October is halfway over. I haven't fished nor hunted all year. It has been so dry and hot this summer that fishing hasn't even sounded fun. Being busy with working a full-time job as well as operating my business on the side, does not leave much time for other things. The cooler air, seeing more daytime deer activity now that the crops have been harvested, is giving me the urge to go spend some time in the woods. I have a week off in November but not the week I prefer. If the rut activity picks up at the end of October as I predict it will, I may take it at the first of November.
I have had three trail cameras out 24/7 since I stopped hunting last year. I just recently put another one out last week, will see what it captured in the last week today or tomorrow. Last year's rut activity continued until April, with my cameras showing dink bucks harassing does until then. My first fawn pictures showed up at the end of June, first of July. I had multiple sets of twins and one single to watch this summer. One of my cameras is set to record video, I have a lot of cool short videos of all kinds of wildlife, predators, and recently a fairly nice flock of turkey has been showing up.
I will be hunting the same properties once again, family land. I am moving one stand to a new location this weekend, moving my ladder stand where a trail has been getting heavier traffic recently. I will be clearing some shooting lanes now that the weeds, ticks and mosquitoes aren't so bad. This summer was ugly! Am sick of this extended drought we have been in for the last several years.
Here are some pictures from one of my cameras since the end of last year's thread/hunting season.
What do you see in this bobcat's mouth? I think it's either one of it's kittens or a coyote pup. It's got a big head, is not a rabbit.
What do you see in this bobcat's mouth? I think it's either one of it's kittens or a coyote pup. It's got a big head, is not a rabbit.
I have been watching this buck as he progressed over the summer. He was the biggest so far all summer. His right side is broke off with a couple of shards sticking out of his skull.
I have been watching this buck as he progressed over the summer. He was the biggest so far all summer. His right side is broke off with a couple of shards sticking out of his skull.
Different camera location. Shows the broken antler buck, his left tines are broke and ground down like he did an asphalt slide.
Different camera location. Shows the broken antler buck, his left tines are broke and ground down like he did an asphalt slide.
Another one I will be watching for once the rut kicks up
Another one I will be watching for once the rut kicks up
This camera location is straight North of the previous camera, they face each other. In this neck of the timber there is always a lot of activity during the rut. Numerous trails merge here, it is a good natural funnel where rubs and several licking branches happen every year.
The field was planted in beans again this year, they were harvested Monday early with some green leaves still showing as rain was predicted, the rain didn't happen. Wednesday afternoon they no-till planted wheat, that will help attract/keep does there when it sprouts and greens up. The does will stay out longer in the mornings grazing the wheat before bedding. The field across the creek on the West side was planted in corn this year, it was shelled last month and the field has been disced under already. The deer come out of the two bedding areas early evening, go NE to the neighbor's pond for a drink, before heading SE or West to feed elsewhere. Every morning they return to the pond, then split off to the bedding areas like they have done for the many decades I have hunted deer there. As I said above, I am moving the South stand (where most of the above pictures were taken) this weekend to get back in the timber where they use a trail heading to the West towards the corn field across the creek. It won't be used as much as the other three stands will be, it will be used during the chase phase. I plan on putting up my ground blind over by where they cross over through the hedgerow heading to the neighbor's pond. That will happen when the rut picks up and when bucks are out seeking does. I do not have a good prospect buck this year, but there are a fair number of does there that will attract some visitors once the rut gets going. I will likely hunt much less this year, on the weekends and during my week off only. I have not seen anything to get excited about, am working a lot of hours, and I simply do not have the freezer space for the venison if I get one.
Glad to see you back posting Randy. You need your time in the field regardless whether you room in the freezer or not. It’s good for the mind and the soul. I kind of like that buck on the 7/9 vacating the bean field behind the fawn. Looks like he’s got some extra character to him. Those are the ones I have a hard time passing. Good luck the season.
Welcome to the KBA Kyler! Saw that you are a new member in the most recent magazine I got in the mail this week. Be sure to come to the convention in February!
Went to the field today to trim some limbs out of my shooting lanes, spent several hrs. down there doing so and didn't finish. Scouted out some possible sites to move the ladder stand to, decided against moving it back to the creek crossing at the West end of the property as I would be making a lot of noise getting back there to it. Found a tree in the neck where the 2nd camera pictures were taken and decided to move it there instead.
Changed the memory cards and set up another camera where there are always rubs and a licking branch each fall during the rut. Discovered I had failed to turn the video taking camera back on the last time out to check them, nothing on it tonight. Here are some of the latest pictures off the camera I set up last weekend.
I believe it and high temps may have a lot to do with it John. There were plenty of acorns, berries, wild plums, corn, milo, beans and grasses for them to eat. There weren't many choices of places where they could go to get a clean drink. I'm thankful that I haven't seen any signs of EHD in my scouting trips and in the camera pics!
