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- Jul 28, 2020
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3rd year in a row to do deer camp in OK with my brothers. Couldn't hunt the opener due to a wedding, and then last week was the only week we could all make it. Got back late sunday night - ended up being about a 10 hour drive with the camper.
Its a beautiful place - really unique chance to get to hunt almost 4,000 acres of very lightly hunted land. More than thankful to have the opportunity. We started out 3 years ago staying in a little shack with a wood burning stove. My brother brought his new camper this year. It was very nice, but I kinda missed the "roughing it" aspect of the previous hunts.
All total, I saw about 50 deer. Passed the 10 point in the trail cam pic below on the 2nd to last day, and saw another really good buck at the end of the powerlines but around 1000 yards away. Everything else was 2.5 or younger and does.
Coming in we had seen some really good bucks on camera, and a few others that had been killed on other parts of the ranch this year. Unfortunately, my camera died on 11/18 and we weren't able to get batteries in it until 11/29 so no telling what it missed.
I ended up having to go hands and knees through a thicket to recover my younger brothers first doe, and in total we took 6 deer. 1 Buck and 5 does.
Here was my brothers buck. He shot it 3 minutes after first light on Saturday. The deer really recovered nicely from the drought, but this buck was still about 20-30 lbs less than would have been expected for his frame.
Had this doe very close for over an hour. She never did bust me.
Even though the rut was delayed by about a week from the rut, we still missed the flurry of activity by about 4 days according to others who were hunting the area. I personally saw no chasing and most does were grouped up in 5-6. What blew me away was how much the deer were eating. They were NEVER not out in the fields eating, just couldn't catch a mature buck doing the same thing.
We made lots of good food, drank a few too many beers once or twice and I ate tag soup again this year, though again, by choice.
Looks like plans for next year are already being made, and I will not miss the opener again if I can help it! We did all agree to meet there in March to build a couple box blinds, put out a bunch of cameras and do some food plot work. Glad I won't have to wait a whole year.
Finished the trip with few very poorly hit golf balls, and was sad to have to leave.
More than the hunting, I look forward to deer camp - just the chance to hang out with my brothers and check out for a bit.
Its a beautiful place - really unique chance to get to hunt almost 4,000 acres of very lightly hunted land. More than thankful to have the opportunity. We started out 3 years ago staying in a little shack with a wood burning stove. My brother brought his new camper this year. It was very nice, but I kinda missed the "roughing it" aspect of the previous hunts.
All total, I saw about 50 deer. Passed the 10 point in the trail cam pic below on the 2nd to last day, and saw another really good buck at the end of the powerlines but around 1000 yards away. Everything else was 2.5 or younger and does.
Coming in we had seen some really good bucks on camera, and a few others that had been killed on other parts of the ranch this year. Unfortunately, my camera died on 11/18 and we weren't able to get batteries in it until 11/29 so no telling what it missed.
I ended up having to go hands and knees through a thicket to recover my younger brothers first doe, and in total we took 6 deer. 1 Buck and 5 does.
Here was my brothers buck. He shot it 3 minutes after first light on Saturday. The deer really recovered nicely from the drought, but this buck was still about 20-30 lbs less than would have been expected for his frame.
Had this doe very close for over an hour. She never did bust me.
Even though the rut was delayed by about a week from the rut, we still missed the flurry of activity by about 4 days according to others who were hunting the area. I personally saw no chasing and most does were grouped up in 5-6. What blew me away was how much the deer were eating. They were NEVER not out in the fields eating, just couldn't catch a mature buck doing the same thing.
We made lots of good food, drank a few too many beers once or twice and I ate tag soup again this year, though again, by choice.
Looks like plans for next year are already being made, and I will not miss the opener again if I can help it! We did all agree to meet there in March to build a couple box blinds, put out a bunch of cameras and do some food plot work. Glad I won't have to wait a whole year.
Finished the trip with few very poorly hit golf balls, and was sad to have to leave.
More than the hunting, I look forward to deer camp - just the chance to hang out with my brothers and check out for a bit.
