Thornton's 2023 Hunts
Contributors to this thread:Kansas
From: Thornton
21-Aug-23
Getting an early start on the deer this year. I drew a Utah mule deer tag. I really just wanted to experience the state and knew it would be very difficult to kill a buck in these steep slopes with a bow. I'm hunting with my cousin's son-in-law and his friend. I'm dedicating this year's hunts to my brother John who passed August 4th of metastatic cancer. He and I shared several memorable hunts over the years with bow, muzzleloader, and shotgun.
From: Thornton
21-Aug-23
Flew out of Wichita the day before yesterday with the sun coming up behind me. I was exhausted after mowing 33 yards and working a 12 hr ER shift in the 4 days prior to leaving.
From: Thornton
21-Aug-23
My cousin Lloyd picked me up in Salt Lake City in his new Shelby Ford Raptor.
From: Thornton
21-Aug-23
We stopped by his auto repair shop on the way into town and he helped an employee put together a worn differential on a Chevy Tahoe.
From: Thornton
21-Aug-23
After that, he handed me the key to a used Rubicon from the car lot they just put new BF Goodrich tires on. The Jeep is used, has just enough scratches they probably won't notice any new ones and should make an excellent hunting buggy.
From: Thornton
21-Aug-23
Headed to the mountains following Levi and his friend.
From: Thornton
21-Aug-23
We drove up in the mountains about 45 minutes from town. I immediately noticed lots of weekenders out camping in the national forest.
From: Thornton
21-Aug-23
We took about an hour to re-sight in the bows. Mine was shooting 6 to 8" left at 50 yards.
From: Thornton
21-Aug-23
After that, we loaded up our gear and headed up the mountain. It was about a mile to a mile and a half to the camp site where Levi's friend had stashed several days worth of water and Mountain House meals. He has hiked up here about 30 times this summer watching 2, bachelor groups of bucks.
From: Thornton
21-Aug-23
The view out front
From: Bwhnt
21-Aug-23
Sorry about your brother that's terrible. I will be tuning in for this hunt. Sounds like a good one in the making so far.
From: Slate
21-Aug-23
Good luck. Sorry to hear about your brother.
From: be still
21-Aug-23
Man I bet that’s tough losing your brother and sorry about that. Good luck on this hunt and I’ll be following along as well.
From: bentstick54
21-Aug-23
Sorry about your brother. Good luck on your hunt, sounds like you’ve got a couple of good guides.
From: KSflatlander
21-Aug-23
Sorry to about your brother. Good luck on the hunt.
From: crestedbutte
21-Aug-23
Sorry to hear about your Bro. Good week to head to higher country and lower temps. Hope the hunt goes well and you all stay safe!
From: ksq232
21-Aug-23
Thanks for bringing us along! Hunting with brothers is pretty special, glad you have some good memories.
From: sitO
21-Aug-23
Get after'm JT!
From: Thornton
22-Aug-23
Thanks guys. As usual, I'll tell the good, the bad, and the ugly. First evening things started to unwind. I noticed many trucks coming up the roads and guys unloading about sunset. These two guys hiked the mile straight in and up, no problem. They camped above us a quarter mile, right where the deer cross the spine of the mountain. By nightfall, we had maybe ten hunters in two square miles. I found out the next day, this bachelor herd of bucks could be glassed as far away as 3 miles, up by the main road.
From: Thornton
22-Aug-23
I slept in til sunrise and crept around the mountain to where the cliffs are. I could see the cities to my north. I was sicker and weaker than I've been in years. I think it was a combination of lack of sleep, exhaustion, and altitude. I was near where the bucks supposedly cross, but I couldn't figure out where on earth they'd go in this rocky, vertical place.
From: Thornton
22-Aug-23
From: Thornton
22-Aug-23
This one has a radio collar.
This one has a radio collar.
From: Thornton
22-Aug-23
From: Thornton
22-Aug-23
From: Thornton
22-Aug-23
Day one was shot, especially after the dirtbike hunters came in. Levi and I hiked out and Ian (the Goat) stayed behind. He ended up missing a buck about noon. I used the rest of the day to recover, and my cousin and I went out for a good steak. Came back to his house on the side of the mountain, and watched the storms roll through.
From: Thornton
22-Aug-23
He has lots of wildlife come through his yard. He says the hawks chase the quail and they crash into his windows sometimes as this one did while I was there.
From: Thornton
22-Aug-23
Cow elk at about 1300 yards.
Cow elk at about 1300 yards.
Day 2, we went up into National Forest and I mainly glassed from the jeep until afternoon. I found elk, mountain goats, and finally, deer.
From: Thornton
22-Aug-23
Where the cow elk were. Big country.
Where the cow elk were. Big country.
From: Thornton
22-Aug-23
Had to stand with the door open to use the spotting scope window mount on the Jeep.
Had to stand with the door open to use the spotting scope window mount on the Jeep.
From: Thornton
22-Aug-23
I came to a really big mountain and decided to turn around. While I was glassing from the road, I met 2 girls from KCK and knew if the hospital I had worked at there.
From: Thornton
22-Aug-23
Over 60 mountain goats on a far, green, slope.
Over 60 mountain goats on a far, green, slope.
From: Thornton
22-Aug-23
After spending an hour watching the front side of the mountain, I decided it probably had deer. I drove up the road and found a minimum maintenance road that looped around the side. I unloaded and started to still hunt through the dark timber. I found a hiking trail about a mile in that made it much easier. I've never seen such beautiful wildflowers in full bloom in August. Encountered all sorts of flora and fauna I'd never seen. It was neat to watch hummingbirds and hummingbird moths flit around. They were too quick for the camera, so here's a bee for you.
