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Something big happens tomorrow, just can't remember what?

Back on my spot near Attica this morning. No reason other than the wind is good for this stand. Haven't seen anything on camera, or in person, that would make me grab my bow...we'll maybe one.

Supposed to get real windy today, gusts over 30. It's around 45° now, but Temps dropping to 20° by EOD.

Thanks fellas, still having fun!

5min ago a little fawn came zig-zagging through out front. She acted like she was being chased. Nothing for 2-3 more minutes...and then these guys...story of the season.

Good luck to you.

Had another spike come through, and three coyotes skirt me to the E.

Then this guy was coming from the S, but wind has switched to straight N now...he picked me up. Nice heavy and tall 8pt, gonna be a great deer next year if he can make it through.

Wind started getting more N than W, and every deer I saw came from the S...out

May hunt tonight, may not.

I just pulled into a spot to check a camera and this guy was standing there laughing at me.

He's good Jason, picture probably makes him look bigger than he is.

Came to check a camera on a spot S of Argonia after lunch. Camera had nothing, but 75yds away was a scrape that has BLOWN UP since the rain. Same place I saw 20 or so doe's a few days back. Maybe one came in late?

I'm set up on the ground tucked into a cedar, have only hunted this spot once this year. Hoping some "newcomer" has moved in.

Appreciated Dan! This broken up 6/8 just swung through and worked over some branches. Then I saw doe's running back in the timber...nothing immediately behind them.

I look W and here come two mangy yotes that were on their trail. Turned on camera, fixin to draw, the lead dog hit my trail from earlier and that was that.

Appreciate the effort you put into these threads every year. Always fun to tag along. Thanks, Kyle.

@ the truck. Man I was burnin holes in that timber, for three hours straight.

Had a fawn come through at 5:20, and then five doe's after last light.

I was excited after seeing that scrape...I was already thinking about a route to drag him out...I was making jerky & summer sausage...I wasn't cold at all

Hope I never lose that feeling

Logan you're gonna make me do some math. I'll answer your question when I get home bud, and thanks. You too Texas ;?)

I've picked up 3 bucks on camera, and had one come to a decoy, that I'd age over 4. Have about a dozen cameras on trails/scrapes, spread out over 1k acres on 7 properties.

Out for a quick evening hunt on my spot near Bluff City. Had the back "locked down" with a doe last time I was here...maybe he's still around?

Very light wind from the South, I should be able to hear anything coming out of the timber around me...it's 40°

Didn't see any orange driving down which I thought odd

Doe and fawn came out on the wheat for a quick bite, traveled right through my wind, and then back into the creek.

Just the girls tonight, and only one rifle shot a mile SE or more.

Took the pup out for a short upland hunt on the way down today. He flushed one covey, and I missed a shot on the rise. Then we found a single, dropped it and he brought it back...we're learning.

Headed into same stand as two days ago, near Bluff City. It's a bit of a "sanctuary" during rifle season, can't see if from the road either.

We'll see if I can go 2 for 3 on shots today

Nothing moving here...yet. On the way I checked a camera N of Argonia. I saw a truck parked on a county road in a bit of a depression with something orange sticking up over the cab.

I slowed down. It's a person, yep he's in a fold out chair with a cooler next to him hunting out of the bed? Was gonna turn around and take a picture but I felt sorry for him.

Group of five doe's on the wheat now. Came from the SW, nothin following

I don't know what I was thinkin it's 65°, had my boots in the tree, gettin swarmed by all kinda bugs ya see, it just weren't meant to be

Hopefully there's still a few around that make it through rifle season.

Pup looks great. Really fun watching them "figure it out".

I spent the last three nights trying to get my uncles on a deer with their rifles. Saw a few doe's, but only one buck and too late to take a shot. We still had a good time, hunted quail a little too.

Anybody know where the Idle Hour is? One of my grandpa's spots when he was still with us...one red beer and some racehorse rummy.

My buddy in Attica is seeing the same thing. His area seems to be void of mature bucks. Wonder if something else is going in down there. Always been a hotbed for extra nighttime activities.

It's just fish in a barrel now in KS, very few hunters exist any longer.

Back in the "saddle", or stand I should say. Set up on my spot near Attica. No idea what, if anything, made it through here but traditionally a good one or two shows up here after rifle.

