"PAGE TWO" of the latest pictures & news from our staff:

Click here for "PAGE ONE" of our new pics and news...

Click here for "PAGE THREE" of our new pics and news...

Click here for "PAGE FOUR" of our new pics and news...
______________________________________________________

January 27, 2006
by Bucky Henson

We've had a great month.  Late December and early January were fairly cold, and we saw and took a good number of bucks and does.  Honestly, it got a little warm on us in the middle of the month, and the deer weren't moving quite as much as they would be in the middle of a typical January.  We still took some nice deer, because of the rut. 

The last week or so, it has picked back up.  One of our hunters saw ten bucks from a ladder in a hardwood bottom one morning. 

As we will quickly tell you, hunting in Alabama depends GREATLY on the weather.  We can have eighty-degree days in January here.  We can also have eighteen-degree days.  As you know, typically, the colder the day, the more the deer move - plain & simple.

We've seen a lot of old friends and made some new ones.  We really are blessed with great guests each year.

Here are some pics and comments from the last several weeks.

This first picture is of a buck taken behind our office from a ladder in a pine stand.  This young man from South Alabama made this great shot his last morning with us.  It was a cull buck, and taking it will help our herd.  Hopefully, the young man can come back to hunt with us next year and take a wallhanger.

Here is a group from Pennsylvania and Alabama.  Two of the Pennsylvanians each took a nice nine-point during the same day - one in the morning and one in the afternoon...

This young man took a nice doe.

Here is one of our buds from Jacksonville who hunts with us a lot.  I sometimes start thinking he's on staff.  He took a nice seven-point out of a box in a hardwood bottom...

This young man and his dad took this ten-point from a box on a green field in some pines.  'One of the best bucks we've taken in recent years.  He had about 25-inch main beams and weighed about 215 lbs.  Really nice buck.

Here is another of our good friends, from Southeast Alabama, who hunts with us a lot.  He took this buck during his second stay with us this year.

Here's a nice nine-point that we brought in...

Look at this nine-point taken one evening out of another green field that is located in a crease between a pine stand and some older hardwoods.  This rack had some really unique coloration - a lot darker in places than what we usually see here...

Here is an old seven-point that one of our hunters took...

We've taken plenty of does this month...

This fella got his face bloodied...

Here's another nice buck, taken with a really fine shot.

Guess what...they're BACK!

If you've followed the website over the last year or so, you will remember our North Carolina "panel of experts" and their family from last year.  This young man took another nice buck this year, as you can see. 

Also, we found out who has been teaching these guys so much about deer hunting...their little brother, who came along for the hunt this year.  Actually, I think their dad, granddad and uncle have taught them a few things, too.

There have been several shots taken on nice bucks where things didn't work out the way we'd want them to.  That's a part of hunting.  Mike and the staff - particularly Molly, Mike's dog - do a great, great job of tracking, but sometimes things just don't go your way.

As I said, It's been a great month.  I just heard on my two-way radio that another nice buck was taken this morning.  I'll try to have a photo or two this evening or tomorrow.

Also, we have some pics from our first hunts on the Riggs Place.  I'll get them on the website as soon as I can, as well.

By the way, if you have hunted with us and have some of your own photographs from your hunt(s) here that you would like for us to use, please send them to me at info@valleycreekoutdoors.com. 

Also, we're going to add a page to the website for any pics & comments that you may have from other hunts, gamecams, fishing trips, etc.  So, send 'em on.
______________________________________________________

December 23, 2005
by Mike Cutler

'Sorry about the lack of updates the last week or so.  We've been busy hunting with some great groups, and we've taken some nice deer.

First of all is "the rest of the story" from the ALDeer.com hunt.  If you've been keeping up with us on our website for the last couple of years, you will recognize the name "Brody Joe."  Brody Joe is the ALDeer.com "handle" for a good friend of ours who has hunted with us several times dating back to the first ALDeer.com hunt several years ago.  You will also have read several of the great stories (complete with photos) that Brody Joe has written about his stays with us (Brody Joe is the official "traveling correspondent" for the ALDeer.com website).

Brody Joe has one particular stand in which he's had his heart broken a few times - once by a huge buck that turned out to have broken off his right antler and once by another big buck that Joe couldn't get a shot on (if I remember the story correctly).

This year, when Brody Joe went back to that stand he had a surprise waiting for him.  Guide Mike Frith had put a big sign reading, "Heartbreak Hotel" and "Manager, Brody Jo" on the door of the box stand.

