The MO lease hunt is ON!! :bigsmyl:
3 guys here(4th here shortly),in the first 1.5 day
9 bucks seen,several in range
1 dead coyote
1 nicked coyote
1 "biggest bobcat I've ever seen" at 10 yds
More details as they happen....
Sounds like a great hunt already!!! Good luck to ya!!!!
Wow, now that is some action! I'll Wait for the rest
This is gonna kill me Kenny.
Thanks guys!
Chuck,sorry! :D
Forgot the dozen or so turkeys!
These guys are all TG members,BTW
They are scoutin as we speak,I am sure somethin else is gonna go down,they are all shooters!
Awesome :campfire:
Joekeith won the drawing for contributors, he should be here today.
Hope to have some pics to post soon.........
Got an update yesterday after day one by phone....sounds like it's off to a great start!!
Dang Kenny, I'm sooooo Jealous!
I finally saw my first buck of the season today and have no idea the size or point count, the cover was way too thick but it was a buck so that's an improvement.
Keep us up to date and remember....Lot's of Pics!
Best of luck to Kenny and the boys !I want pics and stories.
Good luck boys and hunt safe!!!
They have the pics,I haven't gotten any yet! :knothead:
Only one deer seen tonite, mornings are probably gonna be best due to temps.
I hunted at my bro's tonite to give them more room,I only saw one deer also. Kinda warm!
I put up a few stands ,mostly for observation,since it was early. The one observation stand has had 8 bucks and 1 coyote seen (and nicked) off it. That is a story best told by the coyote nicker!! Is that a word? :bigsmyl:
It is now Kenny!
It is a good one!!! :laughing:
Where bouts ya'll located up there Kenny?
I'm leaving out Wed. for our new lease in Montgomery County and hunt through Sunday, maybe even Monday? Lots of scouting, observation, and try to find some stand locations. The whole place was planted in soybeans this year and was just cut last week......this oughta be good! :thumbsup:
Scratch that....I Googled it. Man, your not far from Iowa. Land of the Monster Bucks!
Tell the guys we're rooting for them but we want daily updates and with pictures if possible.
Thank you Kenny for bringing us along.
God bless,Mudd
PS: If anyone has to leave early I can be a sub...lol
I am anxious for pics..
MO may be in my plan for next year :bigsmyl:
Kenny
I'm sending you a PM. I was over to the farm I hunt in MO this weekend putting up stands. I'm planning to drop over your way to chew the fat sometime during the 1st week Nov.
R
that sounds cool. I have always wanted to shoot a bobcat or even see one in the woods
They saw some does today,and did some nappin on stand I hear!
Sounds good Ryan!
reinmb,I've seen 6 this year if you count the one in CO when we were elkin and the 2 kittens with one.
Also one suspect in the headlites one night.
Update- No deer taken yet,more bucks passed,more coyotes seen,and Randy videoed a buck at 4 yds,both on the terra firma.
That's right, 12 FEET!! :saywhat:
Hope when they get home,they can post some pics here, I still haven't gotten to take any! :knothead: anyway!!
Thanks for the update Kenny, I bet the guys are having a great time. :bigsmyl:
Tracy
What's up?
Wait till you see the non-typical trophy I brought home...... :campfire: .
Kenny, me and the boys are chompin' at the bit for our turn the first week of November! Tell Terry and Charlie not to scare all the game away. At least leave some fat slickheads for me to put in the freezer.
Darren
What a great time I wish I could have stayed longer. I will get some pics up and stories but my computer crashed while I was gone. Will have to post pics from work.
Terry is it nice to call that beautiful animal a non-typical ha ha.
QuoteOriginally posted by Terry Green:
Wait till you see the non-typical trophy I brought home...... :campfire: .
Enough teasing... WHERE"S THE PICS? :biglaugh:
I hope you guys saved a couple deer for me. I'm heading to Missouri next year and would at least like to see one. :)
I can't wait to here the stories!
Charlie and Keith are seein deer,but the deer aren't following the play book!
I hope everyone enjoyed all this as much as me!!
These guys are all great! :campfire:
I'm gonna do a little push to Charlie in the AM just before he gets off the stand. We will see what happens :cool: .......
OK....bear with me....I didn't have my camera(very rare)...and I took some pics with my cell phone, and it takes a while to get those downloaded cause I have to email them from my phone to another email addy so I can use them.
I wish I would have had a camera....I did not take enough pics. I wish I would have taken pics of us shooting, and more of the cabin we stayed it....but we'll be back next year!!!!
Hang on, its gonna be a bit longer for I can story tell and post scenery .....and Yes Kenny, we had a blast, and got dibs on next year for sure!!!