From: Thornton
22-Aug-23
From: Thornton
22-Aug-23
From: Thornton
22-Aug-23
Getting closer
From: Thornton
22-Aug-23
From: Thornton
22-Aug-23
I was about 1100 feet from the top above me when I watched 5 deer filter out of a small park right below treeline. They didn't stay out in the open long. A 6th doe went down the opposite steep side.
From: Thornton
22-Aug-23
The park they walked across after coming out of the small patch of trees above it. I was told by another hunter earlier this day that a hunter shot a 220" today off this mountain with a guide that had watched it all summer. They flew the hunter up on this mountain in a helicopter.
From: Thornton
22-Aug-23
About sunset, a big doe and several fawns fed down to the bottom. There was something rustling in the ravine below me, and she did an extra cautious stare down just like an old whitetail doe. I knew there would be no sneaking up on deer with her around.
From: Thornton
22-Aug-23
Day 3. Levi took me to some BLM near town to try to intercept several bucks before they get to the orchards. He attempted several unsuccessful stalks yesterday. The deer did not cooperate this morning and were already in the orchards. The owners were driving the fence on 4 wheelers to keep them inside. One buck had a drop tine.
From: be still
22-Aug-23
You’re one fella that’s a hard to get a grasp on when it comes to pictures. When it comes to taking a pic of some horns of a deer you shot it’s just so so but when you get in out in nature you become the greatest. You got me tuned in.
From: ksq232
22-Aug-23
Beautiful country!
From: Kansan
22-Aug-23
My condolences, Jason.
Anxiously tagging along!
Your woodsmanship skills, and your ability to “get it done”, never ceases to amaze me! I’ve no doubt that this thread will have some nice harvest pics by the end of the season!
From: KB
22-Aug-23
Good stuff man. Sorry to hear about your brother.
From: Bwhnt
22-Aug-23
Do you have any goals for age/antler size or is it any legal deer? Hopefully it all falls into place.
From: doubledrop
22-Aug-23
Very sorry for your loss. This is a great way tribute. Following along and thanks for sharing. Good luck!
From: Thornton
24-Aug-23
Thanks again guys. I was finally recovered from my early hunt, altitude sickness, and was back out hunting hard. I was headed down the road in the jeep, and happened to look across the canyon. There was an animal that looked to be the same color as a desert bighorn sheep. I quickly pulled up my binoculars, and experienced an adrenaline dump. I started taking photos. After reviewing and zooming in on them, I experienced another adrenaline dump.
From: Bwhnt
24-Aug-23
I feel like there will be a blood trail soon....
From: Thornton
25-Aug-23
Long story short, I went up the wrong chute. I couldn't have been over a hundred yards from the buck, but I couldn't see him. The slope was so steep,I could lay my bow in front of me and barely have to lean over to pick it up. I backed down, drove back up on the switchback to look for the buck again. It took two hours for him to stand back up. This time, I had the right drainage and I made it to his position a little after sunset. Unbeknownst to me, he had moved up the rocks like and was standing above me behind some oakbrush at 54 yards. Seeing something amiss,he trotted uphill and turned broadside at 68 yards. I had practiced to 70 most of the last month. My arrow was an electric blue arc as it raced toward him,over the limb of a dead tree between he and I. It seemed to have perfect placement but fell short in the last ten feet. I heard the sickening sound of broadhead vs rock and a dust cloud sprouted where the arrow spun out on the ground and the blue lighted knock was immediately extinguished. He trotted off out of my sight. A lot of "what iffs" went through my mind. Like,if I had only been there 10 minutes sooner. I really wasn't upset though,because I had found a big one in an over-hunted national forest only miles from hundreds of thousands of people.
From: Thornton
25-Aug-23
I was back by late morning hoping to find him in the next drainage. It wasn't long until I spotted what I thought was him feeding on oakbrush. I bailed and headed up the slope. It had been raining and the mud was slick.
From: Thornton
25-Aug-23
About the time I realized I was within feet of where I last saw the deer that I supposed to be him, I noticed a pair of extraordinarily tall bucks on the far hill a quarter mile over and up.
From: Thornton
25-Aug-23
I moved into the oakbrush which was packed with deer sign, something I hadn't seen on this hunt. The clouds rolled in, then it would rain, the the sun would shine. Repeat.
From: Thornton
25-Aug-23
Everytime the clouds would roll in or it would rain, I'd move closer to the bucks. At one point they cleared, and I saw a young doe with them look directly at me and lay her ears flat. I knew then, the stalk was on thin ice.
From: Thornton
25-Aug-23
It took an hour, but I made it past the now 4 deer, up, over, and behind them. Spooked 4 more out of the oakbrush on my way. Descending back down on the opposite slope above the herd with the bucks, a big doe stood up. Thinking I was busted, she simply took a leak, scratched her ear, and watched me walk around her at about a hundred yards and never spooked.
From: Thornton
25-Aug-23
One of the buck's tracks, leaving the thicket with a long stride, following the young doe.
One of the buck's tracks, leaving the thicket with a long stride, following the young doe.
I made it to the oakbrush just as the rain started in hard, and it was empty. Not sure if I spooked them,or if they decidedly to get to higher cover before the rain hit. Either way, I felt relieved. It was day 4, my last day, and I had given it my best due to the circumstances. My plane leaves the next day at 1045.
From: Thornton
25-Aug-23
Right before the next rain hit.
Right before the next rain hit.
