Killing Lefty: A Journal
Whitetail Deer
I first discovered Lefty back in 2016. He broke all my rules about getting excited over a 2 year old. Lots of times, I don't even pay much attention to 2 year old buck pictures, because I can't differentiate between 100 inch 8 points. And lots of time, they disappear.
Lefty, however, was a little exciting to me.
This picture is the first picture I ever got of Lefty back in 2016. Notice the notch in his right ear, that will confirm he's the same buck throughout the years
I never saw Lefty in 2016. I wouldn't have shot him, but I would have tried to get some cell phone video or pics
More 2016 pictures . . . .
Lefty in 2017
Lefty in 2017
On to 2017. I was interested to see Lefty show back up on camera. Again, notice the notch in the right ear. Again, I never saw Lefty in 2017. I didn't hunt the farm much in 2017. Maybe just 10-12 hunts on this farm. I was concentrating on a couple different bucks on 2 other farms, so I didn't hunt my normal farm much.
I was really excited, and hopeful that Lefty would make it through the 2017 season.
Couple more 2017 pictures. I did get some daylight pics of Lefty in 2017, but not a lot. I got the sense that Lefty spends a lot of time off of this particular farm. I believe he actually spends a lot of time on a different part of this farm that I don't hunt, because the landowners spend a lot of time on that portion, so I kinda stay away from there and give them their space
Lefty in 2018
Lefty in 2018
So now it's 2018. I pulled cams back in January, and actually, Lefty had disappeared off the cams after November. I was a little worried.
I had some limited summer cams out, and got a couple really bad early pictures of Lefty still in velvet. Don't have them on this computer, so I was excited to see he made it. But I had no idea what he'd be this year.
I haven't hunted yet this year. I had my gallbladder removed on September 24th, and my surgeon said no lifting (or pulling a bow) over 15 lbs for 6 weeks.
So... You need someone to come in and take this Lefty character out?
So my 6 weeks will almost be up around Halloween, and that is when I intend to start hunting seriously for Lefty. I intend to use this thread as a live journal over the year of my hunt for Lefty. if I'm unsuccessful, which is most likely, I will continue into 2019, if Lefty makes it . . .
This is a large farm, mostly hardwood ridges. I have 8 prepared stands that I feel Lefty is most likely to walk by. I have about 20 other stands on the place, some of which I'll undoubtably hunt throughout the rut, as he could walk anywhere. But actually I believe if I kill him, it will be out of one of 3 stands I have in mind for him.
I also have some ideas for mobile setups on different parts of the farm as well that I believe him to be using. So it should be a fun year.
I may not hunt Lefty on every hunt. I have a couple other farms where I don't run cams for theft purposes, and also because they have far smaller security cover, and I believe intrusion is a much bigger deal on those farms. I could potentially find a bigger buck on one of those farms and forget all about Lefty this year. We'll see
Lefty is 4 years old this year, I believe that with about a 90% certainty based upon the last 3 years of pics. I'm a sucker for a talented 4 year old. Just not quite to a place in my hunting career that I can pass a mid-140s 4 year old.
I'll check back in around Halloween, with my first hunt for Lefty. I'm literally counting the days. . . .
Good luck Bake! I’ve never hunted a specific buck but it seems like he’s “the man”!
You're gonna kill him. I have faith in you, Blane. Look forward to seeing more reports. Good luck!
Quatro in 2016
Quatro in 2016
I had another 2 year old on the farm in 2016 that I was REALLY excited about. . . Quatro. But he disappeared after 2016.
I keep hoping he'll show back up. But who knows what happened to him. Dead on the road. Sickness. Or just pulled up stakes and moved. Wish he'd come back
Besides finding another buck on a different farm. Another thing that could derail the hunt for Lefty is if “Tex” walks by. Tex is 5. He needs to go. He’s looked the same almost every year.
I’ve passed him up twice. Once in 2015, and once in 2016. He won’t be safe this year if he walks by :)
Man, the way this thread started, I figured you'd arrowed him early season. Come to find out you're gonna pull a Scoot on us!
