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We arrived 1 hour before shooting light, around 6am. We didn't waste any time getting out to the stand. We had never hunted here before so I was concerned we weren't prepared to sit a new stand. I had Matt practice putting the scope on all the different areas where he might have a shot at a deer. We waited impatiently.
It didn't take long and a doe came from the field entering the woods smack dab in front of us at maybe 12 yards. I was standing on the platform directly above Matt. I froze, the doe looked at me and she froze. She knew something wasn't right. She headed back towards the field. She walked along the wood line and entered the woods about 30 yards further down. We didn't have a shot through the brush. She was heading straight towards the ladder stand of Roger and his daughter, Vanessa. We waited for a shot but it didn't come. We learned later she had a misfire.
We were now excited, there were deer moving in the area. I stayed standing and watching for action. It didn't take long, I nudged Matt, "Good Buck, get ready". Matt raised the black .243 rifle. The buck took the same path that the earlier doe had followed. He was also tentative. He looked our way and decided he didn’t like the looks of things and started to back out and move down the wood line. We could only shoot if he was in the woods. Lucky he made the mistake of taking too long to get back out in the field. Matt was ready, I made my bad impression of a sick buck, "MURRR". He stopped broadsides and Matt took the shot. The Buck did a 'mule kick', then he bolted. When I see that mule kick I know it was a good shot right in the pump station. We were in utter disbelief. Two years in a row, Matt has shot a good buck within 1 hour of the opening morning.
We got down after about 10 minutes and met up with Roger and his daughter. We told them the story and started looking for blood. I was confident Matt had made a great shot. The bullets I load are soft, they explode. They don't always make an exit wound but they usually do the damage. With no exit wound we only found small single drops of blood. We started following the sparse blood trail. He wasn't more than 30 yards, piled up in the tall grass.
We were very happy.
Matt and I would like to give a big thanks to Rodger and his family for allowing us to hunt their property.
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Thanks Jeremy.
Jeremy a member of SHOMEOUTDOORS.com took this great pic with his phone. He says a doe came tearing across the road at sunrise, he knew a buck was sure to be close behind. Great picture of a MO buck with one thing on his mind.
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Matt and I have been hunting the National Forest, it is a great place for us to explore and spend time talking. We have seen a few deer but no shots. Deer season has ended in this area of the National Forest.
The past few weeks I have been making the trip down south of Pine Bluff to hunt at the Hole in the Wall hunting club with Jerry Spakes. This club has about 2000 acres and all kinds of critters. The first morning I was there I had a 6 pt walk across the road, forty yards from the blind. I gave a grunt and he stopped broadside. I wasn't sure I wanted that deer so I let him walk. 10 minutes later I seen a black coyote cross in the same spot, he was moving too quick, I didn't even get my rifle up. I seen deer all day, button bucks and spikes,finally in the evening I had 2 good sized does cross. They got in the woods, I grunted and they came back out in the open, I picked one and shot. She mule kicked and ran in the brush. I checked the road were she stood, bright red blood and pieces of lung, it was a good hit. I started tracking in the thick brush and lost the blood trail and it was getting dark, not a good combination. I called my friend Jerry, but by then it was getting real dark. We decided we needed to wait until morning.
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The next morning I brought along my number #1 tracker, my 5yr old grandson Matt. After the frost burned off the ground Jerry, Matt and I started looking. It didn't take long, within 5 minutes we found her. She wasn't more then 10 yards from were we stood the night before. Matt was happy, I had made a hunting knife for Matt and he was ready to skin that doe, maybe next time.
This past Wednesday my hunting partner Jeff and I went down to Jerry's place expecting to see a bunch of deer. The deer weren't cooperating. We seen deer sign at the same crossroads I shot my doe, but we didn't see a single deer. It could have been the Jeff Jinx, everytime I am at the Hole In The Wall I see all kinds of deer, I bring Jeff down and nothing?
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Deer season in now in full swing here in Arkansas. I am not able to get around very well this year so my grandson and I have been expolering and hunting Ouachita National Forest. We have been seeing some does but no bucks yet.
My co-worker sent me this picture of his 8 yr old nephew and the big buck he harvested this past weekend. Jake took this buck near Hot Springs Village. I don't have anymore details.
