it is never too early to get ready. our season starts in early september. my stand is in some woods surrounded by farms and orchards. people say it is a waste to bait this early, but i think that is non-sense. sure there is plenty for them to eat on the ground right now, but when they find 100 pounds of corn on the ground -they are going to love the easy score. and they will remember where it came from. i also buy some stuff called buck jam. it is a one gallon container of thick liquid. i use the persimmon flavor and the molasses. i hang it in a tree and puncture a small hole in the bottom and an air hole in the top. it works like a drip. that usually lasts a couple months. i just go out every few weeks with more corn. last year doe days opened first and i watched an 8 pointer come into the drip 3 days in a row and could not shoot. the following monday was open season. the buck showed up right on time and came right to the drip. hammered him with my ten point crossbow.
making early adjustments to the stand is critical and so is getting your bait out early. for those of you that cant use bait, i think you can still use buck jam. i believe it is considered an "attractant" not a "food" or "bait". check your local regs before using it though. it is super hot and humid here in new jersey the first week of september. i am hoping to get a cool day or two with no bugs so i might get a shot at one in velvet. good luck fellas, it is right around the corner!!!!
he's not the biggest i've killed but looked good on opening day:
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