Hello Everyone! Another season is about to begin.
For those of you who are new to the site Welcome to my deer hunting diary!
For the last 2 seasons I have logged my daily outings with my fellow tradgangers and once again I plan on sharing my hunts good or bad with you all.
If you have not seen the prior years hunts, here is a little background for you.
I live, play and work out of a 100 year old farm stead in a little valley hidden in SE Minnesota known as the drift less area. This is an area the glaciers did not drift ( hence the name Drift less). So the area is filled with wooded steep bluffs, deep ravines and fast moving streams.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5565/14710988487_b250c867f9_z.jpg)
The farm consists of 295 acres made up of mostly hard woods. There are some old pastures below the timbered ridges filled with wild apples. I have carved out food plots in the woods by cutting down trees and bull dozing stumps. Some of the old hayfields have been plowed and planted in various types of deer food plots as well.
Working for myself I have the ability to hunt every day . Because our season runs about 100 days long I created a hunting camp a short walk from the house for both myself and my hunting friends who come to chase the whitetails with me.
I believe my wife appreciates the fact she isn't woken at 5 am each day from 9/13 to 12/31! A comfy 24 foot yurt is where I lay my head each night.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3890/14897015882_b8d725a968_z.jpg).
The camp has everything I need both outside and in. You will note there is a practice ladder stand and also a camp meat pole close by. An adequate amount of wood has been split and stacked. A new cedar railing on the deck has been installed.
Inside the yurt is all my man cave stuff.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7401/9736108381_c74d6c54ce_z.jpg)
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7408/9736100579_b42f388bb9_z.jpg)
That Yurt is darn cool!
My entire life revolves around this bit of land.
Each day when I hang up the computer and phone, I then head into the woods or fields and spend another 4 to 6 hours working. I am always doing some form of timber stand improvement work.
Having ten acres of food plots entails constant spraying and disking and mowing and planting and more spraying and mowing!. But I love every minute of it and the rewards, well the rewards are simply amazing.
here are some of the plots I have for this year.
Apple Alley
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3873/14753196709_c7af35e6c8_z.jpg)
The old Upper hay field has four plots. Forage beans, clover and a green mix of clover , birds foot trefoil and chickory and turnips.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5556/14734391595_fcb1c36028_z.jpg)
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5273/14558757414_9747112fdd_z.jpg)
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3926/14373794979_fd7875491b_z.jpg)
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5589/15173782522_960a37a758_z.jpg)
Looking forward to this years logs!
Behind the farm house is a 2 acre field. I was having some erosion issues since over 90 acres drains down into this field. A quick snow melt reeks havoc here. So to combat that, I planted that same green mix of clover, trefoil and chickory in the middle of the field to hold the soil better.
I call this stuff " deer crack" as there are numerous deer in it each night all summer long.
On The right of that is another Turnip plot and on the left a mix of left over brassicas from last year.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5591/15164758141_8d99af7ac9_z.jpg)
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5583/15144711276_b50993099c_z.jpg)
I'll post the pictures of the other two micro plots as I hunt them.
Despite the poor deer populations in the rest of the state and the decrease of tags to just one deer statewide, my little corner of the state has had an increase of deer. I can legally shoot 5 deer here this year. I am hoping that between my self and my friends, we can take about 15 does off the farm and maybe a good buck or two!
Opening day is next Saturday. But both professional and personal obligations are going to take me away from the farm until late Sunday afternoon. I may get out then . If not then, my opener will be Monday morn the 15th.
But after that, I'll be out nearly every morning and evening. Hopefully I can describe my trips afield and post photos so that you will enjoy my hunt as well.
I'll leave you with a picture of my favorite flower. This is an English Aster , but I call it the bow hunter's flower since it doesn't bloom until right around opening day each fall.
Good hunting to everyone this fall. See you soon.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3876/15173787562_6796f4ce27_z.jpg)
Yes, this will be fun to follow!
Does the yurt stay up all year long?
Stunning countryside, and a wonderful hunting camp! Thank you for sharing, and I wish you all the very best for your season!
I enjoyed the past two seasons you logged and will keep an eye out on this years also..I like how you give us a tour of the property and stand locations...Love the yurt also... :thumbsup: :campfire:
WooHoo one of my favorite read alongs!!
Looking forward to it as always.
Nice to see you back, Jim.
"My entire life revolves around this piece of land."
"Make a life, not a living."
Boy, you sure inspire me, Jim. I need a boot every now and then and this is one right now. Thanks.
Looking forward to your posts.
QuoteOriginally posted by Big Ed:
WooHoo one of my favorite read alongs!!
YOU ARENT KIDDING BIG ED!! Hands down the best thread always something good to read and look at each and every day...looking forward to it!
I always enjoy this thread.
Great pics Jim.
Jim, thanks for taking us along for another year!
Your place is amazing! I love seeing the pictures every year. Best of luck to you, hunt hard and be safe.
The for plots are looking great this year.
So glad to see this thread started up again. It's a Trad Gang highlight each and every day!
Great News Jim. I love your thread and I ma grateful you are putting forward the effort to share your hunting season again with us this year.
Do me a favor and wait a little before you shoot a big one This year. ;) :smileystooges:
Have a Great Season.
Spectacular piece of property! Best of luck his fall!
Was hoping you would do this again, enjoyed the past couple years accounts very much! :campfire:
I'm pretty sure that is everyone's dream right there. A beautiful piece of land to hunt right out your door, an awesome man cave, and the ability to hunt everyday of a long season. :campfire: thanks for showing the dream is possible.
The food plots are looking great again Jim. I can't wait to follow along with you for your hunting season. Good luck, be safe, and shoot straight.
Burton
Looking forward to it! Good Luck
First thread I check into each morning! I have greatly enjoyed the last two seasons and thanks for sharing another!
Glad to see things are going well this season.Looking forward to your posts and pics and thanks for sharing your beautiful farm with us. :archer:
Beautiful country down there, haven't hunted the public land down there for a number of years now. A coworker goes down for a week every year, he's been nagging me to go....Good luck this year, you always seem to have good hunting!
Good Luck this year!! The property is looking AWESOME!!
This has been one of my favorite threads the past few years, thanks for doing it again!!!
:campfire:
Always love seeing your place Jim, it is beautiful there! Good luck this year Brother.
This is great! I really look forward to this thread each year. Good luck with your hunting Jim!
Bernie
Jim, I forgot to mention, I will be across the river this Fall.
Looking forward Good hunting.
:thumbsup: Oh yeah! :thumbsup:
My boots are off, my feet by the fire :notworthy: :notworthy: Thanks for doing this! ron w
Always one of the best threads going. Thanks for taking all the time to pass it along.
Good morning Jim, I was hoping to see your thread again this year. Thank you. Our place is near Viola, WI. so not far from you, only 110 acers, but have been seeing some nice deer so far. The food plots are in and growing. Stands are up and cameras are out. Looking forward to Charlie coming home in October to hunt. Maybe he will teach me how to post photos. I will be watching for your daily post. I will some day have the time to spend more time at the farm also. Have a great day and good hunting when you get started.
Take care,
Chuck
Yup, I really enjoy your postings as well. I am fortunate enough to have 120 acres, about 300 miles north of you. I wished I was closer to it, soi had more time on it.
Good luck this year.
can you adopt me. lol, I just dont see how it could get any better than what you have it, great looking terain, incredible job of managing it and I dont know what a yack is, but I like it.
One of the nicest areas of this great nation. Thanks for sharing it with us all!!!
Good luck Jim!
Don't know how I missed the previous seasons but am looking forward to this year. Great looking place.
Glad to see this tread again Jim. Good luck.
Your farm looks great again, good luck!
-Jay
Well I wasn't going to post anything until hunting season got under way , but then again I thought you might like to see this weeks project.
One of my concerns is where do the deer have to go to get to water. While I have a couple of lovely springs on the farm, there is no water up top.
There is an old retention pond that no longer holds water. So we moved some earth today
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5579/15008142967_0722902828_z.jpg)
after scraping the thin top soil, we filled the breach in the damns wall
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3896/15007955819_edb5776a86_z.jpg)
Then we lowered the spill way so the pond will never be deeper than 4 feet.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3883/15194360412_8e968ef96a_z.jpg)
We go it it all packed and ready for the liner just before it started to rain. I got about 3000 square feet of vinyl bill board advertisements for 50 bucks and we will lay down 2 layers and then cover with more dirt. I'll post more pictures of that hopefully by weeks end.
During the lunch hour while the pond maker was moving earth, I did one last buckthorn spraying session near the Andy Ivy stand. I almost stepped on this little guy.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3850/15008152268_0a44b483aa_z.jpg)
A very young Eastern Timber Rattler
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5563/15008151067_542715b173_z.jpg)
Thank you everyone for your words of encouragement. It sure makes blogging fun
Jim, what kind of snake is that? almost looks like small rattle starting.
Water can be very critical. Good Idea with the billboard Vinyl.
I certainly see why you like that property so much. It is beautiful, and obviously you have a lot of big deer. The yurt is a fantastic camp. I am totally envious of your food plots. I'm just getting started on food plots, so mine are small, rough, and downright crude. Yours give me an idea of how to do good ones. I look forward to tales of great hunting feats.
That snake is a timber rattler aka canebrake rattler.
Jack
Jim,
If memory serves me correctly didn't you have a stand location last year or the year before where you ran into a Rattle snake?
This wouldn't by chance be in that same location would it :scared:
Either way I'm glad you take your camera along with you even doing the prep work on the pond cause this is part of the story of what happens on 5 Pines as your new season unfolds..Thanks for the daily pics Jim...
Enjoy the thread every year. I think a lot of us live vicarious through your hunting adventures. I know it's one of the first threads I look for daily. Look out for Mr. No Shoulders. He doesn't play nice. Thanks Jeff :thumbsup:
Looks like a lot of work Jim on the rebuild of the pond. Wish you luck with it. Hope the rains do not hold you back. Our pond does not hold water. maybe due to the caves below it?
Really enjoy your thread every year Jim. Really gets me excited for the upcoming season. Good luck this year
Jim, looking forward to spending time in the rugged hills of south east Minnesota again this year through your detailed online journal. Thanks for taking the time to take us along with you.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Looking forward to the diary. I appreciate the effort you put into working the land to bring out its potential.
Jim,
I discovered this gem last year, and I loved checking in daily!
Like Cyclic-Rivers said, take your time killing your #1 buck this year :D ! I like the suspense!
Be sure to post up some pics of the pond after it has some water. :)
we got 1.5 inches of rain over night and the pond is all ready holding water. Just the layer of clay we put down with the packing is holding it nicely. We will still put the liner down as it will help hold the water on the sides of the pond and allow for a deeper pool. Once everything is down and we seed the area it's going to be exactly what I had hoped for.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5558/15203182732_537605b221_z.jpg)
Beautiful Jim good idea on the vinyl !
Oh ya, that's looking great!
The equipment operator did a ecelent job!! Looking very good.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :campfire: Have a great season
Good luck Jim. I was up in your neck of the woods today and it sure felt like bow hunting weather this morning. Looking forward to following along this season.
I am anxious to be hunting. While I have an important engagement tomorrow that can't be missed, I will be thinking about hunting while I'm there.
Here is a Google Earth Flyover of the farm showing all of my stand locations.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5589/15029560459_18983e737c_z.jpg)
Unfortunately the contours of the ridges don't show up in these saved images. So to give you an idea of the steepness of the ridges let's use #4, 5, & 6 as examples. ( I switched to numbers on Google earth as the names were too long and covered too much detail). I have also drawn in the actual logging roads that are 4 wheeler accessible
Stand #4 AKA rattlesnake ridge, is 600 feet above stands #5 & #6, but only about 300 actual yards away.
All of my stands have names to help me keep track of what is going on and also to help direct my friends as to where they should sit. They are named for some one who killed a deer there, or a unique aspect of the stand, or something that happened at the spot. Some stands may only get hunted once or twice a year. I keep a daily spread sheet to record when a stand was hunted and what happened on that hunt. This helps me from over hunting a spot and the results are fun to look at year end.
In bluff country the winds can be really tricky. So some times one stand won't work but another on the other side of the ridge 50 yards distant does. If I get to a spot and the wind is wrong, I then have multiple options to go to.
The deer are really hitting the food plot right behind the house. I would really like to get one of the really big does that call the farm home.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5588/15186598446_4566b20c16_z.jpg)
If your season begins tomorrow, good shooting!
Nice looking doe Jim, are the bigger ones dry this year? I have a couple pics of "big" does with no fawns this year but all the younger does are with fawns. Harsh winter possibly have something to do with it? I dunno but I do love following along on your hunts. Thank you for doing this!! Henry
Wow I see 28 stand locations Jim....The satilite images show 29 on the property..Did you forget to flag one?
The one next to the Yurt :D See I'm paying attention already this year...
Not sure what you lookin at Keefer?
As of last night the little bucks were still in velvet. I watched this guy or his twin play with a buck fawn for about 30 minutes on the hayed hill side above the house last evening while I shot some arrows..
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3874/15225700952_5d37801328_z.jpg)
Not hunting this am was tough. My brain still made me get up well before dawn. It was 30 F this am .I think that is the coldest opener I can ever recall.
I watched several deer in the food plot behind the house. There was a cold fog in the valley and it was hard to see the deer as they drifted in and out of focus.After several cups of coffee I went out and dinked around at the yurt. When the sun was high enough to put a little warmth in the valley I shot a few more arrows.
I am shooting a static tip recurve osage self bow made for my by Brad Merkel back in 2006. The bow is 52 lbs at 26 inches. It's a little heavy form but I am shooting it well. I have not killed a deer with it and its high time I do.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5555/15039305059_01c126760b_z.jpg)
it has big curls and water buff horn on the tips
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5569/15226089155_e1dab7378c_z.jpg)
Boa on the backside
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5570/15039333869_b5e4c2213b_z.jpg)
Still shooting Carbons out of it though.
Here is the score card as this season gets under way . hopefully there will plenty more hash marks on the board by 12.31.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3878/15039417470_32bfcfd8e2_z.jpg)
Good luck this year Jim! One day I hope I can get up there. I'd love to see it in person :)
Really enjoy every aspect of this thread! Thanks for sharing I am envious!
Good luck Jim. Hope you are in a stand tomorrow.
Looking forward to tagging along!
:bigsmyl: :campfire:
Will you be using that basket quiver to hunt with?
:campfire:
Following your success again this year. Best of luck to you and your guests!
outing #1 Hay bale blind
We made our escape from the concrete and steel jungle of Minneapolis around noon. It is about a 3 hour drive home and I pushed just as hard as I dare.
At the end of the 10 acres of tillable land which I rent to neighbor is a small green field I planted in June. The hay bale sits just a few feet past where the corn ends. ( Red line is edge of corn)
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3879/15055610797_8126d5e056_z.jpg)
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3880/15158615221_2bb5d4e4ba_z.jpg)
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3851/15158611351_ef5fa5b602_z.jpg)
That is a nice looking bow. Brad sure has talent for making those. Good luck with it.
One of my favorite threads of the year has officially begun! I look forward to your hunts every day!
David
Outing #1... that's a good day!
Good luck :campfire:
I walked the short hike along East side of the corn on a trail I have mowed in the tall grass got to the blind around 4 30. Before getting in, I stepped off 15 yards and marked the distance with a stick in the ground and a small bit or orange flagging tape. My maximum distance with Little tree is 15 yards.
I situated the chair and my pack on the floor. Unstrapped the quiver from the bow. ( The straw quiver is a practice quiver Tom. I like strap on's and leave them on the bows when I am shooting anything else but the self bow.)
There was a gusty wind and the corn stalks next to me were rustling in the wind.
While the deer can appear in this field from any direction, they normally come off the bluff behind me from across the road. The blind sits up tight against the brush along the small creek which runs along my side of the dirt road.
I was just nodding off when the vocalization of a deer jerked me to attention. A really great looking doe was trotting down the hill directly in front of me and talking as she came. She trotted into the food plot heading right at me. I'll admit it, the rush was instant and I was putting some tension on the string. But at 25 yards out she made a 90 degree turn to her left and went into the corn not to be seen again.
About one hour later I leaned forward to look out the end window and there was a small doe feeding about 25 yards away. I didn't make a peep but some how she felt my presence. Perhaps some of my scent was making it out but she didn't act like deer does when they get a small wiff of you. She took a few steps my way then turned and trotted up the hill the other doe had come down. At 75 yards she stopped and snorted and then ran up the hill snorting all the way!
I had about 45 minutes left and during that time I did spy one other doe up the hill in amongst the wild apple trees. Walking home I bumped into 2 more does that were coming down to the corn and I saw several on the hill side above the house either feeding in the green hay field or heading on down to the food plot behind the house.
It sure was good to be out with bow and arrows in hand.
The am forecast is calling for rain. I am hoping if it does rain it rains early and lets me sit a tree some where.
Let the games begin! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
I love this thread! Good luck!
:campfire: :coffee: Thanks for taking us along!
Well the weather man was spot on today. Started raining about 2 am and it is still raining now. The afternoon is calling for partly cloudy and a Northerly wind. I'll pick a spot and be out then.
My favorite thread also. Thanks for taking us along. Ken
awesome thread!!
Following this thread I feel like I'm waiting in the yurt for Jim to check back in! Hey... is there beer or wine in the yurt? I just want to keep my waiting experience as realistic as possible tonight!
:campfire:
Surely its dark by now :coffee: :goldtooth:
outing #2 lower Apple Alley.
Nestled in between two tall bluffs is a narrow old cow pasture that we affectionately call Apple Alley. Old wild apple trees line this narrow opening at the bottom of one ridge and just above a deep dry gully. There are three stands here.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3861/15063140898_51294a18fd_z.jpg)
The top stand sits on the hidden food plot. The middle along a trail that runs the inside edge of the woods and the bottom in a Sumac and Apple thicket. With a wind out of the north I chose the bottom stand. Deer will come off of the bluff or move down from the neighbor's pasture late in the day as they head down to both the hidden plot and then to the big one marked with the star.
At the stand site is a large apple tree with trails on 3 sides.
looking down and to the right
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3918/15066769660_66bf8064ce_z.jpg)
looking straight ahead towards the apple tree
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5589/15253083652_7eef41a6a1_z.jpg)
This is a great little funnel. But early in the season you can't see farther than about 40 yards.
I was entertained by one of our largest woodpeckers. A Pileated flew in and landed on several trees nearby. Once it was on the very next tree over my left shoulder and just below eye level. They are such prehistoric looking birds and their call sounds like something that should be in the jungle or rain forest not the MN woods. Later a Sharp Shinned Hawk flew in after the red squirrel that had been scolding me all afternoon. It missed but I didn't hear from Red the rest of the day.
When the sun disappeared behind the ridge the temp started to drop. Before long I was wishing I'd dressed warmer. Just about to call it quits, I caught a little movement on the trail above me. A doe had stepped in under a crab apple about 30 yards away. Just out side at the top of the photo.
This tree is loaded with bright small apple/crabs. She munched for several minutes, before turning in my direction. I had Little Tree in my hands and was reminding myself to really focus on a spot. But she angled down and to my left and never came closer than 25 yards. I watched her pass waiting for her to blow as she crossed into my down wind scent stream. But I got away with it somehow and never heard her spook. I waited till dark and got down to retrieve my practice arrow and snuck back home without running into any animals .
The forecast is for 30 degrees tonight. Yikes it is rather early for those temps!
hey Keefer! You were right I Did neglect to mark one spot!
Jim, Break out the wool! Good Luck in the Morning!
Good luck and hunt safe Jim!!
Frosty here this morning Jim, hope you dressed for it this morning, Thank you for keeping us in your hunt.
I'm anxious to see how it went this morning. I'm definitely enjoying this thread.
outing #3 Jim's stand
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5570/15259467992_0dea9d5d03_z.jpg)
It's a long walk to this stand. So I left the yurt at 5:30 am. It was cold. not quite 30 as forecast. Probably closer to 40. I wore my lightest Kuiu woolens but skipped the wool pants and shirt. Big mistake!.
There was a cold wet mist in the bottom of valley. I worked my way up the logging road and out of the fog. I moved steadily, but not so fast as to work up a bad sweat.
I only bumped one deer ( that I heard) and arrived at the stand at 6:15. The elevation at the stand is 1300 and the yurt is 650. I am on the back side of the ridge facing East. I love this spot for a number of reasons. The light here does some really cool things. Because you face East you get the sun early. The slant of the hill makes the light play cool tricks with the tree trunks. For about an hour this am the light changed from Amber to Golden on the tree trunks. I almost always see bucks back here. Today was no exception!
Good luck Jim I wanna see pics I just know it's gonna happen!!
The downside to sitting here is you normally don't see deer early. So you have to be prepared to sit quite a while.
You are not far above a busy county road that is noisy and you can hear every thing going on at the dairy farm below. Today at 6 45 and at 7 15 the phone in the barn was ringing loudly. Kind a wrecks the wildness of the spot.
I wasn't dressed warm enough. Despite an over coat I was shivering by 8 am. At 8 30 I had just convinced my self to hang in there a little longer. When suddenly I spotted antlers, big antlers 50 yards below me. A buck was slowly working his way to bed just below me. There is so much foliage that I was having difficulty seeing just how big he was. He had tall impressive bronze tines. A big chunky body. When he lay down in a dense patch of brush I could only see part of his rack.
I was now stuck and I was not really getting any warmer. I glanced further down the ridge and spotted the horizontal line of a second deer's back. Another buck! This one was obviously a 2.5 year old with a nice 8 point rack. Too young to shoot but a nice buck .He was making his way up towards where the other buck had laid down. After 45 minutes of slowly feeding he lay down just 15 yards from the other buck and about 40 yards below me. He was in full view. I watched as he groomed himself in the sun. Just like one of my cats!
I prepared for a long sit. I was determined not to spook them. But 30 minutes later I felt the breeze on the back of my neck. Both bucks exploded out of their beds and flew down the hill !
I was both disappointed and relieved! As I climbed out of the tree I heard a snort and a doe was staring my way. Guess I should have looked better before climbing down.
An early season close encounter of the big buck kind!! Great start Jim!
Great Morning Jim. Hope you dress for it next time lol.
Wow, great morning, Think you could of had a steady draw if it came to it??
Is great to read your reports. Makes me feel like I'm there. Thanks
outing #4 Bwana stand.
The wind was right for hunting the upper food plots and since it was on the way I was able to check out how much water is still sitting in the retention pond currently under repair.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3852/15076990337_42b94f8e05_z.jpg)
We are going to rent a pump tomorrow to pump out the water so we can lay down the darn liner. Talk about irony. But the deer are hammering it already. It smelled like an elk wallow when I walked up to it. It's going to be the best thing I have done for the farm in a while for sure.
On the top are two food plots running East and West in Front of the Bwana stand. The white area is forage beans again this year. I couldn't believe how much the deer have eaten in just the last week. But the whole field ( roughly an acre)
was at least a foot shorter tonight then it was a week ago. Simply amazing.
The spine of the hill runs between the two fields. So you can't see over into the beans from my stand. The hill drops off too fast.
The 2nd field which actually shows on the sat photo is a huge failure this year. Operator error some how. Almost the entire field is just weeds.
The wind tonight was out of the SW. Shortly after getting settled in, I spotted a deer running towards me thru the prairie grass. I stood and got the bow in hand. Almost perfect except the deer below and in front of me at 7 yards is a buck fawn. Little tiny bumps protruded from his forehead. Looked like little Hersey's kisses. He obviously got a pass.
The next three deer were one doe followed by three spikes. They came into my side of the field on a trail about 25 yards East (behind me). They fed a little in the weed field. I guess a little of the right seed did grow and then they crossed the mowed trail on the hill crest and went in to the beans.
Then just at last light a whole parade of 7 does and fawns came into the weed field from the West. I thought for sure I was now going to have to sit until it was pitch dark. But when they got to beans something spooked them back towards me . Four of them ran directly under me and down the ridge behind me.
I have a couple of pictures from tonight but will have to post them in the Am . Forgot the camera down in the yurt.
last nights photo's from on stand
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3901/15264547641_5fe6a0abef_z.jpg)
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5585/15264542451_6c3fed1fd1_z.jpg)
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5562/15267269072_b0d111965a_z.jpg)
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5576/15244657246_ea7c2633e5_z.jpg)
outing #5 Aspen over clover.
with lots on my plate today and a short window this am, I chose an easy spot to get to. Either it would happen here early or not at all .
A short walk up the dirt road takes you to this sweet little food plot on the Northern end of the farm.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5554/15267321392_bd5fbb7a0e_z.jpg)
The stand (red arrow) hangs in an Aspen tree over the logging road deer enter and leave from .
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5559/15264552861_d8fde46742_z.jpg)
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5568/14975028378_0b0f15da3e_z.jpg)
by 8:30 nothing had come into the field and the neighbor's barking dog convinced me to head in. I hunt this spot sparingly because it is so close to the next door folks.
I may not get to hunt tonight. We are going to focus on getting the pond done before more rain moves in on Friday.
:campfire:
:thumbsup:
:campfire:
This is better than any magazine. Keep the stories coming
littlebigman, you have some amazing property!!! best of luck this year, awesome thread....
I'm in and watching as well. Great to check in when I get home. Nothing beats trad bow huntin'!
Good Luck with getting the liner down.
wow am I tired.
1st we trenched all the way around where the top of the pond liner would be. Then we drained the pond.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3920/15272454422_cfae2a7925_z.jpg)
Then I spent the next five hours picking rock out of the trenches and picking rock out from where the liner would go.
then we put the liner down. Tucked the edges into the trenches and replaced the rock to hold the liners in place.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3858/15249857256_ae2c997407_z.jpg)
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3901/15086293188_5628538572_z.jpg)
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3920/15086103499_4f434f8c9a_z.jpg)
tomorrow, the dirt goes back on top, some packing and seeding the edges and then back to bow hunting!
Great work bud! Wished I was there to help.
Well, it's obvious how much work that was! Great effort, slowing the water is always good.
So many beings benefit from ponds, Nice job.
One of my favorite threads
my projects always seem to take twice the time I estimate to complete and cost twice as much as planned. Oh well, we will be done for sure tomorrow.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5592/15282990285_0ca8491011_z.jpg)
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3864/15096418768_52eb11190a_z.jpg)
hunting will resume in the am!
Go get em Jim ..beautiful pond work that liner will work GREAT!
It was a mild morning with a breeze out of the ESE. I chose Joel's stand as it would be perfect for this wind.
It's just a 5 minute walk from the Yurt down the gravel road and then up the fire break on the field of big blue stem prairie grass. The stand sits just inside the woods edge on a 90 degree corner where the atv access point is to an old logging road. I drew in the road ( in red). The white lines are major deer trails that go by.
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2941/15102334988_6b177bbd38_z.jpg)
Wind direction is the Red arrow
As you can see there is a real hub of trails. A perfect spot for a self bow hunter as the longest shot distance 15 yards down to the logging road. The rest of the shots are 10 to 12 yards max! My kind of yardage!
I own just 23 acres on this side of the road. It's a steep bluff face that was last logged about 40 years ago. The deer use old logging roads that go up and down to move thru the really steep spots. They also travel the contours as they move thru my land.
The rotting old tops of logged oaks mixed with the new growth makes for a great bedding area.