JK. I look forward to following along. GL Blane .
Ditto Ike! You can't start a thread like this with "Killing"! Interesting stuff, good luck.
Maybe a little wishful thinking in the thread title :) :)
Good luck on your quest, Bake. It’s very satisfying when you can close the deal on a deer that you have a history with.
Also, it would sure be nice to know what happens to some of those “up-n-comers” that disappear.
Good luck bud! Glad you're getting healthy at prime time!
Maybe we’ll get lucky and Tex will trot by first! Give us another year for lefty!
Good luck Bake. I have a similar story about a buck named Stuby. It all worked out and I killed him in 2016 as a 4 1/2 year old. Funny thing is after you put so much time into a specific animal, when I walked up on him where he lay, I’ll admit, I did have a moment. Good luck and can’t wait to follow along!!
"Ya know, for a bunch of bowhunters we sure have an impatient group of guys around here."
There's a huge difference between being patient WHILE hunting and being patient FOR hunting :)
"I haven't hunted yet this year. I had my gallbladder removed on September 24th, and my surgeon said no lifting (or pulling a bow) over 15 lbs for 6 weeks."
I know your frustrations, I don't have a great buck to chase ( that I know of), but on the sidelines as well. Detached retina in left eye, surgery 9/21. Patiently waiting for clearance to drive and lift more than ten pounds. Already missed a full month of the season. Good luck with Lefty and recovery.
Good luck Bake. May all your dreams come true!
Good luck Bake late October is a great time to be in the woods. I had shoulder surgery and that's probably when I will start as well.
We're all getting old ! Too damn many ailments during bow season. I have to have my pacemaker replaced next Monday and I'm not looking forward to it. I'm gonna make my first bowhunt of the season this Saturday and that will be it for at least a week after surgery, if then. I'll have to ask the doc.
Good luck with Lefty Bake, I hope for dead deer pics !
Good luck! Those deer that you have history with, are always more fun. Sometimes more challenging too!
I will be following this! What a cool buck - it has to be "lefty" or I want a refund! Looks like he had his biggest jump I growth 2016, although a little more in 2017 but not that quantum leap bucks get around age 5... I think you are looking at a 6.5 year old buck IMHO. Good luck!!!
I’d like to feel good at this game of hunting one specific buck, but the fact is I fail more often than not. I chased Ocho, pictured above, pretty hard for two seasons until he disappeared as a 5 year old. I saw him 3 times over 3 years. Missed him once the last year he was around, and he went missing right after. I believe he followed his doe that day onto the neighbor and was killed.
Funny. Ocho disproved the night-time scrape theory more often than not. I have a couple hundred pics of him working scrapes. Most of them during the day. Some of them were field edge scrapes he was working in mid to late October as a 5 year old.
At least one of these scrapes was in a high traffic area for gun hunters and cattle checkers. Scrape was on the ATV path. Didn’t matter. He’d check it and work it during the day. Sometimes just hours after an ATV had passed by.
Cool thread. Thanks for taking us along and good luck
Very cool thread, I will definitely be following along!
Cool thread. I'll be following along.
"...when I walked up on him where he lay, I’ll admit, I did have a moment."
I would likely be the same way.
Good luck, Bake!
I'll enjoy following this.....good luck.
Great stuff Bake!!!
Good luck and thanks for bringing us along!!!
Mark
Good luck! Looking forward to getting to tag along in this thread. Hunting specific bucks is special.
What do they say, concerning the JOURNEY and not the destination. my best, Paul
Stupid question. Why is he called Lefty when his right ear is missing the tip?:)
Good luck with him Blane. I would love to have a specific buck to hunt right now, only happened for me 3-4 times. Good looking buck.
I named him for his wonky, at 2 years old, left antler. Lefty just sounds better than Righty too
Agreed. Lefty sounds better. Now you need a deer named Poncho to go with lefty
Don’t rat me out to my doctor bowsite . . . I just couldn’t handle it. I’m in a stand I call the Y set. Because it’s where a old road through the timber splits. Lots of acorns on the ground. Wind is perfect. It’s on the edge of where I think Lefty travels. Probably won’t see a deer. But it’s fairly low impact, and the wind is great. We shall see
I thought about it. Easy place to drag one out. But probably better not break doctors orders for a doe. It was tempting though. I want some snack sticks
Kinda regretting that decision. Would be really nice to have some snack sticks for all day November sits. . .