From: Thornton
25-Aug-23
I got back to town to help Levi bone his young buck out.
From: Thornton
25-Aug-23
Did some sight seeing before I left. This is the mountain above Provo that overlooks the city and Utah Lake.
From: Thornton
25-Aug-23
Old Mormon architecture
Old Mormon architecture
From: Lord o'horns
25-Aug-23
Better a clean miss, than a bad hit
From: Thornton
25-Aug-23
I agree.
From: Tejas
25-Aug-23
Sometimes they win…..nice tribute to your brother and sorry for your loss. Good luck the rest of the season on upcoming hunts.
From: EmbryOklahoma
25-Aug-23
Enjoyed it, Thornton! Hope there’s more…
From: sitO
25-Aug-23
It's cool country, and you had a good hunt buddy, thanks for taking us along.
From: bentstick54
25-Aug-23
Sounds like a great hunt. Beautiful country for sure. Thanks for taking the time to take us along. Always enjoy following and really love the photos.
From: be still
25-Aug-23
There’s always excitement in your hunts and I sure do enjoy following along. Good luck on your upcoming hunts.
From: Matte
26-Aug-23
Great adventure to be had. Thanks for sharing.
From: Bwhnt
26-Aug-23
Close call, thanks for posting I love these threads.
From: Thornton
29-Aug-23
Well, things have taken a turn for the worse. Levi and The Goat went scouting for the 3x3 I missed. They found him. Problem is, they also found a muley of epic proportions that we think will score over 230". Word has it, Mossback has a client trying to kill the giant, but they pushed him off private onto public. I am currently looking for another plane ticket to Utah that will fit in my work schedule.
From: Thornton
29-Aug-23
I can't get the video to work
From: sitO
29-Aug-23
Beast, hope you can get back out there bud
From: ksq232
29-Aug-23
Wow! I’m failing to see how this is “ bad to worse”? Unless you cannot make it out there of course… I hope you can and soon!
From: Bwhnt
29-Aug-23
Holy crap! I hope you can get back there b4 they drive him off the public to his demise.
From: be still
29-Aug-23
Forget about the plane ticket and it’s not going to hurt those yards one bit to let the grass grow. Get in the truck and get.
From: be still
29-Aug-23
Forget about the plane ticket and it’s not going to hurt those yards one bit to let the grass grow. Get in the truck and get.
From: LTG 11
30-Aug-23
Go get em, JT
From: sitO
31-Aug-23
I just seen a picture ;)
Edit: I saw an old pic on FB and thought you killed another good'n. Sorry, I'm from Kansas.
From: Thornton
01-Sep-23
My buddy posted that because we've been friends for 23 years. I'm working on getting out there. I could leave after work tomorrow night, or I could wait til end of season. Either way, I'll only have 3 days to git'r done. Sounds like they last saw that giant nontypical a few days ago headed up to the top of the mountain. No telling where he is now, and everyone and their dog has surely seen or heard of him. Either way, I went to Diamond Archery and got the Mathews rigged up real accurate. Bought a drop away rest from them and a better sight from Sutherland Archery. That dude at Diamond sure knows how to tune and line up everything. My first shot was in the bull's eye at 20 yards without adjusting anything. Returning has been delayed Be Still because I'm on a contract for the hospital and I have to work 3 days a week.
From: The Kid
01-Sep-23
Good Luck Jason!!!
From: be still
01-Sep-23
Drive safe tomorrow night and good luck out there.
From: Thornton
11-Sep-23
Took the old dog out and got some birds this weekend.
From: Thornton
11-Sep-23
Woke up to much needed heavy skies and drizzle. I was going to dig a pond out, but that will have to wait
I decided to deliver invoices and hunt this afternoon. I ran into an old classmate at Bomgarrs where I went to buy a new camo raincoat. He showed me a pic of a very large velvet tem point his wife ran over recently. Headed back out to farm and saw a big buck nervously picking his way through the rain as I pulled in the gate. Changed clothes and made my way a quarter mile to the timber for intercept.
From: Thornton
11-Sep-23
Made my way into a small dry creek in the exact spot I passed a bachelor herd on here 2 years ago. The bucks were piled up 165 yards away. One looked pretty big. 7 total are out now.
From: Thornton
11-Sep-23
From: sitO
11-Sep-23
Was wondering if anyone made it out today, get'm bud
From: Kansan
11-Sep-23
I had every intention of hunting today, but rain is one of the few things that will usually keep me inside. I should be able to get out tomorrow. Grateful for this moisture and cooler weather!
Looks like you’ve found a pretty good buck, on day one no less. Best of luck to you, Jason!
From: be still
11-Sep-23
If that’s horns and not tree branches I’m seeing on the one on the left then yes he looks pretty dang big.
From: KB
11-Sep-23
Yes, he looks huge. Hopefully he gives you a look.
From: Thornton
11-Sep-23
From: Thornton
11-Sep-23
The big one is nice, but not what I'm looking for. I recognized him and another old 7 point I haven't seen in 2 years. I watched them feed for an hour and backed out the way I came in. They never smelled me,but the big herd of does in the front field sounded the alarm when I got back to the truck. Saw a nice young ten point on my way back. 21 does and 9 bucks total this evening and never climbed the tree.
From: Slate
12-Sep-23
Nice one
From: Bwhnt
12-Sep-23
There is more antler in that picture than I will see all year. Great first day looking fwd to reading the hunts as they happen. Thanks for posting
From: bentstick54
12-Sep-23
Bwhnt x2. Good luck this season. Enjoy following along.
From: Thornton
12-Sep-23
Thanks. I hope you get a bigger one.