I have just 2 stands in here and hunt them exclusively in the am. The wind almost always travels up hill and if you try to hunt in the afternoons you just scare everything out as you walk in.
Picture of stand.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3856/15102093349_0773022c25_z.jpg)
looking down upon logging road from the stand.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3835/15288453482_0f8b149632_z.jpg)
standing at corner and looking down the logging (red) road.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5568/15102087899_26526e986c_z.jpg)
Some day I will kill a big buck here.
Today at 8 45 I looked over my right shoulder up at the trail that runs past ( behind me) the tree stand about 12 yards up hill. The foliage is so thick here all I could see was the deer's legs as it was walking towards me. Then I got enough of a glimpse of it's head to determine it was an adult doe. It stopped 25 yards from me and I couldn't see it. I was already standing and holding my bow when I saw it. So I stayed stone still. It stood there forever and then turned up hill and walked away. Rats! I don't think it winded me but it sensed something and wasn't coming any further .
Close but no cigars this am!
keep it coming!!!
weathered out this pm High 70's and 30 mph winds!
I heard the winds were stout at the farm this evening. My little brother saw nothing and became sea sick.
Good luck in the AM Jim. They should be moving.
Jim,
I love this thread!
:campfire:
1st here is a pond update. We finished it!
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5555/15111782438_5c6dc17400_z.jpg)
then we got a storm last night . Mostly wind but we did get 0.25 inches of rain. It's working!
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3874/15298040832_2fffd1fec1_z.jpg)
looking forward to the next 1 incher!
outing # 7 The Homestead stand.
Getting to this stand requires driving the ATV about 3.5 miles. The red line is the dirt road which turns to tar at the sharp left turn. Then its part way up a logging road I own and let the adjacent neighbors use to access their parcels.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3863/15112271088_77d870ebbe_z.jpg)
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3840/15298989625_748f857d3b_z.jpg)
I've been told there once was an home here. I have not yet found any old foundations but its clear that there was once an apple orchard. There are 2 rows of giant apple trees here. Clearly some one planted them in the rows.
To keep my self scent free from the 4 wheeler , all my hunting clothes goes in a scent lock bag. My rubber boots go in a plastic grocery bag. I wear a mechanics onesy over my underwear and slip on shoes. I leave the yurt extra early and only drive far enough up the logging road so that the 4 wheeler is not seen by any one. I then get dressed there.
On the way there this morning I drag raced a 110 inch 8 pointer on the straight away before you get to the tarred hi-way. I spotted him loping along in front of me along side the standing corn in the ditch. I put the pedal to floor to catch up to him. We ran shoulder to fender for about 50 yards when he dived into the corn. The cheater!
I put this stand up last April when we were working on invasive species back here. At the time I was really happy with the visibility. Ha! couldn't see 15 yards today!
I leave this bluff face alone for most of the season as a sanctuary for the deer. Deer need a safe place to go when the shooting starts. This is one of two designated sanctuaries on the farm .
On each side of me here the neighbors hunt with their shot guns hard.
I went here today because it was really windy this am and I thought the deer would head to a place to be out of the wind. Plus the apples are starting to hit the ground and since this is a new spot this year and I wanted to see what the wind would do on this hillside.
The stand is in a 3 trunk cedar surrounded on four sides by crab apple trees.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3870/15111669909_32a4a38450_z.jpg)
views from the stand
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3866/15298442655_cdda1060a4_z.jpg)
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5591/15298080902_9a1d707e04_z.jpg).
the heaviest trail goes by the stand at about 7 yards
The gusty wind was swirling all morning. Not sure if this spot is going to work from a wind stand point. But I hope so , as it is loaded with deer sign.
A storm front pushed in and it started to thunder. I prefer not to have my carbon arrows next to me in a lightening storm so I got down early. I did hear one deer walking past me while I was on stand but never saw it.
On the way back to the ATV there were deer tracks on top of my boot tracks.
I will go back to this spot next week some time and trim just a couple of the higher cedar limbs that are preventing me from seeing very far. Then I'll let it rest for a while and try it again. I want to hunt in it once for three or fours hours while there are still apples on the trees.
Here are some more photos of the spot.
main trail past the tree
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3868/15295282361_86070d43c0_z.jpg)
trail I made to get in quietly
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5552/15111832078_2583f2e334_z.jpg)
looking down hill towards another old retention pond that still holds a little water
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5589/15111863657_e59a17eac7_z.jpg)
deer sign
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5554/15111837097_b49c475e5c_z.jpg)
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5566/15295237331_73165c8fce_z.jpg)
Love that spot... those heavy trails gets the blood pumping lol
Thank you sir, with a new baby and two other small children I'm going to have to live this season through your posts.
Couldn't hunt tonight, but we did have our dinner guests down at the target butt for a bit.
Even had them shooting flu flus at throwing discs, what fun .
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3909/15300196351_3d8ee9305e_z.jpg)
yoga woman does archery
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3905/15116780387_79fe585463_z.jpg)
ace car mechanic does archery too
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3910/15300209641_421a1af797_z.jpg)
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3838/15302983742_3e1474f15c_z.jpg)
ouch!
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3852/15116636050_a1f797b13a_z.jpg)
Good Fun Jim! Looks like your Pond will Pan Out. Hope you are back at it in the morning!
String "bite" - OUCH!
Everything looks great!
Outing #8. We really don't have a good name for this spot , so we call what it is . Ladder by Bill's.
Early last week I sat for a short hunt near my neighbor on the north end. On that same food plot is an old ladder stand for when the wind is out of the N or the NW.
This morning the wind was gusty and North Westerly.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3889/15286343656_0c2e9d9417_z.jpg)
I have numerous set ups all over the farm for this wind. But a trad friend is coming to hunt with me this afternoon and I wanted to leave the others unhunted so he would have a good choice of spots to sit.
I hope he bought the extra doe tag for this unit!
The weather has really been weird. Yesterday was hot and muggy and very still. It just poured at dark. My nephew was hunting last evening ( compound ) and got soaked coming in at dark.
Very windy all night. The yurt's walls shook violently several times! Today it was windy and much colder!
The gusty wind brought in a little rain at around 7 am. A read tail hawk was keeping me company . He was sitting in his own tree stand on the other side of the food plot. He would scream and then soar in a circle over the plot landing back in the same tree several times before he left the plot to me.
But I saw no deer this morning. Here are pictures of the spot from this vantage point.
old Box Elder screens the stand.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3902/15286289666_88206bc84c_z.jpg)
the trail crossing in front on me.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3871/15122745128_ff0106c327_z.jpg)
the old ladder ( hey it was free)
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5563/15122759248_b4f272fbc6_z.jpg)
the hills are taking on some color.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5570/15309347035_8691151928_z.jpg)
hope we have some luck tonight
Looks great Jim :thumbsup:
Hope you and your trad friend have a great evening!
Outing #9
Jamie arrived early in the afternoon. We spent some time catching up and shot some arrows. He is shooting a Java Man longbow. I was impressed with how fast and quiet that bow is.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3895/15315941312_4cf58f9b4c_z.jpg)
The wind was gusty out of the north but was forecast to lie down late in the afternoon.
Keeping rattle snake ridge between us, I sent Jamie to the upper apple alley ladder (5) and I went to the sure thing (28)
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3900/15129664130_787b2cc35d_z.jpg)
Hey Jim, what a hard weekend to hunt. Wind, more wind, rain and heat. Saw some deer, but nothing close or big. But cam pictures say the big guys are still around.
I love this spot. We call it " sure thing" as this spot rarely disappoints.
At 5 pm I looked behind me thru the Y in the old oak I am sitting in and could see 4 deer right in front of the hay bale grazing in the green field.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3922/15129588170_baa0de2d27_z.jpg)
I watched them thru the binos and determined they were all does. I am certain 2 were at least with in 15 yards of the blind! Damn!
Eventually they fed off into the corn field.
As the day wore on the wind decreased and by sun down there was no wind at all. I expected to see a deer coming down the ridge trail at any moment.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3870/15129745957_7c0cbf8e53_z.jpg).
As hard as I tried, I couldn't make a deer appear.
When I had all but given up hope for seeing deer close tonight, I spotted one below me in the apple trees. Then I spotted another and then a another. The closest was about 35 yards away and walking up the hill towards me. That's odd I thought, it is the reverse of what they normally do in the afternoon.
Suddenly it dawned on me that the doe was nosing the air. The sinking thermals had given her a molecule or two of me and she was trying to figure out where I was! She walked to within 15 yards and stood there looking up at the tree where I was perched. My left eye stared into her right. I tried not to blink. Not to move a muscle. This stand off went on for a few minutes. Then she got frustrated and started snorting. I was chuckling inside. She almost had me but not quite. She turned 180 degrees and snorted! Turned another 180 and snorted again! Then she walked the stiff legged walk away. At about 40 yards she broke into a run downslope.
It was now past legal shooting time so I headed on back to the yurt to see how Jamie faired.
He only had one doe come into his food plot . She presented a 35 yard shot which he declined. Walking out he saw half a dozen white flags wave bye bye from the big food plot below.
Better luck next time
You're getting closer Jim, its going to happen soon. :thumbsup:
It was great catching up buddy! We will have to get together again soon!
outing #10 The Andy ivy Stand.
Named for my Buddy Andy from SA/Australia who was the 1st to kill a deer here.
Andy we haven't seen you on these pages lately!?
This stand sits right off the logging trail that runs on the ridge's back of the N/S ridge.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5576/15137216649_df433788e3_z.jpg)
It was 45 degrees and extremely foggy when I hit the trail at 5 30 am . By the time I had climbed about 300 feet in elevation the fog evaporated and I could see bright stars over head.
Normally if I don't scare them some how, deer (blue arrows)move uphill from the big food plot (star) and then bed up high for the day. They will travel with the wind ( red arrow), well at least the Does do. That is what happened today.
I was standing at around 8 am when I saw several pairs of legs already at my level on the ridge but to my right about 40 yards. 5 deer, three adults and 2 yearlings crossed the logging road and were angling towards me but on the their way down the other side of the ridge to their preferred bedding areas. I knew it would be just seconds before the lead doe winded me.
They all locked up and looked my way. The largest doe instantly came directly at me and stood facing me about 20 yards away.
It took her about 25 seconds to locate the source of the smell and to sound the alarm. They flew down the backside of the ridge.
I heaved a sigh and then I noticed a 6th deer coming up the ridge on the very same trail the others had used. A straggler!
The straggler was feasting on some low bushes with bright green leaves. Totally oblivious that her companions had fled down the ridge.
Eventually she fed to about 18 yards and was standing behind the two skinny birches in the center of the following photo.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5588/15320877481_47b255362a_z.jpg)
I needed / wanted her closer. Plus she was quartering to me. I was giving my self the old pep talk about picking a single hair to split , when her body language went from totally relaxed, to slightly alarmed to running away! Crud! I really thought it was going to happen.
here is a photo of the ladder from the main trail in front of it at around 20 yards.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3850/15137432198_541dba5550_z.jpg)
photos from the walk home
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5595/15137338600_c31b7699c4_z.jpg)
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2943/15137443268_eac6cced44_z.jpg)
Once again, I love this thread! Thanks for taking the time to do it!
Thank you Jim for the update
I love walking down a two track tractor path in the fall, bow in hand and the smells of the woods. That photo takes me there......cool!
Good Stuff Jim. Keep it up and good luck! :thumbsup:
Thanks everyone! I appreciate your kind comments and all the encouragement!
ok
Outing #11 Squirrel's tail stand.
The wind was to stay consistent out of the West all day. Why not hope the deer travel in reverse tonight.?
This morning I sat in #15 and tonight I sat on the bottom of the ridge in #10 just above the old pasture.
Wind is red, normal deer travel is blue and the star is the food plot.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5556/15140642918_e93bc9342f_z.jpg)
Before you say wait a minute the wind is wrong, let me explain. After having the stand in at least 6 different spots in the vicinity, the ladder finally landed in another oak tree right where the degree of steepness changes dramatically. I mean its up hill all the way from the food plot. But right behind the tree, it gets steep. Like crawling on all fours steep. Above me is a goat prairie we are trying to restore by continual cutting and burning. The deer seem go around this and drop down thru two little chutes on each side. Picture a V in your mind with the open part of the V the goat prairie and the legs of the V the trails coming down the hill. I drew in the major three deer trials in red. This was one of the first spots that I did a lot of work in. I removed invasive species, cut down the weed trees and piled brush. But rather than burn the piles, I placed them in way to try and steer the deer thru the opening I had created. Since all the deer on the farm now are most likely less than 6 years old, none of them are suspicious of the piles and walk around or between them naturally. We have killed several does here and the biggest buck ever a 157 inch buck was killed here two Decembers ago by my nephew.
Sometimes during the rut the bucks will travel one of the trails that run the contours of the ridge and ends up behind the stand. I have been busted twice in this fashion. But poop does happen!
Another cool thing about this spot is when a little more foliage is gone you can look up either of the those chutes and see the deer coming from 50 or 60 yards out.
But tonight I just got plane skunked. Skunked that is until I walked out to look at the food plot. I could make out half a dozen dark forms moving around in the green below. I never saw any of them but they could have come any direction.
Sorry about not having pictures of the spot tonight, but the battery of the Nikon was DOA at the stand.
I have to pass on the am hunt as I have an early meeting I have to prep for. But I'll be out in the afternoon.
:campfire:
Great post thanks for sharing!!
outing #12 Justin's Stand
I just want to say that despite not getting a shot tonight, it's pretty hard to top tonight's sit.
Justin's stand sits on the opposite end of the weed field from the Bwana stand.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3884/15150590958_8b388255bf_z.jpg)
The wind was out of the SSW and very warm again this afternoon.
On my way up to the stand I stopped by the new pond. I had picked some wild flower seed in the prairie between the house and the yurt and I wanted to spread it on the spillway. I will try to do this every time I am near the pond until there is snow. There were lots of deer tracks around the water but the trail camera had malfunctioned and there were no pictures on the card. Translation, I screwed up the settings some how. Hopefully they are set right now.
The forage beans are getting hammered . ( white area). They have been browsed now so hard that they are not going to put out a bean pod at all.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3851/15150563598_846dcfe744_z.jpg).
The tree line is all big oak and hickories. Here is looking up the tree line towards Bwana's stand.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3898/15336845392_de053d6874_z.jpg).
the stand is a 20 foot ladder in another big Burr Oak
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3835/15150376489_0724a5df58_z.jpg)
Behind the stand the bluff drops off fast down into that secure cover area I hunted last weekend. ( again blue arrows is typical deer movement).
The deer will come into the field from any direction but any coming up from behind me are not going to wind me. So I am hoping some come that way.
Here is the view from my perch 20 feet up.
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2944/15314120406_cd0eaed3ed_z.jpg)
even 20 feet up isn't high enough to enable me to see what might be in the bean field except for maybe the closest edge.
The breeze was steady but not gusty like the last 2 nights. At about six pm I noticed several turkeys feeding my way thru the weed field. Five jakes and one long beard were walking as they are prone to do, like a line of men searching the ground. Just a few feet apart but moving in the same direction at a slow steady speed. I couldn't tell if they picking bugs or if there was something that I planted that they were eating. I enjoyed listening to their contented talk as they fed in front of me and below me. Suddenly there was a putt and they all hurried back the way they came towards Bwana.
One hour later back they came. Trailing them, were two of the spike bucks I saw up here last week. These two must be brothers. Identical twins for sure. One was teasing the birds. He would run up to them scattering them. Then let them regroup and do it again. I swear he had a smile on his face!
Now the oak I was in and the ones next to me were raining acorns all evening. The birds were still milling around, keeping an eye on the two little bucks. The bucks walked over to the oak next to me and started hoovering up all the acorns. Cracking them and chewing them 10 yards from me. Once one of them choked on the mast and gagged. I am not sure which one. Eventually as the day ended both boys fed back towards the bean field. AS I made my get away I saw there were three other deer down on the far end of the beans. I saw no head gear and assume that they were does.
What a great night tonight was. This never gets old for me! Oh and for those who are wondering, I don't have a fall turkey tag.
Jim, thanks for all your work with journaling your hunts again this year. Very enjoyable to follow.
For outing #12 this AM I returned to the little food plot on my northern border.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5559/15264552861_d8fde46742_z.jpg) arrow points out the stand.
I have been favoring the north end of the farm because my good friend and neighbor to the north has been seeing two slammer bucks on his south end. I keep hoping to run into one of them!
But today I had just a single spike feed near me.
The following pictures were on the trail camera which is placed just beneath the stand itself. If the weather holds I might just hunt that spot again tonight and bring home one of those does!
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3864/15339645151_deb51bdd16_z.jpg)
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3864/15342512522_b2f3172a70_z.jpg)
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3863/15342509902_8c89324a6d_z.jpg)
:campfire: :coffee:
outing #13 Not lucky!
I gambled tonight and lost. Breaking all of my rules, I went back to this AM's stand early in the afternoon.
A storm front moved in and it began to rain. A friend who follows this blog sent me a text and told the front would move thru quickly and to "hang in there on the plot". As the rain came down a spike buck, most likely the one from this AM came into the plot and began feeding. My hopes that the does would follow were high. As it really began to rain the little guy lay down right in the green plot about 30 yards away. He faced the neighbor's house.
Rule# 1. Never sit the same stand 2 times in a row.
Then a truck came down the dirt road and pulled into the neighbor's yard. The next hour was spent listening to their boisterous conversation. The little buck kept watch in their direction.
Rule #2. Never hunt near the neighbor's in the afternoon.
The rain stopped.
Finally the guest drove off and it was just getting quiet when another neighbor from the opposite end of the valley comes cruising down the road on his atv. He was checking out the deer movement with his big barking lab in tow.
Rule #3 Don't break rules #1 and #2.
Finally everyone was gone and there were about 10 minutes left of shootable light. The little buck had wandered off. With nothing coming in sight, I exited the tree and saw two does now in flight at the bottom of the field. They must have been standing off to the side some where near waiting for the coast to be clear. I didn't hang in there long enough.
I think I'll head up high in the am and see what's what.
Seems like I never win when I break self imposed rules.......I am sure it will come together soon Jim.
Thanks for taking the time to do this, I look forward to it every day!
David
Seems like I never win when I break self imposed rules.......I am sure it will come together soon Jim.
Thanks for taking the time to do this, I look forward to it every day!
David
Rules are made to be broken brother! If you got a hot stand sometimes you have to sit it as long as the winds right! I see back straps in your near future!
outing #14 Upper apple alley
With a south wind and very mild temps, I decided to head up to where I sent Jamie this past Sunday.
I was hoping to catch deer moving up ridge from the various food plots and apple trees as they went to bed on the ridge tops.
As I crested the first little hill behind the garage two deer stood from their beds. They blinked at my head lamp and then trotted off.
As I entered into the bottom of the old pasture a Bard owl on top of the ridge to my left called to a mate on the ridge top to my right. If you live in part of the world where Bard owls do not live, click on the link below and then click on the sound tracks part way down the page.
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/barred_owl/sounds
This Spot is one of the more scenic deer stands on the farm.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3882/15165248938_846ec72312_z.jpg)
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2943/15165299277_58dc21bfb1_z.jpg)
My morning snack was an apple grabbed off a tree on the hike in .
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3876/15348614171_501d869b10_z.jpg)
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3835/15165065069_3597dc4bff_z.jpg)
But I was alone with just my thoughts all morning.
looking back up the alley on the hike home.
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2942/15165059759_0907a26644_z.jpg)
The first of this years hunting guests are late arriving. Unfortunately neither of them are trad guys. I will tease them and give them grief all weekend over their ugly looking arrow flingers.
I follow this thread every year, thanks for taking the time to let us follow along.
Beautiful fruit hanging on that tree. Your hunt journal is my enjoyment each evening. You do a great job with photos and comments.
I'm sitting in elk camp and still have to check in on you daily Jim. Guess that makes me a 5 Pines addict!
Keep it up Jim, love your journal and all your pics. The effort it takes is something. Good luck the weekend :campfire:
Another great season underway!
outing #15 the old but new lefty stand
After my 2nd hunter arrived last night and I got him on stand I hustled up the logging road to the "new " lefty stand.
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2946/15357683651_c3d7f46946_z.jpg)
the stand sits on the west side of the N/S ridge across from the Bwana stand. The crest here also prevents one from seeing over into the forage beans and the weed field in front of the Bwana and the Justin stand as well. A great little turnip patch is here.
Last spring I sort of started a forest fire that required not one but four local fire depts. to come out and put it out.
It was quite the day. But the end result was about 20 acres of nasty buckthorn down the ridge behind the stand was top killed. I then spent the summer on this ridge spraying the regrowth and I am really quite happy with the results. I guess this is the silver lining of that little fiasco!
It was really hot yesterday with a SE wind that was forecast to change to the solid East by nightfall That is perfect for this spot as I did not expect to have deer come up thru the burn.
I carried nothing but my bow and a tree stand harness on my back. I had re positioned Lefty to be able to observe the small green field on the very south end of the ridge as well as hunt the turnip plot. I was looking to the south and suddenly two dark forms exited the neighbor's tree line and entered that far little plot. Thru the bino's I could tell both were bucks. (star) One looked pretty darn good. Soon they disappeared and two fawns appeared closer in the south end of the long clover field that runs N/S along the entire ridge top. As I was watching the fawns the larger of the two bucks reappeared in the background and started scraping along the tree line! Cool!
Soon more deer started entering the turnips coming from the direction of the forage beans. Finally just at dark there were four deer in the plot. Two little bucks and two big does. I was stuck in the stand until I decided I just had to leave. I had guests waiting for me. So I cracked a stick over my head and scared them all off.
As I entered the house and saw that dinner was one the table, I was told we had tracking to do. So after a curry dinner we went back afield to retrieve one of my guests kills. there are now 18 hash marks on the doe score card.
Nice Jim!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Outing #16
This morning I dropped Bwana off at the Andy Ivy stand and continued on my way to my stand. Very warm again and very little wind. Soaking wet with sweat by the time I got to the tree. What I would do for a 40 degree temp!
At just after 8 am I picked movement below me on a trail that runs parallel to the one I am on but 60 yards down hill. 6 antlerless deer were making their way to bed. I was focused on where they were going when I caught movement out of the corner of my left eye.
Crap! A single doe had closed in to 15 yards on my left and was all ready walking thru the shooting lane! To close for me to turn and all I could do was watch her walk by. This one hurt as it would have been a short putt for sure.
Morning ended with more skinning. there are now 19 hash marks on the doe score card.
Outing #17
Weather was just like yesterday only hotter! I'll never complain about the cold again.
I dropped a hunter off at Lefty where I was last night. I continued the short distance on to the Possum stand. This is where I killed the great buck last year. (#22)
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3905/15341984896_5849c1444c_z.jpg)
This is a great little staging area I created a few years ago.
looking North towards Lefty
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2944/15341956866_52b466aa65_z.jpg)
Trail entrance/exit to the stand.
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2942/15364658292_245dc468ed_z.jpg)
approaching the stand .
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2947/15341948996_c4582dd602_z.jpg)
the stand is in this cedar
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2948/15178439287_87ed4571b9_z.jpg)
Hot isn't the word for tonight. I have been wearing a set of Tusx lightest set of camo and must say I am very pleased with how well it is designed. Lots of little zipper vents in both the pants and shirt.
Once again I went up with minimal equipment. I did bring a flashlight, knife and camera tonight.
I knew the deer movement would be late if at all tonight. Just at dusk two forms appeared under the apple tree 25 yards away. Twin buck fawns all on their own. This is where my buck appeared last year. I watched them work on the apples for a good 20 minutes. They walked off towards the clover field just as light faded to dark.
Tomorrow is supposed to be in the 80's! Oofta!
I Hope for a cold snap for ya jim and get the deer on there feet
Lovin the play by play Jim!!!
I love the diversity of your farm, always something differant to look at :thumbsup:
outing # 18 last hunt in the do over.
Across the road way up near the top of the bluff just before it gets crawling on all fours steep sits a ladder called do over. As in "let me do that shot over". Lots of misses here and unfortunately a couple of hits and unrecovered deer as well.
This bluff side is a good bedding area. The deer come into it from all directions . It can be hunted only in the am as the wind here usually goes straight up the bluff. I don't hunt it very often as I only own 23 acres here and I don't want to push deer out and into the adjacent properties.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3872/15369978611_6d8e6608d4_z.jpg)
Very warm again this am. Really hot today . It's 83 as I type this. At 8 am I spotted moving legs on a contour trail above me . Three does were feeding on acorns and hickory nuts. They meandered a bit and then continued on across the bluff face, headed towards the fence and ultimately the neighbors woods to spend the heat of day.
That was it for deer movement this am. I decided today while sitting this stand ,that this would be the last day for this stand . I had my eyes on two trails 100 yards down hill. Since I had help here yet we moved the ladder over lunch .
I think the new set up will work well and I won't hunt out of it until the bucks start moving.
Here some photos from this am.
the stand before moving it
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3924/15186350410_e56abb2e63_z.jpg)
lower mowed trail
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2942/15186364910_359372bf03_z.jpg)
logging road entrance
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2945/15369887691_9c01ed56d1_z.jpg)
looking towards home
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3871/15186345300_ec5a982593_z.jpg)
With guests gone I am free to hunt where ever , but I am exhausted. With the heat forecast to continue at least 2 more days, I think I may take a 2 day break . Once it cools off a bit I be back at it hard.
Man looks like whitetail haven..keep at it jim!
outing #19 lower apple alley
oh what a difference 24 hours can make.
Yesterday is was 84 degrees with no wind. Today it was 59 with a gusty NE wind . I didn't hunt this am but arranged my day for an early afternoon sit.
I got to the tree by 3 pm. The wind was just perfect and I had a feeling today was going to be good.
Here are 2 photos form the trail just below the thicket where the stand is.
Looking back the way I came
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3847/15375008536_11c84aa529_z.jpg)
looking up towards apple alley
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3893/15397709642_e8c60dfe41_z.jpg)
lots of leaf cover has been lost since the last time I sat here.
from the stand looking right
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2943/15211280969_4b89100d4e_z.jpg)
The Sumac is well past peak. The Black walnuts have dropped both fruit and leaves. Apples have lost about half of their leaves too. Aspen hasn't started to turn yet but by next week they should be bright yellow.
Early in the afternoon I was watching that trail on the right when I heard a noise on my left. A buck fawn had snuck in on me and was under the apple tree (star)
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3879/15211272419_120fcf2c6a_z.jpg)
He nosed around a bit till he found a big yellow apple. While he was munching it he looked up at me several times. We were only 8 yards apart at most. I kept thinking he was going to bust me. Several times I closed my eyes to avoid direct eye contact.
When he whipped is head around and stared up his back trail , so did I.
Legs appeared on the mowed trail. followed by a muscled body and a head with a bronze 8 point rack. A 2.5 year old buck stood at the red apple tree just 20 yards up from the young buck and I. He found some fruit as well and began to eat. When I looked back down at the little buck, he was starring at me. I must have moved my head or body when I was watching the 8 point. The little guy didn't spook but his body language alerted the older buck who after a minute or two spun and ran back the way he had just come from. The little guy headed away as well. But in the opposite direction.
about an hour later, just after the sun had sunk behind the bluff above me to the left, I caught movement on the mowed trail to my left. Two deer were walking in my direction. The lead one was a nice doe followed by the same little buck again. I recognized him because he has a bunch of burrs stuck in the hair on his head. The doe picked up an apple on the trail and the little guy walked past her and ended up again at the star. The doe walked past him under the tree as well and found an apple quickly. The buck looked at me and then walked on thru . The doe turned around and started to head back to where the little buck had been. She ended up at the star.
