As the summer quickly moves along, my thoughts begin to center more around the “fun” part of our jobs...hunting!
I’ve got a habit of envisioning how some of the hunts may go and I always enjoy dreaming about a big, nasty non-typical coming down the trail. I can even see the spitting snow and the steamin’ breath coming out of his nose!
So what hunts am I most excited about?
1.Wyoming- Seven J- September 1 – Michael and I get a chance to share a deer camp together for the first time in quite a while. Anytime I can hang out with Michael is a good time. Also, Jeff Smith tells me they’ve had quite a bit of moisture this spring and early summer so conditions should be perfect for growing big antlers. There is a big muley buck running around out there and if Jeff can find him this year, I may give him a whirl.
2.Montana- Northern Rockies Outfitters – September 16 - Going back to where I got skunked last year but I am pumped about getting back out there. Going a couple weeks earlier so maybe the bucks haven’t dispersed as much and they are still hitting the alfalfa hard. Hoping for a hard frost or two before I arrive, killing the natural browse and making the alfalfa fields much more preferred. I really believe there is a 170” buck walking by my northern most stand setup as he heads back to bed in the morning.
3.Kansas - Diamond Spring Ranch - Due to Ginger falling ill last year I had to cancel my annual trek out to hunt with Bob and Audrey Boos and it just didn’t seem right not hunting with them. Their place is awesome and I just love going there since they are great people and there are a lot of huge bucks on the ranch.
4.Illinois - Timberland Outfitters – Mid- November - Really geeked about hunting with Ben Plattner. Went out in May, killed a big tom and hung some really awesome stands! I have a chance to bowhunt for a few days and then hunt with a shotgun during the early gun season.
5.Indiana – Riversbend – Mid-December – Will reunite with Joe Smith once again and this time Harman and I will have a chance to hunt together during the muzzleloader season! Joe has got some monsters running around and if the temperatures are really cold, the bucks should really hit the foodplots during this post-rut season. Harman will be home from his first college break and I will cherish the time.
There are other hunts as well but these are the hunts I daydream about when I’m out running or cutting grass . . . or during any activity where I need serious mental diversion to get through.
What about your fantasy list for the fall?
I’ve got a habit of envisioning how some of the hunts may go and I always enjoy dreaming about a big, nasty non-typical coming down the trail. I can even see the spitting snow and the steamin’ breath coming out of his nose!
So what hunts am I most excited about?
1.Wyoming- Seven J- September 1 – Michael and I get a chance to share a deer camp together for the first time in quite a while. Anytime I can hang out with Michael is a good time. Also, Jeff Smith tells me they’ve had quite a bit of moisture this spring and early summer so conditions should be perfect for growing big antlers. There is a big muley buck running around out there and if Jeff can find him this year, I may give him a whirl.
2.Montana- Northern Rockies Outfitters – September 16 - Going back to where I got skunked last year but I am pumped about getting back out there. Going a couple weeks earlier so maybe the bucks haven’t dispersed as much and they are still hitting the alfalfa hard. Hoping for a hard frost or two before I arrive, killing the natural browse and making the alfalfa fields much more preferred. I really believe there is a 170” buck walking by my northern most stand setup as he heads back to bed in the morning.
3.Kansas - Diamond Spring Ranch - Due to Ginger falling ill last year I had to cancel my annual trek out to hunt with Bob and Audrey Boos and it just didn’t seem right not hunting with them. Their place is awesome and I just love going there since they are great people and there are a lot of huge bucks on the ranch.
4.Illinois - Timberland Outfitters – Mid- November - Really geeked about hunting with Ben Plattner. Went out in May, killed a big tom and hung some really awesome stands! I have a chance to bowhunt for a few days and then hunt with a shotgun during the early gun season.
5.Indiana – Riversbend – Mid-December – Will reunite with Joe Smith once again and this time Harman and I will have a chance to hunt together during the muzzleloader season! Joe has got some monsters running around and if the temperatures are really cold, the bucks should really hit the foodplots during this post-rut season. Harman will be home from his first college break and I will cherish the time.
There are other hunts as well but these are the hunts I daydream about when I’m out running or cutting grass . . . or during any activity where I need serious mental diversion to get through.
What about your fantasy list for the fall?
It sounds silly, but August 16th and 17th is one of my favorite times. I know deer season isn't in, but squirrel season is. That weekend me and my son (11 years old) spend the weekend in the woods pop'n squirrels, checking deer sign, and just plain ole propped up against a hickory tree talking about what ever comes to mind. He is excited this year, because he has his own gun and liscense.
Then its on to October 1st. By this time of year I am about to burst with anticipation. We have been out of deer meat since March. The first week of the bow season is always a lot of fun. It is the last of summer feeding patterns, and usually the best time for havesting a few slickheads. I can already smells the backstraps.
Mid november has always been good to us. The last couple of years someone has pulled out a big boy. It has never been me. But maybe this year is the year.
It is also time to set the trap line! I am ready for the coyotes this year, with a dozen new bridger 2 1/2 offsets with 4 coil set-up, going to have fun with them. Last year I did not have much luck with raccoons but we have corn up this year and that always helps out the situation.
Those are my day dreams..
