5 Pines Farm Whitetails 2014

[LITTLEBIGMAN]

Outing #58

It was very windy today . all day. Not a lot to report. The deer movement was either slow or I just sat in the wrong places!

Started the day in Roundabout. Got absolutely skunked there. Finished the day in the relocated yurt hang on .

 

I Think I have hit a home run with the slight adjustment of the stand here. The wind works perfectly blowing my scent up hill.  The deer moved exactly as I had hoped. I had a buck fawn lay down 20 yards from me. In addition to 2 does I had a 2.5 year 8 point go by and then I called him back and he went by me a 2nd time.

This coming Sat is the opener of the gun season here. There will be gun hunters in the woods adjacent to me to the south  I think this trail will most likely be a good escape trail for deer coming from there. I think I will plan to sit there all day if the wind is South or Westerly.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Great Bucks you have there Jim, I am glad a few are strating to move through your area. Hopefully you get a south wind on teh gun opener.

It was great meeting you and regret not thinking about a picture while you were there.

We had some more rutting action after you left and a few close encounters.

Good Luck, I love following your thread.

[LITTLEBIGMAN]

Outing #59 Pants Down.

The wind finally dropped off and I started out the day with light SE winds and temps in the low 40's.

As soon as it was light enough to see well, I gave the antlers a smack.  The rattling of my antlers seemed to echo off the bluff and it wasn't five minutes until I heard the sound of a deer approaching. I small 8 point came down the bluff and stopped 10 yards shy of my tree. He milled around looking for the bucks he had heard fighting. Not finding them he headed off to the south.

It was a full 2.5 hours before I saw the next deer. Another small 8, this time coming from the south walked directly under my tree.  He stopped and stood under me . Then he exploded as the first scent of me finally reached his nose.

By 11am I was ready to leave when three deer suddenly appeared above me. A doe, A buck of undeterminable size and this buck fawn.
 
The thermals had carried my scent up hill to the doe. She would snort and pace. The buck fawn would look around as if to say " I don't see nothing". While the buck had other things on his mind. By 11 30 they had all headed off up the hill and I headed in to the yurt.

[LITTLEBIGMAN]

putting # 60  Lefty

What a night! I was in the stand by 2 pm with old one horn set up just as before. The Wind was still out of the SE and if was spitting rain.

The rain had started to pick up but the forecast called for it to stop by 4 pm. So I decided I would hang in there. Around 3 30 I glanced to the south and almost fell out of the tree. 100 yards away was the biggest buck I have seen in 20 years. a GIANT had just topped the crest of the hill south of me (star).
 
It looked like he was just crossing the hill and heading West right back down into the timber. I didn't think he could see the decoy , so I grabbed the antlers and smacked them hard!

He instantly went into a sprint and dropped into the timber. I thought Oh NO! Did he see me? Finally I thought no way ,so I rattled the horns again. He was on top of me instantly. He had dropped into the nasty buckthorn patch bordering the burnt area behind me and had snuck in along the ridge line. But because he is now behind me and I knew he would wind me. At 25 yards he stopped short. He is absolutely the biggest 8 point I have ever seen outside of maybe one in Iowa many years ago. Huge g2s , big brows. Heavy dark colored horns. Narrow. This is the buck my wife described seeing a month ago in her grotto.

He turned to leave so I grunted at him. He turned back and stood there but just for a second. Then he melted into the hillside and was gone.

About an hour later I caught sight of another buck moving towards me in the fire break to the north. The small buck that checked out the decoy the last time I sat here, was coming in. This time he seemed to have more courage. AS he approached one horn I gave him a wheeze.  The buck's body language went  from aggressive to complete submissive.

He then spent the rest of the day eating turnips and looking at the decoy and then would go back to eating!  He would find a smaller turnip, dig it up and then pull it out whole. He did this several times all the while looking for approval from old one horn.

I am going to be dreaming of that buck for a very long time. Talk about motivation to stay on stand!

[Mac Hicks]

Keep after 'em Jim!  Thanks so much for sharing your hunts with us. I really look forward to reading about them every day.  Your efforts are appreciated by a lot of Tradgangers and great motivation for us to get out there and stay on stand also!

[steadman]

He's still around bud. Good luck tomorrow!

[4dogs]

[Jayrod]

KEEP AT EM JIM...I wish you the best and hope you get a opportunity at him...you deserve it!!!!!!!

[Joeabowhunter]

Jim, thanks for this post.  I'm enjoying my morning coffee, catching up on your hunts and getting sooo anxious to get back to the woods.  We have a week long shotgun only season right now so no hunting for me.       Good Luck!
Joe

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Great Update Jim. I hope you see the big 8 point again.

[Whip]

One of the most important lessons you have passed on with your threads is perseverance.   You obviously have some great land and lots of deer,  yet you still often don't see anything.  Then the next day - BAM! There he is!

When I start getting discouraged with lack of deer sightings I think to myself "I'll bet Jim is in a tree".  Stick with it,  put in the time,  and the opportunities will come.  

I hope that giant makes a return visit soon!

[Huntrdfk]

Been gone for awhile and just caught up Jim. Keep at it, you know "it" will happen. Thanks for doing this, I know it takes a lot of time.

David

[Chuck Janssen]

Hey there Jim, wasgreat getting to meet you, Next trip I will come your way. But maybe after season. Sounds like things are getting real exciting at your place. Just getting a chance to catch up since we met. We left Tuesday and should have hunted instead. 4 shooters in front of the cabin chasing. Once I figure how to get you a picture from a buck Monday night. I will send it. One of the biggest ever spotted on the farm. Thanks for keeping me in the hunt.
Have a good night and dress warm tomorrow if you head out.