Snack sticks are good...........
2 does and an armadillo. Pretty standard October sit for this farm. It was nice to get out though
Well, guess I'll be making snack sticks tomorrow. Still got some venison from last year that needs to be eaten. Best of luck, Blane!
Glad to see you made it out Bake. Looking forward to following this thread. Good luck!
Starting about now, I stop checking cameras unless I happen to walk by them while walking into or out of stands. Checked two cameras tonight. . . . Here’s Lefty!
And one of those young up and comers that you hope make it another year or two
You're on him. Lefty's down to double digit days of life expectancy.
You cheated Bake...I wish I had too. My doc says I can resume normal activity on Sat. with no restrictions. I asked if I can shoot my bow right now. NO, wait till Sat. :o(
Not really a choice anyway, my truck fuse box burnt up AND my wife's trailblazer blew the tranny. Both vehicles had to be towed yesterday. When it rains, it pours.
Since you cheated.....I'm rooting for Lefty. ;o)
Brian M., I didn't technically cheat, because I never drew my bow :) Really, it's the bow drawing that they don't want me to do.
But Idyll pointed out to me that I'm probably good to go, and to breathe while drawing :) So I figure I'm good
Good luck with your vehicle troubles, and I hope you can get out hunting soon
Truck is fixed, Trailblazer is junk. Wife already looking at a Jeep.
And Saturday be damned, I'm heading out to a stand in the morning.
First morning hunt of the year. Sitting a stand for Lefty.
Wind is perfect for this stand. Drizzling now. Has been raining since 3 am or so. 45 degrees when I left the truck.
4 new scrapes I can see from my tree. Hats always a little encouraging.
I don’t know why everyone posts boot pics. But if the cool kids do it . . . ;)
Make it 5 fresh scrapes. 37, 33, 24, 5, and 4 yards from me.
Wind is a little squirrelly.
Love those conditions. I can almost smell the dirt and hear the rain drops.
Good luck Bake!
Forgot the obligatory boot pic
Them’s some scruffy lookin boots there, Bake:-). Good luck!
Dang bud, you gotta lift those feet aaaaaalll the way over the barbed wire lol. Good luck! I'll be into my first morning sit on the weekend as well. All them scrapes sound like a great place for a cam. Excited for you!
Just shoot one already. Jeeze
—jim
I just released an arrow. It felt terrible
Did i mention this stand is on a ridge near a favored turkey roosting site?
Hens are easy to draw on out of a stand. Gobblers, not so much . . .
15 or so toms. Course they caught me drawing at 20. I settled and took a quick shot. Missed clean.
It’s been slow. Haven’t seen a deer. And the toms were gonna walk right under me and spook anyways. So I figured I might as well give them a reason
Uh oh... action. Refresh... refresh... refresh...
Sometimes I really hate turkeys.
Good luck, Bake, it's time!
Pretty cool thread glad you are taking the time to share.... Good luck!!!
Good luck Bake. I have taken 5 turkeys with a bow during fall deer sits but it's been 6 years or so since the last one. I think they are getting smarter every year.
Moving late today. Just saw 2 does and a 10 pt. Think the 10 was the young buck posted above. Didn’t get a real good look. He was a ways off.
I’m done. Wind is wanting to switch out of the north. Supposed to do that later I thought. I’d like to check a couple cams and sneak out before it fully switches
Got the beast loaded. Should be at work soon. Hopefully have some cam pics update soon
5 year old Tex working a scrape in broad daylight . . .
You make me want to go hunting. Sat a little last night but didn't see anything. I've got a nagging shoulder ache that I've been trying to get healed up. Been able to shoot a little and am keeping everything under 20 yards.
Good luck Bake. By the way I like that name it was my dad's nickname.
