Deer Hunting | Diva in the Outdoors

December 12, 2020December 13, 2020

Big Buck Rutting!

Buck was chasing this doe who was in heat!

2020 Kansas Gun Hunt Day 5!

Well our hunt is over!

Unless we decided to take a doe towards the end of our stay.

Jason and Jess were up early and headed out for their 1^st morning hunt.

We were up and at it, shortly after them and decided that we would check out the area during the

morning light as we have hunted most mornings since we got here.

The drive started out rather dull.

But I find that I quite enjoy Marcus taking me on drives scouting. Well its great bonding time, yes I said “bonding” for one thing, but he knows how much I enjoy the outdoors and all its glory. We have a lot in common and share an appreciation for the simple things in life.

Great sunset this morning! The 1^st part of the drive was deerless. I joked with Marcus that deer in Kansas are overrated.

We were driving in a certain area and I spotted roughly 4 deer up on a hill, a field further over there was at least 10 deer in a corn field. They were a ways off the road, through the thicket. Kansas is hilling, most of the roads are depressed into the earth, lots of fences, the old wooden post kind, and lots of Cedar trees.

A little up the dirt road a buck jumped across the road. All I could see was the sun glaring off his rack. A second or two later a doe crosses the road.

A half mile up the road we see another buck, maybe a 2 year old.

A sporadic deer here and there.

We eventually ended up down a road and we spot a huge buck. About 40 yards of the road. The buck was chasing/quarrying a doe. Oh, she must have really hot. It was so cool to watch this buck chase this doe. I have seen a little of this back at home, but nothing to this caliber. The doe must have gotten sick and tired being chased, that she finally bedded down. He just stood there. Occasionally he would stomp is foot. All I know, he was not leaving this chick. And no other buck will have her. Poor Women! Down here in Kansas there is little traffic on the old dirt roads. So, we just parked in the middle of the road and watch this beautiful studdly buck stand and wait. If he can’t have her nobody can. We watched this buck for over 15 minutes, before he bedded down. Once we started the jeep and moved we figured the doe would get up and we were right. The chase was on. He chased her here and there and everywhere. At one time he was chasing her right towards us. That’s the stuff you see on hunting shows!

I was concerned that this buck was too close to the road, and I aver heard stories about people shooting deer from the road around here. So, I hope we chased them off the road enough when we left.

A little way up the road 5 doe ran across the road.

Anyways, this was the coolest thing to watch, you know those things engrained in your memory that you will never forget. This was one of those moments!

This evening we just wondered the countryside enjoying the scenery! We took a quick little ride to town, well not quick 25 minutes as it’s the closest town with fast food restaurant. We stopped at Dairy Queen for a Root beer!

We saw roughly 10 doe tonight!

Ma Ma’s chili for supper tonight! Yum!

December 6, 2020

Kansas Lotto

In order to get a deer tag for hunting in Kansas, you have to play the lotto! Kansas has a lotto system. Basically, you apply for the tag, cross your fingers and hope you get awarded a tag. There are only so many out of state tags that are awarded. This is a draw only permit. That must be applied for in April of the year you want to hunt!

You can get a tag for special hunt own land relative permit. This is for people who qualify as lineal ascendants or decendants or siblings of resident’s landowners or all tenants. Marcus’s mother lives in Kansas and they own land in Kansas. This is not a lottery draw!

You can also get a nonresident permit; this is down by lottery draw. This is for all nonresidents. A nonresident permit allows you to hunt on public land as well as private land, granted you have permission.

December 6, 2020

Another Day of Adventure!

2020 Kansas Gun Season Day 3

We didn’t hunt this morning as we decided to shower and bask in a morning light, with a nice cup of coffee.

While we are pretty die -hard hunters, we do recognize that life needs balance. What is right for one, is not right for another. You gotta have a little bit of this, to appreciate a little bit of that. We sat around, relaxed, and visited with Mom and Ron most of the morning.

About afternoon we drove all over the county looking for the public walking ground.

Gotta keep our options open.

The scenery out here is beautiful. The rolling hills catch my eye and I am a sucker for old homesteads. They bring me a wonderment of lives past lived and the stories they hold.

The lands we were checking out didn’t pan out to our liking. Cattle were either in the field, the landscape unappealing or the razor wire fence deterring me from injury.

We headed back over to some public we had hunted on the last 2 nights. We may have found some other area but the clock stop for no one, and daylight was fading.

