Thread: Ready for Deer Season?

Not just one but two! A 90HP Kubota then a couple years ago we bought a new M135 when they came out. Got to have a lot of power when your pulling a 14' disc plow that weighs over 5000lbs. in Marengo county prairie soil.

I moved a stand from 1 county to another and helped a buddy put a new 1 up,the 1 of mine got put next to a river that has corn planted again this year. Shot 2 at 267 steps with my savage smokeless but hope to not need to shoot that far,a 2' bare dirt trail leads to the river less than 100y from it. I put a cable and lock on it and hope its remote enuf that nobody steals it,

Originally Posted by chillinfish

A tractor with a cab? What manner of sorcery is that? How can the bees, hornets, yelolow jackets, ticks, spiders, briars and thorns going to get you in a cab?

Yeah, having a cab takes away the adventure and excitement of getting ready for the deer season. You ain't gonna have any thrilling stories to tell to your grandchillun---unless, maybe, you leave the cab door cracked open when you come home and a family of those big wood rats makes a home back behind the seat and don't come out until next time you're there and have the tractor in road gear headed for the first field, when they all try to escape at the same time. I can see it now---four big rats and John G swirling around in that cab like snow in a Christmas globe while the tractor takes unerring aim at the muddiest ditch within a half a mile.

An active imagination is a wonderful thing---that incident doesn't have to happen now, it already has, in my mind. ---Shiny new, bright orange Kubota weaving from side to side while John is swatting at bounding rats that are going insane while he's trying to keep one hand on the wheel. He's already knocked his Costas off when he swung at the rat that landed on his head---and I can stop any time now, before the tractor runs off the two-track. Life is great before the morning meds kick in.

I spent yesterday clearing roads, brush, disking food plots,planting, setting cameras, and even managed 1 stand up, now just to get the other 5 up and im done except maintainence

Coming back home yesterday after bush hogging, thought I had it made. Then a big hard rock-like flying beetle whacked me between the bill of my cap and my glasses, just over my right eye. Nearly swelled shut this morning. Plans to plant this afternoon in hopes of rain by the end of the week.

Originally Posted by Kevin E.

Coming back home yesterday after bush hogging, thought I had it made. Then a big hard rock-like flying beetle whacked me between the bill of my cap and my glasses, just over my right eye. Nearly swelled shut this morning. Plans to plant this afternoon in hopes of rain by the end of the week.

Sorry to hear about your beetle encounter! I hope you get your planting in before a good soaking rain.

I finally my big tract ready(950 acres) 10 plots, several long lanes, and 2.5 miles of main roads ready in the hill area of my hunting land. I still have 250 on the Pearl River that the tractor wont crawl through... I'd much rather chase a big swamp donkey instead of those malnourished looking hill deer. (yes I feed protein, year around forage, and supplements)

Has anyone had success in restoring rabbit and quail to their area? I trap yotes, coons, fox, bcats etc but the small game just doesn't take, even with sustained food in the area. I could honestly care less about deer hunting, if my rabbits, quail and fox squirrel were plentiful... Dove are easy- If you millet, they will come...

I put 3.5 acres in a soil conservation CRP program 10+ years ago; all along a creek. It was initially fescue, but now planted in trees and shrubs, with the shrubs primarily in the outer two rows along pasture. Also planted clover between some rows. Some areas were left to grow up in blackberries. I see rabbits fairly often now, where I never saw any before.
On the other side of the pasture there are a few brush piles from TSI work. Not a game animal, but I see chipmunks now while bow hunting. They were never around when I got the place.
Habitat work can be a multi year effort, but I think it is worth it. Here in Missouri, there is a whole division of the conservation department to aid private land owners. The site is MDC.MO.GOV. It may have information you find helpful.

Originally Posted by chillinfish

. Deer meat is getting almost as expensive as pompano and flounder fillet.

Last time I checked deer meat was around $450/lb.... $300 in diesel, $1000 in gun(scope not included), ATV, tractor(damn bush hog parts), 1 ton of corn, half ton of protein, half ton of seed, half ton of fertilizer, gravel and clay for my roads, stand maint/repair, ice for my beer, bribes for the wife, er visits from yellow jackets. Its almost not worth hunting a deer...

Thank you. I've made habitat/homes out of pallets and logs and briars for rabbit. and I try my best to do a couple dozen acres of row crops. I really miss seeing quail....