Starting to get ready!!

[ladyfish50]

We went this a.m. to a new lease we're gonna try hunting this year. Went with 2 other members, Ersel & Catsmith1, & Ersel's son, Adamcat. Rode all over the lease trying to get familiar with all the club stands, roads, etc. Did quite a bit of walking; boy, it was hot & humid. But...on the way home, we saw a flock of 5 turkeys!! We drove along behind them, with them running, until they finally jumped up & flew off. Then, right down the road from that, we saw some deer in a field; looked like a doe w/a young one & a yearling, or maybe twin fawns. It was kind of hard to tell from so far off. But we stopped, & sat & watched them for several minutes. So cool....can't wait for this season to get started!!!! Time to get out the tractor & disc!
Anybody else starting to get ready????

[derbycitycatman]

I cant wait, just started shooting my bow again and have been organizing everything,lol. I need to start walking the land again but its been hot and muggy. Ill be hunting the same areas Ive been hunting for years so I dont do a whole lot of scouting, but I still love seeing fresh tracks, rubs and scrapes. Its about time to put up some stands and find a few ground blinds.:big_smile:

[catsmith1]

I had a blast the other day Roxie. Yall picked a great spot to set up. Some of the prettiest woods in the lease!

[field989]

I cant wait, just started shooting my bow again and have been organizing everything,lol. I need to start walking the land again but its been hot and muggy. Ill be hunting the same areas Ive been hunting for years so I dont do a whole lot of scouting, but I still love seeing fresh tracks, rubs and scrapes. Its about time to put up some stands and find a few ground blinds.:big_smile:

me too
but im gonna go shooting tomrrow

i started WAY LATER than i wanted to but heck i cant go back in time

but i had to get arrows refletched and i bought 3 new arrows SO AT LEAST I CAN HAVE HALF A DOZEN!!!

but im all set now...

JUST BROAD HEADS...

I THINK I AM GONNA MAKE A BLIND SOON

[Kutter]

The fever is getting stronger each day, weakness is setting in. Hard to concentrate on anything else. Got the maps out, both topo and aerial. Not sure if anything is left to organize, of my gear. Several idea on new blinds I want to build or buy. Got up a few hours ago and went out on the deck for morning coffee. Daylight just coming up and the temps have gotten down to the upper 50's. From all the dry, hot weather we have had, leaves have fallen all over the yard. Hearts pounding! Getting shaky! Eye's are starting to search out through the trees and trying to locate any movement, even here in town. Not sure if I can make it another 3 months. The fever is worse this year than in years past. It's 250 miles to the farm I hunt. I wonder how the cabin is looking. Maybe I should go check. Not thinking straight! I went driving along the river last night, almost wrecked. Got to keep eye's on the road instead of the woods. Damn, this time of year is hard.

[catsmith1]

Hey Kutter, glad I'm not the only one! My wife asked me the other day if I had been working out more lately. I asked why and she said my neck was swelling up. I told her it was just pre-pre-pre rut!

[Kutter]

I usually get the deer fever towards the end of July. On the other hand, I get catfish fever in January.
I know, I know, everybody that knows me knows I am mixed up and never fail to remind me of that fact.

Does the attached photo make the fever worse?

[bird_dog2011]

yea i have been getting ready by shooting my bow getting sticks in a bag (antlers) getting all new scents and getting non scent detergent for my londry i got enough money last year trapping that i got my own wash machine so nobody puts there scents in the laundry. I shot my buck last year that scored 167 and im only 12 when i shot it (not with a bow but with a 20 guage shotgun) at 80 yards.

[Kutter]

What part of Iowa do you hunt? I hunt about 6 miles from Iowa, near Lancaster, MO

[ladyfish50]

Does the attached photo make the fever worse?

Ok....you're killin' me!!!!That is a great photo, though. Thanks....I think..!