Now for a right handed archer she was standing in the perfect spot. I being left handed, had to lean way out and crouch down to be able to draw my bow and clear the tree trunk and limbs.
This gave me time to stay calm. I slowly drew the bow. When I was sure I was clear of the tree, I picked a spot and let the string slip.
The arrow hit her tight behind the shoulder but I knew it was 3 inches high. I was sure the single bevel werewolf had made it thru her and that I had hit her lungs . But I knew it could have been better.
I marked the spot where she entered the timber and headed home.
After dinner a neighbor and I returned and followed a very confusing and frustrating blood trail. After loosing the trail only to find it again and loose it again for good, I was feeling pretty bad.
Finally I just decided to walk the main trail that runs the ridge contour and as I was doing that my flashlight picked up her white belly hair laying a ways below me. She had died on her feet on the trail and then rolled down the ridge a ways.
The star in this photo is where we found her. She ran about 150 yards. My autopsy showed holes in both lungs but in the top third.
Awfully happy we found her, I will go look for my arrow in the am.
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2941/15211475958_d23a0f03e5_z.jpg)
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3842/15394851891_4fc47fa89d_z.jpg)
I hung up the self bow last week. The 52 lbs was too much and my arthritis in my hands was killing me. So tonight I was shooting my Hill country bob cat named Anubis. It is 44 lbs. My arrows are 150 CE express with a 100 grain brass insert and I had 145 gr single bevel werewolf. Total arrow weight is 556 grains
Congrats again my friend! Perfect night in SE MN!
Jim, Congrats on a well deserved queen of the forest. All your hard work is paying off. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Way to go Jim I knew it wouldn't be long till something hit the ground..Comgrats my friend!
Way to go, Jim. Nice deer.
Once again you've helped me out with some questions I have. My 52# Grizzly is hurting my arthritic hands as well and I'm waiting on a 45#er hoping for some relief. Knowing you found some is making me hopeful.
Thanks, again for your efforts to bring us along. I'm happy to see this back up on page 1.
:thumbsup: :archer:
Congrats. Enjoying the hunts, thanks
:thumbsup: :notworthy: Well done!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Good recovery Jim those high lung shots can be tough . Nice to put one in the freezer too. Hey can we have an updated photo of the pond? I loved that project.
:campfire:
Well done Jim :thumbsup:
I would love to see the pond project progress pics as well!!!
Congrats on a nice doe Jim!
thanks again for taking the time to take us along through this thread!
Congrats...well done
Congrats!!
We are supposed to get some wet weather the next few days.
I will get some new pond photos for you!
Thank you sir!
Great job, congrats!
Way to go!!! Fantastic recovery pics and as always perfect illustrations. Thanks so much for continuing this thread!
Well done Jim. Congrates.
Off to a great start! Congratulations and looking forward to more....
She's a big gal! Congrats Jim!
Congrats bud :thumbsup:
This is the first thread I read every day. What a nice job you do in putting your daily hunting journal together! Congratulations on your great looking doe. Good recovery! :clapper:
Bernie
Awesome!!
Great job!
As always enjoying the hunt with you.
Congrats on the doe too. That is excellent.
I am looking forward to the pond pictures and the rest of the tale.
And mostly, thank you for sharing.
She's going to be tasty!! Congrats.
Congrats - nice cooler temperatures around for awhile now
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: Thanks for sharing all this, Jim. We are really enjoying it.
Congrats Jim!!!!
You stuck it out with the self Bow. I admire that.
Way to stick with the track until you found her! I had a very bad day today but this has been a welcome update. Thank you!
Congrats Jim and love the Satilite images I can actually see the slopes on the Hills that is Awesome..
After butchering today we went out to look for my arrow. I always find it interesting to walk an evening blood trail in the daylight.
Last nights deer was on a death run from the instant the arrow struck her. We found several trees that she slammed into causing blood to spray in all directions. This made the trail very difficult to follow.
On the main trail just above where we found her is this final tree she hit.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3931/15405533182_220246a588_z.jpg)
This collision must have knocked her to the ground. She then rolled a few yards downhill and was stopped from rolling further by a log.
Without that log to stop her with her belly facing up, I may have walked right by.
Jayne ( old eagle eyes ) found my arrow too.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3928/15402673591_3ea436a4b3_z.jpg)
Sorry Charley , I did not shoot her with the self bow, it was my 3 pc longbow instead.
Jim you are such a let down :smileystooges: :biglaugh:
Congrats again!
Nice job Jim, and great recovery too. It always amazes me too when I go back to a blood trail in the day time, always something to learn doing that.
David
Nice doe Jim. Good shooting. Hope you can get back to using the Little Tree.
Good job and hope your pond gets wet.
Nice work Jim!
I hope this cool, wet weather brings some antlered deer your (and therefore ours too) way soon!
Congrats Jim! Beautiful doe! :thumbsup:
Congrats Jim. What a great suprise.Just home from work and had to check and see how you did. Very nice doe. Very cool tonight here. Hope it gets your deer moving.
Congrats on the first of hopefully many!
:bigsmyl:
Cool! Beautiful doe and very effective shot. Blood trailing can sometimes be a challenge, but that girl was yours from the moment you drew back.
Good job!
outing #20 Back to the Homestead stand.
I last hunted this stand on 9/20 and got rained out. Same thing happen this am.
Since I have to drive the 4 wheeler, I left exceptionally early and was in the tree by 5:45. Started raining by 6 am. I hung in there and the rain stopped after about an hour. But at 8 am it started to pour so I headed to the yurt to hang wet clothes and drink hot coffee.
While visibility has improved here , I am still uncertain if this spot will work. Once again the wind seemed to change directions every few minutes. There is deer sign everywhere, so I will probably sit here one more time on a day with no rain in the forecast!
Congrats Jim, I look forward to reading your hunting adventures everyday. I can't wait to you see you holding a good buck next. Shoot Straight and be Safe
Burton
Does Jayne know you called her old...?
outing #21 logging road ladder
Tom perhaps I'd better edit that last post !
I got up early today with every intention of heading way up and over the top. I wanted to hunt near a bedding area on the East facing slope above the tarred county road. But I could feel something starting in the base of my throat and a cough coming on.
So I quickly changed plans and decided to hunt close to home in the event I couldn't stay quiet.
Last winter I noticed how heavy this trail was used by deer coming up from the food plot behind the farm house. So A ladder that I was unhappy with was relocated here.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3928/15420370742_5b649277d7_z.jpg)
red arrow wind, blue is normal deer movement and star is deer sighted.
The deer trail crosses the logging road and then runs parallel to it just 12 yards N of the stand.
It is hard to see in this photo due to all of the newly fallen leaf clutter. The photo also doesn't show the steepness of the hill either. See how those oaks bend due to the ridge? It is hard to find a tree that will grow straight when the hill is this steep.
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2942/15234144088_59fc65fc66_z.jpg)
This morning was a lesson in bird sounds. It was very foggy and all around me the birds were very noisy. Crows near and far trashed talked one another. Two cock pheasants were crowing challenges. Roosted turkeys some where up the ridge, made soft tree yelps and rustling feather noises. Cardinals, Blue jays and Hawks cried out as well. An occasional distant moo cow sounded off too. It would have made a great audio recording.
Since this was the 1st time this stand was ever sat, I had concerns as to how the wind would behave here . I am happy to report that as long as there is some wind, my scent seems to travel up the bluff behind me. As soon as the wind would quit, my scent indicators would drift directly down onto the trail.
At 8 am I heard Jayne rattle the garbage cans and say something to one of our cats. It was then I picked up a little movement down on the logging road. A doe stood there listening to Jayne. The house is a short 300 or 400 yards below.
After a few minutes the doe went back to foraging for Acorns as there are lots of nice oaks on this hill side. Soon a 2nd doe appeared as well. I watched them feed and then they turned and walked up off the logging road and onto to the trail I am sitting over. They headed away from me to bed.
I stayed another hour but did not see any more deer.
So, I think this stand is going to work as is. I may carry up a portable hang on and place it slightly above the ladder. This ladder is an old one with a narrow foot grate which makes it difficult to shoot from. The portable with it's wide platform will allow me to shoot in a safer and more comfortable stance.
Here is the stand set up
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3931/15420389162_c5f1a81eb1_z.jpg)
The short walk home
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2942/15234134608_da56ff123e_z.jpg)
Sounds like Jayne should rattle the cans on cue to get deer moving.......lol!
Congrats :thumbsup: Great thread :campfire: :coffee:
It rained on and off through out the day, and it is just pouring now. Wind is to switch to the NW and increase to 15 to 20 by dawn. The forecast high for tomorrow is just 49!
What rotten timing. I have to leave for an out of state wedding Saturday morning. Who in their right mind gets married during bow season!
I skipped his sisters wedding last October and paid the price. So off I go. If the weather is too nasty to hunt tomorrow, I will at least get up and get some photos of the new swimming hole.
I hear its supposed to be crummy all weekend. hope that makes the wedding more tolerable.
Looking forward to your gator pond pics.
Never get tired with seeing pictures of your land, Jim..So did you sit tonight? raining hard here. Had to come past you. At least you are seeing deer. half the battle won.
"Who in their right mind gets married during bow season!" My son!!?? Oct. 27th :banghead:
I am taking notes: "Dear children, if you want your weddings paid for, do not marry in the months of November and April. Signed, Dad."...
Got it :campfire:
Keep after man! I get my first sit tomorrow afternoon on my own farm. Can't wait!
You won't miss much this weekend - windy tomorrow as well. Next week will be good and cool.
1st here is a pond update.
We had 1.5 inches of rain over night. So at mid-day , I went for a hike.
The pond is about 1/6 full!
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3934/15429621691_590eb8e0a4_z.jpg)
There is also decent germination on the grasses on the dam . the spillway and the pond approach.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3927/15432812945_27af4851a5_z.jpg)
outing #22 Hay Bale blind.
I couldn't stay in doors. So I dressed like it was late November and walked down to the Bale Blind.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5601/15246233688_989f580701_z.jpg)
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2941/15429635671_4e34d63a88_z.jpg)
Cozy in my little fort, a thermas of good coffee, a new book and three hours till dark, I settled in .
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3935/15246062839_8b526f987a_z.jpg)
I kept a careful watch in between pages and cups of coffee, ha! After about an hour I noticed that I had a little friend out to the left of the window. It was a buck fawn was filling his belly.
Every once and a while he would look over his shoulder or up the hill. I expected more deer at any minute. Then there was a loud stick crack behind me in the little creek bottom. The fawn marched over towards the blind and disappeared into the Golden Rod right along side me! I listened to his footsteps as he walked by .
Apparently he was going to investigate the noise for me. But I never saw him again nor any other deer.
I'll be away till Sunday afternoon. If you are hunting this weekend, best of luck to ya!
The farm is looking really scenic, I'm enjoying getting caught up on your outings. Congratulations on your doe!
-Jay
Jim, Have a good time at the wedding. I will still be checking in just in case you manage to find some time to slip away wink wink.
Looking forward to catching up with you in a few weeks.
Hey Jim, I finally have time to check out your blog and was not surprised to see you followed through with your plan to do the retention pond up top. Where you got all those billboard signs is a story I'll hear face to face. You crack me up.
looks like lay off time will be around nov 1 but not sure.
Pond looks good man. That's a ton of work but I imagine you loved it.
Been shooting a few times a week and the bow and I are both pretty accurate. :)
chat soon.
Jay
outing #23 the Dallas stand.
Hey old lodgeskin's the November calendar is wide open.
I left Eau Claire in time to get a few chores done around the yurt, shoot a few arrows and then I headed up the logging road at 3 pm.
There was a gusty wind straight out of the West. The Temp a cool 49 F!
This stand sits on the East side of the South end of the old upper hay field, which now is in food plots and native grasses.
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2946/15267147818_06feb06a29_z.jpg)
No one has hunted out of it yet this year. As I approached this tree
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5599/15246219658_1f190d587d_z.jpg)
on the corner of the field, I spotted a young doe feeding in the middle of this green food plot.
:campfire:
Jim, Keep it Up!
This is not a threat its a plead!
Here is the food plot, she was about mid field. ( star)
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5601/15432476922_a3122e85f3_z.jpg)
The 2nd star on the left is the entrance to the stand.
I stayed behind the big crab apple tree. I took my pack off and while she was busy feeding , I finished dressing and put the pack back on. I then back tracked until I was out of her line of sight and looped down to the edge of the timber and then snuck in to the stand.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3933/15267178297_8d69e68900_z.jpg)
I had no intentions of hunting the little doe but I did not want her running back down any of the ridges alerting other deer. I was able to make it in with out alerting her.
The wind remained gusty all afternoon. At 5 15 pm I saw movement on the other side of the fence that runs along the top of the food plot. This fence separates the plot from a rocky weedy field that I mow once a year. Usually I mow it in early May. The grass now is quite high and a young 10 point buck seemed to be just floating along. He rounded the back of that yellow crab apple and stopped short. Besides dropping my pack there I also had taken a pee. The buck sniffed around and was now on alert. He stood under the tree for a quite awhile and then slowly came my way for about 15 yards. He was just on the very upper edge of the food plot, when he decided he had some where else to be. He reversed course and marched back the way he had just come from. He will be a good buck if he can live a couple more years.
It was over an hour before the next deer was sighted. The deer should be coming from the left but they will appear anywhere. I was starring thru the leaves in the branches in front and to my left when legs appeared. A spike/fork ( spork)
was walking and feeding my way. He came and stood in the little opening right in front of the stand eating the clover. Then he turned to the right and walked right in and stood straight down in front of me.
The Two Aspens just to the left of the opening in front of the stand have been rub trees for a couple of seasons. He walked over to one of them and had to push hard to get his antlers around the trunk. He then rubbed the tree hard and grunted softly. Pulled his head free, looked out into the field and then rubbed the tree again. I am sure I had a giant smile on my face. He was no more than 8 yards from me without a clue I was near!
After he finished rubbing he walked back out into the field to eat some more. 2 does were under the crab apple eating fallen fruit. Finally when it was quite dark, I made some loud grunt calls with my tube and drove them off so that I could head on home.
Experiences like tonight is what I think Hunting is all about!
Some great looking ground you have to hunt :thumbsup:
outing #24 Back to Aspen over clover.
Since my neighbor and his dog are away on a week long duck hunting adventure and his wife leaves for work before light, I thought I would give this spot another shot.
But Skunked is a 7 letter word!
2nd day in a row where we had a hard frost. 31 F and very foggy. Not a thing showed and only when I was walking home along the road did I spot a deer. A small buck in the fire break above the big bluestem was working an overhead branch just along the woods edge. He was oblivious to my presence on the road!
Yurt is prepped for more company to arrive today to hunt with me for the next 2 days. Another arrow flinging device thrower holder. Hopefully I can put a deer in front of him.
outing #25 Bwana stand.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3852/15076990337_42b94f8e05_z.jpg)
With a SW gusty wind I chose to hunt the Bwana Stand. I should have hunted the stand on the other end of the field. 2 does appeared in the food plot about mid way between me and the Justin stand just at dark. The almost full moon was keeping deer in their beds late. Then when I left I saw three white flags run out the end of the field . They had been right in front the Justin stand. I think the food plot is a lot better on that end of the field. So the next time I hunt up there it will be from that stand.
Meanwhile down at the farm Jayne watched the big tall 8 point I want to kill go to water at the spring right behind the house. Then he dilly dallied on the CRP hillside before disappearing into the timber .
Congrats Jim!
Good luck this morning Jim.
outing #26 The hole (FKA Jay's stand)
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3936/15446668776_4a06ce94e2_z.jpg)
This stand sits at the bottom of the N/S bluff on an old retention pond that also requires some repair. I drew in the logging road that runs along the spine of the ridge. We came up from the bottom like always. Kim continued on up the ridge and I dropped down a side trail into the bottom.
This stand has been in several different trees. It's in a new one again this year and today was the first time its been hunted. I am still unhappy with the set up but it may be the best its going to be. There is just a lack of big trees
in the area I want to be.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3932/15282772159_367304f173_z.jpg)
On one side of the trail is the water hole. there is no water in it, just a muddy bottom. We will fix that issue next year.
On the other side is a main trail that intersects with several lesser trails. this main trial intersects with the logging road that I keep cut by using a power weed wacker with a round steel blade. There are always big scrapes down here.
Today at 7 am I just glanced up and a small buck was passing thru where all the trails intersect on the logging road. Then he reappeared on the opposite side of the pond and lay down in the brush.
A few minutes later, a 2nd buck of similar size appeared on the same trail that the 1st buck had been on. He disappeared and then reappeared walking on the trail I had come in on. As he was walking into the hole, the 1st buck stood up and immediately began rubbing his antlers on a small tree. He stiff legged approached the other buck with his ears laid back.
The 1st buck was clearly being submissive and even went so far as to lick the 1st buck's forehead. But the 1st buck didn't want to be friends.
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2946/15283057747_b740b5ebe9_z.jpg)
here is a little video too.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/51550276@N08/15469602065/
Great video Jim! I really enjoy your daily hunts! :thumbsup:
Bernie
thanks Bernie
Eventually the 2nd buck got tired of the game and walked off. It was then the 1st buck picked up some warning signal of my presence. I think scent and started snorting. Both bucks then ran up hill and continued snorting for quite awhile.
I think its time to start carrying rattling antlers with me.
All signs would indicate time for rattling.
Great Update Jim!
outing #27 The Sure thing stand.
I couldn't decide between the Sure thing and the hay bale. Finally the tree won out. Not sure why
I personally avoid the blind. Perhaps its just not being able to see as much. But tonight I chose wrong. There were 3 deer in front of the hay bale grazing for at least an hour today. One I am quite certain was under the mandatory 20 yard limit.
I did see deer tonight. In addition to those in the food plot down by the bale, I had 3 or 4 below me in the apple trees the last hour of light. The closest was a spike buck at 35 yards. No sign of the big boy Jayne saw yesterday.
I think I will change tactics the next time I hunt this spot and will try hunting it in the am.
The deer are still coming off the ridge but in a slightly more northerly spot. I may have screwed up the main trail last winter when I was felling elms on this hillside. So perhaps in the am when they are returning to bed I can fool one with a call.
But the day was pleasant and I always love what the setting sun does to Osage and Cocobolo
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2947/15474304495_329539160f_z.jpg)
Pretty Picture Jim. The bright side of choosing wrong is another day in the woods doing what you love.
Keep up the good work. :thumbsup:
1st here is a pond update
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5604/15295380249_27b4381bb3_z.jpg)
and
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3927/15459180276_598bb01223_z.jpg)
outing #28 Grand Dad's stand.
Walking to the stand under the light of a full lunar eclipse was utterly amazing.
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2949/15481941102_fbf476b9ed_z.jpg)
This is a new spot this year and today was the first time it was sat. Even though I got skunked I have a good feeling about this spot.
I placed an old ladder in a huge old Red Cedar with a double trunk. The Cedar is on the very edge of the timber in the old Apple orchard that sits above the turnip patch behind the house. I have been working on the apple trees here and I have a decoy stashed there . After yesterday I decided to set up the decoy and just do some very light rattling. Here is the view from the stand.
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2948/15295863499_d39a809f17_z.jpg)
the decoy is only 18 yards from the tree stand.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5608/15479624241_3f568dd658_z.jpg)
normally I would place the butt of the decoy in front of some obstacle so that any approaching bucks can't attack from behind. I just got a little sloppy this am.
I always set the decoy so that a buck must attack from head on. This places the buck in front of me. The wind back here almost always goes up hill. It's has the potential to be a killer of a set up.
The deer trails are worn into the old pasture and a couple of the larger cedars in among the apples trees have become annual sign posts for the traveling bucks.
I skipped hunting tonight and had a final dinner with an old friend. He put another hash mark on the doe board today and went home with coolers full. 2 more hunters arrive tomorrow night. The forecast is calling for perfect hunting weather.
What was for dinner?
I see the Gator pond is doing its job.
Thanks for the update again Jim, good to catch up. Good luck in the morning. Hope they are moving.
Thread is going strong! Thanks for the pond updates... that was just such a cool project to me!
outing # 29 Rattlesnake ridge
Todays story will be told in mostly photos. The other day I hunted in one of the lowest spots on the farm. Today I hunted one of the highest.
Red arrow points to stand location.
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2947/15487538872_642896d866_z.jpg)
to get to this spot, I have to leave the yurt really early. I also wear as few clothes as possible and carry everything. It is a steep climb. two thirds of the way up you scale these rocks.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3933/15301006329_22b33919e1_z.jpg)
I usually don't climb these rocks unless its day light or its been cold enough that the rattle snakes have headed in to their dens. Since we have had some below freezing temps It felt ok today. It's steeper than it looks. You need handholds on the rocks as it is almost straight up
Up on top the ridge flattens out into a 45 yard wide bench. The stand is very high since it sits just down from the crest. You must have a wind from the W, N or NW. It's can't be more than 10 miles per jour or you get blown off the ridge.
the bench
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3938/15487869905_106ca9c173_z.jpg)
the stand
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2949/15300967679_c103129102_z.jpg)
Just curious Jim.......what draws a deer to the top of that knob? :dunno: Food, peace and protection?
It was cold again this am and the wind was perfect.
This stand hasn't been hunted for 2 years!! I was last up here in August when I made sure the stand was safe to hunt from .
This spot has good memories. I killed the first buck on the farm out of this stand in 2007 with a A&H 3 pc longbow.
views from on stand.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5615/15464757326_e7563e4092_z.jpg) (https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2945/15464762376_36a1602533_z.jpg)
When I got to the stand I discovered I had left my pee bottle in the yurt. So I had no choice but to pee at the base of the tree. This ended up costing me a big doe .
As it got light I did some very light rattling with the horns. At 7 30 I heard deer running towards me. 2 big does came and stopped 15 yards from me on the downslope side of the tree. One started my way and walked directly behind me. She then walked over to the base of the stands tree. When she put her head down and smelled my pee she blew out a head gasket.
Both does moved off about 25 yards and stood at alert for 20 minutes before slowly leaving.
Now I know there are a lot of guys who say deer can't determine the pee of one critter from another, but I am not buying it. They at least know its not the pee of another deer!
This is the 2nd time in one week that a deer was alerted by the smell of my urine.
One more deer crossed the ridge later , another doe but she was 45 yards down the bench from when she crossed.
Coming down I went out on to the rock column to shoot you some views of the valley
looking south you can see the yurt
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3930/15487501552_ba4c2b8983_z.jpg)
looking north to the neighbors
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3934/15301201618_9f799d5096_z.jpg)
Yes Ron the deer like to bed up high. They have a huge advantage sleeping high like that. There is no way a predator can approach the top with out them hearing, smelling and eventually seeing it.
Makes sense to me.......What a fantastic place you have. Thanks for taking us along on every hunt! :notworthy:
Jim, You need to get the deer addicted to Coffee, then the pee wont be so alarming :readit:
Jim, this is really great! Congratulations for getting that doe, and all the best for the rest of the season.
Jim you need to eat more alfalfa and acorns so your pee smells like deer pee. :biglaugh:
Jack
I think its the coffee or the meat I eat or both!
outing #30 Justins stand.
On the theory that with the same wind as the other night the deer would enter the field the same way as when I sat in the Bwana stand , I chose the Justin stand.
I looped around the forage bean field. Not much left of the beans!
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3937/15305326557_abd9cd188e_z.jpg)
Dressed and harnessed up 50 yards away then slipped into the stand with out making so much as a peep. The wind for an hour was brutal. Not enough clothes on again.
Finally it quieted down and then 4 deer appeared in the middle of the field. This time they came from the North and out of the beans! They grazed for 10 minutes ( they were in the little window in the next trees branches)
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3944/15305199340_099e16c340_z.jpg)
and then walked on to the West right past the Bwana stand!
Just before dark I heard that familiar snort/snuffle that deer make when foraging for mast. This deer was close ! But I never laid eyes on it! At dark I slipped out and dashed home.
tomorrow I wear more clothes!
Jim-
Great hunting land you have and I really appreciate you sharing the hunts with us! I'm sitting out this hunting season due to shoulder surgery, so TG is all I have! Lol. Your stories and pics are great! Congrats on the doe!
Kenny :bigsmyl:
Cant imagine how this made it to page 2
:campfire: :coffee:
Sorry for the belated post. Playing host and trying to put deer in front of two more hunters is time consuming!
outing 31 Triple B ( Big Bad Basswood )
The entire day today revolved around the Buddha food plot. There are three stands that focus on this area. The Jim (12) The Pususta ( 13) and the Triple B (14)
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5616/15500466662_21e594c12f_z.jpg)
I placed my Friend in( the Jim ) stand. While I got in the Triple B .(14) The food plot sits on the flat of the bluff while each stand is slightly downhill in opposite directions. We can each see just to the edge of the food plot.
Deer will move out of the neighbor's corn field and into my woods. Deer also come uphill from my food plot and they all seem to head for a cedar thicket ( star) on my other neighbor's land to the East. Sometimes they grab a bite in the Buddha plot or graze acorns on the way to bed.
Triple B is a 20 foot ladder in a big ol basswood tree.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3928/15500424782_19d9c729b9_z.jpg)
here is the view from the perch .
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2950/15313884039_7bd29cf798_z.jpg)
This ridge has been heavily worked on. The green wall of buckthorn is where my work stopped for the hunting season.
What a difference a few hundred yards can make. Dallas in my stand saw 7 deer. 6 does and one 6 point buck. The buck bedded down 30 yards from the stand. I on the other had got SKUNKED.
outing #32 The Pususta stand.
With Dallas seeing all those deer this am, I decided to try and sneak into the Buddha plot and see if any came past this evening.
The wind was still out of the N. so it was a 50/50 chance of not getting winded as they come into the plot. It all depends upon which trail they come in on.
Here is the stand.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3929/15313865769_1616a5d6a1_z.jpg)
There is a good luck charm in the middle of the food plot. Legend has it if you rub his head good things happen.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3952/15477645326_df825ae526_z.jpg)
Not long after I was settled in this guy showed up.
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2947/15313856189_fba3e36b2c_z.jpg)
and then this guy
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2946/15500780705_54b051d673_z.jpg)
they couldn't make up their minds if they wanted to eat or push each other around.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/51550276@N08/15314039740/
They entertained me for an entire hour! What a fantastic evening!
Awesome video Jim, thanks.
Cool Video Jim.
outing #32 The Diversion Stand.
It was a long day, Details after I take a shower
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2945/15510227882_e15c37c3ed_z.jpg)
Congrats sir! I haven't written yet, but I have followed your season and enjoyed your beautiful land, your Yurt (that right?), stands, stories and observations. I'll say the following, your land and hunting arrangement is all that is north american white tail hunting. The scenery, the terrain, the stand locations (such variety!) your camp, all of it is so ideal for deer. Congrats on another fine animal taken. Your passion and love of what you have there almost makes me believe the animals are honored to be one of the ones taken (thats whimsy of course, I know no animal WANTS to be shot). Not sure how many tags you get up there but I hope to see more from 5 Pines this year.
