This is A GREAT Day! **Updated**
08-08-2008, 07:07 PM
#21
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Iowa (Heartland USA)
Posts: 3,249
RE: This is A GREAT Day!
Just got back from scouting the new place. Parked in the lane and quietly got out. As I was grabbing my camera and trail cam out of the truck, a buck jumped up from the fenceline across the road and headed west. It was really quick and so I ran across the road and up the embankment to see if I could see him again. All I saw was the east end of the buck heading into the trees about 100 yards west. I softly swore for not looking 360 before I got out of my truck. I opened the gate next to the old farmhouse and decided to make my way along the south side of the house to the east side to peek around towards the old apple orchard. As I stuck my head around the corner, I received a cardiac check as three more bucks jumped up from alongside the house and took off towards the north and were out of sight over the hillside in a heartbeat. Just as they disappeared over the hill, I learned another lesson. Northbound deer cause cattle to stampede south bound. About 30 cows came flying up the hill at me, went past and continued southbound pretty dang quick for big buggers. When I saw the moo-moo's heading at me, I stepped back around the south side of the house as not to impede their progress. The south fence of this property is in complete disarray and the neighbors cattle seem to like grazing here. I've been on the property no more than 5 minutes seen 4 bucks and got up close and personal with steaks on the hoof. I took a second to recompose myself and then walked into the orchard. The apple trees are huge and thick. All the apples within a deer or cows reach are missing. There are bovine and deer hoof prints everywhere. I head north from the orchard and I find an indentation in the ground that must have had a salt lick at one time and its still being frequented by deer and cows. Once I made my way to the north fence, I start working my way east to the first ravine. As I started down the bank, 8 - 10 slickheads came out of the bottom and headed northeast. All the deer I have seen on the property have headed into the cornfield to the north of this property. I've been on the property 30 minutes and have seen more deer in one place than I have all year. I really want to get to the northeast corner of the property, but I have scared too many deer already. I back up to a hedge apple tree and sit down under it just to watch for a while. The branches are laden with huge hedge apples already and it gives me good cover to break up my outline. As I sat there, I pulled out a bottle of water and sit there sipping it while I review what has happened so far. I sat there for about an hour and watched a good 40 more deer make their way out of the ravines and head right past me into the corn field. As I watched them make their way single file north, I thought what a great picture that would make. I waited for a good 40 minutes after they passed to get out from under the tree. As I stood up, my camera flopped down on its strap against my chest. I had forgot I had my digital camera with me! I must have forgotten to take my ginko viagra today (so I can remember what the **** I'm doing). I slowly make my way west to the road always watching and hoping I don't scare any more deer. After getting to the road, I walk south to the truck. About 30 feet from the truck, another big buck jumps up from the fence line and runs northeast away from me. I got in the truck and took the backpack off and the trailcam was still in the backpack! I saw probably only 5 or 6 acres of this forty acre plot, saw over 50 deer, had the crap scared out of me on 3 ocassions. Didn't get pics of any bucks, didn't get pics of the deer walking single file, forgot to put out my trailcam, yet I came home with a feeling of peace and success. I will have to go back and find a way in that won't scare up the deer to get that trailcam up. I can't wait for bow season.
08-09-2008, 05:50 AM
#29
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Blossvale, New York
Posts: 21,199
RE: This is A GREAT Day! **Updated**
You're going to look awful funny when you find out that the guy you talked to on the phone was really BUBBA and he doesn't own the land. He just figured he'd get the damn Yankee in trouble. LOL Congrats on the new property AF.