[ladyfish50]

. I shot my buck last year that scored 167 and im only 12 when i shot it (not with a bow but with a 20 guage shotgun) at 80 yards.
Congrats on that nice buck you've already gotten. Keep us posted on how your year's going. Good luck & good hunting.


Thanks to all of you who've posted so far. Please come back & visit again....tell your friends....lets get some serious "smack" started!!!

[trnsmsn]

YEP, I'm Getting Ready, My Buddy & I Drew A Quota Hunt For One Of The Best Management Areas Around Here For Deer. I Have Put In The Drawings For That Area & This Is The First Year I've Ever Got Picked:smile2: . They Only Give Out 75 Permits Per Year.

I Need To Start Shooting My Bow Soon, The Hunt Is Sept. 9th & 10th. I Can't Over Do It Though, I'm Getting Treated For Tendinitis In Both Elbows :sad2:

[brian]

I was ready back in june to start huntting,but i have to wait til sept 1. That when bear season starts.Then deer huntting after that.I will hunt my own state of MN and WI,but this year i won a hunt late season bow hunt down in MO. I can't wait to try my luck on a MO buck. you all have a great season & be safe

[ladyfish50]

Went to our new lease this a.m.; had all 3 grandkids with us. We went to put out a camera & look over this new site. On the way in to the lease, we passed a pasture that had about a dozen turkeys in it! We backed up, & by then they were running back into the woods. Looked like lots of small ones & some hens. Then, as we're walking in to the woods, my husband sees a deer slipping through. Of course, with me & the 3 kiddos tromping along, we never got another look at it. Then, on the drive back out of the lease, we see a few more turkeys! They were definitely out this morning. That was so cool...it was about 8:30 when we were seeing them. Can't wait to see what pictures turn up on the camera.
Oh...my 7yr old granddaughter climbed up in this ladder stand, & said "See, I'm not scared this year!" Won't be long I'll have her hunting with me!:004: Our grandsons, 12 & 11, each got their first deer last year.

[FishMan]

The fever is getting stronger each day, weakness is setting in. Hard to concentrate on anything else. Got the maps out, both topo and aerial. Not sure if anything is left to organize, of my gear. Several idea on new blinds I want to build or buy. Got up a few hours ago and went out on the deck for morning coffee. Daylight just coming up and the temps have gotten down to the upper 50's. From all the dry, hot weather we have had, leaves have fallen all over the yard. Hearts pounding! Getting shaky! Eye's are starting to search out through the trees and trying to locate any movement, even here in town. Not sure if I can make it another 3 months. The fever is worse this year than in years past. It's 250 miles to the farm I hunt. I wonder how the cabin is looking. Maybe I should go check. Not thinking straight! I went driving along the river last night, almost wrecked. Got to keep eye's on the road instead of the woods. Damn, this time of year is hard.

Dang Tom...you got it bad, is it contagious...Is there a treatment...Hope you get well soon...LOL

[ladyfish50]

Dang Tom...you got it bad, is it contagious...Is there a treatment...Hope you get well soon...LOL

...Oh there's a treatment, ain't there Kutter?? We've just got to hang in there til it gets here!!

[samh]

Went today and checked out a lease with 7 other folks, friends and family, that's about 60 miles south west from here bordering the Ouichita National Forest, new country for me, doesn't lay anything like the Ozarks I'm used to hunting, looked real nice, we signed the papers before we left. My neighbor was over tonight ,he doesn't hunt, and was asking why, ain't we got lots of deer here. I told him yep, we got more deer here than there, but this lease is for "Deer Camp", you can't have deer camp in your back 40, well I guess you could, but I want it far enough from home to get away for a few days and be too far from home to be called for anything less than a real emergency. Haven't went to "Deer Camp" in 8 to 10 years, it used to be an annual ritual that nothing short of a death in the family , and it had better be close family at that, would deter. My old bunch just kind'a got too busy and we got down to too few to mess with it. Starting a new bunch and hopefully a new annual ritual.

