Whats Up?

After talking to the old grey hunter, I thought I should check with everyone else. Who can make the "anterless season" in Kingsbury and Clark Co.? I had Gene turn on a little heat in the house, so it will be starting to warm up. Any time you want to start, if I'm not there yet, I can walk you through the start up procedure for the house.
I did check, and all the corn is harvested except for the food plots, and they had about the same amount of snow as here(12-18 inches), so it should be lots easier to find the deer.It sounds like a 4 wheeler or snowmobile would be a great help, I am checking with a couple of guys about renting a snowmobile for a few days.
I got my stitches out of my wrist today, so I am becoming more mobile, but won't be able to do any physical labor(snow shoveling) for a while yet. I should be able to keep the house warm, and help haul in the harvest, if anyone connects.
I assume there are still Clark Co tags available if anyone wants more meat.
Eat your hearts out, TX and Florida guys, this is where real men bring in the game.
the old Farmer

Bonesteel Muzzleloader Hunt

I didn't take a single picture, but the Old Grey Hunter, Pistol Pat, and Myself gave the deer around Bonesteel a reason to run for once. We spent 4 days living in a tin can and actively chasing deer that acted for the most part like they had never seen a monkey with a gun before. We only bagged one muley out there, but we got a chance to shoot at a few others and whitetails as well (open sight MLs really are harder to hit deer with than a .270 with a 9x scope). We chased a these bastards up and down 1400 feet of elevation for 4 days. It was pretty warm (20's), so it wasn't bad weather wise.

The highlight for me was the one that came walking over the saddle 20 yards away while I was in the middle of taking a piss. I managed to get off a shot at the little mother f*cker, but not before finishing, or pulling up my pants. I don't reccomend this as it is hard to reload a muzzleloader with your johnson hanging out when its 25 degrees.... thats dedication boys! Hell, the only reason I stopped running after it for the follow up shot was that I started dropping tools off my unfastened belt. Oh, did I mention that I jumped over a creek earlier in the day and landed on my feet, resulting in what the Dr. now thinks is a ruptured disk? Yeah, but that didn't keep this moron from climbing hills and chasing muleys. We didn't quit until NOAA said that we were in for 20 inches of blowing snow over three days.

Pat tells me he bagged another whitetail at cousin Ray's during the start of the blizzard. Me, I'm set up with a big bottle of Viocodin, watching Becca shovel. Who knew I could turn my dishwasher into a snowplow? HA, she's reading this over my shoulder. Well, Merry X-mas and happy New Year to all. Hope everybody got through the storm safe. See you next time!

-Topher

South TX hunt at Garcia's ranch

Here are some pics of the hunt in South TX. We arrived Thursday evening after shooting time and left Monday morning after a quick sit.

Much to my surprise it was misty/foggy most of the time there. Wasn't expecting that in the desert. It was definately brush country. The only way to get around was through "cendaro's" which are basically roads that are cut through the brush with a tractor in order to get around.

I shot a big sow Friday night (300lb+) You can see her in the pictures. You can also see a large boar on the back of a 4-wheeler that another guy shot.

Sunday night I shot a doe. (no good pics of her).

I wanted to get more pictures of camp but never got around to it since it was so wet all the time. Great hunt overall. we started to see some bucks moving around the very last morning so we were probably just a little early with respect to the rut.

2009 South TX Hunt

The next hunt...

Heading south for 8 hours tomorrow to do a little deer hunting in far South Texas (about an hour from the border at Laredo) Sounds like it is brush country. Supposedly some pretty big bucks have been shot around there.... Wish me luck. I guess if I don't get anything I can always go for the hunt orange loin cloth... (Hey Topher, can I wear my snake chaps too?) ;-)

The ranch we're going to is near Freer, TX if you want to look it up.

Pictures from the hunt

Thanksgiving hunt 2009

I have also added the link to the AkkermanAcres site. Nice doe Pat.

Great Hunt!

