So I picked up a new place this spring that is 220 acres of river bottom habitat. Its mostly ag fields with strip woods and has lots of funnels. The first year on any new place is a real learning experience, and that proved true on this place also. I got some good bucks on camera all year long and the place had a surprising population of deer. I setup 7 stands on all the promising funnels and only had hunted it once that I didn't have a deer sighting. Most were at a distance. Fast forward to last weekend- I took a doe off the place last Sunday. During that hunt I had a semi roll in with a load of field tile and back down the farm lane. I'm thinking what the heck.. prime time and they are going to start tiling the field. Sure enough a quick check with the land owner and my theory was right, but he didn't know when they would actually be doing the work. This past Tuesday I was there and by 10:30 I had seen 12 already. Mostly does and small bucks, but it was shaping up to be a great hunt. This is when I heard "The dreaded sound of machinery roaring" . I looked over my shoulder to see a procession of a tiling machine, excavator, 4 wheel drive tractor pulling a load of tiling pipe and a UTV. They proceed to cross the field and start knocking down trees along the river bank to make a run off for the tile project. In the process they bust a big bedded buck out of the brush along the river. I watch as he beelines it down the river and runs right past one of my stands. At this point I decided my hunt was over and it was time to go talk with the workers. While speaking with them I had another big buck run the field edge by the stand I just got out of. Long story short they will be there for the next two weeks. I did get an agreement with them to work in the top fields first that are not along the river. They will likely be down there working by the end of next week. That means I have this weekend to hunt the bottoms and gun season open this Saturday God I hate Murphy's law.. It seems to follow me like a shadow! Rant over....
Not your land right? The landowner is having his land improved so he can make more money off his investment. You are there to hunt as a hobby, can you see why complaining about a ruined hunt seems a little self centered?
I'll assume that this is a permission only property? Not a lease? If in fact a lease and this wasn't disclosed at signing I would be upset, other wise.... gotta roll with it.
So the machinery ended up pushing a big buck right by 2 of your stands, including the one you just got out of? I'm not seeing what the problem is, except for you getting out of the stand too soon.
Problem is what happens to the deer after they work there for 2 weeks. I assume the deer will leave to an undisturbed area off the lease. Kind of hard to shoot running deer UJ..
Should've stayed in your stand. Don't use excuses to end a hunt. Sometimes those are the ones that turn out best.
Shoulda-- woulda-- coulda.. Thought process was I needed to find out their plan's. That meant climbing down and speaking with them. It was not an excuse to end a hunt.. I know Captain Obvious -- in hind site staying on stand might have produce a shot, but that buck was running.
After the fact? He knew they were coming sometime? Doesn't sound like you knew anything About it. Sounds like the owner didn't care when it got done only that it got done. Where with more communication the timing could have been better controlled for you. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
That would be like me going and asking the farmer when he was going to be done. They have a job to do, they're going to do it. Leave them alone and they will be out of your hair in no time. Talking to them just slows them down.
Agreed.... This guy has so much property that he has a farm manager that does all his scheduling. Best bet it to communicate with him going forward. Once again hind sight!
See here is the problem--- gun season starts tomorrow and you can bet I will be hunting. Now if you were them. Wouldn't you want me to communicate and find out there plans were for safety reason. They told me they will be there for 2 weeks... DT just roll back and relax.. your point is taken even in its twisted logic
First off I get it.....but to be frank, they don't care that you are there hunting. They are there to do a job and you and the gun season are not going to stop them. I would be ticked if I had paid for a lease and an army of machinery rolled in at prime time but that is something that needs to be addressed with the land owner not the crew working on the project. Maybe he will cut you a deal on next year's lease. Good luck.
Most of the time the deer will skirt the machinery and return as soon as the equipment is gone. Be patient.
I shot my buck this season while listening to two leaf blowers, had a hay wagon full of tricker and treaters go by 200 yards away in a cul de sac, the roar of machinery doesn't have to be a bad thing.