Terry,I didn't even get a pic! My camera was 3/4 mile away! :knothead:
Alright I am going to upoad a few pics and I will be back.,
You guys are killing me!!! I'm going up to Kenny's place in a week and all I'm getting are teasers!
Darren
1st I'd like to thank Kenny for Sponsoring and offering this hunt up.....it was more about hunting with friends and making new ones than a trophy hunt that was for sure......but don't think we weren't looking for big bucks along the way... :readit:
Anyhow, I hadn't seen Charlie in a while, and so I jumped at the chance to share another camp with him, and Randy had been to Solana before, and I wanted to visit with him a bit more since he didn't ride in my truck while in TX. If any of ya'll haven't notice, Randy is still a young buck, but he's killed a lot of animals for his age....the 'boy' knows his stuff let me tell ya and he's a go getter.
We offered up the 4th spot to a contributing member as a give back....and that's where JoeKeith comes in....we get to meet someone new as well. It was a great hunt, with puzzle pieces coming together the longer we were there, and as we speak, I think Charlie and Joe may still be there. But, the 'element of suprise' still holds a trump card as my best hunt was the 1st one...starting Saturday morning......
I was in the 'Gap' stand as we called it...it was a narrow strip of woods running north and south with a 15 yard 'gap' of beans cutting the strip in half conecting a bean field on the east and west. I was facing north over the gap on the west edge of the strip of woods....
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/missu2010a.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/missu2010b.jpg)
Yep.....there's a deer in the pic, the 1st deer I saw...
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/missu2010c.jpg)
Ok work is a little bit crazy.
I will start by thanking Terry and Charlie for allowing me to join them on this hunt. Also thanks to Kenny. Kenny is a great guy with a lot of knowledge.
I made the long drive to MO on Friday. I got to Kenny's house shortly after 5. Kenny was out hunting; his wife showed me where the cabin was. Charlie had arrived earlier that day and was also out hunting.
A few pics of the cabin. Sure beats a tent or camper thats for sure.
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii51/rburtis1/IMAG0056.jpg)
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii51/rburtis1/IMAG0057.jpg)
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii51/rburtis1/IMAG0058.jpg)
Since this beautiful piece of nature rests in a great no cell service abyss I went out to call the girlfriend and let her know I made it. When I returned Kenny and Charlie were at the cabin. It was great to see Charlie again and meet Kenny. Once Terry arrived it was time to put a game plan together for the morning.
I sat in what we called the cemetery stand the first morning. I did see any deer but did see a group of large gobblers. I tried to set an ambush on them but could not get it done. I tell ya their smart :dunno:
Now this is where Terry is going to yell at me. Kenny has three properties and we hunted two of them. The North property had a stand that Kenny put in. We called this the Cottonwood stand. The reason is that there was one of the biggest cottonwood trees I had ever seen there. I am telling you this thing is huge. I saw it for the first time when Terry and I went out to do a little scouting. I said I would like to sit this stand and I want a picture of that tree. Well I sat the stand but never took my camera. Yea I know Dumb :banghead: Maybe Kenny will run over there and take a few pics for me. :pray:
Anyway I learned a lot from Terry this week. He knows his stuff and what to look for when setting up. I was grateful he took a little time to help me out as this was not a game I used to.
I sat in the cottonwood stand Saturday night. What fun I was about to have.
Here ya go Randy,took a couple of the lil cottonwood..
See the stand in back..
That is a 60" bow BTW
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d34/kennym/006-8.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d34/kennym/007-5.jpg)
And one of the kittycat lounge limb...
There is your honey locust tree Terry ,right there too....
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d34/kennym/009-8.jpg)
Thisun is for Charlie, recognize these trees?
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d34/kennym/010-6.jpg)
Those pictures will play well into my story. Those pics only show a small part of how impressive that tree is.
Got in safe and sound and will add my share in the morning. What an absolute blast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My butt is whooped and I need some sleep and TLC.
Glad you made it back Charlie....had an away game last night 3 counties away.....and got to go 3 counties the other way today to take Sarah on a zip line course.....I'll post more tomorrow.... :campfire:
Neat stuff fellas :campfire:
Why is it that the older I get the longer it takes to recoup from a good time? And like I said earlier... this hunt was a blast!!!
I was the first to arrive and was pleased to meet our host Kenny McKenzie... Kennym to all of you.
You know how sometimes you form an opinion of how someone looks from a picture or sometimes from words and then when you meet them you find out your minds picture is way different?
That's what happened with me.
