I've still got a doe tag, as does Mark...Mike's still holding his buck tag, and I might take a few others. I've been after waterfowl and Sandhill Cranes...but haven't had any luck on either yet.
Going to sit a spot this afternoon, where there have been lots of doe's late season in the past, and see what's moving.
Good luck if you're still after'm...aint over til...
I'm on the ground this evening, you've been here before. Three trails out front coming from the river bed in front, out to the cut beans behind...they all converge at this spot.
Wind is perfect SSE and between 8-15mph...it was 53° at the truck. I'm on a mission for jerky!
Nothing on its feet here yet, but I was sitting here staring into the timber and a Kestrel( I believe) swooped around the edge of this cedar and literally landed on my head for a split second...scared the crap outta me!
Jason, we've got some great decoys, at least they look great lol...we've been several times just sitting there admiring them as the geese flew over? I'll have to tell my Crane story later...yet another fail...but one of my favorite quotes is this " there's no such thing as a failure who keeps trying"!
Just had a fawn being chased by three very young bucks run by at 30-40yds
Yes James, just gettin to those beans last weekend...its a river bottom and I reckon it was just too wet to get to them til now?
That's a wrap...did see one other fawn and another young broken up buck. I wouldn't advise anyone to hunt tomorrow in that wind...but I'm thinkin this weekend could certainly hold signs of a second rut considering what I saw tonight.
Back into the same spot this afternoon E of Argonia...on the ground. Lots of fresh tracks on the trails out front, but I don't think this spot is being used as much as last year.
When I left the other night there were 5-6 deer out to the N of me that had entered the field from a different area, could be that they snuck by me to the West.
It's around 55° and light winds from the SSE...just need one to make a mistake.
Dead still here...hope your target makes a showing tonight Matte!
Two doe's and two fawns popped out on the edge of the timber 70yds E of me a few minutes ago but they headed N towards the beans...no shot.
I've been set up here for a bit, hunting the same stand I made the bad shot on the Bobcat near Attica. Going to see if I can get another to visit...but if a doe swings through she'll also be on the menu.
Thanks Dave & Chris, just hoping the ol'girl can make it to Hutch in Feb...hope to see you both there and share some stories!
Wind is ESE here this morning, but almost non-existent...its around 33°
Had a doe and fawn started towards me right at first light...she picked me off.
It is a nice morning Fran...and I hate desks ;?)
No cats, no dogs, no deer
Let the caller run for 1.5hrs this time, I'll probably hear that dying bird in my sleep tonight lol.
One of the locusts I "hinged" a few years ago is providing some good cover...view from stand and ground.
I'm late...I'm late...for a somewhat important...
Set up on the ground SE of Argonia this morning...fog was intense on the way down. I had to take'r down to 20-30mph the last 20mi. Got two heavy trails out front and the river behind, looking for a big doe.
No wind right now but should be SW and light soon...was 43° at the house, but 32° when I pulled in here.
Well, no deer yet, but this guy just snuck in on me...who needs a hat?
I'm out.
Thinkin the fog had them locked down, or I just suck...didnt see a deer. I think evenings are much better right now, hope she has good luck tonight James!
So thats my 2018 conclusion after an ungodly number of hours hunting, passing many solid bucks, and flubbing opportunities on a few awesome deer. Wish I could have killed this guy cleaner. That's all I really wanted after my screw ups throughout the year, but it's still a filled tag, no spoiled meat, and found him before the coyotes. And he'll most definitely taste better than tag soup.
Overall an amazing season which was just full of opportunities and amazing hunts that are unmatched from my prior years. Learned a ton this year hunting with others....and hopefully learned something from my many mistakes. Met some great new hunting buddies in Kyle and Mark too. I just feel incredibly blessed for the opportunities, experiences, and newfound friendship.
I would not put it past Kyle to add few more entries to this before all is said and done. But I'm out-only upland birds for me now.
Good luck to anyone still hunting-still tons of deer out there.
Mark and I still have doe tags, so not completely over yet but surely close! Merry Christmas everyone, hope you all get to spend time with your families and friends!
Back out this evening still looking to fill a doe tag. At my "ground blind" again E of Argonia...in the cedars there and I've got the HUD set up just left of me. Wanted to see how they might react to it this late in the season.
This area has a lot of seeps/springs and I'm basically sitting in 2-3" of water but I cut a bunch of Cedar bows and I've got a low profile seat to keep me mostly dry. It's 42° and wind from the S gusting to 15+ but will be laying down towards dark.
Watching a young 8 back in the timber dogging a doe a little...head down pushing, but not hard. Several other doe's and fawns back in there but none have come out yet.
Had a doe staring at the HUD, I grunted a couple times and she started my way? Got to around 45yds and then a fawn came running out behind her. She never came closer, they both headed to the beans like the others.
I knew they were going N of this set, saw it happening the last time I hunted here. I shoulda set up a couple hundred yds N but really didn't have time to cut out another cedar this afternoon.
15-20 deer down there, and another 20+ driving out again less than 1/2mi away.
I've only used my 4wd a couple times this Fall but sure glad I had it tonight...got sloppy!
Pasty White Sniper in Sumner County...4 shots 4 kills
Put Mark in a decent spot tonight ;?) Yes a rifle but he and his wife try not to buy any meat from the store...this will help!
Spicy | Pepperoni | Regular | Habenero BBQ
Lotta work, but so worth it!
