Author Topic: Kansas Update (Read 7716 times)

Todd_ID · « **on:** November 08, 2009, 08:45:07 PM »

I just wanted to give an update for the most anticipated trip of my lifetime!

I've been hunting private land in North Central Kansas for two days now. The first day we arrived at about noon and took most of the day setting a couple stands and getting ready to hunt. I was finally into a treestand at 3:00. By the way, it was the first treestand I had ever sat in.....I'm liking that way of hunting. That evening I saw two does that I could have shot, three does I had no shot on and 3 bucks with no shots. One of those was a "shooter" at probably 160". The next morning I was in the same stand with a good wind. I immediately saw a nice 125-135" 4 point that I got about 90 seconds of video on that came right under my stand. I saw 2 does in the AM, but the capstone of the entire trip was seeing a STUD 5x5 that was 26" wide and 14-16" tall with heavy mass! He was about 125 yards away and acting like this was his area. My guess is that there are only a few thousand hunters that will ever see a buck that big in their lifetime, so my trip has been a major success! I'd guess that he was a 190-205" typical buck.

The second day...tonight...I saw probably 10 does that I could have shot. I had 2 bucks in easy shot range for 5 minutes that were about 16" wide 5x5's. I heard my first snort-wheeze tonight when a 150" buck came up the draw and chased them off. One of the little guys walked off and kicked up a doe; all 3 bucks chased the doe at full tilt through a 320 acre wheat field that I got to watch! Talk about fun!

I haven't shot yet, but I hasn't been the deer's fault. I'm hoping for a good buck because I didn't come 2000 miles for a buck that I could have shot in my backyard!

I'll keep you guys updated for the next few days to let you know how it goes.

bow4elk · « **Reply #1 on:** November 08, 2009, 08:52:27 PM »

Wow - can't wait to see your buck! I hunted Kansas once and can't wait to go back. I was down near Arkansas City and we saw some nice deer but tagged average bucks.

Jackjr · « **Reply #2 on:** November 08, 2009, 09:12:28 PM »

WOW sound like a great time Todd. Go get a good one.

Wacenturion · « **Reply #3 on:** November 08, 2009, 09:25:02 PM »

I'm envious....sounds like a great time. Always is I guess if one is hunting whitetails. Sure hope you get a chance at that big guy....wishing you luck!

DeerHarvester · « **Reply #4 on:** November 09, 2009, 04:32:53 AM »

Are you hunting public or private land and with or without a guide? Sounds like a lot of fun so far, good luck.

ribka · « **Reply #5 on:** November 09, 2009, 07:07:47 AM »

Bow Hunted Kansas in the 1980's before it became popular. I saw huge deer there. Still have dreams of a double drop tine buck ( probably 180's class) that was hanging around my stand in the brush for over 30 minutes. Never able to get the shot as he would never come out for a shot. Shot a few nice bucks though.

Spent many years in tree stands for whitetails ( over 20 years). Only advice is really take note of your scent control if you already do not do this. Wash 2 times a day unscented soap, wear rubber boots to the stand. Take off hunting clothes when not hunting, Keep hunting clothes outside or in a container with local vegetation. ( I think scent lock clothing is just a marketing gimmick) If an animal is walking towards you wait until he passes a bit before raising bow attempting to shoot. Don't look animals in the eyes if it spots you. Do not attempt a shot if deer is looking towards you. Be patient. Make sure stands are high enough. I usually hunted at least 20ft in tree. Helped scent and sight control. Don't hunt same stand more than one day in a row. Move stands around a lot. Try making mock scrapes by stand if you cannot get bucks in close. If the big bucks are not coming close to your stand areas don't be afraid to change tactics. Spend entire day in stands. Shot biggest bucks in the middle of the afternoon. I usually brought a paperback book to read during the day so would not be so boring. Tough spending 8-9 hrs a day sitting in a tree. Be very careful climbing into and out of stand. Always, always wear a harness even climbing up and down tree to stand

Just a few tips if you already did not know

Have fun. Nothing like bowhunting whitetails in the rut

Todd_ID · « **Reply #6 on:** November 09, 2009, 09:28:03 PM »

Quote from: ribka on November 09, 2009, 07:07:47 AM

Bow Hunted Kansas in the 1980's before it became popular. I saw huge deer there. Still have dreams of a double drop tine buck ( probably 180's class) that was hanging around my stand in the brush for over 30 minutes. Never able to get the shot as he would never come out for a shot. Shot a few nice bucks though.

