I've landed at my desk again after two frustration-filled weeks in Nebraska and Kansas. The plan was to get two more shows for "Extreme Pursuits" to add into the 2011 lineup, but I was only able to accomplish 50 percent of my goal.
Hunting for mature bucks was as difficult as listening to congressional members explain to me why we have to spend more money to lower the deficit. The Nebraska property I had permission to hunt was loaded with deer. In fact, it was nothing to see 30 or more deer a day, but the mature bucks were either hiding in the briar patch or simply nonexistent.
The hunting strategy was to dig deep into bedding cover and hope a buck would pass by us on the way to food. The mornings were the best, but I paid for it by getting into my stand an hour before shooting light to avoid being detected. It was bitter cold and my Heater Body Suit paid for itself -- and then some. Day after day I stuck to my guns with lots of sightings, but no big bucks.
Five minutes before the end of shooting light on day five, a "shooter" buck bounded from the brush. He paused for a second to look at my stand and then decided to vamoose. I barked like a coyote to stop him and lit the fire as he prepared to flee. He only made it 70 yards before tipping over. My T/C Triumph teamed with a Hornady bullet and Hodgden powder did the trick.
Now on to Kansas for a late-season archery hunt. I'll make this short. The bucks were savvy and despite my best efforts, foiled my every attempt. Nocturnal bucks were the name of the game, and without a blizzard to push them into daylight feeding I was beaten.
Even so, I had a great fall and put together a super lineup of shows for the 2011 "Extreme Pursuits" series on the Pursuit channel. Look for the new shows beginning in the summer of 2011.
Thanks for showing up. Don't you think you were cutting the deadline for my hunt a little tight?