A few weeks ago you will recall we removed the "do over" and reset up the stand down the hill by about 150 yards. We are calling it the " Diversion " stand since we set up some barriers to block off one of the deer trails where it would be impossible for me to shoot.
The pink double arrow shows how the deer move on the major trails thru the lower part of the bluff.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3928/15323883269_4de7e22c7c_z.jpg)
here is the stand set up
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3934/15510232132_133d1f6dd9_z.jpg)
the photo gives the impression that this is a flat bit of ground . Let me assure you it is not. I took this photo from the main deer trail 15 yards up hill from the stand.
It was 32 degrees and there was zero wind.
At 8 am I was honored with the visit of my favorite woodland spirit. A Bard owl flew in and landed in the very next tree. It was slightly above me and eyed me over suspiciously. It called "Whooooooooo"
A flock of Robins was following the Owl. They landed all about in the tree tops above the Owl and scolded it. "Whoooooooooo". Then it flew off. A few seconds later its mate flew in and the Robins went crazy. This one didn't talk or stay . It followed the path of it's mate and the flock of Robins gave chase.
At 9 am a parade of does and fawns totaling 6 went by 40 yards below me. They were on a flatter part of the bench I am sitting. They were moving pretty quick and exited my property at the fence crossing into the neighbor's alfalfa field.
I had a hunter in the Joel stand and was hoping perhaps he'd had some action. As they had come from his direction.
Congrats bud!
At 9:55 the wind had switched and was now sending my scent uphill. It would be foolish to stay as all the bedded deer above me will now start to wind me. I sent a quick text to the other hunters to tell them I was heading in to the yurt and to join me for coffee.
I lowered my bow and dropped my rattling antlers to the ground. Then I shouldered my pack and climbed down the ladder. I unhooked my bow from the rope and leaned it against the tree. Took off my tab and rested it on the limb tip. I always clean a patch of ground to stand on so I am quiet at the base of my tree. I removed my jacket, vest and face mask and placed them in my pack. Just as I dropped my woolen bibs to my ankles a deer snorts!
I look over my right shoulder and see the butt end of a whitetail at 25 yards! I slip on my tab, pick up the bow, nock and arrow and turn slightly towards the doe. The wind for once is working for me and is suddenly picking up blowing form her to me.
The deer turns back towards me and head bobs two times. The tree trunk behind me is wider than I am and she doesn't seem to see me in front of it. She takes a few steps towards then has to go around a big fallen rotten tree trunk. As she was moving I slowly turning with her. When her head went behind a tree I sunk down low to clear a branch over my head and drew my bow. She stopped and I was at full draw.
My arrow streamed towards her and as it passed over the fallen tree trunk she actually dropped into the path of the arrow. As she came out of the drop she did the classic mule kick of a heart shot deer. Off she dashed and in 40 yards was over the fence and on to the neighbor's woods.
I can now say with pride that I can shoot my bow with my pants down around my ankles!
Nice doe congrats!
I counted of the steps to the log. 18. one yard past the log is my blood soaked arrow. It is sticking in the dirt.
This blood trail is the kind you dream for.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3948/15320092808_79d5384ce3_z.jpg)
I am assuming a heart shot due to her kick st impact and the amount and color of blood in the leaves.
Curiously there is a single kernel of corn in the first blood puddle.
I went to the yurt and returned one hour later with my guests . At 40 yards she had crossed the fence. The blood trail is amazing. 50 yards later I look up and see the doe slowly walking in front of us about 25 yards away. WTF?
We powwow on the trail and since we have crossed the property line I decide I better go have a chat with the owner. By the time I get back 45 minutes have gone by. It is now almost 2 hours since I shot the doe. We go another 40 yards. There is still a reasonably good blood trail but not the amazing one we had before. I see the doe get out of a bed 30 yards ahead and slowly walk off. We back off and go back to camp.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3947/15483619296_3736aeeef6_z.jpg)
I send the boys off hunting and Jayne and I return at 3 pm. It is now 5 hours since I allegedly heart shot a deer!
The woods next door is a buck thorn hell. No invasive work has ever been done and there is not much beside buckthorn growing there.
After 40 yards of following the now meager blood trail Jayne whispers " look there she is".
The doe was standing looking over her back trail at us from 25 yards. She then lay down at the base of the tree next to her. I thought she was finally done. But after standing there watching her for 20 minutes, she was just as alert as ever, I decided I had to try and get another arrow in her.
There was no way to get an arrow to her much less draw my bow in the buckthorn jungle. I inched forward. She had her eyes on me the entire time. Finally I am above her and there is an opening to her. I can either shoot her in the butt or the head and that is it. She made the decision for me as she hoisted her body up and turned to run. My shot was high and the arrow went over her back and she crashed off into even thicker buckthorn.
I slumped to a sitting position and tried to decide what was to be done. We decided to stay on her trail as she was bleeding every time she moved but when bedded the bleeding seemed to stop.
We jumped her 3 more times. Each time she was completely hidden by the buckthorn and let us get to with in 15 yards before she would jump up in front of us. Finally I told Jayne that we were going to lose her if we continued this and we dejectedly walked home.
Dallas and I returned 4 hours later and found her where she had last bedded. She hadn't been dead for very long.
My shot was as low as it can be and still get into the chest cavity. I missed the heart but the 200 grain VPA 3 blade went thru just one lungs most bottom lobe. The exit angle put the arrow thru the stomach as well and that explained the corn kernel . She was a very big gal. This is #2 for me and #5 for the farm this year.
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2949/15510629955_c96b05cb47_z.jpg)
Look at the head on that doe! Congrat and nice job tracking!
Yeah man Jim CONGRATS That's a big mama there looks to me like the sow of the herd ....good job and way to stick with it to get her!!
Awesome Jim, it would be nice if all our shots and recoveries were perfect. In the end it all worked out, congrats on a great doe. :thumbsup:
Nice follow up Jim and beautiful old banana nose doe! Shots are often not what they seem. Some poor trails lead to quick recovery while great trails leave you wondering how much blood a deer can possibly leak and still keep going. Glad that this one had a successful ending!
Great doe Jim, and way to stick with it!
David
Congrats on a big ole' nanny!!! And way to stick with it!!! :thumbsup:
Now I must ask Jim..will that now be the depants'ed stand? Ankle stand? Congrats brother!
Well done on the follow up.........She has a face like a mule, nice!! :thumbsup:
Wallydog I think you are on to something!
Excellent job Jim!
Do have a ? tho, was it 18 steps with the pants down or did ya have time to get em back on? :D
Congrats Jim, a well thought out tracking Job surely was the result of recovering that deer.
That is a big ole Gal. :thumbsup:
Seems like every time your pants come down you see deer :confused: :rolleyes:
mud wrestling at 5 Pines Farm
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3931/15333970859_81fe110028_z.jpg)
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3955/15497699036_974bf4cb69_z.jpg)
I wonder if the water does something to them? My brother saw two sparing in knee deep water in Ohio yesterday.
Nice job on the doe Jim, your having another great fall!
-Jay
Nice doe!!
Congrats Jim on another great hunt, That is a muley doe for sure. Worked the weekend, so next week I hope to see one like yours.
Congrats again Jim..... 5 pines just keep getting better every year !!!
Ha... I love the pond...
Good work, Jim.
All's well that ends well.
Any chance you might give us a pic of a re-enactment of your shot sequence on that doe?
Didn't really need to say that twice.
:campfire:
We have had an all day rain and it is forecast to continue to rain for the next 36 hours.
Looking forward to seeing the pond level
The Diversion stand will now be called the "Pants down " stand. :goldtooth:
Great tracking job on a big donkey doe
Raining here also. Hope the pond is filling up for you.
I didn't go out this am. it is a monsoon here. If it was colder it would be a blizzard. We sat on the deck with coffee in hand watching the sheets of rain move through the valley.
Four Golden Eagles graced our vigil . They were frolicking on the wind currents lower than the tree tops along the top of the CRP above the house.
I told our cats to keep their eyes on the sky today while they are out hunting.
Great thread....if you have any pond questions, I manage lakes/ponds for a living (over in Wisco).
:thumbsup:
Pants Down IS a Diversion. Great circular logic just a bit more definitive.lol
outing # 33 The Granddad NKA Roundabout
A name change in the middle of the season just to confuse things? But sitting in the stand this am, it reminds me so much of a round about I just had to do it.
The rain was replaced by wind. 20 MPR sustained and out of the N . I needed to be out of the wind so I went to one of 2 places where I knew for certain that would be the case.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3951/15357190349_2eb8e72057_z.jpg)
The true wind is the top red arrow. How the wind behaves at the bottom of this bluff is the bottom red arrow.
The bluff behind me is very steep. The steepest on the farm . Almost straight up and it really plays havoc with the wind flow. The Wind almost always goes south to north here (uphill). The exception is with a very light and variable wind. Deer seem to move along the bottom edge of the timber or through the top of the old orchard.
Once again I set up the decoy. I had seen two bucks really going at it in the center of the food plot Monday night. It was hard to make them out in the rain but 2 small bucks were really shoving each other around.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5607/15357792837_c3d505b84b_z.jpg)
The Aspens on the side of Rattle Snake ridge are at their peak color now.
Eventually this set up is going to lure in a buck , just didn't happen today .
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3936/15520094786_df4c463c85_z.jpg)
Thanks for the updates Jim. Man sure wished I could make it up there :)
:thumbsup:
outing #34 Haybale
The Hay bale has been seeing some action this year and with the the wind iffy all day that's where I headed.
At 4 pm that buck fawn from the last time I sat here was in the field grazing. He must be living in the creek bottom along side the corn. He fed and then headed up the hill.
The rest of the afternoon was spent watching various critters cross in front of the bale. Pheasants, Squirrels, 4 raccoons and various song birds kept me entertained.
Then right at dark a big doe with 2 fawns slipped into the field. They kept their distance and legal light was gone. I slipped out of the blind but got caught standing along side it watching them feed.
Weather looks promising for the am!
this thread excites me!! Can i ask how many tags you get each year? doe? buck?
Good luck Jim, looks like the weather broke and you will have a beautiful morning to be out. We had 3 inches, how is the new pond level?
Outing #35 Sure thing.
Chuck you are right on it was an absolutely gorgeous morning.
Last time I hunted here was on 10/7. I had decided then I wanted to try it in the am.
There was fog today but I was still able to get to the stand with out the use of any artificial light.
The changing light due to the fog was just outstanding.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3936/15547208311_6feab3c548_z.jpg)
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3931/15363257669_7883aa9f7d_z.jpg)
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3951/15547200001_3e80de037a_z.jpg)
I had done a little light rattling and there was some noise down below me. Picking up my bow at the sound, I scanned the trees below. I picked out a horizontal line where it shouldn't be. Focusing my attention there I caught sight of a tail flick.
A buck! But not quite what I am after. It was another buck fawn! He had tiny little hard antlers poking thru his scalp. He sure got me going for a second or two!
He fed on down the hill towards the hay bale.
After a few distant gun shots, it dawned on me the youth gun season opened today. So that combined with non hunting visiting family, I may not hunt much until Monday.
To answer Dan's question, we get 5 tags. one either sex and four doe tags. Hoping to get up to the pond soon and to check out the level.
Look at this colors! It's crazy to look at those colors and think about how the Lord created that for us to enjoy. Beautiful is an understatement.
pond is filling up!
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3932/15551614885_fc98665ca0_z.jpg)
Get out the umbrella and the beach chairs.... :biglaugh:
The pictures with the Fog sure are neat!
Great pics!!!!
I saw the first chasing going on tonight!! A 10 point came down the hill and was chasing does in the beet field behind the house. Too bad I was in the kitchen watching out the window!
awsome pictures Jim!! Sure wish I could be out. Just Beautiful. Got to love it. Plus you got your heart pumping, thanks to the young buck. At least you know what the 10 point looks like now.
Morning hunt should be good with a new front moving in.
Good luck if you make it out.
outing #36. Lower coffee cup
While visiting family slept deeply in their beds I headed up the trail with every intention of decoying at the Justin stand(19). But standing at the base of the tree the wind was just too strong. So I headed down hill to the LCC stand (17)
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3942/15562824661_d5b4352e9a_z.jpg)
Once down in the bowl , I could hear the wind above me but was out of its path. I hoped deer wanting to bed out of the wind would be headed into the same cover.
This stand is on a very steep hillside. (https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3951/15377459309_9b500793e7_z.jpg)
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3952/15377949398_18ca5f2e0d_z.jpg)
A narrow funnel up the center of the bowl passes the ladder stand.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3936/14943320764_5dc2d229a9_z.jpg)
I did some light rattling sessions every 30 minutes or so. But nothing came to my calls. Hopefully we shall start to see some receptive bucks soon.
outing #37 return to Dallas' stand
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2946/15267147818_06feb06a29_z.jpg)
Once again we had a strong SW wind . I headed up early with a 2 d Montana whitetail decoy strapped on the pack
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5612/15576018471_17dd191382_z.jpg)
I set the decoy up at about 35 yards hoping a buck will circle down wind and end up in front of me. Buck sign is starting to appear on trees and on the ground. But all I heard tonight was the blast of shotguns near and far. All I saw one was big skunk.
I am happy to report the first of our many gun seasons is over and I will have about 2 weeks before they are back out in force. It never ceases to amaze me the number of late hour gun shots you hear. Not only are they illegal but to show such disrespect for the deer and their fellow hunters. Unless the deer drops, there is no way for them to know if they hit or missed. Really tees me off.
I hear you Jim. The gotta get one attitude is strong these days and people will stop at nothing to get what they want.
Good Luck!
Thanks for sharing all of this with us,
outing #38 Rattlesnake ridge.
This morning with a WNW wind forecast at 8 mph ,I headed out of the yurt one hour before day light in my long underwear with all my clothes packed on my back. I also packed Slim the 2d deercoy.
By 6 15 I was climbing up the pole to the stand with Slim in place 15 yards in front of me.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5610/15402224830_325bba1a27_z.jpg)
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3953/15402228530_4399fc9eea_z.jpg)
and like most things in life this deek has its pros and cons.
Portability is the pro and main reason I use a 2d in spots like this. But today the cons did me in.
I had done several light rattling sessions and at one point I did spot a flash of antlers about 50 yards up the ridge to the north. But apparently that buck couldn't see the decoy.
30 minutes later I spotted two deer coming from the north in my direction. The first deer is clearly a yearling and it had spotted Slim. It approached him and then bedded down 15 yards from him. But his momma wasn't so sure.
She began to circle to the right and downwind from Slim. It looked like this was going to work perfectly. She was just one step from becoming 5 Pines Doe #6 for 2014 when she turned herself inside out. She spun so hard when she spooked that she actually lost her footing and landed on her side before flying down the ridge with fawn in tow.
I have had the exact same thing happen before with a 2d deek. From the side these things look amazingly real. But like all bits of stretched fabric , when the wind blows they flap!
Also as the 2nd picture shows, when viewed from the front it seems to disappear. Just as the doe was rounding the front of Slim, the wind blew . Slim flapped and combined with loosing the deercoy in her line of sight , the doe's fear/flight mechanism kicked in.
She had been in the lower right of the 1st photo just under the yellow leaves when she spun. I had just started to focus on her side and was putting tension on the string at that moment. It was such a fun few moments!! I love decoying so much!
Next time I sit here I will point the head of Slim to 7 o'clock. That way if a deer comes from the right, which they should ,it will have to get past me before the visual issue is encountered.
Not much one can do about the flap.
Thanks for the laugh Jim. I bet it was a sight seeing the doe get up and be gone.
Very cool Jim. The farms colors are awesome!
I have the same decoys and I always wonder about them. It is good to hear real stories about the decoy. All things to consider when using it.
outing #39 Upper Apple alley
I was unable to hunt this am and yesterday pm. So with todays light SE wind, I headed in to Apple Alley early and was on stand by 3 pm.
A SE wind is not perfect here and some deer could wind me up above and behind me but I felt it worth the risk. Typically the deer will come down off the high ridges and feed here early before dropping down to the bigger food plot below.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5606/14976293523_397e579b10_z.jpg)
I must say that the food plot looks as good now as it did in August.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3945/15572721086_b36932a2fb_z.jpg)
There is no way to really decoy out of this stand. So starting about 4 pm I would just do some light rattling and grunting about every 30 minutes.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5599/15597239172_85620bc689_z.jpg)
Enough foliage has dropped that visibility up the ridges is now quite good. Of course the down side to that is any deer bedded on those hill sides can watch you walk in and get in your stand.
But nothing was heard or seen when I came in to the spot. Unfortunately nothing was seen or heard the rest of the day either!. I am really wondering about the lack of buck sign this year. I have seen a few scrapes and some smallish tree rubs are starting to pop up. But nothing that would indicate a big boy is on the farm. Its been 10 days since I filmed those little guys pushing each other around and I thought I would have seen more rut sign by now.
But with a view like the one I had today, it's hard to go home and not feel good about how I spent the afternoon.
Anubis will just have to be patient a little longer.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5601/15597245242_36025cf9f5_z.jpg)
Beautiful Spot you have there Jim. Is that the sun poking through the clouds?
Good comment on feeling good about how you spent your afternoon, Jim.
ANTICIPATION is a great feeling and you spent it in a great spot.
Absolutely beautiful Jim...loving it!
outing #40. up and over and down to the "hole" stand.
Very cold again this am. 29 degrees F!
I gave myself an hour to get up the ridge and down the other side so as to not over heat. Had to stop and remove a shirt , hat and gloves 1/2 way up. I was in the stand by 6:30 giving me only 15 minutes or so before it was light enough to see well.
I got double skunked today! Not a deer hair was seen!! By 9 :30 I was ready for coffee and a Stretch. Anubis is still waiting........
it's a coin toss now where to go until we start to see some rutting activity. Heads or tails?
Hunting bucks go heads, hunting does go tails :bigsmyl:
Good call Ken :)
Outing #41 Possum stand
The coin toss came up tails!
My Friend Jamie was in the area and so he stopped by with his Java Man longbow. Boy that bow is quiet. I am really impressed with that bows design.
We had a wind mostly out of the East. So I dropped Jamie at Lefty (23) to hunt over the turnip patch. I continued on down to the Possum stand #22.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3948/14984024074_8156ec790a_z.jpg)
I set Slim up as if he was coming out from under one of the apple trees. I hoped any deer traveling the inside of the fence line would then loop down wind of him and end up in front of me.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3952/15418746677_9bf9ec7b8a_z.jpg)
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3950/15602077311_51aaba7d81_z.jpg)
there is a 2nd trail that passes right in front of me as well so I angled Slim so the deer would have to get by me before the frontal visual issue could occur.
The deer moved late. Sunset was to occur at 6:18. At 6:05 I spotted a pair of legs thru the trees on the fire break in the field adjacent to where I was sitting. Then I spotted the body parts of 2 more deer. Both turned out to be does. Small ones since their heads were barely taller than the chest high weeds. They were heading NE to the clover field across from me. at 6 :20 two more does appeared just at the opening where I walk into the staging area that holds the tree stand. I had set my pack down out there on the mowed fire break and they were nosing the area where I had gotten dressed for the stand. Eventually the adult doe decided she had enough and headed back south along the outside of the fence. As she was leaving she spotted Slim and stopped. She then stepped in under the next apple tree and stood looking at the decoy from about 20 yards away from it and 40 yards from me. But the wind was still gusty and the decoy's head flopped and off she went.
Jamie got skunked in the Lefty stand. So we are still scratching our heads about deer movement.
Caught another small buck at the pond.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5615/14984009024_5153d8a623_z.jpg)
Won't be much consolation for you, but movement is mystifying here as well. The "October Lull" or something. Hopefully the Lull before the "Storm" (of the rut). Big rain coming here, so probably first of the week until things resume for us.
Jim,
Just as before, you are "outdoing" yourself. As you might remember, I have almost the same sized place as you (here in Texas) and you prove to me every year how much more I could do here to improve my ranch. Your blog is great and I can't wait to hear how the rest of the season goes for you. It's really hot here (and dry) but I have quite a bit of game- so all is not lost. Thanks again for all you do to entertain everyone here...
Paul
:coffee:
QuoteOriginally posted by LITTLEBIGMAN:
outing #40. up and over and down to the "hole" stand.
Very cold again this am. 29 degrees F!
I gave myself an hour to get up the ridge and down the other side so as to not over heat. Had to stop and remove a shirt , hat and gloves 1/2 way up. I was in the stand by 6:30 giving me only 15 minutes or so before it was light enough to see well.
I got double skunked today! Not a deer hair was seen!! By 9 :30 I was ready for coffee and a Stretch. Anubis is still waiting........
it's a coin toss now where to go until we start to see some rutting activity. Heads or tails?
Can i ask of which "breed" is Anibus?
Outing #42 The Roundabout stand.
No hunt this am due to rain. I got to sleep in till 6 am!
Rain quit around 11 am and then the fog hung round the rest of the day. Hardly any air movement what so ever. It was a great day to take some pictures on the way to the stand.
Walking past my wife's grotto
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3954/14991448484_7c64e4237c_z.jpg)
There is a nice spring that runs 365 days a year just below her. The deer come there often to drink.
Walking along the turnip field up to the stand.
red arrow marks the stand's location.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5602/15588548876_955d9b9a25_z.jpg)
10,000 beets await some hungry deer bellies
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3946/15609539331_632a0af13a_z.jpg)
checking my back trail
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5597/15426096488_a66a2582d3_z.jpg)
As usual I set the decoy (3d) up facing me in front of the brush pile. There was just enough wind current making me (being uphill ) still down wind of it. It was so very quiet. Everything seemed to have soft edges to it.
I went really easy on the rattling and my grunts were very soft. About 1/2 hour before quitting time I thought things were coming together. To my right a deer coughed, to my left a doe bleated. I stood stock still with Anubis in my hands for what seemed like forever and I never saw either deer! With everything being so wet, they must have just walked off some where and I couldn't hear them leave.
Walking back in the dark, I saw 3 white flags bounce out of the far end of the field as I approached the end of my walk.
Better luck in the am.
Glad you had a chance to get out Jim.You truley have a peice of Heaven there.Your hard work shows.
outing 43 the Andy Ivy Stand.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5614/15431740570_0de76e6905_z.jpg)
red line is the logging road, red arrow wind and blue anticipated deer movement
No one has hunted this ridge stand for almost a month. I took Dave up to my stand ( 11) and doubled back to #15.
Very warm today. 50 degrees F! We walked up the ridge in our undies and in a fog so thick I almost got lost.! I am sure Dave was wondering where the hell I was leading him.
At first there was no wind and then the forecasted Southerly kicked in. I kept expecting the fog to blow off the bluff top, but I could see no more then 25 yards the entire time I was on stand.
The Bard owls were very talkative today. Their catawalling was very comical. They started out above me on the ridge and slowly moved my way. There were at least 3 maybe 4. Eventually they were in the trees all around me. Heard them fly in and saw the shadow of one. One deer started snorting from my company's direction but I saw no deer once again and did not jump any on my return hike home.
The mornings views looked like this.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3938/15430811198_160e050072_z.jpg)
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3945/15617765222_3d12fdbc6d_z.jpg)
Jim, your property is a slice of heaven on earth, I feel a buck coming soon! :thumbsup:
outing #44 Yurt stand
I had every intention of heading up top and trying some decoying out of the 90 degree stand. But it was so hot and there was a fine mist of rain in the air. The weather forecast was not calling for rain but I decided I would hunt close to home in the event it got any wetter.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3946/15619771255_3aa9fa9147_z.jpg)
Close to the yurt at the base of the steep bluff, on a wide contour trail are two hang ons.
One for me and one for right handers.
The orange lines are the three deer trails that intersect just below the stand. The shot is only about 12 yards but steep.
I had just climbed up and was fooling around with my seat cushion when I spotted a doe standing just 50 yards away!. Darn! She didn't stand there long!
The mist eventually stopped but it stayed overcast for the remainder of the day . About an hour before sunset , I started using my grunt tubes. I have a soft one and a loud one. I do a loud grunt followed by a couple of soft grunts about every 20 minutes. Just before last light the wind was almost zero and I made a single loud grunt.
I heard a stick crack to the south and instantly made out the body of a deer coming towards me on the top most trail. A 2.5 year old 8 point was slowly coming my way. A very nice deer but not one that I want to kill quite yet.
The thermals busted me any way before he got even close to the shooting spot. He stopped short at about 20 yards. Then he reversed directions. I gave him a couple of softer grunts and he stopped and looked around. When he started to move again , I decided to send him running hoping another and larger buck might be near by. So I gave him a wheeze and he busted out of there like he was kicked in the rear.
I followed the wheeze with some more soft grunts but nothing else was coming to the call.
I think this spot has real potential but I believe I will move the stand one tree over and keep it lower to the ground so that the shot angle is not so severe. The hill is so steep here that if I am only 8 feet up in this next tree it will put me at least double that over the deer's head.
The shot distance will still be no more than 15 yards and I think this other tree is also a little more our of the deer's line of sight. I'll shoot some pictures tomorrow.
Looking Good Jim. Neat encounter with the Buck.
I really enjoy following along as your season progresses. Thanks for taking the time to post and allow us to tag along.
Good luck Jim. We are supposed to be getting a cooler front coming through this week here in Missouri, so I imagine you all will be getting one soon too!
I hope it brings you some movement. Thanks for keeping the thread updated and going! Lots of us thoroughly enjoy it!
double post
outing #45 logging road ladder.
Just a little further up the deer trail from where I called in last nights buck is another stand which is new this year. I sat in it once earlier this season. You will recall that I hung a portable in it after the last hunt. That worked out well, but the morning passed with out any deer being seen.
I am happy to report that I can shoot all the way to the logging road! Here is a picture from when I retrieved my practice arrow on the way out. The stand is in the center of the frame.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3936/15629971122_b801fe6366_z.jpg)
outing #46 No stand hunted off the ground.
Last night a friend sat in the hay bale. He had 2 small bucks and 5 does in the green field but could not get a shot.
They came down this trail from the timber and stayed on the far south east end of the field.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3941/15629141655_3f5634b4b4_z.jpg)
So I decided since we had a wind out of the NW, that I would carry a chair down and just sit in the corn south of the green field.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3942/15008465074_70312c0668_z.jpg)
the hay bale is #3 . I sat six rows into the corn at the star
I cut two shooting lanes.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3954/15605429676_33603e56bd_z.jpg)
About 4pm that Button buck that I see every time I sit here showed up. He ate for a while but then a gust of wind scared him back down into the creek bottom. At 5 pm he returned. He fed all over the green field. Twice he went past me at 12 to 15 yards. He looked at me several times but did not make me out. I couldn't see up the hill and I relied on his body language to tell me if more deer were coming into the food plot.
At 5:30 he was clearly watching something up the hill. I slowly turned my head and spotted a doe standing at about 40 yards up the hill on the middle trail . Then she moved forward and another doe was right behind her.
They entered the green field and turned left and headed straight at me. The first doe walked to the edge of my first shooting lane and stared at me head on . She knew something was out of place. I should have sat deeper in the rows of corn.
She slowly turned to her right and approached the 2nd shooting lane. I came to full draw. She stopped just short of the lane. I decided to shoot between two corn stalks. Very stupid decision.