[FishMan]

I remember the deer camp... it was a big deal when I was a kid the men would get out together every year and as a young guy you just couldn't stand it until you were old enough to go. I was lucky as when grandpaw quit hunting he still went to deer camp as the cook so he would take me to help out.
After my service things seemed different and I never experienced the deer camp again. I'm getting back into hunting now and am starting to get excited.
Hope your lease works out and you make many memories.

[Ace]

Getting ready to bushhog all the road beds then disk the food plots.I got about 60 mile drive to where I hunt in Chester South Carolina.My wife and I set up our camper and leave it until hunting season is over. We all ways have a deer camp.I built a hunt cabin on 4 acers in Union S.C.We kept it for 7 years
but due to our health we sold it 3 years back my wife cried when we parted with it.

Hope every one has a safe hunting season and get your buck.
Ace



:look_down: :big_smile_2:


:cat:

[ladyfish50]

Thanks guys, for the posts. Sam, we hunt at our "camp" that's about 55 miles from our house. We've got a slide-in camper just set up on jacks. One nephew has a camper like ours; another nephew built a rustic cabin down there. No running water, no electricity. Bring water in jugs, porta potties. Use coleman lanterns & tiki torches. We hook our camper lights up to a marine battery; usually lasts about 3-4 days. We have butane for the camper stove, & for any grills or cookers we carry. And I just LOVE it!! We usually have a pretty good group--by that I mean 6-7 of us--for opening weekend. We swap off each year cooking our first big get-together meal. This year, we're cooking catfish!! We are usually all so excited, that we sit around until way too late that first night talking; then try to get some sleep before opening morning! We go down every Friday after work, & come home Sunday afternoon.
We've also gotten on another lease about 30 miles in another direction from our house. We'll go over there if we can't get away for a full weekend at our other lease. Also, on our old lease, the deer really begin to get spooked by Thanksgiving, & they just seem to disappear. At the new lease, they've been seeing alot of deer right up til January, but the guys just seem to lose interest. I just can't imagine!
Sam..hope you have good luck, & make some new good friends & memories this year. Good luck to all of you. Keep me updated here.....

[copycat]

Good luck to all you guys this season!

[ersel]

Went out this AM saw 12-15 turkeys going saw 17 going out. Also saw one doe.

[deerkilla]

I am ready. Season does not open hear til 9/15.

[bassadict69]

Great topic Roxie!

I am dieing to start getting ready for season. The venison in my freezer is getting low & needs to be restocked. I didn't kill anything last year so I have been having to survive off of donations. :embarassed:

I hope to be getting on the lease this year too but am still waiting to hear back about an opening. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

[hunter]

Time is growing near for sure , sept. 15 for bow season here. bought a new bow in may still setting around naked, hope i will like this one , its the hoyt trikon, season before bought a new bow and didn't like it . Have had a browning nitro ex for several years and can"t get used to new bows. Don't forget to start thinking of fall food plots.

[01 Mudslinger]

I Definately Got The Fever, Missed Last Hunting Season Because Of Deployment To Iraq, So I Cant Wait For It To Start This Year, Bow Season Comes In Sept 9 Here In Nc, I Dont Have Nowhere To Hunt So I Been Looking At The Game Land Maps And Getting Ready To Do Some Scouting, Hopefully I Can Get Back Home To Do Some Good Hunting Too.

[jason berry]

I havent got to go deer hunting in a couple years because of deployments but, im going to make it this year and Im fired up.

[ladyfish50]

Thanks to all who've responded so far. And to our military guys...glad you're back, & I wish you all the luck in the world. You guys deserve it!!
Everybody else...please keep me posted on what all you're doing to get ready....Thanks

[Kutter]

My brother took the attached Photo, last weekend. It isn't a deer, but close enough to make my fever worse. It is a more impressive photo than I have ever seen in any magazine or on TV.

[ladyfish50]

What a beautiful picture! You said he "took" it....you mean, he was there?? What an impressive sight that must have been! Thanks for posting.