From: MBabs
12-Sep-23
That's some nice early season action. Thanks for sharing and getting some of us pumped for another season.
From: Bwhnt
12-Sep-23
That 5 point antler a few posts back that has the palmation looks like a good one in the making.
From: Thornton
18-Sep-23
Hunted this evening and had 4 does cone by at sunset. I have no stand in this tree and simply stand on the curved trunk about ten feet off the ground and a trunk behind to lean on.
From: Thornton
18-Sep-23
From: Thornton
18-Sep-23
About 20 minutes after the does and fawns walked by, I heard a cob get torn off a stalk. Peering through the corn I could make out a very wide 9 point at 35 yards. I recognized him immediately. He spent the summer last year with the big nontypical I'm after. Speaking of nontypicals, my neighbor found a giant 19 pointer dead this week. I hope to be scoring it soon. Sounds to me like it's probably dead from EHD. He found it on his 160 acres only about 600 yards from my house. Interesting to know that 2 giant nontypicals with nearly the same number of points are sharing the same territory. I'll post the pic after I get his permission.
From: Thornton
18-Sep-23
Right before dark another big doe came by. She is over my right shoulder in this picture.
From: ksq232
18-Sep-23
Nice!!!
Sorry to hear about the EHD.
From: Bwhnt
19-Sep-23
Wow that corn looks dry as a bone. Good luck on the NT
From: Thornton
19-Sep-23
We grow mostly dryland corn around here that has to be dry to harvest. It is usually made into feed.
From: Thornton
19-Sep-23
In the tree again. Decided to comeback out before the corn is cut I wanted to see that big 9 point again, and here he is at 20 yards.
From: ksq232
19-Sep-23
Nice deer! You get any rain out there today?
From: sitO
19-Sep-23
Picked you off ;)
From: be still
19-Sep-23
Looks like you was on the ground or a very short tree:?)
Hope to get a pic of the one you’re after with you standing beside it this year.
From: Thornton
19-Sep-23
No rain to speak of. This was an interesting encounter. I sneaked with the breeze in my face and walked about ten yards past my tree. Suddenly, a brown body stood up in the standing corn about 30 yards away and darted to the south, then stopped. It was that big doe and the medium size one from yesterday and 2 little ones. They didn't know what spooked them, and none raised their tails or snorted. Almost immediately I heard a grunt, and the 9 point buck I suspect I saw yesterday stood and immediately walked towards the medium doe like he was checking her. After that, he followed a smaller one directly to me as you see in the picture. I videoed about a minute and a half of the encounter. She was ten yards and never spooked, he was 5 to ten yards behind her before he decided to whirl back around that bush and stare at me for 5 minutes at 25 yards. I'll try to post the video on YouTube tomorrow when I'm in service if someone could help me with the link. I think he would probably go 140" and is a beautiful buck. He went down the creel bank below me following the does, and as soon as I heard his hoof clink on a river stone, I backed up. Unfortunately, he did see me when I got near my tree and bounded off with a snort. I think I saw another buck of equal or bigger size with him.
From: Thornton
19-Sep-23
From: ksq232
19-Sep-23
Does all the corn that short, or is that just the stunted stuff on the field edge?
From: Thornton
19-Sep-23
It's all taller than I am except the field edges where it didn't mature under the tree canopy,or where the deer chewed it down.
From: ksq232
19-Sep-23
Ok, that’s what I figured, just wondering if the drought had stunted it. Last year corn around here never got over 4’ tall. This year the light, spread out rains helped some.
From: Thornton
20-Sep-23
Here is the video on YouTube. It was grainy the first time I watched it, but cleared up the 2nd or 3rd time.
From: One Arrow
20-Sep-23
Large tree roots will sap the moisture/nutrients along field edges… wildlife take a lot of the blame for poor stands along timber lines.
Very cool thread… will be watching. Good luck!
From: sitO
20-Sep-23
Here you go bud, cool encounter
From: be still
21-Sep-23
Good stuff. We’ve made it to Denver and about to take off to head further north. Good luck to you in the next week or so.
From: Thornton
21-Sep-23
Thanks again Kyle. After that, I had a momma doe and two young ones come under the tree behind me. I was reclining on my elm trunk, watching the video I had just taken of the buck. At the part where he snorts, I heard hoof beats and looked down to see her ushering the little ones back the way they came. She was on high alert after hearing that snort on my phone. A few minutes later, she circled me at 45 yards down in the ravine. She was nervous, but never looked at me once.
From: Thornton
21-Sep-23
After that, 4 more came by, but refused to walk by my tree. Presumably the same 4 I started the day with.
From: crestedbutte
21-Sep-23
Jason…great video. Love it when at ground level they can’t quite figure out if you are one of them or what you really might be and thus have to inch closer and closer to get a better look…… sometimes to their own demise. Appreciate you taking us along!
From: Thornton
07-Oct-23
Back in an oak tree. Scared 7 does on my way in. Wind was perfect and everything, but they bedded up where I park. Didn't take long though,a doe and her young'ns came out and a small buck joined them shortly after.
From: Thornton
07-Oct-23
2 small bucks sparring after su set. 3 bucks and 7 does in my part of the field.
From: Thornton
26-Oct-23
Prairie Chicken on a round bale. Counted 120 of these birds in one area that morning.
Prairie Chicken on a round bale. Counted 120 of these birds in one area that morning.
Some friends and I prowled across a couple states north of here last week looking for upland birds. It was nice, hunting properties managed for birds and not tilled or overgrazed like the farmers and ranchers in Kansas do.