What do you think this bruiser would score?
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The hunting has been real slow at our Lease in Perry county so when I was offered an oppurtunity to hunt south Arkansas I jumped at the chance.
I met Jerry at his lease in Clevand county the day after Christmas. I knew that south Arkansas has a large population of deer, so I figured my chances of seeing some deer were pretty good. Jerry's deer camp(Hole in the Wall) was nothing like what I had experienced in Arkansas before, they have had the club open since 1972 and you could tell from the pictures on the walls that they still had some of its original members. I gave Jerry a guest fee, that I thought was very reasonable and I was permited to hunt metal box blinds over food plots and feeders for deer or Hogs. The clubhouse shows it's age but in a rustic and well kept manner. They have everything you need for a good hunt and for a relaxing evening afterwards. There was also a heated bunkhouse with shower that was at my disposal if I cared to sleep over. This trip I had to head home after the evening hunt.
I wasted no time and got into a very comfortable blind that looked out over a feeder, food plot and about 150 yards of gravel road. It didn't take long before I started seeing deer. I hunted morning and evening and seen maybe 10 deer, button bucks, spike, does, and a couple of shooter bucks. I didn't fire a shot, but I had a good time and layed the groundwork for another hunt.
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My last chance to take a deer with a gun was the late muzzleloader season (12/29-12/31) I gave Jerry a call on 12/30 and he said I was welcome to come out but I would be by myself, he had kin in town, this wasn't a problem for me. Jerry met me at camp and we went over hunting spots and operating instructions for the camp truck, heaters, locking the gates etc. I was jazzed up, I headed to the blind thet I hunted on my last trip to the club. It was a very warm afternoon and a cold front was moving through, no activity. The next morning I hunted the same stand it was very windy and I only seen 1 doe that was out about 125 yds, I didn't take the shot. I spent the rest of the afternoon checking out some of the other stands Jerry had showed me. The first spot was a ladder stand, overlooking some bottom land that was full of fresh hogs sign. The 2nd stand was a real nice metal box blind maybe 15 ft up. To my right from the stand was a food plot that looked like a green at a golf course.
That evening hunt I decided to try the blind looking out over the golf green. It also had a feeder out the opposite direction. It didn't take long and the deer started coming in to the feeder. The first deer I seen were button bucks, I was being careful I didn't want to harvest a young buck. After about a half an hour 2 came from the big food plot and they were headed for the feeder on the other side of me, so they were coming straight towards my blind. I checked out the buck he had a broken antler on one side and 2 maybe 3 pts on the other side, so I decided to take the other deer. At 35 yards I shot, the 150 grains of black powder made a heck of a noise and a lot of smoke. The deer stiffened up and fell over; within about 20 seconds it gave its last breath. Looking at the deer from the stand, it was belly up and didn't look right. When I got to the deer I seen what was wrong, it was a buck that had already shed its antlers. I thought I was shooting a big doe but instead I shot a young buck, he was maybe 2.5 or 3.5 yrs old. That is what happens when you hunt late in the year, not only do I need to watch out for button heads but also bucks in drag.
It is not over yet! I was very happy to get a deer the last day of gun season but I am not done hunting yet. I have archery tags and I hope to hunt hogs with jerry. I also am going to take my grandson and my dog up to Perry county and try some squirrel hunting.
Thanks again to Jerry for his help and a great place to hunt, he is one heck of a guide.
If you would like to hunt with Jerry just let me know and I can put you in touch with him.
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These bucks were taken the opening day of gun season this year.
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Things have been crazy up on our lease this year. I have been in the stands 10 days of the first 18 days of the season. Things are really turning around for us this year.
I have shot at deer 5 times so far this year unfortnatly I have only hit one doe and that was a questionable hit, no blood or arrow. I have had 3 clean misses on the same pair of does at 45 yards. Also the biggest deer I have seen since comeing to Arkanasas came strolling into my small food plot at 32 yards. He was old and gray and had a high, heavy, and dark rack that only looked to be four points but he has some stickers. Well I shot and the arrow went right under him. Our neighbor at the lease, Jarold, hunts with us this year. To Make a long story short Jarrold's son Derek shot a Buck the next morning, ML opener. This buck looks just like the one I missed, he had 9pts. I hope to have a picture soon.