We parked on the side of the road and walked the edge of a green hay field. We decided to walk into the woods, we found ourselves on a shelf or isthmus type island with steep deep water ways on both sides. We were pretty high and had a look out point throughout the woods. The woods were so peaceful, except for that damn squirrel perched up in the tree was becoming quite annoying. Was it really necessary to make such noise.

The ground in the woods was dry. So, it would be easy to hear anything walking through the woods, as the leaves we dry, I would be able to hear movement.

The weather was decent as I did not even have my whole proper attire on for hunting. There was plenty of deer sign. The island we were sitting on actually had a deer tail right down the middle of it. The field we walked through had hoof prints all over it.

Well, we saw nothing tonight! The location we sat was amazing scenery, nothing like it is a home. Just the scenery itself makes the whole trip worth it.

The opportunity to hunt or harvest a deer is just a bonus.

However, I am pretty much done with this piece of public, as I feel it is over pressured all too much and I am starting to believe that possibly ghost deer live here. You could also tell the weekend was insight as more traffics had picked up and a tad bit orange could be seen.

December 4, 2020

Scouting Day!

Well we made it to Kansas to visit Mom/Ron and participate in Kansas’s Gun Deer season. Marcus says they have really BIG BUCKS here!

To get a grasp of where we are in Kansas, they are dirt roads, all over dirt roads, rolling hills and prairies, the closets gas station or town is 25 minutes away, black cattle all over in the cut corn fields, and long skinny, tall blue water towers. The roads that run east and west are names with alphabetic letters. The roads that run north and south are numbered with number. Between each road is one mile of property, basically like square grid. We are way out here in the middle of nowhere.

Jeep packed full from top to bottom. We pulled into Mom’s/Ron’s place around 8:30 pm Monday night, yes that included a stop at the Bass Pro Shop in Iowa.

It was nice to see Mom/Ron as it has been a awhile and they make me feel right at home.

Not sure if the 2 cats, Tiger and Winnie are happy we are here, maybe Winnie more than Tiger.

Tuesday morning, we were met with homemade biscuits and sausage gravy for breakfast. This is a favorite of Marcus’s.

Late morning, we went out to replenish 2 bait piles. This is something we are not accustomed to as we are not allowed to bait in Wisconsin!

We set up a blind in a new location that we have never had a blind. The birds were very active and we saw 2 robins. My dad told me once that some robins don’t migrate and stay all year long. Tuesday afternoon was nice and sunny and we found ourselves not even wearing a jacket in December!

In case you are wondering Ma/Ron own private land down here in Kansas. Mostly farm fields, but plenty of options to hunt. They also own some wooded area as well. Mostly thorough ways for deer making there way from one location to another.

Late afternoon we ran to a nearby town, Bellville. They have a little grocery store, we needed snacks for hunting and of course, why wouldn’t we stop at the liquor store!

We drove around the area looking for some public land and of course the later it got in the day the more we looked for deer.

We did see several groups of deer here and there throughout the area.

We saw a group of 50 plus turkeys in a field nearby.

On one of the old dirt roads down here, we caught a coyote laying on a side grassy hill, sunning himself. He did not scare easily, so we were able to get some pictures.

We ended the night with some pork chops and a bit of relaxation and of course a great sleep. Oh, and the pumpkin dump cake with cool whip wasn’t to bad either.

Tomorrows the big day!

December 4, 2020December 12, 2020

So close yet so far away!

Opening Morning 2020 Kansas Gun Season!

Start time is 7ish. So, getting up at 6ish aint so bad.

I had gotten up earlier during Wisconsin Gun Deer Season.

Forgot to pull my hair back, I am not a happy girl if my hair is not pulled back during hunting.

I have long hair, yes yes I do.

Plus, I found this new pullover hood thing in blaze orange that keeps me toasty, and when my hair is not pulled back , well let’s just say hair in the face and hair on my neck just don’t work for me, I don’t like the feeling!

Anyways, also forgot my Chapstick, oh my gosh yes Chapstick!

The morning was a little brisk, glad I started the jeep early as there is frost covering the windows.

The place we hunt is only a little way down the road.

The walk in not too bad, except for it was a lot colder and windier than expected.

The moon was bright and lite up the earth rather nicely for our walk in.

The chair placement in the blind was not ideal and needs a little tweaking.

It was a rather drab morning with little to no sun, the frost glistened on the ground.