From: Thornton
26-Oct-23
More chickens
More chickens
From: Thornton
26-Oct-23
Ponds were full
Ponds were full
From: Thornton
26-Oct-23
From: Thornton
26-Oct-23
From: Thornton
26-Oct-23
28 gauge
28 gauge
From: Thornton
26-Oct-23
The 3 shotguns I took, 20 and 28 gauges were plenty for the birds.
The 3 shotguns I took, 20 and 28 gauges were plenty for the birds.
From: sitO
26-Oct-23
I think I recognize some of that country, good times bro!
From: Bwhnt
26-Oct-23
Schaweeeet!!!
From: Groundhunter
31-Oct-23
Thornton, what kind of double is that?
From: Thornton
31-Oct-23
That is an older CZ Bobwhite when they still made the receiver case hardened.
From: Thornton
31-Oct-23
Finished up my mowing season today and headed to the the timber. Encountered the first good buck of the season about a hundred yards from the truck. He seemed to be bedded with the north wind in his face and quickly took off when the hundreds of blackbirds behind me flew.
From: Thornton
31-Oct-23
Had the camera zoomed in too much when he took off at about 60 yards
From: Thornton
31-Oct-23
Buck #5 in the last hour. Walking by me right now
From: Thornton
31-Oct-23
Encountered a pair of spikes on the way in. They didn't know I was walking behind and parallel to them as breezy as it is.
From: Thornton
31-Oct-23
Buck #6 across thicket making a rub as I type. Better get in the stand guys. This place hardly any deer moving yesterday.
From: Thornton
31-Oct-23
3 does just crossed the creek and disappeared into the thicket.
From: Thornton
31-Oct-23
From: be still
31-Oct-23
Good pics…good luck on a big one.
From: ksq232
31-Oct-23
Looks like an eventful evening!
From: Bwhnt
01-Nov-23
Good luck!
From: The Kid
01-Nov-23
Good luck Jason!!
From: Thornton
17-Nov-23
I'm back in Kansas. Returned, more than willingly from Alaska. Left on the 2nd, and landed yesterday. It was a grand introduction the "The Last Frontier" lol, but the costs, weather, lack of sunshine, and grumbly residents made me more that happy to get home. I'm back in a tree now, in a thicket about 3/4 of a mile from the truck. I can hear a deer creeping in, and I encountered this young buck on my way in at 49 yards. He didn't even get on his feet.
From: be still
17-Nov-23
I’ve been wondering where you were at. Glad you’re back home and good luck.
From: Thornton
17-Nov-23
Thanks! We were on an island, near Kodiak. No cell service off of Kodiak. This familiar little dude just walked under my tree sniffing my trail, and is currently back trailing me.
From: Thornton
17-Nov-23
Grossbeak that followed me around for a bit, perched on the ever present, thorny devil's club that grows everywhere here.
Grossbeak that followed me around for a bit, perched on the ever present, thorny devil's club that grows everywhere here.
I'll post some pictures of the trip while 2 dinks are squaring off across the thicket. A doe just walked by back in the brush and they are all riled up about it.
From: Thornton
17-Nov-23
Fat doe at 22 yards. I spooked her out of a bed high up the mountain. She came back to make sure I wasn't a bear.
Fat doe at 22 yards. I spooked her out of a bed high up the mountain. She came back to make sure I wasn't a bear.
From: Thornton
17-Nov-23
We shot 5 species of ducks, including the sea duck species of Harlequin and Oldsquaw.
We shot 5 species of ducks, including the sea duck species of Harlequin and Oldsquaw.
From: Thornton
17-Nov-23
The cabin we stayed at on the island
The cabin we stayed at on the island
From: Thornton
17-Nov-23
Beautiful scenery when the sun shined. I paddled around this point in a kayak to retrieve ducks with 3 foot waves crashing into the 20 cliffs.
Beautiful scenery when the sun shined. I paddled around this point in a kayak to retrieve ducks with 3 foot waves crashing into the 20 cliffs.
From: Thornton
17-Nov-23
Herd of sea otters in the inlet to Kodiak Island. Saw hundreds around the islands we hunted.
Herd of sea otters in the inlet to Kodiak Island. Saw hundreds around the islands we hunted.
From: Thornton
17-Nov-23
The last morning we hunted. Calm seas and sunshine made for a beautiful day.
The last morning we hunted. Calm seas and sunshine made for a beautiful day.
From: Thornton
17-Nov-23
Bear we hunted. I had walked by this bear's bedding area twice with 100 yards. The last of which was only 20 minutes after it appeared on the beach.
Bear we hunted. I had walked by this bear's bedding area twice with 100 yards. The last of which was only 20 minutes after it appeared on the beach.
From: Thornton
17-Nov-23
Deer are really moving. Pair of spikes across the thicket butting heads under the rubbing tree.
From: be still
17-Nov-23
Beautiful pics man and maybe one day I’ll get to see Alaska in person.
I think this year you’re getting back in Kansas the perfect time.
From: The Kid
17-Nov-23
I would love to go to Alaska! Beautiful pictures!
From: Bwhnt
18-Nov-23
Wow looks beautiful! I can't imagine living somewhere without sun for so long. That plus the cold and snow, it's not for me. Vacation...maybe. Good luck at home, looking fwd to reading this year.
From: Thornton
18-Nov-23
Lots of bucks moving this morning
From: sitO
18-Nov-23
Oh man, that didn't take long, or was there also a coyote moving?