Good luck Bake...Kill one of those critters!
You wouldn't pass up Tex, would you?
I would kill Tex in a heartbeat. I know he has to be 5 at the least. I passed him up in 2015, right before killing a bigger buck. They ran in together in response to a rattling sequence. I passed him up again later that year as he trailed a doe.
Here's how he looked in 2015
Tex has a beautiful cape on him. Good luck, Bake!
Just got in. In a stand called Lowball Flat. Lowball because it’s only about 10 feet off the ground. Flat because it’s in an area I call The Flat. A converging hub where a number of ridges converge. It’s a good area. For a rifle hunter. It’s a big area. Several acres in extent. I’m off to the side. Usually lots of scrapes in this area. Killed a good buck here in 2015. We’ll see
It’s not been a great beginning. I got a mile from the truck, in the ranger, and realized I’d forgotten my bow in the truck. I’ve never done that before
Then I got 100 yards from the ranger and realized I’d left my bow in the ranger. I’ve never done that before
So apparently my subconscious is telling me I won’t need my bow this morning.
Shorter sit than I’d like. I need to be in the office by 11. So I’ll leave a hair after 10.
Sometimes that can work in your favor. Stay alert, ‘ol lefty might show up any time now!
No go today. Did see two separate chases though. One was a young 8 point chasing a single doe, the other I never saw what was chasing. Just saw the does running, and heard the grunting.
Will probably be in the same stand in the morning. Lots of activity in this area, just not a ton while I was there.
Good luck !!! I am excited to see how this unfolds... I am on a quest for a buck we have had for 4 seasons, so I can relate! Things are really starting to heat up out there!
I’m back after Lefty. I hunted him this morning, and even though the weather was great, it’s been slower than a CT live hunt here (sorry CT guys ;) ), so I didn’t post
It’s now sunny and 79 degrees. Basically sucks. But I’m in a tree perched over an access road that lefty travels a lot. At night usually. But there’s an active scrape at 22 yards, and this would be a good place to shoot a doe because it’s out on the fringe and very low impact.
And you can’t shoot one from the couch.
Don’t expect any blood tonight.
Ha ha! Bake got jokes too. ;)
I got blanked tonight. I was sitting a stand 22 yards from this active scrape. Lefty. Only night-time pics so far.
I’m off for a while now. I’ll be back at it on Wednesday and Thursday and Saturday this week
Fun thready to follow. Hope you get a close encounter with Lefty. I'd shoot Tex in a NY-minute. His cape is absolutley beautiful. He's gorgeous.
Sounds like a great Mob story. "Tex takes a broad head for Lefty! Lefty hides out in the deep woods until the (Bake'ing) heat passes!"
Good luck Bake. Lofty goals can bring rich rewards!
still watching! Good luck Bake
Big buck, Bake! You've got this!
Screw Tex....you need to kill Lefty! He looks much bigger in these pics!
Back after him. In the same stand I missed the turkey out of last week.
Have already had some action. Little doe came by, followed by a chase. Couldn’t see the buck. But he was grunting and made one snort wheeze.
It is getting good now!!!
Forget about Tex. Stay on Lefty! Thanks for bringing us along!
It’s embarrassingly slow. I haven’t seen an animal for 2 1/2 hours. Not even a squirrel.
You have to post pics of your view to the four directions and at least once hear rustling that turns out a be a small mammal. That's protocol and nothing can happen till then.
See that’s the thing, all 4 directions are endless hardwoods. ;).
I’m out. Have an appt to get some new truck tires, and I need to work some this afternoon
still watchin - good luck!
I think you’re going to kill Lefty. Hold out and hang in there!
Couple pretty pics from cams around my stand this morning. This is Pearl. He's a beautiful young buck. This scrape is 33 yards from the stand I was in the this morning.
And here's Tex working a scrape in the daylight again
And what do we have HERE!!!! Is that LEFTY?!?!? In the daylight?!
I've got stand about 60 yards from this dried pond. There's a ton of activity around this little dried pond this year. As I walked out I scoped it out for stands. I've got some LW Alpha's hanging in the garage. . . . .