For whatever reason, I pictured Kenny as a tall, lanky, Lincolnesque kinda guy. WRONG!!!!
Kenny is more an average height kind of guy and not lanky at all. His arms and the gray in his hair speak of a man who's worked hard with his hands all of his life... his firm, caloused handshake only confirm what the eye sees.
I found him easy to like from the very beginning and we spent a few minutes in his shop where I had found him.
For those of you who don't know, Kenny is a sponsor who specializes in precision ground laminations and bow kits. I was impressed by his operation and know where I'll be buying my laminations when I need them in the future.
We sure didn't waste much time getting out and onto the hunting properties. We'd have around 400 acres total on two farms that we'd be hunting and it would prove to be more than ample country for Terry, Randy, Keith and I.
I was feeling a little pressure to remember every detail as Kenny pointed here and there and painted in the details of each spot.
By the end of the tour I was sure of a few of meager facts.... there were lots of coyotes around, an ample supply of bobcats, a few turkeys and the locations of stands that we would start our hunting from.
Like much of northern Missouri, the country around Linneus is heavily farmed, with most of the cover being along rugged "ditches" that didn't lend themselves to the plow.
In many cases, fields had been cleared by bulldozer, rimming each timbered draw with impenetrable hedges of dirt and broken trees welded together by the various nasty weeds that are to be found in the fallow areas of the state.
Blackberry canes and wild rose rip the skin and in some cases clothing, while cockle burrs and beggars lice (and a nasty little burr that I don't know the name of) cling to clothing tighter than Velcro.
We would take advantage of the breaks in these borders to access the woods within. That was both a good thing and a bad one. The game used these same gateways in there comings and goings.
We were too late to take advantage the deers fondness of tender green soy beans. They were already brown and hard shelled with the little beans in their husks like little white marbles.
Attention had shifted to the acorns which littered the forest floor in every direction. The plenty of this oak born bounty would make determining feeding areas difficult at best. Food was everywhere.
The scattered white oaks had been vacuumed clean which forced the deer to start on the less desirable but still nutritious red oaks acorns.
My first evening in the woods was spent near the junction of several heavily used trails in a field corner near a mineral lick. Nothing was seen except a riotous gathering of crows which, as it would turn out, really liked that area for their night time roost.
Great stuff gents - keep it coming!
Of course, I do realize that with Charlie in full story mode patience is going to be a virtue....
:campfire:
"Kenny is more an average height kind of guy and not lanky at all."
Hey Charlie, most folks just say short and fat! :laughing:
I'd like to say these guys have their act together on hunting,specially scent control. Anytime a yote walks in on the same tracks you did,you have it goin on, Bro!!
Wow I am way behind it would appear. That first night I sat in the cottonwood stand. What a beautiful place. I saw one buck early though he did not make his way toward me. At about 5:45 I heard something coming. Slowly turning to see what was approaching, I saw a truly awesome bobcat. I have been in cat country my whole life. My Dad trapped them and I have seen many treed with hounds. This one was exceptional. He sent marked the big cottonwood and lazied around for a long time. Then wandered away.
Dark was fast approaching when again I heard an animal trotting in from behind me. Knowing it was to close for me to be moving I waited for it to pass to see what it was. Hoping for a big buck I got another surprise. A large male coyote was right next to me. I readied for a shot as he trotted by. I drew about half way and squeaked quietly to stop him. Slightly quartering and about 12-14 yards I drew to anchor solid on my spot I released. The arrow when exactly as intended. He was down in less than 20 yards. I had a true Missouri trophy to take back to Wyoming with me on the first day of the hunt.
The nights were filled with stories of the day, and with Charlie telling us of time past and great days gone by. We ate like kings too.
The next morning I returned to the same stand with no sightings. The next few days were spent covering the area looking in all the hiding spots for were to set up.
Throughout the week we seen lots of deer sign. They are just getting a little rutty.
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii51/rburtis1/IMAG0053.jpg)
I saw some of these for the first time in person. How would you like to run into this in the dark.
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii51/rburtis1/ouch.jpg)
I seen several deer in the time that I was there I even got to video this one at four yards. Wish I could get the video off my phone.
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii51/rburtis1/IMAG0042.jpg)
I don't remember who was the first to arrive that first evening, but that doesn't matter anyway. It was good to Randy and old friend Terry again.
The evening was spent catching up and pouring over the maps with Kenny who patiently repeated all he'd told me while I added bits and pieces here and there.
It was decided that the next morning I'd return to my spot at the mineral lick while Terry drew the "Gap stand" and Randy got took the "Cemetary stand".