From: Thornton
18-Nov-23
You are correct. 29 yards, in the exact spot of my archery buck a few years ago. There was a fair amount of snarling and gnashing of teeth. A minute later, the male, I'm assuming came through the cattails to see what his problems his woman had. I was unable to get a shot on him because he paused behind a cedar. I left to go get my hound and saw this 3 year old buck on the way out. He was pushing does around, and at closer look, his rack is very spindly.
From: Thornton
18-Nov-23
From: Thornton
18-Nov-23
The hound and I went back, and this young 8 point spotted me across the pasture and came right to me. He circled down wind until he hit our scent at 33 yards, then decided he didn't want to meet us anymore.
From: Thornton
18-Nov-23
Found my arrow, but no coyote. I assume they run quite a ways with an arrow shot? Looked like I hit it right behind the shoulder
From: KB
18-Nov-23
Most I’ve shot would try to attack the arrow. One even managed to chew it into about 15 pieces before he expired. Shouldn’t be far.
Is that an arrow or a bolt?
From: be still
18-Nov-23
What you’re guessing to be a 3 yr old could be a heck of a buck next year and and he happens to make it to 5…
With him facing the camera he could pass being a little older. You got history with this one?
From: Thornton
18-Nov-23
KB- that is an arrow shot from my Mathews ZXT. The lighted knock broke off and I assume it's in the coyote.
Be still- not sure about the buck, but he sure could be the offspring of the one I shot a few years ago because they look nearly identical.
From: Bwhnt
19-Nov-23
My daughter killed this one last week. Rifle kill, and she is tanning it herself. We have been hearing a chorus of howls at night around the house lately. That bloody arrow was a nice sight. Any day now!
From: Thornton
19-Nov-23
Nice shot! I'm not in a hurry this year at all. I have not seen anything I would shoot this year, and I'd really like to find something to hunt over 170". I'm 42 and I've never brought a whitetail that big home, although I've guided several guys to bucks that big. I've got some buddies that like to rifle hunt, and the camaraderie of a big rifle hunt where we walk miles and miles is something I've always enjoyed doing. Last year, we hiked about 9 miles in one day and jumped several really big bucks nobody connected on.
From: Bwhnt
19-Nov-23
I saved my favorite stand this year for an old friend that hasn't hunted in about 5 yrs. Hes a very busy guy and appreciates a good meal of venison. He has a boat and took me and my son out for some great trips last summer. This will be a rifle hunt and I hope he connects. He is not concerned about antler size at all.
From: Thornton
22-Nov-23
Think I need to hunt somewhere else. One if the usual same dinks just strutted back in. I snort wheezed at him so he'd leave.
From: Thornton
22-Nov-23
Same 2 spikes came back through, but separate and from different directions. The unicorn spike chased a fawn around til her mom showed up and led her back in the thicket.
From: sitO
22-Nov-23
My buddy's son is at my spot near Attica this morning. He's had the saw spike hanging around him every time he hunts that property, no matter which stand. I told him to take the spike to Thanksgiving w/him
From: Thornton
22-Nov-23
From: Thornton
22-Nov-23
It'd be good eating. This guy just crept in directly under my tree.
From: be still
22-Nov-23
Man that’s a good and clear pic Thornton. Really hope you get one that you’re happy with.
From: Thornton
22-Nov-23
New buck with only 5 points just hit the licking branch rubbing tree across the thicket.
From: Thornton
22-Nov-23
Thanks, it's clear because he was directly under me and I didn't have to hold my phone up to my binoculars.
From: Thornton
22-Nov-23
3 does across thicket. The big one is on to me. Numerous geese flying today.
From: Thornton
22-Nov-23
New buck just came through. Looks to be a young 6 pt.
From: Thornton
22-Nov-23
Wrong pic above. Here he is.
From: Thornton
22-Nov-23
Dang it!!!!! Big, heavy 8 just crept in downwind and nailed my scent stream. He's heavy, with curved beam tips. I think he's the same buck I saw here last year and the tear before. Stayed in the brush, no pic.
From: Bwhnt
22-Nov-23
Son of a .....
From: Thornton
22-Nov-23
Just got done with errands. The old hound and I are running up to Harvey County to look for a buck my friend's neighbor shot last night. But brefore that I have to run into Wichita first and get my flu shot or ill lose my contract. Such garbage.
From: cherney12
22-Nov-23
i'm about to call it a day and go hunt but if you need help looking let me know
From: Thornton
22-Nov-23
I appreciate it Cherney. My friend is in charge of this one and he's bringing his 2 boys as well. I don't havemuch hope because the track is old and it sounds like he stomped around looking for it quite a while.
From: sitO
22-Nov-23
Good luck boys, it's worth a try!
From: bentstick54
22-Nov-23
Good luck with the search.
From: Thornton
22-Nov-23
From: Thornton
22-Nov-23
Old Roobs found it! I'm told the hunter is a Newton firefighter and he notched his Etag at work after the good news since he was unable to attend. Shot looked perfect. 9 yard pass through with a Muzzy. About a 350yard track that we lost until we corrected our approach with a favorable wind after the trail dried up.
From: Thornton
22-Nov-23
From: sitO
22-Nov-23
Nice work you two, surprised the coyotes hadn't gotten to him yet.
From: be still
22-Nov-23
Awesome…y’all make a good pair. Good looking buck as well with some cool looking brows. What was the high today on the temps and you think the meat is still good?
From: Bwhnt
22-Nov-23
That made one hunters day I guarantee it. Hope the meat held for him
From: bentstick54
22-Nov-23
Good job. Glad you were able to find him.
From: KB
22-Nov-23
Nice work indeed. Cool buck.
