What do you guys do for tick prevention? I was damn near infested with those little fuckers every day.
I know there is a thread for this, but I'm watching a heron fly around the field/our pond. Just squawked over there ha. Had a beautiful woodpecker bouncing around the trees a couple days ago when I missed. Saw 4 deer jump out of the woods yesterday but they hurried across the field in the rain, I couldn't get a shot off. If there patter remains the same, they should be showing up in the next hour.
Here's a new one; just had a Husky run under my deer stand. Must be a neighbor dog. At least he didn't start barking.
Yeah. Unfortunately there are a lot of country roaming dogs out here. I've heard them from the woods at night, I occasionally run into them on the driveway. He peaced out the opposite direction of where I face and have seen the deer come out, but there's no telling where else he's been. And I just heard a dog barking from across the field somewhere. Hopefully they haven't scared the deer but never know.
Nothing worse than getting in the stand an hour before daylight and having your stomach start to rumble. Bad enough its 75 degrees and I'm sweating already
Well, today was the last day for muzzle loader except for 3 days at the end of the year. Saw one deer poke it's head out of the woods this morning, but only for a minute before it turned back in. Then about 5:15 saw 4 emerge at the same spot and cut the corner of the field. Same distance shot that I missed the other day. Sat on it today to see if they'd walk down the treeline towards me any closer but they didnt. Never took a shot. 0fer for the season. As a first time hunter (we "hunted" with my dad when I was a kid but it was mostly 'sit in this stand and shut up.') I didn't expect to have great success off the bat. Still, it's frustrating to see so many deer and not get one. Good news is there's plenty of deer out there moving through our land and now I know their pattern a little better. Modern gun starts in a couple weeks. Time to move a stand into that corner of the field. And dad said he found a rub today, so very good news.
That's so much of it is trial and error. If you have a stand that is far from where the deer are moving, move it. Just try to remember wind patterns and be patient. If the does are frequenting now, the bucks will follow shortly. Good luck man
According to the HuntStand app, the shot I missed and subsequently didn't take is 135 yds. Yeah, that was not ideal. The stand is in a great place where we've seen deer pass all the time and every shot has a good uphill backdrop, but never had one come with 100 yards when I'm up there. Been down there for a couple months now. Oh well, I've seen some good stuff out there. Can't wait for more time in the stand.
My favorite spot is in the woods but the leaves have dropped, so you can see for a ways. Just watching them creep along, even without any shooter deer, is fun to me
Wildlife behaviors are entertaining. What's funny is after the short private land hunt up here a few weeks ago, the next day 5 fuckin doe were in the front yard chowing on acorns. They like to mock me. I expect my dog to chase one off the driveway in the morning.
Pretty fired up about this new setup I put together. XOP Air Raid, Hawk Helium sticks with a rope mod. Added the shoulder straps and waist belt. Not going to do a bunch of hang and hunts, but I like this so much better than packing in a climber.
Can anyone recommend a hunting camp or trip for a bachelor party? Group of 8-10 guys in January. Thinking of a ranch or something in Texas but what I’m finding is pricey, trophy hunts.
Do a hog hunt in Florida or South Georgia or go to a quail preserve. It’s going to be too late for a deer hunt.
Walked up on a buck this morning, he was walking away from me, 10 o’clock, maybe 60 yards. I try to summon my inner Cam Hanes when we get an over grown terrace between us so I crouch down and start speed walking to cut him off.... no luck, snorted and he took off.
Duck hunt would be another option if everyone has the gear. You can even find some places with big enough pits they could fit the whole crew. I have always wanted to do the South Louisiana fish and feathers trip where you duck hunt and fish for redfish in the same trip.
It’s going to be very difficult (likely impossible) to find availability for any duck operation worth a shit for a weekend hunt in January.
If the guys aren’t opposed to camping you could easily set up a white tail trip. Bachelor party might want a little more activity and chatter than 5am wake up and tree stands though.
Think that ship has sailed. Bitching about prices, no night life, etc. We’ve already done all the regular bachelor party destinations so we’re trying to center it around an activity. Thanks for the suggestions, I’ll look into pheasants as a last ditch effort. Back to hunting talk
Heading up to pick up the meat from the butcher. Any blackstrap recipes you guys recommend? I was planning on cast iron with butter rosemary and garlic. But I’m open to suggestions.
Marinate in coke and yellow mustard. You can then bread and flour fry or wrap in bacon and do a honey mustard glaze
I cut into medallions put them on a skewer with onions and peppers, cover in an oil based Italian dressing and grill.
Not nearly as much meat as I would’ve thought from that deer. Maybe I’ll butcher myself next time. *edit* I’m counting up the packets of meat. 3 roast, 3 steaks, 3 cube steak... I’m betting that right foreleg was unusable hence my lack of meat. *edit 2* hot sticks are fucking slamming.
Saw a bunch of deer this afternoon. Had two shooters out in the field I was sitting on, but both were about 75-80 yards away and never got close. Only had this young 8 come into bow range.
If you are still looking for a spot here is an awesome ranch located south of San Antonio- the 74 Ranch. The hunting is pretty pricey but they have an awesome sporting clay range, the facilities are top notch (nice bar and game room) and you will get the big Texas ranch feel. I take clients up a couple time a year and highly recommend it. Good luck! http://www.74ranch.com/sporting-clays
Dad got a twofer this morning. First smaller racked natural 8 (brow tine broke to make him a 7) came out at 7am and dropped him. Got down to drag him to stand and the 2nd natural rack 8 (again, brow tine broken off) showed up ready to fight. He got the first deer back to the stand and climbed back up. The 2nd deer came back 5 minutes later and he dropped him on the corn pile. 185 and 180 lbs
We have a bunch like him. The people who leased the property before us had no management agenda. They were killing it if they saw it. It’s been 3-4 years now letting those kinds of bucks walk since we got the place. It’s paying off with the deer we’re seeing. Should have some really good bucks in a couple years.
Best friend is in Illinois right now on a hunt. Said on the way in he saw the biggest buck he’s ever seen in the wild. Hope him and his dad come away with nice ones.
https://www.realtree.com/timber-2-t...-seared-backstrap-with-easy-garlic-butter-pan Family’s first taste of venison tonight. Everyone loves it.
My camp leases about 1,000 acres of three seperate areas. They touch on corners w a couple of dirt roads. All of the land surrounding us is leased by different camps. We've never been able to get them to let 2-3 year old bucks walk. Every legal buck gets got. I'll never see a monster. Luckily, I've never been to hung up on racks Congrats on the racks
If you guys have 1000 acres, then that's more than enough to create a sanctuary. Shoot does and cull bucks for a few years and let the big boys grow
I shot at a decent 8 point yesterday evening and thought I missed, looked for nearly an hour and never found blood.....went back this morning and found him in heavy brush. I feel sick to why stomach wasting a deer like that....
First buck I shot at I was so excited I immediately went after him. Found blood and shortly after jumped him and he was gone. Big, bubbly blood patch where I jumped him so I know I got his lungs and he wasn’t going to survive. Looked till dark and the next day but it was a swampy party of the land so we couldn’t find the blood trail once he had his first water crossing. I know the feeling, it sucks. I’m more selective in my shots now and give them plenty on time before I climb down now.
Agreed. The loins may be bad but I bet you still could get some backstraps and decent quarters off of it.
It was 63 when I shot him and only got down to 51 last night. I didn't want to risk it, it set out there for 14 hours. Here are a couple pics.