5 Pines Farm Whitetails 2014

[LITTLEBIGMAN]

Standing at precisely the wrong moment was Murphy striking the first time today.

Heading down the dirt road to go sit at The Sure thing at  2 pm, I stopped to look at all the tracks crossing the road and heading up the ridge in the area of Joel's stand. This is typically an AM stand because your scent almost always goes up hill, I continued on my way.

About 50 yards later I turned around . The wind was stiff on of the North. If it stayed like this  till dusk , it would blow my scent down valley and any deer coming down may just not smell me.

stand is beneath red arrow .
 
I had just peeked at my time piece and at 3 09 I made out several pairs of legs coming down hill from the North West. Five does were switch backing done a steep part of the bluff in single file.

The trail they finally got on would take them down to the road but behind me. Just then I noticed that the wind had completely slacked off. Murphy strikes two. My scent was now drifting up hill. I had pressed my self against the side of the tree trying to become part of it. At 40 yards up hill and directly behind me the lead doe stops in her tracks. Does #2 and #3 do the same. They look downhill in my direction . I know I have been busted but the deer are not 100% sure of where I am.

Finally all three in the front turn around and face the on coming final two. When deer #5 is right behind me she throws up her head and runs straight up the bluff , followed by the other four.  Just then I notice the wind has resumed , now much stronger blowing my scent back down the valley. Murphy strikes three.        

I started to see deer on the move across the valley and I kept watch to my right or to the south since I expected all deer to the North to be long  gone.  There was lots of time left for another deer to come by. I was leaning against the tree with my shoulder touching I when I hear a deer running in my direction from directly behind me. Just as I turn my head a doe goes flying by. I have no idea whether she was running down hill or if she was running up hill and away from something below.

The coyotes have been giving the deer head aches of late . My wife saw a big male in the back yard today at 1 30 pm. So I was thinking a coyote was on its way. But nothing showed up. Altogether I saw 11 different deer tonight but not an antler in sight.

[huntnmuleys]

dang, this hunting has turned hard.  applauding ya for sticking with it, but dang...

[Cyclic-Rivers]

coming down to the wire Jim. This is the way seasons should be.  I hope you stick Mr. Huge on the last light of the last evening.

[LITTLEBIGMAN]

outings #108 Joel s Stand and #109  Squirrel's tail.

Yesterday with only having snow on the ground for less than 12 hours,  the tracks of deer that had gone by that spot was amazing. Not to mention the string of does that came down the hill last night.

So I returned there this am.

I knew it was going to be cold. I kept loading the wood stove in the yurt about every 90 minutes all night. When I stepped outside I was amazed at the stars. It seemed like it had been many weeks since we had a clear sky. You could almost touch them they were so bright.

But it was really cold . A mere 8 degrees above zero. Very still and very quiet. Every foot step down the road was a loud crunch.

Last night, twice I was awoken by the howling of many coyotes. Their tracks were all over the county road. So were the tracks of running deer. As I neared the stand the coyote tracks all merged and headed right under it and up the ridge above it.

I sat for three hours and saw just one deer and it was across valley on the opposing ridge.

So today the deer actually behaved like late season deer. When I walked up to the farm house at 10 am I spotted 5 deer basking in the sun on the hill side above the beets. Having coffee with the Mrs., we watched as a total of 7 deer feed in the beets until roughly 12:30. Then they all headed up  the bluff towards the NE.

 
So at 2 pm dressed in white I snuck up the fence line and then cut over to the Squirrel's tail stand.

At 3 pm the deer started to pour out of apple alley and down the hill sides all around me!. I watched six deer go right by the Lower AA ladder ( see hunt #105).

At 4 pm I counted 24 deer in the beet field!
I could tell from their behavior that a couple were little bucks. But it looked they were mostly yearling does.

But not a single deer came down off the ridge above me. I most likely blew them off the ridge when I went in. If any were bedded there.

The coyotes started barking just at dusk from the west and the deer all headed north into the bluffs. By dark all the deer except two had left for their night time beds.

So I think I will break down and buy a coyote gun. Since I know zero about guns if anyone has a recommendation for the right caliber and optics ect. please give me a PM.

[wapiti792]

As many as you have Jim find a trapper! They can do more good for you in a week than you can with a gun in a season. As much cover as you've got it'd be worth it to trap them in Jan and Feb and give your fawns and polts a break in the spring.

[ron w]

What wapiti792 said is right on the money!!  