At the release I could see my arrow nicked one of the stalks of corn. The arrow struck the deer and I swear I saw blood in the air! But I had no idea where my arrow had hit her! She spun , made it to edge of the field and fell down! Only to leap right back up and tear off up into the old pasture hill side.
I waited about 15 minutes and crept out to the green field. I found a few flecks of red where she was standing when I hit her. I walked the edge of the field until I found more blood and was sure of which trail in the grass she flew away on. I then went to the yurt to wait for my two hunters to come in from their hunts.
We returned 2 hours later. We picked our way thru 50 yards of waist high grass by spotting a red drop here and a red drop there. She was doing us a favor by staying on a heavy deer trail running on this lower end of the hill. Clearly moving fast. Finally the blood improved. I still had no idea where my arrow had hit her. The blood got seriously heavy and then there was just a stream of blood in the grass and then there she was.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3937/15008955573_16038ed465_z.jpg)
I am still finding this hard to believe. My arrow shaft was broken off an inch behind the broad head and lying next to her. The broad head was lodged 2 inches below her left ear in her neck! The vpa cut her jugular!
An irresponsible shot resulted in a deer that was dead in seconds! A very lucky deflection to say the least.
I think I am done doe hunting till December and will now focus on killing a good buck!
Mate, you're like a general with all your battle plans and intel! Great job, nice deer!
Very nice doe! Congrats! :thumbsup:
Congrats bud :thumbsup:
Nice job,big doe, congrats!
We all strive to do things right every time but we thank Lady Luck when she chooses to smile! Congratulations Jim!
Congrats glad it worked out for the better
Jim sometimes adrenalin and "want to" makes us her slave! You did the responsible thing (as always) and followed her up, giving her time. Alls well that ends well, toast her with a little red wine and enjoy the gift. The kind of work you put in, heck you earned it :campfire:
I'd rather be lucky then good!
Congrats on another nice doe
Well done sir!!
Good goin'
A little luck never hurts. Usually accompanied with a lesson.
I had a deflection on an Impala years ago and ended up with the arrow hitting about the exact same place. One of the best blood trails I've ever seen....
Congradulations Jim. Thats a Big Old Doe!
Congrats Jim! Looking forward to Sunday.
I love following this. It's only a matter of time.
outing # 47 Homestead stand
After recharging the batteries for 48 hours, I drove the 4 wheeler around the bluffs to the homestead stand. I last hunted it on oct 1st!
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3840/15298989625_748f857d3b_z.jpg)
What a difference 20 days can make. I have great visibility now. I still should do just a wee bit of trimming , but for the most part, things look like they did when I decided this would be a good spot for a stand.
The deer sign is really heavy. fresh tracks in the mud of the pond that needs fixing.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3937/15465575509_e78a1b928b_z.jpg)
big heavy trails through the grass.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7509/15466260277_6e795877e7_z.jpg)
I was in the stand very early and while sitting there got winded twice from different directions! hmmmm this spot may just be another one of those dynamite looking spots that you can't hunt because the way the wind works. I saw no deer but was entertained by a Ruff Grouse that was limb walking in the yellow crab apple tree next to me. It was feasting on the small crabs still in the tree. Bet they make it taste sweet.
I hear ya on the wind......been giving me fits this year. Good stuff as always....... :notworthy:
That's a good comment, Jim.
I've felt inept or something around some places that are heavily used, but I can't seem to make work.
"The wind gets all swirly in there..."
Congrats :thumbsup:
:clapper:
outing #48 Roundabout.
Is it apparent yet that I like this spot despite the fact I've gotten skunked here each time I have hunted it?
I have a trad hunter here ( finally) and got him situated around 2 30. The wind kept picking up and the grey sky hung low. I thought for a few minutes it was going to start to snow but at 42 F all I felt were a few wet splashes when I looked sky ward. It felt and looked like November except for the fact the deer weren't moving. When it got really windy just before quitting time I climbed out of the big Cedar and took the decoy down.
Just then I noticed several deer heading down in to the beet field below me. All of them were does. I watched them until it was too dark to see them clearly then circled slowly around them trying not to spook them to hard.
Better luck tomorrow.
I think the rest of this week is really going to heat up Jim. I had a good buck chase a doe past me tonight. I'm expecting to read about some good sightings on this thread within the next few days! I'll be checking in from my treestand. :thumbsup:
Good Reading. Congrats on the downed does.
Great season so far!!!
:coffee:
outing # 49 Sure thing.
Joe I sure hope you are right!!
This photo is from last nights spot. This trail is just below where I sat last night with the Decoy. It's why I like this spot so much. The cedar off the deer's rear is a annual rubbing post.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3950/15473822808_553123f458_z.jpg)
Eventually I will get photos of some real slammers using this trail.
ok so on to today.
I placed Gene in the Joel stand.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7465/15660793112_97016a6d90_z.jpg)
While I set up across the valley in the Sure thing. AS the light increased I began my first rattling sequence . I repeated it about every 20 minutes. But I got skunked! So did Gene!
I am going to go up top and decoy up there this pm.
I hesitate to post this, but I had the same hit as you had on your last doe, on a small buck in SW Michigan Saturday AM. He wheeled on release and the arrow went through the lower neck 4-6 inches behind the jaw, immediately producing tons of bright red blood. After a mule kick and a few hops he stopped 15 yards from me and stood, head down, with blood pouring out his mouth and nose. After 5 minutes he stumbled another 15 yards and laid down, and eventually laid his head down. That's usually the end of the story, but in my case the story changed with the sudden appearance of 3 small bucks, initially intrigued and then emboldened by the state of their fallen comrade. A forkhorn tried to butt and lock horns with the fallen deer and eventually started hooking his antlers into the neck. When he caught the arrow wound, the hit deer sprung up and for the next 45 minutes there was a series of stumbles, lay downs in protected spots, e.g between two fallen trees. While watching all this unfold within 25 yards of my stand, the biggest bodied whitetail I ever saw, a wide 8 point, chased a doe under my stand and stood 10 yards away, eating acorns. When my hunting partner came along to meet me, an hour after the hit, the deer got up , walked another 75 yards, laid down again but with his head up, then got up and wandered up and over a ridge into an area of real thick cover. We lost the blood trail after finding only 3 more drops and couldn't find a blood trial or dead deer despite three very experienced hunters looking for 2 hours. I am convinced that my arrow wnet through the espohagus but missed the carotid and windpipe. The deer had given up and was ready to die but for the adrenaline boost triggered by the attack by the 3 small bucks that harassed him for 45 minutes after he had lain down to die. He lived long enough to become unfindable by anything but coyotes. Monday-morning quarterbacking, I should have put a second arrow into the boiler when it was close and ready to fall, but I have never had to do that before and it never occurred to me. I feel better knowing that you were able to find your doe.
outing #50 The Justin stand with decoy.
For those of you who have been decoying for a while, let me just say that tonight was classic!
With a NW wind that was forecast to drop to just 4 mph it was perfect night for a sit at this stand with a decoy (star).
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3884/15150590958_d871820cae_z.jpg)
How the decoy looks from the ground at the base of the ladder
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7522/15043375933_85a6db10f5_z.jpg)
and how it looks from above from the stand.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7464/15477939780_7321dcf8dc_z.jpg)
Just at sunset I heard a deer walking in the dry leaves below me. I watched as an 8 point buck appeared on the trail below. He worked his way up the ridge on the trail that goes by my left at just 8 yards. When he got high enough on the hill to be able to see the decoy he froze solid. I had an 8 yard broadside shot at a totally unaware deer, but this was not a buck I wanted to kill.
The buck laid his ears back, puffed up his hair and side walked up the hill to my decoy. The decoy is 25 yards from my stand. When he was 3 yards from the decoy he stopped and gave ol one horn the stink eye. Then he rammed the decoy in the neck with his antlers. The bobble head deer's neck moved left and then back to the right as if to strike back at his challenger. The challenger dodged , spun and was then standing 10 yards in front of me broadside!
My only regret was that I wasn't able to film the action. After about a minute or so the newcomer had had enough and bounded away over the hill.
I couldn't believe the decoy held together because it is a real cheap piece of you know what! I can see why this model is no longer sold in the stores ( I picked it up 1/2 price on amazon!) But tonight it did its job well.
Now that's just having too much entertainment in a deer stand!
No wonder I love following along on your hunts, Jim.
The variety of stand locations and techniques you employ are not only entertaining, but educational as well. Fun and a learning, hard to beat that!
Thanks again for you effort to share with us.
outing #51. Jim's stand
Up the logging road wearing two sets of long johns and everything else in the pack. I was softly grunting as I walked in ankle deep oak leaves This little trick enabled me to walk up on 2 does in their beds . They didn't even get up till I was 10 yards away and stood staring into my head lamp. This is a great trick to use when walking in a noisy forest.
The temp was 37 and there was hardly a breath of wind out of the South. I sat for an hour just watching and listening to landscape come to life.
At 8 :30 I rattled with more enthusiasm than of late. Grunting and rattling I made some serious noise today.
15 minutes later I caught movement 40 yards above me on the logging road. A very small forky was moving along looking for the bullies he had heard up here. I was intently watching him when I heard noise in the leaf litter below me.
A nice but young 8 point was walking on a trail up to me from below on the ridge. He walked to 10 yards and stood there looking for the source of the noise as well. Giving me every opportunity in the world to kill him ,I wished him well. When it was safe to swap the bow for the camera I snapped this photo of him
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3951/15668278402_b1b756908d_z.jpg)
Given a year or two and he is really going to be something.
Later in the am I had a small fawn feed by and just before I headed out a very small coyote trotted by on a deer trail 50 yards below me. Going back to camp I again grunted softly as I walked along. I walked up on four bedded does right behind the logging road ladder. They ran off when I was just 20 yards away!
Jim,
As I follow your season again this year, I find myself checking in every day to see what the newest post will be. I truly get disappointed when I log in and you haven't written yet! Keep up the great work! Your stories are always a highlight in my day. I think a book should be in your future about your farm, your hunting and your philosophy!
Thanks Paul! I'll keep doing my best but I think you are too kind!
Outing #52 The Bwana stand.
Basically I set up the same as last night. We had a light wind out of the NW. Just enough not to call it light and variable. Two words a bow hunter just hates to hear!
Here is how the decoy looked from the stand.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7469/15483916569_2e8be3c6a0_z.jpg)
The picture is deceiving as the decoy is only 15 yards from my perch. The hillside is steep but I am up over 20 feet high to compensate. I think I like this set up better on this west end of the field. The shot is tighter, and the visibility of the decoy much greater. One thing I have learned is that if the deer can't see your decoy , they are not going to come to it. The visual is everything.
I really thought tonight was going to be the night. Especially when I spotted a big doe out feeding in the clover field at 4 pm. I kept looking down the ridge expecting to see horns.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5602/15667882031_698e7a4395_z.jpg)
but other than the lone doe, I got skunked.
outing #53 Roundabout
It blew like a hurricane out of the north all night. I needed to be out of the wind if I was going to put I any time on stand. I went here knowing the south facing bluff would keep me some what protected and that the wind would actually be reversed sending my scent up hill. Every thing went as planned except the deer were some where else . I was out of the tree and in by 10 am, it was just too cold to sit any longer
outing #54 Bwana repeat
I rarely sit the same stand two times in a row except during the rut. I thought the decoy set up last night was exceptional except for the fact no deer showed.
The wind stayed out of the N and was blowing much harder than I like to sit in. But it was forecast to slack off just at sunset. I was in the tree by 3 :30 and cussing myself for coming here. The wind had picked if anything and I climbed out of the tree and sat on the ground for an hour. When it seemed reasonable to climb in, up I went. Just in time for the wind to pick up again!
It was brutal. I kept repeating a friends mantra. Patience and Perseverance. Finally just after sunset I saw a doe running my way through the tall prairie grass to my Left (West). Another deer loped behind and he had a rack on his head.
The doe raced through the gap between one horn and me followed by the buck. When the buck saw my decoy he stopped dead in his tracks. He began to circle the decoy and stopped 10 yards in front of me. I thought about shooting him, for about 10 seconds and then reminded myself of my goals for the year. When he had his back turned , I swapped Anubis for my camera.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3938/15057527384_eabdbc0689_z.jpg)
This was one of the best decoying experiences I have ever had. Almost as good as the bucks I have killed over a decoy. He circled the decoy 3 and on half times! He kept 15 yards between himself and decoy each time. Ending up in front of me 3 times at ten yards! Halfway in to his 4th rotation he picked up some other scent and headed to the south .
This video is of him on his 3rd trip around.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/51550276@N08/15057524174/
This is what I truly live for! What a great hunt!
You've got great restraint. That's a nice buck.
Beautiful buck, that is really cool!!! Love your thread by the way, check it everyday. Great season
Unreal.... :eek: .....I'd would have had a hard time not shooting that deer........or at least shooting at it!! As I have said before.....you do a wonderful job sharing your season with us!! :notworthy: :notworthy:
Cool vid bud! Are you guys getting any mid day activity yet? Randy had some success at 10:30 this morning!
outing #55 It was a looooong sloooooow day!
Started the day out at the "hole".
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5615/15686496815_b38108d219_z.jpg)
Coldest morning of the fall so far. It was in the high 20's! A very light wind out of the SE.
Nothing seemed to be moving. At 9 30 I heard a slight noise behind me to the East. Ever so slowly I looked over my right shoulder. Standing 15 yards away and eating something nasty was a mommy coyote. There is no way I can shoot that direction due to the limbs of the tree in front of me. But I reached for the bow anyway. She sensed the movement but did not bust me. I pulled the arrow free of the arrow stay nock, The rubber made the slightest squeak. She looked up again and then walked off in to the bush. Seconds later back she came followed by three pups and her mate! Five coyotes at 15 yards and no shot! They never knew I was just above the and off to the East they went.
The first deer did not appear until 11 am. A nubbins buck. It fed under a crab apple tree for a while. Then it wandered around picking up some yellow leaves on the floor and eventually walked right by me on the trail going East as well. At 1 pm I looked West and there was a forky standing at 20 yards with his nose up in the air. He had me and he quickly walked to the North and went up over the ridge.
At 1 30 I packed up my gear and headed up the ridge to the South for lunch up by the pond. Then I grabbed the decoy at the Bwana stand and reset it up on the west side food plot under the Lefty stand. The Wind had become more Easterly which was perfect.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7580/15067222683_85976f2b67_z.jpg)
Here is how the decoy looked here. there is nothing behind him but like at the Bwana set up I hoped they wouldn't come from his rear end.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5601/15067089153_00bb611ff1_z.jpg)
Since the wind was very slight. I let the head swing free giving it more of a life like set up.
About 5 30 this young stud came marching in to investigate.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7557/15686464005_a6a0b3fa0d_z.jpg)
as he got a little closer his courage began to ebb
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7571/15501259337_ec1804104a_z.jpg)
then he thought he heard his momma call
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3951/15066524404_a834058311_z.jpg)
So he turned and walked about 30 yards stopped, turned around, came back 25 yards, stopped again and turned and ran. Other than him I saw one doe just at dark come in to the clover behind the turnips.
I am taking the day off to morrow, the Mrs. is beginning to forget what I look like. I am also to go over to Wisc and meet up with Charlie and Chuck at their hunting camp near Viola.
Tell Charlie I said HI!! Hope he's having a good time back home. That young buck is a pretty deer.
I had a great time shooting our bows . hearing about their farm and just making new friends with Chuck , Charlie and brother Andrew.
Didn't get home in time to hunt but I did pull a chip on a camera set in movie mode in some red pines above my house. The deer pass thru here and there are always some traditional big rubs here. Caught 6 different bucks. Here is the buck my wife saw three weeks ago drinking in her grotto
https://www.flickr.com/photos/51550276@N08/15697338352/
he is now target #1
and then there is this guy who may get a pass as he is just a 3 year old from the look of his body in relation to his legs.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/51550276@N08/15697334332/
I hope these play ok for you, give them time to load it takes about 30 seconds or so
Whoa! Target # 1 for sure.
Good to have well defined goals in life...
QuoteOriginally posted by Hopewell Tom:
Whoa! Target # 1 for sure.
Good to have well defined goals in life...
MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY!! Hope you get a opportunity at him Jim he's a Dandy!
:archer2: Do this to target #1. Good luck.
I'm now trying to find me a decoy to use.. lol. any recommendations?
outing 56 Pants Down!!
hi guys I am in for a quick weather check, a hello to the Mrs. and then back out the door. The bucks are moving.
At 7 30 A doe and a fawn were headed up my way. Unfortunately she was coming from the north and the wind was blowing from the south. At 20 yards she winded me and about faced. As she trotted back the way she had just come, a good looking buck was heading up the hill in her direction. I never got a real good look at him but he was at least a three year old. Off they went with him giving chase. In the next 15 minutes three 1.5 year old bucks came down the trail following the first ones.
Over the course of the morning I saw 9 different bucks! Two were in shooting lanes but they won't be a target for me for a year or two.
Back out the door to see what's up in Apple Alley.
Good luck bud!
Good luck shoot straight
outing #57. Apple alley hang on.
In between the two ladders on the west side of the food plot is a hang on in an Aspen tree along a trail that runs along the inside edge of the woods. Normally there are lots of rubs here. This year there seems to be al lot fewer.
I spent almost 5 hours in stand and didn't see or hear a single deer! My buddy Jay is here hunting with his home made recurve and he got skunked too!
So we will be hard at it again in the am.
Outing #58
It was very windy today . all day. Not a lot to report. The deer movement was either slow or I just sat in the wrong places!
Started the day in Roundabout. Got absolutely skunked there. Finished the day in the relocated yurt hang on .
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7516/15689679856_ea76a1fb72_z.jpg)
I Think I have hit a home run with the slight adjustment of the stand here. The wind works perfectly blowing my scent up hill. The deer moved exactly as I had hoped. I had a buck fawn lay down 20 yards from me. In addition to 2 does I had a 2.5 year 8 point go by and then I called him back and he went by me a 2nd time.
This coming Sat is the opener of the gun season here. There will be gun hunters in the woods adjacent to me to the south I think this trail will most likely be a good escape trail for deer coming from there. I think I will plan to sit there all day if the wind is South or Westerly.
Great Bucks you have there Jim, I am glad a few are strating to move through your area. Hopefully you get a south wind on teh gun opener.
It was great meeting you and regret not thinking about a picture while you were there.
We had some more rutting action after you left and a few close encounters.
Good Luck, I love following your thread.
Outing #59 Pants Down.
The wind finally dropped off and I started out the day with light SE winds and temps in the low 40's.
As soon as it was light enough to see well, I gave the antlers a smack. The rattling of my antlers seemed to echo off the bluff and it wasn't five minutes until I heard the sound of a deer approaching. I small 8 point came down the bluff and stopped 10 yards shy of my tree. He milled around looking for the bucks he had heard fighting. Not finding them he headed off to the south.
It was a full 2.5 hours before I saw the next deer. Another small 8, this time coming from the south walked directly under my tree. He stopped and stood under me . Then he exploded as the first scent of me finally reached his nose.
By 11am I was ready to leave when three deer suddenly appeared above me. A doe, A buck of undeterminable size and this buck fawn.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7528/15098818454_74e3195507_z.jpg)
The thermals had carried my scent up hill to the doe. She would snort and pace. The buck fawn would look around as if to say " I don't see nothing". While the buck had other things on his mind. By 11 30 they had all headed off up the hill and I headed in to the yurt.
putting # 60 Lefty
What a night! I was in the stand by 2 pm with old one horn set up just as before. The Wind was still out of the SE and if was spitting rain.
The rain had started to pick up but the forecast called for it to stop by 4 pm. So I decided I would hang in there. Around 3 30 I glanced to the south and almost fell out of the tree. 100 yards away was the biggest buck I have seen in 20 years. a GIANT had just topped the crest of the hill south of me (star).
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3956/15698077936_5d58ed5e5a_z.jpg)
It looked like he was just crossing the hill and heading West right back down into the timber. I didn't think he could see the decoy , so I grabbed the antlers and smacked them hard!
He instantly went into a sprint and dropped into the timber. I thought Oh NO! Did he see me? Finally I thought no way ,so I rattled the horns again. He was on top of me instantly. He had dropped into the nasty buckthorn patch bordering the burnt area behind me and had snuck in along the ridge line. But because he is now behind me and I knew he would wind me. At 25 yards he stopped short. He is absolutely the biggest 8 point I have ever seen outside of maybe one in Iowa many years ago. Huge g2s , big brows. Heavy dark colored horns. Narrow. This is the buck my wife described seeing a month ago in her grotto.
He turned to leave so I grunted at him. He turned back and stood there but just for a second. Then he melted into the hillside and was gone.
About an hour later I caught sight of another buck moving towards me in the fire break to the north. The small buck that checked out the decoy the last time I sat here, was coming in. This time he seemed to have more courage. AS he approached one horn I gave him a wheeze. The buck's body language went from aggressive to complete submissive.
He then spent the rest of the day eating turnips and looking at the decoy and then would go back to eating! He would find a smaller turnip, dig it up and then pull it out whole. He did this several times all the while looking for approval from old one horn.
I am going to be dreaming of that buck for a very long time. Talk about motivation to stay on stand!
Keep after 'em Jim! Thanks so much for sharing your hunts with us. I really look forward to reading about them every day. Your efforts are appreciated by a lot of Tradgangers and great motivation for us to get out there and stay on stand also!
He's still around bud. Good luck tomorrow!
:bigsmyl:
KEEP AT EM JIM...I wish you the best and hope you get a opportunity at him...you deserve it!!!!!!!
Jim, thanks for this post. I'm enjoying my morning coffee, catching up on your hunts and getting sooo anxious to get back to the woods. We have a week long shotgun only season right now so no hunting for me. :coffee: Good Luck!
Joe
Great Update Jim. I hope you see the big 8 point again.
One of the most important lessons you have passed on with your threads is perseverance. You obviously have some great land and lots of deer, yet you still often don't see anything. Then the next day - BAM! There he is!
When I start getting discouraged with lack of deer sightings I think to myself "I'll bet Jim is in a tree". Stick with it, put in the time, and the opportunities will come.
I hope that giant makes a return visit soon!
Been gone for awhile and just caught up Jim. Keep at it, you know "it" will happen. Thanks for doing this, I know it takes a lot of time.
David
Hey there Jim, wasgreat getting to meet you, Next trip I will come your way. But maybe after season. Sounds like things are getting real exciting at your place. Just getting a chance to catch up since we met. We left Tuesday and should have hunted instead. 4 shooters in front of the cabin chasing. Once I figure how to get you a picture from a buck Monday night. I will send it. One of the biggest ever spotted on the farm. Thanks for keeping me in the hunt.
Have a good night and dress warm tomorrow if you head out.
outing #61 Lower Coffee cup trail
Thanks everyone for your continued following and kind comments! Its been really fun to share my hunts with such enthusiastic tradgangers!
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3942/15562824661_d5b4352e9a_z.jpg)
This stand (17) has only been hunted once so far this season. It sits above a bench that runs down one side of this bowl. The bench separates the bowl into two distinct areas . Think of an old fashioned ash tray with two ash compartments.
I went here today because we had a wind out of the north at 14 to 20 all day. I knew once in the bowl I'd be protected from the wind . I assumed deer would hang out here too.
This picture is from the last time I was here but this is of the bench taken from in the tree stand.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3936/14943320764_5dc2d229a9_z.jpg)
Once on stand my feet never hit the ground until dusk. I looked like a Sherpa going up Everest when I left the yurt. But I stayed warm and fed all day!
Right after sunrise I rattled my horns. I almost didn't have time to pick up the bow when a buck comes barreling in. Now the wind acts in reverse on this slope. So even though he came up hill from the south , he did not wind me. But because he is coming up hill the entire way. I think he picked up movement of my arm reaching for the bow. He stopped on the far side of the bench facing me head on and staring up at me. We both were statues for almost 5 minutes! Then he whirled and ran back down the hill. He had long mains, tiny brows, long g2's and tiny g3's. An unusual rack to say the least!
At 9 o'clock I looked down and caught a doe slipping thru the heavy cover about 75 yards down hill. About 10 minutes later, along came her tormentor. I only caught glimpses of him. All I am sure of is that his rack was very white.
At 11 o'clock I heard foot steps down below, so I slipped my grunt tube out of my pocket and gave a few grunts. From the south again up trots yet another buck!. This one a small 8 point. He stood on the bench right where I would want him to stand if I were going to shoot. As he goes up and past me , he picks up some of my scent . This turned him in his tracks and back down the hill he ran.
It was quite dull the rest of the day until my last rattle session. Right at sunset I gave the antlers a smack! Just after hanging them back on their hook, I hear hooves in the oak leaves. A very robust looking 2 year old with a small 8 point rack walks up on to the bench and posed for me. He stood there looking for the bucks he had just heard! After a few minutes of not finding them he grew suspicious and headed back south downhill.
So all in all I had a very good day. 3 bucks came to the calls and a 4th was seen chasing. I think this spot really needs the use of a good decoy.
I may move the one stashed at round about to here next year.
This bowl is such a great place to call at. But I wont hunt it much more now as the gun hunters will be on the other side of the bowl come Saturday. I wouldn't want to push anything over to them. I'll let them earn their bucks them selves.
Jay also had a good day rattling 2 different bucks. One of which had one of antlers snapped clean off at the base. He also saw a whopper of a 10 point chasing a doe at 3 pm.
Jim, I can't reiterate how great this thread is. It's almost like I get to live through your experiences. Thanks again for sharing!
As a person who doesn't know how to hunt NEARLY as well as you, wouldn't you want to be near where you saw the "big boy"?
I know here in LA that is our tactics. When we get one on camera, etc. We hunt that area hoping to see him again, but public land may be a little different than private.
outing #62 Round about/Sapling.
Sorry for the lateness of this post. But after hunting and dinner each evening this week, Jay has been helping me build a small walk in cooler in my pole shed. No more warm temp worries next season!
Daniel to answer your question , I don't believe that big 8 is a resident deer on my farm. I think his core area is on the next farm to the NW of me. He has been just out cruising the valley for Does. If he was on a regular bedding /feeding routine then I'd be on that field hard. I hope like hell I run into him again but it would be impossible to devise a plan to hunt him when I don't know where he hangs his hat each night.
I started the day at Round About. Got skunked and after 4 hours called it quits. I had a good cup of coffee with the Mrs. A snack or two and after checking the weather headed back out the door to the Sapling stand.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3938/15736230045_ffb6051741_z.jpg)
The red line is my northern fence line and property line. Red arrow wind and blue arrows anticipated deer movement.
just past the food plot in Apple Alley sits a two man ladder. The deer go into AA from three basic trails if the come from the neighbors pasture. I knew I'd get winded if they came from the center but was willing to take the risk.
Here are photos from stand.
looking south the food plot and the dry creek crossing.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7500/15734246131_2ca6048e04_z.jpg)
food plot is in the upper right.
looking north towards the fence line
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7479/15736180475_568c2c99b9_z.jpg)
Today was more of a typical day . Not a single deer answered my calls. I saw only one doe all day and that was just at last light.
Here is a nice picture of great 6 point.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3955/15712458176_12180129f9_z.jpg)I am glad he won't be a legal target in the am for the shot gunners. We have an APR rule of 4 points on one side to be legal.
So the silence will now be broken by the sound of gun fire for the next 30 days! YUCK. Can you tell Orange is not my favorite color?
