The Playground

Well after hunting hard in youth season the kid's trigger finger was pretty itchy. Opening morning of MO rifle season started pretty slow with not much movement. Then about 8 am this buck ran into the plot, I grunted he stopped broadside and the kid dropped him. Hit him a little back and high (liver and spine) so he went about five feet. Same blind and plot as his first doe and the double bearded gobbler last spring. I need to reseed with some clover but I hate to jinx it! Deer heart is on the menu for tonight, that was his first question on walking up to it that he hopes he didn't hit it in the heart! Made it to the CWD check station early so there was about 10 MDC employees with no line so he thought that was pretty cool with all of them asking questions about the hunt.

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So with the kid's buck hanging went looking for one myself.

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This guy walked right to me a about 2 pm. Wide just no tine length, hopefully he keeps his head down and makes another season. If he stumbles by when I have a bow it'll be a little tougher!

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I did see one shooter Sunday but couldn't make it work. Had to head back home, so after a 1.5 days my rifle season comes to an end. The good part is we filled the tag I really wanted to get filled. To see how excited a kid gets brings it all back, no worrying if he is big enough old enough, none of that. Just hunting!
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Congratulations to the kid. That looked like a pretty good buck that you passed.

G

Thanks George. That buck would have probably been in trouble if I hadn't field dressed, hung, and skinned the kid's deer that morning! Getting soft in my old age.
 
This may be one of my proudest moments as a father. My kindergarten daughter brought this home from school today. Least she knows where food comes from, probably educated some of her peers in our suburban school (and probably the teacher)!

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E_308, Isabelle's How to cook a turkey is priceless. Really cool that kids can see things so simply.
 
This may be one of my proudest moments as a father. My kindergarten daughter brought this home from school today. Least she knows where food comes from, probably educated some of her peers in our suburban school (and probably the teacher)!

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That is a winning recipe.
 
Now Isabelle is one intelligent young lady. That's a compliment but daddy gonna have his hands full over the next dozen years with that knowledge. Been there.
 
Merry Christmas!

Found this youngster in the pond, looks like a busted back leg. I'll get him drug out when it thaws.


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Tried a little calling. No snow so the bobcats were probably right on top of me and gone before I new it. Coyotes are still eating pretty well, need some cold miserable weather. The squalling coon sound on the foxpro brought these two rolling out of a hole. Posed right beside each other looking at the call = bad idea when a guy has 3" Copper plated BB"s in a Benelli M2. One shot dumped them both. Those shells are over kill on coons but perfect for coyotes. The larger one was close to 20 pounds, I saved an egg or two this spring. With fur prices in the tank it is going to be more important than ever to reduce nest predators.

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Tried to trap a little for just cats and coyotes. Had 5 inches of snow Saturday night. No luck in the steel. Pretty hard to catch predators on a two night set.

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First daylight bobcat pic I have gotten on this property. Still have a goal to call in my first cat. I had a pack of three coyotes using this same path. I know whats on the agenda for Jan-Feb trips.



I just thought this one was cool.



Had a few bucks still on cam. If they made it through this weekend muzzleloader season they may make another year.

Thanks for looking.
 
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Good luck with the bobcat! I had one walk about 5 yards in front of my stand during our modern gun season. Beautiful animal.
 
I gave up on coyote trapping till I retire. Two night soak is not productive enough unless you know of a hot spot. Im sure your kids still enjoyed. Great pics .
 
Good news - the CWD test results for the kids deer came back "not detected". Testing is mandatory for the opening weekend of firearms season for the county we are in. Just in time for my planned summer sausage and jerky production this weekend!
 
Well reportedly the neighbor to the south has put his ground on the market. Wanted to make sure the realtor knew where the lines were so I spent Saturday walking fence lines. If anyone wants to be my neighbor on 250 some acres let me know and I'll point you in the right direction (going to need about 899K).



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This coyotes is having a bad day.


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And this guy is going the wrong way. Coyote hunters hate when coyotes head in my place, brushy enough they never come out. I route for the coyote!

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Looks like a few of the boys may have made it through.

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This picture proves I am the worst shed hunter on here. I can get a picture of the horn falling off and still can't find it! I haven't seen them dropping by Christmas before. Had a pretty rough cold stretch that probably stressed them pretty hard.


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Nice pics, nice to see the boy with his buck. As far as sheds go....I have found other critters will carry them off as well and then chew on them for the minerals. I have actually seen an antler about 20 fee tin a tree where a coon or squirrel had pulled it up there. Also sounds like your kids are getting the expose to the outdoors and it's sinking in as well.
 
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