Jason, quick glimpses and a few photos can be very deceiving. Late season at this property is very uneventful other than the deer crossing the field headed elsewhere early in the morning and right at sunset. You can sit out there all day long, but you are not going to see any deer. They never linger long when the crops aren't producing food for them, is just a travel lane for them.
Picture of the field West of my spot. My stands are in the tallest timber in the middle of the picture. Will likely see the deer cross over to seek corn seeds dropped in the field. The rifle hunter that hunts straight South of this field is already feeding corn as well trying to lure them South. That’s what they are doing, not supplementing deer food.
Yep, the pro-baiters like to hide behind that “supplemental feeding” buzzword don’t they. Similar to a used car lot calling the vehicles “pre-owned.” Sure sounds better don’t it?
Hope you make it out this weekend and looking forward to the next report.
Do they have a cover crop planted on that field? Some here use Rye or radishes or a combo of both. However it probably won't grow on that desert you have this year.
3rd week of November right now on the deercation but thinking I should have chose the last week of Oct, 1st days of Nov instead. Look at the last set of trail cam pictures I posted above. The bucks pursued a doe all night that night. They will be doing it again at the first of the month.
No cover crop, it will be planted to corn or beans next spring.
Jason, the corn feeder guy and his buddies ask yearly to hunt on us, they’ve been told for decades that the land is for family hunting only yet at least once a year they ask. They drive by several times a day “scouting” they say, at peak deer movement times all through the archery season. The main character, stops on the road to glass the field. When he does this, the deer run back to cover out of the field. I’ve confronted him multiple times about scaring the deer. He always denies that he did anything to spoil my hunt. His excuse is always the typical snarky “It’s not illegal to look at wildlife, I’m not hunting them” while smirking. He does this along with feeding hundreds of pounds of corn over by his hunting blind trying to get the deer over to where he can hunt.
What’s really pathetic about this guy, is he has the ability to hunt over a mile and a half of the same creek, on both sides of the water. I have 1320 ft of access on one side of the creek. He openly admitted to me that he only hunts where he does because he can drive up close to his blind and doesn’t have to walk very far. He said he only wants to hunt does on us, he and his buddies have/had several antlerless tags to fill every year and he sees a bunch of does on our land. I asked him if he had any idea why the does are there on us and not so much where he hunts? He didn’t like it when I told him it was because there weren’t a bunch of tag filling rifle hunters sitting over corn piles on our land.
Sadly he is not the only “neighbor” who harasses my hunt, others put out corn feeders that change the deer’s routines, ride atvs around the adjoining properties making noise right at prime times for bow hunting, Another “hunter” chooses to cut firewood or sights in his weapons during the rut EVERY year.
I considered filing hunter harassment charges against the worst guy, he obviously does it on purpose and has a motive for doing it.
My advice is document the incidents, and with video if you can buddy. My stalker, convicted of hunter harassment and violating a Protection from Stalking Act, has been in jail since last Nov.
I assume you have the bedding cover on your ground? Seems like if that field had a good cover crop on it they might chose that over the grain pile? Or at least deter it some?
The extremely warm temperatures and very wrong winds made me decide to hold off on starting my season this weekend. Was nearly 90f here yesterday, 81f today. The winds both days were 15-20mph from the South and East, they would have smelled me sweating just walking in. The forecast I follow, says rain this next week including next weekend with continued winds of 15-25mph nearly every day.
Daniel, gives me something to do, enjoy showing people that contrary to the hunting shows, that there aren’t booners behind every Kansas tree.
Randy- evidently the county and the utility company like to glass the deer too, between the two they have cut/sprayed all the trees off the property edges along the roads on two sides of it. When my name is on the deed there will be trees screening the view. That may happen soon.
The drought is over, as of this morning there had been nearly 7” of rain there. The wheat planted a week ago today was already up by last Sunday, it will do well now as long as it doesn’t get flooded as it has rained all day and is still coming down. I had 3” in my gauge this am, one guy claimed he had gotten 15” of rain overnight NE of Emporia! He must have a very large rain gauge.
Got another inch of rain yesterday, is supposed to rain with a mix of snow until about 2-3pm today. The wind is out of the North at 15mph, is supposed to drop to 10mph towards sunset at 6:29 this evening. If the rain does stop, I may go out afterward today to see what moves. If it rains heavy, will wait until later in the week, not a fan of muddy boot tree climbing.
Looking West from the road. Back along the timber, you can see the little field and crossing, the crossing used to be tree lined. When you see LF, that is what it stands for
Looking West from the road. Back along the timber, you can see the little field and crossing, the crossing used to be tree lined. When you see LF, that is what it stands for
Little tree rub, several weeks earlier than they showed up last year
Little tree rub, several weeks earlier than they showed up last year
Could not get excited about sloshing and slogging thru the mud to get to a stand. It’s 37f, still spitting some moisture now and then, not my idea of enjoyable hunting. It rained hard enough in the last few rains to wash out a drive culvert and erode the edge along the field. There are rubs along the road on the East side, small buck feeling his oats.