I hear ya Jim, if there was a state that didn't have a gun season I'd move there. Its gonna happen soon for you on a nice buck. :campfire:
The wind howled all night out of the NW. It was so windy at 5 am I elected not to sit in a tree or hunt at all the entire day. There just was no place out of the wind I could go with out being too close to the property border fences.
I did get some work done on the walk in cooler and got to watch a big 10 point I'd shoot in a heart beat if given the chance. I was sitting in the back yard watching a few does on the hill side at last light when he came out of the timber. He marched down the hill scattering the does and headed straight for the spring in the wife's grotto. I snuck 40 yards closer and hid behind the lawnmower shed and waited for him to reappear. He was in there drinking for 5 minutes! Then when he satisfied his thirst off he went in the direction of Apple Alley.
He better look out tomorrow.
love to see picts of the walk in your building, im a refridgeration mechanic,thanks kwc, also love this thread every year.
Well Jim, I hope you have good news about how all the big bucks retreated fro the gun men past your stand :pray:
outing #63 a long slowwwwwww day.
The wind finally dissipated and turned to the SW.
I started my day in the pants down stand. Right at first light, a fat spike slowly walked the trail past the back side of the stand. He walked with his nose down and tail erect. I was picking out spots to shoot had he been a larger deer and I discovered several major obstacles I hadn't seen before. So after he was gone I zipped down the ladder and did my best to remove them with out using a saw ( I didn't have one ).
Spent the next 4 hours listening to gun shots but saw no deer.
At noon the wind switched back to the NW. So I headed in for a snack and then hustled up to the hang on behind the yurt to hunt the escape trail from the neighbor's to the south. Sat there till dark . But I saw only three does and some turkeys the entire afternoon.
Comparing notes with neighbors and with my nephew who hunted here in the am I was the only one not seeing bucks! Bummer.
We have some weather moving in. The wind will switch to the ENE and we usually get really bad weather when that happens. They are forecasting a foot of snow north of here . But it looks like we will only get some rain. Guess we will just to wait and see what the morning brings.
I'll try to shoot some daylight pictures of the cooler. But it's a work in progress
Jim, does the antler point restriction apply to bow hunting as well? Or just gun hunters?
Most of people interested in QDM in my area think that you get bigger bucks by not shooting does at all...but then they'll shoot everything with bone on its head during the gun season. :dunno:
I think you should write a book about DIY deer management.
enjoyable thread!! loving it..
outing #64 Joel's stand
With vacation being over I am back to shorter sits.
The storm seems to have passed to the north. It was just very foggy and a gusty but not too cold wind out of ENE as predicted.
Just after first light I heard a slight noise behind and above me. Looking over my left shoulder I spotted a doe standing 20 yards behind me sniffing the air. But my scent seemed to be carried up and over her and she passed me by unconcerned. Same thing for the next doe and fawn. Another hour goes by and a little forky comes down the same trail. This time I saw him coming and I noticed that I needed to do some more shooting lane trimming up behind the stand.
The trail they were on seemed to be getting used more now than the one below. So at 8 30 when it was time to go to work I quickly took care of matters so the lane is clear should I sit this stand again.
Outing 65# Upper Apple Alley.
An 11 am teleconference with my neighbor to the north indicated the bucks we really moving. He saw three different bucks between 9 and 11 move between his farm and mine. So I decided I would go some where out of the wind where does might want to feed early. Hoping a buck would also be doing the same thing . I chose this little jewel of a food plot.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3956/15576530117_ef61e3a01a_z.jpg)
It was truly a November gray day. But the green of this field really made me think it would get pounded today. I jumped one Doe out of the food plot when I walked in and that was the only deer I saw all afternoon.
I just keep picking the wrong places. Eventually my number is going to come up.!!
I pulled the chip on the camera set for movies on the rub in the Red Pines on my way in and every buck that visited the spot in the last week did so only in the dark of night!
A half a foot of snow fell north of me but all we are getting is some spittle. It's going to be windy in the am. Another coin toss!
Hang in there Jim, it will happen. We got your snow and now freezing rain. Going to be a tough morning. You propety pictures just keep getting better everytime I see them. Good luck and my the wind be in your face!!
Stick with it brother! Lots of nice bucks have been taken the last few days!
outing #65 Joel's stand ( repeat)
Sometime during the night , the spittle changed to snow. I awoke to about 2 inches of wet snow and wind!
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5613/15581094138_d61c9cceb1_z.jpg)
I chose this spot to be on the SE face to be protected from the wind yet again!
It was just an amazing morning! Just at first light a spike buck came down the logging road from the north. Wind at his back, nose to the ground and tail in the air.
15 minutes later I see a body approaching coming from the exact same way. Bow in hand, 8 point below. He walks into the scrape and reaches up with his antlers. He is looking right at me. I am invisible. He makes the scrape and moves through all three of the shooting lanes. He was small and it was everything I had in me not to kill him.. It would have been a good kill but it is still early in the rut and there are real bruisers still walking the valley floor.
Then the turkeys roosted above me began to talk and to fly down! Nine turkey dinners eventually walked on by me. They are in the bucks scrape scratching in this picture.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3944/15147100903_20006e8f35_z.jpg)
this hen was last to fly down.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5606/15581709340_c528995293_z.jpg)
there was a tom somewhere on the hillside as he gobbled twice this am!
I thought I had struck gold today . But after the turkeys fed through , nothing else came by. After four hours I was ready for a cup of Joe. Looking forward to this afternoon.
Yes some absolute giants died around me this week, but they were all killed by the sluggers.
outing #66 Lower Apple Alley
Anticipation was high, but unfortunately I don't have a lot to report tonight. So I will share today's sights with you all
hiking up to the stand
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7496/15150015443_8c0c9ab1b6_z.jpg)
Checking out the rub tree by the movie camera
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7465/15150027893_663c022172_z.jpg)
the hiking trail that goes by the stand.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5606/15584635710_079e44eaa2_z.jpg)
the hiking trails below the stand and looking across the valley to the Round About ( red arrow) stand
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5613/15767568651_36c12ba42a_z.jpg)
deer sign under apple tree in front of stand.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7530/15584632790_76f2b11663_z.jpg)
It was pretty quiet all afternoon. 18 to 22 mph winds out of the NW. Wind in tree stand was swirling. Just about the time I decided I should get down I see a set of legs coming down hill. A doe fawn walks in under the apple tree in front of me . Eventually she picks up some of my scent and looks up at me with those wide eyes that say got ya! She did the classic backwards walk out from under the tree and ran off to wards some where safe. Then a 2nd set of legs is coming down hill. It's a spike buck. He goes by me with out winding me. 5 minutes later he comes back and passes me going the other way. I got away with it again. Hmmm maybe the wind isn't that bad.
I look across the valley towards Round about just as the first of seven does come out of timber and go right by the stand! That's the stand I have been skunked in 5 or 6 times this year!
I keep expecting a buck to appear but none does.
Will some one tell me what month it is? The way the deer moved this afternoon I'd swear it is late December. Tomorrow the bottom falls out or the thermometer. Single digits lows are forecast for the next 7 days! So until the temps moderate a bit i'll be hunting the pm's only. Better to sit one good sit than a couple of short crappy ones.
hey Miles!
the APR here is for all hunters (except youth hunters) and is during all seasons. Best thing MN ever did! It's not state wide and only in SE Minnesota is it in place. Our deer herd here has never been stronger nor more diverse in age classes.
im with ya on hunting the PM's. gonna be minus 10 here in the morning. im not man enough.
Keep it up Jim. We all know, one good sit can make a season in a hurry.
Jim, I simply love this thread. You motivate me to roll my sorry arse out of the bed and go hunt...knowing you are hunting tougher terrain and tougher weather than here in So. Illinois. Keep after it man and good luck with those bruisers!
QuoteOriginally posted by LITTLEBIGMAN:
hey Miles!
the APR here is for all hunters (except youth hunters) and is during all seasons. Best thing MN ever did! It's not state wide and only in SE Minnesota is it in place. Our deer herd here has never been stronger nor more diverse in age classes.
There is zero chance of that ever passing here in Wisco. A lot of people's attitude is "if I don't shoot that spike, the neighbors will."
Many also think there should be enough deer to be able to tag out at 8am opening day of gun season. Football is on don'tcha know.....
Now we got this full crossbow season and the harvest is just skyrocketing. DNR just implemented sweeping new rules for harvest, deer zones and doe tag system to increase deer quality/numbers after a couple seasons...then allow crossbows so every Tom, dick and Harry and sons can all shoot them easier.
Makes no sense to me. Modern archery is getting to the point, that I'm thinking they should have a separate season here... Then we'd have a 9-day gun, 9-day muzzy, 9-day modern archery.
But this is getting way off topic now! I hope you catch up to that big one soon
Stay safe.
hey Miles. I used to hunt in Wisc. last time was in about 1993, about the time baiting arrived in the public forests......
It's 7 am and I'm looking out the window and making coffee from inside the house for the first time in a long time. I look out the window to the beet field. I see a doe feeding. I grab and grind the coffee beans. I look out the window and see a 2.5 year old 8 point go over and check her out. I pour the water into coffee maker. I look out the window and I see a 3.5 or possibly 4.5 year old walking towards her. I grab the binos. It's the buck with the one tall brow tine from the rub video. It just figures....... :knothead:
I took this morning off as well Jim. I can't resist a peek out the window every time I pass by but am almost afraid of what I might see....
So far I haven't missed anything and I'm not sure I'd want to see it anyway. Would just frustrate me. But my evening sits have been more productive lately anyway, so I'll be back in the tree this afternoon.
sitting at home here two. its below zero here. im sure my bucks are moving but I probably couldn't shoot being bundled up that bad. plus, im supposed to enjoy hunting, and trust me this morning I wouldn't be enjoying it lol..
I'm in a no-baiting County. I saw 7 trucks lined up in one spot the other night in the state forest.... Right on the county line (next County allows baiting).
It's legal and all, but I don't get it.
outing #67 Squirrel's tail
I am with you guys, it's tuff when its this cold all ready. But the bright side is, I'll be in good condition for the late season!
With a consistent 10 mpr West wind I chose this stand. The squirrels tail sits on the same contour trail as Round about but around the bend in the horse shoe and to the south a little bit. The bucks will move up and down this contour on a west wind scent checking for does below. Deer will also drop down off the of the goat prairie above me. The steepness of the bluff seems to carry my scent up and over deer coming from that way.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7532/15591021628_e7aabe3762_z.jpg)
with 24 degree temps as the high I figured I could sit three full hours and no more. So I climbed into the ladder stand at exactly 1:30pm.
View across valley to where I was yesterday. (https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7492/15752718896_fcab319040_z.jpg)
and looking down on to the deer trail
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5607/15591257257_2cf238d54c_z.jpg)
At 2 pm I made some noise with the horns. At 2 :30 I repeated the rattling. Instantly I saw a deer approaching from the south. I could tell it was a good buck and that he was on the trail the comes around the bend and goes past me at 9 yards. PERFECT.
I got ready for the shot and repeated the pick a spot mantra. At 60 yards (star) he stopped and searched with his eyes and ears for the bucks. He stood there for 5 minutes or so it seemed and then about faced. CRAP! I grunted at him. He stopped. But started again in the wrong direction. I figured I had nothing to lose and wheezed at him. That only put him in to a faster walk and up and over the bluff he went.
One hour later I rattled in a little 2 point to five yards.
After 5 days of slug hunters throwing lead at these guys, I am surprised I am having any luck rattling at all.
Tomorrow I think I will add a decoy back into the mix.
Its amazing how different things look with a little white on the ground.
Great Outing Jim. Good luck with the decoy.
Wow Jim I am suprised also with action when the guns are going off. Maybe tomorrow will be your day, clear and cold. Just home from the taxidermist and had 4 doe in the bird feeder. They did not leave either for awhile with me sitting in the truck at 10 yards.
outing #68 Bwana stand.
1st here are a few great pond photos. Man they like hanging out at the ol waterin hole.
Sure glad we built it!
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7478/15598032929_a0678d47e4_z.jpg)
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7534/15598031469_ebd8a0ab53_z.jpg)
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7573/15598694387_787927d5c0_z.jpg)
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7515/15598438958_8ce24d516c_z.jpg)
ok so once again this am I wimped out and regretted it. Got down to the kitchen and the out side temp was a balmy 23! Darn. 4 deer in the back beet field all does.
So at 11 am I went down to the yurt and started a fire to warm up my gear. While shooting a few practice arrows one of the plastic antlers fell off the decoy that Jay so graciously donated to the camp last week.
I had an idea. The antlers on the decoy up top wont stay on. The tab on the bottom of these target antlers was much larger. I wonder hmmmmmm.
ol one horn is now named Goliath!
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5603/15163907644_ae01ca0f17_z.jpg)
when fishin for muskies use a big hook ! So I am trolling for a big one up top.
it snowed all afternoon and it was everything I had in me to stay on point till dark.
At 4 pm I noticed a buck approaching from the south on the mowed trail. It turned out to be the very same 4 point I decoyed in after the brief encounter with the giant 8 point last week. His submissive posturing was very interesting to watch. Sorry about not having photos of this but I decided to keep the camera in the pack so as to not have any distractions. The little guy eventually fled when the big bucks head swerved from a wind gust.
Other than a few gun shots right at dark, nothing else was heard or seen. Contemplating hunting in the am. But the temp is to be 15 and the wind chill 6 !
Here's hoping an anxious gun hunter doesn't blast your muskie lure ! Stay warm .
outing #69. Back up to Bwana
With almost identical weather conditions as yesterday I decided to give Goliath one more try.
I jumped a bedded buck and doe on the logging road just above the yurt. Arriving at the stand at 2 pm there was already a doe in front of the stand and 2 more down field in the last clover plot to the south.
At 4 pm a deer snorts and I see two does running down hill. Got winded I guess.
The day ended with no bucks in sight. Oh well. Tomorrows another day.
Keep at it Jim. Tomorrow morning is supposed to be Chilly. OK down right cold. Stay warm.
Jim,
Thanks for taking time to chronicle your hunts. I just spent an great hour and a half reading and learning from them. I am a new 5 Pines convert for sure.
outing #70 logging road ladder
Buckster you must not have anything else to do today LOL.!
Well I actually braved the 9 degree temp this am! Every step I took to the stand this am sounded like an elephant walking on cornflakes!
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5604/15175934033_1777db428d_z.jpg)
red is logging road, orange deer trails. stars deer.
So after rattling for the first time, I was utterly floored when suddenly a buck was on top of me before I heard him. A little forky came in to the sound of the horns and was on the trail right behind ME! Good thing he wasn't Mr. Big!
The next deer I saw coming. I was trying to catch any bucks following does up and out of the beet field below. This young guy followed the script perfectly. I saw him coming up the CRP field. He entered the wood line below the log road, crossed it and got right on the trail below me. He went by me and then for some reason he turned around and went by me again!
It looks like I have a good spot here but I need to be lower and slightly further from the trail.
The shot is very steep. After he left I shot a practice arrow at one of the spots where the buck had stopped and stood. It was really difficult to come to full draw. It felt like I was going to fall forward out of the tree! There is another Oak five or so yards uphill from the tree I am in. I think the thing to do ( next year) is have a 10 foot ladder in that tree. That would decrease the angle of the shot and put me at a little greater distance so that movement and noise of drawing the bow isn't an issue.
lots of shot guns going off this am. It's the last weekend of the 1st nine day season. Only 21 more days to get through! It gets really tuff to kill a good one after all that!
Keep at it Jim! Good luck buddy!
outing #71 Yurt H/O
The temps moderated a bit today and we had light flurries all afternoon. At noon while making lunch I looked out the window and saw a 2.5 year old 8 point taking a stroll across the hill side just above the beet field. Then a few minutes later a doe followed along. These were not spooked deer, but just deer being deer. I was pumped to get on stand.
This stand is the on the same trail I sat this am. it is just a few hundred yards south and around the slight bend in the ridge.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7516/15689679856_ea76a1fb72_z.jpg)
I was even more encouraged when I got to the stand as both deer trails appeared to have had lots of deer pass by on them.
At 3 pm I gave the horns a rattle and then stood waiting for the deer to appear. After about 20 minutes I decided to sit for a bit.
Just around 4 pm I decided to stand and rattle again. I looked left and right to be sure no deer were approaching. The horns were hanging on a branch to my left. So when I stood , I also had to turn to the left. That's when I saw him see me. He was above me coming down the ridge. He wasn't on any trail what so ever. He would have been on top of me in a second, had I not stood up. CRAP! why does that happen so often?. He spun on his heels so fast its hard to say how good a buck he was. But he was a lot better than what I had seen this morning!
After he disappeared up hill, I gave the horns a half hearted rattle or two and waited for darkness to fall. At last light a single doe moved thru on the lower trail on her way to the beet field.
That's all I saw. My nephew was sitting in the squirrels tail on the same trail but way around the bend in the other direction. He had a keeper buck trailing a doe go by that he rattled back to 30 yards. but had no shot. He also saw two other bucks chasing does down in the beet field.
Sometimes it truly is location, location, location!
outing #72 The Jim Stand .... The Ivy stand and Roundabout.
I started the day at My stand.(11).
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5614/15431740570_0de76e6905_z.jpg)
We got 2 to 3 inches of new snow over night. It seemed like it took me forever to get to the tree. Cursing myself for not leaving early enough I was putting on my last layer at the base of the tree in full light when I spotted a deer approaching on the trail that goes directly by the tree stand. I quickly donned my white hat and picked up the bow and nocked an arrow. A 4 point buck approached stopping to stare at me every few yards. Not moving a muscle he never made me out and walked by me at 10 yards max!
As soon as he was a good 75 yards away I ascended the climbing stick and strapped in. Over the course of the next 3 hours two more small bucks walked on by.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7504/15783430946_def0170bba_z.jpg)
it's amazing but we are having late December weather!
At 10 am my feet were screaming to get some blood to them but I wasn't ready to head in just yet.
I snuck back down the logging road to the Andy Ivy stand (15). Dressed like a winter ice fisherman.
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8679/15805228961_cd12a40acb_z.jpg)
The short walk was enough to warm me up and up in the ladder I went.
I wasn't there 10 minutes when a super 2.5 year old 10 point came busting out of the thick stuff in front me. I grabbed the bow and stood with out him catching me. But he crossed on to the trail five yards to the left of anywhere near a possible shot
and quickly went down the other side of the ridge.
It is probably a good thing a shot wasn't presented. I know if I had killed that buck I would regret it. He is the kind of deer that has tremendous potential. He will be a real slammer some day!
He was right behind the red cedar on the left and stood briefly for a second. I've been thinking about removing that cedar anyway so the little oaks there can get some more sun. Next time up there it's gonna go!
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5609/15807116575_6ac8eda7ed_z.jpg)
Here is the right side of the stand. I guess being a lefty I unconsciously always clear to the right and seem to neglect the left!.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5606/15622265760_ef6044ef4f_z.jpg)
Five minutes after the buck left a doe appeared. Followed by a six point 20 minutes later, an 8 point 40 minutes later and finally at noon a spike! Four bucks went by between 10 and noon!
At 1 pm I headed down got a bite and went right back out to the Roundabout. But the wind had really come up bad and the deer were not moving in afternoon like they had in the morning.
I did manage to rattle in a small 6 point. He came in from behind me on one of the higher contours trails, but he winded me and was gone.
Here is some interesting news. Last night while stepping out of the yurt for a bit , there was an animal in the creek bottom making a noise I could not identify. I was thinking maybe a bobcat?
So tonight I find out that yesterday my neighbor who lives just over the ridge and immediately below the homestead stand had a mountain lion cross the road right in front of his car about a 1/4 of a mile south of his drive way.
The day before that I am told that a local sheriff's deputy who hunts a farm a mile East of me was tracking a deer he'd shot earlier in the am. When he found the deer it had a lion on top of it!
I'll be watching my back trail from now on. Gulp.
well stay warm Jim, you are seeing deer. Just hope the cat is passing through.
I don't know about you, but catching sight of a mountain lion would make my season! Hope he doesn't kill your deer, but I'd sure like to hear you tell the story of seeing him sneak by your stand!
Keep a sharp eye for that lion. We would hate to have our favorite story teller eaten!
That cat could put some unneeded pressure on the deer.......hope it's just passing thru.......
no hunting for me yesterday , had to make a one day trip up the twin cities. Cold this am and had catch up work to do. ( good excuse ey?)
But the sun is shining and the 12 above temp is feeling not to bad .
I'll be out some where today , not sure yet.
My eyes will be peeled for lion tracks in the snow.......I don't want to get eaten either!
Good luck Jim be safe
Go get em Jim!
This is a great post Jim, keep it coming and good luck.
Joe
outing #73 Lower Apple alley ( by default)
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7502/15821459771_b80da38a01_z.jpg)
I had decided since it felt like a late December day I would alter my tactics as if it truly were that late in the season. left the horns in the yurt and headed to a food plot. I waited till 2 pm to head out and had intended to hunt in stand #6. With the SE wind I hoped to get into the stand before the deer moved to the clover plot in AA. But also late enough to still be warm and comfortable at sundown. Hard to do both!
I got to point on the bluff where I could see up to the clover field above $6. Shoot , two does were already in it.!! So I doubled back ( red line) and looped around the bottom of the ravine the lower ladder sits in. Stopping 20 yards below the stand (7)I put on my last layers of snow camo.
The deer in the food plot must have sensed or heard me as they never came down the hill later.
But about 4 pm I heard a noise behind me. I looked right and down and there was a big doe standing on the trail that goes by me on the right. (blue line) Perfect wind and she has no idea I am there. She looks over her back trail and I know a deer is following her. It's a big buck fawn with hard little antler burrs sticking out his scalp! Following him is little sister.
They all walk by with out a clue death sits so near. But with three does in the freezer , I never even thought about picking up my bow.
40 minutes later right at last light another doe also with twin fawns comes down from above. This one gets wind of me and lets everyone in the valley know about it!
Hunting in the snow is so much fun, I think white is my favorite color of camo. We have not had November hunting like this since 1991!
Going to head up to the Ivy stand in the am. I am making sure a little saw is in my pack.
Good Luck in the morning Jim. Its funny seeing your snow pictures then looking at the aerial photos of green.
unable to hunt at all today , life and then the wind got in the way. Better luck tomorrow as they say.
WHAT.........after only #73 outings you didn't go out. I think your getting soft in your old age :biglaugh: :biglaugh:
life happens man. at least you can get out as often as you do. my schedule isn't that forgiving but I do get a lot of days off during the year. those of us with good schedules are lucky beyond our knowledge...
good luck today. hope its warmer than it is here.
outing #74 Squirrels tail.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7533/15157005043_5fc0c32048_z.jpg)
Ron , you hit the nail on the head. Yesterday I just plain chicken out!
Like yesterday , today the wind was out WNW. Gusty! Unlike yesterday it did not back off until after legal shooting light had passed. It was brutal ! Even though we had temps approaching 20 degree's when I left the yurt. It took all of my will power to stay put on stand. I was just about to call it quits when I saw movement coming down the ridge to my left.
A very small buck came down and was headed to the beet field to join 6 or 7 others all ready there. Where those deer came from I am not sure. But at the end of the day I could see them in the field.
The last couple of days I have been trying to figure out what all the shooting at last light is , since the 1st gun season ended last Sunday.
DEPRADATION HUNTERS! The bottom of the bottom feeders are at it at a couple of farms near me. One farmer has killed 35 deer this past week! I am sick! I posted letters to the editor of 5 newspapers today about the practice!
35 deer? that's insane. ive never heard of such a deal.
Good evening Jim. 35 deer is no longer hunting. That is just killing and a a waste of natural resources. They have stolen from every one in MN.
So does this guy have crop damage permits or is he just shooting the deer without permits? I would assume the approach to deal with it would be totally different depending on which is the case. It would tick me off either way unless there was a major over population issue.
D.P.
The farmers who's crop land surrounds our hunting land killed over 90 deer last year on crop deprivation permits. They use a bull barrel, 300 win mag on a tripod and claim anything thing that steps out in their fields up to 1000 yards is toast.
The above sounds pretty ruthless, one look at the damage the deer do to certain parts of their fields and I can't find fault in what they do even though I hunt the adjoining land.
On one field finger that butts up against our land the deer ate 19 acres of soy beans to the ground, completely gone.
I hate to hear their gun go off but I understand, their livelihood depends on it.
One of the adjacent landowners who hunts, talked to them and asked them to spare the big bucks. We have been seeing some nice bucks this year so they may have taken his request to heart.
What needs to be done in MN is to model after what WY does. A fund is established by using a small portion of each license sold. Then farmers/ranchers apply to fund for compensation when they can substantiate real crop loss. The $ is then paid to the claim filer. but they are never allowed to simply kill the wildlife. If it is determined that a hunt must be held, it is held by the GF dept. and all meat is donated to charity.
However there in no way is there that many deer here. This is a case of very rich farmers only wanting to be richer.
enough said now back to hunting.
outing #75 Joels stand
Ron will be pleased to know I grew some $$@@s and went on out!
it was in the single digits this am! But with no wind it made quite the difference.
I chose Joel's stand in the event I froze out early. I didn't want to hike for an hour only to return to the yurt just as quick.
So I took the short hike down the road to this spot. When it's this cold every step in the snow makes a loud squeak!. The stand makes a loud squeak. My joints make loud squeaks!
My clothing worked well, but there just weren't any deer moving. After 3 hours I was toast.
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8667/15657812290_7b8c72aa00_z.jpg)
here are my clothing items today.
top
2 pairs of Kuiu merino zip tops.
one wool shirt.
wool sweater lined with wind stop
one white camo covering
bottom
3 pairs of merino wool long johns
I pair of thinsulate white bibs
feet
one pair of wool socks
Hoffman 14 inch high outdoors man boots
with thinsulate liner and a felt insole
Head
one balaclava with neck gaiter
one hand knit and felted helmet liner ( made by my Mrs.)
one white fleece hoodie
hands
light gloves
muff with handwarmers
I will not complain about our 20 degree temps Jim :)
That type of hunt takes guts and toughness and a pair of cojenes' even if they are froze off :)
outing #76 Lefty
By 11 am the temps soared to 28 but along with warm weather came high winds out of the south. This has been the windiest fall that I can remember. It seems like howling winds is a daily thing.
I set up Goliath just as I did before when I spotted that giant 8 up here. But by 4 pm I was just freezing. So I lowered my bow and prepared to quit early. Then I spotted a single deer coming my way from the south. So I pulled the bow back up and knocked an arrow. The deer got delayed when it found something tasty in the prairie grass. I got the shivers, so I lowered the bow and quickly got down. I stood next to the big oak and watched the deer making it's way towards the food plot. I kept an eye on it's back trail in the event it wasn't alone. It turned out to be another very big buck fawn. He really didn't know what to make of Goliath. So he tip toed past him and began to feed just to the left of me. He looked my way a couple of times but never made me out. we weren't 20 yards apart. After a few minutes my shivers returned. I made sure no other deer were on their way to the plot before I moved. The fawn did the high jumping run as it bounded off. Man they run really cool.
Jim, I'll have you know that Ole Ron Headed south so dont listen to what he has to say about Cold weather. :readit: :laughing:
I give you Kudos for going out in those temps. I am a fair weather fan. Anything below 10 with my current gear and I am sleeping in...