While we could have done with a little less standing corn, it was still a great hunt. Really great to see everyone again after missing a few people last year. Hope y'all get a chance to come back once the corn is out and take care of the real harvest!

Talked to dad this afternoon, he got his concrete poured. Thanks for the help there.

Happy Thanksgiving & my new plans

Happy Thanksgiving. I hope everyone is somewhere safe with folks that are near and dear to them. Please drive defensively.

I have to work tomorrow I do my best to get away from Yankton just as early as I can. Unfortunately (actually, fortunately) I had work come in yesterday (after a long dry spell) and we need the money. I will text progress to Pat. If anyone wants to contact me. Cell 605 660-0715, text or voice, or email on the fly at rancher@iw.net. I will be all packed and ready to roll from the house to the farm - I have stuff from opening weekend that needs to be repacked and/or rechecked. I will be driving the pickup and pulling a small trailer with the atv on it; I also have my little blind. As you are deciding who to place where on Saturday AM, just put me where I will do the least harm or be of the most good.

Nostalgia

Kind of fun to look back: Remember the "Hunting Plans" projections he posted on September 15, 2008? Verdy intresting..

Let the bloodshed begin

This is for all you jerks who are already at the farm while i sit here in my office. Jerks.... A friend of mine shot this nice one a couple of weeks ago. If anybody shoots one like this on the farm we have a problem. Good luck all, see you Tuesday.

report from the farm

Just talked to dad. He just pulled into the yard at the farm and is looking at the big buck that he mentioned in his last post. It is sitting in the trees near the road... nice easy shot from the front porch.

He says there isn't any corn picked yet. Sounds like the corn is still too wet.

idiot with a capital I

I am truly an idiot. Life gets away and time passes. I dropped the ball... I anticipated leftover licenses. There are none. I wouldn't be able to make the trip anyway, as I am scheduled to spend the Thanksgiving Holiday with my side of the family. Still... that does not detract from my idiocy.

I wish you all a safe and successful hunt! I hope to make it next year. Let me know if anybody is going for a late season hunt, maybe I could come up during that time.

I truly am an idiot!

Bambi has grown up!

Good news!
I saw Bambi, and he is no longer someone that Deerkiller will be able to shoot. He is too big.
My Illinois hunters had a good time, but unfortunately, did not kill a lot of game. (Topher??) We got a few pheasants, and a few local ducks, but not enough crops harvested to be able to find the birds, even though we know they are out there.
We did see more deer than pheasants, so next week, we should see more pheasants than deer. I was taking guys 1/2 mile east of the house, to walk the food plot and corn East from the deer stand. When we were standing by the fence line, a doe walked out, and started west toward the buildings. A nice little buck(3 or 4 point) came out of the corn, walked right past us with his nose to the ground, and followed the doe. We finally got his attention by yelling at him. When I picked up the guys on the gravel road on the East side, we saw a really nice buck (7pt?) walk out of the corn near the trees on the Kruse land. While we were watching him, the "daddy" also walked out onto the road ahead of us, he was much bigger than the first, his neck was swollen as big as a hereford bull. We couldn't count the rack, but it was really big. They just ran back into the trees when we drove by, and watched us. Should we post someone with a buck tag in those trees? Maybe we can take the chain saw, and open up a better shooting lane in the trees.
Most of the corn will be still standing, so it is going to be tough finding game, but maybe luck will be with us.
My free, found dog is turning out to be a pretty good hunter. He flushed a lot of birds, and ran down a cripple in a bean field that I didn't think anything would be able to catch. He finds and picks up a down bird, but only brings it back a few feet, then drops it, and waits. As well as he retrieves other objects, I hope he will do better over time. His gun shyness seemed to disappear the first time a bird dropped. I have had someone offer to buy him, but decided to let Terri set the purchase price, in order to maintain stability in our marriage.
Very Soon, The old farmer

Pistol Pat are you Ok

Has anyone heard from Pistol Pat. I hear tell that he sold all his guns and hunting gear and joined PETA. Also I heard that he stopped drinking beer for wheat grass Tea.

