Seems like it's been a yr, but really just 10 days or so. Been ready to get back on track but have had lots going on...did a little Crappie fishin and goose huntin too...but ready to be back in the woods!
I've been here, holding a late season tag, many times. As mentioned on other threads, it can be a great time to find a worn out old buck back on a pattern. I'm not hell bent on killing one, but would like to see what made it through, and if the opportunity presents itself well...
The buck above isn't huge, he's better than the pic provides, just an example of why you should continue to get after'm if you can and want to. He was my first buck, and it's a hunt I'll never forget!
Had planned to hunt last night, but spent the afternoon with a can of purple paint instead...long story, some here are privy to my "neighbor challenges" this year...no worries. I did check several cameras yesterday and got them "batteried up". No mature bucks on anything I pulled, but that will change. Wanted to give them plenty of time to settle back in.
Sitting a travel/staging area this morning hoping to catch them returning from some winter wheat. Still a bit of snow on the ground here by Attica. Wind is SSW and will be gusting around 30 by noon...it's 40° give or take.
Let's see if I can get-r-dun...
Doe, fawn, and a small buck already heading this way
The little 5pt was doggin the fawn, but she was having none of that and ran back S. She must be close to or just coming out of estrous. This I think...because shortly after a young 9pt, probably 130", came from the N headed her way...stopping and filtering the air as he came
He couldn't locate her and eventually turned back N
I’ve seen more late rutting activity this year than I ever have before. I had 4 bucks chasing 2 doe fawns all around me yesterday morning until 11:00. The bucks would dog the doe fawns, and the mama does would try and chase away the bucks! It was quite the spectacle to behold.
Ya just never know, I've seen some crazy late season rutting activity over the years.
I'm going to bail, Dad's coming down, gonna cut him a load of wood...back at it later
We're E of town Matt, but yea I've got a couple of wannabe TV corn-stars just N of us...horrible people.
Got a pickup bed of wood for pops to go "carve" up, 79yrs young and not slowing down!
I'm headed into the spot I had the buck at 10yrds(last hunt prior to today) W of Caldwell. Wind is good, SW, but gusting over 30mph so I'm going to sit on the ground again. Not much service in there...catch up when I can.
Two fawns, four doe's, a 120" 8pt...
And a nock that's possessed?
No big boy tonight
Nothing too exciting here, well maybe for Dave, just impressed with the quality of video from this camera
Set up on the ground again this afternoon...S of Argonia...cut beans that never got drilled to wheat unfortunately. Haven't hunted this spot at all this year, but have on the other side of the river.
They should filter out from my left side in pic. There have been several doe's out on here but haven't picked up any bucks...ya never know though.
Wind is mostly W but starting to get a little S in it...all good for here. It's around 45° I reckon
Thanks fellas, and good luck to you who are still holding!
Just had a doe and fawn trot by behind me along the river
Didn't catch no deer's tonight...saw one racoon and a guy with an IQ of 7 maybe 8
That would have been cool Sam, yea I'm hoping for something similar
Justin and both of his boys hunted my Attica spot tonight, saw one doe between the three of them...and then 16 out on the wheat by the truck...not sure if there were any bucks as it was dark.
“That’s all I have to say about that...”
Any given moment right Lee!
I'm set up on the ground S of Argonia back in a hole this afternoon. Lots of fresh sign and some scrapes that have been touched up recently.
Not liking this "light and variable" wind but I can't change that. It's like 62° and wind is supposed to be WSW most of the afternoon, if that holds true I'm good.
This is another travel route from bedding out to cut beans drilled to wheat. Let's see what cometh...
A forky just strolled by at 15yds...perty neat
It's a no
Did have a single doe go between me and the river around 4:15, but nothing with her. Also had a juvenile baldy buzz me...reckon I'll have to try again manana
Good luck!
Tried for geese yesterday morning, and after my nap I just couldn't get motivated to go sit in 65° 40mph winds. Going to be even higher winds today but a cold front is pushing through...hoping it gets them on their feet during daylight.
I'm on the ground again, and in "Deep 6" territory... but not sure he's even still around. Got a different spot planned for this afternoon.
Getting down to the wire, maybe today's the day...
Several deer out on the cut beans N of me, a couple bucks but not what I'm looking for. They're all heading back to cover and I was hoping they'd come S...if not this will be a short sit and I'll go check some cameras.
Thanks CR, and to you and yours!
I bailed, they all headed into cover following the red arrow and N of that. Was hoping some would filter down to the wheat I was set up on but as my father would say...wish in one hand...