[Kutter]

Yeah, he was there. He told me he had his 10 year old granddaughter with him and it took over an hour to get set up close enough to get that shot with the camera. I envy anyone with talent like that.

[catsmith1]

Hey Roxie, in case Buddy didn't tell you, we are going tothe lease Sunday.:cool2:

[ladyfish50]

Well...went to our lease this a.m. Took the 8N tractor & the 4-wheeler. Did some riding around looking things over. My husband did a little dirt work on the road, plus started pushing some dead-falls out of the way, so that we can get in to bushhog. Last year, loggers came in & clear cut one area. It was awesome then. This year, the undergrowth is head-high...I'm not kidding. It's gonna take some work! We had planned to go to the other lease, where Catsmith1 is a member, & do some tractor work tomorrow. But...1/2 mile from our house (luckily) our trailor, with the tractor & 4wheeler on it, blew out one of the 2 right side tires. We limped home, tire's coming all to pieces (looked like a Nascar race!). Then when we got in the driveway, we noticed one of the left side tires had a huge chunk out of it, & was just about to go! Noooottt a pretty sight! And, by the way, there's not many places to try to find tires for a trailor on a Saturday afternoon in this town. See photos...but be warned....they're ugly!

[Kutter]

Years ago, where I hunted was not exactly run down with deer, clear cuts that were growing over my head, were prime hunting spots. The deer love to hide in there because nothing could sneak up on them. I either hunted the trails going in or out, or I found a tree at the edge that I could climb and look down onto their hiding spots. If you find a tree close by, you can go in now and clear out a path that would offer a good shot for you. By deer season, they will be using the trail you made and be used to it.

A woman who knows what an 8N is, is a woman after my heart. LOL

[PeZ]

My Great Uncle and his freinds have a lease of 1000 acres. I am going to hunt with him this year, I Need to take a ride and set my feeders out. My uncle tags out every year there.

I am looking foward to it too I did not get to hunt last year my Son was born 2 days before opening day. his birthday falls on thankgiving this year lol Im gonna dress him up like a turkey and tell him he was hatched when he turns 2 or 3 and I will have pictures too prove it :big_smile:

Opening day will fall on his 2nd,7th,13th,and 19th birthday.

talk about family planing

[ladyfish50]

Kutter, we actually did that. Where he came in on the tractor knocked alot of that undergrowth over. He said the same thing..."They'll come in through there". I'll just have to keep a close eye on that little path!!
And I LOVE his 8N! I had no idea what one was til he got his. I even learned to drive it last year, & disced up my own food plots! It was fun, but that thing will work you to death....ain't no power steering on that old '49!!!
Tom...good luck to you. Let me know what all you do to get ready on your lease. And yep, sounds like some of your opening days are gonna be at birthday parties! Maybe an "early" morning hunt, & a late afternoon hunt on those days, huh? Good luck,man. Hope you get a big un!

[ersel]

Roxie I hate to hear about ya'lls trailer. I just got a pm from Bassaddict and he joined the lease.

[bassadict69]

I thought I posted on here last night when I found out but I do not see my post.

I am really anxious to start getting a spot ready, after I find one. I have always wanted to have a spot that I could plant up & all & have that "perfect" spot. I did see a good looking area when me & Ersel were riding around last weekend. I will have to go out & take another look at it.

I need to find a samll trailer for my 4-wheeler now, I have broke too many back windows to be loading it into my truck. :embarassed: Topps Trailers is right across the interstate from me so I'll go check their prices.

[hunter]

I hate rain when i have things to do.

[hunter]

Hey bassadict69 hard lesson learned, I've done that a couple of times. So much rain here could'nt get the plots disked. See ya all later heading out to scout a couple area's to see what's moving for early bow season.

[ladyfish50]

What is this rain you keep mentioning! I remember something like that, but it's been a long time!! No, we actually did get a fair little shower yesterday, but by today, it had pretty much dried up.
James, glad you're gonna be hunting with us. I don't know how much we'll be down there during the early season, but I'm sure during late season we'll be there alot.

