[Stringwacker]

I thought I might try to give an update from today forward for the balance of my hunt. I've been here a week tomorrow and it's been incredibly hot and muggy. This morning is a welcome relief with temps in the mid 30's and a stiff northwest wind. The rut should be at its peak but I've yet to see any chasing. I'm settled in for the day from a ground blind in a spot that has thousands of tracks (really) and I'm ready for the weather to start some movement. Late yesterday; the temp went from 75 to 55 in one gust and I had a nice 8 point come by 10 minutes later. Will try to keep you posted just to kill some time

 

[Stringwacker]

Just had a wide 6 point at 15 yards. Not nearly big enough but exciting from the ground!

 

[Rancher]

Good luck, I have a buddy hunting Kansas right now and has said same thing bout weather.

 

[Tjc]

Good luck!! Keep us posted

 

[haypatch]

Good Luck!! Thousands may be a understatement!

 

[Stringwacker]

This morning is in the mid 20’s and is very much like a mid January hunt back home. The frost is heavy; taking several minutes for the windshield to defrost this morning. It’s 7:49 and I’ve already seen a buck chasing a doe on a distant hillside.

Yesterday was one of those great hunts that you remember. I was sitting on the ground in a chair due to no climbable trees. Sitting all day I saw 9 bucks; four of which passed within 12 yards of my stick blind....never seeing me. These were singular bucks spread out over the morning. The bad thing was dispite all these bucks; they all were small. One was a 14” wide 8 point but I didn’t come all this way to shoot the one buck I was allowed this size. This despite the fact that I’m usually a proud unabashed member of the “ pop em young club” 😁

My buddy had a shot at a huge buck about 2pm yesterday but as often happens in bowhunting ( especially traditional bowhunting) it just didn’t work out. We have a long time to hunt and it’s the peak of the rut in the land of the giants... so maybe it will happen again. That buck I saw might be working closer. Got to go until tomorrow!

 

[Stringwacker]

Today is an odd day; winds starting in the south and switching to a 20 to 30 mile an hour northwest wind by mid morning. It plays havoc with both stand selection and clothing for the colder weather the NW winds will bring. I’m leaving for the stick blind where I saw all the bucks Tuesday making sure the wind has changed before I get there.
Yesterday started good with the buck I’m now calling “Fred” following a doe. I have a stand called “the hole” that Is the center of Freds universe. I’ve made four trips there and Fred always shows up. Fred’s a tall tined 8 point with a narrow spread and small mass. He the best buck that I see though not a shooter. He also not very bright as he still has never noticed my presence despite being with 20 yards several times. He should be a good buck next year.

Yesterday other than Fred, I saw three doe deer. One bedded in the grass 10 yards behind me for 35 minutes late yesterday afternoon and never knew I was there despite a wind that should given here away. She sneezed about 10 before dark; got up and fed away. I’m not saying Midwest deer are dumb; but there not issued combat helmets at birth like Mississippi deer are. They are much more laid back of sorts.

My buddy sit daylight to dark yesterday and didn’t see a deer so that was odd for sure. He going to a different stand location this morning.

I’m committed for the day at the stick blind....maybe better luck! Got to get going. Later!

 

[Mr Drysdale]

Good Luck. Today may be the day.

 

[Stringwacker]

Today might hold some surprises as I’m moving into an area that others have been seeing multiple mature deer.

I could use some luck. The stick bow blind was a big bust yesterday. After seeing 9 bucks there Tuesday; I saw one deer at the blind as I walked in...then nothing the rest of the day! That was a long sit....

I did see three walking out; but those don’t really count do they? It’s hard to imagine how fast things change.

On a positive note, this area is full of turkey and quail. Turkeys are seen often and I have heard a gobble or two. The quail here are like MS 50 years ago. On Wednesday I scouted a good bit and jumped three coveys. That’s crazy! I hear quail whistles almost throughout the day regardless of where I’m at.

