Deer hunting!

[Greentored 3,201]

Its that time of year again, and betting I'm not the only deer hunter here. How bout it, guys- let's keep this thread going with our updates from the field eh?

The place I bought last fall is on 1.2 acres, and the property backs up to a 40+ acre field. There are deer out there almost daily, year round! Unfortunately, the landowners sons hunt, and I was not granted permission to access the field. 

Enter plan B: clear the crap out of the hedge row, plant a food plot, and bring em on my property! As a bonus, theres a 12-14ft high storage barn right on top of this spot- I built a 'stand' inside the barn and cut a 2x2 section of siding out, overlooking the field and plot.

The 520H spent a lot of time dragging and raking everything from sticks and leaves to shingles, metal pipes, and whatever else the previous owner pack ratted and threw in the row. Next, I planted some "chic magnet' chicory/clover mix in the spring and let it go.

Over the weekend, the 1277 "lawn duty" cut it down, I fertilized and did the fall seeding of chic magnet, and threw out a bag of corn and a mineral block.

Bow season opened here on Saturday, but you wont catch me out there til temps are in the 60s and below. Hard to sit still when swatting at skeeters.

[Pullstart 62,799]

Looks nice!  I’ve thought about a “stand” in my back barn too, how about pics of that?

 

here’s a thread about my hunting experience...

 

https://www.wheelhorseforum.com/topic/82724-c’mere-deer/?tab=comments#comment-814029 

 

My favorite thing, is adding a little mineral lick of my own.  2 lbs powdered sugar, 2 lbs salt, 2 lbs baking soda, 3 grape cool-aid packets... mixed up in a 5 gallon bucket and poured into the plot.

[oliver2-44 9,696]

One of my favorite little things is Peanut Butter take it and smear it into the crevices of tree bark. then throw the half empty jar on the ground. Deer get distracted trying to lick it out of the bark crevices and will kick the jar around trying to get it out.  it good for holding doe around to lure that buck in. Buy the inexpensive store brand, deer are not picky. 

[CCW 1,292]

Not being a hunter and nothing against it, but my recollection is a hunter cannot bait deer here in CT.  Might be wrong though.

[Greentored 3,201]

15 hours ago, CCW said:

Not being a hunter and nothing against it, but my recollection is a hunter cannot bait deer here in CT.  Might be wrong though.

That is true in many states. It is allowed here in NC. Without getting on my soap box, I don't agree with baiting, to me that's not 'fair chase'. I mean, if someone puts a pizza and some cold beer out to lure me in, Im gonna go

However, being a new property, I am trying to give them a reason to visit my side of the field. If it works, I wont be baiting anymore. Kinda feels like cheating......

Edited September 15, 2020 by Greentored

[CCW 1,292]

4 hours ago, Greentored said:

That is true in many states. It is allowed here in NC. Without getting on my soap box, I don't agree with baiting, to me that's not 'fair chase'. I mean, if someone puts a pizza and some cold beer out to lure me in, Im gonna go

However, being a new property, I am trying to give them a reason to visit my side of the field. If it works, I wont be baiting anymore. Kinda feels like cheating......

 

Thanks for the info.  You're right.  Pizza and beer might lure me in.  Scotch would work better.

[The Tuul Crib 7,336]

The ones around my house l could 

probably knock em out with my fist!

They dont seem to be afraid of me being near by. I dont feed em cause they have cleaned out anything l have planted.

 

[Darb1964 1,042]

I have hunted deer for over forty years in my home state of Massachusetts,out of state in Vermont, Connecticut, new York and Maine. Not allowed to bait in any of those States for the most part, natural food and must stop two weeks before season. I'm not against it where legal, not my idea of fair chase. That is one thing I dislike about most of the hunting shows on 📺 these days. In my opinion not good for the sport, instant gratification. I don't like deer farms that grow huge bucks through selective breeding and sell them to fenced in ranches for trophy hunting, diminishes the real trophy that survives many season's. I'm a meat hunter and will take any legal animal, for the most part,depending on how my season is going. Last few years I have not been very successful because of disability, if I take one I'm very happy. When I was of sound body I would hunt relentlessly with all methods and had much success. That is my opinion, any legal animal taken under lawful means is trophy. Enjoy your time in the outdoors and take a kid or someone that has never tried hunting. The American sportsmen has saved more of the American woodlands than all other groups combined. The town I live in has over five thousand acres of state land paid for by hunting licence buyer's. With this epidemic the price of land has gone through the roof, three hour's from Boston and New York city and low price of land and very rural makes it inviting. From the soap box, enjoy the season!!!

[Greentored 3,201]

@Darb1964 couldn’t agree more on all accounts! I am also a meat hunter- if it presents a shot, I take it, doesn’t matter if it’s an 80lb doe or a huge 12 point slob. I take a lot of crap from buddies, bragging about the huge bucks they take- at 300 yards with a scoped rifle. To me, that makes them a helluva marksman. And that’s all.....

Now grab a bow, sneak in without getting ‘busted’ by scent, noise, etc.., take that 80lb doe at 10-15 yards or less, and tell me it’s not just as great a trophy, if not greater 👍

Edited September 16, 2020 by Greentored

[Greentored 3,201]

@pullstart think it was you asking about the barn stand in the other thread?  Here ya go!  

Gotta do some minor beefing up now that the weather has cooled, this was a quick 'bang it out' done late last year for coyote watching.