Randy and I had a fairly slow morning while Terry was kept quite busy watching and evaluating different bucks.
Kenny had originally picked the Gap as an observation look out, but boy did it ever produce.
The afternoon was spent doing the requisite shopping and getting settled into the comfy little cabin.
That evening things heated up for Randy. I saw nothing again except for a distant deer bounding off into the dark as I made my way out.
I met Terry on the way and as we approached the "Cottonwood stand" Terry was sure he could see Randy dragging something. I couldn't tell a thing in the dark other than Randy walking through the beans.
Sure enough he'd killed a really nice coyote. That young man can shoot! No doubts on my part!!
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/KennyMhunt006R.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/KennyMhunt003R.jpg)
That's pretty cool, great shooting Randy! Can't wait for the rest of this one to play out.........
David
Randy, that's a big coyote. You are going to wear that Ferret out if you don't quit killing stuff!
Terry was kind enough to offer the gap stand to me on the second morning. It would offer up more entertainment for this old bowhunter.
I got in there before full light. Hell, it was damn dark out yet!
I settled in to the comfy ladder stand and waited for light.
Somewhere between good shooting light and too damn dark to see I could make out a distant figure standing in the beans. That it was a deer I had no doubt. Soon I could tell that it was walking my way. COOL!!!
It turned out to be a buck. As he came I could just make out his rack against the lighter colored beans. It seemed to be wider than his ears. Immediately he was a candidate for the back strap convention we had planned at the cabin.
Finally he was standing in the gap right in front of the stand. I was standing at the ready, bow in hand and squared away to shoot in his direction.
I was looking desperately to see the points on his rack (Missouri has a 4 point on one side restriction in this area). Try as I might I couldn't tell. I could sure see him good enough to kill him, but not to tell if he was a legal buck.
In a moment of carelessness I let the first finger of my string hand brush against the fletch. The problem was resolved in a hurry.
In the stillness of the pre-dawn the buck came to attention. He didn't like what he'd heard. Didn't like it at all!!! He did an abrupt about face and walked quickly out of my life.
POOP!!!
Along about 8:30 I spotted another buck headed down the hill toward the gap. He was legal in every way and I intended to wrap a tag on his antler if given the chance.
At a mere 15 yards he stopped at a hard quartering to angle. I'd have to wait for him to get more broadside or the shot couldn't happen. He stared across the gap for a moment as if deciding which way to go.
When he made up his mind he turned and walked quickly away from my stand leaving me holding my bow and mumbling unmentionables to nobody in particular.
I spotted one more deer before the morning hunt was over. It was a doe and well out of shooting range. I stood as I do whenever I see a deer.... just in case. But nothing came of it.
Finally with nothing happening I took my seat and contemplated getting down. Probably no more than a few minutes passed when I leaned forward and looked down at the ground directly under my stand.
To my utter amazement a coyote sat there with his hind leg over his head cleaning himself like only a dog can.
Coyotes always see me in trees... ALWAYS!!!! But this one would be different.
I was moving in slow motion try to get my bow into position to take a shot. It sure wouldn't be straight down, but I had to get ready for something.
Finally the coyote finished his tongue bath and got up, looked around and trotted into the open on my left side.
I knew that if I moved too fast he'd see me and it would be over. At the same time I knew that if I didn't hurry a little he'd simply trot out of my life.
As he approached the 25-30 yard mark I had my bow in position, albeit an awkward one. My lower bow limb was between my legs and my upper torso was twisted as far to the right as I could get it.
He paused for a second and I settled into a very uncomfortable anchor. Thump! The shot was away and in that time warp instant that we all know, when arrow reaches target I thought I could see it coming together with his middle.
He was suddenly a gray streak headed for the brush and my white fletched arrow was doing a cart wheel in the air.
I sat in disbelief for a few seconds before reaching for my binoculars. Inspection of the arrow showed it to be suspiciously clean. Hmmmm!
When I finally got down I found that it had one drop of blood on it and nothing else. I scouted around in the brush looking for sign or dog but found nothing.
It would make for a good story back at camp anyway.
:coffee:
It made one @#$% of a story!! You'd have to hear it in person to get the full effect! :bigsmyl:
Randy, that is one BIG yote! :thumbsup: I saw another fawnless doe tonite,you are helpin the cause! Can I use one of those pics?
As I said earlier, that was the 1st deer I saw, and it was a buck. He kept looking over his shoulder downhill as if there was another buck...and there was but I didn't see it till it was basically in range of me as it walked quickly out from behind a brush pile.
He was smaller than the buck still making his way down the hill. The little forky walked right into the trap and I didn't spring it, and the bigger buck was making his way, and I still wasn't planning on springing it....till I saw that he was a 9 pointer at least.