Saw five does and one small buck while watching the field from up by the road. Every one of them spotted me and ran back into the timber. They all went North. There were no deer out in the corn field on the West side of the creek.
Looking South from stand#1, sits above a bowl at the front of the timber
Looking South from stand#1, sits above a bowl at the front of the timber
It’s 67f with a 8-15 mph ENE wind. I didn’t get here as early as I had planned to, but I am in the stand finally to start my season. I am sitting in stand #1, my most productive stand on this property. This will be the last season for it in this tree, the top half of the tree is dead. I plan on cutting it down sometime after the season is over. Found a few scrapes and licking branches on my way in, the scrapes are new since the rain last week.
Looking NE from Stand#1 into the little field. Stand is not very high in the tree but have shot many deer from it. Many trails merge around it
Looking NE from Stand#1 into the little field. Stand is not very high in the tree but have shot many deer from it. Many trails merge around it
4:50- Lots of crows flying around cawing, Chief always said you need to pay attention when that happens. I heard a doe blowing at me on my walk in, she was on the other side of the creek down in the SW corner of the property. Have only seen one small squirrel, a few robins, and several woodpeckers so far. The wheat is doing good after the rains
6:50- Back at the truck. There was a doe with twin fawns on the wheat up behind the cedar grove when I walked out. They watched me the entire way across the field then ran North to the hedgerow to watch me from there. Nice cool afternoon hunt, breeze made it chilly with no coat on. Changed the memory cards on the cameras, will see what all has happened by them in the last few weeks at home when I download them
Good evening to be out anyway. Things can only get better.
I went this morning and saw nothing, but they moved cattle in on the pasture, and spent most of the week separating to ween calves off. Will try again tomorrow AM while weather is so nice.
Is going to be in the 70’s this afternoon with a South wind at 15+ mph. I plan on hunting from Stand #3 which will take my scent between the two main bedding areas, with a little help from the higher temperatures they will rise above the trails. Sunset is 5:21 tonight, hopefully the last time we will have the stupid time change in the fall ever again. The time change eliminates my chance to hunt after work during the week. Changing the clock setting does not make the day longer or shorter, the sun doesn’t follow the idiotic clock set points.
It was 73f when I got here just after 2pm. Am in Stand #3 as planned. The wind is not as strong as predicted, yet. Just finished settling into the stand when a coyote came out into the main field just behind the cedar grove. He ran to the West over by the new scrape and licking branch. Tried to get the camera out to get a picture, but it had to have the settings reset before I could use it. Have not used the camera for over a year, recharged the battery this am but never thought about the settings.
Hasn't been a whole lot of movement where I'm at. Most nocturnal. Needs to cool down. Of course, next cold front next weekend, gonna be out west chasing pheasants
6:00- Back at the truck, got skunked tonight deer wise. Saw the coyote, about a dozen crows that landed just a few trees over from me, and a beautiful sunset, that was all Mother Nature offered this evening. That doesn’t happen here often, unless there was human activity happening on neighboring properties before I got here. There’s also the chance the coyotes ran them out of the beds too. There are numerous song dogs and bobcats on my cameras everytime.
That’s it for me until a week from tomorrow. I will be off that whole week to hunt. Going to see our oldest next weekend down in OKC, has been awhile since I have been there.
Had a buck cross the road in front of me a half mile North of my stand. Then there were three vehicles parked another half mile North from there, think the kid that hunts up there may have gotten one tonight. He’s the one that killed the droptine I was hunting last year.
Has been tough seeing lots of deer movement this last week and not being able to hunt them! I saw daytime bucks wandering/seeking Wed and Thurs, I saw bucks chasing does Friday in several places including right on the edge of town. Friday night I drove to OKC, on the way down I saw at least a dozen fresh deer smears in Kansas and many past ones on the turnpike, mostly old ones in Oklahoma. Did not see any alive along the I-35 corridor thankfully. Driving back home later today, hopefully won’t get one with the truck going North either.
Weather looks to be warm next week with South winds for the most part. Overnight lows are to be above 40f, highs in the afternoons up to low 70s. I do not enjoy cold weather hunting, but if I shoot one will have to butcher right away or ice pack the carcass with it being that warm.
Good luck to everyone out today, wish I was out hunting too!
You sure haven’t missed much on the property I hunt. Hunted until 11:30 Sat a.m. and 10:00 this morning. Saw a young doe with 1 fawn, and a big dry doe both mornings. Worst year I’ve had in 20 years on the property for seeing deer. Not sure what is going on, short of a poor acorn crop. Hope you can get out while things are moving in your neck of the woods.
