Discuss our LIVE Kansas Whitetail Hunt
Whitetail Deer
Just in time before I head out next week to eastern Colorado.
Good luck Pat! Should be perfect timing this year, they are really starting to run.
I love this hunt! What did Jake's buck score from last year? Good luck guys!
Looking forward to your updates until I can get there in person......!!!!
Keep the kitchen table clean. I don't want to be climbing into tree stands that smell like mustard and salami. GOOD LUCK! See you in a couple of days. Respectfully, FNG.
Good luck Pat. i know of a couple dozen bruisers who have been taken seems like a great year for some antler growth.
Hunt the standing corn when possible
Good luck Pat. Do you have any photos of hit list for this outing?
Good luck fellas! Hope to see some big bucks on the ground
A annual feature that I always enjoy. Best of luck to you fellas. Safe hunting !!!!
Leaving to go to kansas next Friday!!! I can't wait!! Good luck pat , just had a buddy come back and said they were just starting to do some chasing. Should be perfect timing!!!!
Good luck, Pat. Always entertaining...
PS- Your #1 would be my #5. We all have our preferences!
how'd you get a tag ?
:(
I didn't for the 1st time in .... 10 or 11 years? missing Kansas 2015 :(
hold out for 200" Pat !!
Good luck.. I think you have your number 1 picture confused with another... LOL... Some awesome looking buck on those pics....
Always look forward to this one. Good luck guys!
It's kinda scary when the founder of the website (and IT guru extraordinaire) inserts a SIDEWAYS photo of a droptine buck.....I mean, come on, man, can't you give us 3-d holograms or something?!! ...let the pre-camp banter begin!!!! This is one of my favorite weeks of the year!!!
Dinks! Pat doesn't know this, but our great outfitter Kent has assured me that he has an even bigger one saved for me. Ha!
Laxative in the oatmeal will straighten them out. . At least you have a good excuse why you're not eating it.
Tom and Pat will prolly not hunt on Sundays cause they are not used to it.
A great annual tradition!!!
Good luck guys!!!
Who has the horseshoe?!
Mark
It's at least 11 AM where you are, and I am hoping for one of your mid-day updates. After all, you wouldn't want to disappoint all of your Bowsiters now, would you?
Set down the chicken salad, move away from the Bratwurst, and give us a Wednesday AM update.....
Have a great time guys!!!
Perfect. I'm hunting Kansas next week. Can't wait!!
The condo is a great stand. What do you guys think that nine would score? I bet that he would make a great meal for the local coyote population :-)
Been hunting five days out of glen elder and have seen exactly one buck. Was a shooter, but had about 35 seconds to try and shoot backwards in a treestand. He busted me when I tried to turn enough to get off a shot. That's the ONLY buck i've seen.. damn few does as well. Hot and windy. The worst conditions. The front mention gives a 20% chance of rain and temp of 61. It's colder in Las Vegas where i'm from. I have bug bites. This is November right???
I can't believe you didn't consider that first one that didn't come in a shooter!
If that 9-point had a matching right side, I think he might be a shooter.
Pat, Great photo in the tree with the camo that you have on. That stuff blends right in with the tree. Good luck. I will be following your hunt.
its just a matter time you know they are going to come in
Good luck guys--you have me fired up--I will be very close to y'all next week--if I can, I might swing by and drop off some debone chicken stuffed with crawfish etouffe or shrimp-- yum yum-- "get it done"
I am surprised that they got you in that stand....for years, you felt that you were cursed in that stand, and it has great memories for me.....That's the very stand where Tom fed the Coyotes......
Gene X 2 ....that Sitka pattern really does blend in nicely with that Cottonwood tree......
Where's the evening update? Looking forward to the report. Good luck guys.
Just noticed on the 2014 video posted for the hunt that the pile of corn is almost as big as Kansas. Do you guys have to haul the 200#'s of corn to the stand or does the outfitter do that before he drops you off?