I've got mine too

I mean this deer, heh!

So after letting two spike bucks walk by me in the first hour of deer opener here I thought I'd better shoot the third one. He ended up having three valid points, but the antlers were all spikey and neat, I'll bring them out to show folks. I had him draggged out of the river bottom, guttted, hanged, and was up having coffee with the landowner by 8:30 a.m. The .45-70 govt. works like a charm in the woods. You should have seen the 6 bald eagles fighting with the crows and magpies on the gut pile 1/2 hour later.

So does this count towards the score?

I've got mine

Today I had to stay home from work with a sick little girl. nothing bad just a cold, but the good thing was our Mailman brought me my S.D. Tag today.

Schedules at this time for Akkerman Deer 2010

Any more specifics on schedules?

Fri Gary is already sheparding out of state pheasant/duck hunters
Sat Nov 21 East River Deer Season opens
Sunday Patrick is in SD. Philip is in MN.
Monday, Nov 23rd Ryan & family will arrive at the farm.
Tuesday Nelson leaves for Akkerman Acres o/a 1601 hours (CST)
Roger arrives Akkerman Acres late afternoon
Wednesday (Team Stonerman goes to buy more tags ;-)
Thursday, Nov 26th
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday, Nov 30

Gary: Is there anything I can do to help you during that period? Is there anything I could bring up that you need, could use or simply want?

Nelson: I would like to help you prepare you rig for the trip and try to arrange my schedule to help you it up at Akkerman Acres - please call me to arrange schedules.

Gary/Pat All: You all must know by now you are welcome to RON at our place if it ends up too far or unsafe to drive the rest of your routes N/S/E or West.

For give me for my many absences and lapses. Out family is under a great deal of stress and I am often not at my best. No near-time positive changes are anticipated. I will be in FL (Mt Dora, Nov 11th thru the 18th)

Roger

Old friends

Hey, Great White Hunter:
I ran into an old friend of yours today, while exercising Rusty out in the street. Stephen Tellatin, retired from the army reserve. His email is: stephen.tellatin@us.army.mil if you want to contact him. He lives about 4 houses south of us. He doesn't hunt too much any more, but was just going out to scout for a black powder stand on the river north of town.
The Illinois group is coming this Saturday, they are planning on waterfowl hunting, as well as pheasant, which is good, as we have lots of water.
Some crop is finally coming out, but no corn yet for a couple of weeks. It would be great if Gene could be picking our corn at thanksgiving, that would stir up a few deer.
later, the old farmer

Who got tags?

I got mine... 2doe for Kingsbury. How about you Phil? ;-)

There are still 55 1 doe tags in Kingsbury and 362 2 doe tags in Clark. So if someone wants to pony up we can still shoot over 800 deer this year. :-) That would really turn Akkerstone/Stonewald competition up a notch!

Travel Plans

Doubtful that anything will come of this but:

Is anyone planning to drive up from Florida. I will be back and forth to Mt Dora - AT THIS Time I would not plan to drive either way, but I do know that I could have reason to drive down, and would always be willing to pay my share of the freight on a ride back from that area. And, if I end up driving down to FL it would be at Christmas time. If I end up doing that, I would gladly haul some stuff back to FL.

Is anyone planning to drive up from Texas. Why. I have a friend who I really want to see who lives in San Antonio. What would be great would be if I could possibly share a ride on half of that trip, as well. Whether or not I will end up driving back and forth to San Antonia within the near future is beyond my ability to project, but the possibility exists. He is another one of those people who was so instrumental in guiding me through a successful military career - and he is dying.

