Everything packed and ready to rock. Leaving for ND tomorrow morning. Opener is Friday at noon. Going to a spot on public on the ND/SD border we haven’t been to. Smaller piece that looks to have a big slough surrounded by large ag fields and a good number of oaks for the area. So much waterfowl areas with not much for cover. Expecting good things. If we don’t find the sign we like we will pack up and head somewhere else. Marked a number of Non electronically posted private pieces and PLOTS areas in the area. Doesn’t look like much but you would be surprised in this area of the country where these deer group up. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Still no word, last year got the email on Aug 26 saying I did not get drawn. 2021 and 2022 I received the no draw and got drawn on the 31st. Cannot find a post for 2023 on when I got denied. 31st is a Sunday this year, so either be the next 3 days or maybe next week in Sept. Doubtful I get drawn though.
16 days, then a mere 1900 miles driving, to elk country/camp 1. Aiming to make it somewhere between St Jo, MO and Lincoln, NE on day 1 of driving.
My luck in a screenshot. 1:43pm, receive an email that I was successfully drawn for a lake special archery site, period 4. 1:53pm, receive an email that they are sorry to inform me my application was not successful for any if the 4 archery periods.
So turns out I was drawn, I got the 4th season which is Dec. 16 - 31. Works out pretty well actually as Christmas and NYD fall on Thursday's this year. Both fall during the same payroll period so I can actually take 2 weeks vacation without using 2 weeks worth of vacation time utilizing the holiday pay. Also got drawn for a lottery only public land site for firearm seasons, so I'm actually set up pretty good this year. Now I just wait to find out which site I get to hunt and hope it holds a winter food source. A little blurb from their program update. "On January 7, 2025, CWLP’s aerial deer population survey of the lake’s marginal properties counted 557 over approximately 5,500 total acres (or 8.6 sq mi) or about 64 deer per square mile. There were 677 total deer counted in the 2022 survey. The 65 harvested in 2024 reached the program’s goal of harvesting at least 10% of the deer population."
The worst mosquitoes I’ve ever seen experienced in my entire life. Stopped for a second to look at a map. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Pain or not , the birds had to get put up. As I finished I decide to take a quick field peek right at dark and pouring rain. I caught the bucks. Went to grab binos and sneak down woods edge trail. In the clover they were busy eating . I was able to get to within shooting distance. Only 4 but the four biggest two 10's and two 8's. My gosh they are bigger than I first though . One ten has a sagging belly with a high just out to end of ears with a long front sweep the biggest 8pt has a very wide sweeping rack parellel out past ears. If I had to guess over 22 24 ". I got a tad nervous when the one 10 turned and headed my way. Luckily he suddenly looked up turning toward the others deciding they needed his attention. I snuck back before he changed his mind and I were to get busted. If I never see them again during season Oct 1, I know I could have had any one of them tonight. I do not want to, but could live with that.
Went to 2 bars tonight and we overheard people talking about the mosquitoes at both. West Nile rumors are flying. They really are that bad. We couldn’t even glass out of the truck without being swarmed. We both have nets for our heads but we will need to spray down. I’m bringing 2 thermacell as well. Have to wear numerous layers and likely a bigger jacket to stop the bites through the shirts which will suck in 82 degrees. The things we do for deer man. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
First sit/selfie of the 2025 season! Lets goo. On a point bordering a big slough. Bean field to my left, corn field 25yds in front of me, beans 120yds to my right. Of course the first sit (hang and hunt) was a **** show. Like always I second guessed the tree about 4 times, took forever setting up, and to top it off I forgot my water and binos. 2 other trucks in the lot so I didn’t push to far in. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Couple does in the beans. They couldn’t stay long cause of the mosquitoes. Now that the wind is gone you can just hear a roar of them. I’d be a goner without this thermacell and 98% deet. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