It was two five gallon pails.....both about 3/4 full. That stand may be one of the most southern stands at CRO last year. When I hunt one of the more remote stands, I sometimes take an extra pail of corn. That way, it lasts longer.....in case it is a while before it gets refreshed. Most of the time, I would estimate that one pail of corn is used at the stands that use bait. The stands that have bait aren't rebaited every day or every couple days....we just take bait out with us when we are going to hunt that particular stand. If a stand hasn't been hunted for several days, it won't have any bait when we arrive. A modest amount of baiting is probably done for a week or two before hunters arrive, too....
Baiting is not legal where I live. it really is a different experience using bait. Decoying is fun too (remember the "Baruck" decoy a few years back?).....but using a 100% Polystyrene foam target is less "organic" for some people....whereas others aren't in favor of corn. I try not to get hung up on other peoples foibles.
If it doesn't look like a school bus exploded, your not trying. :)
..that would be a tad more than 50#, if they were heaping. :-)
Just trying to help. :-)
Things are starting to pop. I saw more fresh roadkills this morning than the previous week.
Pat's in one of the best areas of the state, the upcoming cool front should help, if it doesn't get too windy.
Are the "feed the coyotes" a reference to a lost buck?
Writer,
Both pails were about 3/4 full (about 15#-20# apiece). Read the 2013 thread for the explanation regarding the feed the coyotes comment.
Hey Watkins, that horseshoe is about to be very very cold. Good luck Pat. I hate that I'm missing my Kansas hunt this year. I'll be here living vicariously.
Do they put those piles of "yellow acorns" out there all fall or just while you're in the stand? Why don't they use feeders or maybe they do and they are just not in any pictures? Do these piles of corn work well when there's hundreds of acres of corn in close proximity? Just curious.
We're heading to KS Friday. Good luck guys!
The horseshoe is going to CANMORE!
That's my guess ;)
Good luck to the folks headed to Kansas.
Quinn,
Regarding corn, read my previous two posts.....
Yeah Quinn, many agree, not much hunting going on. Just sitting and waiting. Like any other guided whitetail hunt.
None the less, they are bowhunters and I do wish them luck.
Absolutely my favorite live hunt every year! Good luck, Pat.
Pat......why cant I get to the feature on Bowsite mobile?
Have fun and get a good one! C
Tom may be able to hunt with his crocs after all if it doesn't cool down.
Quinn,
Nick brings up a salient point. Years ago, when I was younger and more focused, this type of adventure would have been low on my list of considerations. After chasing the big game animals on this continent, I feel comfortable stating that after chasing sheep, goats, etc, that by comparison, this is not a difficult hunt....but darned if it isn't fun!!
For me personally, I get to share a camp with a couple very good friends. The outfitter is a great guy. The area is a target rich, and for those that have never hunted the midwest, the number and size of deer sometimes blows my mind.
I sense that as I age, my hunting has evolved. I don't train physically like I did. Instead, I seem to be more about the fellowship of being with good friends, sharing a hunting lodge and cooked meals prepared by us in a kitchen, rather than sleeping in a tent and living on trail mix and Mountain House. My previous experiences have given me a profound sense of appreciation.
However, despite the fact that the accomodations are comfortable, despite the fact that I see people everyday on this hunt, despite the fact that the food is not freeze dried, and despite the generous hunting regulations of this area, when I see antlers approaching my effective bow range, fortunately, I can STILL hear my pulse in my ears. For the moments that I switch into "kill mode", all of the compromises that occurred previously, are gone. I hope that Bowriter can recover his (see the thread "Is it gone?")
...and like Nick said, in those moments, it's not about guided versus DIY, it's not about compound versus recurve, and it's not about baited or decoyed versus spot and stalk.....it's about this passion that we call bowhunting.
So Pat.....what stand are you hunting in this morning?