We are also seeing turkeys, alot of turkeys. I hope to get a shot at one of these birds.
Jarrod called the other night Derek seen a 16pt with heavy dark antlers. I am headed up to the lease today.
Went out last night and this morning seen our 2 does, Laverne and Shirly. Also seen another doe. Didn't feel like shooting.
Below are the pics of Derek's buck that I missed friday. Derek got the job done, He is good!
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Sunday morning I had a 8pt(?) come in after only 10 minutes in the blind. I shot and missed, I think it was buck fever. I also saw a 4pt. browseing around.
Monday morning I had a good doe and 2 yearlings come in at 25 yards. I let the 2 small deer pass and I put my bow on the opening I figured the big doe would come thru. I told my self she was at 25yds shouldn't need to compensate, maybe a little right, my bow shoots to the left. I fired, Whop, I hit her hard. I checked the arrow, nothing but bile, I had gut shot her. I tracked and looked for 3.5 hours. Not much blood and of course she went into the thickest briars around. No recovery.
Got the two pictures below from my trail cam. This looks like the same deer I gut shot? She don't look too bad for being gut shot 3 weeks earlier?
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A+E has leased the property on our south border. Lee took this nice 8pt. during ML season this year.
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Deer camp in south Arkansas has been interesting so far this year. The woods and the creek bottoms are extremely thick. I spent a couple of days hacking my way through the briar thickets to get to my stand area.
Youth weekend was full of excitement and many lifelong memories where made for these young folks. Everone was seeing animals and judging by the smiles I think everyone had a good time. To top it off the young lady's were showing those boys how it is done.
Jim Maloney's son took a fine little buck on his first ever deer hunt. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of this young hunter and his trophy. Maybe his Dad can send me a pic?
Ricky brought Mom and Dad to camp and she was bubbling over with all the critters she was seeing. She even seen a big old sow hog, but didn't get the kill shot.
Anybody I missed or got their name wrong please e-mail me.
Erica from Greenbriar took this nice 9pt Saturday morning with her Grandpa's old mini-14
Emily from Lousianna took this old 8pt also saturday morning. She was using her .260 and made a great shot.
Gatlin a young man from LA, took this high old 6 point Saturday night.
Orrin also got this button buck Saturday night.
This young lady also from LA. got this dandy 4pt. Saturday night.
Justin Maloney hunted youth weekend with his dad Jim. This was Justins first hunt and he had alot of action. They were hunting close to the swamp about 500yards from me. I heard the 7mm-08 go off and I knew justin had his first deer.
This young man, also from LA. got his 2nd bow buck this past weekend at our camp down in Magnolia.
Archery opener was hot, upper 80's with high humidity. I
was determined to hunt anyways. Didn't see much on opening day, a couple of small deer and some raccons but that all changed the next morning.
I was out before sunrise sitting my stand in the bottoms, right about sunrise I noticed a large black critter moving towards the corn pile, it was a big hog. This hog looked to be 250-300lbs. I waited until he got broadside at the baitsite and let the x-bow bolt fly. Whack! Hit him hard. He just squeeled and jumped to the side about 5 feet. He stood there looking around. He then just ambled off the way he came. I was pretty happy. I couldn't see where the bolt hit him but I was sure he wouldn't go far. I waited about 20 minutes to climb down and inspect the scene. I immediatly found the bolt, total pass through solid blood.
I started following the blood trail. Pretty steady for about a 100yrds, then it got spotty. I continued, the briars started getting thicker. I had to hack my way through, marking the trail. The blood trail came out in a pin oak flat and the blood stopped. I circled for a couple of hours, nothing. I believe he made it down to swamp. To say the least I was disappointed.
I hunted with my bow a couple more times, it was hot. Not much moving, a couple of small deer.
I spent the opening weekend of ML up in Yell co. at the bear lease. It was still pretty warm we didn't see deer or Bear. It was also my wedding anniversary so I headed home after the morning hunt Saturday.
Friday October 19th I headed south to the deer lease at Magnolia with high hopes. There were about 7-8 hunters in camp. One small doe was taken Friday night otherwise it was pretty slow. It cooled down to the mid 40's on Friday night but the weather man promised mid 80's for Saturday.