[LITTLEBIGMAN]

outing #61 Lower Coffee cup trail

Thanks everyone for your continued following  and kind comments! Its been really fun to share my hunts with such enthusiastic tradgangers!

 
This stand (17) has only been hunted once so far this season. It sits above a bench that runs down one side of this bowl. The bench separates the bowl into two distinct areas . Think of an old fashioned ash tray with two ash compartments.

I went here today because we had a wind out of the north at 14 to 20 all day.  I knew once in the bowl I'd be protected from the wind . I assumed deer would hang out here too.

This picture is from the last time I was here but this is of the bench taken from in the tree stand.
 

[LITTLEBIGMAN]

Once on stand my feet never hit the ground until dusk. I looked like a  Sherpa going up Everest when I left the yurt. But I stayed warm and fed all day!

Right after sunrise I rattled my horns. I almost didn't have time to pick up the bow when a buck comes barreling in. Now the wind acts in reverse on this slope. So even though he came  up hill from the south , he did not wind me. But because he is coming up hill the entire way. I think he picked up movement of my arm reaching for the bow. He stopped on the far side of the bench facing me head on and staring up at me. We both were statues for almost 5 minutes! Then he whirled and ran back down the hill. He had long mains, tiny brows, long g2's and tiny g3's. An unusual rack to say the least!

At 9 o'clock I looked down and caught a doe slipping thru the heavy cover about 75 yards down hill. About 10 minutes later, along came her tormentor. I only caught glimpses of him. All I am sure of is that his rack was very white.

At 11 o'clock I heard foot steps down below, so I slipped my grunt tube out of my pocket and gave a few grunts. From the south again up trots yet another buck!. This one a small 8 point. He stood on the bench right where I would want him to stand if I were going to shoot. As he goes up and past me , he picks up some of my scent . This turned him in his tracks and back down the hill he ran.

It was quite dull the rest of the day until my last rattle session. Right at sunset I gave the antlers a smack! Just after hanging them back on their hook, I hear hooves in the oak leaves. A very robust looking 2 year old with a small 8 point rack walks up on to the bench and posed for me. He stood there looking for the bucks he had just heard! After a few minutes of not finding them he grew suspicious and headed back south downhill.

So all in all I had a very good day. 3 bucks came to the calls and a 4th was seen chasing. I think this spot really needs the use of a good decoy.
I may move the one stashed at round about to here next year.

This bowl is such a great place to call at. But I wont hunt it much more now as the gun hunters will be on the other side of the bowl come Saturday. I wouldn't want to push anything over to them. I'll let them earn their bucks them selves.

Jay also had a good day rattling 2 different bucks. One of which had one of antlers snapped clean off at the base. He also saw a whopper of a 10 point chasing a doe at 3 pm.

[DanielB89]

Jim, I can't reiterate how great this thread is.  It's almost like I get to live through your experiences.  Thanks again for sharing!  

As a person who doesn't know how to hunt NEARLY as well as you, wouldn't you want to be near where you saw the "big boy"?  

I know here in LA that is our tactics.  When we get one on camera, etc.  We hunt that area hoping to see him again, but public land may be a little different than private.

[LITTLEBIGMAN]

outing #62  Round about/Sapling.

Sorry for the lateness of this post. But after hunting and dinner each evening this week, Jay has been helping me build a small walk in cooler in my pole shed. No more warm temp worries next season!

Daniel to answer your question , I don't believe that big 8 is a resident deer on my farm. I think his core area is on the next farm to the NW of me. He has been just out cruising the valley for Does.  If he was on a regular bedding /feeding routine then I'd be on that field hard. I hope like hell I run into him again but it would be impossible to devise a plan to hunt him when I don't know where he hangs his hat each night.

I started the day at Round About. Got skunked and after 4 hours called it quits. I had a good cup of coffee with the Mrs. A snack or two and after checking the weather headed back out the door to the Sapling stand.

 

The red line is my northern fence line and property line. Red arrow wind and blue arrows anticipated deer movement.

just past the food plot in Apple Alley sits a two man ladder. The deer go into AA from three basic trails if the come from the neighbors pasture. I knew I'd get winded if they came from the center but was willing to take the risk.

Here are photos from stand.

looking south the food plot and the dry creek crossing.
 
food plot is in the upper right.

looking north towards the fence line
 

Today was more of a typical day . Not a single deer answered my calls. I saw only one doe all day and that was just at last light.

Here is a nice picture of great 6 point.
 I am glad he won't be a legal target in the am for the shot gunners. We have an APR rule of 4 points on one side to be legal.

So the silence will now be broken by the sound of gun fire for the next 30 days! YUCK. Can you tell Orange is not my favorite color?

[pitbull]

I hear ya Jim, if there was a state that didn't have a gun season I'd move there. Its gonna happen soon for you on a nice buck.    

[LITTLEBIGMAN]

The wind howled all night out of the NW. It was so windy at 5 am I elected not to sit in a tree or hunt at all the entire day. There just was no place out of the wind I could go with out being too close to the property border fences.

I did get some work done on the walk in cooler and got to watch a big 10 point I'd shoot in a heart beat if given the chance. I was sitting in the back yard watching a few does on the hill side at last light when he came out of the timber. He marched down the hill scattering  the does and headed straight for the spring in the wife's grotto. I snuck 40 yards closer and hid behind the lawnmower shed and waited for him to reappear. He was in there drinking for 5 minutes! Then when he satisfied his thirst off he went in the direction of Apple Alley.

He better look out tomorrow.

[kwc]

love to see picts of the walk in your building, im a refridgeration mechanic,thanks kwc, also love this thread every year.