Hopefully, today will bring a change if luck. Later!

 

[Rancher]

Good luck!

 

[8uptradhunter]

Today will be your day, good luck.

 

[Stringwacker]

Yesterday was much like the others. Saw one doe from the treestand. My buddy missed another nice 8 point. Hopefully it will get better for him as he has had a great trip; just the pieces aren’t falling in place.

Public land hunting is something I don’t do a great amount of. I was reminded of my preconceptions of this type of hunting when I climbed up my afternoon stand only to have another hunter in a tree about 125 yards away! I guess it happens a lot; but I’m not used to it.

A daily update can go stale quickly when there isn’t much going on; but I’m committed to the end. Looks like we will be leaving Sunday the 22nd. Still lots of time! Later.

 

[8uptradhunter]

Still plenty time left, hang in there. I'm not having any better luck here, saw 1 doe the last 4 hunts but no shot.

 

[Stringwacker]

Went to a nearby military bombing range yesterday morning and saw a small four point come by my stand right after daylight. This place has a very restricted access and has some large bucks; though most of it is devoid of trees and it’s mostly grassland. I have to go as a guest as I’m not qualified to access in my own privilege.

Yesterday afternoon called for a huge change going into the last week of the hunt. Stand locations were pulled and we went to a new area about 10 miles further away. We talked to some other hunters who were leaving and they had killed a couple of good bucks there. I’ve never hung stands in 50 mile an hour winds; to say the least....it was an experience. Regardless, without too much loss of blood it was done.

Today is an all dayer. Update tomorrow!

 

[8uptradhunter]

Good luck bud.

 

[Stringwacker]

It's about 2:50 in the afternoon into the all day sit. This stand location will get called the coyote den as that's all I've seen so far today....save some quail hunters that ran the dogs through my area. Oddly, within an hour of their passing, quail were pecking within sight of my stand. The dogs likely need more training

Funny story about the bombing range I went to this week. About 10:30 one morning I saw a big helicopter no more than a couple of hundred feet off the ground barreling straight at me. I was in a lone Osage tree in a pretty barren grass field. It did occur to me that it was quite an imposing piece of equipment and what America's enemies most think when it is approaching fast with guns and rockets blazing! The other thing that occurred to me is I could see the wind wash whipping the grass and would I be blown out if the tree!

The copter kept coming until he was almost on me...then went up and to the left...I assume not to blow me out if the stand. The copter did some land and takeoffs on the far hill behind me...then headed my way from a different direction. Just as happened earlier, the copter flaired less than a 100 yards from me. All I could figure was he was just wanting to screw with me...or maybe I was too close to his hunting spot😀

 

[mossyman]

All I could figure was he was just wanting to screw with me...or maybe I was too close to his hunting spot😀

When I was stationed in Columbus, Ga I was hunting from a climber one morning. I had my orange on. I was hearing Blackhawk helicopters in the distance for awhile and one flew over top of me and just hovered for about 2 minutes. I'm like you...don't know if he was just messing with me or I was in his favorite spot and he wanted to ruin my day. It didn't work as about 20 minutes after he left I killed a buck..lol.

 

[Stringwacker]

Well yesterday finished out the way it had begun...nothing. I think yesterday was the worst since I’ve gotten here as I didn’t see a deer all day....in any manner.

In the parking area that morning I was getting out of the truck when a fellow pulled up beside me and complimented me on my recurve. He then got out and pulled his longbow out of the truck. It’s not often that you run into another traditional bowhunter in the field.

Given the wind is wrong today for my new stand location; I’m going back to the stick blind. Maybe today will be better. While I still hold hope; I feel the peak of the rut may be past so I’m going to need some better luck than I’ve been having. Later!

 

[Stringwacker]

Mossyman, probably the same helicopter pilot who took a transfer to Kansas😁

 

[haypatch]

Enjoying the updates String!! Good luck hope you stick a big'un!!