April 28, 20214 yr I was able to get out a few weeks ago and get a decent bird. Also got a little time with my suppressed 450 bushmaster with the Sig electro optics, fun stuff.
April 28, 20214 yr 6 hours ago, Reagan1k said: Anyone heard of aoudad die-offs in the freeze? I may have asked before, but don't recall. Friend of mine hunts a little over 100k acres out west, can’t recall the name of ranch but I’m sure some of y’all would know it. They were up there in March fucking around for a few days and there were ALOT, supposedly. But that’s not to say many didn’t perish, just that there was a shitload left.
April 28, 20214 yr Well, looks like CHIEF Jr. and I are back on a lease. Far eastern Kent County, between Guthrie and Benjamin. Tailgate buddy had a spot open up on a 6600 acre pasture on the Spike Box Ranch. It's deep canyons and mesquite flats. WT, Muleys, Auodad, ducks, dove, and Sandhills. Even an occasional elk comes through. So it's back to sitting on ridges and glassing. There's probably 2000 acres in the SE corner that no-one hunts, they mainly hunt the river. I have a location picked out there, as well. I hate watching the same area all season, and like to move around, there are three areas to do just that. The tine length out there is absolutely crazy, it's 43 miles north of our last lease that I had with Dad, which had incredible tine length as well.. Camp is 11 miles off the highway. Can't wait to look at the stars on a moonless night again, and hear coyotes at all hours of the day. CHIEFWe should hang out more. Like in the Fall.
April 28, 20214 yr On 4/26/2021 at 9:34 AM, Spaulding Smails said: I knew we were close to you. This was actually off Loop 165 near Longhorn River Ranch. OK, so probably 2 miles due W of me. Like, not bullshitting - if I got the opportunity to ride straight W of me, that would put me on to LRR. BTW, Jimmie Vaughan lives on Loop 165. I've been down it a few times (work mostly, maybe 5 recreational times) to see if I can spot him, maybe walking to his car, checking the mail, whatever. Never any luck... but I do like that short drive. Some fine looking locations there. & If I won the lottery bigly, I'd like to buy LRR.
April 28, 20214 yr That view as you crest the hill on 165 going towards blanco is what Texas Hill Country is all about.
April 28, 20214 yr 10 hours ago, CHIEF said: Well, looks like CHIEF Jr. and I are back on a lease. Far eastern Kent County, between Guthrie and Benjamin. Tailgate buddy had a spot open up on a 6600 acre pasture on the Spike Box Ranch. It's deep canyons and mesquite flats. WT, Muleys, Auodad, ducks, dove, and Sandhills. Even an occasional elk comes through I absolutely love that area, and if the kids and wife didn’t enjoy the lease as much as they do, I’d be out that way. But 8 hours is a long haul when not by myself. Awesome awesome find.
April 28, 20214 yr Can't wait to look at the stars on a moonless night again, and hear coyotes at all hours of the day. CHIEFGod’s country. Never seen so many stars as I have when my grandparents were still alive and we spent damn near every weekend and most summers in O’Brien. Crazy to be able to look out across a field at midnight and count cattle/coyotes/pigs. Great Uncle lived on the Brazos west of Knox City and was the Ted Nugent type. He had just about every critter imaginable stuffed and mounted somewhere in his house and every single one had been shot from his back porch. Big cat, little cat, monster turkey, you name it. That land is hard livin so the animals that do make it are pretty damn impressive.
April 28, 20214 yr 8 hours ago, ROFL BOX said: OK, so probably 2 miles due W of me. Like, not bullshitting - if I got the opportunity to ride straight W of me, that would put me on to LRR. BTW, Jimmie Vaughan lives on Loop 165. I've been down it a few times (work mostly, maybe 5 recreational times) to see if I can spot him, maybe walking to his car, checking the mail, whatever. Never any luck... but I do like that short drive. Some fine looking locations there. & If I won the lottery bigly, I'd like to buy LRR. We need to meet up for a beer one day. I'm on Creek Rd near Camp Lucy. That Loop 165 is a cool little stretch. I was looking at 5 acres that is on the market there. The east side that fronts the creek is gorgeous with beautiful homes. The west side of the road was hit and miss.