[bassadict69]

I finally got to "start to get ready" at the lease. I went with Ersel & his brother & met Budd & Roxie out there to do a little work to help get ready for the season.

Also did a little looking around (Thanks Ersel) and found a spot that I plan to hunt this year. It is already set up for the most part so it will give me time to get another spot set up & won't have to rush trying to get it all done.

I have to work the the next two weekends so I will not get a chance to go back out there for awhile. :angry:

[bassadict69]

I couldn't find this thread last night, that or I was really tired!

I finally got tired of having to get film developed from my gamecam so I broke down yesterday & bought a 2.1mp digital gamecam. So far it seems to be working good. I have only used the onboard memory so I have no way to get the pics to my computer since I don't have the proper cable. I just set it back out with a memory card in it so I should have a few pics to show off tomorrow. For now, it is just watching a corn pile behind my house.

I am really looking forward to setting it up at the lease & seeing what I can get pics of.

[ladyfish50]

James, glad you got you a digital. We don't have one yet, so I'll just drool over yours! We got some of our pictures back--regular film camera--from down at the lease. We had a couple of pics of a young doe w/a fawn--still in spots! Really pretty..but this is September! Seems like the little guy should be losing those spots by now, huh? Sure was neat to see it, though. Also, had a couple of rascal raccoons that just had to get their picture made....camera hogs!!:lol:

[derbycitycatman]

Just got two stands put up last weekend. Made a few trails with a lawnmower, too much like hard work.:lol: Also cut a bunch of shooting lanes since its so thick in there. I did see a small (kinda) 8 pointer, years past I would be drooling over that deer, now I want to see his papaw. Also got into ticks and chiggers but that comes with the territory, so I went out a bought some spray and had a reaction to that.:lol: I dont know whats worse the bugs or the bugspray. Ill probably start bowhunting this weekend or next, I need to give the deer a chance to get used to the new paths in their woods. I cant wait.:big_smile:

[ladyfish50]

Ohhh, yeah Brian....I know about the ticks & chiggers. 2 wks ago when we went to this new spot, I knelt down & ended up covered in seed ticks!! Couldn't wait to get home & get a shower! Gosh, I hate those things. I sure hope we get some good winter weather this year to help get rid of some of them. Good luck on finding "papaw"! (Not that you need it):lol:

[ladyfish50]

Had a work day at our new lease yesterday. There was probably about 15-20 showed up. Our 5 man (+me!) crew rode out & checked on some stands. Buddy took some measurements for some wood that needs to go on the sides of a couple of em. Cleaned out one; swept out trash, killed wasps. Had to put a roof on another one. One stand had blown over & was busted up a little, but these guys with their cordless drill/screwdrivers got it all patched back up! I was amazed; it looked like a pile of scrap when I first saw it. I did some pruning, trimming, etc. while they were doing all the hard stuff. Also, we got 2 new feeders out & moved our camera. Can't wait to see how that turns out! Got to go back next weekend to finish up those 2 stands that needed the new wood. Then...on to our other lease. We haven't even started on it! We've got to bushhog, plow & plant! But...right now, Buddy & a friend are in the front yard working on the old 8N. He had to pull the radiator to get a couple of holes fixed, so they're doing some maintenance while they're at it. Gotta get her running...she's got work to do!!

[bassadict69]

Don't sound like many made it out yesterday. I plan to be there next time which I think is next weekend.

I am debating on going out there this evening when I get off duty at the station. I need to check my stand for wasps & rotted wood & look to see if my lanes can be extended at all so I can see about getting someone out there to clear them & cut it.

[bassadict69]

Roxie, Have ya'll had any good pics on your camera?