Spent many years in tree stands for whitetails ( over 20 years). Only advice is really take note of your scent control if you already do not do this. Wash 2 times a day unscented soap, wear rubber boots to the stand. Take off hunting clothes when not hunting, Keep hunting clothes outside or in a container with local vegetation. ( I think scent lock clothing is just a marketing gimmick) If an animal is walking towards you wait until he passes a bit before raising bow attempting to shoot. Don't look animals in the eyes if it spots you. Do not attempt a shot if deer is looking towards you. Be patient. Make sure stands are high enough. I usually hunted at least 20ft in tree. Helped scent and sight control. Don't hunt same stand more than one day in a row. Move stands around a lot. Try making mock scrapes by stand if you cannot get bucks in close. If the big bucks are not coming close to your stand areas don't be afraid to change tactics. Spend entire day in stands. Shot biggest bucks in the middle of the afternoon. I usually brought a paperback book to read during the day so would not be so boring. Tough spending 8-9 hrs a day sitting in a tree. Be very careful climbing into and out of stand. Always, always wear a harness even climbing up and down tree to stand

Just a few tips if you already did not know

Have fun. Nothing like bowhunting whitetails in the rut

Wow! It's impossible to say there is any bad advice there! The guys I'm hunting with spew the same words, so I've been following that advice.

Tonight, I saw only two deer, but the weather is 15 degrees above normal. One was a dink 4x4 and the other was a stud 4x4 at problably 150". He was huge for mass and heigth but not more than 18" wide. I would have shot him, but he was too quick. I ranged him at 60 yards, but he was at 70 by the time I was ready to shoot. He'll be back again soon!

Tomorrow is another day with another wind that will force me to hunt another stand that we haven't hunted because the wind is wrong.

This hunt that I am on, just so you know, is on private ground that my buddy who elk hunts with me went to college at Kansas State with the farmer's daughter, so that is how we got permission. They've got 5000 acres spread around the county, so it is hard to keep up with their boundaries. Google Eartrh is a life-saver here! The guys I'm hunting with are astounded with what I can tell them about the land they've hunted for 10 years.

Turkeyman · « **Reply #7 on:** November 09, 2009, 11:53:24 PM »

Good luck pray for colder weather the bucks will move. I hunted south east Kansas in 2007 great hunt. If the bucks arnt coming close to your tree try a good ground blind. I killed my buck out of a double bull at 20 yrds. There were few tree's around where the bucks were moving. Hunt all day and don't let your guard down. Try grunt calls also. Have a great hunt.

ribka · « **Reply #8 on:** November 10, 2009, 07:15:06 AM »

Hope did not come off as a "know it all" Just wanted to help you shorten your learning curve. I moved out west 5 years ago and am still learning on how to hunt your blacktails and mule deer. Got a lot of good advice here on hunting washington

Tactics above seemed to work for me. Have fun and you should start seeing the rut or at least pre-rut kick into action. Those bigger bucks ( above 140) should should be more visible during the day instead of being nocturnal. Find the does now and you will find the bucks nearby.
Are you seeing lots of turkeys too? When I hunted KS I always seemed to have turkeys roost in my tree. First time scared the crap out of me.

Good luck and have fun!!!

jackelope · « **Reply #9 on:** November 10, 2009, 07:22:02 AM »

good luck Todd and stick with it. You know what you want so go for it. you put the time in.

