Tank Blind: A Box of Chocolates

November 17, 23 & 24, 2012

Yoakum, Texas

 

In my Time in the Blind post, I talked about moving to a blind in the middle of the oaks near a tank. With the lack of rain and abundant acorn crop it seemed like a logical idea. If the deer aren't coming to you, go to the deer.

 

After seeing the little buck the first sit, I cranked up an old 5-gallon feeder that has been sitting around since my days at Mota Bonita Lodge and hoisted it into an oak tree beside the tank. Over the past couple of weeks, I have had the chance to sit the blind several times, and I have seen different deer every time... Interesting.

 

I am not seeing a lot of deer, just one or two each hunt. As you will notice from my pictures, the deer around my area are not enormous. I don't hunt here for horns. If I want horns, I head south. Hunting the family land is more for the enjoyment of seeing and watching the wildlife... And of course eliminating any swine that are brave enough to show themselves.

 

Without further ado...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With a little cooler weather coming down as we begin December, look for the South Texas Golden Triangle rut to start kicking off. Its hard to pin down an exact date when it will get hot and heavy, but when it does, man is it fun to watch. I hope to get south one or two more times this year to look for Mr. Muy Grande. But, until next time...

 

 

Happy Hunting,

 



 

 



Happy Birthday Dad

Today my dad is one year younger. I guess we are together a lot more than most fathers and sons. At a very young age, he started cultivating my passion for hunting, fishing, camping and just enjoying the outdoors. I remember going deer hunting with him when I was small enough to stretch out and sleep on the floor of a 4'x4' box blind. He took me on my first camping trip when I was a few weeks old.

And to this day we still hunt together and play with our cows quite a bit. I make a lot of quick day trips back home to haul hay, build fence, hunt or help with anything I can. I also have been working for him for the past few years which has been a great opportunity for me to learn more about him and the business he loves.

Here are a few pictures of our times together. If you see him around, give him a slap on the back and wish him a happy birthday.


When you have shot one bird flying you have shot all birds flying. They are all different and they fly in different ways but the sensation is the same and the last one is as good as the first.
                                                      -- Ernest Hemingway

Argentina 2010

Argentina 2010

Argentina 2010

Argentina 2011 - too many shots

Argentina 2011

Argentina 2011

Argentina 2011

Argentina 2011

Argentina 2011

Argentina 2010

South Texas Quail

South Texas Quail

South Texas Quail

South Texas Dove

South Texas Dove

Mexico Dove

Mexico Dove

Mexico Dove

Headed to Uvalde for Dove

Frac Job

Frac Job

 

Wekeep our memories in the same place we bury dogs and pals who are no longerwith us. We keep these treasures in the vaults that hold the sights of geesepitching into a set of field decoys and quail buzzing out of a brushy corner bya split-rail fence. And when the time comes when it’s easier to remember oldtimes than to gather up new ones, it is to this place that we go, you and I, towatch for the flight at sunset.

                                                                                     – Steve Smith

 

 

 

Happy Birthday Dad.

 

 

Happy Hunting,

 

Time in the Blind

November 3 & 10, 2012

Yoakum, Texas

The past couple of Saturdays I have had the chance to get in the blind. The acorn crop in Dewitt & Lavaca Counties has really effected the way deer are moving and feeding. Our feeders will usually have 10-15 deer at them every morning and afternoon, and this year we are seeing 1 or 2.

 

Once the acorns have soured, rotted, frozen, I think we will start seeing a lot more deer showing up to the corn. I hunted my bow blind the mornings of November 3rd and 10th. Both sittings I only saw 1 doe.

 

Game Face On

With the lack of success at the feeders, I decided to go scout the oak trees some. I found a few trails coming into a water source surrounded by oaks and set up for my Saturday evening hunt. I utitlized an old blind sitting by the tank. After running out the wasps, spiders and testing the rotten floor, I was ready to hunt... I just couldn't move around too much or I would fall through the floor.

 

I ended up seeing a couple of bucks and listened to the Ags BTHObama, WHOOP. It was a very enjoyable hunt. 

 

My view for the Aggie game.

 

On Sunday the 12th, Tara had a shopping trip planned, so Sawyer and I hung out all day. We did all the fun things like watching football and playing with Lori.

 

 

I hope to get back in the blind over Thanksgiving and hopefully the deer will be moving a little more. So, until next time...

 

 

Happy Hunting,

 



October Wrap-Up

October, 2012

Various places around South Texas.

 

Just realized I hadn't put together a new post in a while, so here is an October summary. October is bow season for Texas, and over the past few years, I have started to primarily bow hunt. The necessary attention to detail and intensity of being so close to wild animals gets in your blood. I practice a lot in my backyard. I am usually pretty consistent, but every now and then I let one fly a bit wild. I appreciate my neighbors not getting mad at me yet for the mysterious holes in their fence.

 

 

 

The first weekend of October I was in the bow blind in Yoakum. It was hot. Not much moved. That is one of the problems with hunting the bow season in South Texas. It's usually 85-95 degrees, and you have to wear full body camo. I don't think there is a scent killer on the market that can cover up that much sweat.

 

The second weekend of October, my wife and I had our baby girl, Sawyer, dedicated at church. She has been a blessing to us, and she is a blast to hang out with. I can't wait until she can go hunting and fishing with me.

 

 

 

The third weekend of bow season October I was not in the stand again. We made the trip to College Station to watch the Ags make a great effort against the kitty cats of LSU.

 

 

 

Last weekend of October... Back in the blind. My father-in-law, brother-in-law and I headed down to Laredo to hunt for a long weekend. It was a fun weekend with a good little cold front blowing in Friday morning. Killing deer was just not in the cards for us though. I did, however, shoot my first coyote with a bow. I stuck him at 33 yards but unfortunately did not get any pictures of the kill.

 

My good luck beard didn't pan out.

Father-in-law's big kill for the weekend.

 

 

That wraps up October. I did get the chance to be in the bow blind last weekend, but there was not much happening. Now that we are into hunting season, I will try and get a few more posts up. Until next time...

 

 

Happy Hunting,