15 days until Kansas Whitetail ML season!

Wawyasto · Sep 2, 2024

I've got a few spots on public land scouted and a buddy's coming by tomorrow with his tractor to cut a couple shooting lanes through the brush in the back part of my pasture. One of my public land spots is a consistent spot for meat does and the other I've taken a couple of good bucks from. The third is a spot recommended by a warden, says he's seen a couple trophy bucks there and it's an area with zero hunting pressure in the early season.

Tags are bought, checking the rifle's zero this week and the week off work approved. Only thing I'm concerned about is getting the meat into the locker before it spoils in 80 degree temps. My local locker screwed me over last year during rifle season and the next locker processing deer early is an hour's drive out.

snakebit · Sep 2, 2024

Good luck. Sounds like you've done your scouting and all. Is skinning and quartering off the table? A few game mags and several 2 liter pop bottles of frozen water will help better than bagged ice. Lemon juice and black pepper in a spray bottle will keep the flies off the meat if you can't skin them out on the spot. Oh and the biggest cooler you can get.

Wawyasto · Sep 2, 2024

snakebit said:
Good luck. Sounds like you've done your scouting and all. Is skinning and quartering off the table? A few game mags and several 2 liter pop bottles of frozen water will help better than bagged ice. Lemon juice and black pepper in a spray bottle will keep the flies off the meat if you can't skin them out on the spot. Oh and the biggest cooler you can get.

Depends on which locker plant I can get to first and if they don't squirrel out on me.

I prefer to take to the lockers already gutted and skinned, that way they go straight to hang in the cooler. The locker nearest me can do is if:
a. They answered their phone after hours like they said they do and
b. They don't tell you they're out of locker space and to bring it back in 2 days, like they told me last year.

The other locker 50 miles away is a 24/7 operation, but if skin it it'll remain on the cooler floor until they hang it, contaminating meat. All the other lockers in the area either won't process deer or want you to bring it all in deboned, meaning you do 90% of their work for them.

Worst case scenario is I cut it up and grind myself. I've done it before and have everything to do it with but really don't want to.

snakebit · Sep 2, 2024

Wawyasto said:
Depends on which locker plant I can get to first and if they don't squirrel out on me.

I prefer to take to the lockers already gutted and skinned, that way they go straight to hang in the cooler. The locker nearest me can do is if:
a. They answered their phone after hours like they said they do and
b. They don't tell you they're out of locker space and to bring it back in 2 days, like they told me last year.

The other locker 50 miles away is a 24/7 operation, but if skin it it'll remain on the cooler floor until they hang it, contaminating meat. All the other lockers in the area either won't process deer or want you to bring it all in deboned, meaning you do 90% of their work for them.

Worst case scenario is I cut it up and grind myself. I've done it before and have everything to do it with but really don't want to.

The walk-in coolers are nice. But if they are going to leave it on the floor, that's a game changer for me, especially if it's warmer weather. I take mine to a locker when I go home to hunt. We are distant relatives. They usually have it cut, wrapped and frozen for me for my return trip.

Elmerfudd · Sep 4, 2024

Wawyasto said:
Depends on which locker plant I can get to first and if they don't squirrel out on me.

I prefer to take to the lockers already gutted and skinned, that way they go straight to hang in the cooler. The locker nearest me can do is if:
a. They answered their phone after hours like they said they do and
b. They don't tell you they're out of locker space and to bring it back in 2 days, like they told me last year.

The other locker 50 miles away is a 24/7 operation, but if skin it it'll remain on the cooler floor until they hang it, contaminating meat. All the other lockers in the area either won't process deer or want you to bring it all in deboned, meaning you do 90% of their work for them.

Worst case scenario is I cut it up and grind myself. I've done it before and have everything to do it with but really don't want to.

I have always felt like processing the meat was part of the fun of a successful hunt. Have never taken an animal to a locker including beef, hogs, goats, lambs, or wild game. I enjoy The butchering process and making sausages, snack sticks, jerky, steaks, burger, etc. if I do it myself I know I am getting my own meat back and I know it is clean and handled properly throughout the entire process. I guess I’m just weird that way.

snakebit · Sep 4, 2024

Elmerfudd said:
I have always felt like processing the meat was part of the fun of a successful hunt. Have never taken an animal to a locker including beef, hogs, goats, lambs, or wild game. I enjoy The butchering process and making sausages, snack sticks, jerky, steaks, burger, etc. if I do it myself I know I am getting my own meat back and I know it is clean and handled properly throughout the entire process. I guess I’m just weird that way.

I have. Do like to. But up until recently, didn't have the time. Retired now. I'd like to learn how to make summer sausage.

Johnny Too-Tall · Sep 5, 2024

When I was stationed in Kansas I loved the early traditional season.

Zutt-man · Sep 9, 2024

Don’t be too worried about the temp. Once gutted, that meat has a little while before you need to get concerned about spoilage.

I’ll miss the opener for the first time in 14 years as I’ll be hunting in Colorado. I’m hoping the temps cool off a touch for some last minute movement by the time I get back. Could use the rain, too

Wawyasto · Sep 19, 2024

Well my hunt's been a little slow and I'm not seeing the deer I wanted but I am seeing them. Lots of sign, but wondering if this full harvest moon has them more nocturnal right now.

Monday I had issues with my truck and spent way too much time than I should have on a tire repair. Tuesday morning and evenings were a bust. Wednesday I could have taken a nice doe but she had 2 nursing fawns with her so we passed. She did get to within about 20 feet of me before she spooked, that old adage about the best camoflage is to sit down, shut up and don't move works.

Today's high was 96 degrees, I just don't hunt deer in temps above 90. I'll get out this weekend and after work next week. I'll get something before the season's over.

Zutt-man · Sep 19, 2024

Wawyasto said:
Well my hunt's been a little slow and I'm not seeing the deer I wanted but I am seeing them. Lots of sign, but wondering if this full harvest moon has them more nocturnal right now.

Monday I had issues with my truck and spent way too much time than I should have on a tire repair. Tuesday morning and evenings were a bust. Wednesday I could have taken a nice doe but she had 2 nursing fawns with her so we passed. She did get to within about 20 feet of me before she spooked, that old adage about the best camoflage is to sit down, shut up and don't move works.

Today's high was 96 degrees, I just don't hunt deer in temps above 90. I'll get out this weekend and after work next week. I'll get something before the season's over.

This week looks very promising! Highs in the 60’s and 70’s!

15 days until Kansas Whitetail ML season!

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