Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting 2021 Kansas family deer hunting adventures

Three days after the regular season ended we had a VERY weird weather day for mid-December...mid-70's in the afternoon, with winds increasing throughout the afternoon as a "derecho" swept across the state, bringing 80-100 mph straight line winds across a widespread area. Four power poles were snapped right where we walk in to hunt "the hill", with downed lines then starting a fire that rapidly burned a three mile long path across the pastures. Fortunately, no homes/structures were lost in this fire, but our hunting spot was hit hard as the fire swept through. In the last photo Layne is standing where we normally sit with rifles on Bog Pods:





This area will grow back and we will do some tree trimming to clear out a few areas, but with "the hill" out for the January season we shifted focus back down into the trees. Grace and I got in a hunt early in the week, but the deer had other plans that morning. Yesterday Layne and I went back out to try again. We didn't put any meat on the table on this hunt as we passed on the only deer we had in range...a little button buck that spent close to 30 minutes with us! He was a little skittish at first, but then decided we weren't anything to worry about, so he proceeded to wander around and nibble on anything he could find. (We don't have corn or anything out, this is just a narrow wooded area that deer pass through. Several times he approached to less than 10 yards, including right in line with where Layne had set up his Bog Pod:





Early this morning we were back for one last try as season closes today in our area. With colder weather and north winds I thought deer should be moving down in the trees and they were. Layne showed good patience as a he waited for a good broadside shot on a nice doe. This rifle is a Remington 700 in .280 Rem. and with handloaded 140 gr. Accubonds it is becoming one of his favorites.


Where's the picture of my deer? Unfortunately, I missed my chance. Was out at the hill on a morning hunt by myself during the regular season and had a quick opportunity at a nice buck across the draw and up the hill a ways, but in trying to get on him I missed seeing a branch across his vitals. I either deflected off the branch or just plain missed; either way, the result was the same. I searched, but no blood or hair where he was standing. Hopefully I will get another chance at him next year.

Thankful for the friends/land owners who allow us to enjoy family time outdoors and give us the chance to put some meat in the freezer. We share some of the meat and jerky with them, too, so they stopped by this afternoon and they now have some home-grown protein in their freezer, too. 'til next year...