Defying The Odds, By Design
Written by Rich Hixson, Tagged Out Habitat Specialists
“Fred Semiao, a New Jersey resident and Ohio landowner, is no stranger to the deer woods. He spends countless hours on his Ohio farm carefully shaping habitat, from large food plots and security cover to consistent nutrition programs and well-thought-out ambush locations designed to create opportunity on a giant whitetail.
We’ve had the privilege of working with Fred for several years, assisting with improvements across his farm. Those efforts included utilizing top-quality products from Real World Wildlife Products and placing 360 Blinds in strategic locations to maximize success.
That plan was put to the test this past year when Fred’s farm became ground zero for one of the worst EHD outbreaks Ohio has seen. During a single walk in early August, Fred found 21 deceased deer within the property boundaries.
Devastated, he called us unsure how to process what had happened. Years of work, time, and financial investment suddenly felt irrelevant. After a short but encouraging conversation, we agreed it was time to lean harder into management and commit to rebuilding the herd into something his farm had never seen before.
Initially, Fred planned to sit the season out. But November has a pull to the deer woods like no other. He hunted hard through the rut, laying eyes on one shooter, but never receiving an opportunity.
Ohio’s archery season stretches deep into late January, when winter conditions are at their harshest. With daytime highs in the teens and overnight lows dropping below zero, Fred decided to make one calculated late-season move. The only way to hunt effectively in those conditions was from a 360 blind overlooking a field of Real World Gen 2 Soybeans.
Between the brutal cold and persistent wind, Fred admitted there’s no chance he would have attempted a traditional stand hunt, even for a couple of hours. He credits the blind’s superior weather protection for making the hunt possible.
On the evening of January 19th, the payoff came. A 7½-year-old, battle-tested buck stepped from the timber as several deer fed in the plot. Every movement had to be calculated.
Fred silently raised the archery window of his 360 Pro, even in the frigid temperatures, giving himself just enough room for the shot. As the buck closed the distance, an arrow was released and penetrated perfectly at 20 yards. The buck — one that clearly survived EHD based on post-recovery characteristics — was one of the best Fred has ever taken.
After recovery, I thought back to that phone call months earlier when Fred was unsure how to move forward. My advice was simple: hunt, work hard, build the foundation, and go to the woods.
Fred gives much of the credit to his 360 blind and its features, and there’s truth in that. But the real reason behind this success was endurance. Showing up when it would have been easier not to.
Hard-earned and well deserved. Congratulations, Fred.”
Written by Rich Hixson
Tagged Out Habitat Specialists