Oklahoma City to Kansas border- 15 obvious deer smears, 4 carcasses, 1 live deer seen.
Kansas border 91 miles North on the KTA- 12 obvious deer smears, 9 carcasses, and 17 live deer seen, 7 of those right at the border with a buck chasing 6 does.
KTA from MM91 to Emporia exit- 6 obvious deer smears, too dark to see anything else. Thankfully no live deer on the roadway.
Typical Monday morning. Got a late start due to an issue with my dogs that I had to deal with before leaving. In a rush to get going, went off and left my phone and digital camera setting on the counter at the house. Saw a nice sized buck crossing an open field on the drive there, he was headed South to the river bottom. A fiber optic crew was getting ready to start work at the creek bridge that is at the SW corner of the property, of course they had to do their work there during the rut. Discovered I had left the phone and camera at home while getting my camo on at the field with the sky already lit up just before sunrise. It was 34f with no wind. Saw four does being tended by a juvenile buck out in the main field, of course they saw me as well. Saw numerous small scrapes and rubs on the walk in. Changed camera cards as I walked by them resetting the time as I did. Migrating robins had the timber noisy, they were just waking up. Sat in the #3 stand along the North side of the main field. Sat for two hours before seeing another deer, a doe trotting thru the timber over past #1 stand, she then went West. A few minutes later, a juvenile buck followed her path. The wind came up out of the SE about 9:30, WU site once again was correct on their wind prediction. I'm telling you, bookmark their 10day forecast, is very accurate and reliable! I got down around 10:30, changed the last memory card and headed out. I will go back out there after taking care of some business here at home. The pictures on the cameras showed the heaviest chasing took place on the 9th thru the 11th, the majority of it at night.
It was 73f when I returned to the field. There was a 5-10 mph SSE wind. I bumped 3 fawns from their beds, they bedded near and under Stand #1. As I climbed the tree, a fourth doe ran off from across the creek. The Monday stuff continues.
4:45- Just had a young 8pt cross the creek NW of me then he went North along the creek channel. Grunted at him, but he ignored it and kept going. No time to get a picture of him
6:00- There was no more activity, not where I was anyhow in the timber. Walking out I could see the silhouettes of several deer, 2 being chased by adult bucks. I could see their polished antlers well. One doe busted out of the cedar grove and started towards me until she got within 30yds of me. She spun and ran back to the North bouncing and kicking without blowing.
I will be on time in the morning, suspect it will be good and active tomorrow. We’ll see.
6:15- Settled into Stand #3. It was 33f with a slight South wind. Is predicted to be up to 15mph South wind by mid morning. Shoes got wet and a tad muddy walking across the wheat field, very wet with dew today.
6:44- Not seen nor heard anything besides traffic on the roads. Second guessing stand choice, it was this one or #2 back in the timber straight West of me.
7:13- Yearling doe just came from the East, grazed the wheat in front of my video camera, then entered the timber 30yds to my left, went thru the trees towards the NW bedding area. Sun is up bright, and I’m surrounded by hundreds of migrating robins singing out
7:56- A vehicle just drove by South of me and fired a couple of rounds off. Could not see the vehicle good enough to describe it, sounded like a small caliber handgun. Vehicle continued Westbound
Wind is really picking up, not seen any deer movement since the yearling doe, going to slip out and get some groceries in me. I plan to sit in stand #2 later this afternoon, maybe see more action from that trail along the creek channel tonight.
Edited in after getting home; Stopped and talked to the construction crew about the gun shots heard, they told me they didn't hear them but blamed it on their equipment and wearing hearing protection. One of them thought I was possibly hearing him bang on the pipe with a hammer, told him no that it was definitely a small firearm, the first shot wasn't close to them when I heard it, and the 3rd shot came further to the South. Exchanged some deer hunter chat with them, nice guys wishing they were out hunting instead.
3:00- Have been in stand #2 for about 30 minutes, first chance to post as chasing is going on SW of me, down in the creek ( heard the splashing) and watching a coyote along the pond North of me. Lots of trees down over in this area, grass was tall and thick, noisy coming in!
It was 73f with SSE wind between 10-15mph. I can hear the wind but do not feel it as much back in the timber.
6:00- Back at the truck, the deer had all left the main field when I started walking out. A neighbor started texting wanting an update as I walked East. Wants to show me some pictures from his camera, told him I’m sure I have photos and video of any deer that has walked his five acres
2:30- It is 75f with a SSW wind from 5-10mph. I am in Stand#1 after not being able to get away to hunt this morning. I so looked forward to 44f with virtually no wind, but again had to deal with my dogs at home. They too are rutting. Trying to keep two big dogs separated has been quite a task. They are both very determined to get together, to not stay penned up. She was the problem this morning, escaping from her confinement before I could get ahold of her collar or the door shut. He jumped the fence to his pen once he saw her out in the yard, needless to say in about 4 months I will have some Great Pyrenees pups available. By the time I got them confined, separately, the sun was up and it was too late to walk into a stand without pushing deer.