The buck had 5 on one side and 4 on the other not counting brow tines. The brow tines never stood out, but that 2nd G4 sure did. Yep, he had two G4s with the non-typical g4 coming out of the inside spread of the main beam. All tips were polished ivory on a chocolate rack.
He came right in and gave me time to shoot him a dozen times at 13 yards or so, and that 2nd G4 almost made me draw the bow, but I didn't. He was a normal height, but not very wide,...15 inches would be my guess....so I let him walk. After all, this was the 1st hour of the 1st morning, and he was the 1st deer I saw...it just had to get better.....
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/missu2010d.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/missu2010e.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/missu2010f.jpg)
Had to look a second time to see the buck in the foreground.
During my set the second buck I saw came from over the hill behind the top buck and angled behind tge cedar then down to me.
He left in the direction of the lower buck... around the brush pile which is out of the picture,but to the left of the lower buck.
OK....not too bad....1st hour of the 1st morn, and two bucks both inside 15 yards...
Now I hear something closing in behind me...and its getting close...real close, and I know this is not a squirrel.
There is a big thick cedar behind me, and I slowly turn to see what might be fixing to slip in....but I sure can't see as its too thick.....but soon to my left out pops a doe and a fawn out into the beans and they turn up hill. Beautiful site always...
Now that's 4 deer, and all 4 in bow range....still looking good!
I'll hold off for a little bit so I don't get way ahead of everyone else... never thought I'd be saying that!!
:scared:
No worries Charlie...the zip line was great, but lead to horseback riding...got home late....
Now after a bit longer here comes another doe and a fawn up the right side woodline just out into the beans....we also have doe tags BTW....and the lead doe turned in right on que. Once in range but quartering to me, she senced something amiss...and her and the little one backed out of the gap and continued up the right side woodline in the beans.
Cool...6 deer, and all in bow range....great stand I'd say....but there were more on the way....
Too funny Charlie waiting for the slow tellers. Great read so far, keep it coming guys.
OK...now back behind me again, I hear yet another deer,...this one pausing for long periods before slow one step advances......once again, he's in bow range but I can't see squat for that thick cedar...which is probably a good thing...keeps me from giving myself away.
I'm set up for him to walk out of the woods on my right and cross the gap and into the woods on the other side via a trail by two cedars....yet he pops out on my left and comes trotting...and my stand is on the left side as well....so this 8 pointer just trots by me at 4 yards and continues north only to pause for 30 seconds about 45 yards away from me as he searched left of him across the beans for something.....then onward north to dive into the wooded bay in the beans...
That makes 7, and all in bow range....but wait!...
A few minutes later I see two more bucks on the hill crest to my left working their way up to the bay. One goes in and one cut across the bay into the upper strip I'm on the edge of. It was now 9:16....and I'd been on point since before the sun popped over the horizon....5 bucks and 4 doe all spread out over the morning....what a great start!!!
:campfire:
Thanks for putting up the yote pics Charlie.
Is this gonna take long?....lol
It's really hard to get away from the computer just knowing the rest of the story might come at any time but I got some hunting to get done since no one else in my house will do it for me...lol
God bless,Mudd
Ditto that Mudd.... I only work 8 hours a day- can't sit here waiting any longer! Headed home to grab the bow and my 12yo son- he needs to have something walk into one of his arrows....
I'll have to check back in on this NOVEL after the hunt..... :campfire:
Sorry guys....was gone 5 days, and got back to family outings...Charlie stayed two more days and I'm sure he's honey doing as well.....
The 1st evening Charlie and I set up a lock on in a favorable area. Randy and I went and scouted it and jumped 2 bedded bucks in the area, and found tons of fresh tracks and acorn hulls along with a intersection of well used trails. This this would be Charlies stand for the evening, and I'm sure he's got pics of those beautiful views.
Randy went back to the huge cottonwood stand and I went to the 'pallet' stand which was a pallet set on top of a big brushpile at an open gate to the neighbor's property that was a bedding area. I bet this stand was real busy a week prior for some time back when the beans were still green. The trail coming out of the bedding area was like an interstate....
Views from the pallet stand.....
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/missu2010g.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/missu2010h.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/missu2010i.jpg)
I saw nothing...as I almost figured as the beans were all dried up and the deer were on acorns, but I figured I'd have a great place to glass the hardwood edges for future hunts.....
I hunted the salt stand the next morn...... (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/missu2010k.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/missu2010j.jpg)
After I felt like the morning movement was drawing to a close, I went for a stalk/scouting venture....many beautiful pics to follow...
