J-birds place

[j-bird]

Getting caught up here J. Everything looking good for the season. Really liked the mowed deer path. Bet that hunts good. Good luck.

Thanks. I am seeing where the deer are browsing on the leaves overhanging that path. So it's getting used. I have a stand just waiting to take advantage. I need to connect that trail to another area, but that won't be until spring. Never seems to be enough time to do everything. I got stands to be checking and prepping while I'm trying to stay on top of fall plots and gathering acorns and the like as well.....late summer/early fall is a busy time.

 

[j-bird]

IN DNR just released the 2017 deer harvest report....

https://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/files/fw-DeerSummaryReport_2017.pdf

 

[Familytradition]

No pics this time just some general updates.

The down tulip poplar I put a cam on......a doe family group has visited it everyday that I had a cam on it. The video and the evidence on the tree clearly show they are eating the leaves......the leaves are still green.

I spread some winter wheat as well into my turnips and some other places just as some additional green food. The wheat will survive our winters here.

Apples are still holding on my trees, gave the 2 new persimmons trees and some struggling chestnut trees a drink as well.

My oaks are starting to become ready my chinkapin are just starting while my white oak and a few burrs are still holding tight. I was able to pot up some more SWO I collected as well.

I put cams back out and tried to mount them higher (roughly 7' to 8' - comfortable for me to reach) and tried to get them to angle down to see if that helps with triggers and deer staring and investigation or fearing the cams. We will see.

The MG that I had potted seems to be doing pretty well as well as they are still green.

I also put bigger cages (full size) on the sawtooths in my north corner plot as well. Some are reaching beyond their previous cage and I didn't want the deer browsing the tops of them. not sure they would, but I didn't want to chance it. I got 3 full size cages left over.....guess I need to buy 3 more trees!

I find cameras over winter feed piles and mineral sites are great ways to get camera shy deer used to them. You might try it.


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[j-bird]

Just a quick update form the weekend. I had to get out and get shooting houses cleaned out as we have our youth hunt this coming weekend....teenage girls and wasps and mice don't mix too well!

Dang squirrels are eating my plastic pots in their efforts to eat my acorns!


Chestnuts is turning and opening.....


Turnips are growing.....


North plots is doing well

 

[j-bird]

Well, the last weekend in September is the youth deer hunt weekend here in IN. Saturday morning I was up and ready to go.....while somebody had a late night the night before and decided that bed was where she was staying. So instead the boy and I hit the woods for some squirrels..... We didn't find any, but it was fun to just get out. I had to get the cam card any way.


Part of this trip to the woods I found the first scrape of the year on my place..... And I made my "contribution" to it!


I pulled the cam card......nothing to report there other than the same 2 doe families......

On the way back I saw some bright orange mushrooms on a dark damp log and the contrast in natures color caught my eye and felt it was picture worthy.


We did finally get to deer hunt Saturday evening but didn't see any deer. We saw rabbits and 2 turkey take to the roost. This is the view from the shooting house we had. The ag corn is still standing so that make hunting difficult because it is food and cover and the acorn drop here is in full swing as well.



Sunday morning I was finally able to get Emma to get out of bed to deer hunt! However it came with it's own struggles. We did see three deer...a medium sized doe and her twin fawns. They came down the path in the pic above. She decided to pass...... then..... somebody tried to sneak in a nap...... She is doubled over while sitting on a bucket, eyes closed, deep steady breathing and even a little drool! She started to list one way and I woke her up. She swears she was just resting her eyes and wasn't sleeping! My grandfather used to say, "You can't BS an old BSer" (I cleaned that up). No deer hunting that evening....social event with her "squad" had precedence.

 

[CTM1]

That is adorable but you might have to install a seat belt on that bucket.
Now if she knew you were posting about nap drool you might not win Dad of the year.

 

[j-bird]

That is adorable but you might have to install a seat belt on that bucket.
Now if she knew you were posting about nap drool you might not win Dad of the year.

She knows..... not a big deal.... we are "homies".... as long as it doesn't hit FB she don't seem to care much....

 

[j-bird]

So fall has really set in here. We have had cool temps and even a good frost.... We even had a thin bit of ice on some rain puddles this morning.
This was the view off the driveway this morning on my way to work....yes work. I'd rather be hunting.....but I got bills to pay!


I did get some work done over the weekend as well.....when I should have been hunting...
Put a cedar tree to good use. It was in a livestock fence so it had to go and I was going to use it in my folks pond for fish habitat....but it's a rub post now....we will see if it gets any use.



I pushed off some corn stubble and the like to expose some bare ground and spread some winter wheat as well.....




I was checking stands and clearing entrance paths and the like.....decided to take in the view for a bit.... about 15 acres of cut corn, a 120 foot CRP buffer and 5 feet wide "deer trail" that I tossed out some wheat between the CRP and the trees. Here, deer...deer...deer...deer!


Had a nosy neighbor in that stand. Dang coon was trying to reach the berries on the green briar vine! Funny watching them do their thing. HE would hold on with his back paws and leans way out there like a little kid trying to reach the cookie!



Set up a new licking vine/branch as well......This one is one a small oak lined "ridge" I have. Hopefully it sees some visitors.



Normally fall, real fall, doesn't come this early. Normally I'm still fighting the skeeters and the heat, so I was caught a little flat footed as far as having stands ready, but I'm in good shape now. So now it will get hot again!!!!