Who you calling ole Charie......lol, 61 degrees here in Georgia this afternoon. God bless you Jim for your endeavors...... :notworthy:
outing #76 the long long day..........
The wind roared out of the south all night. A few times while lying in my cot in the yurt, it sounded like a train was bearing down on me. But the yurt's curves just let the wind roll off with hardly a side flap. I wouldn't have wanted to have been in a wall tent!
The temp at 6 am was some where in the mid 30's and I hiked up the ridge in my long johns. Haven't done that in a while!
I tried to duplicate last Saturday and started the day out in my stand.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7475/15854916185_796063d998_z.jpg)
With the warmth and all the snow on the ground we were in a heavy fog until 10 am.
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8651/15232622024_8e2398cfb1_z.jpg)
I barely saw the only 2 deer here before they were on top of me. Two yearlings that were obviously siblings came past on high alert. The 2nd gun season started today and there had been several shots nearby. The fog was clearly having an effect on the deer's ability to see as mush as it was on me!
At 10 am I moved and still hunted down my back trail to the Ivy stand. After about 2 hours there I finally spotted 2 more deer. They were about 100 yards downhill from me. They browsed for a bit and then lay down. AS far as I could tell they were both does. I sat here until 1 pm and it was clear they weren't getting up and there were no bucks in sight. So I headed in for lunch.
Back in the yurt hang on stand by 2:30.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7524/15855323805_8848191042_z.jpg)
Just when the witching hour was upon me, 2 guys in orange on a 4 wheeler came down the county road. (red path) Exiting the road at my driveway they cut over to the corn field and headed up into the pasture just below me. Motoring along the fence line with uncased shot guns. Man the crap a guy has to put up with during gun season.
Needless to say, nothing came out of the bedding area they drove thru, at least nothing in my direction.
The temp is going to see saw the next 48 hours. Tomorrow is calling for a high of 49! but with rain all day. Then on Monday, back below freezing and 3 to 5 inches of new show. We lost almost all of the snow cover today. I'd love to have it back.
If it is raining tomorrow, I am going to go the movies with the Mrs.!
That stinks Jim...I do feel your pain. 10 members of the punkin army drove a 2 acre patch of woods at my north line. 8 shots one dead fawn. We only have 7 total days and I am already sick if it!
Keep after it. Come Monday I get to hunt again :campfire:
A movie with the Mrs. Way to mix it, Jim!
Keeps a fella fresh.
The inconsiderate trespass is global. We(sort of)lucked out this year. Usually a barrage of shots to our south, but not this year. My son found a dead deer with the antlers and hind end cut off before the season started on our neighbours to the south. We reported it to our "woods cops" and they already knew about it and had been around a few times in a week.
The dairy farmer spread poop and is plowing down a lot of ground, south as well. That activity may have kept the bozos out. I say bozos, not lovingly...
Snow is much appreciated here as well, although the "crunchy" kind makes it tough to get situated, but like crunchy leaves sure ups the anticipation on stand. Keep at it, we're rooting for you.
:campfire: :coffee:
outing #77 lower AA
Well what an interesting 48 hours it has been weather wise that is!
Friday the high was in the mid 30's and most of the snow melted. Yesterday we had a high of 55! it rained most of the day and the food plot behind the house looked green as an Irish spring!
Sometime after 3 am the wind switched to the north and it started to snow . My brain is suffering from sensory overload!
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7503/15249874234_cb6b8d6811_z.jpg)
we got some where in the area of 4 inches by the time it stopped around 4 pm. I hoped the deer would be on their feet earlier to feed. So I geared up and slowly crept in to the thicket around 1 30 pm.
below the stand about 50 yards
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8656/15249870994_acd6d3b131_z.jpg)
checking my back trail for lions. Ha!
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7522/15872117305_925ccd0c44_z.jpg)
the trail that big doe was on last time I was here
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8629/15846455656_9dae0934e3_z.jpg)
25 yards out
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7521/15871470612_ca998b2c98_z.jpg)
10 yards out
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7561/15846287696_229ee375e4_z.jpg)
I actually did spot a doe and her fawns as I was stalking in . They were across the valley and they spotted me too.
After getting in the stand over the course of the 1st two hours, I counted 12 deer filter across the bluff side opposite me.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7544/15870115241_8e56b5c35d_z.jpg)
The snow is so great this year. I am having a blast hunting in it.
The last hour of the day just dragged. My feet felt like rocks. I kept telling myself to hang in there just 5 more minutes. Finally I spotted brown moving towards me thru the cobwebbed white branches.
It turned out to be a small doe, a yearling. She came in under the apple tree in front of me. I kept watching her back trail and couldn't believe that she was all alone. But she was.
As I left, I snuck to a good vantage point over the beets and counted 21 dark shapes in it. I couldn't make out antlers on any of them. With this many does coming to the beets already , I am hoping the 2nd rut phase in about 8 days will start to kick in. The bucks will be back , I am sure of it.
Hang in there Jim, Just in from shoveling. As you say this morning no snow and rain, now close to 6 inches of wet heavy. Still coming down,
Thank you for hanging in there.
Beautiful morning after the storm, sure wish I was out. Hope you made it.
Hi littlebigman,
I've been quietly following your thread and I thought it was about time that I said hello and thanked you for sharing your amazing adventure - I wish you every success.
Rusty
#78 Pants down
Hey everyone, before I forget, Happy T day to you all. I hope you are spending it with family and if you aren't ,then I hope you are in the woods.
What ever your beliefs , lets be thankful for the opportunities we have to hunt and for the beauty we have all around us.
Yesterday unfortunately was a no hunt day for me. But I made it out to the PD stand this am .
The sunrise alone was worth getting up for.
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8653/15883644202_9e8b5bd77c_z.jpg)
I was reading the other day about how deer see the wavelengths for blue and violet four or five times greater then we do. these wave lengths are move prevalent at dawn and at dusk. Since deer see best at these times, that is why they are more active. The photo of today's sunrise certainly plays into that theory.
Just after snapping this photo , the first deer of the day came by. A small yearling doe. My stand creaked as I tried to turn to watch her and she was instantly on alert. She knew where to look for the source of that noise too. Up!
Deer 2 and deer 3 were more does and moved along the trail on the bench down below me . After today. I am more convinced then ever that the stand needs to be on that bench. But which darn tree?
An early morning meeting called me in and the sit ended with no bucks being sighted. Where the heck are they?
#79 Logging road ladder.
Since the does are just pounding the beets behind the house I am still focusing on this part of the farm. Hoping I will catch a keeper out cruising for love.
It has been snowing all day up north and it finally started here around 3 pm. I had been in the stand about an hour already and another small doe slipped by me just up hill from my spot. She made absolutely zero noise. I almost missed her since I was focused on the trails below me.
But she was the only deer I saw while on stand. AS I left I stood on the edge of cover and spotted deer in every field I and my closest neighbors own.
So I thinking I need to be up on the top of the ridge in the am. It's going to be darn cold too. Single digits are forecast. Woopee!
Stay warm ,Jim! Ain't it amazing how cold crisp air seems to magnify every sound, the white backdrop seems to make every movement more visible, but does can sneak up on you like they are ghosts.
Jim,
I love the snow pictures! Late season hunting is some of my favorite. Many of my best hunting memories are late season hunts in the snow - quiet evenings where the fields fill with deer.
Thanks.
Thanks again Jim. Good Luck! Its amazing, this year is a polar opposite of Last!
The women are there , they won't be far behind!!
Brautiful picture Thanks for sharing. Happy Turkey day to you also.
Happy Thanksgiving Jim. Thanks again for your entertaining post-I check in on you every day. On a side note, I leased an additional 300 acres to hunt near my 300 acre place. It doesn't start until next season but I looked it over and it looks like a wonderful place for deer and turkeys.
Happy Thanksgiving to you also, hopefully you will be dragging some fresh venison by the antlers, after the morning hunt.
I hope you dressed warmly this morning Jim! -5 degrees with a wind chill of -24 degrees when I got up! Too cold for me! Wonderful snow pictures! Good luck and Happy Thanksgiving!
Bernie
outing #80 The Ivy Stand
BRRRRRR Bernie! I don't think it was that cold here but almost!
To the list of clothing I posted the other day , I added an additional wool bib and swapped out my boots for my big Sorel Pacs.
It was full light by the timed I was settled in my perch. But it wasn't until 9 am that I heard an animal trotting towards me. A big male coyote was running down the deer trail going right in front or me. I reached for the bow but too late as he was already thru the shooting lane.
But he looked over his shoulder and sure enough I spotted a smaller one in the cedars. This one was having a very bad hair day and reminded me of Phyllis Diller! My draw was late started and I short drew and my arrow fell just shy of the dog.
Darn another coyote missed!
Finally at 11 am I saw a dark shape working its way up ridge. All I got was a glimpse. I rearranged my muff, and got ready for a possible shot. Darn! It was a big black Tom turkey! Fitting I guess since the day was national eat a turkey day. With no tag in my pocket and turkey season long past, he got off with just a warning.
Where the deer were this am , I have no idea. I was frozen out by 11 and went in to see the Mrs. Didn't hunt tonight due to too much stuffing.
Hey Jim, how do you position the hand muff? do you spin it around to your back side?
Keep after them Bucks Jim, Good Luck and try to stay warm.
outings 81 and 82 Apple Alley and Lefty
I started the day in up apple alley. There have been so many deer in the beet field out back that I felt the middle stand on the inside edge of the woods might be a good place to catch a cruising buck. I had left the yurt early enough to get to the tree just as it began to grow less dark.
After getting fully dressed I started up the tree stick. About 6 feet up, my left foot slipped completely off the peg. I caught myself with out any issue. But this is one of the few trees that doesn't have a life line all the way up. I went up to 10 feet and stopped. The pegs were very icy and I still had 6 or 7 feet to go. Thinking better of it I backed on down. Grabbed the pack I had leaned up against the tree and hustled up hill to the ladder stand on the upper end of the food plot. I spent the morning pleasantly watching a family of 4 eagles circling back and forth between my bluffs. I saw no deer but the eagles alone were enough.
After a quick trip to town with the Mrs. to buy this year's tree. I headed up the logging road to lefty.
I set the decoy up facing away from me and removed the antlers. The wind was out of the SE And was blowing from the deek to me.
I'll admit . I have not decoyed much using a doe decoy. But with the 2nd rut to kick in soon I thought I would give this tactic a try.
At 3 pm I looked up and a big doe was marching in to the food plot. Ohhh she was so tempting. But I kept thinking, what if the next deer in is him? I decided that if she would give me a point blank broadside shot that I would shoot her.
She was almost directly in front of me and I was picking my spot when the decoy's head moved with the wind. This threw the doe off and she spun and dodged to her right. She then circled the decoy but went around the top side. As she was coming down again to pass in front of me, I got ready again. But she spun again and dodged to her left. Perhaps some of my scent was on the decoy and she got a whiff. I am not sure but at this point, she trotted off to the north .
An hour later I spotted 2 deer in the far clover field to the south. I could tell one was a buck for certain. Both deer were heading my way but they were taking their sweet time about it. 15 minutes later a beautiful 2 year old 10 point came in to check out the new girl on the block.
I was so very temped to kill this deer. But he got a pass. I mean he REALLY got a pass! He stood directly in front mf me broadside looking away from me!! UGH!!!
As the day ended 3 more does and one fawn came in to the plot. But it was very late, to late to shoot so I just enjoyed the show as they tried figure out what the deal was the deer that would not say hello.
It was a great day. But it may end even better, The neighbor next door just called. He shot a big one , I have to go help track.
Your are much stronger man than me.....I could not of passed.
"I was so very temped to kill this deer. But he got a pass. I mean he REALLY got a pass! He stood directly in front mf me broadside looking away from me!! UGH!!!"
Way to hang in there Jim..... Great dedication....
outing 83 and 84. the Joel stand followed by Lefty
I started my day at Joel's stand. It was very mild this am . Right around 30. The snow was soft and I was able to quietly move down the gravel road without the aid of a flash light.
After last night's retrieval of the neighbor's buck I was pumped just to be back out there. Hoping for a chance of my own at a big one too.
Before I knew it, a doe was running up the hill towards me. I was standing on the rug I carry to dampen foot noise on cold metal , but some how she heard me adjust my feet to get ready to shoot. She stopped short about 25 yards below and stared up in my general direction. She then turned to her left and trotted off to the south and to safety.
Then I saw six does zigzagging down the opposite hillside. They all dropped down into the food plot by the hay bale. Crossed the little stream and stopped at the edge of the road below me.
I was ready. Bow in hand and feet already in position. I had made up my mind to take another doe. We knew someone who would appreciate the meat.
But the lead doe starred up in my direction. Spun and trotted right back up the hill they had all just come down. WTH? I don't know what she saw, but that old doe saved everybody's bacon!
Early in the afternoon I hiked back up to lefty, hoping for a repeat of yesterday only with different characters.
I moved the decoy slightly closer but kept her facing away. There ended up being gun hunters on the farm south of me, and after several shots were fired, I knew there would be no deer coming from that direction. Any deer on the ridge were most likely long gone before I even got up there.
Finally just after sunset, A single mature doe was making her way to the food plot. She walked to the upper right corner and stood starring at the deek. Unlike a buck she walked directly towards the head of the deek. She lay her ears back and bristled her hair. I was hoping she would rear up and kick the deek .
But when she got head to head , she reached out and touched the deek's neck with her muzzle. She whirled as she got a scent of me off the decoy. But she didn't run off. She stood about 20 yards away and just stood there stomping. Finally she had had enough and bounded off in the direction she has originally come from.
Tonight while walking back down through the woods, I counted 17 gun shots 15 minutes or more after legal shooting ended , the last 5 were 45 minutes after legal shooting ended. you couldn't see 30 yards by then What a bunch of SOBs !
Shooting them with a gun isn't advantage enough I guess.... "SOBs" you're to kind
outing #85 Roundabout.
I sat yesterday day out as it was the final day of the 2nd shot gun season. just couldn't listen to it any more.
Today this am it was 4 above. BRRRR. I stayed in
But this after noon I ventured out in the cold . It was 12 above at 2 pm.. We had some thawing and refreezing over the course of the weekend. You all know what that does. It makes it impossible to sneak into any where. No way, no how.
I set up the decoy that is still stashed here as a doe since I was having such good results with that set up on the upper bluff.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7480/15304517634_7871059486_z.jpg)
About 10 days ago I burned the big brush pile that was here. I just thought the more visible the decoy, the better.
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8574/15307110723_926857577c_z.jpg)
Remember last week when I sat in the lower AA ladder and saw all the deer over here? Well, darn it, tonight it was the reverse.
I saw a total of 7 deer by that stand and there were 2 two year olds sparring right in front of it for 20 minutes!
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7575/15926114792_9f76e42b09_z.jpg)
I was very happy to see a couple of up and comers still walking around. That upper one looks pretty good now! But I could tell they have some growing to do.
It was so darn quiet tonight. The cold just made sound travel so much farther. I heard a few deer move down into the beets but nothing came down my side. I will have to try to slip in to that lower AA stand soon. Hopefully tomorrow if the wind is right.
Despite the fact we have a state wide muzzle loader season now for two weeks, there was not a single gun shot tonight. Ah the sound of silence!
Hopefully things return to more normal.
Good Luck Jim, Your dedication amazes me.
Firstclass I will always say Jim....I am always tuned in!
Outing #86 The Dallas stand.
Thanks guys!
The excel spread sheet I keep in the yurt said that this stand had not been hunted by anyone since 10/19. ! What? I can't believe that.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7489/15908570406_fb3a41f1b0_z.jpg)
The last 2 times I sat over the decoy at the Lefty (star) stand, I spotted deer in this field early in the afternoon. In fact, the last buck I decoyed in came from this exact spot. So with the wind out of the SW I did my best to slip up into this ladder.
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8568/15908526846_3f8f9e6157_z.jpg)
But I don't think it worked. The snow was still noisy. Any animals bedded below would be able to see me as I enter the tiny bit of woods I need to penetrate to get to the ladder. No deer fed into this food plot tonight despite the great amount of sign. Rats!
I did spot two does to the North that were sky lighted at sundown as they walked the hill crest down by the Bwana stand. They were in the depleted bean field when I left. Just after sundown I did have one small 4 point buck walking a lower contrail trail about 50 yards below me. He should have winded me but he never acted like he did. He was just on the trail slowly walking North to South.
So I would like to try this spot again, but will only do it if I can be sure that I can get in quietly. Temps are supposedly heading up to the thawing mark by this weekend. That might just do it!
ive been dealing with loud snow lately myself. what a hassle! keep at it, I look forward to your update every night when I get home from work. I hit the woods again Friday morning.
Completely amazing
Jim, your dedication to the craft is inspiring! your last few posts reminded me of the evenings I have been in a stand or a ground blind when the sun is setting on one of those truly cold, clear days, the wind dies down a few minutes after the sun sets and you can hear every barking dog ,coughing hunter and laughing child in a 2 mile radius. Keep up the good fight, and we are all wishing for a monster buck to stroll into your shooting lane.
Very enjoyable posts, I check in everyday to see how you are doing. Hopefully a big buck comes in range for you!
Up for the next adventure Jim :campfire:
Was unable to hunt yesterday, work got in the way. But I'll be out later in the day. Lots of deer in the beet field this am!
ok first for some sad news. Godzilla is dead. He died Monday afternoon just south of my south fence line. the cause of death, lead poisoning.
This is the buck in 2012 that I have photo's of in my food plots and which my wife Jayne found the sheds of. Last years sheds were found by the neighbor who succeeded in killing him.
Moderators I hope it ok just to show the antlers next to the last 2 years sets of sheds.
This picture shows how much antler can be added between a deer's 4th and 5th years. The bucks main beams went from 21 to 26.5! 10 full inches of new bone on just his main beams!! That's why I tend to let the young guys pass!
We gave our set of sheds ( bottom) to the neighbor so that he can mount them along side his set of sheds and the buck.
I can only hope he spread his genes greatly.
Moderators if you delete the photo I will understand.
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8562/15948758125_5766853346_z.jpg)
outing #87 lower apple alley
I tried to make a not so good wind work and paid the price for it.
I hoped a buck might be traveling down below me and be cruising from south to north. I mean it could happen right? I did have that doe do it when I sat here 2 times ago.
Tonight I got busted first by that little doe I had here last time and then later a deer up on the ridge caught my scent and started blowing. When she blew for the third time I saw at least two deer further up the valley run back up the ridge.
I knew better and still did it. Stupid move, especially this late in the season. The deer will not tolerate any goof ups after they have been gun hunted.
I will have to hunt smarter than I did tonight if I want a crack at any deer much less a brute. If any are still walking that is.
If they have your wind, well it's all over as we know.
But the blowing thingy is a sign of confusion, according to my son. They know something is there, but haven't figured it out yet.
Several times this season, I've "blown" back at them, just with my own vocal form of blowing. Each time the deer have perked up and come forward to investigate. Nothing came of it, but the tactic produced an unexpected result. Totally wired deer, though.
outing #88 back to the basics logging road ladder.
Trying to get between a preferred food source and bedding cover, I chose this stand today.
Lately I have watched multiple deer leave the beet field in the early am and head up into the bluffs to bed.
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8594/15767461739_66b505ec2a_z.jpg)
So with warm temps of 30 degrees and softer and quieter snow, I made my way to this spot with out the aid of a head lamp. I felt my entry noise was very minimal and hoped I would see the same amount of deer activity on stand as I watched out the window yesterday.
But I got skunked. Not sure if the deer were blown out of the field early by coyotes or by me moving on stand . I have been getting an awful lot of coyotes on camera lately.
Hoping for better luck this afternoon.
Stay with em Jim, :thumbsup: :thumbsup: they are nervous here where I hunt after gun season....
Hey Jim, saw your comments in the Outdoor News. I had no idea farmers were allowed to do that. Sure are a lot of disgruntled people here in our state as to how the DNR has been handling our natural resources (fish and deer in particular).
Hope you had a good evening Jim.
Bummer about the Lead poisoning....
outing #89 Lefty
With really mild temps and very light winds
I decided I would try one last decoy session in the beets in front of the lefty stand. I was in stand and on point by 2 30 pm
Can you guess where the first deer showed up at?
If you guessed the Dallas stand you are correct. About 4 pm I saw 2 large looking does walk into the food plot in the close proximity of the ladder over there! Ugh!
Finally just at dusk 2 smaller does appeared from the south feeding in the clover just above the beet plot. I let them feed on through and then climbed on down.
The beets up here look pretty exhausted. This field really got pounded early. So I will most likely not sit in this stand again this year. I will certainly try to sneak into the Dallas stand if the wind and snow conditions are right.
I am thinking of hunting the Hole stand in the am. There is a small standing corn field along the tar road about 1/4 mile south of this stand . Perhaps I can catch one coming back from that field unaware in the am . It's worth a shot.
Sorry Jim but Godzilla lives through his progeny.......
:campfire: :coffee:
outing #90! The hole followed by the sure thing.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5615/15686496815_b38108d219_z.jpg)
With a long climb up and a slippery climb down, I left the yurt extra early to get on stand before fist light. Every foot step was painful to listen too. After a while I decided trying to be quiet was just impossible . The melted and refrozen snow on top of a foot deep of oak leaves had me beat.
So I was quite surprised after sitting for just a few minutes , I heard deer running towards me. In the semi darkness I made out 2 shapes about 60 yards up hill to the north of me. A buck running a doe, I hoped. They headed up hill and were gone before I could confirm if either had any head gear.
I think I made a mistake leaving this spot alone during the gun season . The sigh down here! UFFTA!
to my left 10 yards
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7476/15962425872_6fd323b889_z.jpg)
to my right 10 yards
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7471/15962419802_93e327f98b_z.jpg)
I left this alone as it is so very close to my Eastern Fence line. Next year with a more comfortable ladder stand, caution be damned. This is going to be an all day spot!
At 8 30 I heard deer running my way. Looking up I saw two deer coming down hill from my left fast. I hoped it was a buck pushing a doe. It was but they were yearling fawns, siblings. I got a kick out of watching them interact until one of them got a whiff of me and then they were on high alert right under me for what seemed like a very long time.
After they left I sat till 11 am with out seeing another deer.
My friend Jamie arrived toting that Java man and I sent him up to the squirrels tail. I made my way to the Sure thing.
It seemed like a late October day. Temps approaching 40! Very light winds. at 4 pm I heard a deer walking behind me. A forky was exiting the woods and heading on down into the apple trees. He was very cautious and several times looked my way. Then after he had left it seemed as if there were deer every where except where I was. 4 deer came down past the Joel stand across the valley and headed to the field in front of the bale blind.
I spotted a buck chasing does in the clover field on my north border. I saw two or three deer headed down to the hay bale blind from the bluff behind me ! I kept thinking one would come down the trail I was parked above but again it did not happen.
Jamie had a button buck walk right by him at ten yards and then later had two does drop down past him but they took a trail that put them just beyond acceptable range and he was forced just to watch.
Late season is only going to get better from here on.
Sounds like a great afternoon Jim!
sounds like things are still rocking right along!
outing #91 Lower AA
Well the weather was not my best friend today!
After not hunting yesterday I was anxious to get on stand this am. Stepped out the door at 6 am to .25 inches of frozen mist/rain. No way was I going to up in a tree when you couldn't navigate the sidewalk!
So I was stuck indoor until this after noon. All day it was gray and foggy and misty. Really just a nasty day.
Two days ago my friend watched deer pour out of AA. So with a 15 mpr WNW wind today it should have been a killer spot to go. But the darn wind on that bluff just would not give me a break.
It would be perfect for 30 minutes, then swirl a bit and be good again. The problem was every time it got goofy was exactly when I had deer heading my way.
The first two I could not identify. It was early in the day and I spotted wagging tails in the brush up above me. The wind was good and I stood and grabbed the bow. All I could see was two sets of legs coming. The wind suddenly hits a lull and my dental floss on my bow string goes slack and then reverses direction for just a second. the deer snort and run back up the ridge.
An hour goes by and I look over my left shoulder and there stands a small 6 point. ! How the heck did he get there! 15 yards and looking for apples. I see two more bucks behind him coming my way. The 2nd one is a spike but the 3rd looks a lot bigger. The 6 point throws his head up and runs up hill 20 yards. The wind returns in my face and back down under the apple tree he comes! He was hungry! Wind slacked off and his head goes up and all three run back up the ridge snorting.
Despite the fact the wind was in my face, the next doe down either saw me or just reversed course for the hell of it.
Then just at dark the deer start to pour of the ridge. Six does in single file drop down and go to my left. ( all the other deer had gone to my right) They are on a mission to hit the beets below. Every one of these does walked directly into my scent stream and not one of them indicated they smelled anything!
Someday's it just doesn't work out .
QuoteOriginally posted by LITTLEBIGMAN:
Someday's it just doesn't work out .
Well Jim, It just makes the days when it does work out all that much better.
I'm still enjoying the heck out of your season. Good luck in the morning if you get out.
Jim, bucks are chasing a bit here again, 2nd rut is getting here, hope there's enough does left open to keep bucks movin.....
outing #92 Squirrel's tail
I am still focusing on stands around and above the beet field. Still hoping for one late hot doe to suck in some older bucks.
Mild temps and over cast skies made today a grey day. There were four young does in the beets at 12 noon!
I was on stand by 2 pm and seeing deer move on the opposite hill sides with in minutes of getting everything set. Spotted two walk right by the stand I was in yesterday.
By 4 pm the beet field had seven or eight deer in it. Finally just before last light I spotted movement coming from just below the saddle in the ridge above me and to my left. Five deer in a line coming down the switch back trail in my direction. They were moving at an agonizingly slow pace. No horns in sight.
Finally they are just above me , forty short yards away. All I could see was their legs and an occasional tail or ear flick. My hands began to cramp with the cold and from holding the bow too tightly.
They just stood there. The lead doe's 6th sense had them stopped. Finally she slowly turned and took her entire fan club back up the hill. No snorts or running or high tails. Just slowly walked away.
I think I need to get a stand up in that saddle. There is a big Cedar up there that might just work. We will have to see.
No hunting for me for the next two days. I have work commitments and meetings to attend. Bummer.
WORK.......what the heck......you have only 92 outings in and you have the nerve to go to work. And here I thought you were serious about this hunting thing............. :notworthy:
:archer:
Yesterday morning while packing the car, I spotted this boy slowly following a doe not more than 100 yards from my back door.!!! :eek:
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7461/15975217326_88bccc2ebe_z.jpg)
He cut her out of a group of does that were still feeding in the beets at 8 am. I watched as she ran up the crp hill and went in under the ladder on the logging road. He plodded along slowly after her. He looked tired!
Sure hope he is around in the am!
That is a beautiful buck! I'm sure that frustrated you to watch him walk right under your ladder stand Jim. On the other hand, it would be hard for a deer to walk anywhere on your property without walking under a stand or two. ;)
Choose well in the morning! :thumbsup:
Handsome Buck Jim,
I bet seeing him has you rethinking shooting another doe at this stage of the game.
Thank you Jim for sticking with it. That is a nice buck, hope you get to see him again under your terms.
Good Luck, Jim!
At least there's no doubt about whether there's a good one around or not...
