Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Kansas hunt with my father.

Another year at our favorite place on earth has passed.

We arrived in the south-central part of the state a couple days prior to the season opener to once again familiarize ourselves with the surroundings. One would think deer travel and preferred bedding areas would be relatively consistent over the years – buuuuut, it never is.

For those reading about this hunt for the first time, part of our admission to hunt this glorious place is to hunt it like it was done many moons ago – no feeders, no cameras. Most bucks encountered are seen for the first time while the season is open. In years past, we’ve found a deer or two before the season opened or laid eyes on one and caught up with him a week later but older bucks here are largely nomadic – seen once, and count your lucky stars if you see him again. It’s a working cattle ranch and the cattle have access to bulk of the same cover the deer do.

The winter wheat that’s been lacking the last few years (due to drought) was relatively abundant this year thanks to a couple of good rains a few weeks previous to our arrival so we knew were likely in for some good numbers on the ranch.

The opener would find my father in his favorite spot – a point that protrudes into a very long wheat field. Due to the relatively cold temps (for KS), he was treated to a bunch of deer throughout the day with numerous bucks in the mix including one he wanted to bring back to WI but the buck stayed beyond his self-imposed shooting distance.




I’d sit one of the draws on the outskirts of the property, hoping to catch a buck coming back from wheat fields a mile or two away. I saw a half-dozen does & fawns, a couple of smallish bucks and one solid up-and-comer.



A solid start to the season and we looked forward to day two.

A NE wind on this second day meant we’d both need to change venues from the previous day but it allowed for a couple of spots we’re only able to hunt with some sort of wind out of the east.

I’d take a stand in a draw on the east side of the ranch, dad would go in the same pasture I guarded the day before but on the other side of the draw and much further south.


The deer take their time in getting down into these draws, and, right on cue, about 9:15, deer activity picked up for me. A couple of small bucks filtered through and not long after three does showed up from another finger that feeds the draw. They mingled and fed but seemingly had no intentions of continuing further down the draw. At one point, they’d looked back to the north and I could have sworn I’d seen antlers through the trees but they didn’t seem too locked in on anything so I just kept watch. Another five minutes passed when one of the does got really twitchy and she bailed over the berm with a tall-racked buck right on her ass. She ended up right in front of me but he cut her off and turned back facing straight away from me. “Big in the chest, lotsa mass – I have to shoot this deer”…The doe turned to head south down the draw (where I’d not be able to shoot)….Now at 80 yards, I drew a bead on the back of the buck’s neck ”I don’t like this shot, I don’t like this shot”…Bang, and the buck collapsed without a twitch.

As he lay:








I phoned dad that lady luck had found me and he should stay put but he wanted to be in on the action so we got some photos, got the deer out of the bush and hung up at HQ.

One down and I now I could dot the place to try to find more deer for pops.

Due to southerly winds, it’d be a few days before my father could man his tent on the wheat field again so we’d bump around and try a few different setups together.



I think I found the buck he’d seen on day 1 and two evening sits produced no results.





Monday morning fancied yet another south wind, so we decided to do some rattling in hopes of getting a buck to the river bank (from the south). We tried a first sequence with the two of us spaced apart about 50 yards (with me out-of-sight of suspecting eyes). With no respondents, we worked our way downriver for another rattling sequence. He gave me the thumbs up he was ready and I commenced to making war in the brush. It was less than a minute since I’d ended the rattling sequence when dad shot and anchored his buck on the bank. Damn, talk about excitement.







We’d spend the next few days collecting a few does, butchering, and of course, some thinning of the coyote population.

We count our blessings each year we have access to this place. And thankful to have a friend that gives us access to his Ferrari for a ranch.

And a big shout-out to my father - 79 years young, he's still grinding. And when he pulls the trigger, I instantly know we've got some work to do.


cont...

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Misc:








Guns/Bullets

Me: 6.5 Creedmoor (yeah, I know) / 124 Hammer Hunter
Dad: 7600 in 35 Whelen / 200gr Hornady

You can’t beat that 👍😎

Great bucks! It’s so awesome you and your dad are still hunting together. My old man is 75 but still gives them hell during the archery season.

As it is every year, a great write up of your adventures. Great bucks and GREAT to see your dad still out hunting with you.

Love your dads rifle/ammo combo.

Congrats on an awesome hunt. Thanks for posting. Great Bucks and pic's, and to be able to do it with Dad makes it even better.

Jeez, Skane. You missed a hell of a chance to do three threads in the deer forum, instead of a just a single one. And one on the varmints down in predators. We could have used another 'pump rifles for deer' featuring pops pumper. And I always look for yet another 'dad got a nice one' thread, and of course, a thread on your own great buck.

But noooooooo...., All we get is just one, single stinking post covering the story .....grin



Congrats on another fine trip, and slap pops on the back for me.

Awesome!

Great bucks congrats!

Nice work both of you.

Always love to read about your annual KS trip Scott. Congrats to you both again on a couple of dandy bucks! Really cool you can still enjoy that with your dad. Thanks again for sharing.

Great bucks. The brow tines and nearly touching beams are cool as hell. It must be incredible to hunt such a large tract of land versus my area in SE Kansas where there are roads every mile and 4-5 landowners on most sections.

One of the most looked forward to threads. As usual, you do not disappoint. Thanks for taking us along.

Really enjoy seeing your Dad's accomplishments. Very cool that you two get to do this.



Congratulations oall around.

Great hunt! Congrats to you and your dad. Look forward to your report each year!

That main beam gap is insane on your buck, did you get a chance to measure it?

Matt

Always love the write up Scott. Paul and a pump gun are always a great part of the story!

Kane boys strike again! Ain’t a better way to spend quality time together.

Taxidermy visit coming soon… 😃

Looks like another fine time! Always enjoy the pics and the run-down.

Everything about that adventure is top shelf. Congrats guys!

Osky

Congrats to you and your Pops, SKane! Great bucks!

Awesome….i look for this thread every year. Congrats on another great hunt with your dad.