Another daytime pic of Lefty. Working a scrape here. Just 27 yards from a treestand.
This would have never worked. The direction he's walking from, I'd have spooked him walking into this stand if I'd have tried it that day. Hmmmmm
He's walking in the daytime though. That's a good sign
You've got this. He's up and around in the daylight, now if you can get a pattern down you should get your chance.
I wish like crazy these deer had patterns. I've hunted this farm since 1996. On average, for the last 10 years, between deer/turkey/predator/scouting/fun, I spend portions of probably 60-70 days a year on this place. I run cameras. Spend a lot of time here in late winter and the spring, etc. I've never managed to pattern a single deer.
The problem with this place is also it's major asset. . . . it has a TON of escape cover. I have permission on a total of 700-800 acres, about 500 or so is wooded. There are some deep hollows that are thick, and are perfect escape cover. There is some clover in the fields ( a lot of clover this year), and there are mast-producing trees everywhere.
While there are areas that are thick that I think deer like to bed, the problem is that deer will bed anywhere on this place. Especially pre-rifle season.
With no concentrated food sources, and thick bedding type areas all over the place. . . patterning a deer is impossible. I try to pattern tendencies of deer to use certain locations. Most of my stands are travel routes that I know deer like to use, but their use is always sporadic. And given the nature of the terrain, picking the right stand for a day is sometimes like throwing a dart at a spinning wheel.
My tactic in the past with hunting a specific buck is to try to figure out the places he's most likely to visit (and I do that through scouting, and cameras), and spend as much time as I possibly can in those places. Hopefully I'm there at the right time at some point. It doesn't always work. But it's worked enough to give me a little confidence :)
But I'm also learning all the time. Trying to become better at this great chess game
Back after Lefty after a short hiatus. I haven’t been to this spot on the farm since October 31. On the first I hunted this farm, but half a mile away.
Front has moved through. It’s just kinda drizzly here now. Hope to see some deer out of the Y set tonight.
Spooked a doe and dawn walking in. Always hate that.
Curious . . . Haven’t seen twin fawns this year. Two separate farms 30 miles apart. All the does I’ve seen have one fawn on them. Usually see twins
OK, be cool. Just keep repeating to yourself; "...only Lefty, only Lefty..."
The hazards of big timber. As hard as you try, stuff will still get downwind.
Just had a little doe and button buck at 30 yards catch my wind. Fortunately, they were nice enough to just run off instead of blowing and making a big racket
There’s some chasing to my front. I can’t see a buck. Just see some deer running back and forth. Being nudged around.
Rut fest. 5 bucks chasing a doe. I’ve heard 20 snort wheezes
No arrows fired. Lefty was a no show
Saw your comment about deer getting down wind of you in the timber. I’m in Missouri too and started using that Nose Jammer stuff, not saying it’ll mask all scents or anything but I’ve had luck with it this year. Every deer that gets down wind smells it, try’s to figure out what the smell is, but I’ve yet to have one bust out and blow because it winded me. Worth a try in my opinion if you haven’t already. Good luck chasin lefty!!!
Funny you should mention Nose Jammer Schmitty. . . I use that stuff and really like it. I REALLY like it for walk in paths
I think it works about 50-60% of the time. Even when it doesn't work, I don't have full blowouts it seems. They usually stand there a while testing the wind, you can watch them do it with their nose in the air, then they'll turn and bound off, but not too far before they settle down.
I'm a believer in it for sure. It's the only "scent" product I use
Me too. Gave up on doe pee and buck lures awhile ago. Your experiences seem to be about like mine. Haven’t had a deer smell my boot path and bolt in awhile either. I’ve actually had multiple deer this year follow my trail to my ladder and lick the residue left from spraying it on my boots. When the stuff first came out I really tried to dismiss that it could even work, but I’ve just had too many times where the deer know something doesn’t smell right but just can’t seem to figure it out and eventually they just move on.
Back after Lefty this morning. In a stand already.
