Unleash the Kraken? I mean the long rangers, er the Orange Army yea that's it
The day most of us dread, at least those who are truly bowhunters and bought the "Archery only" tag. Ya can't stop'm so sit on the sidelines or join'm!
Also the obligatory odometer shot just in case you wondered if the old girl was still runnin...yes, yes she is.
I'm tucked into a cedar, SE of Argoina, that I cut out the other day I had the encounter with the wide 10. Unfortunately I had a doe pick me off walking in and she alerted everyone...hopefully the others are used to her being a whiner?
Wind is very light from the NW, it's 40°...charge!
Quiet so far, no banging,. I like this new set up, can see the whole river bottom, and two good trails out front.
These pictures are a little deceiving...the timber is 25-30yds in front of me.
Don't recall gettin skunked so far this year, reckon I was due. Did see around 20 Canada's, small flock of mallards, one squirrel, and two pileated woodpeckers...not all bad.
Try another spot tonight
You get to hunt again!
Dang straight Kyler! That's just what I'm gon'do...set up for the evening here on my Caldwell spot.
No wind to speak of, supposed to be W-SW which is perfect for this stand...what's not perfect is that it's 104°. All good, bring me the deer!
Two doe's just ran through the timber N of me, but you guessed it...nothing behind them.
Lots of fly's, gnats, ladybugs, and grasshoppers out and about though. Did I mention it was hot? This mullet is not helping either
Missed a coyote at 50, he/she has been sitting out there for 20min taunting me...begging for another arrow
Not gonna do it
Possibly Dave, you're on your own on that one ;?)
Pin drop quiet tonight, heard this young 8 coming from 200yds away. Had a handful of doe's out on the wheat S of me as well and that was that.
Taking tomorrow off to catch up a few things, plus is supposed to be dang near 80°?
Be good!
Didn't plan to go out in this heat but all caught up at work and well...
Set up for the afternoon on the ground in a cedar, same spot the "deep 6" buck was hanging out last Fall. Also the same field my stalker case was secured. He'd see me post from this field, and then within 10min was driving around through the field trying to scare off the deer. Game Warden said it was one of, if not the easiest cases he'd ever been a part of.
Haven't picked up much here on camera this year, but the camera was on the "skitz"...just never know what may show.
Wind is NNE and gusting to 15mph or so but will die down towards dark...was 64° at the bullet proof limo
Nothing moving yet, need it to be cold for this spot. Yea, I've got the HUD out just to try and pull something across the open field out front.
Almost done, but two doe's and two fawns just popped out on cut beans N of me
Had a hard time picking a farm this morning, not a lot of spots for a NE wind. Thought about going right back where I was last night but just too open, and haven't seen anything there I'd even shoot.
Landed on the "new" cedar cut-out where I got skunked the other morning, but where I'm on a trail/pinch against the river.
Saw several doe's out on the wheat driving in, maybe the other sex is up and around this morning too
Wind's NE gusting towards 15mph or better, it's around 40°...GO
As I sit here rethinking my choice, haven't seen any deer yet, I have to remind myself that my buddy Mark shot this beast 2yrs ago 50yds from where I sit.
Mike shot his buck this year 150yds from where I sit as well. Good genetics around, and though we're surrounded by soul sucking sadness spreaders on all sides...it's a bit of a sanctuary. We don't go into the heavy cover at all during deer season, unless to look for/retrieve a deer.
Just not much reason for them to be moving right now, and more reasons to be nocturnal with the bang sticks sounding off. Three shots so far this morning, two were fairly close, NE of me...pretty sure the second was a "follow up" shot.
Nice and frosty up here in Manhattan this morning. :)
Had 5-6 doe's come along the river 30min ago headed to the deep thick stuff West of me.
Then at 8:35 two shots SE of me...sounded like some LGBT special edition rifle? Just weak.
The cold front next week will get them moving more James, at least in theory.
I don't know why, but these pics made me laugh...I can just imagine the fawn introducing its brother "Lemmy" to the other deer
Good to hear that they were moving James, hope you get another chance with him!
I'm set up SW of Argonia this morning, on the ground again. Got a special guest with me today...Easton. Some of you will remember Easton and his first buck from last year.
I put him in the "Dogleg" stand, about 200yds from me, hoping for some action. He's got a buck tag, a doe tag, and he just got his Furharvestor so look out world!