Bedding S and W of me, winter wheat to the ENE. Wind's out of the W right now but should get some S in it soon, gusting to 20mph or so. It's around 50°, going to start cooling down tomorrow. Maybe they'll be trying to get some food in'm and move before sundown.

A

Thing

On the ground near Bluff City, not much signal here, will post after. Wheat out front and bedding on all sides. Hoping they're active before this front! Wind is SE gusting to 25, and it's around 45°...ain't over yet

Not the day

Good luck James...any given moment!

Back out for more tonight, N of Harper. Very little recent sign on the wheat here, disappointing, if I hadn't driven over an hour I'd have probably turned back around. Ya never know though, and it only takes one so...

I'm in a little square of timber that leads out to the wheat, no beans around so they have to be using it right? Hardly any wind, and supposed to be SE or E, but has a bit of SW in it now. As long as it doesn't get any N in it I'll be fine. Around 45° again, ready...ok

Thanks Matt, just had a flock of 20 or so turkeys filter through. They were on both sides of me, from 10-20'. Never know what mother nature's gonna show you, but smile I did

Pair of coyotes at last light, couldn't get a shot. Zero deer.

Mike, I know it seems like a bunch of "re-run's"...these are good spots, we've seen a bunch of great deer in them over the years. I guess I'd ask everyone to look back at their season, number the mature deer you saw, I don't think it's just a SC KS problem.

Here's some turkeys(turn up the volume)

Are the turks in your area, Rios? Looked like fairly light tail feather tips, but couldn’t tell for sure.

I’ve seen 2, both are dead

4+ I’ve seen 5. 4 are dead

3+ I think 3

2+ several

You are not alone my buddy who has a ton of ground around Attica had zero mature deer and he does plant plots and run feeders.

As for me we had four mature deer on the ground I have access to hunt from South of Derby to Harvey County. The Derby ground had always had plenty of good deer as it is a mile worth of river ground. This year held one till about August.

I really hope that this new data and e check system will help them re evaluate our state of the deer herd.

Troy, one of the first flocks of turkeys "netted and dispersed" across the state came from just S of that spot. At that time they were as close to true Rio's as you could get, if not full Rio. There are not many birds left in this area, I hunted Spring Turkey on this same property 4-5 times this year and saw birds only once, 3 jakes. I'd say there are a few in that bunch with dominant Rio gene's, but the entire state is now a hodge-podge of Eastern/Rio hybrids.

Thousands and thousands of pounds.

It’s a losing battle… no way to win against it. If you’re lucky you can find a wise old buck that is skeptical of them. I’ve been fortunate twice in the last 3 years. Of course, I don’t have access to their cameras so it’s possible they had pics.

Kansas has the potential to grow big deer, as good as any state in the country. It just takes 5+ years to do so. It’s getting harder and harder for bucks to reach maturity after every season.

Outfitting takes a huge toll on mature buck populations and very little on overall deer populations. We’ve got a serious problem in our area. I imagine depredation permits are going to become pretty popular.

Jason, that buck doesn’t look like he has the “X” factor. Genetics are here, getting them to live to 5+ and be healthy is the hardest part.

I agree though… a lot of bucks seem to go sideways or backwards. I’ve had history with several bucks I thought would blow up the next year only for them to lose 10” or only gain 5”. I wish I kept better track of them over the summer months so I knew if it was habitat related.

Genetics and age always seem to be touted as the biggest factor in a bucks antlers, but I think overall health may be the biggest hurdle to overcome. It seems I see a lot of deer with foot/leg problems, but life’s rough in the wild. I may be wrong, but when they are 4 they seem to be the most aggressive and travel the farthest… leading to increased chances of injuring themselves.

Most that have serious foot problems end up losing inches the following year… from my experience.

Every single “begun” I’ve ever had an encounter with was because of hard scouting. Not bragging, I just learned a long time ago that the odds are not in my favor and if I’m going to be consistently successful I need to make sure Im hunting where a mature buck is. If that means looking beyond my own land… so be it. Knock on doors, ask questions, and ruin tires.

