Big Buck Down!
2020 Kansas Gun Season Day 4!
Ahh Saturday morning!
The weekend is here.
Jason and Jess left Wisconsin enroute to Kansas around 4pm.
They made great timing by getting in around 1:30 am last night.
Never even heard them come in.
Fresh air does wonders for sleep.
Another 6 am start.
The wind was a little brisk this morning.
There was a lot more wind than I had expected.
As the weather yesterday was in the 60’s.
So, I expected little wind and decent temp for this morning.
I have hunted long enough to know better and dressed for cold.
Glad I did because as we walked to our hunting area.
The wind really pierced my skin.
We decided to hunt in a new location this morning.
We weren’t sure if Jason was going to hunt in the front blind in the morning, depended on what time they got in last night.
So, we went old school and just planned on sitting on the end of a tree line, with no artificial cover.
We were looking at a big tree line, concentrating more on the right side of the tree line and field.
The blind we have set up only has views of the left side of the tree line and field.
On our 1st day Marcus had seen a buck on the other side of this tree line,
So, where we sat this morning we would be able to view the right side of this tree line.
It was a quiet morning with little noise, an owl or hawk screaming in the air.
I took a picture of Marcus silhouette from the back with the sunrise as his backdrop.
Very cool picture, if I do so say so myself.
I was admiring this tree we were sitting by; it was a medium sized thorn like type
It looked so cool with the sun as it background.
About 741 am I spotted a deer walking on the tree line to my left.
I poked Marcus in the back, as I seldom do to let him know I have seen something,
It our code for “LOOK”.
I, of course did not know if it was a buck or doe, as I seldom don’t pay attention right away.
My 1st instinct is to alert Marcus, plus I didn’t want to move too much, we didn’t have much cover and I had already felt this deer had made us.
Marcus slowly looked up and was able to bring his binoculars up, I didn’t move out of fear.
I felt like the deer was looking right at us.
I watch as Marcus slowly brings up the gun.
I wonder to myself, what the heck is he doing that for, clearly he knows something more than I do.
I do know that Marcus would never bring his gun up if he wasn’t going to shot. I know my man!
So, this was some serious stuff right here!
Gun fires….oh ok! We are doing this!
Deer flinches, but I don’t see much reaction.
Boom, Marcus shoots again, deer takes a digger and goes into the woods. I am for certain Marcus made contact. I watched as the deer went into the woods and never come out. We discussed he might come out of the right of the woods. He didn’t!
That’s it folks!
Marcus is worried the 1st shot was not on point, he says: “the buck should have laid where I first shot”. Marcus was worried he may have flinched a little to the right, as he may have rushed it because the deer was ready to bolt at any moment, due to possibly making us. He was confident in the 2nd shot. It was roughly a 100 yard shot! It looked a lot further than that to me, but what do I know! I know I wouldn’t have been ready to shoot the deer; it would have been too far away for my liking and I would have moved to much getting my gun up. So, I am super proud of Marcus!
Literally from start to finish the amount of time Marcus had to acknowledge the deer, look in the binocs, raise the gun and shoot was like less than 30 seconds…it happened that fast. Yup it happened just like that!
We stood and watched for a while and decided to head back to the house, grab some coffee and give the deer some time to expire.
I was confident that it was a successful harvest. Marcus is a good shot and I have a strong faith in what is meant to be, is meant to be! I hope my prayers also worked wonders as I am a strong believer!
We got a plan together, how we will go track the deer. Jason and Jessie helped us with the tracking! Which was much appreciated. Marcus planked the left side of the tree line, Jess was planking the field to the right, Jason down the tree line overlooking the south end of the tree line and fields, and I walked through the tree line.
The tree line I walked through was thick and was nearly impassable. Tons of thorn trees, my hands were scratched up from making my way through, the stocking cap I was wearing had gotten snagged on several branches on my way through, which made for a pretty comical adventure, as I had to go search for my stocking cap hanging from a tree several time. Oh, sure I had to drop my glove!
If the stocking cap wasn’t getting snagged enough it was my long hair, at times my hair looked like Cruella De Vil and I may or may not have said some bad words out loud.
I was having no luck finding a sign of disturbed movement or a blood trail.
I eventually made my way to a grass clearing. This clearing butted up to the rest of the tree line. Marcus has told me to check out the area, as there was a deer trail coming out of some small red willows. As I made my way through the clearing, I was so focused on finding blood, that I had tunnel vision. I had looked up and turned my head to my right and there the BIG Buck laid! H**y S**t! Oh, thank you GOD!
Apparently Marcus saw him right away, as he was planking the tree line and was to the grass clearing before me. I mean you couldn’t miss him. Unbeknownst to me, Marcus was recording my reaction on his cell camera. I believe I may have had a few choice words of excitement.
What a sense of relief! Thanks be to GOD and your generous blessings! I take a moment of pause, to thank this amazing deer for his sacrifice. I remain in a moment of prayer, as I soak in the beauty of this amazing animal, the life that he had lived and the comfort that he brings by providing food for the family.