Only if you don't tell me where the heck you are hunting this am...and what you are seeing......how's the weather?
CAS_HNTR, when on Mobile Bowsite, click on Big Game forum and scroll down to
Discuss our LIVE Kansas Whitetail Hunt thread.
Irrigation? Is that fog or is the dust kicking up a bit? If it is fog, then things must finally be a little cooler.....!!! leaves and trees aren't moving....gotta be fog!!
I have never hunted that one. I have the truck running in the garage and I don't leave for the airport until tomorrow morning. And yes Nedly I have packed the Crocs. Not sure I am comfortable with all of this "evolved" BS. I had better pack a ball bat as well.
It promises to be a fun week.....Calvary Creek?....damn, missed that one.....any song dogs? Isn't that where you filmed the bobcat "sparring" with a spike a few years back?
I've had some great duck and turkey hunts along Calvary Creek near Coldwater. Great area...major envy heading your way.
Thanks for the mid-day update on the feature!!
Awesome guys. Have a great week. Jake, I for one LOVE your new sensitive side. :)
Jake Great post. You certainly have nothing to prove to anyone. Even without those accomplishments, it is indeed about the sport we share called bow hunting.
Good luck out there guys. Hope you all have a great hunt Dave
Cool front just hit this evening here in KS. Should start to get good anytime now...
Jake, hope the rest of the trip goes smooth. I saw 20 plus deer on my way to camp tonight! Be careful.
Good luck and hope you kill one bigger than my yard buck!
Oh and tell Pat I am better looking than he is:)
What's the expected weather conditions today Pat?
I could tell you, Smoothie, but I'm not Pat.
Ditto Thorton observations.
Thanks for the heads up, writer. Good to know.
No prob, Smooth...
Gotten some good rut reports from yesterday afternoon and this morning.
Things are starting to crank. Bad winds early next week, even for Kansas.
come one Pat, get a mobile hunt going so we can see realtime pics of your boots! FYI, you are not missing much at home, slow here with this extreme heat.
"One down"... And no updates on the page for today. C'mon Pat... Your leaving us hanging like a chad ;)
Whatcha get a crack at?
Hope the trail was smooth and quick!
Excited to hear the updates!
Someone fell out of the stand?
that last entry (evening of 11/6) even got me excited- and I've never even hunted whitetails on purpose-
it's just a matter of time you know something will visit. you normally wait until the end anyway.
Is Pat hunting with a Outfitter or on a lease ?
Pat needs to hurry up and shoot a big one. I had more excitement eating my blueberry coffee crumbcake this morning than following this thread
No update today, they must be tracking or dragging.
Ok Pat, I'll play. Did you or didn't you shoot the buck?
I say you did?
Yep that's a last chance buck.
I'm looking forward to the blood trail challenge.....
C'mon, please tell me you shot him!?!
Good luck Pat. Hoping for a last day kill! C
4th quarter and 3 minutes left in the game!
We are counting on you studs to make it happen and keep us entertained! Im in the office today and my ADDHD is kicking in real bad....
Somehow I just cant picture 7' 5" Jake in a blind!
You out there Tom?
Good luck guys!
Mark
Looks identical to a buck I encountered on my farm last week
Making me miss Kansas this year! Bummer about the weather though. Hope to see you gitter done today Pat.
He hit it in the "void". Expect an I can't find my buck thread.
2 of the 3 hunters has had possession of the golden horse shoe. the third doesn't require its magical powers. I predict success
Hope Pat did too.
Weather says its just a touch Breezy out there today. Wouldn't want to be in a tree gusting over 30mph. That gets me puckered.
Great deer. He passed. Has many better last day or not.
Dumb question. The link to learn more about the "oval office" brings me tona Summit treestand page. Or is it supposed to? I was expecting a story about a previous hunt.
I think Pat shot this deer or someone else in camp shot a deer and either party now maybe having a tough tracking job. No updates since this morning I am hoping for a happy ending for Pat's hunt.