Machias · « **Reply #10 on:** November 10, 2009, 09:58:07 AM »

Quote from: ribka on November 09, 2009, 07:07:47 AM

Bow Hunted Kansas in the 1980's before it became popular. I saw huge deer there. Still have dreams of a double drop tine buck ( probably 180's class) that was hanging around my stand in the brush for over 30 minutes. Never able to get the shot as he would never come out for a shot. Shot a few nice bucks though.

Spent many years in tree stands for whitetails ( over 20 years). Only advice is really take note of your scent control if you already do not do this. Wash 2 times a day unscented soap, wear rubber boots to the stand. Take off hunting clothes when not hunting, Keep hunting clothes outside or in a container with local vegetation. ( I think scent lock clothing is just a marketing gimmick) If an animal is walking towards you wait until he passes a bit before raising bow attempting to shoot. Don't look animals in the eyes if it spots you. Do not attempt a shot if deer is looking towards you. Be patient. Make sure stands are high enough. I usually hunted at least 20ft in tree. Helped scent and sight control. Don't hunt same stand more than one day in a row. Move stands around a lot. Try making mock scrapes by stand if you cannot get bucks in close. If the big bucks are not coming close to your stand areas don't be afraid to change tactics. Spend entire day in stands. Shot biggest bucks in the middle of the afternoon. I usually brought a paperback book to read during the day so would not be so boring. Tough spending 8-9 hrs a day sitting in a tree. Be very careful climbing into and out of stand. Always, always wear a harness even climbing up and down tree to stand

Just a few tips if you already did not know

Have fun. Nothing like bowhunting whitetails in the rut

Great advice. I used to be fanatical about my scent control. Washed my clothes in baking soda, right into an unscented bag, never wore my hunting boots until I was at my hunting area. Been many a frigid morning changing clothes. And it worked, lots of time I had deer standing under my stand with no clue I was there, which is just way to cool, even with does. I love being close enough to see their eyelashes and they have no clue your right above them looking at them. Must be how cougars feel sometimes.

Good luck Todd and keep us updated, I love the live hunt updates!!! Photos my man, PHOTOS!!

colockumelk · « **Reply #11 on:** November 10, 2009, 11:20:52 AM »

Just curious Todd how close to Ft. Riley, Kansas you are. That base will be in my top three choices to get stationed at. So I would love to get stationed there. I've heard there's good hunting on base but

.

Todd_ID · « **Reply #12 on:** November 10, 2009, 08:42:23 PM »

Probably 100 miles from Fort Riley.

Turkeys basically everywhere. I had 17 toms walk out into a field 40 yards from my stand yesterday; season is open, but I don't have a turkey tag. Well over 100 hens in a flock making the most conundrum of noise that any of us have heard about 1/2 mile from the stand, too.

One of the guys of our group shot a 157" typical last night. Flippin' rookies! He's hunted with a bow for exactly one day and shoots a stud buck at 15 yards. It was about the 3rd shot he's taken with a bow; the first two hit a target somewhere close, so that was good enough. Don't worry, though, I won't invite him on a bowhunt anytime soon. The kicker is that it was a 33" draw length bow, and he only needs a 31" draw!!!! Nope, I didn't invite him.

Today was a bust again. The temp was 65 with a hard wind. I have stands for whatever the wind is doing, but the temp keeping the deer movement low is the problem. I videoed a one-horned spike trying to figure out what to do with a couple does today, but I didn't see a buck I fell in love with.

Tomorrow is supposed to be 10 degrees cooler, so the deer will be moving again! Wish me luck!!!!!

carpsniperg2 · « **Reply #13 on:** November 10, 2009, 08:47:46 PM »

we want pics

EastWaViking · « **Reply #14 on:** November 10, 2009, 08:48:20 PM »

good luck!!!!

Ironhead · « **Reply #15 on:** November 10, 2009, 09:38:31 PM »

Good luck, Todd

Todd_ID · « **Reply #16 on:** November 11, 2009, 09:01:21 PM »

Pics will come when I get the time that I'm not hunting or sleeping. I spent all day in a treestand today. I saw 3 bucks and about 10 does. I got a forkhorn on video grunting and snort-wheezing. I also got a "darn close to shooting" buck on video at 18 yards or less for about 7 minutes. He was a 4x4 that wasn't quite wide enough, tall enough or heavy enough. But he was close to all of those! I put a score on him of about 130", for those that would like to know. The guys that I'm hunting with said that I should have shot him, but I'm not sure....I could kill him in my backyard about any day of the week, so it wasn't worth shooting to me.

