Prairie Pit-Stop
- Thread starter trampledbyturtles
- Start date
trampledbyturtles
5 year old buck +
Went out last Tue for the first sit of the year at the farm. Had a doe cut my track and follow it 300 yards to the stand. Stomped an blew on repeat till she finally buggered off.
Right at sundown some does start filing in followed by my top 2 target bucks. To my shigrin the nag is with em. She goes to where she pegged me down wind and stomps and stomps. Runs into the plot and blows. Everyone looks at her like she is the crazy cat lady and continues feeding. Eventually it gets to dark to see and everyone feeds off in a different direction, not spooked but off their normal routine.
Wednesday a narly front pushes through that set up prime conditions to get back up in the same stand on Thursday (something I try not to do so quick).
In early around 330 and just like Bueller had happen. As soon as I get the bow pulled up there are deer on their feet. Fears of a repeat are on my mind as they feed about. After some time a doe and a fawn bed down and the rest work off.
About an hr before sundown I hear the tell tale crunch and look down. A doe is standing at the entrance of the cedar to my stand, licking the branches I brushed aside to climb up. I cringe as I spot my wayward mitten laying at the base of the tree.
Inching closer she smells the bottom step and gives the glove a one over. Holding my breath and ready for the worst, I can't believe it when she steps on by into the clover and feeds as if nothing happened. That was the first break I needed.
About 30min before sundown I spot what I believe to be my target buck in a different plot 600 yards to the west feeding and heading N at a decent clip.
A couple minutes later the same does return. They feed around and get a little jumpy. Hoping for the best, thinking theres a chance, a 1.5 3x3 runs in stirring things up. They feed S for about ten min and are midway through the plot at about 50 yards.
Cant believe how it happens, but I look up and there stands a target buck I'm calling Junk. He made it from the N1A plot to the west.
The shakes start as he looks like godzilla compared to the does and 3x3.
Everything is going to plan as he bumps everyone further S. After about 7min the does are directly below me and he's closing on 40. At 35 he turns broadside and looks straight away. Here's my shot, except those dang does are within spitting distance and I'm pinned down. I just need them to take a couple steps. As soon as they do, so does junk. But in the wrong direction. To my dismay he starts a slow march to the N straight away.
I'm kicking myself, can't believe he's about to get away a second time in three days. Say a couple quick prayers to the man upstairs. As junk rounds the last apple in the plot, going out on the trail he came in on. He lifts his head pulls a u turn and starts down the opposite side of the plot. He comes in on a string, not once stopping to feed or turn. At 20 yards I draw thinking oh shit, he's not stopping.
He catches something and stops at ten yards. I'm about to take the frontal when he takes 5 more steps. At this point he is at the base of the cedar. Leaning off the front of the stand I have one opening between some branches and let it rip. Sounds like a hammer with a thump, no pass through. Runs 30ft and out of sight, hear some slough grass russlelin, thought I'd heard him fall and get back up and walk off. Get down and take one quick peak around a couple cedars to see if I can see the lighted nock. Nothing, so I back out and wait 3 hrs.
Knowing the blood trail will be weak to nonexistent the plan is to try to spot the nock, then a quick look around to find his exit trail. If nothing, back out till morning, temps were expected to drop below freezing and didnt want to risk bumping what I thought was one lung liver.
Finding nothing I decide to walk on some plastic ground cover of a tree row I planted a couple years back. Figured if he crossed I should be able to pick up blood fairly easy. Start N the direction I think he ran and get to the end, nothing. Head back S on the 2 row. Headlight is focused a foot in front of my face and I'm close to the start.
About had a heart attack when a deer hoof pops out of the grass onto the fabric. Look up and there he was. Couldn't hardly believe it, probably walked past him 2 times less than 10ft away in open. Didnt help that my nocturnal was off. Guessing he whipped it against a tree and somehow it turned off.
Said my many thanks and the real work began.
Glad I was able to get it done before the pheasant opener, usually it equates to throwing a grenade into the deer woods. Dad and I had a good time even tho it is not my cup of tea. Just happy to be able to spend another opener with him.
Right at sundown some does start filing in followed by my top 2 target bucks. To my shigrin the nag is with em. She goes to where she pegged me down wind and stomps and stomps. Runs into the plot and blows. Everyone looks at her like she is the crazy cat lady and continues feeding. Eventually it gets to dark to see and everyone feeds off in a different direction, not spooked but off their normal routine.