Well, we might have to rename that ol' box stand, "Honeymoon Suite."  Brody Joe took a big, beautiful ten-point that afternoon of December 6th.  Here are several pictures of that buck and several other bucks and does from the ALDeer.com hunt...

Here is "Couchtater" and his big buck...

No, but seriously....

Hey, even better, click these links to go to the ALDeer.com website and see Brody Joe's report on the hunt...

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

Since that hunt, we've had several great groups in, and they've had good success...

Merry Christmas, everyone, and may God bless you and yours...
______________________________________________________

December 7, 2005
by Bucky Henson

This week is the annual ALDeer.com hunt.  It's been a good week.  I can't say a whole lot yet, but here's a tease...

Check back in a day or two for the Rest Of The Story...
______________________________________________________

December 2, 2005
by Bucky Henson

Since Thanksgiving, we've had a couple of great groups in.  The weather has actually been pretty good (after a very warm Thanksgiving weekend), and the hunting has been excellent. 

I know you're not really here to read what I have to say, so we'll get to the pictures.  Several nice bucks here - one from the end of the first hunt of the season and a couple of nice bucks since then.

Mike & Dave had some leftover pork loin this week.  They spent a morning rolling the meat with some dressing & put it on the grill.  You should've been here...

Here are several pics that our first group (from before Thanksgiving) sent to us from their camera...















______________________________________________________

November 21, 2005
by Mike Cutler

We have a group of old friends in this week for the opening of gun season.  The weather turned cold right as they got here last Friday, and the hunting has been great.  They are back in the woods today, so keep an eye on the website. 

Here are a few pics from the weekend.  You'll see a nice seven-point, a nice eight and several does.

  ______________________________________________________

November 18, 2005
by Valley Creek Staff

Gun season starts tomorrow, so we thought we'd post some pictures from our bow season.  We had some great hunts with some really great groups of hunters.  Several does were taken.  A few were first bow-kills for our hunters.  Several good bucks were seen. 

______________________________________________________

November 1, 2005
by Valley Creek Staff

Valley Creek Outdoors has for some time been interested in being able to offer opportunities (in addition to our existing operation) for a great experience here in the Black Belt.

We've partnered with the owners of the 2,600-acre Riggs Place here in Dallas County to present a new, unique offering.  The Riggs Place is a privately owned and managed (with the assistance of our Valley Creek staff) tract with terrific whitetail hunting, a spacious new log cabin lodge, and a 71-acre bass lake.

We are offering two three-day hunts, for eight people each, in January 2006.  We are looking for corporate groups or other family/friend groups for these hunts.  Like our operation here at Valley Creek Outdoors, the Riggs Place will present a great retreat setting with outstanding personal service & excellent game.

For more information, click the "Other Opportunities" link to the upper right of all of our pages, or click on this link:  Riggs Place.
______________________________________________________

October 25, 2005
by Bucky Henson

I slipped out after work today to one of our fields to take some photos.  It was a great, crisp, cool afternoon. 

'Started out with two does in the field when I got to the box.  They stuck around long enough for a pic.  Later, a group of three bachelors came through.  This group included what looked like two nice eight-points and another young buck.  I believe the best of the three was a really nice buck.  See what you think.  I really should've had a pair of binoculars with me.

As it began to get dark, another young four- or six-point stepped into the field and soon left.

Based on where I was and the antlers on these deer, I don't believe we've had pictures of them this year before today. 

After it became really too dark for pics, a pretty nice looking eight- or six-point came out and ate for a good ten to fifteen minutes.  I tried some photos of him, but they didn't come out.  As I left the box after dark, there were about eight deer in the field.  I couldn't tell what types they were.

Booking note:  We're down to four spots for the November 28th - December 1st hunt.  The rest of the gun season is booked.  If you want to try to book a bow hunt, please give me or Mike Cutler a call.

______________________________________________________

September 28, 2005
by Valley Creek Staff

Here are a few more pics from the same spots as the last batch.  Mostly the same deer that you saw on our post from the 17th.  'A few pretty cool photos here...

We'll be moving the cameras this week, so check back with us soon.  Also, pretty soon the weather will cool off enough for us to start taking some videos.
______________________________________________________

September 17, 2005
by Mike Cutler

We moved the cameras to a couple of different spots.  You'll see several nice bucks young & old here, as well as some does.  Maybe a 'possum or two, also.