I will say cameras can help, 2020 is a perfect example for me. Put a camera up along a field edge… small trail exiting a soybean field. Left it for a month. 3 excellent photos of a giant mature buck I had never seen before or heard anyone talk about before. Only had a handful of pictures of him after that, but knowing he was in the area pushed me to scout hard (glassing/looking at aerials). I ended up seeing him multiple times and put 3 stalks on him in a 4 mile radius. Killed him a mile from those first pics. I talked with multiple people and if everyone is being honest… no sightings the year before. I ended up finding one of his 2019 sheds in 2021, 2 miles away.

Cameras are everywhere in the vicinity where I killed him, multiple feeders, and 2 outfitters. I learned later one guy had several pictures of him on his camera a week before I killed him. He had never seen him before those pics and didn’t know he had those pics until well after season because he quit checking that camera.

Chief is correct about hard work. Gadgets can help, but they are not the answer to be consistent. Just be ethical and respect the other guy.

If Kyle is going to get it done, and every time he gets it done, it will be because of all of the above. No one can argue that.

I bought a couple of pieces of land later on, worked on getting permission on a few more… spread myself out.

Sitting where they ain’t is going to yield a lot of poor results.

I learned a long time ago that you cant get big deer from a neighbor to come to your land and you can’t keep the young buck you’ve been passing from going on theirs. You have to be among mature bucks to kill one. AND GET AS FAR AWAY FROM OUTFITTERS AS POSSIBLE.

Had all 3 of the 4yr olds at one point during late October early November in bow range but was holding out for the older one. Somewhere around November 8th or so I walked in and noticed 2 tower blinds had went up next door on that one place across the road. Can’t described the feeling I felt at that point but my heart dropped cause I knew my times of watching deer grow on that place was done.

Called my landowner and told him my fears and he gave me the landowners number. Later I got to talk to the outfitter. He told me how many guys he sent through there so I tried to make a deal with him but to no avail. Told him I know your hunters won’t be passing the 160 to 170 class deer I’m letting go and he didn’t deny it. Just laughed and said I know what you mean. So I told him that if I continued to hunt there I would be just spinning my wheels and that I might just let someone else start hunting there.

His response was oh no…don’t do that. He knew and I knew that all I was doing and was going to do was grow deer for him and make his wallet fat. He even said well just give the property to me which that wasn’t going to happen.

2 of the 4yr olds disappeared halfway through season and I decided to shoot the 5th deer cause I knew what the future held there. Glad I did now cause he ended up scoring 170 but I’m still not convinced that he was only 4yrs old. The biggest one went down hill last year but luckily an older local guy got him 2 miles away and I’m still not convinced though the outfitter hunters didn’t play a role in pushing him away from the property more. The last deer I’m pretty sure got shot last year as well during gun season.

This year where that one little 160 acre place was so good didn’t have squat on it this year….oh yeah they’ve added a 3rd tower blind this year as well. Not going to talk bad about the outfitter cause he seemed like a decent guy and I think he has young children but I sure wished he would find a better way to make a living.

None of the properties I hunt are large enough to really "hold" deer, sans the spot I have near Americus which I didn't hunt this year(another guy and his son hunt it, and then my family rifle hunts it). So I'm chasing travelers mostly, and I feel like at least a couple of those cameras do give me insight as to at least what could be around. I don't use cellular cams, have one but never put it out...just doesn't feel right to me.

My argument is that while there may be a few mature deer left, they've dwindled to damn near none, at least where I hunt. Things have gotten so twisted, it's all bait now...I'd bet 95% of people sit staring at failure piles pretending they're hunters while their soul slowly sucks out of their body like an old can of Cheeze Whiz...they're the ones who SUCK, and they're ruining our heritage.

But to be honest…in Kyle’s words above here I was kind of sucking back then. I’m trying to get better and this year I’m trying hard to not be so sucky.

But yeah it used to be a pretty good place with some good deer growing I thought. Right now it sucks like an old can of cheeze whiz.

I’m sure a few put some effort into it, don’t know of any though. Most put up tower blinds and ladder stands with feeders within bow range… and that’s all it takes to draw in the $$$$.

Be Still, I feel your pain. Gutted me when outfitters landed on my property lines. Spent 12 years of my life working 2 jobs to put it together and it only took a season for them to destroy it. The corn pile I could see from the road that first year was unbelievable.

