Charlieyca
Active Member
Here he is on the 8th and 9th. Used this trail to go somewhere each night, I believe his bedding area.
Here he was on same trail the week before.
Here he was on same trail the week before.
Eastern NC 35
- Thread starter Charlieyca
- Start date
Charlieyca
Active Member
Life got busy and between fishing season and kids forgot about this place. Just harvested best buck so far off this farm and very excited about improvements being made each year.
Flash back to spring. We had a very wet spring so didnt get a lot of tractor work or plotting done. The last 3 years planting before the first tropical system in september has been very successful. This year florence kinda ended that win streak. Seeded about 2.5 acres of 1/4 to 1/2 acre plots and all that seeded washed away along with 2 box stands taking a tumble. Spent the month of september cleaning up homes, yards and roads for others with friends, families, and even some strangers. My home in wilmington faired well, but many lost everything, so losing a deer stand and some seed was never a real concern. Oct 3rd we turned to elevated stands into grounds blinds, only loosing about 10% visibility. Planted mix of wheat, oats, turnip, radish, red/white/crimson clover is the different plots. Hunted a few saturday and sunday mornings, but only a few does and a couple spikes during daylight.
Long Story so jump to the end if you want to see the pictures...
Wednesday Am and Pm took my oldest daughter and had a great time but didnt see a deer hunting over the one stand we bait with corn, hoping she could at least see a deer, but nothing. Had a great time in the woods nevertheless. Thanksgiving thursday was spent with the family, friday mid-morning we went up to plant some clearance pear trees my father brought down from charlotte area. We planted trees from 9 to 2 and pulled trail cams. I get home around 3:00 and Begin to check cards with all 3 daughters gathered around to see the deer, rabbits, yotes, bobcats, possums and raccoons. Then I see one of the few routine visitor bucks we can identify as "laid back" (his right side main beam goes up higher then the left side). 5:25 walking a trail in the middle section of our farm.
I had no plans to hunt but the wife says you should go kill that deer. My feet didnt hit the door, 30 minute ride to the farm and couldnt decide which stand to hunt. Wind was from supposed to be NE, but was swirling from N and E. Middle stand is closer to where deer was on camera in daytime but North wind is bad. Back stand is further away, but watching a trail between middle and back food plots, East wind is bad for it. Decide to sit the middle stand this pm, less scent in the woods, and save the back stand for my brother in law. He built the back stand and has put a lot of time into this farm with me, but due to work he doesnt get alot of hunting time off. 4:30 the wind has switched to N and blowing straight towards my food plot. Debating a move and bro in law texts me to go sit his stand, thats where he would be so I move.
4:45 I sit down in his stand, get my gear back out my bag and as soon as i look up to see a 4 pt buck walking towards the west end of my food plot. He eats awhile and walks off, immediately a spike walks into same food plot around 5:05. He eats and eats and eats, looking in all directions around him. 5:25 he is still eating, 5 mins of legal light left and with the binos I see a deer behind him head down walking into the plot from the thicket. Grab the gun put the scope on him. Hes quartered towards me walking, puts him head up, stops to stare at spike. I see huge body, put on the shoulder and pull the trigger. 5 secs from seeing him to boom.
He takes off running straight towards me and then turns north into a cane thicket and a few seconds later i hear him crash. I know hes down. Call my dad to celebrate, wife to tell her i will be late, bro in law to tell him thanks. Go to where I shot, find good blood and start tracking. 15 yards into the brush, 50 yrds from the shot location. Blood disappears in the middle of this thicket, no trails, can see 3-5 ft max. Dad shows up and we proceed to look, regroup, retrack, look, rest and track til 930. No more blood no deer. After discussion dad thinks I hit him high (no hair, no guts, little blood). I think i gut shot him. We decide to come back early in am (calling for rain) and look in the daylight.
Flash back to spring. We had a very wet spring so didnt get a lot of tractor work or plotting done. The last 3 years planting before the first tropical system in september has been very successful. This year florence kinda ended that win streak. Seeded about 2.5 acres of 1/4 to 1/2 acre plots and all that seeded washed away along with 2 box stands taking a tumble. Spent the month of september cleaning up homes, yards and roads for others with friends, families, and even some strangers. My home in wilmington faired well, but many lost everything, so losing a deer stand and some seed was never a real concern. Oct 3rd we turned to elevated stands into grounds blinds, only loosing about 10% visibility. Planted mix of wheat, oats, turnip, radish, red/white/crimson clover is the different plots. Hunted a few saturday and sunday mornings, but only a few does and a couple spikes during daylight.
