January 2009 Updates page 5
11 January
Traveling Hunter
John,
Just wanted to drop you an email ref. my [location deleted] '08 hunt. It was a long one. As you know, I drew a Mule Deer Permit (muzzleloader only). I hunted in [location deleted] for the big muley that you described in some of our emails. It took me 2.5 days to finally find what may have been him. I spotted him across the fence on other property probably 500 to 600 yards away. Unfortunately, his right antler was completely missing. His left side was quite big but he must have been a real fighter this November. It was truly disheartening since [location deleted] does not have tons of muleys. I saw only one other small mule deer. I held out almost too long for a muley. I passed on some decent whitetails until the last night of my 6 day hunt. I gave it everything but came up short on a mule deer. However, after pushing and passing a few really nice whitetail bucks, I finally let the Thompson Center Omega go to work. I spotted a decent 8 point on the property I was hunting and low crawled into his bed. I low crawled about 185 yards and it took forever. I knew he wasn't the buck I was going to spend my valuable tag on, but I was hoping he would attract another buck because there were does in the area. During my low crawl I spotted a second buck bedded around a cedar tree. He was broken up pretty bad but I was excited about seeing another buck. After getting to a good location, with the wind in my advantage, and good cover to move a little, I held up and waited. As it turned out, the 8 point that I low crawled to, was in fact with a second buck. I listened, though I could not quite see, as they often sparred. I could hear there antlers bang around but it never seemed like a true fight. After some time I saw the second buck that the 8 point was sparring. It was a huge 6 point that I believed had some mule deer genes. It had more of a whitetail head, but the antlers favored that of a mule deer. It was very tempting at about 55 yards but I wanted a pure mule deer or a big whitetail, so I continued to pass. As the afternoon dwindled away, the does and all the bucks but the broken up buck headed toward the crop fields. I continued to watch the broken buck feed in front of me about 100 yards out. At about 4:50 PM, I noticed a buck come up out of a draw and start towards the broken buck. I was facing into the setting sun so I had quite a bit of glare but I could tell the rack was big. I decided that this was going to be my buck, since I was out of time. At 86 yards the Thompson Center made quick work. When I got to the buck, I was amazed. He is about the widest buck I have ever seen, even on t.v. He was also broken up pretty bad much like most of the aggressive deer during this time of the year. His G-4 on his right side was broken as was his forked brow tine. His G-2 and G-4 on the left were also broken pretty bad. I was still really excited. I measured him and he was 23 3/8 inside and just over 25 outside. I took him to a super taxidermist in Salina. We both studied the rack for some time and decided to repair the broken tines. I know some people will not believe in doing that but he is and was a great buck and deserves to be repaired. We are staying very conservative on the size of the broken tines. The taxidermist has 23 years of experience and is also a measurer and he had what I would consider a very good educated guess. No less, the buck is a great trophy. Again, I thank you and MAHA for what you have given me the past 4 years. It is hard work and it is tough to harvest a Boone and Crocket unguided. I am getting closer every year and hopefully will reach that magic 170 inch number. Keep up the great work and PLEASE keep looking for the great whitetail properties, I know they are tough to find and expensive.
Attached are a couple of pics of the deer. Happy Holidays to you and your family. John
Thank you John for showing us your continuing success. Congratulations on hunting one of the toughest areas.
Stands
Deer stands must be taken down not later than the end of the season. This is not a draconian rule meant to dominate the membership but one that lends to a better member experience and organization.
Stands left after the season may not be retrievable as we may no longer have any one particular lease after the close of a season. Some plan to retrieve stands during a late winter/early spring scouting trip only to find an occasional lease is seasonal and they are denied off season access. Occasionally hunters wait until spring turkey season for a combination turkey hunt and stand retrieval to find the land where the stand is located reserved by another turkey hunter and access denied. Occasionally a hunter will retrieve a stand without making a reservation. This is frequently detected by a landowner, who are more active on their land in late winter and early spring. Such landowner reports of the hunter presence typically involve a lease where the office must notify the landowner whenever a hunter will be present on his land, especially when outside of well known hunting seasons. Finally, those that leave their stands at their own risk increase the risk of lost stands the longer the stand is left on the tree.
Kansas Deer
Recommendations for deer seasons hunting for 2009 and 2010 were: youth and disability, Sept. 12 to Sept. 20; early muzzleloader, Sept. 21 to Oct. 4; archery, Sept. 21 to Dec. 31; early firearms, Oct. 10 to Oct. 18; regular firearms, Dec. 2 to Dec. 13; extended white-tail antlered only, Jan. 1 to Jan. 3, 2010; and extended archery, Jan. 4 to Jan. 31, 2010.
Farm Lobby Strength and Tax Payer Money
"The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) plans to purchase approximately $26 million worth of orange juice...The action follows a September request by Mutual [Florida Citrus Mutual ] that the USDA purchase a significant amount of orange juice to help reduce inventories and boost grower returns...In its request, the Lakeland-based growers organization told the USDA of the rising production costs, lower prices and mammoth inventories now facing Florida citrus growers..."
USDA to buy $26M in orange juice inventories, News Chief, staff report, January 9, 2009.
Field Shots
Spring Turkey
Hunters are looking forward to spring turkey with advantage to those that fall deer hunted having spotted some winter flocks that have been more rare this year than for a long time previously. Those that tag toms this spring will show themselves as good hunters during increasingly tougher conditions. Traveling hunters seem to continue the split between those that drive out to turkey hunt and deer scout to those that fly out/rental car turkey hunt only. The buddy hunt list will be updated for spring turkey season.
Buddy Hunt Listing
Buddy hunts are the teaming up of like minded hunters to share a hunt. For members only. If a hunter desires a hunting partner he emails or calls (816 761 3636) the office and has his name, telephone number, hunting interest and dog details placed on our buddy hunt list. Each on the list is sent a copy of it. Those with similar hunting interests make their own coordination to hunt together. This service has been very successful and no one should hesitate signing up on the buddy hunt list.