[LITTLEBIGMAN]

My neighbor usually traps but he does it in the fall? I didn't know anyone trapped them in those 2 months so I will look into that for sure.

I also ordered a gun today as well.

Thank you to everyone for their recommendations.

I did not hunt today. Between the flu bug that finally bit me and 14 degree high temps with wind, I chose a warm window to sit by tonight with my Zeiss glasses in hand.

I am not sure of the number of deer that fed into the beets tonight. They came and went in small groups beginning at 3 pm. At 3:30 there was a group of 10 does in the field. At 4 :40 there was another group of 10 deer but 7 of them were bucks!  All young 8 pointers.  The largest maybe a 2.5 year old. Great to see some real up and comers made it through the gun toters.

It is also amazing to me how much longer it stayed light today then just nine short days ago on the first day of winter! It was still shooting light at 4:45!

With the forecast low tonight of minus 6 and a busy day ahead of me tomorrow, I most likely wont be out until the very last day of the season on Weds.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Jim, I hope you feel better so you can finish as strong as you have been all season.

[ron w]

Take care of your self and get well......you have nothing to prove at this point. You have had a great season and to share it with us is a blessing.

[Chuck Janssen]

Good hunting Jim, It has to happen. You deseve it. It is painfulfor me not being able to be out there this year. So it is your time!Take care.

[huntnmuleys]

coming down to the end, id consider your season to be a complete success.  you've had some pretty dang cool encounters

[LITTLEBIGMAN]

Thanks guys!  5 degrees F at noon! here are two pictures taken a minute ago out of my kitchen window.

2 young ones
 

does taking a lunch break.
 

I will be out for one last hunt tomorrow PM!

[Jayrod]

Jim as I have always said this is the Best thread I have ever followed in detail since the first day I joined the gang and wanted to comment on what a finejob you have done I will be looking forward to it next yr for sure...BEST of LUCK on your last sit...Happy New Year bud hope you feel better!!

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Jim, Every time I told you good luck, you never see anything so I will reserve that comment.

Great photos from the kitchen.

[Horne Shooter]

Jim,
I'm not sure what I'll do now that your thread is about up for this year.  Reading your posts is a part of my morning ritual while I'm having my coffee before work.  Thanks so much for taking the time and putting out such quality reading!  Your hunting skill and perseverance (as well as your writing) are second to none....

[pitbull]

Best of luck on your final hunt for the year!    

[LITTLEBIGMAN]

Well thank you everyone but my season has come to a close.

With temps at zero today and a 20 mph NW wind putting the wind chill at minus 15 F plus the flu bug that is still kicking my butt I'll be forced to close this year out one sit short of 110!

It was a memorable year for sure. The successes I had decoying and rattling this year,really reinforced the use of these tactics during the rut. I will continue to try and learn how , when and where to make it work even better in future seasons.

The three does in the freezer are eating very well. I was especially happy to have taken 2 off the ground . All 3 blood trails were certainly not ideal , but we found them all never the less.

6 deer in total were taken off the farm and only one wounded loss is now reported. ( not me).

If I have any regrets at all, it is just one. I wish I hadn't panicked and rattled that 2nd time on 11/05. I have replayed that evening in my head numerous times. I think had I only rattled the single time when I spotted that giant, I may had come closer to getting at shot at him. Live and learn from your mistakes.

I have also come to the conclusion that the one thing my place lacks is the very heavy cover that big bucks demand. My invasive species work is improving the diversity of the woods but is also removes some of the nasty places big guys like to hang out in.

I believe the pond may in the long run become a spot to kill big guys near during the rut. Next year there will be a ladder in the big burr oak just to west of it. We shall see how that spot turns out.

Also to add to the habitat, I applied for and have been awarded a grant to install 7 acres of new tall grass and wild flower prairie. I am removing the 11 acres we rented from commercial ag. and the remaining 4 acres will become new food plots . the planned tall grass prairie is highlighted below and I will be planting it in the spring.
   
This will provide the bees with much needed wildflower, bedding cover for deer , especially new fawns. cover and food for the turkeys, pheasants and grouse.

Thank you again to every one for their kind compliments and words of encouragement these last 3 months.

Wow it went fast!

[ron w]

[BoonRoto]

Love following this thread, thanks for taking us along. I have this weekend until our season closes, it has been rough this year but it still went to fast.

[Joeabowhunter]

Littlebigman, you had a great season.  Thanks for the effort you made to share it with us again this year.  Time to get out the door now for my final sit of the deer season...

Joe