I had dropped something on the ground….I mean it wasn’t very much but still it was some. Probably didn’t need to cause the way he came down the draw he was probably going down through there anyway. But no for the respect of his thread here there’s no way I can do that…I even feel nasty talking about it here. I’ll PM you the pic…how about that.

Dave sometimes I don’t feel very proud of the practices of hunting down here. Wished it wouldn’t have been brought there for sure.

Sorry Kyle that I kind of made your hunt thread go haywire. I think I’m just going to sign off here now and go hide in a hole somewhere.

E side of the river S of Argonia, river bank/bedding out front...insurance beans behind. Hoping to catch them headed out for dinner. Really came down to see if this freeze had moved some ducks to the river but it's dang near frozen solid. I can see the only open water, maybe they'll pile in towards dark?

It's around 25°, wind from the N gusting to 20mph. Neighbor to the N is shooting pistols, may not see much tonight.

No deer, no ducks, no dice Dave

More like a lead-head Gauntt ;?) I'm fine fellas, no need for a drive, don't need to shoot a deer that bad. I prefer ribeyes anyway.

Set up on the downwind side of a creek crossing at my Attica spot this afternoon. The trail is pretty ripped up, but might be night activity, or old sign, or just does and dinks?

Wind has switched to the S, gusting over 30mph, and it was dang near 50° when I left the truck. Can't shoot one on the couch so...

Good luck with the rest of your season Sito!

Had a doe and two fawns walk by within 10' at around 5pm, made the trip worth it. Nine more at the end of the driveway, they ain't all dead

I think you're both right Brian, set up tonight on a little finger of wheat, Bluff City spot. Wheat looks pretty weak, and not a lot of fresh tracks, but the ground has been frozen so tracks aren't as discernable.

It's 60° and blowing hard from the S, over 30mph gusts, let's see if they're using this spot.

Hell, I'd just like to see A buck. Was thinking back and I don't remember even seeing one since early rifle season? It's crazy.

Had four doe's and a fawn come out on the wheat stuble W of me at around 5pm, they went on to the N. A cool bobcat encounter, no pics of its genitalia for Jason's "science project", but I'll try to post some footage later.

No matter how it ends Kyle, thanks for taking us along.

Hope you do it again next year.

Thanks Ray, we'll see what the rest of the season brings...tonight could be it for me but who knows.

I'm here early, actually same property as last night but wind is good for the opposite end, where the wheat is much better. I tried to get here in time to beat the early grazers but no.

So I'm hanging out a few hundred yards from where I'll set up until they go back to cover. This spot notoriously holds deer after rifle, it's hidden from all roads and has food.

Wind is W gusting over 30, and around 60°, just need one to make a mistake

Eventually I started moving towards them, they'd bedded 10yds from where I wanted to set up.

Inching along the edge of the field one saw me. They all got up and walked towards me, but angling around to try and get my wind. Couldn't figure out what this 6'4" lump standing on the edge was.

When they got parallel to me I took a small step and they all ran E...back towards my truck...didn't blow and I won't have to worry about them giving me issues when the others come out tonight...or if

PS...I saw a buck, he was about 500yds S of me back in some timber, but I seen'm

Two more doe's and a broken up forky on the wheat behind me now.

Get after'm Dave, glad the foot is better!

Thanks Matt, I found'm but they didn't follow my "playbook"

Four bucks, including this one I thought was dead, and six or more doe's came out of the timber W of me and onto the wheat a few minutes ago. They're all still out there, but 100-200yds away.

Need another

No shots fired, but I won't complain...I saw 25-30 deer tonight. Saw at least 8 bucks, and last buck I'd seen was Nov 29th.

There was still one I didn't see, and I know he made it through rifle...maybe next year

Brian, I thought they might be bedding on us and I could catch them going to neighbors wheat. They're bedding and eating over there. I could probably call him and ask, but it's been leased for years.

May slip out for a short hunt somewhere tonight, need a nap first ;?)

Squeezing the last drop out of this tag. Hunted ducks this morning...not on the "X". K-State game...not on the "X". KU down by 15 at half and comes back...not on the "X".