I did not hear one gunshot all morning, which I thought odd for opening day.

Back home that is all you hear for the 1^st few hours opening day!

Plus, the wind was really nipping at my nose with an icy cold touch.

We had spotted a rather large buck on the far fence line, unable to get a clear ID on the big fella.

We headed in mid-morning for a rest and breakfast.

So, glad for electric start.

We decided to try some public walk in only land for this evening.

We drove up a big dirt road to get to the top of a hill.

There is no public parking so we parked off the road.

We walked in through this vast area of cedars and tall grass/weeds.

There was sign throughout the area with rubs and scrapes.

I had no idea how to navigate this area, but Marcus had a good grasp of where he was going.

Back home we don’t hunt much wooded area, so that is what he wanted to sit in and me to experience.

Well we ended up in a woods on a ravine with a very sharp drop off to a woods below.

This area was sloped so it was hard to find a flat spot to sit. I sat behind Marcus as bit.

The view was magnificent.

I am afraid of height so I don’t sit in tree stands back home.

SO, sitting up on this ravine overlooking the woods below, must be what it’s like for those who sit in tree stands.

The wind up here was blustery and cold.

The owls hooted and hollered throughout the woods.

A few birds flew here and there.

And that was all she wrote.

We saw nothing!

Heard 2 other shots in the distance all evening!

It was a nice sit, one that I won’t forget!

Oh, the shrimp, Ceasar salad, and twice baked potatoes were so yummy!

Marcus’s mother sure is a wonderful cook!

Better hunting tomorrow!

December 4, 2020December 12, 2020

Uneventful Hunt!

2020 Kansas Gun Season Day 2

Another chilly and frosty morning.

A little more prepared this morning than yesterday.

The seating arrangement this morning consisted of an old fashioned pail with a fluffy pillow to sit on.

The accommodation did work, as I was able to sit closer to the windows on flat ground and could easily see out the windows.

Sitting on a pail in your 40’s ain’t as easy as it was in my 20’s!!!!

Ahh girls gotta do what a girls gotta do

Life ain’t perfect all the time but it’s a beautiful ride.

We sat in the same blind as we did yesterday morning.

We are getting plenty of movement of trail camera, with a few potential shooters for sure.

Just a matter of time.

Cool, bland morning with the wind nipping at my cheeks.

The sun didn’t make her presence until 830am

But was not even warm enough to melt the frost off the earth

I like to say we saw nothing, but we did see some

Boone and Crocket fox squirrels😊

The coyotes were very vocal this morning as well.

The bait pile we had in the area of the blind has mostly disappeared.

So, we know there has been movement in the area.

Again, a rather dull morning, but any day in the blind is a better day than at work.

We checked out mid-morning, walking out being serenaded by the coyotes.

The coffee and thick bacon, yummy warm eggs and homemade fresh bread really hit the spot.

Ma Ma Kirchoff is amazing!

The weather tonight was nice and didn’t warrant wearing a heavy coat.

The sun was out and the car temp read 47 degrees and there was little to no wind.

Once the sun went down it got a bit chilly.

I managed to get wind burn on my face with little to no wind.

This evening hunt we headed over to public land again.

We basically sat in the same area as yesterday.

We had a few other places we wanted to try,

But one had cattle nearby so we didn’t want to hunt there for safety reason.

We also ran into 3 other trucks with blaze orange on, not sure if they were pheasant or deer hunting, so we tried to avoid them.

At the end of a dead end road there was a car parked, so we wanted to avoid that area if there was another hunter on public.

We don’t hunt public in Wisconsin. So, we are a tad bit leery hunting public in a different state. Due to the thick wooded areas, wide open fields, and the vast area that public covers, it is hard to see other hunters. The idea: NOT GET SHOT!

We walked across a large hayfield and into a woods. Past the woods there is a large open field. It’s a hidden field with woods along the edges. Pretty secluded area. I had high hopes that we might see something.

There was many signs of deer movement as we walked in the woods to the field. The way we walked in was quite a cow path created by deer. There were several scrapes on our way through the woods.

We settled in the tree line of the field in some brush.

The owls hooted and hollered again tonight. This time there was at least 4 of them. One we basically had right above our heads, it pretty cool to hear an owl that close.

The only wildlife we saw were 5 turkeys making thier way through the field from one side to the other.

