I won't be able to get back into the field until Sunday. I haven't hunted since Monday and it is killing me!
I am going to check out some spots today, hopefully i can come up with a good gameplan for Wednesday . Seems to be a lot of acorns around this year, so I'll probably focus on the oaks. I've been off to a slow start this year, someone stole my treestand so I decided to pull my cameras before they came up missing too. Pretty much hunting blind this year
Won't be able to make it out opening morning this Wednesday (fine it's supposed to be 80) but ill be out the next morning rain or shine!
I can say without a doubt I had the worst experience hunting yesterday in a long time. I was so discouraged I left the field and was back at the truck before 5:30 PM. I can't remember the last time I exited the field early. I hunted a new property yesterday. The area reminded me of where Todd shot his 190. The property is walk in only. I had a heck of a time getting back in there. On the way in one of my back pack straps on my stand snapped, I lost an arrow, and was absolutely soaked as it was 83 degrees with little or no wind. Once I got down in there I could not find a tree suitable for the stand I had with me. After over an hour I gave up, spent a good hour looking for another location. Almost all the tree are down in the creek are wind blown and the trees that weren't were all nasty black locus trees. I ended up bumping a buck out of his bed less than 100 yards from where I was going to initially set my stand. He was a good one at that, easily in the 150s... which left me even more discouraged. By this point I didn't have the capacity to hang a stand in another tree if I wanted too. I tried to stick it out even though I was completely out of water. I ended up brushing in a spot to sit on the ground. I wasn't comfortable as the big toe I injured a week ago will not allow me to kneel on my knees. I couldn't see a whole lot of anything and quit honestly hate hunting on the ground. I hate to just give up on the location at the same time I probably tainted it for at least a week which was even more depressing as they were cutting corn less than 500 yards away. It would have been really good in there the next several days. I need to figure out how I am going to get in there and setup without making a bunch of noise... I am not sure if it can even be done at this point..... I am feeling very discouraged..... Maybe I should just move on.
Hang in there Heckler. Take a few days to gather your thoughts, and figure out a productive way to hunt that spot. It sounds like a good place to be, and with the rut still a ways off, that buck should still be around his stomping grounds. That being said...........if you just can't get in and out of that spot any way possible without working yourself into a frenzy, then just write it off and move on. I have seen a few spots like this, and actually we have a couple of briar/honeysuckle thickets on our property that you just can't get in and out of no matter what you do. I just hunt around these areas, and write them off as safe zones for deer and other critters. After all...............you can't get 'em all no matter what you do! Stay positive and positive things will come your way. You have been at this game long enough to know that............and I have no doubt you will come up with a way to hunt this spot!
Thanks Bee! As I further reflect on the events I was not prepared for the elevation changes, heat, and the density of the cover. The aerial of this property is very deceiving. If I would have known what I know now my kit would have been completely different. Furthermore I think I would have made better choice if I would have waited for reasonable temperatures. This properties is in the flint hills and the elevations changes are crazy. I couldn't believe the farmer could possibly cut the field without a roll over last night. I parked at marker 1 and setup / bummed the buck around marker 2. I am going to wait for it to cool off, wait for a north wind. Going to pack in a Lone Wolf Assault and a couple less sticks. The corn should be cut. I am going to swing out wide of the timber / funnel and see if I can make my entrance from the South. I can get 12+ ft off the ground I should be golden. Its going to rain mid week and then a cold front is going to move through over the weekend. Should be perfect.
There ya go man! I like your new plan. From what I can tell from the topography, that could be some rugged going in a few areas. I would much rather walk a corn stubble field than bust brush ANY time. Wait for cooler weather, and a good wind, and go get a monster out of there! Good luck..............let us know how things go for you. (I knew you would find a way!) (I'm looking forward to my first sit on Saturday morning. Cool front coming thru Friday...........should be about perfect!)
Good luck Jake..........got get 'em! I'm hoping the weather front/change for Friday evening will have them up and moving on Saturday morning. Saturday morning will be my first sit of the year. I'm just looking forward to being in the stand again!
It's 4 am and I am headed to the stand, I'll let everyone know how it pans out. I am filming in the morning but hunting tonight, I drew the short stick for the morning hunt so I only get to shoot with the camera but it's better than sitting inside
Well guys sorry iv not been around more. I like to stay more active than I have, but life has gotten busy. Anyways, it's that time of year again and I'm sitting in a tree, in close to 90 degree weather with a swirling wind that wasn't supposed to. Good luck to all those getting out and be safe
Let's hear it IL hunters... how was the hunt? Any good movement? I've heard from others there was some good action!
Well I'm currently hunting down in Mississippi. I decided against going to sit last night like I said I was going to as it was about 90 degrees. However I will be going out this afternoon as it is raining off and on and about 75 degrees. I am hunting on my base (I'm in the Air Force) and have a stand in good view of one of two standing bodies of water on the base so let's hope it pays off (lot's of good sign in the area).
Back at it again tomorrow. Cold front is here! Not quite sure where I am going to setup for a Northwest wind....
WHAT A CRAPPY SEASON SO FAR! I have sat two days now total of 4 sits and it has rained 6 1/2 inches in two days. It was so bad last night that my tree umbrella was so saturated that it leaked threw it. I am out until monday
