deep woods goat hunter
PMA Member
I picked up pretty good farm to hunt just a few miles from my farm here in NCMO. It is a reclaimed strip mine with crazy topo/timbered areas, surrounded by ag/hay fields. There are also several old strip pits (filled with water now). Saturdays weather made for a perfect day to do some scouting, trim a few sets and hang cameras. I found a hand full of big red oaks that were dropping LOTS of acorns near the edge of the open fields adjacent to a 5ish acre cedar thicket. Deer have been smashing these recently as there were lots of popped/ caps on the ground.
Next, I made my way to a possible staging area that I had marked on the areal photo. It was everything I had thought and more. A thick timbered bottom that let to an oak/hickory flat that would funnel deer between two strip pits leading out to a bean field that was still very green. I spotted a nice hackberry right where I had dropped a pin on the map. It had been and was still raining, so it was really quiet in the woods, as i got about 10 yards from the tree I snapped a stick. I heard something and looked up, sure enough about 30 yards away over a slight rise a good buck got up and ran parallel to be back to the thick bottom. He didn't take off like a bat out of hell, so I got a pretty good look at him- long bladed g2-3's and pretty good main beams. He also had a mule of a body and rack was obviously fresh out of velvet. The wind was in my face so I'm hoping he didn't freak out too bad and just didn't know what I was.
As upset as I was that I had bumped him, I knew that given a week and an east wind there was a decent shot he may still be visiting the adjacent bean field. He was bedded only 20-30 yards off of the edge, but maybe I'll get lucky and he will bed a little further away Saturday evening on the MO opener. The forecast is calling for an east wind, which is exactly what I need for this spot.
I hung my muddy pro sticks and left them in the tree so all I have to do when I return is hang my bloodsport. Last I hung 2 cams on the way out, 1 on a trail leading to the near side pond's edge and the other on a mock scrape on the pond dam. If he shows up on these cams it probably wont be til after dark, but I mainly want to confirm that he is in fact a shooter.
For once i am looking forward to the MO opener, as I am not used to having a bead on a a deer that is still in a summer pattern. Hopefully I will get to lay eyes on him this weekend.
Next, I made my way to a possible staging area that I had marked on the areal photo. It was everything I had thought and more. A thick timbered bottom that let to an oak/hickory flat that would funnel deer between two strip pits leading out to a bean field that was still very green. I spotted a nice hackberry right where I had dropped a pin on the map. It had been and was still raining, so it was really quiet in the woods, as i got about 10 yards from the tree I snapped a stick. I heard something and looked up, sure enough about 30 yards away over a slight rise a good buck got up and ran parallel to be back to the thick bottom. He didn't take off like a bat out of hell, so I got a pretty good look at him- long bladed g2-3's and pretty good main beams. He also had a mule of a body and rack was obviously fresh out of velvet. The wind was in my face so I'm hoping he didn't freak out too bad and just didn't know what I was.
As upset as I was that I had bumped him, I knew that given a week and an east wind there was a decent shot he may still be visiting the adjacent bean field. He was bedded only 20-30 yards off of the edge, but maybe I'll get lucky and he will bed a little further away Saturday evening on the MO opener. The forecast is calling for an east wind, which is exactly what I need for this spot.
I hung my muddy pro sticks and left them in the tree so all I have to do when I return is hang my bloodsport. Last I hung 2 cams on the way out, 1 on a trail leading to the near side pond's edge and the other on a mock scrape on the pond dam. If he shows up on these cams it probably wont be til after dark, but I mainly want to confirm that he is in fact a shooter.
For once i am looking forward to the MO opener, as I am not used to having a bead on a a deer that is still in a summer pattern. Hopefully I will get to lay eyes on him this weekend.
. Acorns are the ticket for next couple weeks.