Long Story so jump to the end if you want to see the pictures...
Wednesday Am and Pm took my oldest daughter and had a great time but didnt see a deer hunting over the one stand we bait with corn, hoping she could at least see a deer, but nothing. Had a great time in the woods nevertheless. Thanksgiving thursday was spent with the family, friday mid-morning we went up to plant some clearance pear trees my father brought down from charlotte area. We planted trees from 9 to 2 and pulled trail cams. I get home around 3:00 and Begin to check cards with all 3 daughters gathered around to see the deer, rabbits, yotes, bobcats, possums and raccoons. Then I see one of the few routine visitor bucks we can identify as "laid back" (his right side main beam goes up higher then the left side). 5:25 walking a trail in the middle section of our farm.
I had no plans to hunt but the wife says you should go kill that deer. My feet didnt hit the door, 30 minute ride to the farm and couldnt decide which stand to hunt. Wind was from supposed to be NE, but was swirling from N and E. Middle stand is closer to where deer was on camera in daytime but North wind is bad. Back stand is further away, but watching a trail between middle and back food plots, East wind is bad for it. Decide to sit the middle stand this pm, less scent in the woods, and save the back stand for my brother in law. He built the back stand and has put a lot of time into this farm with me, but due to work he doesnt get alot of hunting time off. 4:30 the wind has switched to N and blowing straight towards my food plot. Debating a move and bro in law texts me to go sit his stand, thats where he would be so I move.
4:45 I sit down in his stand, get my gear back out my bag and as soon as i look up to see a 4 pt buck walking towards the west end of my food plot. He eats awhile and walks off, immediately a spike walks into same food plot around 5:05. He eats and eats and eats, looking in all directions around him. 5:25 he is still eating, 5 mins of legal light left and with the binos I see a deer behind him head down walking into the plot from the thicket. Grab the gun put the scope on him. Hes quartered towards me walking, puts him head up, stops to stare at spike. I see huge body, put on the shoulder and pull the trigger. 5 secs from seeing him to boom.
He takes off running straight towards me and then turns north into a cane thicket and a few seconds later i hear him crash. I know hes down. Call my dad to celebrate, wife to tell her i will be late, bro in law to tell him thanks. Go to where I shot, find good blood and start tracking. 15 yards into the brush, 50 yrds from the shot location. Blood disappears in the middle of this thicket, no trails, can see 3-5 ft max. Dad shows up and we proceed to look, regroup, retrack, look, rest and track til 930. No more blood no deer. After discussion dad thinks I hit him high (no hair, no guts, little blood). I think i gut shot him. We decide to come back early in am (calling for rain) and look in the daylight.
Charlieyca
Active Member
So after sleeping all of 2 hrs we get back up there and began the process again. 2 hrs in, no deer, and the rain has begun. What started as a warm dry mid 60s, turned into a soaking wet cold 50s. another hr in we are about to give up and start walking back to the stand to gather our stuff. We went opposite ways and walk the same trail I walked the night before and within 5 yards of the trail I see a white belly. I jump through the cane brush face first into a logging rut filled with water to finally puts hand on him.
Turns out it was the same deer my wife told me to go kill. We have him on camera in 2016, 2017 and 2018. In all honesty, I would have happily taken him in 2016
2016
View attachment 14050
2017
View attachment 14047
2018 (november 20th)
View attachment 14049
November 24th 2018
For those that read it all the way through, thanks.
p.s. 2016 pic was during the rut and first pic we had of this deer.
Turns out it was the same deer my wife told me to go kill. We have him on camera in 2016, 2017 and 2018. In all honesty, I would have happily taken him in 2016
2016
View attachment 14050
2017
View attachment 14047
2018 (november 20th)
View attachment 14049
November 24th 2018
For those that read it all the way through, thanks.
p.s. 2016 pic was during the rut and first pic we had of this deer.
Charlieyca
Active Member
Charlieyca
Active Member
2018
Charlieyca
Active Member
2017
Charlieyca
Active Member
I did not, but he was noticeably smaller than the early season pictures. I would estimate 170 175 at harvest. I had lots of pictures of him the last 3 days before hunting, including finally some daylight pictures.
Charlieyca
Active Member
My oldest (8) hunted wed am and pm with and did very good. But momma wanted her to stay home to help with little sisters. Then she wanted to go track next morning but it was 50 deg and raining. She asked all kinds of questions and helped me process and make jerky.