Wednesday a narly front pushes through that set up prime conditions to get back up in the same stand on Thursday (something I try not to do so quick).
In early around 330 and just like Bueller had happen. As soon as I get the bow pulled up there are deer on their feet. Fears of a repeat are on my mind as they feed about. After some time a doe and a fawn bed down and the rest work off.
About an hr before sundown I hear the tell tale crunch and look down. A doe is standing at the entrance of the cedar to my stand, licking the branches I brushed aside to climb up. I cringe as I spot my wayward mitten laying at the base of the tree.
Inching closer she smells the bottom step and gives the glove a one over. Holding my breath and ready for the worst, I can't believe it when she steps on by into the clover and feeds as if nothing happened. That was the first break I needed.
About 30min before sundown I spot what I believe to be my target buck in a different plot 600 yards to the west feeding and heading N at a decent clip.
A couple minutes later the same does return. They feed around and get a little jumpy. Hoping for the best, thinking theres a chance, a 1.5 3x3 runs in stirring things up. They feed S for about ten min and are midway through the plot at about 50 yards.
Cant believe how it happens, but I look up and there stands a target buck I'm calling Junk. He made it from the N1A plot to the west.
The shakes start as he looks like godzilla compared to the does and 3x3.
Everything is going to plan as he bumps everyone further S. After about 7min the does are directly below me and he's closing on 40. At 35 he turns broadside and looks straight away. Here's my shot, except those dang does are within spitting distance and I'm pinned down. I just need them to take a couple steps. As soon as they do, so does junk. But in the wrong direction. To my dismay he starts a slow march to the N straight away.
I'm kicking myself, can't believe he's about to get away a second time in three days. Say a couple quick prayers to the man upstairs. As junk rounds the last apple in the plot, going out on the trail he came in on. He lifts his head pulls a u turn and starts down the opposite side of the plot. He comes in on a string, not once stopping to feed or turn. At 20 yards I draw thinking oh shit, he's not stopping.
He catches something and stops at ten yards. I'm about to take the frontal when he takes 5 more steps. At this point he is at the base of the cedar. Leaning off the front of the stand I have one opening between some branches and let it rip. Sounds like a hammer with a thump, no pass through. Runs 30ft and out of sight, hear some slough grass russlelin, thought I'd heard him fall and get back up and walk off. Get down and take one quick peak around a couple cedars to see if I can see the lighted nock. Nothing, so I back out and wait 3 hrs.
Knowing the blood trail will be weak to nonexistent the plan is to try to spot the nock, then a quick look around to find his exit trail. If nothing, back out till morning, temps were expected to drop below freezing and didnt want to risk bumping what I thought was one lung liver.
Finding nothing I decide to walk on some plastic ground cover of a tree row I planted a couple years back. Figured if he crossed I should be able to pick up blood fairly easy. Start N the direction I think he ran and get to the end, nothing. Head back S on the 2 row. Headlight is focused a foot in front of my face and I'm close to the start.
About had a heart attack when a deer hoof pops out of the grass onto the fabric. Look up and there he was. Couldn't hardly believe it, probably walked past him 2 times less than 10ft away in open. Didnt help that my nocturnal was off. Guessing he whipped it against a tree and somehow it turned off.
Said my many thanks and the real work began.
Glad I was able to get it done before the pheasant opener, usually it equates to throwing a grenade into the deer woods. Dad and I had a good time even tho it is not my cup of tea. Just happy to be able to spend another opener with him.
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Troubles Trees
5 year old buck +
Great story bud!! Always enjoy following the story and envisioning myself in other peoples hunts. Great buck!!
trampledbyturtles
5 year old buck +
Thinking about it, only done euros to this point. Have alot of neat pics and history with the buck.
Yep, the bush lattes were going down smooth and crispy since it was freaking cold out, ha.
trampledbyturtles
5 year old buck +
Had a blast of an opener.
Dad my wife and I all drew rifle tags.
Will say I heard more shots fired yesterday morning than in any year previous.
Dad and her hunted the farm.
He got on the board first and dropped his around daybreak.
Set her up in one of my archery stands.