From: Thornton
22-Nov-23
The buck stank. I hope he still tries to save some quarters. Can anybody confirm this? Looks like Kevin Costner is in the state hunting near Leon. I cannot tell if the gentleman in the back is actually him.
From: crestedbutte
22-Nov-23
Sure looks like him. Might be wearing a Flint Oak hat too?
From: sitO
22-Nov-23
sitO's Link
He's a bird hunter.
From: Thornton
23-Nov-23
That is awesome! I suspected Flint Oak, but they usually pick up their guests at the airport. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
From: Dale06
23-Nov-23
Congrats on the tracking job and recovery of a real nice buck!
From: Thornton
24-Nov-23
Thanks again. It was a good feeling- better than if I'd have sat in a tree that afternoon. Made it out that evening for a quick hunt. Managed to see a couple dinks.
From: Thornton
24-Nov-23
From: Thornton
24-Nov-23
The Thanksgiving table was getting short with several Thornton's dying in the last couple years. Family and drove in from several states this year and it was an excellent gathering. We flew planes most of the afternoon and evening as my sister and her husband own several and have an airstrip and hangar on their farm. Did a little bird hunting with the new pup on a small property my nephew bought a few years ago but saw nothing but a rabbit.
From: Thornton
24-Nov-23
The broken antlered buck I've seen several times was half a mile away this morning bedded behind a cedar out of the wind.
From: Thornton
24-Nov-23
I decided to pull a Sito and sit on the ground with no blind against a tree to get out of the wind and get closer to the trail the big 8 came through on a few days ago.
From: Thornton
24-Nov-23
Dumb and Dumber just pushed a doe by. Dumber was just a few yards from me and didn't spook.
From: be still
24-Nov-23
I can never get my pics that clear from that distance through the glasses.
From: Thornton
25-Nov-23
You can get Phone Skope. I just hold my phone up to the binoculars
From: Thornton
26-Nov-23
This guy was tending a doe when I pulled up to the field. Breeze felt like it was from the NW and the hedge was dripping melting snow everywhere. I was able to get in position at 90 yards with the breeze in my face without them seeing me.
From: Thornton
26-Nov-23
I think he needs another year.
From: crestedbutte
26-Nov-23
Agree 100%. Hope he can make it another year? Beautiful color to his hide though.
From: Bwhnt
27-Nov-23
Another year?!?!?! Your killing me!!!
From: Thornton
27-Nov-23
Note the smaller ten point has an aggressive posture. He is bristled up, and ears are back, on a mission and ready to fight.
Note the smaller ten point has an aggressive posture. He is bristled up, and ears are back, on a mission and ready to fight.
Beautiful buck but his antlers aren't heavy yet. 3.5,maybe 4.5 years old. Anyway, there I was at 89 yards behind a cedar, and this guy comes trundling across the field, obviously on a mission to disrupt the bigger buck's rendezvous with the doe. Things got hairy real quick after that.
From: Bwhnt
27-Nov-23
Was it like a wrestle mania?
From: Thornton
27-Nov-23
Hopefully Kyle can help me out and attach the link. I put it on YouTube. I only got half the fight, and the video is poor,but it shows the gist of what happened. It was like a high school fight. 7 bucks total cane out of the woodwork to watch. The bigger buck lost the fight, but seemed to keep the hot doe. The smaller ten point just wanted to beat him up.
From: Thornton
27-Nov-23
Had an interesting encounter with law enforcement on my way home. I was driving down the hill on the north side of the ranch my dad used to own and I noticed a vehicle driving toward me down the middle of the road. As I attempted to pull far right of center to go by him, red and blue light flashed on. I quickly realized this particular deputy had probably never attended the Kansas Law Enforcement Academy which is on par with these low income small towns. The correct way to pull a vehicle over is to turn around so you can come from the rear to read the tag#. After roadblocking me on an ice covered hill with poor visibility from the south, he ambled up to my truck window and stammered through what sounded vaguely like an accusation vs interrogation. Apparently a red chevy had been called in for poaching in the area, and my truck is a red chevy. I informed him I had parked in front of property I own, and quickly provided him the proof of ownership and the video of all the deer. He realized if I wanted to shoot deer, I'd have certainly done so, and he let me go after conferring with Dispatch who told him the caller stated there were 2 individuals in the poaching truck. I told him I appreciated the quick response time and his efforts, as I had called the Sherriff before on a road hunter in my area and they responded quickly. The warden came in right behind him as I drove off. Half of the property is visible for almost a mile with several homes in full view and I often park over a hill out of sight. Depending on which one of my 4 old trucks i decide to drive, I can understand why they supposed i was a trespasser. This particular hunt required a different approach due to deer being in the field and the wind, so I parked out by the road. I still think someone called me in on my own property lol.
From: Bwhnt
27-Nov-23
Well they are keeping an eye on your place so hey that's good
From: LTG 11
27-Nov-23
Need to change your oil, JT.
From: Thornton
27-Nov-23
If it wasn't a swatting call, I'm glad someone was concerned. I changed my oil recently and I don't know how to reset the computer to turn the notifications off.
From: bentstick54
27-Nov-23
Yeah, deputy probably thought if you were poaching you might try to run if he went by you and came up from the rear. But if it was me I would I worry more about getting shot through the glare of the headlights. I bet you could find a YouTube video on how to reset your change oil light ;);)
From: sitO
27-Nov-23
sitO's Link
YT doesn't allow you to embed a "short", but here's a link to the video bud, good stuff.
P.S. Oil changes are overrated
From: Thornton
10-Dec-23
Shot'im in the heart with a Magnus Stinger.