Oh, I had hugged my honey as tight as I could. How exciting! Jess ran over from the field; she was so excited. Jason raced over from where he was flanking. What an exciting moment. All Marcus’s apprehension/anxiety/nervousness/ 2nd guessing/self-doubt and replaying the situation over and over in his head where lifted off his shoulders and disappeared into the air. You done good!
I am sure his prayers were answered, and undoubtedly a little help from his pops, in the heavens.
Picture time, celebration time, gutting, and loading time, back to the homestead. Jason went back to the house to get the UTV for transport.
What an amazing experience. This is Marcus’s 4th hunt in Kansas and the 1st opportunity to take a shot at a deer. I am so proud of my man! I had no doubt in his ability to shoot and his appreciation for the love of hunting, the outdoors, and deer! Great memoires!
The buck was an older fella maybe a four year old. At one point this feller had 13 points, through survival of the fittest, he is now a ten! He was blind in one eye and infection has started in, no doubt a war wound. Pretty buck, he was a hefty strong guy!
The 1st deer I had seen all trip so far and it was this big buck, and this buck was one of the biggest we had on camera, and in Marcus’s terms a shooter. Of all the odds, it was him that stepped out in the early morning light to grace us with his presence. Life is full of many crazy, unexplainable adventures in a series of unpredictable chaotic events filled with ups and down, soaking in this beautiful ride!
After the BIG day today!
We took a drive this evening. It’s always a good time to take a drive around an hour or so before closing time.
Jason and Jess went out for their 1st evening hunt!
Good Luck guys!
Marcus took me all around a new area. Found ourselves over by Wayne. I got to see my 1st bobcat.
I also got to see my 1st 2 doe’s since I have been here. We checked out a few walk-ins as well.
We got closer to home and I spotted a little buck up in the tall grass, nose to the ground and in a hurry to get somewhere fast.
Down the road from home we had 2 doe in the corn field on Ma/Ron’s property.
As I look over a buck is running across the open cut bean field.
Didn’t really get to make out how big of a buck, but big enough to know he was a good size buck.
Cream of pheasant for supper tonight! Oh, it was good! Jason/Jess didn’t see anything tonight!
Save the best for last!
2020 Kansas Gun Season Day 9!
This was our last morning in Kansas!
This morning was packed with all kinds of goodies!
We saw over 61 deer this morning!
We were back on my favorite road; I now call it Shelly Road.
I have seen a majority of the deer this week on this road.
As we pulled onto this road
Many deer jumped across the road.
As we pull up to a certain area, there are deer everywhere.
I see more white tails; I mean literally the white tails, than you can imagine.
We see a real nice buck who was behind us in a corn field.
I was only able to make out a huge curved rack in my binocs.
There had to be over 40 deer in this area.
So many to count, there were probably more than I could count and missed many.
This entire trip the deer did not stick around.
They were very skittish.
I suppose it’s a combination of things, it seemed if you didn’t stop they paid no attention,
There is very little traffic on these dirt roads in Kansas, so they are not used to that, we pondered the fact that possibly the deer see cars on the road and correlate that with being shot from the road, doubt it though.
There is this story that deer are shot from road in these here parts.
A little while later I am able to see some white up on a big hill about 400 yards off the road.
2 coyotes sunning themselves in the morning hours.
We are able to catch a quick picture.
We drive down into an area very secluded and am able to see some doe way up on the ridge and of course what it is following but a big buck.
It was cool to watch thier shenanigans!
We watch as a deer jump the road ahead of us,
We look in the woods as we drive by and I see a buck, a bunch of deer know run into the open field below. 5 or 6 for sure! They run into the woods and we are not able to identify what they are.
We drove to the other side of the woods and sat at the top of the hill, in hopes they would cross through the woods and come out the other side, they did not.
As we were ending our trip, Marcus says, Big Buck!
Here 200 yards off the road, stands a beast.
He was further away, peaking his body out into an empty field.
He did not have a big rack, but it was thick and his body huge.
We figured he was an older fella!
We have really seen some nice bucks this trip, so much better than at home.
The guys took a blind down and trail camera’s down this afternoon.
We did a few duties to prepare for leaving.
This evening we did not see as much activity as we had in past days, we only saw about 16 deer.
Got to see 2 bobcats at dark.
I have really come to enjoy driving around looking at the beauty Kansas holds.
I love the uniqueness of this area, the laid back feeling, no pressure from the world, the quiet convinces me that I am in some far away land!
I will miss my morning and evening drives in the middle of nowhere, I will miss the alone time with Marcus in the jeep with nothing but the open road and being surrounded by nature! I think we will both miss the laid back feeling that nothing else matters in this world at this exact time in life. I will miss how simple no stress from the chaotic world feels. I find there in no drama out in these here part and that is hard to duplicate when I am back home. I find myself jealous of those that live here, but I am also aware it is hard work in one way or another to live in these here parts.
