Getting a Jump the Working Stiffs

So I am sitting here looking at my calendar and thinking about killing things. The school has been nice enough to cancel classes the day before Thanksgiving, and I canceled shop in the afternoon on Tuesday. Now it occurs to me that if I cancel class on Tuesday morning (just Grad students) and shop on Monday afternoon I could be hunting by sunup on Tuesday.

Now if I only had someone to guest lecture my Monday 12:30 I could actually make opener the weekend before, and have my deer hung by the time you all get there.

So, any one feel like guest lecturing? Any topic you choose. I'll even lend you my tweed jacket with the corduroy patches on the elbows.

Please?

Response to Phil's comment under "Public Land"

I think you're onto something Phil. I measured, and it's 230 yards from the closest point in the trees to the watering hole. Check out the low draw that runs along the east side of the farmstead and goes north-east. We've seen deer use low draws like this as concealed movement corridors in Jerauld. I think if you put someone in a stand or blind on the northwest corner of the shelterbelt around the house you might see some action. Both spots are pretty close to the house, but if we stay quiet in the morning we might have some luck.

Public land

I've just finished my morning procrastination, and digitized and compiled all the public land in Kingsbury County. Maps soon!

Summary statistics are as follows:

• There are approximately 17,000 acres of public hunting land in the county (some of which is underwater, much of which is mud and cattails).
• ~10,000 acres are SD GPAs (Game Production Areas)
  
• ~6500 acres is USFWS WPAs (Waterfowl Production Areas)
• There are ~44 GPAs in the county.
• There are ~33 WPAs in the county.
• This year there are NO "Walk in Areas". Throw out your old hunting atlases, for some reason many landowners have withdrawn their land from this program.

For comparison's sake, the Akkerman and Kruze land is about 960 acres combined and is all contiguous.

Like I said, there is a lot of mud, water, and cattails. There is also quite a bit of upland, shoreline, and foodplots. There should be plenty of great spots to ambush Bambi on...

New War Wagon

Tofer I think you should post a Picture of the new war wagon.

Deer stand

There is a deer stand which is on the corner of our property which is the westernmost corner of the southern property line. Depending on how much water is in the slough you may have to come in from the south to get to it. The stand is pretty nice. Dad put it up a couple of years ago. It is about 15 feet high and fully enclosed (I believe it has sliding windows) I'm not sure of the dimensions but it is easily big enough for 2 people. Dad has also talked about putting up a couple of others similar but I'm not sure exactly where.

First Drawing Results

SD had the first drawing for deer. Bucks went fast in Kingsbury. I drew a 2 doe license. Here's whats left:

LICENSE TYPE KEY:

03: One Any Antlerless Deer
09: TWO Any Antlerless Deer
License: Number Left:

42A03 148
42A09 169

Should be plenty for the non-residents.

Notice the designation antlerless "deer". Whitetail is not specified like it is in some counties. Anybody know if there are any other deer in Kingsbury? I doubt it.

I drew a 2 doe in muzzleloader too. Guess no horns this year. Well, in SD anyway. I think I may try my luck in MN one weekend...

Land Anyone?

So if anybody has like $40,000 laying around that they'd like to buy some land with, I found this 16 acre plot in Aitkin County MN that would make a great hunting shack spot. I was looking for duck hunting spots when I ran across it. Its near loads of public land (adjacent to over 7000 acres of unmarked county forests/wetlands) for hunting deer/ducks/grouse and bear. About an hour and a half from the cities and only minutes from Mille Lacs lake. Various hardwood cover and a clearing by the road that was a timber harvest landing. Oh yeah, you'll need 10% of the auctioned price by the 28th. I'd be happy to be someones auction rep. if they can't make it. Just send me a check....

Ahh, where is my secret rich benefactor when I need him/her?

New Boots

I just ordered my new boot. This year no cold feet for me or for Pat since last year he gave me his to wear.

Deadlines

From the East River Deer Application:

EAST RIVER DEER Application Deadlines
First Deadline - Residents only: Paper applications must be postmarked not later than Friday, Aug. 31. Apply online by 8:00 a.m. CDT Tuesday, Sept. 4. One application may be submitted per person for this drawing. Results available online by Sept. 21.

Second Deadline - Residents only: Paper applications must be postmarked no later than Friday, Oct. 12. Apply online by 8:00 a.m. CDT Tuesday, Oct. 16. Residents who do not have a license may submit one application. Results available online by Oct. 19.

Third Deadline - Residents and nonresidents: Paper applications must be postmarked no later than Friday, Oct. 26. Apply online by 8:00 a.m. CDT Tuesday, Oct. 30. Residents and nonresidents may apply for additional licenses (5 maximum for this season). Results available online by Nov. 2.

Leftover Licenses - After the third deadline drawings, licenses remaining are pooled and will be issued first-come, first-served to both residents and nonresidents that either apply online or by mailing in a paper application.

Online applications will be available after the drawing from the previous deadline has occurred. it would be wise to check the status of the previous drawing before applying.

Logistics

This post is in response to Soldier Boy's comments on "SD residents mount up!". This would be good place to share ideas about logistics. When you'll be hunting, things we need to bring ect...

rla sent me a great Google Earth outline of the Akkerman and Kruze property. Looks like they've got about 960 acres contiguous. The farm is 8.5 miles north of the intersection of US 14 and 25 on the east side of the road(about a mile east of Spirit Lake)There is a ton of public land around there too. I have data from SD GFP about state lands that I can make maps from, but I'm working on getting USFWS data too (like pulling teeth although it is public data). There is a lot of "Waterfowl Production Area" nearby that will hold deer as well . Someone in SD should get a hold of about 10 of this years hunting atlases.