C’mere deer!

[Pullstart 62,834]

And just like that, I might have found the new roof to next year’s hunting blind!  I pick up skids to break down and burn from the shop where my brother and father in law work.  They wanted me to take this behemoth skid away too, that a CNC mill shipped to them on.  Cover it with a rubber membrane and some dirt, I’ll be all set for a buried ground blind!

 

 

[Pullstart 62,834]

These power poles will be the foundation to the shack!

[Ed Kennell 38,138]

Can't wait to see how elaborate this below ground camp becomes....lights, heat, eats, bunks ,etc.

 

BTW,  still trying to harvest a deer with the flintlock  for my Amish neighbor.     So with temps in the 50s, I climbed into my lower stand at 3PM on Friday evening.

Sorry I didn't have a camera, but at 4PM, a string of deer crossed the cut corn field about 120 yards from me.     The string was about 14 deer long and 2-3 deer deep.

There were easily 20 deer in the herd.     I know the deer "yard up"  this time of year, but this is the largest herd I have seen since  living in  western Pa. in the '60s.

[Pullstart 62,834]

1 minute ago, Ed Kennell said:

Can't wait to see how elaborate this below ground camp becomes....lights, heat, eats, bunks ,etc.

 

BTW,  still trying to harvest a deer with the flintlock  for my Amish neighbor.     So with temps in the 50s, I climbed into my lower stand at 3PM on Friday evening.

Sorry I didn't have a camera, but at 4PM, a string of deer crossed the cut corn field about 120 yards from me.     The string was about 14 deer long and 2-3 deer deep.

There were easily 20 deer in the herd.     I know the deer "yard up"  this time of year, but this is the largest herd I have seen since  living in  western Pa. in the '60s.

 

How long is your season, Ed?  We had until Jan. 1 to harvest, now we wait until Oct. 1.

[Ed Kennell 38,138]

On ‎1‎/‎13‎/‎2020 at 9:52 AM, pullstart said:

 

How long is your season, Ed?  We had until Jan. 1 to harvest, now we wait until Oct. 1.

Our Flintlock season ended last Monday Jan 1.     I Had a couple shots but there were late near dark and I didn't shoot.     I was pleased when  I shot off the smoke pole to unload it.

It fired first try after being loaded for 3 weeks in some wet weather.

 

BTW,  I was thinking of you guys while eating  my breakfast this  morning...  orange slices, brown eggs, apple fritters maple syrup, and venison scrapple.

[WHX?? 48,814]

Never did get to score on a scrappel or sausage doe either. Here I was all hyped up on making it (scrappel) and even collected some recipes and youtubes!   Between work and the deer going nocturnal just wasn't meant to be. It's like they knew I was in the stand and after I put the weapons back in the gun safe for another year they came out in force and dang near ate corn out of my hand! Oh well I still enjoy just watching them and for next year! I do have a small bag of trim from bucks ...going to try my hand at a small batch of ring garlic bologna. Cindy and I both love that. 

[Pullstart 62,834]

I’ve never hunted rabbit, but there is sign all over my yard and field of them.  Without a gun in my hand, they don’t seem to be bothered by me walking near the shop or wood shed.

 

Today, I decided I’d take a gander with some game load in my 20 gauge.  I walked about an hour and a half and kicked up one cotton tail.  

 

I found him again maybe 20 minutes later and even took a long shot at him but the marks in the snow indicate I was a bit low at probably 40 yards.

 

Other than being 2 seconds quicker the first time I had a chance to shoot in one of my deer trails, any advice on helping a total novice bag some little buggers?

 

[Pullstart 62,834]

There are plenty of natural water sources in the area with poor drainage, but they come and go.  I’ve read that deer will favor a continuous water source over one that comes and goes.  With the new FEL, I plan to dig holes deep enough to get these flush or even a few inches below the ground level.  They’ll need to be cleaned out each spring and refilled a time or two, but will hopefully become their go-to spot on my terms instead of theirs.  The overflows (or fills maybe?) will be cut down and capped and I need one plug for the bottom drain of one.

 

 

 

 

[Ed Kennell 38,138]

Let's see,   You put in a grocery plot and now your adding indoor plumbing.    I'm guessing buck beds will be next. 

[Pullstart 62,834]

7 minutes ago, Ed Kennell said:

Let's see,   You put in a grocery plot and now your adding indoor plumbing.    I'm guessing buck beds will be next. 

 

Should the drapes match the rugs Ed?

[Pullstart 62,834]

 

[Pullstart 62,834]

I saw the first doe in my field in a while today.  To celebrate, I started another food plot.  I have a spring/summer mix that I’m tossing in.  
 

 

[The Tuul Crib 7,336]

8 hours ago, pullstart said:

I saw the first doe in my field in a while today.  To celebrate, I started another food plot.  I have a spring/summer mix that I’m tossing in.  
 

 

I have a food plot off my back deck . I 

could have got em with a sling shot!!

Edited June 30, 2020 by The Tuul Crib

[Pullstart 62,834]

I started to mow a new food plot quite a while back, then became sidetracked along the way with other priorities.  While I had Grandpa’s New Holland here for the weekend, I tilled it up and Rylee broadcast some seeds for me.  Tonight, some water.

 

 

[Pullstart 62,834]

I took a stroll today hauling the kids around the property and grandpa’s 100 acres next door.  There’s about 2” of snow on the ground still and I was scouting for main trail systems taken by the deer.

 

I’m happy to report, my trails I mowed mid-hunting season had more traffic than the entire field!  My food plot was lacking this past summer, I was hoping most of it would grow back.  It seemed to, until things got cold and the deer kept away from my stand.  
 

My lesson learned?  Even in grass, the deer are primarily lazy and will stick to the trails cut!  C’mon 2021 deer season already!

[Pullstart 62,834]

I pulled some heads out of the ground today.  I had a doe head to get buried before she stunk too bad, but due to the hardships of getting these out of the ground, I put her in an old race tire and filled it with dirt!

 

 

[WHX?? 48,814]

Nice lookin tractor there Kev... who's is it? 

[Pullstart 62,834]

A good resting place.  I’d like to make it a point to keep every deer from this property.  I forgot my Christmas doe and left her to the processor.  That’s ok, it was a temple shot and I imagine there was an intense amount of damage.

 

 

[Pullstart 62,834]

2 minutes ago, WHX24 said:

Nice lookin tractor there Kev... who's is it? 

well... it’s in my barn for the riding... ya know!?

[Pullstart 62,834]

My second cousin harvested this Michigan Monster up north during the youth hunt.  Go Ryan!

 

Like @WHX?? always says… “shoot now, we’ll check for antlers later”. 

[WHX?? 48,814]

2 hours ago, pullstart said:

north during the youth hunt.

Was that this year? Seems a little early even for youth hunts??? 

[Pullstart 62,834]

17 minutes ago, WHX?? said:

Was that this year? Seems a little early even for youth hunts??? 

Sept. 11 was Youth/Disabled Freedom hunt opener.

[Ed Kennell 38,138]

Md general archery opens 9/15    PeeAaaa opens 10/1.

[WHX?? 48,814]

Archery opens 9/18 here but I don't get excited until the leaves change and a couple good frosts. Not one to sit in the stand and swat skeeters! 

[Pullstart 62,834]

My Uncle placed a camera on the north end of the property, coming out of the swamp.  First buck pictures of the season!

 

Wrong time of day, but there nonetheless!  That end of the field is still covered in corn.