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/missu2010l.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/missu2010m.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/missu2010n.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/missu2010o.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/missu2010p.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/missu2010q.jpg)
Good pics T and the pallet stand pics bring back some memories.
As mentioned I finally got a stand set up in a nice area with all kinds of sign showing. Trails, and poo, and worked over acorns and rubs... lots of rubs.
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/KennyMhunt010R.jpg)
I watched a very small spike buck make this rub one evening. It was a little surprising as I doubted he had enough "rough" to his tiny spikes to make a rub. He must have been at it for 10 minutes.
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/KennyMhunt012rub2R.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/KennyMhunt018Rub4R.jpg)
This rub kept me coming back to the stand at the far end of the property.
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/KennyMhunt013rub3R.jpg)
Actually it was tough for my old bones to make it back to that stand location and at first I didn't very much.
My knees are cursed by arthritis and the long walk in wasn't pleasant at all.
I made one trip in on a four wheeler that Kenny loaned us to get the stand put up and one more trip to hunt.
After that I laid off for a day or two because I felt that the noise of the four wheeler coming and going might bugger things.
In time, though, the beans were harvested and that made getting in with my truck an option and it's much quieter.
This is great!! :bigsmyl: :clapper:
Tracy :coffee:
Here are a few pics taken from the stand I hung in the back corner.
Looking up the "ditch"... (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/KennyMhunt021R.jpg)
This trail came in from my left and intersected two other trails that passed on either side of my stand tree.
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/KennyMhunt023R.jpg)
Here's one of the trails that ran the length of the timber.
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/KennyMhunt024R.jpg)
The first time I sat that stand I had two bucks approach from way up in the upper left hand corner of the first picture.
They split before getting halfway to me and one came right down the ditch (right where the green arrow in the picture is) while the other came straight down the trail in the last picture.
They fiddled around the area feeding for the longest time, but were too small to be of any interest and not even close to being legal.
In time they alerted me to the presence of 3 does which had slipped in behind me while I was watching the show.
Unfortunately as I was preparing to shoot the closest doe the young boys got froggy and ran them off.
I would see deer each time I sat that stand with only one evening when I didn't. I never did see a big buck there, but was sure one was around.
Charlie, that looks like a main beam in the bottom of the next to last pic! :goldtooth:
I wish!!!!!!!
more please
Great story guys. Really enjoying it!
The next morning I hunted Charlie's Lock on....he wanted to try something different. That stand we set is a really cool set up and the anticipation runs high with the beauty of the terrain and the scattering of trails, rubs and missing acorns along with new freshly fell ones.
I had a little forky come in and bed down just out of bow range after grazing on sapling leaves. Still was a great morning hunt besides that only sighting.
I wish Paul Harvey had gone on this hunt then we could get the rest of the story...but he's dead isn't he? :dunno:
Sorry....my life is in chaos with my dad....and I have to balance a lot of other family stuff...just not enough time to post like I would like to. I'll wrap my story up tomorrow.
Terry, take care of all that, this story will wait.
I just went thru all of that myself.
That's right guys, Family comes first and so does life. We appreciate all the effort that goes into putting these stories together for all of us to enjoy.
You guys are doing a great job :readit: :bigsmyl:
I hope things get better for you Terry :thumbsup:
Tracy :coffee:
Hey T don't sweat the small stuff.
We'll still be here.
I am very sorry things are not going as smoothly for you.
Our prayers are still with you and yours.
God bless,Mudd
I'm just razzing you boys. :bigsmyl: Kind of like a guy would do around the campfire. :campfire:
Sorry to see this about your dad. The tales will unfold in time.
Before I finish up....I'd like to thank Kenny for putting this all together....save us a 4 spot next year.
I'd like to thank Charlie for ramrodding the hunt.....JoeKeith for being a contributing member....and Randy for all the FOOD he brought that he killed himself!!!.
I had fun guys, and I really would like to do it again....and I'd even like to come back now and have another go at it.
Before I forget.....Kenny sure builds a nice bow!!!! Great little 60 inch bushwacker with great lines and craftsmanship!!!...we got to see at least two of his.
Here's a few more pics of some of my areas I hunted, scouted, and shared with others.....
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/missu2010r.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/missu2010s.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/missu2010t.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/missu2010u.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/missu2010v.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/missu2010w.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/missu2010x.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/missu2010y.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/missu2010z.jpg)
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Next up.....pics of my non-typical whitetail hunt trophy!!!
.
.
.
.
.