Hello everyone, sorry for the delay, not having internet at the farm is a real pain at times. Yes, the water was cold, but fortunately not all 400 feet was waist deep, actually, it was a little less that that. Can you imagine how carefully an short old, fat guy can step when the water is about 1/2 inch below crotch level? Watch out for muskrat tunnels!!. Maybe we can make it across with the pickup if we really get a good run at it. The deer stands are in good shape, no windows shot out, just a few bugs and a mouse nest. Josh even washed the windows.
I was supposed to have a couple of guys from Wisconsin pheasant hunting last weekend, but they didn't show up. Or Call! I was really relieved, as there is not really any place to hunt pheasants until some crop gets out. Terri's brothers were out hunting last Saturday,(in Clark Co) and found a few birds, and had a good time. This morning, when Josh and I walked outside, there were several roosters sitting on the board fence by the barn.
I have seen quite a few deer, considering the amount of standing crops for them to hide in, Maybe we should set up a blind in the middle of Hiway 25! No big bucks lately, but have been seeing them earlier in the summer.
Soon, the shriveled up old farmer

ATV - gear

OK - so please please look at those Cabella, Bass Pro, Rocky Tucker, etc adds for ATV add ons.
The only thing I am pretty sure of is that I do want to put on heated grips; there are some fairly inexpensive choices there. But I don't know whether to go with a hard case for carrying guns or simply get some of those hold deals that just sort of "clamps" the rifle in. I remember seeing an ATV heading in the SDGFP info I will check out as soon as I get a few minutes.

BRRRRR

Talked to dad today. He and kid from Fremont are up at the farm. Dad wanted to get the blind in the slough checked out and cleaned up so get this..... He and Josh waded through 400 ft of waist deep water to get there.... BRRRRRRR..... I didn't even want to go waterskiing in TX today. That is one tough crazy old coot. ;-)

drawing stats

Looked around when I put in for my tags. Here is what I found...

1. Kingsbury two doe tag: 108
2. Kingsbury 1 doe tag: 116
1. Clark two doe tag: 446

And I just talked to dad, he missed a deer as I was on the phone with him about 2 miles from the house.

Help me if you can

I went to Walmart to day to purchase a "digital converter receiver for the TV sets up to the farm, as I have not been able to get the Dish system to line up on the satelite. Walmart said that they were only made for a few months, and are no longer available. The salesperson said to check pawn shops, garage sales, or maybe on Google or Craigs list. Can someone check around in their area? It would be nice to have a little network tv to augment our regular viewing of nothing but porno movies.
Remember, The application deadline is coming up soon for the next drawing of deer tags.
Looking for dry weather, but expecting snow, the old farmer

MN Early antlerless - no score

Well, yeah, it was snowy. The first night the snow was blowing so hard it was freezing on the truck and it looked and felt like a January hunt in early October! It was cold, but the snow melted during the late afternoon. Unfortunately, the cows were still out in the area that we could legally hunt deer and we saw almost nothing (i didn't see a single deer there). Across the road was off-limits for this "early hunt", and of course we saw dozens of deer over there, but we'll be ready for 'em in early November when that area opens up. We spent most of out time drinking beer and preparing for our upcoming regular firearms deer season. The picture is our new Buck pole, my buddy Jason doesn't like to do anything half-way as you can see. We also put up a couple of tree stands.

I wish I could get the whole week off, but it isn't in the cards. I'll have to confer with Beerkiller on when we'll be arriving, but we'll let you know soon.

We need pictures

Topher:
Are you going to post the pictures of your Minn. hunt? Did you get to hunt in a lot of snow?
We just got back from seeing TX Boy, and the rest of the southern relatives. Weather was really great, even as far as Kansas it was in the high 70's, but we hit the Neb. border, and it dropped steadily, and was raining by the time we reached Fremont.
Do you get the entire week off?, When will you be arriving?
the old farmer

I hear that it tastes like chicken. This green turtle is going to the Vet.

Tryin to stay warm

Made a big pot of venison chili this weekend to start gettin' in the mood. It's been pretty cold here, we got down to the upper 40's one night!

