We’re back! Let me start off by attempting to justify the BIG gap between articles here at Sportsman’s Junction. Here’s a few of the road blocks that derailed our consistency…
- Life is crazy. As much as I’d love to focus on SJ all the time, which would be a dream come true, that’s not in the cards right now. I have a day job and a side-hustle, on top of anything I do for SJ, and the same applies to all the other guys who contribute to this site. So work is nuts (in a good way) and family life is keeping us focused on things that really matter.
- Instagram is dying. Or at least it is for content creators like us. The fact is that we worked tirelessly for years to build a quality following on Instagram. We used this reach to spread the word about new articles and videos, ultimately driving people to this site.
Virtually overnight our post engagement tanked and has never recovered, despite continuous experimenting. So the only explanation in our minds is the dreaded “shadow ban”. Having the primary method of reaching our audience essentially cut off is frustrating and demoralizing.
- Texas Summers Suck. This summer was brutally hot and dry in the Lone Star State. When it’s 100+ degrees every day and all vegetation is brown due to drought, motivation to create outdoor content is tough to come by.
- This is a Hobby. We’re not making any money on SJ, which means we’re not obligated to push out content. It’s not some big company’s checkbook that keeps us going, it’s our passion for the outdoors drives us to continue Sportsman’s Junction. And sometimes taking a step away can refuel your enthusiasm.
texas bow season starts october 1
Whitetail beware! Texas was in a state of drought for most of the summer, but August and September rains changed that. Thanks to the late summer precipitation, South Texas turned lush and green just in time for deer season.
In a lot of ways the timing of those rains was perfect. As it currently stands, based on game camera photos from the ranch, the deer have spent a few weeks away from corn feeders, focusing on the fresh assortment of browse. My hope is that this means they will soon return to their corn routines, just in time for deer season.
Our place is low fenced so you never know what you’ll see on any given day. But the mature bucks I’ve seen on camera look promising. I have a theory, and if I weren’t feeling lazy I’d research it, that drought years are better for antler growth. This is due to the lack of alternative forage while mesquite and huisache beans (full of protein) remain plentiful and serve as a staple of deer diets.
Looking North to COlorado
Archery elk season is well underway in CO and, although he doesn’t have a bull down yet, our boy Robert tagged his first black bear over the weekend. Reports from friends and others currently hunting elk in CO claim that the rut was off to a slow start.
This might be good for our group, which heads north for second rifle season in November again this year. A challenging rut potentially means that less hunters shoot elk, which could lead to more opportunities later in the year. We’re really hoping this is the case (no offense archery hunters), and hoping that it doesn’t snow until right around when we arrive. Only time will tell if we can replicate last year’s success.
Sycamore Creek Ranch Open for Business
I’m only going to touch on this briefly, because I intend to do an entire article on the ranch. But Sycamore Creek Ranch, located outside of Del Rio, TX, is selling hunting and outdoor experiences to the public for the first time since 2006. In my life I’ve been blessed to see countless ranches and unique parts of this state. But nothing comes close to Sycamore Creek Ranch. Stay tuned for the full write up and visit their website in the meantime for more info.
Closing Thoughts
My goal is to get more consistent with creating content for Sportman’s Junction. Although Instagram is mostly dead for us, we’ll still post there. But our focus will be mainly on this website and on our YouTube channel.
As for the fall, I’m wishing everyone good luck and happy hunting! Give ’em hell out there, but do it in a way that shows respect for the outdoors and helps conservation continue taking strides forward. Stay safe!