Todd - Indiana
I am looking forward to hunting west central Illinois again with Illinois Xtreme Whitetails this November. We shed hunted out there this spring and man I can't wait.
A man I met 2 years ago through a mutual friend of ours owns 250 acres in buffalo county wisconsin. My dad and I went there last year for there rifle opener. We both killed good bucks the first day. (wich was nice because my son was only 3 months old at the time and he was born 3 months early so he had only been home from the hospital for about a month). This year we are going back sept 13 for the bow opener to try and get a doe because they have the earn a buck program there so you have to shoot a doe first. we have a second trip planned for the last week of oct for a little pre rut action, if we havent killed our bucks by then we are going back for there rifle opener.
I am used to hunting these MI bucks, there are a lot of deer but not many bucks over 110" in fact the other day I was out scouting all my stand locations, and I saw 16 bucks but not one shooter. A shooter for me being around 115"
range. I usually have to do a lot of scouting before I can locate a good shooter buck, and I am lucky enough to have permision to hunt a lot of property, so I can then just hunt that one buck. But out there in wisconsin, it is a whole nother story I can see more bucks over 120" in one weekend than I do here in a whole season. I cant wait for that hunt. I am also dying to hunt timberland outfitters every since rhett shot that 165" 8 pointer out there I have had my eye on it, and they kill some nice bucks out there. hopefully in the next couple of years I can get out there.
Scott Withers MI
Elk hunting the rut - enough said.
My normal Fall routine:
Sept/Oct > GA Booger Bottom bucks and sleighing some does.
Nov > Ga, Illinois, Game Trails KY.
Dec > GA doe mgmt.
Jan> Alabama
------------------------------
Ideal trips:
Sept > Wyoming, Oct> Milk River
Nov> Illinois & Game Trails KY
Dec> Texas.
David, I really enjoyed watching the monster bucks show and it amazes me how many new shows on the outdoor channel.
*We have some great tracks of land around Warm Springs, Cedar Rock, Imlac (S. Collier's and Edwin's old place). If you are interested in joining us in an afternnon or morning hunt sometime this fall.
E-mail to discuss further. Thanks for all you for the sport and showing your faith.
- Craig Dilbeck cdilbeck@optilink.us
Hey David,
I wish my list was that long but maybe one day. I am always thinking about where am going to put up my bow stand and this year is going to be tough b/c they clear cutted all of our hardwoods, so finding a place to put a ladder stand is real slim. But I'll find a place, I have some places in mind. Good Luck on all your hunts. Talk to ya later.
God Bless & Good Huntin'
Kristle Oberlander
P.S. What college is Harman going to??
David,
I also am starting to dream a little. As a full time evangelist I keep really busy and think about how we are going to reach more people for the Lord. However, this time of year makes me think of those rare days when I get a chance to slip into a stand and try my luck at a monster. It is a great time when I do get to go. I spent the day with my boys today and my oldest, will get to try his luck at bow hunting this fall for the first time. I am more pumped than ever for him. I have a few stands set up just for him and maybe, just maybe, he will fill his tag.
Also going to hunt Mexico for some whitetails this year. That keeps me dreaming as well. Keep up the good post.
well.
Bow season opens up September 15 in Maryland. You can bet i'll be late for work that day. There's just something about that first morning. My family owns about 300 acres and it is HEAVILY hunted during gun season. But i'm pretty much the only one who gets out there with the bow so i have my pick of the stands.
October- early muzzleloader season. A great time to kill a nice buck before they get too smart.
November- The first cold morning. I have killed all of my wall hangers from the same stand within a week of November 8. You can bet that if a cold front is moving in there's only one place i'll be.
November 20-25. We all head down to our farm in West virginia. We never kill any big bucks but we pack out camp with 20 guys. I think its my favorite week of the year.
The anticipation is killing me. Can't wait. Thanks for sharing your schedule and reminding me why i love the fall so much.
Curtis in MD
david,
thanks for the years of good quality hunting videos. I cant wait for bow season to open. One of my memorable hunts was last fall around november 11. I started out that morning hunting a food plot the rut was smokin. by 9 o'clock i had seen 5 different bucks. They were all between 100and 120 not quite what im looking for. Didn't see much till 11 o'clock tried a rattle sequence about 4 minutes latter had a 5 year old 8 pointer at about 30 yards. Made a great shot he went about 50 yards then tipped over. Final score was 130. In the past 4 years on that farm we shot a 155" 11 pointer, 2 140" 10 pointer, 145" 11 pointer, 2 130" 8 pointer .
Was just wondering if you hunted by tiger ridge last year tigerton wi.If you would like to hunt out by tiger ridge we own about 240 acres exellent whitetail hunting. E-mail if you would like to discuse this further. vrichardson1223@yahoo.com. THANKS
My fantasy list is simple..
I dream about hunting in Montana on my family's property a few times a week and by this time of year a few times a day.. This will be my 3rd year in a row I wont make it out there.. 1st year new house, 2nd year wedding, 3rd year baby..
A pre Thanksgiving elk/deer trip is already in the works for next year.. No other place in the world I'd rather hunt then there.. This year I'll be sitting in my New Jersey stand October 4th thinking about November 2009..