April 28, 20214 yr Well, looks like CHIEF Jr. and I are back on a lease. Far eastern Kent County, between Guthrie and Benjamin. Tailgate buddy had a spot open up on a 6600 acre pasture on the Spike Box Ranch. It's deep canyons and mesquite flats. WT, Muleys, Auodad, ducks, dove, and Sandhills. Even an occasional elk comes through. So it's back to sitting on ridges and glassing. There's probably 2000 acres in the SE corner that no-one hunts, they mainly hunt the river. I have a location picked out there, as well. I hate watching the same area all season, and like to move around, there are three areas to do just that. The tine length out there is absolutely crazy, it's 43 miles north of our last lease that I had with Dad, which had incredible tine length as well.. Camp is 11 miles off the highway. Can't wait to look at the stars on a moonless night again, and hear coyotes at all hours of the day. CHIEFHunted there a few years back. Stayed at a house in Benjamin that a Senator from WF used. Great hunting area.
April 28, 20214 yr Chief I dont know if you know this, but I am actually your long lost son. Remember that dance hall back in 84? Curly haired chick with the daisy dukes? Yup. So lets make up for lost time. Hunting sounds like a great way to reconnect.
April 29, 20214 yr 22 hours ago, Anastasis said: That view as you crest the hill on 165 going towards blanco is what Texas Hill Country is all about. It's practically what made me move here from Fort Lauderdale (well, my 1st wife was really the impetus but having access to "wide open spaces" vs. [Everglades & mosquitoes to the L of me, open water & can't afford a boat / get seasick easily to the R of me, too many New Yorkers to the S of me].
April 29, 20214 yr 14 hours ago, Spaulding Smails said: We need to meet up for a beer one day. I'm on Creek Rd near Camp Lucy. That Loop 165 is a cool little stretch. I was looking at 5 acres that is on the market there. The east side that fronts the creek is gorgeous with beautiful homes. The west side of the road was hit and miss. Send me a PM with your digits; I do recall you mentioning in a PM that you were across the way - might have been a hail discussion, maybe when our Cub Scouts for this part of the Sacred Springs District had "Twilight Day Camp" @ Lucy.
April 29, 20214 yr IDGAF about the pics of critters @ feeders - this one right here? That's what makes me fall in love. Hunting, fishing, swimming, seeing every star @ night & being able to share that with your friends & family - that's 100% awesomesauce.
April 29, 20214 yr Here is where I'm at on the light pollution map: I'm more excited about taking CHIEF Jr.'s telescope out there than the hunting. On a moonless, clear night, you can see whole galaxies with the naked eye. It is truly the most incredible thing I have ever experienced. There are as many heavenly bodies as space between them. Our old lease was in the southern section of that dark spot and was incredible, but we were still within 60 miles of Abilene. This place will be "Big Bend" dark. CHIEF Edited April 29, 20214 yr by CHIEF
May 1, 20214 yr Finally getting a significant amount of rain and over an extended period of time. IMG_1655.MOV
May 2, 20214 yr The river finally came up and flowed over our crossing last night. Hall-a-freaking-loo-yah! Fresh water to douche out the holes downstream. IMG_1678.mov
May 3, 20214 yr The river finally came up and flowed over our crossing last night. Hall-a-freaking-loo-yah! Fresh water to douche out the holes downstream. IMG_1678.movLooking good! Was that a fish at the end of the video?
May 3, 20214 yr When y’all post pics of your surly 1% ranchettes will y’all post the location (like west of Abilene or Harris county lol or whatever). I can’t keep track of where y’all are.
May 3, 20214 yr 2 hours ago, 686 said: Looking good! Was that a fish at the end of the video? Looked like it to me.
May 3, 20214 yr On 5/1/2021 at 8:29 PM, deadshank said: That right there is what it is all about. Gorgeous.
May 3, 20214 yr 10 hours ago, 686 said: Looking good! Was that a fish at the end of the video? Yes. Carp are tailing like redfish and running upstream at shallows like salmon. Gar camping out in the eddies.
May 3, 20214 yr Here are the carp. Watch out for them bones. IMG_1691.mov Edited May 3, 20214 yr by deadshank
May 3, 20214 yr On 5/1/2021 at 7:29 AM, deadshank said: Finally getting a significant amount of rain and over an extended period of time. IMG_1655.MOV You don't often see that in South Texas unless there's a hurricane or it's the week before dove season.
