Last Minute Scouting
This was the last weekend before KY’s Rifle Opener. If it was going to be done before the shooting started, it was going to have to be done before Sunday afternoon. Angus and I went down to camp. Do to my schedule, I still did not have a rifle sighted in. There was a big blow on Halloween night as a front came through, so we needed to check the stands one more time as well. Saturday afternoon I sorted gear while Angus went scouting. I really like seeing him stepping up this year and starting to do things like … More . . .
An Encounter with a Doe
It was the weekend after Muzzleloader Season. We had two weekends to go before the start of Rifle Season. We all went down on Saturday to finish up the mountain of chores left. Saturday evening, Angus and I did some scouting. On Sunday morning, Angus left early to scout Hammond North and Knowlton’s Corner. I slept in and rode out after sunrise to Garbage Pit to put a skirt on the treestand. It was getting on towards Nine when I finally got up the ladder and started working. I was in my Carharts, bibs and barn coat, yesterday’s socks and … More . . .
Henry VIII’s Favorite Dish — Venison Roast
I was discussing venison with a co-worker, and I mentioned KYHillChick’s recipe for venison roast. I realized when I went to send her a link that I had never posted it here. Click on it to make it larger This is a favorite at our deer camp table and it was a favorite of Henry VIII. I will warn you that Elizabethan cooking is odd if you have never tried it. They were dealing with a different world, and it shows. However, you will find this is great stuff. This goes especially well with the Opening Day Feast, and our … More . . .
KY Muzzleloader Hunt
SuperCore started his 5th season of deer hunting with . . . well, a bang pretty well says it. He nailed a nice doe on Saturday evening about 5:30. He took it from the Jagendehutte, with his Traditions in-line. The shot went about 110 yards, the doe was munching stuff just outside the back door at Broken Corners. At about the same time, I was trying to bust a cap on a doe at Virginia. She came, I dropped the hammer, but the Winchester cap did nothing. I actually had two doe come in Saturday evening. The first got wise … More . . .
Briar Archeology
I left a cheese wrapper on the ground this past weekend. I did not mean to. It slipped out of my hand at Lazy Boy and it fell to the ground and joined the leaves and such. I did not pick it up either. It’s my property and if I want to leave a cheese wrapper on the ground, I can. I’m like that. I leave shotgun hulls on the ground too. I used to hunt a place where the landowner told me before my first time out that he had thrown the previous bunch of hunters off , because … More . . .
Angus’ Last Yute Hunt
. . . and mine as well. At least it will be for a long while. We spent the weekend at Lazy Boy and Midway, celebrating Angus’ last deer hunt as a Youth. By next year, he will be 16 and be on and adult tag. It was Kentucky’s early Youth Season– you know Yute Season, where the yutes go out with their yute rifles and . . . you get the idea. The weekend itself was perfect– warm, dry, there was a moon at night. I don’t think the temperature dipped below 50F. There was just one problem: it … More . . .
Lazy Boy PT II
A year ago at this time, I described Lazy Boy, a stand site that my son wanted to develop for deer and turkey hunting. He’s about to go through his last Yute Season, and it’s time to start planning for the future. We went out to Lazy Boy on Sunday and set up a ground blind for next week’s Yute Opener. Angus has been out scouting several times to this site on his own and seen deer every time. Want a deer blind in a hurry? Take a 12 foot section of that die-cut or burlap blind material, a bag … More . . .
Become Your Own Expert
From Deer & Deer Hunting Hey guys, this will be my first hunting season and I have chosen to go after the deer with a bow. I have some basic knowledge on deer hunting and have become a fairly decent shooter with my bow. I live in New Hampshire and the woods I hunt in is owned by my family and is about 8 acres. The terrain of the woods is fairly thick no clear cuts or farmland, just big woods with oaks and pines. My question is how would someone like me try and hunt this terrain? I have … More . . .
The New Deer Rifle
Well, I’ve got a new deer rifle rifle– went down to the farm over the weekend to get it. I’d promised O.T. I’d be down first week in August for it. O.T. called earlier in the week to ask about my health, so I knew he hadn’t changed his mind. O.T. had a heck of a time getting the safe open. He blamed bad eyes, but it was obvious it more than that. He’s had his last hunt. We spent a long time talking about how it used to be. We were up on the front porch looking out over … More . . .
Deer Rifle Advice
Dear Shaman: I am a fairly new deer hunter, looking to purchase my first deer rifle. I’ve been reading the magazines and I’m pretty sure I want. . . . . . blah. . . blah. . . I figure I need it to be flat out to at least 600 yards. . . blah . . . blah . . . able generate n0000 foot lbs of energy . . . blah . . . blah. . should I get the Remington or the Ruger? Sincerely Newbie in Blah. . . Blah Yeah. Right. Dear Newbie: Put down the … More . . .
Tree Stand Update
I’ve been using treestands throughout the bulk of my deer hunting career. For the past decade or so I have gone almost exclusively to a buddy-style ladder stand. 15 footers get me far enough off the ground to be innocuous to the deer. They are a lot safer and easier to deal with than other styles. I originally got them, because of my sons, but I have kept using them as my kids got to big for both of us to fit, because they are so roomy and comfortable. Here’s my favorite. I call it “Campground,” because it is close … More . . .
But then again. . .
I went back and reviewed the Outdoor Life article again, and I am not saying they are wrong, but there are some ideas worth discussing. First off, here is the article again from Outdoor Life referenced in the previous post: Best Deer Hunting State: Kentucky Takes Top Spot in New Whitetail Scale Next let me give you my take on the criteria: Trophy Production: I think this is a good, valid indicator. However, let me just blow a little hint in your ear: not everyone in KY believes in B&C. That may sound like heresy, but I think I’ve got … More . . .
Additions to the Deer Battery
I have two new additions to the official shamanic deer battery. Both are customized Mausers from friends. One is a 8X57 K98 that I picked up from SuperCore, who was downsizing his inventory over the summer. Mauser 25-06 The other is O.T’s deer gun. My buddy O.T. is call it quits this year– just too old and tired to go schlepping through the hollows any more. O.T. had an early-model 2X Aimpoint on the 25-06. Even though O.T. is in his eighties, his eyes are are considerably better than mine for distance work. I am also a good head-or-so … More . . .
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