I laid eyes in Lefty. I walked 30!yards away from him in the dark. Bedded with a doe.
Talk about a kick to the short hairs . . .
The good news is that they didn’t spook. They bounced off a couple yards. I kept walking.
They’re not downwind of me in this tree. They are 150 yards away. And there is a satellite buck. Hopefully they wander this way
Lefty looks awesome in person
Get him, Blane! Good luck and sure hope you catch up to him!
Very slow so far. 2 coyotes is all I’ve seen from the stand
Tex just chased a doe by at 7 yards. I couldn’t get him stopped for a shot
He grunted every time his feet touched the ground
I’ve heard more grunting and snort wheezing this year than ive heard in the last 20 years combined
Good luck today. Lefty is yours if you can hold out! But then Tex is no slouch either. Tough to be in your shoes.
Nah, not really. Lol.
I’d have killed him. ;). This picture drops off into a nasty thick hollow. They came out of there. FAST! It happened so fast I can’t remember now whether I drew my bow ;)
I think I did, but they were here and gone in a flash!!
Should have mentioned. They circled back into the hollow. And the does fawn is bedded 60 yards out. So I’m hopeful
Just heard a “roar” from down in the hollow. Betting it was Tex. I’ve heard him do that before
There it was again!
Nope. He’s a no show. I’m here until noon then I have to go. My daughter has a doctors appointment
I’ll be back, probably in this tree, tomorrow
10:53 and a young 8 cruises by
Beautiful spot. Tough to beat the deep timber in November. Keep at it!
I rarely hunt the same tree so much, but I plan to be back in the same tree tomorrow. I don't want people to think I have only 1 or 2 stands :)
Wind was ENE today. Supposed to be WNW tomorrow. Doesn't really work for this stand, but this is the last day of bow season before the orange onslaught. So I'm going to drive clear over the other side of the farm and circle in from the other direction and hunt the tree again
Pretty good activity around here. Seeing Lefty and Tex within 150 yards of this stand, both on hot or nearly hot does. . . . I think I gotta be back in this tree. It is 40 yards from the edge of where the hollow begins and drops off. There's a great edge here, and the ridge top just comes together for cruising (I hope) . . .
We shall see in the morning
Very interesting and suspenseful thread going here Bake. Best of luck.
Good luck tomorrow man, enjoying the hunt!
Excellent tale!
Loving these updates! Very well told as well, I feel like I am right there with you with all the sights, sounds and smells of November in the whitetail woods.
Hope Lefty makes a visit for you tomorrow. Sounds like you are right in party central!
Good luck!
Back in the same tree. 32 degrees when I left the truck. Skiff of snow on the ground.
Didn’t walk by any bedded bucks this morning.
Little forkie just cruised by with his nose to the ground. Saw the same buck 3 times yesterday morning
I think this is only the 3rd time in 25ish years that I’ve hunted in the snow in November.
Snow??? That looks like a heavy frost in Colorado :>)
Get 'em Bake!
Wow!!! Beautiful spot to be this morning. Best of luck to you Bake.
I’m sitting in a blind, a few thousand miles from you, using your hunt to pass the time on mine. Good luck today and if you have the chance to pull the trigger on either Lefty or Tex, I’m sure neither would dissapount. Shoot straight!
Been a nice parade so far. Yesterday they moved late. Today it’s early.
The tally so far is 16 does, 3 little bucks.
Bake, are you doing any antler rattling or buck grunting, doe bleating? My best, Paul
Good luck Bake! Great thread! I am looking forward to seeing a picture with you and Lefty or Tex.
Paul, I’m staying quiet. I’ve had some luck in the past with calling. But I feel like I spook more deer than I call in.
Since there’s a boot blankets discussion ever year . . .
My feet are cold now. But not badly. It’s not uncomfortable. Just is
But, it’s cause I had to wear rubber boots (snow and wet)and my feet sweat in those suckers. I HATE rubber boots
I thought about packing in my uninsulated boots, but didn’t feel like packing and me more thing
11:13 and a really pretty 8 just came in and worked a scrape and cruised by at 12 yards
Now if lefty or Tex would just do that . . .