This type of hunting is amazing. The other guys here all come back at 11 and have lunch, and then they head out to a different stand for the afternoon. I have been staying in the stand all day unless the wind changes and blows out the stand I am in. That's when I change stands. Google Earth is a blessing for stand choosing!

Turkeyman · « **Reply #17 on:** November 12, 2009, 03:32:11 AM »

Hang in there Tod it will happen. Like i said pray for a cold front.

Hornseeker · « **Reply #18 on:** November 12, 2009, 05:00:47 AM »

Keep after it!!!

Todd_ID · « **Reply #19 on:** November 12, 2009, 09:36:40 PM »

Today I set up a ground blind where I had seen 2 different BOONERS. The sum total of the day was about 6 does and two dink bucks. FLIP....for lack of a better word! I'll keep hunting hard. I'm done passing on the 130" 4 points, though, I've only got 3 days left.

Machias · « **Reply #20 on:** November 12, 2009, 09:56:40 PM »

Any weather changes headed your way? Hang in there.

Michelle_Nelson · « **Reply #21 on:** November 13, 2009, 11:37:17 AM »

Daing can't believe I missed this thread!

Now I will be hanging on every word for the next few days. Good Luck Todd kill a monster!

Todd_ID · « **Reply #22 on:** November 13, 2009, 09:27:15 PM »

Today was colder with a north wind coming in. I saw bupkis in the morning. I moved to a ground spot I found. I immediately had three does and two small bucks come out but nothing worthwhile. I moved to an "escape point" stand I had set where they were cutting the corn next door. I saw 1 doe in 4 hours....talk about a plan not coming together. I moved back to the ground spot and had deer all over until dark. I saw probably 15 does and 4 bucks. The coolest was a forkhorn that was bigger than most of our 4x4's. I could have shot him a dozen times. I had a monster come in to my grunt call just at dark. I didn't have a good range on him, but I had a very good guess of 32 yards, but I couldn't see my pins quite good enough to make a confident shot. I most likely would have killed him, but you don't want any questions on a "booner" buck. I've got 2 full days of hunting left and flying home on Monday. Wish me luck!

Machias · « **Reply #23 on:** November 13, 2009, 09:52:05 PM »

Good luck!!!!

EastWaViking · « **Reply #24 on:** November 13, 2009, 10:25:30 PM »

good luck and thanks for all of the updates!

Wacenturion · « **Reply #25 on:** November 13, 2009, 10:32:49 PM »

Good luck you're last two days..........got a feeling you're going see that big one again.

Turkeyman · « **Reply #26 on:** November 14, 2009, 04:53:18 AM »

Good luck!

Todd_ID · « **Reply #27 on:** November 14, 2009, 08:58:08 PM »

Today started out the same as the rest....friggin' dark! Just kidding.

I got in my best stand an hour before sunrise with a perfect wind. This stand is set on a property boundary fence trying to catch deer movement out of a 2000 acre contiguous preserve. It's where I saw the "uber-monster" buck. As the sun comes up I start seeing things that weren't there before on the other side of the boundary. It turns out is was a new "No Hunting" sign and tin foil wrapped around tree limbs and pie plates swinging in the breeze over one of the best deer trails in the state. The landowner on that side of the fence walks his property to prevent trespassing and hunting, and somebody that hunts his property told him about my stand. That's fine with me (to each his own), but I wasn't going to shoot a deer off his property...ever. Now the landowners we are hunting on are dealing with Kansas Dept of Wildlife and Parks trying to get this type of stuff to stop. Now I know why I didn't see anything out of the ground blind I had set up in the perfect spot about 200 yards from there for two damn days.