Thoughts and concerns for the new season

I thought this might be a good time to address a few concerns and plan ahead for the fall season. As far as lodging, we have the 3 rooms upstairs, the 2 sofas on the main floor, and a rollaway in the junk room on the main floor. I did build a set of bunks in the basement, and hope to have a full size bed down there as well. I am working on the plumbing, so we can turn the pressure up a little to make for better showers.
I may (???) have a friend and his 16 year old son coming for 2 days, but he doesn't know for sure what days, as he works a rotating shift at a 24-7 ethonal plant. If everyone from Yankton shows up, we could be a little crowded. If the old gray hunter wants to bring his portable blind(private bar), we could set it up next to the house as in previous years. Do you still have it all set up in Yankton?
As to the potential deer supply, based on previous years experiences, I think I have it all figured out. All summer, in the trees behind the barn, there has been a doe and triplet fawns. If Roger shoots the doe, then he and deerslayer should be able to harvest the fawns, as they stand looking at their dead mommy. If not, deerslayer can follow a school bus around, pick up a roadkill, and shoot a hole in it. I have seen a one-eyed cripple that TX boy should be able to catch up to. Topher can pass on multiple good shots, and choose to look for something better. If we drink enough good whiskey, the great white hunter should be able to shoot a "tirty" point buck as it walks up the driveway. Pistol Pat should be able to shoot enough with his sidearm to make up for everyone's misses. Everyone else is more of a talker and drinker than they are actual killers, so they can sit around camp and help me haul in the meat.
Did I miss insulting anyone?
As time gets closer, if everyone could let me know for sure when they are arriving, I will have everything ready. (translation-have their deer hanging in the shed for them).
As it is still very wet, and corn is not drying well, we probably will have standing corn to provide shelter for the deer.
SOON, the old farmer

Swamp Buggy country

I Know It's a fussy picture but this is a little shot of my patrol vehicle. I think we need to build 1 for the farm. Chevy 350, bad ass trany and geared so low I could pull a barn across the county. I'll try to get a picture of the buggy with out the good looking drive so as not to take from the vehicles looks.

MN Early Antlerless

This coming weekend I get to participate in the "early antlerless" hunt in northwestern MN. We were worried when deciding whether or not to participate a few weeks ago, that it might be too warm if we got a deer to cool down the carcass. The 10 day forecast says highs will be 32-37 degrees and gray with snow showers... This ought to be interesting since there's no heat yet in the cabin. We just finished roughing in the breaker box last week when I was there. I guess that will light a fire under our asses to get the outlets wired up! Nice part is, we also witnessed a herd of 25 deer walking out into the alfalfa field from the woods as the sun was setting.

$7.50 each for up to two "early antlerless" tags (2 days only), that was hard to refuse (nice thing is that they are OTC there). I've decided to be slightly cocky and limit myself to guns with no scopes. I'm actually going to leave my trusty .270 slaughtermaster in The Cities on purpose. I'll be hunting with the .45-70 govt. and my .45/.50 muzzleloader as backup. So I'll let ya'll know whether I've been humbled or not in a week. If both guns fail, I'm stripping down to the blaze orange loin cloth and using a sharpened spruce sapling.

Wish me luck!

Tag update

Looks like there were plenty of tags left over from the first drawing. Second drawing needs to be in by Oct 13. Then us out of staters can submit (must be in by Oct 26th) . I assume that this means that Old Gray Hunter got his tags.

I am in the process of taking hunter's safety education online. In arkansas its required for any hunter born after 1968. they accept any safety card from your home satate though. The irony is that I have to take a test, but they will let Phil hunt here since he passed when he was in junior high. *sigh* if only they knew. (thus far no questions about school busses).

Anyway I thought you would like this page from it, see inside a deer:

http://70.61.99.50/Class/Section04/C/Games/Game01.aspx

Later,

PP

First Kill of the season.

Finally hit a few of the little buggers this morning... So far I'm 5 for ~40 or so... Maybe I won't make as much fun of Pistol Pat this year.... naaa. Note the picture with the houses in the background. We were actually hunting a field with a major freeway to our back and the housing development you see on the other side. There were doves everywhere. I'm claiming first kill cause nobody else has said anything... Losers! ;-) And finding one dead on the ground doesn't count Old Farmer.