 

[j-bird]

Finally hit the woods saturday morning with bow in hand. I had a deer blow at me that I never saw, but other than that I just enjoyed the morning and the sounds of fall. As the sun came up and filtered thru the trees and a couple of groups of honkers passed over head it was just a wonderful morning all the way around. Even took a moment to talk to the man upstairs and to let some of those on the other side that they are still in my mind in in my heart...

I had to knock the dust off the old Hoyt, but she will get the job done if needed...



The view from the stand... I'm sitting in a 15' ladder stand that is about 75 inside the woods of an inside corner of a cut bean field and my plot is just over my left should about 50 yards away as well sitting over a logging trail...

View west...plot is just to the left out of frame...



View north... thicker stuff to the left side here is a little bedding area and the logging trail leads north to a basin type area... My hanging vine is right on this logging trail.



View east... thru some younger hard maple...



These are just some pics I took later in the morning once the sun started filtering thru the trees... The joys of morning in the woods...




Southeastern Indiana, Decatur County (farm country), US Zone 6a

 

[OkieKubota]

Finally hit the woods saturday morning with bow in hand. I had a deer blow at me that I never saw, but other than that I just enjoyed the morning and the sounds of fall. As the sun came up and filtered thru the trees and a couple of groups of honkers passed over head it was just a wonderful morning all the way around. Even took a moment to talk to the man upstairs and to let some of those on the other side that they are still in my mind in in my heart...

I had to knock the dust off the old Hoyt, but she will get the job done if needed...
View attachment 13803


The view from the stand... I'm sitting in a 15' ladder stand that is about 75 inside the woods of an inside corner of a cut bean field and my plot is just over my left should about 50 yards away as well sitting over a logging trail...

View west...plot is just to the left out of frame...
View attachment 13804


View north... thicker stuff to the left side here is a little bedding area and the logging trail leads north to a basin type area... My hanging vine is right on this logging trail.
View attachment 13805


View east... thru some younger hard maple...
View attachment 13806


These are just some pics I took later in the morning once the sun started filtering thru the trees... The joys of morning in the woods...
View attachment 13807

View attachment 13808

Southeastern Indiana, Decatur County (farm country), US Zone 6a

of the best feelings in the world...some will never feel this...enjoy!

 

[j-bird]

Update...
I was able to get out Saturday evening to hunt. Took some pics along the way. I did see 3 deer - 2 does and a young buck. I am seeing signs of the early phases of the seeking and chasing phases. Seeing more deer in the ditches, bucks I had not seen all year on cam and some actual chasing and rubs and scrapes...

The 2 does got chased out of the woods buy a young buck, but nothing was what I was looking for or even got close enough for a shot.

These are the view from my stand as a pan from left to right...



While out and about I also found some rubs in the willows... Nothing huge, but signs of some frustration...


Turnips are about the size of softballs as well...

 

[dogghr]

Wow J, that second pic, what a perfect little loop coming in front of your stand. Awesome. No softball turnips here again this year, they done ate them all as they grew, they should be eating the neighbors corn field and letting my stuff grow some. Good luck.

 

[CAS_HNTR]

When did you plant your turnips and at what rate?

 

[j-bird]

Wow J, that second pic, what a perfect little loop coming in front of your stand. Awesome. No softball turnips here again this year, they done ate them all as they grew, they should be eating the neighbors corn field and letting my stuff grow some. Good luck.

My deer won't eat them turnips no matter how big they get... They will eat dried up soybean stubble before they eat them turnips! Stupid deer... my deer don't like salad!

Yep - I like making little trails like that for the deer. That trail actually continues on to the right...not sure it will work....but we will see. I have another spot where I do this to put the deer where I want them as well.

 

[j-bird]

When did you plant your turnips and at what rate?

Going back thru the thread - I planted about mid aug. (another reason for these threads as I had no real idea when I planted). I am not sure of the actual rate. I simply load up my little hand crack spreader and set it on a light setting and walk at a steady pace. With turnips less is more in my opinion as they have room to grow. I bought 5 pounds...used roughly 1/2 and spread over maybe an acre total...so by that your looking at roughly 2 to 3 lbs/acre. I sort of do a spray, spread and pray sort of thing as I just kill the area and spread the seed and let mother nature do the rest. Spread too heavy and they get stunted and stay small...it doesn't matter as my deer won;t eat them anyway. if I leave them long enough I will bet you I get some that will bolt come spring time!

 

[George]

Good luck J-bird.

G

 

[j-bird]

Took a vacation day today... We have had 2 days of steady rain and it broke over night...I was excited to see what the day would bring. Morning hunt wasn't much to write about... A single antlerless deer (I think it was a button buck) on the edge of my range so it got a pass. The evening hunt was much different...

I actually went to a stand that I was going to move...but once I got there I decided to simply hunt the stand and that I would move it in the dark once I was done hunting...

About 5:30 a small yearling buck shows up but keeps looking over his shoulder. Sure enough a bigger buck shows up. The buck wasn't impressive, but he did meet our "ear width" rule and I needed meat int he freezer. I then noticed he was limping. As he got closer I noticed he was missing the lower portion of one of his rear legs...well that sealed the deal as far as me wanting to take the deer. He gt within 20 yards and I let the X-bow do it's thing...

View from the stand...



Clean 8 pointer...should go around 120"... I was very impressed with the results of the rage broadhead...deer went 50 yards tops

 

[Kwood]

J, great job! Deer are tough but I would have shot that deer under same circumstances. He will eat good and you can be selective the rest of the year. Good work!


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[Native Hunter]

Congratulations on your deer.

A doe with 3 legs recently moved to my place. She is missing a front leg. She also has a fawn. They are tough animals.

 

[George]

Congratulations J-bird.

G