She got her shot around 815 at about 10yards. Said all she could see was the deer's shoulder in the scope so she let it bark.
I had set a goal of getting a buck with a bow on public on the rifle opener a number of years back so that's I
went for. Anything that had horns was in trouble.
Busted out the kayak hoping the recent warm spell had kept things open just long enough.
My entrance that morning must of sounded like the titanic hitting the iceberg. Finally up the tree and ready to let things settle, and the alarm on my phone goes off overriding the silent feature. Comedy of sorts really.
So when a doe ran past the stand, and he came chasing grunting the whole way in shortly after. He wasn't gunna get a pass.
What a morning, one I won't soon forget.
Will add, it was fun going into a hunt with no expectations. Back to just hunting. But of course the wife had to let me know who shot the bigger buck, a few times. Ha
Dad my wife and I all drew rifle tags.
Will say I heard more shots fired yesterday morning than in any year previous.
Dad and her hunted the farm.
He got on the board first and dropped his around daybreak.
Set her up in one of my archery stands.
She got her shot around 815 at about 10yards. Said all she could see was the deer's shoulder in the scope so she let it bark.
I had set a goal of getting a buck with a bow on public on the rifle opener a number of years back so that's I
went for. Anything that had horns was in trouble.
Busted out the kayak hoping the recent warm spell had kept things open just long enough.
My entrance that morning must of sounded like the titanic hitting the iceberg. Finally up the tree and ready to let things settle, and the alarm on my phone goes off overriding the silent feature. Comedy of sorts really.
So when a doe ran past the stand, and he came chasing grunting the whole way in shortly after. He wasn't gunna get a pass.
What a morning, one I won't soon forget.
Will add, it was fun going into a hunt with no expectations. Back to just hunting. But of course the wife had to let me know who shot the bigger buck, a few times. Ha
trampledbyturtles
5 year old buck +
Felt good to get back to work at the farm today. Loving this 44 degree December weather.
Got all the lifelines pulled down and tree stand straps loosened up. (Sidenote, way more fun to due this when its nice out and not a freaking blizzard like last year)
Pulled trail cam cards for the first time this year. Hopeing for some solid info for next year.
Got a mental jump on next years pruning cuts and came to a decision on the orchard layout for next years pear planting.
Gotta say, last years ash stump sprouts have me intrigued. Every one within reach is browsed hard. The ones with a bit of protection are narly branched hydras that are throwing up a nice wall of cover.
Also found time to bust some cattails and knock down a few birds, missed twice at #3 at 40 yards. Piper was done so I called it a day.
Walked up on this guy taking a snooze.
Already looking forward to spring.
Got all the lifelines pulled down and tree stand straps loosened up. (Sidenote, way more fun to due this when its nice out and not a freaking blizzard like last year)
Pulled trail cam cards for the first time this year. Hopeing for some solid info for next year.
Got a mental jump on next years pruning cuts and came to a decision on the orchard layout for next years pear planting.
Gotta say, last years ash stump sprouts have me intrigued. Every one within reach is browsed hard. The ones with a bit of protection are narly branched hydras that are throwing up a nice wall of cover.
Also found time to bust some cattails and knock down a few birds, missed twice at #3 at 40 yards. Piper was done so I called it a day.
Walked up on this guy taking a snooze.
Already looking forward to spring.
trampledbyturtles
5 year old buck +
Spring is in the air, feels great to get back into the woods.
About wore out after the last three days, trying a different strategy this year in my green ash reclamation project.
Going with all stump sprouts vs hinge cuts and harvesting the wood for the burner.
One row was stump cut a foot high, the other 4ft high so it will be out reach, with plans to return in a few years to recut.
Replanting with doug fir, pears and caragana in offset rows.
Still have 5 to go.
Lost the key to the atv. So having to use the otter sled to move everything to a spot I can get the truck to. Legs r feeling it today.
Few other findings along the way.
Tubes are coming off my first oak planting. Believe this guy is the first pic I put on this thread.
And finnaly a project I've been working on this winter. Set up a grow station for cuttings. Trying to get some seabuckthorn going, along with a few weeping birch for the yard.
Love spending time in gods creation.
About wore out after the last three days, trying a different strategy this year in my green ash reclamation project.
Going with all stump sprouts vs hinge cuts and harvesting the wood for the burner.
