Cade Hawkins surveyed the area surrounding his tree stand location shortly after dawn while searching for a trophy buck during a fall bow hunt.

“Around 8:15, a nice buck came toward me cold-trailing a doe with his nose to the ground,” Hawkins said. “I grunted at him just as he went out of sight, but he never stopped or paid any attention.”

About 15 minutes later, Hawkins spotted the deer coming down the trail and closing fast.

“He came within 5 yards of me and looked up toward me, and then turned and ran off a few yards, and stopped and looked back at the wrong tree,” Hawkins said. “I had pulled to full draw, and as soon as he stopped I found my spot and released the arrow.”

The arrow found its mark and plunged into the vitals of the buck, and it ran a scant 15 yards before expiring.

The veteran hunter from Senatobia made the perfect shot when the opportunity presented itself, and he harvested the buck of his lifetime.

The 10-point main-frame buck gross scored 173 4/8 inches Pope and Young.

Astonishingly, the buck was the result of intensive management using all the resources at Hawkins’ disposal, as well as expert woodsmanship, hunting skills and summer time mineral licks.

Only a few years ago, Hawkins couldn’t have dreamed of killing a trophy buck such as this. How times have changed, as new technology such as game cameras and mineral supplements have evened the playing field.

Hawkins has also become a more-selective hunter, preferring to harvest bucks at least 5 ½ years of age.

Mineral licks and game cameras

Part of the equation of harvesting mature bucks is letting them walk until they reach at least 4½ years old.

Proper management of the habitat and the deer herd are key components, as well, but another key ingredient to Hawkins’ success is the use of mineral licks and game cameras to find and keep watch on potential trophies.

“With the use of mineral licks and game cameras, we know exactly how many bucks we have and can keep up with them through the summer and fall,” Hawkins said. “If they make it through a couple hunting seasons, we are usually able keep track of them over a period of years.”

After looking for a good product to attract deer, local bow shop owner Ricky Kennon decided to make his own blend that would be good for the general health of the herd and also attract deer.

“Finding and monitoring this deer right up until he was harvested with the use of mineral sites made a believer out of me for Red Spot Plus,” exclaimed Cade Hawkins!

The veteran hunter has used the mineral licks to inventory the deer that live on his property and the surrounding area. “I look forward to hunting some of the other bucks that I know live there also, and it’s only because I have become aware of the benefits of mineral use,” he said. “By managing my property and by being a good steward of the land and animals, and by using minerals, I’m adding to the health and wellbeing of the herd where I hunt as well,” Hawkins said.

Game cameras and buck surveys

Cade Hawkins usually applies his mineral licks right at the end of turkey season and keeps them going through the summer and fall.

Within the first month of monitoring the mineral sites via game cameras in 2011, Hawkins spotted one deer that stood out from the rest – a 10-point that looked to be mature. He followed the buck until December when one of his young hunters harvested the 153-inch 10-point.

That only added to the evidence that combining mineral licks and cameras is a formula for success.

“Finding and monitoring this deer right up until he was harvested with the use of mineral sites made a believer out of me,” Hawkins said

The veteran hunter has since used mineral licks to inventory the deer that live on their property and the surrounding area.

“I look forward to hunting some of the bucks that I know live there, and it’s only because I have become aware of the benefits of mineral use,” Hawkins said. “By managing my property and by being a good steward of the land and animals, and by using minerals, I’m adding to the health and wellbeing of the herd where I hunt as well.”

Mineral licks are very good during the summer and because there’s no feed for the animals to eat, there’s no worry about coons or deer eating it up overnight. After the minerals dissolve in the soil the deer will keep coming back again and again. To keep human activity in the area down, simply refresh the spots about every 30 days and you’ll be in business.

Primos Red Spot has stood the test of time and is readily available at most sporting good stores and is easy to use and relatively inexpensive. When it comes to locating and keeping up with trophy bucks you just can’t beat it when used with game cameras. Now’s the time to get your mineral licks out and your game cameras turned on!

Call Mike Giles at 601-917-3898 or email mikegiles18@comast.net.