That buck he passed will be a beauty next year if everyone thinks like Pat did. Good Move !
I am guessing he passed and shot a giant an hour later!
I hunted south of Topeka last week and the weather was exactly as what Pat's experienced. The last morning, it was 63 degrees at 5:00 AM!! 63 degrees at 5:00 in the morning on the 4th of November! 63 degrees! Not surprisingly, nothing was moving.
There were lots of deer on the trail cams, including some great bucks, but every single one of the photos was taken in the middle of the night. None during the day.
Wednesday was my last day and about :45 before dark, two young bucks appeared behind a bushy tree about 30-35 yards away. They were pushing and shoving each other playfully until it was almost completely dark.
They finally emerged from behind the tree and I decided I wanted some great venison to take home. I couldn't see the color of my pins, but I could make out my pins, if just barely. In another minute or two, that would not have been possible.
I took the shot and heard the hit, but it was too dark to see the arrow or where it hit. He took off like a shot, but piled up very quickly. The arrow hit him where you dream of hitting when you drop the string, so I'll have some great eating as a result.
I'll be back next year, only later in the month.
Dumb question. The link to learn more about the "oval office" brings me tona Summit treestand page. Or is it supposed to? I was expecting a story about a previous hunt.
Bummer Pat. Been there. Done that.
I appreciate your honesty bringing great hunts to us with great outcomes most of the time and once in a while things don't work out how we like.
Last year we had the artic blast, this year the toaster - what will next year bring?
Ouch it happens time for an adult beverage and regroup for next year Lewis
I am hunting public walk in right now, I would not of passed that deer on public. On private I would of had to think about it, all of about two seconds and I would of shot him on private too. He is still a 150" buck. I blew a chance at a 150" buck Friday evening but I have been into bucks everyday. I am hunting far NW Kansas. I have another 10 days to get it done. Talked to a local who missed a 170" deer yesterday afternoon and he was on a doe. It is starting up good and hopefully the big guys get into the action soon. Shawn
Thanks for bringing us the hunt, so close.
That's tough Pat. Better luck next year.
Thanks for sharing your hunt Pat. I always appreciate that your hunts are "real". You tell it like it is. Hot, cold, great shot, heart break. That is real bowhunting and it is so much better than the TV hunts. Thank you.
Greatly appreciate the "I blew it," honest, Pat.
Unlike many, you didn't blame it on the deer jumping the string, the deer suddenly bolting, a freak 13.6 magnitude earthquake hitting just as you released the string so you "shaved hair" over the buck's back.
Nva...no gurantees what coming later in the month might do.
In November, we can have 80 degrees, 8-below windchill, searing drought, and Noah- like floods...and that's all before lunch! :-)
+2 Writer!!! Thanks for the factual account of your hunt Pat.
Jake, Tom, we need to hear from you guys.....I got so "bored" at the office, I just had to go hunt today:)
Mark
Mark,
I had a great morning. I hunted a stand called the pipeline. At 7:30am, I had a real nice 10 pt come in. I didn't have to ponder....definite shooter. He just never gave me a shot.....About 30 minutes later, I had a MASSIVE 8 pt at 42 yards. He was chasing does and never headed my way.
I saw two other big bucks, but they were far enough away that I wasn't certain if it was another buck or if it was one of the bucks that I had already seen.
Tomorrow is supposed to be SUPER windy...they have a high wind advisory in effect from 8 am to 4 pm. Hopefully, Tom and I get an opportunity before we have to nail ourselves to the tree!
Sorry about the tough situation Pat. It's happened to all of us. Get back in the saddle.
What a heartbreaker Pat. I really appreciate you candidness and honesty. I believe you will get redemption.
Waiting on Jake and Tom to settle some score for the team. Good luck fellows.
Pat thanks for the great live hunt. Appreciate your honesty. Not easy to hunt "on stage." Best of luck to you in CT this year too
Dave
Pat, You said the buck was directly below? That is a very tough shot for any Archer. Missed a deer clean like that and it deove me nuts. I found directly below I always shoot to far forward. It sounds from your article and by the looks of the blood that it was a forward in front of the shoulder shot. Tracked Two deer hit like that for friends and both got away with one to be killed three days later. Sorry to hear about the luck and thanks for the story.
I've been rutting so hard I've forgot to watch this hunt. What have I told you guys in the past about hunting the first 2 weeks of Nov? Don't do it...3rd week, it's always the 3rd week when the weather turns colder for good..the big boys get of the home girls and start traveling...3rd week..GOT IT...lol...seriously I've enjoyed reading the thread tonight. Bummer on the bad hit Pat..it's a crappy feeling I know but I think he will live to. Tough critters.best wishes guys..safe travels back home..THIRD WEEK next year..lol
Pat, Too bad about losing that buck. I clean missed one just like that last year.He was just yards away, quartering away and I missed him clean. My partner hit one last year that we tracked for over a mile and that buck (11 point dressed 185) died when we jumped him after running another 100 yards. It was a low hit that clipped one lung. I am not so sure the buck you hit will survive but I hope so. I know that you gave it your all.
Maybe a December return is in the cards
They are predicting some BIG wind tomorrow. Tonight is the last night that Tom can hunt. We're hoping that the deer are active tonight, because they can probably sense the front that is approaching. I am hunting the tree belt, across the road from the junkyard....and Tom is hunting the pipeline. It's rather warm, and wind is already picking up slightly, but we just need one good buck (apiece) to walk within range.
I saw five bucks this am. All were eight points in the 90"-120" range. The 120"-er intercepted some does that were under my tree....I could hear him grunting from quite a ways away.
Tom had some small bucks come in, but no shooters. Around 10:15 he saw a large racked buck moving through the woods at the pipeline, but he never got a better look at the buck. That's all for now....will post more after dark.
Pat, I am sorry that you lost that nice buck. As everyone knows you haven't done much deer hunting if something like that happens every once in a while.
I hunted the tree belt tonight. Never saw a deer. Tom hunted the pipeline stand. He saw a seven pt and several does. Well after legal shooting light had passed, Tom saw a very large 8 pt that is definitely a shooter. I would guess him to be a 140-ish buck. It is supposed to be REALLY windy tomorrow...but when the wind dies down, things may be very active.
"Tonight is the last night that Tom can hunt."
Tell him take the next plane to AK or... wherever.... this is just getting good.... =D
Buckle up tomorrow boys....
Hunting the oval office this morning. Wind direction is a bit "iffy" right now, but when it switches to the NW like it is supposed to, we'll be golden.
This stand is probably 25'-30' in the air....so it is quite the rodeo from time to time. Have seen four does as of 8:45 am....no antlers yet.
Smoking fresh scrape at my seven o'clock....5 yards.
did Jake or Tom get anything.
Those windy "rodeo" days in the trees are always a treat!:)....especially the all dayers!
Good luck in Alaska Tom! Got horseshoe???
Thanks for documenting and taking us along you guys!
Mark
You guys gave it a great shot in tough conditions. Way to hang in there.
Jake,
Thanks for keeping us on board after Pat's departure. Sorry ya'll's hunt was a wash this year, but what a record ya'll have there !!
Best of luck to Tom in Alaska. Looking forward to his future posts.
That buck had a death wish I guess the allure of free corn was stronger than his survival instinct. I know in NJ a buck that old would never even come to bait the first time let alone after being shot over bait. Wow. Where did the kill shot hit I done see any holes through vitals???
Good closure on a great buck!
Pat, do you think you hit one lung or all brisket?
Mark
Also, how did the wound look? Were there signs of infection?
Tough critter. No wonder there was such a good blood trail initially! I'm with Mark, would love to see a picture of the inside of the chest cavity.