Shot'im in the heart with a Magnus Stinger.
My season ended a few evenings ago with my first rifle season bow kill.
From: crestedbutte
10-Dec-23
Congrats, great big ole neck on him!!
From: bentstick54
10-Dec-23
Congrats
From: KB
10-Dec-23
From: Thornton
10-Dec-23
It was the perfect storm. My farmer wasn't able to cut the beans due to snow and prolonged wet conditions. The neighbor and I counted over a dozen bucks moving through the area, several were familiar, and a few weren't. I was sitting in a tree the night before our big annual deer drive an hour north, and I saw a big bodied buck join the herd at dark. I didn't want to accidentally shoot a younger, similar buck, and I had decided it would be bow only in this property this year, or nothing. The next day, 4 of us hunted hard all day, only turning up one buck on the WIHA we walked. Saw a giant we all guessed close to 200" run out of a ravine on private with 3 other bucks, and 3 does. I decided to head home and head out with my bow the following evening. I got there too late and there was a fork horn and 2 does in the field as I walked in which I purposely scared off. The wind was from the north which is completely wrong for this stand which I hadn't hunted in 2 years. Ten minutes after I got situated in the stand that no longer fit the tree right, does and a young 8 point nervously picked into the field. After about an hour, the big guy marched into the field to my east, several does in tow. He fed for a short time, then cut directly across the field toward me. The trail to the adjoining field was about 35 yards north of me, and he was headed right that direction. I had climbed up with one foot on the seat of my ladder stand, and the other foot on a branch so I could shoot over some limbs. My jacket kept sticking to the bark and making noise. At one point, the buck looked right at me when i drew. He stopped broadside and I put my 2nd pin on his elbow. The lighted knock failed to fire, but I heard the hollow vegetable sound, and he leaped like a good hit, ran 40 yards, and his back legs gave out. I ranged it later at almost 50 yards.
From: Bwhnt
10-Dec-23
Excellent!! Your patience paid off big time! Super nice rack and some great meat!
From: sitO
10-Dec-23
Heavy old buck, congrats buddy!
From: KB
10-Dec-23
Looks like a tank. Nice work!
From: be still
10-Dec-23
Way to get it done and great looking thick body and horns…congrats man!
From: Lord o'horns
11-Dec-23
Humdinger
From: KsRancher
11-Dec-23
Nice work. Big deer!
From: Slate
11-Dec-23
Congratulations
From: Bwhnt
11-Dec-23
Got anymore photos of him? Are you going to do a european?
From: KSflatlander
11-Dec-23
Congrats
From: Thornton
11-Dec-23
Thanks again guys. He's not very tall or wide, but he was heavier than the rest.
From: Thornton
11-Dec-23
Hunted 3 different counties with rifle. Here are some we saw and passed to grow bigger.
From: Thornton
11-Dec-23
From: Thornton
11-Dec-23
From: Thornton
11-Dec-23
From: Thornton
11-Dec-23
From: Thornton
11-Dec-23
Found my arrow yesterday evening. It is pointing at the tree I shot the buck from and the knock was glowing very dimly. Also found my wallet that had been laying next to the road at the gate.
From: Thornton
11-Dec-23
Took the new pup out with the old lab. The lab found a large 18 bird covey in the brush piles I pushed up last spring. Pup has no clue what he's doing yet, but he tries.
From: Bwhnt
12-Dec-23
There sure is a spark in that dogs eye. Losing a wallet is a huge PITA you must have been happy to see that. Next year is looking pretty good around there. I cannot belive you passed on that massive 8
From: Ksboy
12-Dec-23
Jason, Tell me more about your Britt pup. Always been a shorthair guy but thinking about getting a Brittany this Spring. Thanks, Bryan
From: Beav
12-Dec-23
Brute! Congrats on a great buck!
From: FullDraw
12-Dec-23
Congrats, good mass on that son of a gun.
From: sitO
12-Dec-23
That pup doesn't know how lucky he is!
From: Thornton
12-Dec-23
Bwht- there's a spark in his eye because he nabbed that bird a second later and took off with it lol. That white antlered 8 is 3.5 years old and very spindly, and the brown antlered one is 4.5 I think. Both are about 19" wide. Really hoping to see them make it to next year.
KSboy- a gal I worked with posted the ad for another guy who is a retired teacher that has a herd of these britannys. He had two males out of the litter left, and my good friend of 20 years, Jason took the other male. I had one when I was a kid and they are usually well mannered bird dogs. My other bird dog, an English Setter is gunshy, so he stays at the farm now and patrols the yard. This pup will be hunting next to my big lab.
Thanks Fulldraw. He doesn't score much, but his bases are 6 1/8".
Kyle- I hope I can get him on a lot of birds this year. He found the boned deer carcass today by the creek I left to try to draw coyotes in, and I could barely get him him off it.
From: ksq232
12-Dec-23
Great buck Thornton! It’s a pretty nice feeling getting one tagged with orange on.
From: Thornton
12-Dec-23
Thanks, It really is. I really wanted a "booner" this year, but it was not to be. Hearing that arrow hit was very satisfying. I'm already plotting how to improve habitat for next year.
From: Bwhnt
13-Dec-23
Your day for a "booner" is coming! Here is the recipie we use for breakfast sausage if you do your own butchering, and want to try something new. I grind in pork butt usually about 60% venison, 40% pork.
From: Bwhnt
13-Dec-23
Forgot to add photo first time around
Forgot to add photo first time around
From: Kansan
13-Dec-23
Nicely done, JT!