Mac's 1st hunt!

Mackenzie went with me dove hunting this afternoon. She seemed to like it right up till she put her hand in a fire ant mound. I'm still dove skunked but at least I got a bunny rabbit. Gonna give it another try in the morning.

Thanksgiving weekend

Sorry folks, first chance i've had to write in awhile. Time to start thinking 'bout fall. Ryan, you coming up? I know that Nelson put in for tags in KB county. I think Pat and I are going to try to make it over there for that weekend.

I've been missing the open country of SD. Yeah, I love the woods, damn, i've seen some beautiful sights this summer (despite the lack of college girls), but I often think back to the crisp fall air over prairie fields. Snow covered corn stubble and the condensing puff of breath out of of a big doe. So I can't wait to see ya'll, suppose I should look up the NR applicaton dates soon....

Dove lease

I'm thinking about doing a lease here in TX for Dove hunting... what do you think? http://djfarmsdovelease.com/
They also allow hunting for anything else except deer. Dad, take a look at the website they run an operation similar to what you want to start.

New Akkerman hunters

	Mom and Rusty. I think they're getting along.
	Yep, he can swim.
	He can almost swim right out of the water
	Here are all the young Akkerman Hunters (and a couple that are just young at heart).

Will it work on Snipe??

When daughter Peggy and her 4 year old son Daniel was at the farm earlier this summer, we were sitting around the fire ring, drinking beer, and talking hunting(what else?), and when did we think Daniel would be old enough to join the hunting crew in the fall. We jokingly told Daniel that until he was old enough to shoot a gun, he could only come along to act like a dog, and carry birds and stuff. We were also talking about seeing mountain lions and bobcats at different times, and told Daniel that to scare lions and bobcats away, he needed to walk around clicking 2 sticks together, and call out to the cats. He found his 2 sticks, and started walking along the driveway, clicking his sticks, and calling "Bob, Bob, Hey Bob!!!"
While he was doing this, a pheasant started crowing in the alfalfa field next to the driveway. Every time Daniel clicked his sticks, and yelled for "BoB", this pheasant would crow back (probably because it was being disturbed). Daniel tried it again later, and also the next day, and everytime, a pheasant would answer his call. Daniel is now convinced that he has the knack of being able to call pheasants, and told his mother, "I don't have to be old enough to hunt, I can go along and call the pheasants for the guys to shoot!" Needless to say, Terri, Peggy and I were having an awful time keeping a straight face( or not falling off our chairs) while he was walking around clicking his sticks, and calling for "Bob".
More later,
The Old Farmer.

I Passed !!! Look out poachers

It is final I just got my State Exam score and I passed. Only 6 more weeks of in-serves training and I'll be home and on-duty.

Back from Greece

Well I am back from Greece and as you all know the work there is hard. And the morning are hell I have to make my own coffee and then drink it with students. But, some how I seem to be able to struggle through an other day at the "office".

The trip was good and I am on my way to my dad's in Ottawa for a week. Then off to the boat and a bunch of dive training.

Farmer man loved the story and it will be great to be back on the "farm".

Well more later

Gray hunter

What a Beautiful View!!!