The picture is from the stand looking North towards the NW bedding area. I am hoping the deer use one of the two creek crossings near me or come from the South where there are two more crossings.
5:00- Small raccoon made me think a moose was headed my way, literally laughed at myself for thinking such, coon looked up at me like he too was laughing
6:00- Back at the truck. When walking out of the timber, 3 does ran to the North not 20yds from my truck. They ran to the middle of the main field and stood watching me walk out. The large buck went North thru the hedgerow headed away from me Kyle.
6:51- Am sitting in Stand #3 this morning. It was 47f with little to no wind at the truck. The wind is picking up out of the South as the sun rises, is supposed to blow as high as 20mph today by mid day. Hopefully things will pick up today and tomorrow, I may have to do a job Saturday if they accept my bid sent last night. Is predicted to rain Sunday, those that have followed my hunt know that I don’t go hunting and sit in the rain.
8:00- Nothing moving but crows and a half of the nation’s robins that are in the timber! Anxious to check the memory cards to see if there was anything going on overnight after I left, is very unusual to not see something by this time.
8:18- Not seeing deer? Just open your email from your phone and they will show up.
A limping doe and this little fork horn came running along the field edge from the South. The buck went West of me thru the little field, the doe went East of me headed to the NE bedding area. Hope others are coming behind them
9:46- Headed to the house to handle some business, will come back out in a few hours to see if the doe has attracted more interest besides the dink that was pushing her. Changed all the memory cards on my way out and took pictures of the numerous scrapes along the way out.
Well Happy Gilmore, the closest golf course is six miles away, I’ve seen you, I KNOW you don’t hit the tee shot that far lol
Sometimes I think it would be better not having trail cameras to show you what happens when you are not there! Can make a grown man brow beat his head on the desk. Remember yesterday morning when I couldn't make it out, have video of a buck scent trailing towards the stand I sat in this morning, a wide open 25-30yd shot unless he turned towards the stand and made it closer. Most of the shooter buck pics and video happened from 8-11 pm this week which tells me they are traveling in from elsewhere to get there. Most of the pictures and videos show them coming from the SW (between all my stand sites) and going NE but not returning the same way.
Will head back out about 2pm, plan on sitting in Stand #1 hoping the doe from this morning will be being pursued thru the timber this afternoon and evening. The wind is supposed to taper off starting around 3pm, but will still be blowing out of the South 10mph or more. Tomorrow morning the wind will be out of the North, may sit in the South ladder stand I have not hunted out of yet, the bigger boys often walk right below it when going North at night.
Man….don’t let looks fool ya. I can flat out blast it (see pic of Mr. Daly). There ain’t a course in KS….including that average one in Woman-Hattan (CHCC) that can handle my drives.
Now, I might have a few more out there on your place so be careful and don’t roll your cankles. I’ll expect that you’ll bring me my golf ball in Feb. at Convention, LOL!
2:30- Arrived back at the field, it was 62f with a 15-20mph South wind. I am in Stand #1 as I stated earlier that I would do. Am hoping the bucks come from the South and that the doe is a bit more aromatic this afternoon.
5:52- Back at the truck I just had a deer stroll by my truck not 20yds from it while getting out of my hunting clothes. I think there should be a taunting penalty for such! The deer acted like I wasn’t even there, casually walked over to the slough ( big ditch for you city folks) crossing it and heading towards where I last saw the does. Guess he thought he was invisible. You have to admire things like that, they are neat creatures
8:35- It was 37f with a 5-10mph North wind when I got here after 6am. I am in Stand #4, a ladder stand in the SW corner of the property. First time hunting this stand this year, many of the pictures at the start of the thread were captured by the camera right below me. A deer was out in the main field when I walked in. I got to the stand without it reacting to my presence later leaving the field to the North. All of you begging for colder air, it’s here and hasn’t improved my sightings. Been boring sit so far. Had a white extended cab Chevy stop and glass the field from the East, backed up 30 yds for a better view than left to the South.
9:05- Just had a little five point dink walk under and meet up with a male cat, one of neighbor’s cats. I was watching the cat getting ready to scare him when I heard crunching leaves behind me. He crossed the slough, stood out in the middle of the field on that side watching a truck go by. He then crossed the road and continued southward.
Seems over the years the first day the cold air hits sometimes movement is a little slow for some reason. Hang it there in Randy cause I bet it’s about to get better for you!
9:36- Three does and a buck just came running out of the timber from the NE bedding area. The does one by one ran to the cedar grove. The buck trotted over and entered the neck of timber by Stand #1. Have not seen nor heard what scared them out.
10:25- Never did see where the buck went, he may very well be bedded down over in the neck or went back North where I couldn’t see him. Am going to head out and come back this afternoon, will add some pictures at the house.