We're close to being booked up for the gun season.  We'll be planting the fields soon & getting ready for our guests.  Keep checking the website for photographs & video stills.

______________________________________________________

August 29,2005
by Bucky Henson

I ran out and picked up one of the cameras this morning before Katrina's outer bands got to us.  Just a few quick pics.  'Sorry about the quality.  This buck was hanging back beyond the flash's range, so I had to brighten the images considerably before posting them.  We sure have some fat & happy racoons around here...

You'll also see some shots of a tractor we had prepping our fields before planting.

We normally include only photographs taken on our hunting properties on our website.  This is an exception.  Mike Cutler, our lodge manager went with Dave Raney and Richard Dempsey to the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) show in Birmingham, Alabama last week.  Here are a few shots from the show...

______________________________________________________

August 24,2005
by Mike Cutler

Here are some more pictures for you - mostly from the same two spots as before.  Also, there are a few from a new spot.  You'll see a couple of the same bucks that we showed you last week as well as one or two new ones.  Also, you'll see some equipment (dozer, dump truck, lowboy) that we have working on the roads, etc. this week. 

We're only running three cameras on some four thousand acres, so what you'll see here is a pretty small sample of our herd.  We're moving the cameras to new spots this week.

Dude! Dim those headlights!

______________________________________________________

August 19,2005
by Valley Creek Staff

Well, it must be getting to be that time of year.  The humidity here has actually dipped slightly below 90%, and we're expecting our first bit of cool air next Monday.  The kids are back in school.  High school football begins tonight.  'Time to start taking pictures.

We put the game cams out last week, and have some photographs for you.  Lot's of velvet here.  You'll see several nice bucks, some nice young bucks, some does, etc. 

Keep an eye on the website over the next few weeks.  We will continue to bring you great pics, video stills, and such.

______________________________________________________

August 15, 2005
by Bucky Henson

Here are some pictures taken during our work on our summer program.  In the first photograph, you'll see our head guide, Mike Cutler, checking out some of the sorghum, iron clay pea, and lablab summer crops. 

We use the sorghum mainly to shield the clay peas from getting annihilated by the deer immediately.  The sorghum is also good for the deer, turkey & quail on the place.

Guide Dave Raney observing a trail the deer have left heading to and from one of the feeders...

Dave and Mike, examining spots where the deer have been eating the clay peas...

We've continued the use of Mossy Oak's Biologic Deer Feed - with excellent results.  We're also supplementing our feeding and natural mineral licks with Biologic's Bio Block.

More checking on sorghum & iron clay pea fields...

Here are some pics of our summer squad putting out feed, helping check the fields, etc.

______________________________________________________

May 27, 2005
by Mike Cutler

We've begun our summer feeding program for the herd.  We've planted our summer crops (lab lab, iron clay peas, soybeans, red ripper cow peas, mung beans, Chinese cow peas, and a legume named "Aeschynomene").

We've also started stocking the feeders.  This year, we're using Mossy Oak Biologic Deer Feed.

I'm mixing some corn in to get the deer coming to the feeders.  Soon, we'll go to straight deer feed.

This is a deer trail leading to one of our feeders...

______________________________________________________

April 22, 2005
by Bucky Henson

Our new lodge addition is very near completion.  We used it throughout January this year for our hunting guests; although, it wasn't completely "finished."  Still, it was and will be a great addition to our facilities and brings our lodging to the first-order level that we're looking for.  We'll add new pics over the next month or so as the trim-out is completed.

The addition is constructed of virtually all cypress (exterior, walls & ceilings), oak (floors), and pine (framing & decking).  The cypress all came from Buchanan sawmills in Mobile and Montgomery.  The oak flooring came from Buchanan Hardwood Flooring in Aliceville, Alabama.

The lodge addition includes two large bedrooms with full bathrooms, a large loft with a large 1/2 bath, a small kitchen, and a spacious living/television area with fireplace.  The large bathrooms at the back of the building offer a mudroom area with access to the back porch.

These new accommodations are, of course, in addition to our existing three-bedroom, two-bath house with full kitchen, dining & living areas.  Rest assured, lodging at Valley Creek is on par with the great hunting opportunities that we offer.

______________________________________________________

Click here for "PAGE ONE" of our new pics and news...

Click here for "PAGE THREE" of our new pics and news...

Click here for "PAGE FOUR" of our new pics and news...