We host an annual Guys’ Hunting Weekend every year during the weekend after thanksgiving. It’s typically the ONE time a year that most of the attendees enjoy a bit of tequila. It’s also the only chance for some to do any hunting. As such, the guys really look forward to coming out and filling the freezers. Before we could get to hunting, though, we had to make sure all the rifles were hitting where they should be. Of course, we gave the youngins some time to do some shooting of their own.
All rifles sighted in or verified true, it was time to get to hunting. Before the recap, some background on the place:
The 640 acre LF ranch has no shortage of deer but we don’t see the monster bucks that people associate with STx. We feed corn year round but that’s it. My step dad Tom and I are the only regular visitors to the ranch, only bowhunters, and the only two that hunt throughout the season (and off season for pigs). While we stick pigs every chance we get, We are very selective in the deer we kill. For example, he’s never shot a deer there. Doe or buck. He’s waiting for the monster bucks that we have only seen when lucky enough to cross paths with while driving. I have not shot a deer on the property or elsewhere since my ~120” buck in 2017. My previous biggest to date. Overall 2-4 deer taken per year on the place. Most or all by visitors.
A typical bow sit in either of the two most-hunted tripods would involve 3-4 doe, their yearlings, and the occasional young buck. Small 6 or 8s. Every time. Seeing 15 deer in a sit isn’t unusual unless one of the groups of mature does shows up and busts you. I swear, its as if they know where to look. You can have 10 deer within 20 yds and they will bust you from across to pond within seconds of stepping out of the brush.
A rifle hunt at any of the 15’ towers would allow a hunter to see 15-20 doe in a given hunt as well as 3 or 4 young bucks. During the rut, one will witness multiple bucks running doe all over, right in front of you. It’s an awesome sight for a hunter, experienced or not.
Another pic of the circled buck from the same hunt in 2017 below. We don’t utilize cameras so we don’t really follow/name deer unless we see them while hunting. I referred to this guy as “basket buck” over the last couple years. It’s been Interesting to see him grow a bit.
FRIDAY
Friday evenings hunt was immediately productive as we knew it would be. Like I said, the deer are there. With hunters in EACH of 5 hunting sets (towers and tripods), the odds of a shooter buck presenting itself was almost a certainty.
The “Horseshoe”, so-called for the horseshoe shaped pond on which the blind sits, is a hot spot. Located on the N side of property, it seems a shot at a pig is a sure thing. I was sitting 20’ up a tree at a nearby feeder when AR shots rang out. My brother kris (shooter but not pictured) and the youngsters had hit a pig.
Wasn’t the only animal that needed processing that night though. A text came through the group chat that Phillip had hit a good 9 at the “South pond.” He was hunting the same blind where Basket was pictured above and in the same vicinity where he was seen earlier this season. I wonder...
With ice in his veins, cousin Phillip is a cold blooded killer! A great shot dropped him where he stood. RIP Ol’ Basket.
A productive Friday night ended with a few slabs of pork ribs, a couple dozen grilled quail thighs/legs, and some smoked pork belly. A few more beers and off to bed in preparation for what turned out to be an equally productive Saturday.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
All rifles sighted in or verified true, it was time to get to hunting. Before the recap, some background on the place:
The 640 acre LF ranch has no shortage of deer but we don’t see the monster bucks that people associate with STx. We feed corn year round but that’s it. My step dad Tom and I are the only regular visitors to the ranch, only bowhunters, and the only two that hunt throughout the season (and off season for pigs). While we stick pigs every chance we get, We are very selective in the deer we kill. For example, he’s never shot a deer there. Doe or buck. He’s waiting for the monster bucks that we have only seen when lucky enough to cross paths with while driving. I have not shot a deer on the property or elsewhere since my ~120” buck in 2017. My previous biggest to date. Overall 2-4 deer taken per year on the place. Most or all by visitors.
A typical bow sit in either of the two most-hunted tripods would involve 3-4 doe, their yearlings, and the occasional young buck. Small 6 or 8s. Every time. Seeing 15 deer in a sit isn’t unusual unless one of the groups of mature does shows up and busts you. I swear, its as if they know where to look. You can have 10 deer within 20 yds and they will bust you from across to pond within seconds of stepping out of the brush.
A rifle hunt at any of the 15’ towers would allow a hunter to see 15-20 doe in a given hunt as well as 3 or 4 young bucks. During the rut, one will witness multiple bucks running doe all over, right in front of you. It’s an awesome sight for a hunter, experienced or not.
Another pic of the circled buck from the same hunt in 2017 below. We don’t utilize cameras so we don’t really follow/name deer unless we see them while hunting. I referred to this guy as “basket buck” over the last couple years. It’s been Interesting to see him grow a bit.
FRIDAY
Friday evenings hunt was immediately productive as we knew it would be. Like I said, the deer are there. With hunters in EACH of 5 hunting sets (towers and tripods), the odds of a shooter buck presenting itself was almost a certainty.
The “Horseshoe”, so-called for the horseshoe shaped pond on which the blind sits, is a hot spot. Located on the N side of property, it seems a shot at a pig is a sure thing. I was sitting 20’ up a tree at a nearby feeder when AR shots rang out. My brother kris (shooter but not pictured) and the youngsters had hit a pig.
Wasn’t the only animal that needed processing that night though. A text came through the group chat that Phillip had hit a good 9 at the “South pond.” He was hunting the same blind where Basket was pictured above and in the same vicinity where he was seen earlier this season. I wonder...
With ice in his veins, cousin Phillip is a cold blooded killer! A great shot dropped him where he stood. RIP Ol’ Basket.
A productive Friday night ended with a few slabs of pork ribs, a couple dozen grilled quail thighs/legs, and some smoked pork belly. A few more beers and off to bed in preparation for what turned out to be an equally productive Saturday.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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