I met a new friend, a small rodent of some sorts, below my chair. I could hear it skitter and scattering below my feet. It didn’t scare and I was waiting for it to climb up my leg. I shall call him Elroy and he was my new friend! Stay strong Elroy!

I am not impressed by public land right now. Impressed by the beauty, not impressed with lack the of deer.

Tomorrow we are going to check out some more public land and replenish the bait piles.

Better hunts ahead!

December 2, 2020December 2, 2020

That’s a wrap!

11/29/20 9^th day of Wisconsin 2020 Gun Deer Season

Last Hunt!

No body from the hunting party hunted or did drives today,

as they had a few more deer to process before the weekend is over.

The wind was a little blustery today and the sun had no interest in coming out.

This did not give me much motivation to hunt this last day of the season

I figured yesterday was my last day and time was dwindling down,

because we leave for Kansas for their 12 day gun deer season the very next day.

Marcus kindly reminded me that, “hey ya never know what you will see, we don’t absolutely have to leave for Kansas tomorrow, go shoot the big one will ya!”

He was right, live in the moment!

I didn’t go out until a little later than normal, just due to limiting my time in the wind

My propagative , I guess!

I had not seen anything, but did hear a bird, if that counts.

The animal world was not very busy today, I am guessing due to the wind.

The last 10 minutes of the night, 2 fawns came out in the big food plot to my left.

I felt they were alone but ma could have been nearby, but we did take a doe or 2 this season, so maybe mom isn’t here anymore.

That thought makes me sad, but that is part of nature, no doubt.

The fawns were fun to watch as they were playfully frolicked in the field.

Well…..that’s a wrap. 2020 Wisconsin Gun Deer Season Over.

I didn’t harvest a deer this season, but that was by choice, as I had some good opportunity.

It was the year of the girls as Hailey and Sierra both got their 1st gun deer. I got my 1^st bow buck as well this year.

The hunting party ended up harvesting 8 deer this season.

With all the flooding, I wasn’t sure if anybody would get any deer.

Focus on the blessings!

Until next year!

November 29, 2020December 2, 2020

Make it count!

11/28/20 8^th day of Wisconsin 2020 Gun Deer Season

Nobody from the hunting partying hunted today or did any drives.

However, they did spend a majority of the day cutting/process the deer that were harvested.

I went to sit in my blind “Betty” for the evening hunt

I wasn’t feeling very hopefully as they had pushed this half of the property the day before,

so, I figured whatever was here is here no more

The sun was out, so that always gives that little more motivation to sit

But it was windy, not as bad a yesterday

Plus, I wasn’t sure how the wind would be once I got to my blind

My walk in was bittersweet as I knew that this possibly may be my last walk to my blind for awhile

Gun season ends tomorrow as I am not sure if I will hunt.

There is always archery until January, but let’s face it I am not a cold weather hunter

So, the likely hood that I will get back out to my blind in little

I tried to relish in my surroundings as I walked in

The wind was not too bad once I got settled into the blind

I had terrible wind burn after my sit yesterday

I hate the wind burn as hurts it my whole face and makes me hot, I find it a very unpleasant feeling

I always put on face cream before I head out, but that didn’t seem to work very good yesterday

So, before I went out tonight I rub shea butter all over my face

Anyways all settled,

Come on I will take that story that no more than 5 minutes after you get to the stand a big bucks’ steps out and boom, got me a big buck.

I don’t know maybe those are fairy tales. But I did get this:

I hadn’t been sitting 5 minutes when Mr. Tom turkey made his way out to the food plot

He didn’t stay long but he had a nice beard.

They rest of the night was peaceful but dull

I did not see a thing

I embraced the sun on my face and the cool air on my skin, as I know the season will soon end

About 10 minutes before close I could here some rustling in the woods in front of me

And well you know got myself prepared, for nothing, it was nothing, or was it

Nothing stepped out for me to shoot.

I closed up the blind and made my way out.

I always have to chuckle when I hear gun shots in the distance 2 or 3 minutes after the fact.

It was a slow walk out as I am just about to close another gun deer season,

With out a deer to add, but that was entirely by choice.

1 more day to go, ahhh who knows maybe I will hunt just that one last hunt tomorrow.

You got one more day make it count!

November 29, 2020

Friday Night Lights!

Matt and Brady's Doe — Matt and Brady’s Doe

Marcus and I trying to take a nice picture!

11/27/20 7^th day of Wisconsin 2020 Gun Deer Season

Black Friday everyone!