Blanked in the evening. Weird
Great pics. Keep at it Bake!
Back at it. Disaster this morning
It’s opening day if rifle. I head to my favorite cruising/escape stand. Stand is gone
I know some of you deal with this on a regular basis. 25ish Years . . . This is the first stand I’ve ever had stolen. I am LIVID!!!!!!
So I move to a stand 80 yards away. Fine
Get set up, the zipper on my Sitka Fanatic jacket BREAKS!!!! It’s 14 degrees. I’m gonna freeze
I’m so ticked off right now I can barely see. I was planning an all day sit. I don’t know if that will happen.
I’m off the movement. I’m just here to be here at this point.
;&($:&!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well that’s a sh!tty way to start the day!! Hopefully the thief trips and smashes his teeth out on the stand.
Kill Lefty from this stand and you have the last laugh. Good luck.
Well, it hasn’t been bad. 8 or 9 does. 4 bucks, including Pearl. I may get down at lunch and take this stand down to move over to the tree I wanted to be in.
I might shoot Pearl. I’m awfully tempted on a day like this. I think he’s 4
As more and more November days elapse, my resolve weakens more and more each day. ;)
I didn’t arrow a single deer last year. I’m feeling a killer mood
"killer mood"! There is only one way to solve that.
I can shoot two. It’s rifle season so I’m hunting my rifle tag now. If I shoot a deer during our 10 day rifle season I have to wait until it’s over before killing another buck.
If I don’t kill a buck during rifle, I can still kill 2 bucks on bow permits after rifle season
Tex is dead. You guys are gonna love this story
Congrats! Can't wait to hear the story
are tex and lefty the same?
So. I am THRILLED with this outcome.
As I mentioned, today was opening day if Missouri rifle season. My buddy, who introduced me to this farm, who owns a part of this farm, got the chance to come home and hunt.
He’s a major in the Air Force. This is only the third time he’s been home to hunt since he left for the academy in 1999.
He killed Tex this afternoon. Tex was locked down with a doe. He stalked him for over 20 minutes in the timber before he got a shot.
This is a happy ending for Tex. Killed by a guy who had barely hunted since 1999. And it’s his best buck ever.
Awesome! Now you have to double down on Lefty!
Great buck congrats to your buddy!
The day had a crappy beginning and a very happy ending!
And now Lefty is left.
I’m really excited for him. I kept thinking all day, that if Lefty or Tex or any other buck was killed today, that I hoped it would be him.
He’s been on a lot of deployments. Spent a lot of time overseas. And I’m really glad he got to come back and kill a good buck to boot.
It’s thanks to him that I get to hunt this farm. I started going with him around 1995. He’d come pick me up, because I couldn’t drive yet. And we’d go spend the day in this farm.
When he left for the academy, I just kept going. His grandpa, who owned the land then and has since passed away, was really good to me. And have me the run of the place for years and years.
He brought a buddy back with him too from the Air Force and his buddy killed a young 8 point. I’m glad they were both successful.
Congrats to your buddy and his friend on their success, and also many thanks for their service to our great country.
Congrats to him and tell them both thanks for their service. Keep after it Bake.
Awesome ending to Tex's saga.
Lefty is still lurking Bake- and he now has less competition and expanded job duties !!
That's pretty dang neat right there!
Back after it. Snowing here
Good luck. Way to show class & be happy for your buddy.
Bummer about the stolen stand... I hate thieves. When that happened to me in 2015, it lead to my best buck ever - and from the ground with bow and my climber on my back... so keep the faith that it will happen for you.
I got bait! Doe and button bedded at 35 ;)
Hopefully you don`t have a deer named "Righty"....this could take forever next year...lol
Franklin . . .;). It will probably never happen. But it’s sure fun to try.
Lefty dodged a bullet Saturday morning. Almost literally. I was talking to the landowner, and his son in law and his buddy saw lefty Saturday morning. One guy didn’t have the lever in his rifle all the way engaged. So the gun didn’t shoot. The other guy had a misfire . . .