I got out of the stand and left. I walked a couple miles and hunted from the ground in a new spot that I had seen good movement around. I jumped a 140" buck and 2 does when I got there. I sat there about 3 hours and saw a doe coming. She was pulling along a whopper 4x4. He was 17" wide but had huge mass and was mega tall. The cool thing was that his tines wrapped all the way around the front and touched over his nose. I was at 50 yards from him as he tended this doe for 3 hours. The sounds I heard reminded me of Taiwan....oh, that's another story. J/K. All he had to do was take a few steps the other way, and he would have been dead, but he never did. All I got was a great memory and a ton of cramps from not moving an eyelash for 3 hours.

I had another big 3x4 walk to 15 yards that I really thought about shooting. I let him walk though..there's still tomorrow!

Wacenturion · « **Reply #28 on:** November 14, 2009, 09:28:40 PM »

Good luck tomorrow!

Todd_ID · « **Reply #29 on:** November 17, 2009, 09:05:55 PM »

So, the last day came and went with me sitting on the ground and not in a treestand. I had seen good movement in this spot and figured that my best chance was to go back to what I know, and that's hunting on the ground. At first light I heard a grunt and looked the wrong way first. A doe was staring at me at 10 yards, and I never heard her. The grunt came from the stud 4x4 I had missed a chance on the previous day. He was about 5 yards behind the doe. They busted out rather quickly and noisely. I had a brief shot a him, but he wouldn't stop for my "Bahrp".

At about 9:30 a doe came in with a decent buck in tow. I decided quickly that I'd take him on the last day. She led him right to me, but he wouldn't stop for several grunts. Finally he heard one at 30 yards, and I made quick work of the shot. The "blind man" blood trail from the sharp broadhead was a very gratifying end to a tremendous hunt.

The guys invited me back, but it'll take a miracle to finance that type of trip every year.

Here're some pictures from the treestand of the type of country we were hunting:

And here is the picture of the guy I shot:

Sorry, Michelle and Charlie, but it's not getting a shoulder mount. I shipped it home to do a euro mount, though.

Wacenturion · « **Reply #30 on:** November 17, 2009, 09:32:46 PM »

Congratulations, nice buck...even though he's not the big guy I was hoping you would see again, it sounds like you had a great trip. Thanks again for taking us along....

andrew_12gauge · « **Reply #31 on:** November 17, 2009, 09:38:15 PM »

nice buck man ive been lurking watching your thread for a while now glad to see you tagged out anyway

Machias · « **Reply #32 on:** November 17, 2009, 09:44:14 PM »

VERY nice, congrats. That's a great out of state buck!! Congrats. You have re-lit a fire in me, much to my wifes dismay, but I will head back to the midwest next year. I look forward to it, thanks for sharing your hunt with us!

EastWaViking · « **Reply #33 on:** November 18, 2009, 07:18:53 AM »

Cool looking country. Nice job, and nice buck!!

bearpaw · « **Reply #34 on:** November 18, 2009, 07:58:19 AM »

Sounds like you had a great hunt....congrats

bowsandhose · « **Reply #35 on:** November 18, 2009, 08:17:26 AM »

nice job. grats

bucklucky · « **Reply #36 on:** November 18, 2009, 09:56:25 AM »

Congrats on the buck Todd!

Ironhead · « **Reply #37 on:** November 18, 2009, 11:28:50 AM »

Way to go Todd, nice buck.

ribka · « **Reply #38 on:** November 21, 2009, 09:35:45 AM »

That's a nice buck! Sorry to hear about the neighboring landowner ruining your hunt.

Like your ASAT camo. The only camo I use for midwest treestand hunting. Think the best camo for breaking up your outline.

Sounds like you did all of the right things. Moving, changing strategies etc.
Thanks for sharing your story.

Jackjr · « **Reply #39 on:** November 21, 2009, 08:09:27 PM »

Nice Buck Todd. Congrats. Sounds like you had a good time. I might try a skull mount now that I know how many drinks it takes to do one

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Author Topic: Kansas Update (Read 7716 times)

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