Charlieyca
Active Member
This year I planted 2 grain plots of wheat, oats and rye. Turnips and radish in 2 areas. And started a 2nd white clover plot. All 3 areas get some use, but never high use. I have tried sunflowers in spring before and they were eaten to the ground once they hit 6". only have a couple 1/2 acres spaces, what could I plant that would increase deer attraction without getting eaten to nubs?
Charlieyca
Active Member
Finally have some free time and wanted to update for the year. Year 4 on our farm, went from 25 to 35 to 45 acres.
Harvested 2 deer
This is largest body deer we have killed, est 3.5 years old. He was #3 for deer we had on camera. We had 2 4.5 or older deer and 4 3.5 year olds running around. The tree in the background is a lone Water oak that drops acorns in november and december each year, its normally in a food plot but florence washed out our seed and bridge to the back of our farm.
This guy was an unexpected gift. Checked trail cams in the morning, saw him cruising a new spot. Tried to hunt that spot, wind switched, and he walked out at new spot chasing a doe late in the rut. We called him laid back because the right side leans back and angles upward more than left side. Gut shot, thick cane break, and rain made tracking a little difficult.
Harvested 2 deer
This is largest body deer we have killed, est 3.5 years old. He was #3 for deer we had on camera. We had 2 4.5 or older deer and 4 3.5 year olds running around. The tree in the background is a lone Water oak that drops acorns in november and december each year, its normally in a food plot but florence washed out our seed and bridge to the back of our farm.
This guy was an unexpected gift. Checked trail cams in the morning, saw him cruising a new spot. Tried to hunt that spot, wind switched, and he walked out at new spot chasing a doe late in the rut. We called him laid back because the right side leans back and angles upward more than left side. Gut shot, thick cane break, and rain made tracking a little difficult.
Charlieyca
Active Member
Some interesting trail cams pics from the year
Did not realize bobcats like turnips (may of been smelling it)
Here is laid back in early september pre rut, date is off
Here is the first deer I shot mid november, back in september pre rut
First and only black bear we have had on camera. Keep a feeder up at the front of the farm with corn 8 months of the year and no pics of him there. Date should be 12-31-18
Did not realize bobcats like turnips (may of been smelling it)
Here is laid back in early september pre rut, date is off
Here is the first deer I shot mid november, back in september pre rut
First and only black bear we have had on camera. Keep a feeder up at the front of the farm with corn 8 months of the year and no pics of him there. Date should be 12-31-18
Charlieyca
Active Member
Here is a youngster that is on a no shoot list. Hangs around most of the year, but disappears during the rut. Lots of potential for this area! May only be 1.5 years old in the picture.
You may have seen a similar picture from last year, except florence removed the deer stand from the picture. Mix of turnips, radish, and wheat
You may have seen a similar picture from last year, except florence removed the deer stand from the picture. Mix of turnips, radish, and wheat
Charlieyca
Active Member
Hawk caught a mouse on the edge of a wheat/clover plot. Pear trees across the back, screening the main road as well
This guy is a normal yearling for around here. He kept me busy this year as I believe we saw him 10+ times from the stand. At night he always had a doe with him, assuming sister, but never during the day.
These 2 1.5 year olds fought like this for over an hr. Camera took over 200 pictures of them fighting that night.
Pair of coyotes that always hangs together.
This guy is a normal yearling for around here. He kept me busy this year as I believe we saw him 10+ times from the stand. At night he always had a doe with him, assuming sister, but never during the day.
These 2 1.5 year olds fought like this for over an hr. Camera took over 200 pictures of them fighting that night.
Pair of coyotes that always hangs together.
Charlieyca
Active Member
2 yearlings fighting, until laid back came in and ran them both off. Notice how swollen his neck is now.
Here is a guy that confuses me. Sagging back and brisket, droopy nose, big eyebrows. Cant decide how old he is.
and in round 4 we have a winner...
First sign of activity at the mineral site. Refreshed it day after xmas.
Here is a guy that confuses me. Sagging back and brisket, droopy nose, big eyebrows. Cant decide how old he is.
and in round 4 we have a winner...
First sign of activity at the mineral site. Refreshed it day after xmas.
nchunter1989
Active Member
Looking good brotha!! Work is definitely paying off for you.I would say that bear is probably going to hang around long as the corn is there.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Charlieyca
Active Member
goign back up tomorrow to check cameras that have been out for almost a month, interested to see if the bear makes an appearance at the feeder or if he was just passing through. Planting 50 plums and 50 persimmons (at least that is the goal)
Charlieyca
Active Member
I just got a hardhat and chainsaw pants off amazon after re-reading your post. sometimes you need that reminder to keep getting better and safer at what we are doing