Lefty is still walking as far as I know
Hopefully he stays on your side of the fence! You need some hot does:-)
Awesome following along! I had a target buck of my own I’ve been after the past three seasons and my neighbor just shot him with his rifle!!
That's a nice buck Schmitty! I'm always happy for "mature" fellas that get another big one. Good for him!
Thanks APauls, it was bittersweet for me. On one hand I’ve put so much time into hunting that particular deer it’s sad to have not harvested him, but on the other hand he told me this is probably his last good buck. His health is declining and he’s just losing interest, so how can I not be totally happy for the old bugger;)
Sure wish he was mine! Oh well on to the next one:). My place is up west of Kirksville. We got hit hard with ehd in 2012 and they killed some deer down the road from me because I’m in the CWD containment zone, but seems like we’re starting to get more of the older age class again. Good luck chasing Lefty!! It can be really tough setting your sights on one buck, but man was mine fun while it lasted!
I thought I better give an update. I haven’t hunted Lefty since Monday. I’ve been sicker than a dog. I’ve never been too sick to hunt, but it just wouldn’t be safe. I’ve had a fever now since Tuesday. Going back to the doctor tomorrow. Just can’t kick it.
Got so bad that on Friday I passed out. I don’t wanna give details. But it happened at the worst possible time. And Thank GOD! It turned out alright. Because it could have been very bad.
Hopefully I’ll kick this in a day or two and be able to hunt some this coming week. But I got a report from a different landowner that a GIANT was seen on another farm (a deer I had pics of last year), so I may hunt him. I don’t know. The fever doesn’t help my thinking :)
Good luck to everyone else. This week is one of my favorite weeks to be in the woods, traditionally. One of the best times to catch old bucks on their feet cruising for that last hot doe.
Hopefully i can make it out at least once or twice
Blane, the Clap can be a real bitch if it gets into your bloodstream. Better get some antibiotics for it this time.
Hard to have fun when you're that sick. Get it looked after then get back out and catch up.
I've been sick as well, Blane. Came down with it the day I killed my buck. I was running a fever as well for most of last weekend. I had to get Lana out to hunt while I spent numerous days in the camper. Finally getting rid of the coughing and hacking associated.
Hope you get well soon and get back out there!
Sounds like you guys picked a case of buck fever! I’ve never had it THAT bad, though!
So sorry to hear that and hope you are better by the holiday.
Hope you are getting better and able to get back out there! The rut may be winding down but there’s always a chance to have one of those big bucks come through.
Never fun to be sick. Especially when there's a target buck still walking.
Well since it was brought to the top . . .
I got terribly sick. To the point that I passed out while driving. Not good. I went 9 days with a fever. One night I changed shirts 3 times, kept sweating through them.
The result is that I have hunted twice since November 12. Sucks. I haven’t seen Lefty. I believe he made it through rifle season.
This farm has no concentrated food. As a result, my hunt for lefty is done for the year.
I plan to hunt hard in the late season and concentrate on two different farms that both have food.
Hopefully Lefty makes it through the winter.
I may make a hunt or two for him, but the chances are between slim and none that I’ll see him, and Slim left town.
Thanks for following along. Until next year Lefty . . .
Sux about your illness. What did you determine it was? Just a bug or something else, if you care to share? Pretty scary, passing out while driving!
They think it was just a bad virus. I had mono years ago, and my personal theory is that it destroyed my immune system. I generally get sick pretty hard
They ran tests for tick borne illnesses, but they all came back negative.
My liver enzymes were WAY out of wack, so they do have me coming back for more blood work.
But I’m sure it was just a bad virus.
Wish it hadn’t happened in November ;)
Get well Bake and thanks for taking us along.
I had fun following along and we all know going into the game there are no sure outcomes. Good luck on the rest of the season... and ....... you never know..................
Sounds like you are on the mend. Hopefully the saga of Lefty will continue next fall and you will stay healthy! Thanks for taking us along for a part of your quest!
Sorry about the illness, Bake...glad you're on the mend. Let us know if you get some new cam pics of Lefty!