Wow! Looks like Mr. Andrew deployed the ole hamblaster on that buck. If you look in the hero shot you can see blood coming off of the rear quarter. Glad someone took him.
Close but no cigar there Pat! Sorry about the tough luck. Glad another hunter got him instead of the coyotes. Thanks for sharing these Kansas hunts!
Possibly nicked the bottom of 1 lung or the back of the heart? By the angle it looks like it would have penetrated the chest cavity but exited behind the brisket, be interesting to know if the diaphragm was hit too.
Pat did the outfitter let you know if it slid down the rib's and over the brisket just under the skin? that's what it looks like to me, just curious. Amazing to think that even a half inch higher and you may have gone into the chest and had yourself a heck of a deer.
Very cool to see it out and about - and that someone had the honor of taking it.
I'm guessing that arrow slid along the rib cage and never penetrated the body cavity. As someone else said "Two inches higher and dead deer!" Glad there is closure.
Tough hunt guys -- I went and dropped off some food but you (Pat) had just left and Jake was still in his stand on that windy day--until next year -- I will wrap up my hunt this weekend-- I am in a tree now waiting on a good one -- lots of chasing by young bucks -- fingers cross
I don't see any other wounds to the chest cavity? But obviously buck bled out the mouth, even a puddle where it would seem his mouth was where he went down. Maybe hunter hit the far side we can't see in the pics? Maybe an over the hip shot quartering away shot with no exit?
Interesting. Cool story. Tough critters. I'd like to know about the shot that kilt him almost as much as the one that almost did.....
If there was ever a "void" on whitetails that is it. They bleed like crazy but keep going when shot just behind the leg and low like that. Just not much there vitak wise. Lost one in 2010 to exact same shot and Winke had one on video almost a carbon copy of that this week. Didn't recover either. Fascinating to see how tough they are. Glad he was recovered and a cool story. Thanks for sharing.
Hawkeye: I have hit all kinds of "voids" on deer:) They are simply amazingly tough beasts. Always good to have some closure. Pat, Good luck in NY!! C
andrew should thank you. you were just softening that old boy up so the next guy could polish him off.
Good to have the closure Pat. It's a matter of inches and it's amazing how it can be the difference between killing him or just piercing him. He's a beautiful tall buck and I'm glad we know the outcome.
"I have hit all kinds of "voids" on deer:)
Ha ha ha. Amen Charlie. Me too:(
Part of this story poses a very interesting question for me. How do you effectively stop cruising bucks for a shot? I am a relative newbie at this whitetail hunting and had a few opportunities at nice deer this week but could not get them to stop when I needed them to. Is there a secret or what? Very frustrating! Thx
a verbal "meh" works - sometimes
a whistle will
I like to place a scent rag where I expect the deer to stop - a strong scent and that will work
sometimes they just won't stop too
I tried the "Meh" thing, I mean it works every time on TV right? Not!! I finally did yell "Hey!!" at one but of course he stopped behind a tree....It's amazing how transfixed they are on a hot does trail!
I have found that if I simply yell "whoa" they usually stop long enough for a shot. Some bucks simply will not stop.
Nice ending to the story. Glad Kent got him. Amazing indeed he came back. How many pints of blood do you think he lost on your hit?
My Kansas hunt was tough this year also, just too hot and a public land hunt. I'm impressed that Pat was as forthright about his mistake, it happens. Nice to have closure. Mike
what was the score on that buck?
Unless you are a passionate, ethical hunter, nobody can understand the heartfelt compassion and demoralizing emotional rollarcoaster of wounding a deer. At that point it has nothing to do with what the buck would've scored or lost venison, but everything to do with not having the deer suffer in any way. Glad to hear the buck was taken within a day of being wounded and although it's a tough pill to swallow, we all know you are too Pat. Thanks again for sharing your experience. Always learning on this site.