Back at it this afternoon
You bet Travis, I have a doe tag as well and starting Friday they are on the menu at a couple of my spots. Would be interested in hearing about the recipe and procedure for the bacon. I've made lots of things with game meat but haven't tried that...maybe start a "Wildgame" thread?
I ran a big loop today, checked 12 cameras but my card reader(for phone) isn't working...will check them tonight. I had planned to hunt the wheat at my Attica spot, where Justin saw the big bunch the other night, but this wind is for real and that spot is totally exposed to the NW.
So, I circled back to the spot near Caldwell. Maybe that big sonuvagun is still around. Saw lots of tracks here this morning while setting two cameras...a couple sets were definitely buck tracks.
It was 51° when I left the house this morning, around 32° now with windchill in the teens. Hope these almost 50mph gusts don't keep them down!
Pair of bucks came out into the wheat behind me 10min ago. One is the 8pt from the other night, the second has 5 on his left with a flyer coming off the inside of his main beam...a big club/crab claw or broken off right side. Just feeding
No blood
Pretty cool night though, literally ;?) Got pinned down at the end which is always a chance when hunting crops late season.
Had 12-15 deer within 50yds at one point...at least six bucks, but no big boy. Think I got some decent footage, we'll see.
Lucky you had Sitka on or you would have been easily detected.
;-)
I know its grainy and hard to see, but those are all bucks in front(40-50yds) at the end
Headed into my spot near Caldwell again for the evening, found this rub here on Wed checking cameras. Still not sure if the 10pt made it through rifle...but could be others that moved in too.
It's a S wind, but pretty light and 60°. No service in the spot I'm sitting, will post synopsis later...just didn't want anyone to think I'd given up ;?)
Thanks for sharing your hunts again this year. Love going along with you and it passes time in the stand.
Best of luck.
One spike, but neighbor put cattle in where they'd been coming from.
Appreciate it guys, and good luck to you...and especially the "newbie"! Funny stuff Matt...I hunted waterfowl too this morning, in Americus, I'm whooped!
Here's the broken buck from Wed, he either lost more of his right side...or I'm a bad judge of character. How many deer do you see in these pics?
This second pic has a bunch of deer in the background, and some cattle. It was a series of 10 or so pics, and there's a buck back there that was working over a sapling for several minutes.
No significance to any of it, just cool. If I hadn't looked closely I'd have deleted the pics without a second thought.
I may have mislead Randy...I only see two bucks in that first pic, probably could have worded that better. Good luck tonight bud!
I checked a few cams again on the way down today, brought my laptop so I could see what was on the cards. Got another neat video of the porcupine again, but no bucks I'd draw on.
So, I'm set up at my Attica spot, on the edge of some heavy CRP/bedding cover, and winter wheat. Tons of tracks, and same field Justin saw 16 deer on in the evening a week or so ago. This rub is fairly new, and right next to where I'll be sitting.
Wind is out of the NW and gusting above 20 but will lay down towards dark...it's in the 50's
This could be the day
First deer out is a really nice 2-3yr old 9pt, 2nd is a wide 8 that I had at my decoy earlier in the season...also 2-3yrs old
A third 1yr old buck joined the two, and then I heard movement behind me. There's a trail I purposely set up near thinking maybe an older buck might not be using the area all the others were.
I can hear it take a few steps and then pause, but getting closer. Finally I spot movement, it's the big 8 and he's literally 20yds to my right. Thought for sure he'd come right down the trail but he veered N. Finally popped out onto the wheat at 84yds
Luck may not be on my side much, but I have to tell you I'm just happy to have seen him again
Here are the bucks from tonight, there were a couple of doe's out there as well.
Edit: That third pic is not mine
Went back through some pics and though the one I saw tonight is a "big 8" it's not the one I had on camera early season.
It startled me too Brian! Hope you get another chance Mark...betting you will!
Im heading into a different part of the farm here W of Caldwell this afternoon, maybe that big 10 changed his "bedroom"?
Wind is light and mostly E which ruled out several other spots, it's around 40°. Supposed to rain all day tomorrow and if so I won't hunt...gettin down to the wire!
Thanks Nick, and James I hope yours was a better hunt than mine!
Had 5 doe's cut across the terrace out front at 4:40. Then another 7 doe's and a broken 6 or 8pt after sundown...none within bow range. They didn't come to the thick patch of wheat I was set up on, instead picked over the sparse stuff on the hill.