I was cutting alfalfa at the farm yesterday, right along the driveway. A car with Florida plates drove in, and a nice looking woman got out carrying a large sample case. She was selling aerial photos of the farmstead. They are now taken by digital camera, so one of the selling points was that she could erase or cover up unsightly areas. I asked her to remove the old trailer house, and take out several junk piles.
Now, as Paul Harvey would say, "the rest of the story". This woman was very well built, and had on a loose fitting tank top that showed her attributes at their finest. To put this description in a hunting vernacular that we can all understand, "she would have a hard time hiding behind a tree during deer season, or she would make a good guide, as she was always pointing the way. She was sitting on the front step of the house, giving me and Josh(my 15 year old traveling friend), her well practiced sales pitch. We were standing above her, totally fascinated by the view (of the farmstead pictures) that she was showing us. All of a sudden, she grabbed the front of her tank top, and pulled it way out, and shouted, Can you see anything?
Duh!! How do you answer a question like that.
She reached down her shirt, and was searching for something. Gentleman that I am, I was ready to volunteer to help her search for whatever had hidden in her cleavage, when she pulled out a seed from the ash tree in front of the house. Curses, I had visions of doing a strip search, and saving her from a viscous bee or wasp, not a tree seed. After I had purchased the photo, which I had been wanting for 20+ years, but have never been around the farm at the right time, I couldn't help but wonder, would her sales technique have been any different if Terri had been the one talking to her?
Things looking great at the farm, several nice rains, food plots looking OK. Lots of deer around, good hatch from the Canadian Geese, and pheasants starting to nest. Think Fall, and hunting, but take time to enjoy the summer, it is way too short.

Happy Fathers Day, the old Farmer.

Food Plots

Just got a phone call from Randy O., the guy who will pick my corn plots. We had a 1/2 inch of rain last night, so he can pick this afternoon, I will make a quick trip to the farm, and hopefully will get the new crop planted today or tomorrow.

More later, the old farmer

drive to the farm every week... :-(

Just found out that sometime this year my job is moving to a new office another 20 miles away. So I might be spending 12-15 hours in a car every week.... just venting.... sigh

MN Hunting leases

Just in case anybody is interested in leasing Potlatch land for hunting in MN...

http://recreation.potlatchcorp.com/mn/tracts/

Prices aren't too bad if several guys went in on it.

Farm update

Finally had a chance to spend a couple of days at the farm, being a working stiff really cuts into my spare time. I did get the food plot down in the big slough planted yesterday, I just planted between the rows from last year, and then sprayed to kill the weeds. The planter bar pretty well knocked down the old stalks, and in the entire plot, I saw 2 ears of corn. Every thing else had a bare cob hanging from the stalk. I'd say the pheasants and deer had pretty good eating all winter. I hope to have someone lined up to pick the two other plots next weekend, then I can get the rest planted.
I had a "slight" disagreement with my renters, and unfortunately, I let them have their way. (I'm just too nice a guy) They denied that I had told them I wasn't going to rent the pastures this year, so they will still have cattle on them this year, and probably chew them right down to the roots, just like last year. Therefore, we won't have the extra corn and grass to hunt on, at least for this year. They are also planting much more soybeans, and much less corn acres.
Next fall, they will get written notice of cancellation of the present lease. I'm not sure what I will be doing, but I will have much more active involvement in management, if not actually farming part or all myself.
Pistol Pat, are you free for the summer, or still tied to the academic scene?
Later, the old farmer

Gun auction

Well, I went to the DNR confiscated gun auction on Saturday. Turns out they haven't done this in about 4 years. I estimate there were about 1000 people there and only about 300 guns. They did about a gun a minute. I'm glad I didn't have any money, I could see how its easy to get caught up in the excitement. I looked over a lot of the weapons and the vast majority were in pretty rough shape. People were spending WAY too much money on some. I saw one basic Remington 870 pump go for $300... you can buy a NEW one for less. There were a few good deals though, I made my buddy bid on a nice Savage .22 which he got for $200. Hardly been used. I saw a Tika T3 decked out with scope and all go for $1000 even, and a like-new Marlin .45-70 govt with a Leupold 3-9x scope go for $650. The only one I saw that I was interested in was a Stainless Browning A-bolt in .338 Win Mag (I could really reach out and touch something with that!), but when the price went over $700 I new I was out... actually when the price started out at $400 I new I was out, HA! And oh what a crowd...

Mr. T

I pity the fool who doesn't do his civic duty!

My brother had jury duty with Mr. T this week in Cook County IL.

Can Killer

If you look close you can see the brass ejecting! This girl was murdering soup cans at 70-80 yards... The new pea shooter is a damn accurate little gun. We saw 5 flocks of turkeys and estimated about 80 birds total... all on Marylin's cousin Ray's farm. Two nice Toms strutting their stuff for the hens.

