A Summary of the Year So Far

     This is just a short summary of the year at Williams Wilderness Lodge so far to help you plan for your upcoming trophy whitetail hunt. We are very proud here of the hunts we provide and work year-round to ensure a quality hunt for all. If you have considered hunting with us before but haven't pulled the trigger on it this is the year to sneak in and give us a try.
 
     It has been another solid year weather-wise. If it is possible to believe, this year has been even wetter than last year. Until last week, there has not been a period of more than three days without rain since early spring. The majority of this rain has been consistent downpours as well, not light showers. This has allowed the intermittent creek on the property to flow the majority of the year. The constant precipitation has created substantially healthy undergrowth which has been inviting for a significant whitetail deer population. Natural food plots abound throughout the property.

     The majority of our woods are white and red oak trees. The acorn crop this year will easily be the largest this property has seen under our ownership. We know where the deer will be once these acorns start dropping.

Whitetail deer will have a feast when these start dropping

     In addition to the natural food plots growing abundantly at Williams Wilderness Lodge this year, I have planted additional supplementary food plots in order to attract whitetail deer to the property. One spring plot was planted in the bottom field across from our elevated box blind. This plot was planted with forage soybeans as well as grain sorghum. The sorghum was added to create a long, thick stalk for support to allow the soybeans to grow longer and taller. This plot will provide good early season greenery for whitetail deer as well as great late season hunting when the beans are on the ground.

Soybeans draw whitetail deer in

     Additional food plots are being prepared and are set to be seeded this Sunday. I will be planting a mini-plot as described in a previous post Fall Mini Plot in the narrow field to the west of the bottom field. I will be planting it with forage oats and austrian winter peas. Austrian winter peas are the ultimate cool season food plot for big deer. The whitetails love this stuff! I will be putting up a plotsaver fence to preserve this mini-plot until it is well established. A single man box blind overlooks this area and will create some great action for hunters this rifle season as well as muzzle loader season.

Gun hunters will love this spot.

     Two more mini-plots that will be planted on Sunday will be in small openings around the pond. These will consist of forage oats and a variety of clovers.There has been much more activity from all wildlife in the pond area this year. Deer and turkey both have been getting more comfortable in closer proximity to the house this year and on many occasions I have awakened to whitetail and turkey in the yard. These plots will serve to feed the growing population and a ladder stand is situated close between the two plots.

This is a great archery stand for big deer.

     Additionally, mineral sites were established last year and continued this year. Three mineral sites were set up again this year to nourish does with their fawns in the Spring as well as give bucks the minerals they need to stay healthy and grow those big racks you are looking for. I do not use any of the overpriced BOB (Buck on a Bag) minerals that are full of salt and not much else. Each year members of Missouri Whitetails combine for a large order of mineral that is made locally at Silver Moon Feeds. This mineral consists of a large portion of the minerals deer need to maintain health as well as grow trophy racks. It contains a maximum of 11% salt, an ingredient that is a much larger portion of the mineral you buy in stores. Deer need calcium, phosphorous, potassium, and magnesium and this mineral delivers. 22% calcium, 10% phosphorous, 2.5% potassium, and 2.2% magnesium. This mineral far exceeds what most are using to improve their deer quality and I am proud to use it here.

     To summarize, I am very proud of what we have established here at Williams Wilderness Lodge in a short period. I hope this season summary has served to demonstrate that we are serious about providing a quality whitetail hunt at an affordable price for everyone. We have plenty of open dates to plan your hunt this year and (4) hunters can hunt private land at $150 a day ($37.50 per person!) in Northern Missouri's prime area for trophy whitetails. Give me a call at (928) 366-4020 and we can get you set up for the season.

     As a reminder to all of our customers that enjoyed the combination of a private land hunt and lodging, the lodging and hunting packages will be returning in 2016. As soon as lodging becomes official we will announce all of the details as well as open up reservations for the 2016 season. Thank you for your continued support of our mission to provide affordable trophy hunts in Northern Missouri.