OK......I saw a lot of deer....way more bucks than does....and way more in bow range than not. I won pure and simple. I think we all did as a matter of fact. Just wish I'd have had my camera instead of my phone for pics, and that we'd taken more pics of us around the cabin, shooting in the yard, Randy capping out his coyote, and more of us afield together and on stand. You just can't go back and get those.
OK, now for my not-so-typical whitetail hunt trophy....
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Long story......but I ended up with this!!!
About a 9 month old female chocolate Labrador. Aint she a beaut??? I named her Echo....part of the long story.
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/missuecho.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/missuecho2.jpg)
Those chocolate labs are just irresistable!
She is a beautiful girl, what is she weighing in at right now?
She's gonna be a big girl looks like!! My lab was a runt for 2 years before she filled out!!
I would like to thank Terry, Charlie,Randy and Keith for coming up to hunt.
All great guys,hunted hard,and took good care of my buddy's cabin,which he was so kind to call me and offer for my hunters.
And Randy,some next years fawns thank you for taking out the yote! :)
Wish I had gotten some pics,dang work anyway.
I still have late season openings here:
http://kennyscustomarchery.com/HUNTING-LEASE-BY-WEEK.html
May not be able to get the cabin after freezeup,bud lives out of state and winterizes after he comes to hunt.
Call if interested and we'll see what we can work out tho!!
Not sure what she weighs right now...but will know soon....taking her to the vet to get her all checked out soon.
Terry Good looking lab Hope you make a blood trailing dog with her.Besides being a duck retriver ,sq. treeer, he also found my surely lost doe last January.Look how proud he was.
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p191/Kip_album/2010deer001.jpg)
Kip
Kenny....had a great time up there. Met some good people, had some good huntin'. Sure am glad my name was picked for this hunt. Thanks Trad Gang. :saywhat:
Kenny was a fine host and I appreciate the lams he gave me for my knife handles. Got 'em all cut out, now need some brass rods and glue to finish 'em up.
Was good to finally meet Terry. He seems to measure time by when he'll eat again. :archer:
All in all it seems like as soon as I got a handle on the area time was up. :dunno: oh well, maybe next time.
Wow I got way behind I see. I have been traveling for work and just got time to sit down at a lobby computer here in the hotel. I will try to sum things up a little.
In the few days that I was able to hunt there I saw good number of deer. Timing is everything and ours was just a bit off this time. I am NOT complaining one bit though. Kenny has some great land with lots of places for a deer to hide.
The some of the last few hunts I hunted an area of the place that is somewhat less accessible than other places on the lease. Terry had ventured into this area after one morning hunt. He came back and told me about the area and guided me in a plan of attack. The first two times I did not see any deer. That did not mean I did not have some fun though.
I set up on a large oak tree that had oblivious deer sign from where they had been feeding. After sitting there in the Waldrip pack seat for about an hour a little bit of that elk hunter in me took over. I started glassing. Why I don't know you could only see 30 yards in any direction from there. I started looking at the leaves, bark on the trees and trails I could see. Then I saw a raccoon in the oak tree almost all the way at the top. I had a great time watching him awake from his daily slumber and mosey around that huge tree. On my way out both nights that I hunted in that area I ran across does right on the property line. I never got a comfortable shot but I was seeing game. That last evening I went back there again. I decided to sit a fence corner where I hoped the deer would be crossing from bedding area to a large hay field. At about five thirty I saw a buck coming right to me. I readied for the shot and picked up my binos for a quick check. This revealed that he was not a legal buck this year but woudl serve as some great entertainment. As he feed around he kept getting closer. I snapped a few pics that I showed earlier in this thread then I started taking video with my phone. Technology these days :saywhat: At 4 yards he passed by. He never alarmed as he jumped the fence to feed in the green grass behind me. The real suprise came later when Terry and I discovered that we had seen the same deer that night a half a mile apart. The rut is starting.
The last morning I was able to hunt was spent in the famous gap stand. This is the stand where Terry sat the first morning and Charlie had his bout with the coyote amongst several bucks. I had sat this stand one other time and see a nice dark coat coyote but he came in downwind and we all know how that turns out. I did not see anything that morning.
To sum up this week in words would be hard. I will start by saying that any hunt where you are with friends and you are able to make new ones is worth being on. I came home with one of my most treasured trophies a coyote taken with a bow.
It goes without saying that Terry and Charlie are two of the best you can find. Both took time to answer my questions about how to hunt this kind of country. On the short scouting trips Terry pointed out everything he saw that was important in setting up and getting on the game. I consider them both friends and feel honored to do so. I cannot thank them enough for who they are and their friendship.