[ladyfish50]

Hey James, Yeah not as many as I would have thought. But I think we got quite a bit accomplished. We've had some good pictures, but not any bucks. We got a couple of good pics of a young doe w/a single fawn..still in spots. And a pic of an older doe. And, or course, raccoons!!
Hey guys! Can anyone relate to this??? (See picture) This is our "spare" room!!:lol:

[sgt_rob]

Me and cuttingout69 did a little target killin yesterday and moved our 40 yard pins a little. Looks like the broadheads are hitting a little different than the points so more tuning is in order but I'm glad we finally got a chance to fling some arrows and check out the stands. I hope to be able to stick a pig or deer this year.

[ladyfish50]

I would love to kill a pig; I know we've got em @ both leases, but once you move in & start hunting, they either move out or go nocturnal. Either way, I've yet to see one! There's always plenty of sign before we start camping down there....then, nothing! Maybe this year!

[BIGCATMIKE]

oct 1 baby only a couple of days away. i got the itch . can't wait any longer . need to kill something. blood blood blood kill kill kill

[bassadict69]

I got off work this evening & picked up my wife & we drove over to the lease. I showed her where I will be hunting & we did a little driving around.

We seen 12 deer while driving around. One was a nice little buck that didn't mind us sitting & watching him. He went about his business in the field as if we weren't even there.

[ladyfish50]

James, Isn't that amazing? I've never seen deer or turkeys out like they are over there. I think we're gonna have a good year! Buddy's outside..still..working on that stand. You oughta see this thing! It's gonna be nice. I told him just to keep improving them, because in another year or so I've got one that's gonna need replacing, & I want one like this one! I'll post a pic as soon as he downloads them for me.

[bassadict69]

I have seen it when I drive by, It looks HUGE from the road & looks to be coming together nicely.

I am definately looking forward to this season. They seemed to be everywhere yesterday afternoon. Two jumped the road at the gate leading to my stand. :lol:

[bpfirelady42]

oops...wrong user name!

[bassadict69]

Went to the lease Saturday morning & got my plot done. We planted winter peas & oats with a little Rackmaster Mix thrown in. We were planning on doing it Sunday but changed to Saturday to try to get it done before the rains. Hopefully it rained there like it did at the house.

Hopefully next weekend I will be able to see a little growth. I plan to carry my feeder out there & set up the gamecam & leave it for a week.

[ladyfish50]

We still haven't gotten any food plots worked up yet. Hopefully after the R4 this weekend we can get to our other lease & start work. I hate being this far behind.
We did get the new stand on location Saturday. Thank goodness Ersel & Robert showed up! We took it in in 2 pieces; the floor & legs, & then the top. It looks really nice. Haven't gotten it painted yet, but we'll have time now that it's in place. One of our feeders was already empty; 40# in a week! Filled up both feeders; pulled the film out of the camera. Got some more nice shots of does, plus 1 young buck. Still nothing big, but it sure is neat seeing them! Went back yesterday afternoon & Buddy got the door hung on the stand. Also finished repairing a couple of the club stands. I couldn't believe it, but we didn't see any deer or turkeys on either trip this weekend! That's the first time it's happened. I feel real good about this year, too!!

[bassadict69]

Went to the lease today for work day & afterwards went to check on my plot. The rain the day after I planted definately did it some good. It is growing pretty quick. There are tracks everywhere in it.

I also got my feeder set up & filled. The camera is watching it so hopefully in about a week I can see what I have around my stand.

[ladyfish50]

James, Glad to hear your plot's doing so good. We still haven't had a chance to get ours plowed; our tractor was out of commission for awhile. And then this weekend was the R4 Roundup. Man! We had fun. Wish you & Michelle could've come. Maybe next time. We're gonna go to our other lease tomorrow, but I don't think we're taking the tractor yet. We've had loggers coming in, so we want to see what all they've done. And, I've got to get our camper cleaned up & ready. We'll also do "wasp checks" on our stands, & see what all needs fixing up. Gonna be another long day!
Buddy's cleaning fish; he's been at it for a couple of hours now. We caught 23 catfish, I don't know how many bream this a.m.; plus, a couple of other guys gave us their catfish from the tourney! So, I think we're restocked for awhile!