I have arrived onsite. In order to not take advantage of my early arrival I did not hunt today other than to drive around and do a little scouting with Ryder and Papa. We checked out the blinds and did a little fall cleaning. Things look pretty open out there with all the corn gone and snow on the ground... and yet I didn't see any of the little buggers waiting for me to put them out of there misery....

See yall soon.

bang

Saw this one on Facebook it needs to be here too.

your ashes in a shell

myholysmoke.com

From the 'About Us' page:

My friend smiled and said "You know I've thought about this for some time and I want to be cremated. Then I want my ashes put into some turkey load shotgun shells and have someone that knows how to turkey hunt use the shotgun shells with my ashes to shoot a turkey. That way I will rest in peace knowing that the last thing that one turkey will see is me, screaming at him at about 900 feet per second."

Non-resident applications due 10-25

Looks like Non-residents can apply sometime after October 14 and before the end of day October 25th. Topher, how many more you going to shoot so I know how many tags to apply for? if you already have 10...

Farmhouse remodel pictures

If you don't have a snapfish account you'll have to sign up for one before you can view pics.
Farmhouse remodel part 2

Farmhouse remodel part 1

1st deadline approacing fast

Sept 2nd is the first deadline for east river deer. Get those apps in SD residents!

Gotta have one of these

mongolian-hunters-turn-a-big-benz-into-xanadu-on-six-wheels/

And seriously, how do you hunt a wolf with an eagle...

add a link for that: hunting-wolves-in-eastern-mongolia-with-golden-eagles/

I just got back to Nebraska ahead of a snow storm in South Dakota, hope it isn't to bad, but our farming season is officially over. Yields were fair, but prices are good, so I was able to pay the bills and have a little left over.

I really missed the deer hunting crew this year, hope we can all make the trip next year. (take note guys, no more pregnant wives.)

I don't mean to brag, but!!!:

Rusty is really turning into a great hunting dog, several of my hunters have put their professionally trained dogs into their kennels and just used him. A friend from Fremont went up with me for 5 days, he had a great time after I trained him how to road hunt South Dakota style. One day he doubled up on two birds in the air, he was really proud of himself(translation-lucky).
The next day, he walked around the big pond, and fired one shot again, and brought back 2 birds. Rusty helped him on that one, he caught one live after nice point, and delivered it to him.

When Rusty is working, he bounces through the tall grass, and everytime he finds a scent, he goes nose to the ground, and follows the scent untill he works it out. When he finds a bird that holds, he does a pretty good point. We tell him to hold, hold, and then to flush it. When he flushes, he does his "bounce", and lands right on top of the bird, it is fascinating to watch. Needless to say, the bird really explodes out of the cover.

If everyone hasn't heard yet, Terri has announced her retirement as of Dec 31.(Last working day will be Christmas Eve). We will be hauling furniture back to the farm prior to then, and heading for Texas for Christmas. We have the plans pretty well sketched out for the remodeling and expansion for the farm house, we hope it will turn out really nice. There should be lots more room for everyone, and even bedrooms for wives and children if they decide to come along and hunt.

Everyone take note, I will be legally able to hunt in South Dakota next year, so watch out, maybe I will be able to harvest some game with something other than my pickup.

Until next year, and seasons greetings.

the old farmer

Rusty goes to work.

Sounds like Rusty is doing pretty well this year. Dad said when I talked to him today that they guy with him put his own dog back in the truck and is just working with Rusty now.

Corn is all picked....

Poor deer with nowhere to hide. And no one to shoot at them either... ;-( I'm really feeling lonely for a cold crisp morning listening to the geese honk and the pheasants cackle...

Dad is having a celebratory wiskey. What say we all join him in spirit?