Wind is light from the SSW and its around 45°...ready...ok
Super quiet here except for all the roosters sounding off S of here...makes me smile to here them round here again. We've got a heavy fog, and I love hunting in the fog, but we need a bit more wind to cover movement/sound.
Send'm this way Matt, we ain't seen nothin yet
Yea James, I can hunt the whole month, but may try waterfowl a bit next week too
Not today. Did finally have a doe come by around 10:30 and that was that...next time
Back in the cedar stand I was in the other night when I was covered up with doe's, SE of Argonia. Tons of fresh droppings in the wheat walking in, most right in front of this stand. They've been hammering this spot.
Brought the HUD. but stuck him back in the timber below me, not very visible from the field...just don't want a doe blowing if I can avoid it, but felt it might be needed to draw a buck in closer.
Wind is SSE at around 10mph and it's around 45°...and oh yea, I've almost driven/ridden around the globe twice this year while all the "nancy's" locked themselves away and ate government cheese ;?)
First two doe's just entered the wheat 100yds W of me...here we go
Hope you see the one you're after Jimmy!
22 deer out now, from 100-250yds away. One nice heavy white-horned 8 or 9 but he's the furthest out.
Had one doe come down the trail to my E @ 22yds...she was looking back and I thought it might be...
It wasn't..nothin. Reckon I get to try again
Not surprised by any of this. Can't wait to see your New Years Eve buck!!! LOL. It's all about the journey and you my friend have the best of em! Good luck!
Thanks fellas...squeezin everything I can outta this tag!
Been set up here N of Harper for about 15min, bad cell. Have several trails converging just W of this stand heading out to some winter wheat. They like this little corner as it has windbreaks on two sides, but could honestly come out anywhere on this 160.
Haven't been here in a bit so I thought I'd see if anything has moved in. Wind is SSW around 10mph and it's a bit over 50°...let's roll
Had a little button buck come in and hang out with the HUD for 10min or so
Think I'm goin fishing tomorrow, I need a break ;?)
Set up on my Attica spot this morning. Have stayed out of here for three weeks hoping another family member would come and rifle hunt it. That didn't pan out, but hopefully some new prospects have moved in like they always do late season.
Got a good NW wind, perfect for this stand. Cut beans to the NE and hopefully something will filter through on the trail out front headed to water or bedding. Was 27° at truck #2...bring it
Thanks bud, not too hot on the water, we could see them on the graph but they just weren't hungry. Caught one decent bass, only a couple crappie.
Had a little movement this morning. Two young bucks, head down trailing something, must have had a doe come back in.
Then two doe's and a fawn around 9:30. Everything went behind me for some reason, the bucks paid no attention...the doe's...well they knew something smelled.
I'll try a different spot tonight.
Been set up for 20-30min here W of Caldwell. On the ground under a cedar, hoping they filter out of the heavy cover out front to the wheat tonight.
Same area I had the encounter with a big 10 at 10yds late last Fall. Don't know if he's around this year, cameras here have shown very little, one wasn't working through the whole month of Nov.
It's a good spot, shot my best less than 100yds from here a few years back. Wind is perfect, WSW and @ 10-15mph...it's in the low 50's...could be the day
P.S. Shane it's really more of a "Skullet" seenun's how I've got a 5-head instead of a 4-head
Sure hope you can get out Randy, buddy missed a "giant" this morning on W side of river(rifle).
I've got a nice young 9, one doe, and two fawns out on the wheat to my S already. Horrible pic, sorry...kinda
Just heard six rifle shots in a row, then two "follow ups" a mile or so N of me...what the?
Six doe's on the wheat now, and that 9 is in the same exact spot he was an hour ago. He eats and then just stares into the timber for several minutes at a time...no interest in the females
I could write a short book on all the close calls, almosts, the deer that zigged instead of zagged, and just rotten luck this kiddo has had. He missed on one last weekend, but hit the sweet spot tonight, and finally dropped his first deer right in it's tracks.
This is the 3rd archery season trying to make it happen with the Xbow, experienced some really awesome hunts along the way, but just could not quite seal the deal for him. This was his 3rd try with a rifle. Lil button buck that will be super tasty. Hopefully a Xbow kill will be next, and get him started with a compound before long, but this is a relief and satisfying deer beyond words. Big thanks to Kyle for the access, opportunity, and extensive efforts as well on his end to make this happen.
Picture in next post below...having the hardest time getting bowsite to post pix grrrr :((