Staring down the domestic tomcat that was between us. The cat came within 10ft of the buck, neither seemed bothered by the other.
Staring down the domestic tomcat that was between us. The cat came within 10ft of the buck, neither seemed bothered by the other.
The cat. He came from the East, had no idea I was above him. When he got directly below me, I spit at him loudly, he did a clumsy back flip with a half twist about 3 ft in the air. Hilarious
The cat. He came from the East, had no idea I was above him. When he got directly below me, I spit at him loudly, he did a clumsy back flip with a half twist about 3 ft in the air. Hilarious
First doe coming out from the NE bedding area
First doe coming out from the NE bedding area
2nd doe, they all stopped and looked around before crossing the main field
2nd doe, they all stopped and looked around before crossing the main field
3:00- Have been back in Stand #3 for about 30 minutes watching a murder of easily 150+ crows swirling overhead amongst a bunch of other migrating birds, looked like cowbirds. It was 62f at the truck with a slight North wind, maybe 5 mph at most. Big change from this morning, my feet are still cussing.
3:35- Buck from this am just went thru the timber North of me towards the NW bedding area in a hurry. Short time later the neighbor to the NE rode his atv down to the pond near me, related? I believe so
Phone died at sundown, adding what happened here at home.
5:10- Little buck went thru the crossing into the main field, got to the halfway point, the three does blasted off towards the East end of the cedars, Buck spun around and hauled ass the way he had went out there, turned around to check on the fawn, she too was running NW back to cover. Looked to the East, there sat the white Chevrolet truck “scouting” the field again. He/she drove a little further South and then went West at the corner like they did this morning.
5:15- The little doe fawn walked behind me eventually making her way out into the main field. I looked up from watching her, the three does had come out of cover too.
5:30- A van stopped on the road on the East road, once again the girls ran for cover.
5:45- While walking back to the truck, a one ton truck slammed on the brakes skidding to a stop at the access lane I park on. It sat there briefly, didn’t see a deer there, but assume one was crossing the road in front of the truck. As I finished stowing my gear, a chevy truck approached slowly from the West. Once past the access lane, it sped up and then really sped up when I came out behind it in a hurry to confront them about it. Truck wasn’t who I thought it was, was a neighbor kid coming home from his hunt. Told him what had happened, why I came flying up behind him, he said he only saw one deer tonight.
2:45- Getting a late start, job took longer than expected. Intended to make an appearance at Chief’s memorial gathering but I think he’d understand I will think of him today in the woods instead.
It’s 69f with a SW wind of 5-10mph. Am heading to Stand #3 to hunt. They fertilized the wheat an hour ago, not sure I’ll see anything move, but today is it for two weeks for me. I have to miss tomorrow to finish my report on today’s job.
Is frustrating but what can you about it? Nothing! You would have to prove they are scaring the deer on purpose, not just watching nature.
Total of 10 deer this evening, most seen all week. There were three 4 wheelers buzzing around the area, that is why the deer didn’t start moving until almost dark. They may have very well pushed some my way. The neighbor kid was hunting close to me, we exchanged some conversation thru the afternoon via text. He wants to get a buck with his bow, didn’t get pleasure out of the one he shot with a rifle for his first deer. He has big buck dreams, suggested he not get wrapped up in scores, he would burn himself out not getting shots often enough waiting for the biggest to go by him.
Going to cruise around the neighborhood looking for the white truck…….
Kyle, majority are rifle hunters getting the itch to be out, never mind they can't hunt there (legally). No Jason, not Greenwood, have the same problem down there?
I used to have permission on a secluded 400 acres in Eastern Greenwood by Neal that seemed to have the same problems you are experiencing. Problem was, it had a road through some of the biggest timber in that part of the country. One sunny afternoon we were quail hunting some thickets next above the road and a van came creeping down the lane. As soon as they spotted my truck parked in the gate. They stopped and were backing up the way they came. I ran down to the fenceline from the hill above that was out of their line of sight. They driver literally backed right up to me and saw me in his side mirror standing there 3 feet from his bumper with my over under shotgun on my side of the fence. He blurted out something to the guy in the passenger seat and they drove off very quickly. I could see they both had rifles in the front, barrels on the floor and it was bow season. Another time, My girlfriend at the time was leaning on the old barn to shoot a doe in the beanfield with her 30-30, and a rifle shot boomed out down the road from the same area as the time before. I stood in the road as the truck tried to drive by and ordered the guys to stop. I informed them I knew they were road hunting and they were never to drive by again or I'd call the warden. Seemed to work, but I wasn't out there every day to know if it did.