Well, if you don't get a crack at him he will be a brute next year......and that can be a good thing. :cool:
outing #93 Logging road ladder
Sure glad that buck didn't appear. Because I missed a chip shot at a big coyote! Darn!
Very foggy today with temps right at the freezing mark. Headed up early and hoping not too many deer could hear the crunching of the snow beneath my boots.
About 8 am I was focused on the trail to my right as that is where the deer should be coming from. I heard a deer trot up the trail behind me. I turned my head and there was a doe at 25 yards.
She had stopped and was watching her back trail. I thought for sure I'd see antlers at any moment. Some how the doe was aware I was in the stand. Perhaps she caught my head movement. She turned to her left and trotted down across the logging road and into the CRP field. A few minutes later there he was. A big male coyote. He stopped at 25 yards as well and scanned the woods ahead. He turned to his right and was crossing in front of me to my left. As he passed behind a tree I drew the bow. I picked my spot and let the string slip thru my fingers.
the arrow passed thru the long fur hanging below his chest. He jumped up in the air and forward. When he landed he stood there staring at the arrow. You could see the WTF in his eyes! AS I tried to get a 2nd arrow out of the quiver he was off like a rocket.
How does a guy miss such an easy shot! ARG!!!!
It happens Jim. I shot one doe earlier this year way back in the rear ham. Luckily I still recovered her because of the awesome stopping power of the Tigershark head.
I really, really hate making bad shots on any animal, but in my experience it seems that I only recover small bucks and does when this happens, never trophy bucks. :dunno:
Really have enjoyed this thread & admire your fortitude!
outing #94 upper Apple Alley
Not very much to report tonight.
Winds out of the SW all day. Temps varied between 30 and 34. Snow was soft when I came out. Saw 2 does walking in . Nothing while on stand.
We had January weather last month and we have November weather now .
Here is a picture of Apple Alley on 11/27
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8561/15909326345_80ee05a2a6_z.jpg)
And same spot tonight.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7550/15821898287_2c18574a31_z.jpg)
It was nice not being cold. But I would have preferred to have seen some deer. Hoping for more deer activity in the AM.
outing #95 The email Stand.
What weird weather! Above freezing and warm SW breezes. Damp and incredibly foggy. I don't hunt this stand often. Its in a great little bench on the bluff top above the beet food plot. But for some reason I just never feel at ease here. I think it has to do with the fact that most of the trees are tall , slender Hickories. No branches just long straight trunks. I always feel so exposed here. Its a long walk up and around as well.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7508/15393754414_99f40f3f94_z.jpg)
Visibility was never more than 40 or 50 yards. There was so much moisture in the air the trees were dripping like it was raining. By 10 am I was wet and cold and had seen Zero. Down for coffee.
Outing 96# Aspen over clover . 45 degrees and misty! SW wind.
I had not hunted the northern clover field since October! But the neighbors were gone for the day so I thought it might just be the spot. But as it turned out all the deer were behind the house. I had thought about hunting lower AA but the wind just wasn't right. I saw just one deer on my return walk. Apparently they were all in the beets per the Mrs.! :knothead:
outing #97 Squirrel's tail
What month of the year is it?
Driving back to the farm from the twin cities today it was 48 degrees and pouring rain. Arriving home to see all the snow gone and a green tint to the cut hay field above the house!
I got back with just enough time to shoot a few practice arrows and sneak up the this stand.
I have been spoiled by a month of hunting in the snow. Accustomed to being able to see deer movement both near and far, I struggled in the greyness of the day to find just one deer on its feet. Finally down in the food plot three or four grey bodies appeared. It was hard to say where they entered the field from , but my guess was apple alley. Not a thing dropped off the ridge above me and the deer were absent of the beet field when I headed down. Not sure what spooked them out of the field but I did not see them leave. Weather is supposedly going to change during the night and switch back to winter. Hopefully we won't get any ice.
:campfire:
Good Luck Jim!
Outing #98 Lower AA
Lately I have felt like my hunting has just been all willy nilly. Back and forth across the valley. No real plan just hoping the dice will come up 7s.
So today I had to really have a serious chat with myself just to get me out the door. I kinda feel like I am hunting bucks that no longer live. After all, all the ones I had targeted in my mind this season have been killed. It's been a long time since I got close.
But finally I decided that sitting inside feeling bored was really a waste of time and out I went. Better to be afield and skunked than to be watching them from inside.
Winter is back today with a howling wind out of the NW. I had to be some where out of the wind and this spot was the only place that would give me shelter and be near the deer's current main food source.
About 3: 30 I spotted a tan hide moving through the cob web of branches above me. A quick flash of antler encouraged me to grab the bow. A small bodied spike was walking down hill towards me. I knew I had seen antler!
At about 30 yards he froze and stood scanning his surroundings. He hadn't smelled me but he kept staring in my direction. He seemed to know right where I was and made a turn that took him around me as he headed down to the field.
30 minutes later I spotted a darker colored form moving my way. Another buck! This one was a small eight , but he went by me with out slowing his pace or showing any concern. While I was watching him out of the corner of my eye, I spotted more movement on the back side of the apple tree in front of me. This one a doe and she had seen me move. Off she goes , back the way she came. By now it was past legal shooting time and I could make out several other deer down in the beet field below.
As I walked the short walk home the coyotes went crazy on the ridge above me.It was good just to be out there!
I couldn't be more envious Jim.... Your still at it and I'm pretty much done until next year... just isn't right!!
:coffee:
wow.. 98 sits in so far.. If I were journaling this, I wouldn't have 15 sits in so far.. You are a lucky and blessed man!
We are all done here in the Empire State......how much more season do you have?
outing #99 Yurt hang on.
Minnesota's archery season ends at sun down on 12/31 Ron.
This morning Jayne saw 6 deer up in the corner of the hay field just below where this stand sits. So wanting to give the two stands I have been frequenting a rest and having a perfect wind I chose to sit here.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7516/15689679856_ea76a1fb72_z.jpg)
We had clear blue skies, temps in the high teens and a light Westerly wind. I was anxious to go but waited until 2 pm to be sure I could out last the cold. Lately my feet have been giving out on me early!
Around 3.30 I heard a deer approaching. But it was above me which meant I was going to get winded. A spike buck was working his way across and down the bluff on a trail I hadn't really noticed before. He got right behind and above me and locked up. He was about 20 yards up hill and roughly just a foot or so above eye level. He stood and stomped and stared. Finally he turned and walked back up hill. Flag up but no snorts and with in a few yards he was walking like nothing ever happened. I was on alert now for more deer coming from the south.
I started to see shapes moving in my direction from about 80 yards away. Six does and fawns all in single file were working their way to the hay field. At first it looked like they were on the trail directly below me. But they ended up being at least 60 yards down hill as they went by. So much fun to see. Then just at dark I heard another deer walking some where above me. It took me a bit but I finally spotted a large doe that had already gone past me and was on her way to the beet field.
It felt good to have picked a spot using Intel instead of just guessing! I hope I can do it again tomorrow.
I still have to think this is going to come together for ya. seem to still be plenty of deer around.
outing#100! Lower AA
Well I wish my 100th tree sit of the season had more exciting details but unfortunately it does not!
The grey skies returned but temps were slightly warmer. It was 23 F when I climbed up the ladder with almost zero wind.
All afternoon I kept thinking of what a great year its been. At 4pm I heard an animal trotting up behind me. Another big coyote! Damn they are everywhere this year. I reached for the bow and the song dog stopped up short. 20 yards away but no shot. It stood there for a few more seconds and then headed off up the hill directly towards I hoped deer would come from. I had no deer come down and headed home one day closer to the seasons end.
On the hillside above the house I counted 7 dark shapes in the corner of the hay field where I sat yesterday and 4 next to my house!
:pray: Keep at it Jim. You have had a great season but its not over yet!
outings 101 & 102
I'm dreaming of a White Christmas.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7551/16066992395_c50fa6739f_z.jpg)
17 deer on this hill side last night.
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8644/16066988685_360b53ca1e_z.jpg)
so I sat in the logging road ladder just above it this am and I got skunked.
up to the Dallas stand this after noon.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7534/16065064051_e1c9e43f32_z.jpg)
the clover is actually looking green again. Four yearling does fed into it early from the south. Not one adult deer all afternoon.
Got home and the wife says the big group came back tonight and fed here and there.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7481/16067120125_2c2d506d48_z.jpg)
I guess they are going to keep me guessing.
Over 100 outings.......just amazing :notworthy: I admire your ability to stay after them!
Tradgang Ironman for sure, thanks for tagging us along.
outing 103 jims stand.
Starting out of the yurt early today I had high hopes for some morning deer movement. Twice while stopping to catch my breath, I cast my head lamps beam down the steep buff side. Both times a Deer's eyes blinked back at me from a bed below.
As I headed up into the bluffs the light fog grew thicker and thicker and soon the wind increased as well.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7502/16073488671_e0ceaa4f16_z.jpg)
By the time I got to the tree stand it felt like it was raining lightly. Oh what I would give for a return to the cold temps we had in November.
The tree pole was slick and the life line was reassuring to say the least. As it grew light I knew the weather was just going to get worse.
At around 9 am after struggling to see barely 50 yards in the fog I had decided to give it up.
Just as I hooked my bow on the haul line I heard a deer coming down towards me. CRAP! In the fog I made out the head of a doe at about 40 yards above me. It caught the movement and flagged and ran. I got the bow back in my hands and put an arrow on the string just as doe #2 appeared in the fog as well. But this one just literally disappeared into the gloom and I saw not where it went. I stuck it out another hour but the wind and mist/rain drove me in. The weather just deteriorated the rest of the day and I never made it back out this afternoon.
Its a good thing I filled the freezer earlier as shots are getting pretty hard to come by.
A few more days Jim. Stay strong until the end.
still admiring your persistence. never know, maybe ol santa will bring ya a buck
Been a great hunt Jim, I still look for this thread every day!
Thanks again for taking the time to share,
David
Can't believe I am saying this but I got RAINED out today! Ughh....
Thanks everyone for your continual words of encouragement. I got a few days left, maybe Santa will be good to me............
Jim-keep the faith my friend and you will be rewarded! I feel it some how. Your journal has been great and a lot of fun to follow! Thanks for sharing and you truly are the 'Iron Man' of the Tradgang! Lol. Good luck!
Kenny :clapper: :clapper:
You continue to inspire, Jim.
The weather IS a wonder, up here as well. +15C, rain and wind forecast for Christmas day. Makes you wonder where it's all headed.
Our last remaining season is for Snowshoe Hare. They are white and will be living in a world of not white. Hardly seems fair... But I bet it still won't be easy!
Best of luck in your final push. Have a Good Christmas.
outing # 104 Upper Apple Alley.
It's white ( well sort of) again.
All morning we got a wet slushy snow. Then at noon it quit and the temps went up to 35 F. I was going to sit the lower stand but I have been busted there so many times and all I need is one deer to go buy not 10 I chose the upper spot.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7557/16091162765_50408f2a1b_z.jpg)
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7570/16089246051_bc8fd05243_z.jpg)
I have had such good luck here in the past. But this year, this stand has just not been very productive.
I snuck up the draw between the steep bluffs and jumped one doe out of a bed ( star). Then looped over to the stand hoping nothing on the West bluff was alerted. My trail is the yellow line.
The woods sounded like a spring rain storm. Water was dripping every where. Around 4 pm I spotted deer on the far hillsides. They looked like ants. A little bit of snow goes a long way for spotting them. Just before dark I hear deer running down the opposite bluff. ( red line).
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7483/15471557653_78cc9186a2_z.jpg)
two does, one very light in color and the other very dark were running away from or to something.
when they hit the logging road they went up it till they came to the fence. Then they followed the fence towards me. I had the bow in my hands and I could barely make out the light colored doe as she stood upwind of me 25 yards away. She was on the trail that goes right by me now.
It looked like a perfect set up until the dark colored deer crossed the fence going away from me and the light colored one turned to follow it away. Shoot.
When I was walking back a pack of Coyotes lit it up from the bluff top the deer had run down .
I also crossed fresh Coyote tracks on my walk back. They are thick this year!
Going to have to thin a couple of those yotes out. Good luck and be safe. Thanks so much for doing your blog again this year.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Burton
At least you are still seeing deer Jim, A few more days left, Good luck and Merry Christmas!!
Hunting the late season is difficult, glad to see you are still at it! :thumbsup:
Outing 104!!!
You are the epitome of "it's not about killing, it's about the hunt".
:campfire: :coffee:
We got back last night from visiting the kids and grand kids. The sun is shining , zero snow here despite the snow we drove through home.
Going out in a few hours to see what I can see. It's going to go down to the wire this year.
I hope everyone had a great holiday and isn't suffering from food hangovers!
Good luck!
This has been a great thread to follow! Good luck to you, and thanks for letting us follow along.
outing #105
lower AA.
The temp was 42 F when I left to hunt at 1 30pm! The wind was steady and out of the north at about 10 mph.
The trails coming down past the stand are starting to look like cow trails. Muddy and full of tracks . Today with the wind in my face I felt that this stand just might give me a 2nd deer this year.
In the past sits here this year , deer have tended to drop off of the bluff to my left. But today two bucks came walking down the mowed trail from the upper AA food plot. They stopped to browse just across from me ( stars).
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7501/16113443741_1c2ecc9519_z.jpg)
A spike buck and a young 8 point. This 8 will be a really great buck if he can live a few more years. They were about 40 yards up wind from me and as they left they dropped down into the dry creek bed to my right.
With over an hour till sunset I felt confident more deer were on the way. The day ended thought with out any other deer being seen here.
As I walked down to the farm I bumped into 4 does headed for the beets. I could also two large groups up on the CRP hill above the house. The warm wet temps have got something to green up and the deer seem to be flocking to what ever it is.
So tomorrow morning I will sit in one of the two stands up above there and hope to catch one on its way to bed. The wind is to stay stead out of the NW which should work perfectly. We shall see.
Best of luck in the morning Jim! Anubis wants to work!
outings #106 and 107 Yurt hang on followed by Joel's stand.
Sometime between 2 am and the alarm we got some wet sticky snow. If Santa can't bring me a buck, snow will do as an alternative!
From on stand looking down towards the yurt...
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7488/15501070964_c4ef6dc7bb_z.jpg)
looking East hoping to see a deer.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7500/16123392855_73f7964cdb_z.jpg)
I was awfully glad this stand is only 8 feet of the ground. The snow had stuck and was frozen to the tree stick and the stand platform as well. I went up very cautiously and secured my tether well before first light.
I was on alert for deer coming down hill from the East. I hoped deer had been feeding on the CRP hillside like last night and then would come this way to bed for the day.
The North wind was ideal and it was carrying my scent up hill and away from me. But Murphy's law struck today. I had been sitting since I got on stand and at 7 30 I decided I'd better stand up so at not get caught in an unshootable position.
I scanned left and right but not up and right. After I stood and stuffed my hands on my pockets I looked to my right and up slope. I thought I made out the form of a deer in the icy cobwebs of branches. Then it's foot stomped! 50 yards on a trail that parallels the one I am on stood a single doe. She spun and snorted and ran back up hill and to the East. I knew any and all deer that may have been behind her were certainly gone now. I stayed another 2.5 hours and never saw another thing.
Standing at precisely the wrong moment was Murphy striking the first time today.
Heading down the dirt road to go sit at The Sure thing at 2 pm, I stopped to look at all the tracks crossing the road and heading up the ridge in the area of Joel's stand. This is typically an AM stand because your scent almost always goes up hill, I continued on my way.
About 50 yards later I turned around . The wind was stiff on of the North. If it stayed like this till dusk , it would blow my scent down valley and any deer coming down may just not smell me.
stand is beneath red arrow .
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7465/15660793112_97016a6d90_z.jpg)
I had just peeked at my time piece and at 3 09 I made out several pairs of legs coming down hill from the North West. Five does were switch backing done a steep part of the bluff in single file.
The trail they finally got on would take them down to the road but behind me. Just then I noticed that the wind had completely slacked off. Murphy strikes two. My scent was now drifting up hill. I had pressed my self against the side of the tree trying to become part of it. At 40 yards up hill and directly behind me the lead doe stops in her tracks. Does #2 and #3 do the same. They look downhill in my direction . I know I have been busted but the deer are not 100% sure of where I am.
Finally all three in the front turn around and face the on coming final two. When deer #5 is right behind me she throws up her head and runs straight up the bluff , followed by the other four. Just then I notice the wind has resumed , now much stronger blowing my scent back down the valley. Murphy strikes three. :banghead:
I started to see deer on the move across the valley and I kept watch to my right or to the south since I expected all deer to the North to be long gone. There was lots of time left for another deer to come by. I was leaning against the tree with my shoulder touching I when I hear a deer running in my direction from directly behind me. Just as I turn my head a doe goes flying by. I have no idea whether she was running down hill or if she was running up hill and away from something below.
The coyotes have been giving the deer head aches of late . My wife saw a big male in the back yard today at 1 30 pm. So I was thinking a coyote was on its way. But nothing showed up. Altogether I saw 11 different deer tonight but not an antler in sight.
dang, this hunting has turned hard. applauding ya for sticking with it, but dang...
coming down to the wire Jim. This is the way seasons should be. I hope you stick Mr. Huge on the last light of the last evening.
outings #108 Joel s Stand and #109 Squirrel's tail.
Yesterday with only having snow on the ground for less than 12 hours, the tracks of deer that had gone by that spot was amazing. Not to mention the string of does that came down the hill last night.
So I returned there this am.
I knew it was going to be cold. I kept loading the wood stove in the yurt about every 90 minutes all night. When I stepped outside I was amazed at the stars. It seemed like it had been many weeks since we had a clear sky. You could almost touch them they were so bright.
But it was really cold . A mere 8 degrees above zero. Very still and very quiet. Every foot step down the road was a loud crunch.
Last night, twice I was awoken by the howling of many coyotes. Their tracks were all over the county road. So were the tracks of running deer. As I neared the stand the coyote tracks all merged and headed right under it and up the ridge above it.
I sat for three hours and saw just one deer and it was across valley on the opposing ridge.
So today the deer actually behaved like late season deer. When I walked up to the farm house at 10 am I spotted 5 deer basking in the sun on the hill side above the beets. Having coffee with the Mrs., we watched as a total of 7 deer feed in the beets until roughly 12:30. Then they all headed up the bluff towards the NE.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7565/15510804374_c80a38aa9a_z.jpg)
So at 2 pm dressed in white I snuck up the fence line and then cut over to the Squirrel's tail stand.
At 3 pm the deer started to pour out of apple alley and down the hill sides all around me!. I watched six deer go right by the Lower AA ladder ( see hunt #105).
At 4 pm I counted 24 deer in the beet field!
I could tell from their behavior that a couple were little bucks. But it looked they were mostly yearling does.
But not a single deer came down off the ridge above me. I most likely blew them off the ridge when I went in. If any were bedded there.
The coyotes started barking just at dusk from the west and the deer all headed north into the bluffs. By dark all the deer except two had left for their night time beds.
So I think I will break down and buy a coyote gun. Since I know zero about guns if anyone has a recommendation for the right caliber and optics ect. please give me a PM.
As many as you have Jim find a trapper! They can do more good for you in a week than you can with a gun in a season. As much cover as you've got it'd be worth it to trap them in Jan and Feb and give your fawns and polts a break in the spring.
What wapiti792 said is right on the money!! :thumbsup:
My neighbor usually traps but he does it in the fall? I didn't know anyone trapped them in those 2 months so I will look into that for sure.
I also ordered a gun today as well.
Thank you to everyone for their recommendations.
I did not hunt today. Between the flu bug that finally bit me and 14 degree high temps with wind, I chose a warm window to sit by tonight with my Zeiss glasses in hand.
I am not sure of the number of deer that fed into the beets tonight. They came and went in small groups beginning at 3 pm. At 3:30 there was a group of 10 does in the field. At 4 :40 there was another group of 10 deer but 7 of them were bucks! All young 8 pointers. The largest maybe a 2.5 year old. Great to see some real up and comers made it through the gun toters.
It is also amazing to me how much longer it stayed light today then just nine short days ago on the first day of winter! It was still shooting light at 4:45!
With the forecast low tonight of minus 6 and a busy day ahead of me tomorrow, I most likely wont be out until the very last day of the season on Weds.
Jim, I hope you feel better so you can finish as strong as you have been all season.
Take care of your self and get well......you have nothing to prove at this point. You have had a great season and to share it with us is a blessing.
Good hunting Jim, It has to happen. You deseve it. It is painfulfor me not being able to be out there this year. So it is your time!Take care.
coming down to the end, id consider your season to be a complete success. you've had some pretty dang cool encounters
Thanks guys! 5 degrees F at noon! here are two pictures taken a minute ago out of my kitchen window.
2 young ones
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7491/16148447482_61322f4aa8_z.jpg)
does taking a lunch break.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7492/16147295541_b971d1a6ae_z.jpg)
I will be out for one last hunt tomorrow PM!
Jim as I have always said this is the Best thread I have ever followed in detail since the first day I joined the gang and wanted to comment on what a finejob you have done I will be looking forward to it next yr for sure...BEST of LUCK on your last sit...Happy New Year bud hope you feel better!!
Jim, Every time I told you good luck, you never see anything so I will reserve that comment.
Great photos from the kitchen.
Jim,
I'm not sure what I'll do now that your thread is about up for this year. Reading your posts is a part of my morning ritual while I'm having my coffee before work. Thanks so much for taking the time and putting out such quality reading! Your hunting skill and perseverance (as well as your writing) are second to none....
Best of luck on your final hunt for the year! :archer2:
Well thank you everyone but my season has come to a close.
With temps at zero today and a 20 mph NW wind putting the wind chill at minus 15 F plus the flu bug that is still kicking my butt I'll be forced to close this year out one sit short of 110!
It was a memorable year for sure. The successes I had decoying and rattling this year,really reinforced the use of these tactics during the rut. I will continue to try and learn how , when and where to make it work even better in future seasons.
The three does in the freezer are eating very well. I was especially happy to have taken 2 off the ground . All 3 blood trails were certainly not ideal , but we found them all never the less.
6 deer in total were taken off the farm and only one wounded loss is now reported. ( not me).
If I have any regrets at all, it is just one. I wish I hadn't panicked and rattled that 2nd time on 11/05. I have replayed that evening in my head numerous times. I think had I only rattled the single time when I spotted that giant, I may had come closer to getting at shot at him. Live and learn from your mistakes.
I have also come to the conclusion that the one thing my place lacks is the very heavy cover that big bucks demand. My invasive species work is improving the diversity of the woods but is also removes some of the nasty places big guys like to hang out in.
I believe the pond may in the long run become a spot to kill big guys near during the rut. Next year there will be a ladder in the big burr oak just to west of it. We shall see how that spot turns out.
Also to add to the habitat, I applied for and have been awarded a grant to install 7 acres of new tall grass and wild flower prairie. I am removing the 11 acres we rented from commercial ag. and the remaining 4 acres will become new food plots . the planned tall grass prairie is highlighted below and I will be planting it in the spring.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7576/15971751299_c1558cfd1b_z.jpg)
This will provide the bees with much needed wildflower, bedding cover for deer , especially new fawns. cover and food for the turkeys, pheasants and grouse.
Thank you again to every one for their kind compliments and words of encouragement these last 3 months.
Wow it went fast!
:wavey:
Love following this thread, thanks for taking us along. I have this weekend until our season closes, it has been rough this year but it still went to fast.
Littlebigman, you had a great season. Thanks for the effort you made to share it with us again this year. Time to get out the door now for my final sit of the deer season...
Joe
:wavey: :archer:
Jim, thanks so much for sharing with us your 2014 season. Your respect for the land and it's resources is an example to all.
:archer2:
Great post! Thanks for taking us along for the season! I checked in everyday. Thanks again!
Jim, THANK YOU for sharing your season with us yet again.
I enjoyed every post and look forward to your improvements to the property.
I hope you feel better.
I've followed your hunts for the last two years and enjoy them very much, thanks for sharing.
here is the sun set photo for seasons end from the upstairs window just now. until next year boys.....
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7466/16157581601_eb51843a86_z.jpg)
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7465/15972038988_8a1b736c5e_z.jpg)
Jim,
Thank you for your commitment to sharing every hunt. Congratulations on a Great season!! Can't wait until next season.
Thank you again,
Big Ed
Thank You for taking all the time that you did to take us along on your season. You have a beautiful place and it's always great to keep up with you Whitetail improvements and observations.
Thanks Jim...that was an awesome ride. I really appreciate all you efforts.
hell of a ride buddy! thanks for taking us along. going to miss this thread and hoping for a buck on it everyday.
Wow loved this thread sorry to see it end but great season and thank you for sharing with us
Get warm and take care of yourself Jim! We need a sequel in 2015. :clapper:
I'll join the chorus, Jim.
Thanks for another memorable hunting thread. You're an inspiration for me and many others.
Happy New Year!
Thank you for taking us along. You have a fabulous looking place.
You are one blessed man to have this place and the time to put into your passion. Your wife must be a gem also! Thanks for taking us along!
Jim I enjoyed sharing your season with you, thanks for taking the time at the computer to do it. Your property is amazing and the thoughtful improvements you make are fun to ponder. Take care and happy New year!
Enjoyed it very much!! Thanks for taking us along again!!
Thank you Jim, it has sure been a pleasure sharing a season with you once again. Your farm is such a beautiful place and all that you have done to improve it and keep it that way forever is just so cool.
Have a great winter - hope to see you in the spring at a shoot somewhere!
Enjoyed your season, thanks! I am envious of how much you get to hunt and your great property.
Thanks for sharing your season with us again this year Jim! Have a good winter and I look forward to seeing all the improvements you make to your property during the off season. Happy New Year!
Thanks Jim for my vicarious Minnesota whitetail hunt. I looked up this thread on every visit to PowWow. Id have to put some bale or blow down blinds in those beet field edges.
Wally
Jim-
Great story telling and really appreciate the efforts to share with all of us! Your property is totally awesome and you are a lucky man! Thanks.
Kenny :thumbsup: :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Jim, thanks very much for taking the time to share your year of hunting with us. A wonderful read.
Happy New Year Jim! Thanks for all your work and time in putting your daily hunts together and sharing them with us! Your thread is the first one I check on each day. You're truly a steward of the land!
Bernie
Happy New Year and Thanks!
Thanks so much for taking us along all season Jim. I looked forward to your daily updates. Get some rest and may be sleep in on a couple of these cold winter mornings. I hope you take us along next year. Have a Happy and Safe New Year.
Take Care.
Burton
Thanks so much,for one of the best reading experiences in my 61 years.Felt like I was right there with you! Fantastic! Hard to imagine conveying a message,any better than that! :clapper:
This was once again a great thread thanks for taking us along. :clapper: :clapper:
A very enjoyable thread again this year Jim. Your property is sure a good one. I enjoy catching up on your outings and things you have done and plan to do on your land.
-Jay
Thanks you for taking us along on your hunts Jim. It really is a pleasure not only reading about your frequent hunts but all the attention you give to your property and the animals that also call it home.
Super cool thread. Loved all the interactive with maps etc. Feel better soon.
:clapper: Always enjoy the thread, thanks for sharing your beautiful land with us.
As always Jim :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Thank you
Jim, pleasure reading this great thread! Good luck with the pollinators and cover :campfire: