Webb scored 5,140 points, which is second only to former Sycamore Anthony Bertoli’s 5,189 points in 2008.
Webb, a senior, established three more personal best efforts enroute to the overall victory as he ran 8.45 in the 60 meter hurdles and 2 minutes, 50.73 seconds in the 1,000 meters while also clearing 13-1 1/2 in the pole vault. Webb entered the second day of the event in the lead with 2,893 points after winning three of the four Friday events and setting personal bests in the long jump and shot put. -
Perfect game: ISU shoots NCAA record 12-for-12 from 3-point range in win over SIU
Indiana State set an NCAA record for 3-point percentage and consecutive 3-pointers made Saturday afternoon in Hulman Center, connecting on all 12 attempts during a 78-68 win over Southern Illinois.
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‘Frustrated’ Sycamores regroup to face Southern Illinois
Indiana State’s men’s basketball struggles have hit one Sycamore senior hard.
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Thomas nets double-double as ISU women end losing streak
The halftime speech is one of the most time-worn clichés in sports, but once in a while, it’s meaningful. It certainly was for the Indiana State women’s basketball team on Friday against Bradley.
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Indiana State connects on all 12 of its 3-point shots vs. SIU and sets three NCAA records in process
- Sports Columns
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RAMBLIN' RECK: And now, on to the next beloved winter sport
The final football game finally has been played, meaning folks in the Valley can concentrate on basketball this week.
- FROM THE PRESS BOX: Peyton’s place belongs to Eli
- COLLEGE REPORT: Vikings Waters, Barton excited about college basketball
- REDNECK QUAKER: Parke County young man keeps busy outdoors
- RAMBLIN' RECK: Indianapolis is looking mighty good this week
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RAMBLIN' RECK: And now, on to the next beloved winter sport
- Pro Sports
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A New York Giants fan, center, leads a cheer as he and his fellow fans walk to Lucas Oil Stadium for Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis, Sunday.
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A day later, Giants basking in win
A little more than nine hours after the New York Giants registered their second Super Bowl triumph in four years, coach Tom Coughlin and quarterback Eli Manning met with the media covering Super Bowl XLVI one last time Monday morning.
- PATRIOT KILLER: Eli’s heroics starting to look vintage
- What a kick for Weatherford
- FROM THE PRESS BOX: Peyton’s place belongs to Eli
- Mistakes cost Patriots fourth title
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A day later, Giants basking in win
- Terre Haute Rex
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Heftier home schedule awaits Rex fans
Terre Haute Rex fans will get to see their favorite baseball team play two additional home games this year — and it will be a championship team they’re watching.
- America’s (Class) Time: ISU students analyze Rex attendance data for class project
- No comeback this time for Rex
- Rex's pitching staff has big postseason potential
- Rex earn playoff spot with 8-3 win against Danville
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Heftier home schedule awaits Rex fans
- Colts
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Colts welcome Manusky aboard as defensive coordinator
On Thursday, Indianapolis Colts general manager Ryan Grigson, coach Chuck Pagano and potential No. 1 draft pick Andrew Luck led the parade.
Grigson and Pagano confirmed the hiring of several assistant coaches, including defensive coordinator Greg Manusky, Marwan Maalouf (special teams), Roy Anderson (safeties), Alfredo Roberts (tight ends) and Brandt Boyer (assistant special teams). - Mathis, Garcon at top of Colts’ wish list; Wayne isn’t
- Manning tiptoes around health questions
- Back home again in Indiana
- Patriots first to arrive in Indy
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Colts welcome Manusky aboard as defensive coordinator
- Auto Racing
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TRACKSIDE: Valley racing showed best, worst of times in 2011
A look back on the 2011 Wabash Valley auto racing season reveals the best and worst of times the sport has to offer.
- Action Track to play host to 4 USAC events
- ISU's Troxell, Crossroads Dragway in running for NHRA awards
- Memorial service for Wheldon attracts thousands
- Indy remembers Wheldon
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TRACKSIDE: Valley racing showed best, worst of times in 2011