Our place is just off a main road out of Emporia that is heavily traveled and is also the road city people take to "go boonie cruising". DA teens take it to go out in the country to go 4 wheeling on low maintenance roads-mostly on private property, driving thru ditches, fields and over road signs. You often see 1-3 deer all along the 5-6 miles out of town, but it is not uncommon for up to 15-20 or more deer to be out on our fields early in the morning and at sunset. Some of the people that stop and watch (scare off) the deer are just nature lovers, like seeing the deer. The majority of the people that stop and glass the field are rifle hunters looking for a place to hunt right before season, happens every year. They stop to ask permission to hunt there at all of the neighboring houses not knowing who owns the land. Many get belligerent when turned down, "But you always have deer there!" is often said. Yes, we have deer there because we don't use feeders, allow multiple hunters to over pressure the place, we hunt we don't fill tags, and we don't shoot everything that is brown, we practice herd management shooting only the older or injured does when populations get higher. Road hunters are an issue every year, I have caught them in the act every year since the 1980's. The majority of them are senior citizens that know no other way to hunt, they have done it all of their lives. You know the type, 3 old men, hunter orange head to toe, 3 guns locked and loaded in the cab with them, coffee stains on the coats and pant legs from spilling out of their cups while driving down the road. The last group I confronted, two of them were taking aim across the hood of their truck at a 6pt young buck out in our field along the road. We have purple paint, no hunting signs, no trespassing signs, they ignore them, I'm sitting in the access drive 40 yds from them and they still stop to shoot. I blared my horn and started yelling at them. They drove up to me and tried to play the stupid game, "We didn't know it was private property, can we get permission to hunt there?" I scolded them for hunting illegally, told them I knew they were doing such on purpose and out of habit. The mouth-piece for the group said "I know farmers want them all killed, we are out help them take of that". Once my name is on the deed, I will plant some sort of screening to block the field off from the road. That's when they will start trespassing to see what's on the other side.
I recently planted several hundred cedars along the gravel road next to our hay meadow that has a fantastic duck marsh on it. Not only to block the view of the ducks, which people (who shouldn’t be there) jump shoot. Every year I find road poached deer, and bucks with their heads cut off out in our hay meadow. Absolutely infuriating.
Cancelled our planned trip across the State due to weather forecasted to happen this afternoon. 3-4 mph wind and snow, yep I’ll be headed out around 2pm to see what is moving with the weather change.
I will be sitting in the easiest stand to climb and get out of in case the moisture comes as rain first. If you have hunted very long, am sure you have experienced icy trees and iced over steps, not fun! I had to jump out of the tree once, there was so much ice there was no climbing down. Thankfully it was above a river bank that I could slide down instead of coming straight down 15ft and come to a sudden stop. I only slid about 5ft further down the bank but it helped. Sliding down a tree with metal screw in steps in it is a good way to get you disemboweled or at minimum an artery ripped open.
Be careful and good luck out there to those going out.
It’s 30f with a slight ENE wind with moderate snow falling. Is quite a change from the weather last time I hunted. This is going to be fun, love being out when snow is falling and it’s not brutally cold out. Saw a buck out roaming thru an open field and a couple of does in heavy cover on the way here.
Hope this is as fun and relaxing as the last snow day hunt was. It was the best day I had ever been out, so peaceful.
4:00- Stood up to knock the snow off myself and my bow, my stand platform was iced over. Decided to get down before it got colder, foot slipped on 4 steps so knew I had made the right choice. Backed up into a nearby cedar tree and was rewarded with most of the snow falling off the boughs down on my head.
4:30- Back at the truck, snow is getting heavier, I am soaked thru all layers I had on and my feet were numb. Am sure they will be moving when this stops, tomorrow. My tracks were completely covered and the new ones on my walk out will be full before long the way it is coming down. Have 3” plus on the truck since sitting here.
I drove to the East end of the field to watch what came out like the road scouts often do. After 15 minutes, there were 7 deer out in the little field. They stayed close to the timberline but could be seen easily on the white field.
I think you can see why my outer garments got so wet, this was just how much snow got on me as I walked in.
Stayed home today for snow removal and to spend time with our oldest before she goes home in the morning. Am sure they were out moving following the storm with bright sun and temps above freezing. The neighbor kid was texting me that he was out hunting rubbing it in. He told me that the neighbor between us was planning on hunting the FA season, will have to be REAL cautious hunting when he is.
I sure wish I could have hunted the week before I took vacation Michael, missed the primary rut on our ground.
See the Oct 14 post with a set of pictures up at the top of this thread, the bottom two pictures were of a buck "I would be watching for". He was being photographed in the bed of a truck before 8am yesterday morning, by a NR that paid money to hunt him 1.5 miles North of me.
Randy, the direction Deer hunting has changed even in the last 15 years is sad, very few actually hunt and enjoy the challenge of Hunting a deer. I could say what I really feel and go on and on but most don't even have a clue of what bowhunting use to be.