BTW, if anybody is interested the MN DNR is having their confiscated firearms auction in Zimmerman on May 2nd. They're supposed to have a list of all 300 weapons on the website soon... http://www.hillerauction.com/. I guess out of 570,000 hunters, 300 confiscated guns isn't too bad.

Can you ID these deer?

One of these has a nice rack and one is a real ass... Can you tell me which is which? :-)

The Devils Piss

Gentleman
I now can say for a fact. I would rather put my ass on an electric fence than get sprayed in the face again with pepper-spray!

Old Farmer to answer your questions, first we had to do the spray in the face then run through a fighting take down and cuffing scenario. The pepper really hurts after the adrenaline goes away. Since you and I both have been through it do you think I should bring my can to the farm next year so Pat, Ryan, and Topher can try it?
As for my area the FWC is sending me back home to Palm Beach County so we don't have to move or do anything different. I will be on a 50/50 squad 50% of my time on the Ocean and 50% of my time out in the woods and swamp.
If yall want to check out my agency go to myfwc.com

Random notes

Dad says there are a group of goose hunters staying at the farm this week. Sounds like they're having a good time.

We had some snow flurries here this morning... BRRRRR snow in TX in the end of March is crazy...

Dad took the rifle back with him to see if he can try out the predator call and shoot some coyotes.

Hello!!!!! Is anyone there????

Predator Call

Dad bought a new predator call at the Fremont Pheasants Forever banquet this weekend. He says it is supposed to be a pretty good one. Can't wait to try it out this year.

Snow Deer

Other web pages.

I would invite you to look at a web site entitiled www.huntsfromtheheart.com
A young man and his wife from this area run a commercial hunt service in Manitoba and Alberta, Canada. They provide hunts for deer, moose, bear, wolf, as well as waterfowl and fishing. He also has turkey hunts in Nebraska. A trip like this has always been kind of a dream of mine, for maybe when we get "rich and retired". Is that term an oxymoron?

I met his brother last summer, who is an avid "traditional" longbow hunter. You may have seen his book, "IN MY NECK OF THE WOODS", at the farm house last fall. He has written a series of short stories, each one the stalk and harvest of his deer and other game. His goal in his life is to do a "grandslam" of every game animal in the world. He has been to Africa and killed several big game there. He still wants to get an elephant, rhino, lion and cape buffalo.

Both brothers state that there is something that really provides an adrenaline rush when you are hunting big game, that if your first arrow doesn't kill it, the game may kill you before you get a second chance. Duh!!! Do you think?

The great white hunter is talking about making a De Smet trip some weekend to try to fill his last Muzzleloader tag. Lots of snow, should make for a good hunt.

Talk to me:
Later, the old farmer

Enjoying the hunt

I had time to enjoy our deer hunt results. I made a large pot of venison stew today, Terri said it was really good, so I thought I would share the receipe with you.

2 large venison steaks or roasts, diced into 1/2 inch chunks. I boil the meat in salt water for a few minutes, and then drain and rinse with hot water. This removes some of the fat and the edge of the "game" taste, and will help to tenderize the meat.
take the following ingredients, and chop:
1 medium head of cabbage
1 head of celery
2 medium onions
1 red pepper
4-5 pounds of potatoes
2 cans or one frozen package of the following:
green beans, whole kernal corn, tomato preserves
optional: 1 additional can of diced tomatoes, a second pepper if desired.

Simmer everything for about one hour, except for the celery, add this after 1/2 hour. Shut off and ladle what you will eat for one meal into a smaller pan, and simmer an additional 1/2 hour. Salt and pepper to taste, add other spices as desired. Freeze the remainder into meal size containers, and finish cooking prior to serving. This will prevent the vegetables from becoming overcooked in the large pot.

This will make about 3-4 gallon of stew, so you may want to reduce the receipe, or you should have good eating for seveal meals.

Thanks, Deerkiller, for the meat!

The old farmer