Is this the "X" tonight...we'll know in 2hrs or less. Tough season, not much to choose from round these parts, but as always I've had fun and I've learned.

Back at my spot near Attica, deer crossing on the creek headed to wheat E of me. Chances they're bedding S aren't great but I've shot one on the last day before...and on this property...gotta give it a go

I blew it, it's a long story, and it is eating me up inside, but I'll tell it later...hell I'll even show you the video.

Have a safe and happy new year y'all, hope 23 is even better!

I knew the wind was going to be very light, but predominantly S, and after all it was the last sit of the season so I felt like I had to try. I snuck in along the creek thinking there just might be something bedded in the little "island" of trees out W of this crossing. The field is old CRP, and it was really crunchy going in, in fact I pushed a doe and two fawns out of the creek halfway to my spot.

I got set up around 3:40, and at 4:20 I thought I saw a flash of antler on the edge of that stand of trees...but then I thought "no, just a blade of grass moving". Ten minutes later I saw his rack over the hill coming towards the trail, this can't be happening. It wasn't cold, but I got a chill...and a super rush of adrenaline...and started shaking like a little girl. He was following the script I'd played out many times in my mind.

I reached back and turned on my camera, he was walking directly to the crossing and about 10yds from the bank. It was dead still, too quiet, not a breath of wind...no train in the distance, or neighbor working on his s'house, or geese making noise from above like normal, to cover any sounds.

I was worried he wouldn't stop in the creek bed and might trot up the other side, and I'd miss my opportunity. My plan was to draw as he descended the creek bank, then stop him and make the 20yd shot as he crossed the opening in the middle. The last few years I hunted from the ground using just a plastic seat with no back. It was pretty uncomfortable, so I switched to a low-profile seat with a back this year. It's been a lot more pleasant for the longer sits, but you'll hear it creaking in the video as I draw.

He heard the sounds and stopped, full alert, I knew I was in trouble...and the shakes had taken over at this point. He's hard to see in the video, but an old buck I picked up on camera at the end of November and again Dec 3rd(I'll put up some pics in next post). Not a giant, but certainly a buck I'd like to take. He hesitated on the edge of the water for a few seconds, and then bolts S and up the other side. Now he's at 40yds, and I see a small triangle of what looks like an opening...I hit the release.

My arrow deflected off a small branch that was obvious when I visually replayed the shot afterwards, but not when I was looking through the peep. I heard it deflect, but it almost sounded like lungs deflating...at least I wanted to believe that. I edited out some of the video where I stand up, I was watching him to see it there was blood. He stopped after running about 80yds, I really thought he might be going down...but there was no blood and he certainly wasn't wobbly. He stood and looked back for a minute then ran another 20yds and looked back again. Eventually he trotted off to the N, no worse for wear...tail in the air.

In hindsight I should have waited for him to get into the opening before I drew, he could have bolted at that point or just looked my way...but ya can't go backwards. Tough end to a tough season, but I don't reckon I'll ever forget that encounter...and who knows, we might just meet again.

Thanks for tagging along, and for all the kind words...not much of a hunter, but a hunter nonetheless.

Thanks for a great ride. What you do is a lot of work and I appreciate it.

That spot does like somebody shot him there. Could be a ruffed up a spot but looks like there would be more spots on that side if so. Also that’s in that no man’s land spot where it wouldn’t have killed him.

I know you feel really bad and I can tell the reaction after was real. Some people don’t realize sometimes all the things that can go wrong hunting from the ground. Killing a deer don’t make you a hunter…but you already know that.

Keep you’re head up cause following your hunts here I think you’re one of the best hunters around. Pretty sure you got a good chance to see this deer next year and I can’t wait to read about it later this year.

In the coming months, keep those “other” hunting adventures coming!

The good thing is we can benefit by watching the footage......thanks for sharing.

There are times I wish my mistakes weren't on film, but the good has far outweighed the bad.

I didn’t get it done with my bow this year, and had to dust off the rifle to put meat in the freezer to quiet the family, but had more fun hunts this year than I can remember for several years. Thanks for that.

Like others have mentioned, I really enjoy following your season long pursuit. I am sure it takes quite a bit of effort to video as well. Thank you for sharing your season with us. I am already looking forward to your 2023 diaries. All the best