OO2 24/25 Season

[OO2]

Starting to get excited for the upcoming seasons and wanted to share the journey here.

Trimmed some lanes today at a gun stand in preparation for an attempt at food plot. Will be going back to plant winter wheat in a couple weeks. My guess is it’ll be a long shot, but hopefully it’ll grow

View from the stand

View back toward the stand

Bo’s 4th and Ellie’s 3rd season will kick off in 35 days, as I am writing this I suddenly feel unprepared. We have plans to go to MI, OH, KS, IA, NE, and LA.

Looking forward to sharing updates as they roll in. Good luck and safe hunting this year.

 

[switchhitter]

Can’t wait to follow along

 

[OO2]

Fun run / conditioning this morning

 

["J"]

Nice sunrise!

Florence affect you any?

 

[OO2]

Nice sunrise!

Florence affect you any?

No, we were a good bit west of it

 

["J"]

No, we were a good bit west of it

Good too hear. You making the trip north during strouds?

 

[Isaacorps]

Good luck this year Cole! Sounds like y’all have some fun adventures lined up

 

[brock ratcliff]

I’ll look forward to reading along Cole. There is nothing better than a man with a Brit, unless it’s a man with two!

 

[OO2]

Good too hear. You making the trip north during strouds?

I may catch the opening Sunday crowd on the way back down from MI. We will see how to drive shapes up

 

[giles]

I may catch the opening Sunday crowd on the way back down from MI. We will see how to drive shapes up

That just might be enough to have me take the entire week off this year.

 

["J"]

That just might be enough to have me take the entire week off this year.

Same here……

 

[OO2]

Had a great trip up to the north woods of Michigan! The woods were on fire will all of the colors of fall I had been missing since moving

Temps were nice and cool in the morning but warmed up quickly not allowing all day hunts. During the heat of the day we fished, this clear water had me wishing I had brought a ned rig and drop shot for smallies!

The final morning was nice and crisp so Bo got the nod as he runs better in cooler temps. The king of the woods had been running all weekend given the dry conditions but this morning he locked one down. The bird came up and I was able to capitalize on the glimpse it gave me through the aspen stand.

Bo wanted his bird back instead of posing for pics

Here are some more camp / dog pics

Thankful for the experience and good dogs, next stop pheasant and quail!

 

[Bankfish]

Beautiful grouse. Congrats.

 

["J"]

Had a great trip up to the north woods of Michigan! The woods were on fire will all of the colors of fall I had been missing since moving View attachment 200535View attachment 200536
Temps were nice and cool in the morning but warmed up quickly not allowing all day hunts. During the heat of the day we fished, this clear water had me wishing I had brought a ned rig and drop shot for smallies!View attachment 200537View attachment 200538
The final morning was nice and crisp so Bo got the nod as he runs better in cooler temps. The king of the woods had been running all weekend given the dry conditions but this morning he locked one down. The bird came up and I was able to capitalize on the glimpse it gave me through the aspen stand.
View attachment 200540
Bo wanted his bird back instead of posing for pics
View attachment 200541
Here are some more camp / dog pics
View attachment 200542View attachment 200543
Thankful for the experience and good dogs, next stop pheasant and quail!

@bonemonger

 

[switchhitter]

Nice pictures!
Makes me remember when Ohio had good numbers of grouse
Where is the next adventure?

 

[OO2]

Nice pictures!
Makes me remember when Ohio had good numbers of grouse
Where is the next adventure?

Will be headed to IA next

 

[OO2]

The dogs and I got to experience the opening week of Iowa pheasant season and it did not disappoint! Despite the wet weather during the prime spring nesting period the bird populations looked good!

The early part of the week started off hot, highs in 70s/80s, so we were limited to one or two morning hunts before things got too hot.

Later in the week we got wind and rain so I shifted my focus to wind break cover as I hoped it would consolidate the birds. I am thankful I made that decision as the birds were grouped up out of the wind. I thought I’d share what I was looking for incase anyone can add it to their arsenal on windy days. Beats walking reeds/cattails by 1000%

The dogs wanted to fire me early on for my poor shooting but I improved as the week progressed. We ended the week with beautiful dog work, Bo and Ellie displaying teamwork to pin down a running rooster to end our final day early.

Iowa does a great job with their IHAP properties ensuring habitat is on the landscape. That cannot be said for some states that offer similar programs. If I hadn’t already booked a non refundable KS airbnb I would go back to IA instead.

 

[OO2]

Some more pics:

 

[Curran]

Awesome stuff man!!

 

["J"]

Glad you’re enjoying yourself, Cole. Good luck with the remainder of your season.