One row was stump cut a foot high, the other 4ft high so it will be out reach, with plans to return in a few years to recut.
Replanting with doug fir, pears and caragana in offset rows.
Still have 5 to go.
Lost the key to the atv. So having to use the otter sled to move everything to a spot I can get the truck to. Legs r feeling it today.
Few other findings along the way.
Tubes are coming off my first oak planting. Believe this guy is the first pic I put on this thread.
And finnaly a project I've been working on this winter. Set up a grow station for cuttings. Trying to get some seabuckthorn going, along with a few weeping birch for the yard.
Love spending time in gods creation.
Troubles Trees
5 year old buck +
Looks great bud! Good score with the sheds!
trampledbyturtles
5 year old buck +
Got out to prune all the apples.
Went light this year. Predicting a dry summer.
Cherry picked this 4 leaf Macintosh for a pic. Most others vary from this with a few head scratches thrown in there.
All winter hangover is showing up. Haralson is proving to be the best of the bunch as far as wanting to grow great limb struture on it's own. My NWC crabs where protected are growing gangbusters. Where exposed are showing extreme SW injury. Fear I might lose one completely.
Sidenote: impressed with meyers spruce so far. Although slow to grow, there tolerance to shade fills a niche. Still need a few more years data.
Went light this year. Predicting a dry summer.
Cherry picked this 4 leaf Macintosh for a pic. Most others vary from this with a few head scratches thrown in there.
All winter hangover is showing up. Haralson is proving to be the best of the bunch as far as wanting to grow great limb struture on it's own. My NWC crabs where protected are growing gangbusters. Where exposed are showing extreme SW injury. Fear I might lose one completely.
Sidenote: impressed with meyers spruce so far. Although slow to grow, there tolerance to shade fills a niche. Still need a few more years data.
Tree Spud
5 year old buck +
TT ... what type of skiff is that in the pic?
trampledbyturtles
5 year old buck +
It is a perception, pescador 100 bought it used. She was just above water when I made the voyage back. Glad it wasnt windy.
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trampledbyturtles
5 year old buck +
And so it begins...
Got the pear orchard in. Took longer than expected. Getting old I guess. Not impressed with the nursery this year. Sent them 2 weeks earlier than I wanted them. Fully leafed out on arrival, took 8 days from ship date to arrive. Had to get then in the ground and its supposed to drop to around 20 on monday. Will see how tuff they are.
Trusty sidekick claimed dibs.
Had 2 beautiful hen flushes in the thickest stuff she could find.
On the docket for tomorrow.
Sticking with the moddo plant less but bigger and protect. Only way I can seem to get decent results. Finding most mass shrub plantings are a waste of time, nothing stands a chance without a cage.
Got the pear orchard in. Took longer than expected. Getting old I guess. Not impressed with the nursery this year. Sent them 2 weeks earlier than I wanted them. Fully leafed out on arrival, took 8 days from ship date to arrive. Had to get then in the ground and its supposed to drop to around 20 on monday. Will see how tuff they are.
Trusty sidekick claimed dibs.
Had 2 beautiful hen flushes in the thickest stuff she could find.
On the docket for tomorrow.
Sticking with the moddo plant less but bigger and protect. Only way I can seem to get decent results. Finding most mass shrub plantings are a waste of time, nothing stands a chance without a cage.
trampledbyturtles
5 year old buck +
Planting seasons winding down, only 30 trees to go out of 250.
Finished the section of ash reclamation last night. Glad to have that stage behind me. Alot of hours into only a 100ft long stretch.
N row of confier
Middle 4 pears
S side topped it off with a 25 plant hedge row of caragana with weed fabric and used the ash tops as a barrier to discourage rubbing for the first couple years.
Back out tonight to plant 5 SWO
Planting is the easy part. It's the all the other add ons (water, weed mat, cage, tube) that burn time.
Finished the section of ash reclamation last night. Glad to have that stage behind me. Alot of hours into only a 100ft long stretch.
N row of confier
Middle 4 pears
S side topped it off with a 25 plant hedge row of caragana with weed fabric and used the ash tops as a barrier to discourage rubbing for the first couple years.
Back out tonight to plant 5 SWO
Planting is the easy part. It's the all the other add ons (water, weed mat, cage, tube) that burn time.
