As early as SuperBowl Weekend, I could see a potential weather window open up for an early return to Camp. This past weekend would marginally fit the profile: High on Saturday of 50F or better No rain until afternoon Sunday No other problems like recent ice storms or heavy snowfall … Continue reading →
It was well over a decade ago when I witnessed an online war on the Turkey & Turkey Hunting Forum between a faction of self-styled “Old Schoolers” and the rest of the turkey hunters online. One of the biggest issues was that of ambushing. By the Old Schoolers’ way of … Continue reading →
 I cannot help but mention Big Bob’s passing one more time as well as talk about his Ruger Model 44 and the 44 Mag as a deer round. Big Bob only made it to our camp a few times. I rode him around in the truck. His legs had … Continue reading →
Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lee McClellan lee.mcclellan@ky.gov 1-800-858-1549 Record Harvest for Modern Gun Deer Season Timing and weather boost tally for statewide 16-day season FRANKFORT, Ky. (Dec. 5, 2019) – Kentucky deer hunters harvested a record 107,039 deer … Continue reading →
I had a few days of vacation that I needed to burn before the end of the year. Folically Challenged on 24hourcampfire.com ( official thread here) and I had been meaning to get out and do some hog hunting at his favorite spot in SE Georgia, Yellow Bluff Adventure Society. … Continue reading →
As you all know, my buddy Bob died this past winter. He was an outdoor writer and magazine editor. Out of the estate I managed to snag a minty Ruger Model 44, and swore I’d put it to good use. Bob would have been proud. I nailed a buck with … Continue reading →
I woke up this morning in my suburban bedroom. Two inches of snow fell overnight. In other situations, I would be kicking myself that I am not going out this morning to hunt. Here it is Tuesday Opening Week, and I’m passing up a chance to hunt Kentucky with snow … Continue reading →
Outstanding outlook for the hunt Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lee McClellan lee.mcclellan@ky.gov 1-800-858-1549 Modern Gun Season for Deer Opens Statewide Nov. 9 Hunters can take advantage of full rut cycle over 16-day season FRANKFORT, Ky. (Nov. 5, 2019)Â – … Continue reading →
Really, you can’t blame them. The National Weather Service is doing the best it can with its long-range forecasting. However, if you look at what they were thinking the KY Rifle Opener was going to be as late as early October and what the forecast is now, you got to … Continue reading →
Looking from the outside, one might ask why we even show up. I’d have to go back and look to see when we last shot a deer during Kentucky’s early Muzzleloader Season. This year was much the same. However, I would say everyone had a great time. At our camp, … Continue reading →
I went to point to the story of honorable #2 son’s first deer hunt, and I found that it was missing. I had pictures, but that was it. It was a seminal moment in both our lives, so I felt it bore setting down properly before the details have fully … Continue reading →
Right now, I’m all alone at the farm. KYHillChick and Angus are down on the KY/TN line at the family reunion. Moose has a friend or two down at the campground. I’ve hardly seen them all weekend. The plan is for KYHillchick to stop at Sonny’s BBQ in Richmond on … Continue reading →
With all the really good bottom end deer rifles out there, folks are beginning to lose sense of what it was like to own a deer rifle that couldn’t hold to a pie plate at 50 yards. As I opined here on the 24hourcampfire: Current Rifle Accuracy You have to … Continue reading →
Now is about the time of year that a landowner should start thinking about who is coming hunting in the Fall. Hunting is an important management tool. Every year, a guy like me should be thinking about how many hunters, how many deer, what sizes. The answer for the past … Continue reading →
What makes a good deer rifle? I’ve been contemplating this now since the first Reagan administration. Every time I pick up a rifle, I’m pretty well judging it based on how well it would take a Whitetail. However, for all that mental energy, I do not think I have ever … Continue reading →
Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lisa Tolliver lisa.tolliver@ky.gov 1-800-858-1549 Kentucky’s Crossbow Deer Season Extended Changes take effect with the 2019-20 season FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 4, 2019) – Kentucky deer hunters will have a longer period in the field with their … Continue reading →
I hunt in SW Bracken County, within sight of the Pendleton County line. As a result, I always try to compare harvest numbers between that county and as part of the NorthEast Region as a whole. I started hunting there in 2002, so my knowledge is limited to that time … Continue reading →
Yesterday, the On-this-date widget that compiles all the posts for the current date stated Nothing has ever happened on this day. <em>Ever.</em> Turkey Hunting went out with a whimper on our Ridge. Things kept piling up and it finally left me coming home in the rain yesterday afternoon. For a … Continue reading →
Whenever I start talking online about the weather, there are a load of guys who want to tell you: You cannot rely on weather forecasts You shouldn’t worry about the weather forecasts– just go hunt The weather is too whacked-out anymore for reliable forecasting etc. It is this monstrous barrage … Continue reading →
From: 2019 Licenses on Sale FRANKFORT, Ky. (1/12/19) — Licenses and permits to fish, hunt and trap in Kentucky in the coming license year are on sale now. The 2019-2020 license year starts March 1. License and permit fees for Kentucky residents for the 2019-2020 license year are unchanged from … Continue reading →
Let me be clear: This season sucked. It sucked in so many ways it hurts to think about it. Not everyone in Kentucky feels this way. That’s fine. I can believe our problems were localized, possibly self-inflicted, whatever. It still sucked. I’m looking at the final harvest numbers for November. … Continue reading →
I was questioned recently about what sort of sidearm to take bowhunting to protect against coyotes. The querant had been rattled by coyotes on the way into his stand. In general, I would say don’t waste your time. I got into deer hunting after several years of caving. Caving had … Continue reading →
Last year about this time, I was watching a bumper crop of deer out at the farm. The neighbor to my north had sold out and he was no longer dumping $700 worth of corn into his feeder every year. The deer all came over to my place. They’re not … Continue reading →
This week, 15 years ago, I made my first post on this weblog. To quote the About page: This goes back to 2004. Mom always kept reminding me that I came from a long line of Methodist ministers. I think of myself as a good Methodist boy at heart. However, … Continue reading →
After a looooong delay, KYDFWR has finally got the updated 2018-2019 deer regs published. What’s in: You can now bag up to 4 deer on your KY deer tag– no more than one antlered animal. There are a bunch of zone changes– a lot of counties went up a zone. … Continue reading →