May 3, 20214 yr On 4/29/2021 at 8:29 AM, CHIEF said: Here is where I'm at on the light pollution map: I'm more excited about taking CHIEF Jr.'s telescope out there than the hunting. On a moonless, clear night, you can see whole galaxies with the naked eye. It is truly the most incredible thing I have ever experienced. There are as many heavenly bodies as space between them. Our old lease was in the southern section of that dark spot and was incredible, but we were still within 60 miles of Abilene. This place will be "Big Bend" dark. CHIEF Love it. There's us in the gray as well. Between Coleman and Ballinger; next to Talpa. 100% chance of seeing shooting stars if you stay at it long enough. Yote's singing in the background. When there's no cloud cover, I've seen low level communication satellites tracking across the sky. It's wild. Like the tiniest star moving in a straight line from right to left.
May 8, 20214 yr Gentlemen, got a question on land valuation. Friend of friend just inherited 2k acres in Wharton, not on the river but near. Has 5 bedroom modern house. Assume 50/50 wooded (trying to verify). Lots of ducks, lots of hogs, several tanks with bass to 10# confirmed caught. He has several other properties and wants to lease this out. Preferably would be a corp type deal. Any idea on estimate on acreage in that area? eta: hasn’t been hunted in 20+ years from my understanding. Edited May 8, 20214 yr by fattyflattie
May 8, 20214 yr Gentlemen, got a question on land valuation. Friend of friend just inherited 2k acres in Wharton, not on the river but near. Has 5 bedroom modern house. Assume 50/50 wooded (trying to verify). Lots of ducks, lots of hogs, several tanks with bass to 10# confirmed caught. He has several other properties and wants to lease this out. Preferably would be a corp type deal. Any idea on estimate on acreage in that area? eta: hasn’t been hunted in 20+ years from my understanding. I doubt he could lease it for more than $1 an acre, but seeing as he’s recently had a death in the family, I’d be willing to pay $2. That’s just the kind of nice guy I am.
May 8, 20214 yr Just now, Brisketexan said: I doubt he could lease it for more than $1 an acre, but seeing as he’s recently had a death in the family, I’d be willing to pay $2. That’s just the kind of nice guy I am. Haha. Apparently he’s got several hundred/1k more in a much nicer area than Wharton. My understanding is he just went into a very early retirement, but doesn’t necessarily want to fuck with a few thousand acres in Wharton. Apparently been in the family since the land grants, so likely not wanting to sell it either. I’m just curious. Personally, it’s 40 mins from my house and that’s a huge negative, but big positive for others. The deer aren’t great down there but pigs, ducks, fishing, dove, geese, and crane all are.
May 8, 20214 yr Haha. Apparently he’s got several hundred/1k more in a much nicer area than Wharton. My understanding is he just went into a very early retirement, but doesn’t necessarily want to fuck with a few thousand acres in Wharton. Apparently been in the family since the land grants, so likely not wanting to sell it either. I’m just curious. Personally, it’s 40 mins from my house and that’s a huge negative, but big positive for others. The deer aren’t great down there but pigs, ducks, fishing, dove, geese, and crane all are. Yep. My best man long had a family tract near Egypt, TX. The piece on the north side of 102 had great goose and duck hunting. The bottomland on the other side had great duck, rabbit, and deer. Pretty sad day when the family sold it all. I must have hunted down there 200 times over the years. I really like that country.
May 10, 20214 yr Well, the cloud cover didn't cooperate this weekend for stargazing. But this place is amazing. The roads are so steep that when you pull up to a hill, you have to look out and up from the side of the Ranger to see the top, probably 50-55 degree inclines, we came down one with the rear tires off the ground. If you break down it is about a four hour walk back to camp, so your vehicles better be in good shape. The South Wichita river runs all through it and is crystal clear, not anything like I thought it would be. We saw that big Aoudad in the feeder picture on the side of a cliff at about 350 yards, he will probably go B&C. We had a yearling Aoudad kid (still probably 200 lbs.) jump off the cut embankment right after a river crossing (a ten foot drop) take too running steps and clear the ten foot embankment on the other side of the road. Most amazing thing I've ever seen. CHIEF
May 10, 20214 yr Captured some exotics on our camera. First time ever for a Nilgai. Not so much on the other species.
May 10, 20214 yr Popular Post Buddy and I did an over night backpack Turkey hunt. No turkeys located but some great hiking.
May 10, 20214 yr 9 minutes ago, MoJames said: Buddy and I did an over night backpack Turkey hunt. No turkeys located but some great hiking. Beautiful country. Where is it (generally)?
May 10, 20214 yr 3 hours ago, MoJames said: Buddy and I did an over night backpack Turkey hunt. No turkeys located but some great hiking. Shitballs that pic is awesome AF. That's 100% what it's about, man - turkey or not. How many miles in / total elevation gain?