Big elevated blind put up by someone else( 30yds from the road behind a house) feeders near the blind of course, pay to drive in from out of state, pay a fee for a week of “hunting”, done in the first hour of opening day after shooting a 140ish deer, thanks but I will stay with the old ways Dan.
Have been afield since about 2:50, just now getting settled into #3 stand. There were two does and buck feeding on the green wheat when I arrived. They were 100yds+ East of this stand. I used the timber as cover getting here, but the larger of the two does nailed me in the last 20yds. She flagged but walked casually back thru the hedgerow. It was 53f at the truck with a slight breeze out of the West. Dec 30th and I worked up a sweat walking in, wow.
Two decent 8pts joined the younger deer in the little field, until a white truck stopped out along the road, the largest blew and all of them ran to the NW to cover.
4:46- Something scared all of the deer off the field, had a buck South of me.
Now hear the neighbor talking and hollering at his dog as he walks down the road. Not a coincidence that he chooses to do so at prime time, “I like to see the deer too” he has told me
5:08- Neighbors white dog pushing out the cedar grove, no deer came out. Looked to the West, one of the young bucks had came back out and he was watching the dog too.
5:48- Back at the truck. Did not see any more deer. The little white dog barked and followed me to the truck but lost his nerve when I charged him, he headed for the house like his tail was afire. The neighbor kid to the North is going to hunt in the morning after I told him about all the deer moving this evening. Switched memory cards on the way out, will add more pictures and video later or in the morning. I fully intend to stay in my warm bed myself, not into cold mornings still. One more day for the buck tag. I will not shoot a doe at this spot in the late season. If I shoot one it will be at my brothers at the opposite corner of the county. Plenty of does here, but all very young.
Just could not get excited about going out this evening. It was overcast, 34f with a 10-15mph North wind that made it feel even cooler. There are a good number of deer there, but the larger bucks are pretty much nocturnal active now.
I deer hunted and fished less this year than I ever have in my life. Working full time and running a business on the side kept me busy, too busy!
I understand about the weather part Randy. Wish you could have got out more than what you did. Hopefully your work schedule will lighten up some by next year and allow you to get out more. Thanks for taking us along again this year, I for one really appreciate it, and look forward to it every year.
Randy I really appreciate as well you sharing your hunts. I’m just going to say it right now though. Next year you better take off a few more days to hunt cause we’re going to take you somewhere else to hunt if it’s only for a few days.
You deserve to hunt maybe a little bit better place without the road hunters, neighbors, jealous people, and all of the other things you have to deal with there.
I know you love to hunt cause I don’t know if I could continue stepping off the back porch like you do to hunt the same spots and deal with all that. You got my respect here.
Michael, I’ve hunted some of the best whitetail and mule deer properties before commercialism reared its ugly head in Kansas. I still have access to acres that have trophy quality bucks every year, but I lost about 90% of the bottom land to leasing, NR investors, and local farmers wanting to make money off the trophy deer hunting industry.
I refuse to spend the kind of money that you and many others spend to deer hunt traveling, leasing and buying land. I love to hunt, but the lease money, gas money, travel money and tags would make a good down payment, buy a lot of meat and other groceries.
I was given first chance to lease many of the properties I used to be able to hunt before others bought their way into some high quality deer habitat. The landowners felt bad, were sincere with their offers and apologies, but I declined their offers and moved on. I had multiple properties to hunt before 2000, seldom hunted the same property more than 2-3 times a season.
The neighborhood around this property has grown crowded over the years, several homes have been built around it now. Hunting access is very limited unless you dig deep so many have resorted to less than ethical/legal ways to fill tags. The people I wrote about this year, and every year I have done a hunt thread on here, the ones harassing my hunt, are those that do not have their own place to hunt, they only have marginal land access, or they have no deer on the land where they can hunt. The people who constantly scout our field, keep stopping on the road scaring the deer off, cannot afford a lease nor will they be buying some hunting land. There are five people hunting the same creek bottom for the next four miles South of me, most of them hunt from the same blind when their turn comes around to hover over the corn feeder in the heated box blind. None of them own the land, they are either family or close friends of family. I would gladly hunt where they don’t hunt on that family-owned land. There are prime areas that they don’t hunt down South of me because they cannot drive right up to it, is too much work for them to walk in to hunt it. They see deer on us because of how I manage the property. I do not allow tag fillers to hunt there, there are no feeders etc. We don't keep shooting does just because there are tags available to buy.
Besides this past year I haven’t been really spending too much up there or should I say what some spend on hunting. But if you take in all the gas money and the time spent away hunting and doing some work up there where I could be making money here then yeah it definitely starts adding up. The land wasn’t for sale and I lucked into that one when prices were down.
Just wished you had more places to hunt man. I know it’s tough for you to get away though to make a couple hour drive to hunt with all the work you’re doing now but there’s some different places for you if you ever get the chance.