The time here in Kansas goes just as fast at home. The clock stops for now one! I like this phrase and I say it often. Out here you more so you live on mother nature’s clock of sunup and sundown and the time on the clock does not matter much.
It is now time to fit everything into my small jeep for the drive home. It will be a chore as we are going home with a huge deer head and a cooler full of meat. Ahhh, who needs to see for the 11 hours’ drive home. We hope to out drive the storm , but know that we will hit some weather.
Until next year Kansas…..Don’t change! Take care of my deer and grow some big racks!
Gloomy 7th Sit
Friday, October 16, 2020
When a woman makes her mind up
Its set
I had planned on hunting after work
Luckily for me COVID had allowed me to work from home
Plus, it sure does help that our hunting land is right out the back door
Got a late start but was eager to go
Of course, the cat ran out in the garage and out the door to freedom as I was getting ready
One of the big bucks I am after was down below the house gain last night again.
So, I kept a positive thought that tonight was going to be a good good night
Pulled the Mud Duck out of the garage along with the retractable electric cord
Good thing the cord decided it wanted to be retracted
Oh, that is how this night is gonna start off?
Decided to walk in the back way again
Which entails driving the Mud Duck through an intrakit weave of fields
To get to where I am going
The walk in wasn’t any easier than the last time
Plus, I was in a hurry
This time trying to remind myself where the holes and divits are
I mean what’s the point of being in a hurry if I am going to fall on my ass
Well probably on my face more like it
As I walked in, I snacked on one of the 100 calorie walnut/almond packs
I normally get hungry at this time, as it is right around when we would eat
But no, I got to go hunting
So, I have to wait until after 7 pm until I eat supper
Ahhh my pretty enclosed blind, you look so nice
Since the last time I seen you
I am proud of my blind, I have not given her a name yet
And I will, but I have always wanted a blind like this and will appreciate the blessing of having one
The weather looked nice on my drive out
The sun was out with a slight wind
But my dad had to jinx it earlier
And say something to the effect that hopes I got some hunting in before the extreme wind and rain.
Whatcha talking about dad, looks nice
At 447 pm 10 minutes after I get in the blind
There are 2 deer in the big food plot to my left
I kept this window zippered up a little as I feel it helps the deer
As I think it provides them security as they eat
Plus, I have been told I move around a lot
Whatcha talking about????
Yes, I am not quite sure how I will handle the situation when there is a buck there and I am not ready
Game time decision I guess
Is its meant to be its meant to be
40 minutes later around 528 pm I now have total of 7 deer in the food plot
Just does and several fawn, maybe one or two teens as well
Well the doom and gloom arrived
The sky turned grey and then dark
The wind picked up to almost Gail force winds
A few times I actually grabbed on to the blind
Preparing to be blown over
Oh, lookey there a tree had fallen in the woods
The deer didn’t seem to be awfully concerned
As they remained in the field
It sprinkled, rained, stopped, rained again,
Stopped, some more heavy rain and then stopped
I stuck it out
The whole time worrying about taking a shoot and losing the blood trail due to wet ground or rain
The wind/rain kept my mind busy so it wasn’t as peaceful of a sit as usual
I decided to sit out the rest of the hunt
The wind calmed down a bit the last 30 minutes or so
I tried to picture in my mind a big buck stepping out from the willows or walking straight at me down the path.
But it didn’t happened, however I sure do want to be ready when it does
Well, its closing time.
As I stepped out from the blind there were still deer to the left of me in the big food plot
One was fairly large bodied.
It was to dark to make anything out
I was a tad bit concerned walking back to the Mud Duck
Earlier in the week we had a Germain shepherd running deer below the house in the
Middle of the night.
I thought he was located by his owners as Facebook had reported
But as I was leaving the house Marcus was on the phone with someone who had seen
A Germain Shepard spotted down the road from us.
My intention was to make sure a knife accessible
You know one of those things you keep saying in your mind as your packing up to leave
Knife, remember the knife, knife, get the knife, remember the knife
And then I walked away and forgot it THE KNIFE.
So, I armed myself with the crossbow bolt( its an arrow with a special end that I use to dry release by bow)
Not sure what that would have done
But I was going to give it my best shot if I ran into that loose Germain Shepard
The closer I got back to the Mud Duck I noticed this white stuff in the air
Yup them would be snowflakes, the 1st of the year
It snow flaked on my ride back home
Brats, potato salad, and chips for supper
Sure, was yummy
Another successful hunt
I saw deer, got some peace and quiet, cleared my mind, enjoyed the simpler things in life, bonded with mother earth and sat in silence and basked in the blessing I have been given in this life, did I mention the deer.
Until next time shoot straight! Its RUTTIN time soon!
Finally seeing some horns!
Finally getting some buck movement as the fog lifts in the bean field! Love the Browning Recon Force!
Favorite Pics!