May 10, 20214 yr 55 minutes ago, ROFL BOX said: Shitballs that pic is awesome AF. That's 100% what it's about, man - turkey or not. How many miles in / total elevation gain? Oh it was fairly brief, 3 miles and 1k. Based on the fact we didn't find any jakes or toms we needed to be a bit deeper in that area for the time of year.
May 10, 20214 yr 5 hours ago, Lat22 said: Captured some exotics on our camera. First time ever for a Nilgai. Not so much on the other species. In the last two pics, are those foreign exchange students doing a field survey?
May 16, 20214 yr 2.75” of rain in four hours today with more on the way. Got some work done and relaxing by the river before nightfall. Got the whole joint to myself this weekend. Not too bad enjoying a wonderful slice of this state. Edited May 16, 20214 yr by deadshank
May 16, 20214 yr 17 minutes ago, deadshank said: I just won at least one extra night vacation!! IMG_1798.MOV IMG_1801.MOV Congrats. Real Texans never complain about rain!
May 18, 20214 yr Dumb question amnesty!So I have 300 acres of huntable land in deer season... but 210 of it is 2 crop plots on either side of 90 acres of fenced in mesquite and brush with 3 stock ponds that has cattle that get moved through 2 times a month. I kinda want to put a pop up blind on an outer edge of a crop side to catch the deer that occasionally bypass our land. But I don’t want to just all the sudden on opening season have a strange “box” on flat land out there... so my thought and question to y’all who are much more versed in the sport of hunt: would it be wise to build a little cheap wood box with burlap camo netting out there on an edge where the machinery isn’t affecting it? My thought being the square structure will get them used to an object being there come hunting season...Now y’all feel free to gently call me a dope...
May 18, 20214 yr 19 minutes ago, Speedtrucker said: Dumb question amnesty! So I have 300 acres of huntable land in deer season... but 210 of it is 2 crop plots on either side of 90 acres of fenced in mesquite and brush with 3 stock ponds that has cattle that get moved through 2 times a month. I kinda want to put a pop up blind on an outer edge of a crop side to catch the deer that occasionally bypass our land. But I don’t want to just all the sudden on opening season have a strange “box” on flat land out there... so my thought and question to y’all who are much more versed in the sport of hunt: would it be wise to build a little cheap wood box with burlap camo netting out there on an edge where the machinery isn’t affecting it? My thought being the square structure will get them used to an object being there come hunting season... Now y’all feel free to gently call me a dope... Try a round bale. Throw some netting over it, or not.
May 18, 20214 yr They won't give a shit after a week or two. I always try to remember that they aren't thinking...Oh, there's a deer blind. All they are thinking is that something looks out of place. Let them see it a few times and it just becomes another part of the landscape. Put whatever kind of setup you want out there a few weeks before you want to hunt. Brush it in a bit to soften the edges if it is really conspicuous, and go have fun hunting. The new smell of burlap, synthetic covering, fresh cut 2x4s etc will be more alarming to them than the object. A week or two to visually blend in as normal, and not peak the olfactory senses is all you need. I've used a pop-up blind right out of the box, brushed it in good with aromatic cedar boughs, and hunted it successfully the same day. The most important thing is to eliminate your silhouette. If they can't see through it and notice your head moving, they are more than likely not going to give a tinker's dam that its even there.
May 18, 20214 yr I’ve literally driven a pickup out in to the middle of a wheat field and sat in a folding chair in the bed and shot the biggest deer of my life. Y’all overthink this too much sometimes
May 18, 20214 yr 45 minutes ago, Reagan1k said: They won't give a shit after a week or two. I always try to remember that they aren't thinking...Oh, there's a deer blind. All they are thinking is that something looks out of place. Let them see it a few times and it just becomes another part of the landscape. Put whatever kind of setup you want out there a few weeks before you want to hunt. Brush it in a bit to soften the edges if it is really conspicuous, and go have fun hunting. The new smell of burlap, synthetic covering, fresh cut 2x4s etc will be more alarming to them than the object. A week or two to visually blend in as normal, and not peak the olfactory senses is all you need. I've used a pop-up blind right out of the box, brushed it in good with aromatic cedar boughs, and hunted it successfully the same day. The most important thing is to eliminate your silhouette. If they can't see through it and notice your head moving, they are more than likely not going to give a tinker's dam that its even there. The silhouette part is key. Use some cammo netting behind you.
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