(b)?Instead of posting land as provided in subsection (a), any landowner or person in lawful possession of any land may post such land by placing identifying purple paint marks on trees or posts around the area to be posted. Each paint mark shall be a vertical line of at least eight inches in length and the bottom of the mark shall be no less than three feet nor more than five feet high. Such paint marks shall be readily visible to any person approaching the land. Land posted as provided in this subsection shall be considered to be posted by written permission only as provided in subsection (a).
(c)?A person licensed to hunt or furharvest who is following or pursuing a wounded animal on land as provided in this section posted without written permission of the landowner or person in lawful possession thereof shall not be in violation of this section while in such pursuit, except that the provisions of this subsection shall not authorize a person to remain on such land if instructed to leave by the owner or person in lawful possession of the land. Any person who fails to leave such land when instructed is subject to the provisions of subsection (b) of K.S.A. 2012 Supp. 21-5810, and amendments thereto. Note the HUNTING FISHING OR TRAPPING,I think they can trespass to track unless you have no trespassing signs up but don't know for sure.
Congrats James, sounds like he needed to go, and that's a unique rack. Glad you got it done and have some more meat for the table!
Leave it to you to understand that Frank ;?)
James I was glad to see a late season kill on here brother, congrats again!
I'm in a stand that hasn't been hunted this year, but it's near where I sat the other night on the edge of the wheat here near Attica.
It's a transition area between bedding and the wheat, I know there will be deer coming through. Two big sets of tracks in the sand as I came in, both since the rain, so I've got that going for me.
Stand is pretty exposed, won't be able to get away with much, need the wind to stay up! It's NW now and around 10-15, 42° at the truck...time for somethin to get stuck!
Had a young 5pt and then a doe w/two fawns milling around in the timber to my N. They're still in there somewhere...should be coming this way soon.
The wind is all but gone, deathly quite
The wide white-horned 8, the 5, and the 9 just came through at 35yds...on out to the wheat
The doe and her twins came through at last shooting light. I could've sworn I saw a flash of antlers behind them. Was hoping it was the crab claw 8 I'd seen the other night but nothing appeared.
Down to one
I don't believe anything is "deserved" Brian, it's been a great journey filled with some excellent experiences though...and I've learned along the way.
I'm betting they'll be hammering food sources tonight Mike!
I really had no idea where to go this morning with a predicted light E wind? Chose my spot S of Argonia on the river even though the cameras would say otherwise.
Frozen ground was like walking on a bag of chips all the way in and a full moon lighting the journey for all to see. Don't think I blew anything out but would be hard not to.
I'm on a travel route that parallels cut beans drilled to wheat. It's a bit of a pinch point on either side of the bowl I'm in, with the river out front.
Even brought my rattling horns, inspired by Crested and TwoDogs, what the hell may as well right!
Let's take this year out on a high!
Potato chips is right. Goodness the ground was loud this morning walking along the bean field.
Good luck today
Thanks guys and as Mike said, good luck to everyone out after'm today
I'm certainly not on the "X" here this morning. Had a couple deer go through on the sandbar out front 10-15min before shooting light but couldn't tell what they were...nothing else.
Going to go check some spots and cameras...back for a last chance this afternoon.
Man it was COLD this AM. Kyle...you would of had a good laugh as brought my horns to do some rattlin this am but dropped them to the ground below while digging them out of my pack. It was just one of many “comedy of errors” this am. Hope to be more careful for the PM hunt...might need’em. Got a HUD with me too!
Good Luck to everyone still at it!
I landed on my new spot N of Harper for the last "stand". I'm actually on the ground again, wheat out front and bedding behind on all sides.
The entrance the farmer takes into this field with equipment is just to my N and there are bunches of fresh tracks coming through there.
This is the spot where that "Arborist" buck lives, and I know he made it through rifle...hopefully some others have joined him here.
Wind is NNE but pretty light, it's around 40° and dropping.
The final countdown...
Forgot to mention that I've got Justin and Easton at the farm I hunted last night. Justin still has his buck tag and Easton's after a doe.
Hopefully they follow the same trail they were on last night!
"No buck for you!" Buck Nazi 12/31/20
Just wasn't in the cards today, I never saw a deer? Still had the same anticipation I did day one...was a helluva ride!
P.S. That nock is still glowing
Here's the glowing nock..
and yea, I hope it makes it through the new year!
But you got your money’s worth outta that tag just like every year! Happy New Year.....get after them geese!
Bummer you weren’t able to put your tag on Deep 6 or another buck, this year, but I’d say you definitely got your money’s worth and then some, Kyle! Thanks for taking us along on the ride!
I got the jawbone from Easton's buck and was doing some research, I'll start another thread on that.