I got in my stand the next morning at about 6:40, sunrise was around 7:20. At 8am 2 small deer came in from the pond.
Video 2 small deer Video
The smaller deer went to feeding, I watched and tried to take pictures and video for about 1/2 hour. Decided I am going to take this small doe. Aiw, pull the trigger, POP, misfire! Tried a new cap on the old Hawkin, same result. This time the doe wandered off. I tried quickly to remove the nipple and pour in some powder. I was shaking by this time. I got the powder in behind the nipple and the nipple back in place, put on a new cap and they were still down there. This time both started moving back in. I watched and waited, I decided I had one more chance to get the rifle to fire. I aimed at the second one this time, Boom the Hawkin went off. Before the smoke cleared I could see the deer was down. I sat back and lit up a cigar. To my surprise the first deer came back to feed. I watched her for about 30 minutes be fore she wandered off.
Video 2nd deer comes back Video
When I got down to checkout the kill I was disappointed with myself, It was a button buck.
The backstraps sure are tender.
The first morning of youth season we got in the stand about an hour before sunrise. Sara got comfortable and checked out the different shooting lanes with the scope of the "Black Rifle". Sara only wants to use the "Black Rifle" because that is what she has had great success with in the past. By the way the "Black Rifle" is my Browning A bolt in 25/06. We were hunting on the edge of the river bottoms within a stone throw of a pond. I had seen many deer in here while scouting. We were ready! Then the cold and inactivity started making it a little uncomfortable. Sara said,"Dad maybe I will shoot a doe". After sitting in the stand about 90minutes Sara taps my shoulder and points to her left. A deer was slowly moving in. I couldn't get a good look over Sara at the deer. I whispered, "Is this the one you want?" She shook her head yes. She slowly lined up the rifle and shot. The buck dropped in his tracks. When we got to the deer we could see he was a fork buck, but that was OK. It was a good neck shot considering the angle.
We were very happy. We went and got the 4 wheeler and got Sara's buck back to camp. Sara was very eager to help in the cleaning. She pitched in like a seasoned hunter. We helped others at camp clean their deer but then we had to go into town for McDonalds.
Sara and I spent a couple more weekends together at deer camp this year. We had a great time. These kind of moments we will have forever.
Richard from Conway took this nice old deer about 200yards from the barn at my lease. Sara was sleeping in and I was out in my stand when he took this old brute.
Wade was getting ready to leave for his State soccer championship, when he
suggested
we get up early the next morning and check out the O'Neil pass area. We had been out
scouting a couple of times in the evening and hadn't seen any Elk. O'Neil pass is
aprox.
15 miles from home and is one of the highest points in the Black Hills at 6500ft.
Wednesday morning we got started before the sun was up. On the highway to the
pass
we came very close to getting a good size bull with the truck. The bull was in the
middle of the highway when we came around a corner at 60mph. The bull spooked and
tried
to turn around quick, he went down on the highway. Fortunately he got up quickly and
got
off the road. It was still pitch black and this encounter added to the anticipation
of
the hunt.
Before we got to the area we were going to scout we came across a group of nice
cows.
Wade quickly got out of the truck and worked his way into some trees. He picked a
good
size cow and took his shot. The 30-06 hit it's mark a little high and back, the
cow's
hindquarter went down but she got up and ran into the nearby woods. I stayed in the
truck and couldn't see the action.
I could see the expression on Wade's face. We were
both so excited that we immediately went to the spot were the Elk stood, it was
still
too dark to see any blood trail. Instead of the correct action of waiting we headed
into
the tree line. We didn't go a 100 yards when she stood up from about 50 yards ahead
and
tried to run. It was clear she was hit hard. Wade settled down and took a second
shot
this time going through both lungs. She didn't flinch, but within a minute she fell,
breathing her last breaths.
The Game, Fish and Parks warden was at the meat processors, he aged the cow at
3-4
years, she went around 425lbs, great animal.
I took this deer in the praries of NW South Dakota.
This Goat had 15in horns, I took him using the old white rag trick.
Sara and I spent 2 days hunting here in the Black Hills, during early anterless youth season. On the second day she took this fine whitetail doe with a 125 yd shot.
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