I sat on “The Hill” for the afternoon!

I got up there around 1pm.

Marcus had dropped me off as I was going to sit the rest of the afternoon and the hunting party was going to do a drive.

Marcus needed the Mud Duck for the drive.

It’s a long walk to where I sit on The Hill.

If I knew my yards from my feet’s I could tell you how long of a walk it really was.

But I can’t.

There is a grassy tree line between a bean field and a hay field off a woods.

This is important to know because there is hardly any flat spots to put a chair.

This is the same area I sat a few night ago but where I sat the other night was in an opening between 2 trees.

This is where I had my blind the last few years.

I felt this left me a little exposed so I moved over and found a flat spot in front of a tree.

Yes, it was windy as usual

And the sun was at my back but so was the wind, I was thankful for that.

The hunting party was going to drive the north half of the property and the deer use this route as an escape.

Shortly after the drive started a medium size doe was running the length of the bean field in front of me.

She stopped in the clearing to rest a bit, to catch her breath and then trotted away to safety.

A short while after that I had a small 4 point buck and a fawn running down the hay field even closer to me.

They too had stopped in the clearing right in front of me.

They were exhausted as I could tell, they stopped to catch their breath and rest a moment.

They stopped and looked back as if waiting for their friends or searching for danger.

They rested here about 5 minutes before they trotted off into the woods.

I was able to get a quick picture as I didn’t want to scare them anymore.

The rest of the night was rather dull and cold.

I thought the wind would die down but it didn’t.

I was hopeful something might step out of the woods the closer I got to closing time, but it didn’t surprise me that one didn’t.

I feel right now the deer are on lock down until it is safe to move and they hear no more bangs in the air.

A tag team effort from the drive, 2 of the guys harvested a doe. Congrats Matt and Brady!

Cindy was also sitting solo and she harvested a doe and nub buck as well. Congrats!

Only 2 more hunting days!

Why is it going so fast?????

November 29, 2020November 29, 2020

Thanksgiving Day!

11/26/20 6th day of Wisconsin 2020 Gun Deer Season

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families!

Different kind of thanksgiving here this year, as I am sure was all around the world

Due to the lack of people getting together for thanksgiving most of the hunting party was less busy,

As we don’t normally do much hunting on Thanksgiving.

I had ordered premade food from a local meat market, so I didn’t have to make a thing

just heat and go for supper

We usually don’t get together for thanksgiving as we traditionally do an evening hunt

Marcus shot a nice buck a few years ago on thanksgiving.

The hunting party did a drive through the pines over on the farm.

I was part of this drive and was posted on a hill across the road as this is a route the deer

Have fled to over the years.

That is exactly what happened this time as well

I could see them racing through a small woods, cross the highway and head straight for me

This is the part of the drives that don’t excite me very much, the hunting party is much more experienced and have been hunting longer than I.

They were running fast, technically I couldn’t make out what they were. Somene radio’d they were fawns.

I don’t make it a habit to shoot at random things.

I most certainly don’t shoot at running things, I am way to inexperienced shooting at running targets.

Much less the idea of injuring a deer and not finding it doesn’t fare well on my do to list.

Plus, there is a good chance I miss and the thought of a happily flying bullets to freedom is kind of scary and something I don’t want to be a part of.

I had 3 fawns or youngsters run right up by me.

They were so close that they were almost going to run me over.

I had to wave my arms and talk in order to deter them from running me over.

The guys did another drive and I went out for a solo sit.

I sat on Degners, which is basically a big plowed up field right now, the field butts up

to tall grass and willows with cattails all around.

I know there have been deer in this area for years, I have seen them in person and on camera

This was not a traditional hunt, as I have never sat in this spot during gun season.

I have a few sits in this area during bow season over the years.

I thought it might be a promising sit, as I had seen tracks in the fresh mud as I was walking in.

I nestled into some tall grass with my back up against a tree.

I don’t have much shooting here, to my back left beyond the field is a road, my straight left is a house, and to my front left is a tree line and field and factories/building beyond that.

But good shooting to my front and my right if they come out of the woods.

The only excitement I saw were the geese flying off of the sewer pond and want to land in the field right in front of me.

I saw nothing this night as well!

Happy Thanksgiving again!

*Sometimes in the business and chaos of this life, I often don’t concentrate on my blessing enough!*

Only 3 more days of hunting!