It was great to meet Keith. Another solid tradganger, with a collection of bows that seemed to never end. Every time we turned around he had another one. He has a beautiful Bighorn too. Not a bad shot either.
Last however certainly not least a huge thanks to Kenny, a great person with a heart and passion for traditional archery. He showed us a few bows that he built with his lambs and WOW. What lookers and shooter. He poured out all the info he could manage whenever a question was asked. I hope that was the start of a new friendship.
All in all an unforgettable trip with unforgettable people in a beautiful part of our country.
Like Randy and Terry, I've been busy as the proverbial cat since my return home. The Misses had surgery Monday to relieve some cervical disc problems. She's doing just fine, but I'm tied to the house and the nursing which seems to take so much time.
I'll wind up my part of the trip as well so we can put this one to bed.
Both Joekeith and I stayed past what Terry and Randy were able to by 3 days... and they were great days to be sure.
I had deer near me each day but the bucks were small and the does just a step away from a clear shot every time.
It's easy to be patient when you are hunting good country and it was obvious from the beginning that this was good country.
I'd recommend taking Kenny up on the lease if there is an opening... I think it should be known that the lease money helps out an elderly couple who actually own the property.
Seems they are uncomfortable with having rifle hunters on the place so trad bowhunters are made to order for their peace of mind and a little extra money.
I'll be part of the hunt next year for sure.
I'm thinking the late hunt could be a real winner with the possibility of making it a combo deer/ coyote/bobcat hunt.
The luxury of hunting from a very comfortable and well appointed cabin cannot be overlooked. That worked out just perfect in my book. A comfy bed and hot meals at dinner table shared with friends is hard to beat.
As much fun as I had hunting I can say that I enjoyed camp time almost as much. Pleasant midday contests with our bows and a tennis ball in the yard kept us sharp and made for lots of laughs.
I've always said that shooting with good shooters will bring out the best a guy has to give and this crew were shooters for sure.
For example... Randy, Keith and I were enjoying a round of "tennis" when Terry joined us unannounced.
The ball had been thrown out about 20 yards and before any of us could draw down on it a chartreuse fletched shaft zipped across the yard from the back porch centering the ball and carrying it another 5 or 10 yards.
I got lucky with my shot and hit the ball from the opposite side.
Kind of a reverse Robin Hood if you will.
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/KennyMhunt007R.jpg)
I didn't run my hang on location into the ground either. I managed to hang out in a couple other locations just to give it a break.
I'd been wanting to sit the cemetery stand since I got there and took the opportunity one afternoon. While no deer came close I did observe a doe and youngster cross the ridge a hundred yards from me.
Here's their path.
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/KennyMhunt008R.jpg)
The red line is their path and the green box outlines three huge old white oaks that got the attention of the younger of the two. That would be a natural location at a time when there were still plenty of acorns to be had under those trees.
I spent the last morning in my hang on stand and wasn't disappointed by not seeing anything. A young doe and button buck came by but the doe never offered a shot and the young buck will be better hunting in a couple of years.
I'd seen a possum earlier in the hunt. Actually it hung around the area of my stand for over an hour that first time.
He came by as if to bid me farewell. I just grinned as he passed.
Finally I picked up distant movement as Kenny slipped into view. We'd agreed that he would enter the strip of cover far up the drainage and move to me in hopes of pushing a deer. Alas it only proved to be exercise for my friend.
From there there was the task at hand of removing the stand and taking down my Rapid Rails. Which went just fine until Kenny pointed out that I'd left my bowhanger above.
So with no choice other than to go back up I reset two sections of the Rails and retrieved it... good thing those rails go up easy.
With that done I retired to the cabin where Keith and I did a thorough clean up and made ready for the trip home. This one was hard to quit but there were duties at home that demanded an early exit.
Stalling as much as possible I dropped by Kenny's shop for a tour. I wanted to see his lam grinding operation... very cool stuff.
I'm also a sucker for different hardwoods and Kenny has a large supply of some really neat stuff.
I even came away with a nice big chunk of osage and some charcoal actionwood to play with in my own shop... thanks again buddy!!
To these 4 guys, I give a heartfelt THANK YOU! :wavey:
Oh yes, 4 more TG guys are showin up Sat, I'll keep this updated!
Only 2 hunters this time, but off to a good start!
First eve., one saw 7 turkeys and a doe,other 10 does and a big buck. :saywhat:
100 yds out,so need adjustment on location! :thumbsup:
J. almost had a shot on a 7 from the gap this am,and almost a bigger 8 at the pallet stand tonite.
Don't think D. had much go on today.
Both saw some does while scoutin midday.
TTT :campfire: