Walk-A-Buck, Whack-A-Buck

By Ted Nugent

Bowhunting the wily, mystical whitetail deer of my ancestral Michigan marshlands sure keeps a guy on his predator toes. Following the greatest Detroit Muscle rock-’n’-roll tour of my life, I needed the soul cleansing healing powers of nature more than ever, and total escape was mine from the very first step from the stage into my sacred deer grounds.

Swapping my Gibson Byrdland guitar for my Mathews bow immediately calmed me like a swoosh of medicinal mist deep into my soul, and the joy and fiery energy of my musical dreams morphed seamlessly into the Spirit of the Wild straight from the hand of God.

Our quaint little 800 square foot swampland log cabin beats the hell out of any five-star ritzy hotel anywhere on the road, and I entered my natural predator realm as if I stepped magically from hunt season 2021 into fall 2022 without skipping a beat.

I hunted hard, nonstop day in and day out from early September, and my arrows were flying true and the sacred venison flowed like manna from heaven. With 73 deer seasons under my belt, it almost seemed like I had zeroed in on the mysticism of deer life, and I was almost feeling a bit cocky.

No matter the lessons learned and the strategies honed, all hunters know all too well that right place, right time is the guiding reality of backstrap dreams, and I was batting a pretty-decent percentage considering.

My daily bowhunting regimen consists of a few more gory details and preparations than that of most bowhunters. For many, many years ago, I decided to dedicate my hunting life to promoting the hunting life just as much as enjoying the hunting life. Therefore, instead of just camoing up and grabbing my Mathews, I also add a vid-cam bag and its accompanying supplies in order to film all my adventures for our Ted Nugent Spirit of the Wild TV show 34 years running.

With the new shows destined for our new home on Pursuit Network in January 2023, I make it a point to start out each hunt a little earlier in order to set up the vid-cam stuff and film the essence of my experience to share with the viewers in order to bring them mind, heart, body and soul into the effervescence and spirit of my hunting grounds, sights, sounds, and energy.

With my new knees and 74-year-old body, I make it a point to go a little slower and focus on my stealth and sneakiness on the way to my chosen stand these days, and quite honestly, when hunting, slower is always better.

With the vid-cam bag and backpack slung over my left shoulder, a small bag of deer chow in my left hand and my Mathews in my right hand, I carefully tiptoed through the forest and the mucky marsh on my way to the big hogback ridge where my ladder stand awaited me.

With a series of jagged, heaving, glacial cut ridges to traverse, I took advantage of the breaks in the uneven terrain to peek over each elevation before proceeding in hopes of pulling off one my favorite bowhunting tricks.

You could say I was still-hunting on my way to my stand, and numerous times over the years such a strategy has rewarded me with what I consider the bowhunters ultimate coup; spot-and-stalking the elusive whitetail on its own terms.

Lo and behold, as I carefully eased up over the final ridgeline, there he was: a fat, butterball forkhorn buck contently gobbling up some of the big, white oak acorns on the other side just about 35 yards below.

As my eyes connected with him, his head jerked up and he stared a hole clean through me. Fortunately, two heavy trunked tulip-popple trees formed a large V right at my eye level, and holding statue-still, I was able to win the stare down.

As he lowered his head to resume feeding, without discarding my camera bag or backpack, I used the cover of the tree trunks to only move my arms to retrieve a GoldTip arrow from my bow quiver, and silently nock it on the string.

Ever so carefully, I eased to the right of the treetrunk V, came to fulldraw, and sent one of the prettiest arrows of my life straight down the slope right into the crease behind the buck’s shoulder, and it was all over but for the barbeque!

The 400-grain GoldTip arrow zinged downrange at about 225 feet per second from my light 50-pound draw Mathews, and with the razor sharp two blade broadhead, sliced clean through the 150-pound deer like a hot knife through soft butter.

The buck leapt, tail up, raced for 50 yards, spun around once and hit the ground dead in mere seconds.

Oh, what a feeling!

Surely, I get a supreme kick whenever I put a good arrow on a deer, but when still hunting on the ground right there with the animal, one’s predator senses are at an all-time high, and the sense of accomplishment is accentuated like none other in the hunting world.

I for one will always hunt my way to my stand. For one never knows what lies ahead, step for step, move for move, in the always exciting, stimulating, challenging world of the mighty whitetail deer.

1. EDC knife

Ontario Knife Company’s Old Hickory Outdoor Folder has a slip joint, 2.9-inch, high carbon steel blade that has a hardness rating of 56-58 HRC. The blade’s drop-point shape makes it perfect for most any task, whether you’re cleaning trout along the side of the stream or cutting a piece of rope to help make a makeshift turkey blind. The handle is made from walnut with brass liners for a classic feel and durability. Made in the USA.

Visit ontarioknife.com.

2. Turkey Dot scope

The new Vantage IR 1-4x20 Turkey Dot riflescope was specifically designed to be a lightweight. The reticle offers fast acquisition of your target. The 4 MOA illuminated center dot aimpoint is surrounded by a circle that measures 10 inches at 25 yards, when on 1x magnification. The floating nonilluminated posts at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock give additional guides and level confirmation for improved accuracy and rapid target identification.

Made with a 4-inch-long eye relief, capped low-profile 1/2 MOA turrets and a new clean reticle designed specifically with turkey hunting in mind.

Visit hawkoptics.com.

3. Hangtime Backpack

The first pack of its kind designed specifically for treestand hunting. The Hangtime Backpack solves frustrating failures once and for all with a rigid, EVA-molded shell that holds it shape for simplified, accurate use in the field. Utilize all 750 cubic inches inside the large main compartment, and react quickly with easy one-handed access through the front or top. Specialized storage space is plentiful for every piece of hunting gear imaginable: from specialized optics and game call pockets, to quiver attachment points and a removable bow carrier. The Hangtime Backpack has everything you need for success in the trees and beyond.

Visit tenzingoutdoors. com/shop/hunting-packs/ hangtime-day-pack.

4. Shotgun furniture

WOOX introduces the Gladiatore suite of furniture for Mossberg 500/590/M88/Shockwave pump shotguns. Gladiatore components are built from genuine American walnut, combining Italian design and offering more utility than the original equipment they replace.

The Gladiatore Stock is crafted and hand-finished, with an innovative aerospace aluminum coupling that ensures a solid fit. A raised comb and four ¼-inch LOP spacers with a microcell butt pad combine to make this stock a solid upgrade for any shooter.

The Gladiatore Club Grip is a beautiful upgrade to the Mossberg Shockwave pump action shotgun. Solid American walnut, crafted and purpose-built with a bulbous flare sporting deep checkering for a secure hold, especially in wet or sweaty conditions.

Visit wooxstore.com.

5. Ankle holster/wallet

The Hide-Away Security Wallet not only carries wallet essentials, but sports an ankle holster to carry a lightweight micro-pistol. Features include:

• Built-in elastic wallet gun holster with adjustable hook and loop retention strap.

• Easily concealable and discreet, designed to be worn on the ankle.

• Built to last, constructed of soft packcloth nylon with double stitched, bound edges.

• Hook and loop closure.

• Eleven storage compartments: two zippered, three hook and loop, one passport, four easy-access pockets, and one ankle wallet holster.

Visit elitesurvival.com.

6. Rail mount light

Whether it’s handheld, hands-free, or weapon-mounted, you’ll get 2,000 super-bright lumens from this ProTac 2.0 Rail Mount USB-rechargeable light. It’s powered by the Streamlight SL-B50 protected Li-Ion USB-rechargeable battery pack that charges via USB-C cord inside or outside of the light. TEN-TAP programming allows for selection of three different operating programs. Visit streamlight.com.

7. Turkey shotgun

ESCORT’s PS Turkey Hunter, available in 12-gauge, 20-gauge, and .410 caliber, features Hatsan’s FAST Loading System and Smart Valve Piston technologies. The FAST Loading System enables faster and easier loading with one hand and without the need to change shooting position. The loading button acts as both a carrier latch release for loading and the bolt release when the bolt is locked back. This gun’s Smart Valve Piston will cycle oz., 2¾" all the way up to 3" full Magnum loads, credited to its self-regulating design. This patented design is so reliable that one can mix heavy and light loads in the same magazine without a hiccup. Available in RealTree Timber and Mossy Oak BottomLand.

Visit escortshotgunsusa.com.

8. Bone saw

Smith’s EdgeSport 6" Folding Bone Saw is a great addition to any field dressing kit. This packable, lightweight folding bone saw is perfect for any hunting trip, no matter the conditions. It fits perfectly in a backpack or can be attached to a lanyard to ensure that it does not get lost. The saw’s 6" stainless steel blade is uniquely designed specifically for field dressing deer, elk, and moose, and is equally useful back in camp when cutting wood for a fire. Its sturdy lock-back design secures the blade in a working position during tough conditions. A durable TPE non-slip handle is essential for safety when hands are wet.

Visit smithsproducts.com.

9. Turkey ammo

APEX Ammunition’s Tungsten Super Shot (TSS) shotshell offerings include the Turkey TSS line, Smalltown Blend and Ninja Turkey TSS. Designed for maximum penetration at extended ranges, APEX turkey loads are available in multiple gauges—10, 12, 16, 20, 28, and .410 bore—and a variety of shot sizes, shell lengths, and blends. Handloaded for ultimate consistency and quality control, the density of APEX TSS at 18.1 g/cc allows the use of smaller shot sizes and larger payloads. This means more pellets on target and with maximum downrange energy.

Visit apexmunition.com.

10. Snake boot

The Lynx Waterproof Snake Boot offers snake proof fabric to protect hunters from most venomous snakes in North America. Additionally, the Denier CORDURA 16" shaft features Mossy Oak Break-Up camo which is lightweight, rugged and incredibly durable and a side zipper for easy on and off. Comfort comes from the Terra Suspension shock absorbing polyurethane footbed. An EVA midsole is impact-absorbing, compression molded, and extremely durable. The rubber all terrain Lynx outsole is rugged and hard-wearing.

Visit rockyboots.com.

11. Hiking socks

Unrivaled by any other brand, CEP Hiking Merino Compression Tall Socks seamlessly combine advanced compression technology and Merino wool comfort. Our trademark compression profile improves circulation and reduces foot swelling, while the Merino wool regulates temperature for ultimate comfort. The anatomical design, along with the perfectly placed padding, helps to prevent blisters and discomfort so you can stay on the trails longer in these top-quality compression socks.

Visit cepcompression.com.

12. Game processing kit

True Knives’ Swift Edge Game Processing Kit comprises seven essential tools using the quick-change Swift Edge system. There is a 4-inch gut hook, 6-inch fillet blade, 8-inch butcher blade, and 8-inch bone saw. All these independent blades fit into the Swift Edge thermoplastic rubberized handle designed for use in wet environments that require an unwavering grip. The hook, fillet and butcher knives are made from 5Cr13 steel finished in a titanium nitrate coating. The bone saw is made from 65Mn steel for additional hardness and wear resistance, while still being finished in titanium nitrate. Blades can be changed by toggling the switch on the rear of the handle and depressing the blade release. To install, insert the new blade until the release snaps into place. The handle is also compatible with all the Fillet Kit lengths. The handle has an integrated lanyard and carabiner loop.

Visit true.acgbrands.com/en_US/swift-edge-huntprocessing-kit.html.

In my teenage years, I grew a real appreciation for photography, as my dad was always very good about recording the memories of all our hunts. I have photo albums in my office dated from the ’50s to the ’90s with all the camps and animals we hunted in the Hill Country and South Texas. My father was very good at documenting the years and the places to give us really good references to the evolution of our family hunting.

The pictures included all of our close friends and their deer. We even took pictures to include some of the processing we did in our very own smoke house. I love looking back at those pictures and cannot thank my dad enough for capturing that part of our lives.

I took the torch and carried it forward with my 35mm Canon and took it a little bit further with live animals and nature shots and scenery pics. I had tons of fun with my camera. With my dad’s automotive repair shop right next door to a photography store, I could get my prints back fast. But the ease with which we take digital pictures now is incredible and the quality is sensational. Our ease of sharing our great photos with others is at our fingertips and as quick as you can hit send. The social media aspect of all we do makes it fun and amusing, but can cause tension based on what you post or who you tag in a photo. It gets downright crazy out there with all we can share.

I know in the kids’ world, technology is advancing so fast, I cannot keep up with the social media platforms they target and post.

My adult son, Michael Dean Marbach, also carried my passion for videography, but photography has taken it to an all-new level. He graduated with a degree from Texas Tech University in creative media industries. He soon ventured on to filming for some outdoor televisions shows and then took a job in College Station at a media production company. I use him and another young man named Josh Sagraves to get some great photos of the various critters that roam the ranches we help with. These young men started out at a very young age developing their craft and are now taking it to all new levels. It’s fantastic to see these young men and take their passions and develop them into a career.

As you venture outdoors with your young children, it would be great to encourage them to start documenting their adventures. As we all know, life goes by so fast, and it won’t take long before you look back and realize you have a treasure chest of documented memories.

One my favorite outdoor photographers to follow is Wyman Meinzer. He has documented his travels and the beauty of Texas for decades. I often wonder how he got his start and can only imagine the types of products he used early in his career and how the industry has transformed what he uses today.

“Wyman Meinzer is the only official State Photographer of Texas, named so in 1997 by the Texas State Legislature and then Gov. George W. Bush, an honor he still holds today. He was raised on the League Ranch, a 27,000-acre ranch in the rolling plains of Texas. Since then, he has traveled to every corner of this great state and all points in between in search of the first and last rays of sunlight in its magnificent sweep across the Texas landscape.

“Meinzer graduated from Texas Tech in 1974 with a Bachelor of Science in wildlife management and was voted Outstanding Alumnus in 1987 by the department of Range and Wildlife

Management at Texas Tech University. He also received the Distinguished Alumnus award in 1995 from the School of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. In August of 1999, Meinzer was honored to give the graduation commencement address at his alma matter. During his 12 years as adjunct instructor in communications at Texas Tech University, Wyman was selected as Agriculture Communications Teacher of the Year in 2005. In 2009 he received the Distinguished Alumnus award from Texas Tech University in recognition of outstanding achievement and dedicated service.” —courtesy wymanmeinzer.com

Who will be the next young person to carry the torch forward and follow in the footsteps of the Texas greats? I encourage all of you kids to do some research and get out and start shooting images that will be etched in history. What a grand time to be alive. Everything is at the tip of your fingers and just a short road trip away. I look forward to seeing your photographs and hope you will share them with us at COA on Facebook and Instagram, so we can help promote all the beauty God has created for us in His outdoors.

Michael Marbach is the CEO of the Christian Outdoor Alliance, www. mycoa.org; 210-827-9802. COA’s mission is to guide youth and outdoorsmen to a relationship with Jesus Christ through experience in God’s great outdoors.