1023's Season Chronicles

[bowhunter1023]

The first steps in preparation for the 2019-2020 season took place yesterday, so I reckon the next step is starting my annual thread chronicling my hunting plans and the challenges/triumphs that will occur along the way. Right now, I have one thing on my mind and that is a blank slate. Since October 2005, there has been some sort of “infrastructure” set in place for hunting deer. Blinds and stands have been scattered about our 80 acres for well over a decade and not a one of them has proven to be the “right spot”, at least not at the “right” time anyways. My goal for March is to remove every blind, stick, stand, bracket, etc. in the woods. I want to wipe the slate clean and start from scratch for the first time since the day I first stepped foot on the place. That process started yesterday with the removal of a blind, two stands, and three sets of stick. I still have a blind, two sets of sticks, three ladder stands, and three stands to pull, so there is plenty of work ahead for this little chore. I pulled all my cams and my food plots have all gone rogue. By the end of the month, it will be a fresh canvas and I can begin the “reformation” in prep for my 15th season on The Farm with No Name.

Lots more to come as the offseason unfolds!

 

[Gern186]

Let me get this straight...you have almost 20 years of knowledge on hunting this 80 acres and you feel you havent got it dialed in yet so you are changing every piece of knowledge that you have acquired from all of those hours spent on stand? I'm not sure I understand your thinking here.

 

[Sgt Fury]

 

[bowhunter1023]

Let me get this straight...you have almost 20 years of knowledge on hunting this 80 acres and you feel you havent got it dialed in yet so you are changing every piece of knowledge that you have acquired from all of those hours spent on stand? I'm not sure I understand your thinking here.

Well, no. In fact, somewhat the opposite. This is a continuous improvement project based upon everything I have learned in the last 15 years. Give me a little credit?

A major reason for pulling everything is for safety. I have rusted bolts and dry rotted straps that need to be replaced. I have stands I want to sell in order to upgrade. I have stands that need rust spots repaired. I have mix-matched sticks that need "edited" to correct the errors made when assembling (i.e. flip the bracket around to fix "missing" step). There are sets that will go back in the very tree they were removed from, but with minor adjustments. One such example needs to be shifted "2 hours" around the face of the clock to give me more cover from where deer have most often approached in the past. However, that stand has been there for 4 seasons and it needed a safety check and some repair work, so I pulled it with every intention of hanging it back in the same tree later this year. That's one of 3 sets that need similar work and adjustments. One of the ladder stands ended up being in a terrible spot for the deer travel. I plan to move it to a more advantageous spot based on 3 seasons worth of intel.

There are spots that simply needed TLC and reviewed for safety. I have spots that need to be moved 3 trees over. And I have spots that I no longer want to have set based upon what I have learned. My food plots went feral due to lack of time to maintain the last two seasons, so that sets the stage to revive them this year. I pulled cams to make some repairs, update, and I don't care to have them out in the weather until July.

And in some ways, this is a mental exercise in "clearing the slate". The idea of a fresh start sits well with me as it gives me a chance to pay attention to details I am now aware of and take more care in hanging stands than maybe I have in the past. It also allows me to think about things in the context of future hunters, who are right around the corner from joining me in the woods. I need sets placed with that in mind also.

Surely that makes sense?!?

 

[Gern186]

Yea that makes sense! Good luck with everything.

 

[bowhunter1023]

Another thing that factors into this is that I have sets that are completely different than they were a decade ago based upon the change in Hippie Ridge. One such set has been in the same tree since 2007. Back then, that property was pristine hardwoods. It was select cut in 2008 and now, it is a tangled mess and the deer travel through that same 50 acres in a much different way. I've needed to pull it and adjust it for two years, but I've been so busy with other things, I haven't made that happen. It is a priority for me this year to make sure my sets are safe and I make the adjustments I know I've needed to make, but haven't due to lack of time (and making it a priority).

 

[Big_Holla]

Makes complete sense! Especially the safety side of things. This is the time of year to do that extra looking around too, to see where they are crossing differently, where the rubs are, scrapes, etc.. Get a fresh set of eyes to go along with you to possibly see what you have been missing. Sometimes we think we already know the property we are on but we fail to see that extra something that might be a new stand location that becomes 'the spot'.

 

[HE>I]

Doing something similar for the same reasons but on a much smaller scale (25 vs 80 acres). Good luck, will be following.

 

[bowhunter1023]

Pulled another 3 hang-ons and complimentary sticks this afternoon. These 3 were practically in a straight line from the top of the ridge, to the shelf halfway down, and one in the creek. The one on the ridge was a terrible, half-assed hang on my part. The shelf stand was just one stick and a stand high on the hill overlooking the shelf below. The one in the creek is going in a triple-trunked tree about 15 yards away. All 3 needed some adjustments, so it's good to have them down. You can also see how terrible the Big Plot looks right now. Working on a gameplan for that now.

Made a little discovery today too, unfortunately. Would have been a pretty good buck this year. It's been there a while, so it could certainly be a lost hit from hunting season.

3 ladder stands and I'll have my clean slate.

 

[Redhunter1012]

Dang, that sucks Jesse. Good idea just for tbe safety and peace of mind. Started doing the same right before gun season

 

[cspot]

Did you take down the blind and platform that you built for your daughter a year or two ago?

 

[bowhunter1023]

Did you take down the blind and platform that you built for your daughter a year or two ago?

Not yet, but I will. After hunting from it for 3 seasons, it needs an adjustment. I'll be able to salvage most of the lumber and am only out a few hours work. But it'll be well worth it once I get it moved, especially for gun hunting.

 

[finelyshedded]

Hate seeing you find a good one dead but at least you found him and you know where he’s at.
Nice work Jesse. I have stands to take down on my lease myself.

 

[bowhunter1023]

Took advantage of the beautiful afternoon and pulled both stands behind the house. One needs moved, the other had 3 straps broken on the ladder. I'll probably adjust it to account for new pressure back there with the neighbor now having a stand on the same flat. That's the bummer in owning property that's not very wide.

I also started up the lick. Been a couple years since I've had anything in here. I'll put a cam up around the 4th of July.

Slow and steady progress!

 

[cspot]

Any grape koolaid in that mix?

 

[bowhunter1023]

HA. Not yet. I'll start that with the cams. But I almost did!

 

[at1010]

Good stuff Jesse. I know on our farm we started with 60 acres before buying more land. I’ve changed so much aground and even stands I’ve killed deer on, I’ll be fine tuning this year to be a bit closer to where I have seen deer crossing just out of range. Seems as thought it’s a never ending game of moving stands, but that’s part of the fun. Also kudos to you for getting focused on safety. I replaced some stands straps last year and I’ll upgrade a few more new this year- I normally put an extra strap on as well, cause I am an overachiever Hahahaha

Love getting minerals out! Great time of year.

 

[giles]

Much like any other part of life, you gotta change with it. Otherwise you are just along for the ride and not living it. In a couple of years you might have to change them back. Enjoy “the hunt” all year around by staying involved.

 

[bowhunter1023]

My house got the pox today!

The time has come for me to hunt with my kids and K is up first. She'll be ready for turkeys next weekend and more than ready for deer come September!

 

[cspot]

Good luck Jesse and K!!! I am telling you that you are entering the best stage of your hunting career. Watching your kids hunt is a blast.