It's getting harder and harder to find new places to hunt here in my neck of the woods. Farmers and ranchers trying to figure out ways to keep their lands and support their families are increasinly leasing their hunting rights--I don't like it but on the other hand I can't blame them either.
Anyway, last season I was finally drawn for one of the state's best whitetail hunts, a two-day, either sex blackpowder hunt on the Osage Western Wall Wildlife Management Unit. This is in the Tall Grass Prairie area of the state and I had never even had a chance to see it. Even better, there were only 25 permits issued for the weekend hunt so I wouldn't have to worry too much about other hunters.
As this area is known for its trophy bucks, I resolved to not settle for anything but a real wall hanger.
When the day finally arrived for the hunt, the weather turned pretty miserable with winds around 30 mph and warmer than normal temperatures. Oh well, I packed my possibles bag for the day and set out for a site a buddy in the area had said was a prime spot for trophies.
Still hunting the area I was struck by the diversity of its habitat and wildlife. It was so entirely different than the crosstimbers area I grew up in or the Rocky Mountain area in Colorado that I sometimes hunt. With my .50 Hawken in my hands I could easily imagine a plains hunter finding this area for the first time. With regret, I shook off my daydreaming and went back to the business of hunting.
A large area of hardwoods covered the wall area of the unit and I figured this was a pretty good place for one of the big boys to hang out. About an hour later this was confirmed when I heard several deer flush from a thicket below me. Apparently another hunter had approached from upwind of the deer and spooked them. From the sound I could tell the deer were going to pass me well out of sight and range and I made for the timber's edge hoping for a shot.
They broke cover about 150 yards to my north and never slowed as they broke for the sanctuary of the adjoining Nature Conservancy TAll Grass Preserve. Well out of range of my rifle and my talents, I watched the truly grand buck clear the fence along with two does. Just seeing such a trophy put my heart in my throat and I sat down and lit my pipe to savor the experience.
Over the course of the rest of the hunt I never saw another buck to equal the first one but did pass on a dandy eight pointer that I seriously considered. All the while I never got over just how much I enjoyed covering this new ground.
When it was time to go, I stopped by the checkout station to let the officials there know I was leaving and to express my appreciation for their management of the area. The biologist on duty acted almost shocked. He said, "You're the first guy that hasn't acted p*****d off by the weather this weekend."
His comments struck me as kind of odd--could someone be fortunate enough to draw this rare of a hunt and be angry over the weather? It still puzzles me.
One final note: As I was leaving the biologist walked me to my truck and noticed my rifle. "I can't believe it. It's a REAL one!" Apparently I was the only hunter there that weekend hunting "traditional." I don't think it's the only difference in my mindset, but I'm sure it plays a part.
Sorry this was so long. Jack
Anyway, last season I was finally drawn for one of the state's best whitetail hunts, a two-day, either sex blackpowder hunt on the Osage Western Wall Wildlife Management Unit. This is in the Tall Grass Prairie area of the state and I had never even had a chance to see it. Even better, there were only 25 permits issued for the weekend hunt so I wouldn't have to worry too much about other hunters.
As this area is known for its trophy bucks, I resolved to not settle for anything but a real wall hanger.
When the day finally arrived for the hunt, the weather turned pretty miserable with winds around 30 mph and warmer than normal temperatures. Oh well, I packed my possibles bag for the day and set out for a site a buddy in the area had said was a prime spot for trophies.
Still hunting the area I was struck by the diversity of its habitat and wildlife. It was so entirely different than the crosstimbers area I grew up in or the Rocky Mountain area in Colorado that I sometimes hunt. With my .50 Hawken in my hands I could easily imagine a plains hunter finding this area for the first time. With regret, I shook off my daydreaming and went back to the business of hunting.
A large area of hardwoods covered the wall area of the unit and I figured this was a pretty good place for one of the big boys to hang out. About an hour later this was confirmed when I heard several deer flush from a thicket below me. Apparently another hunter had approached from upwind of the deer and spooked them. From the sound I could tell the deer were going to pass me well out of sight and range and I made for the timber's edge hoping for a shot.
They broke cover about 150 yards to my north and never slowed as they broke for the sanctuary of the adjoining Nature Conservancy TAll Grass Preserve. Well out of range of my rifle and my talents, I watched the truly grand buck clear the fence along with two does. Just seeing such a trophy put my heart in my throat and I sat down and lit my pipe to savor the experience.
Over the course of the rest of the hunt I never saw another buck to equal the first one but did pass on a dandy eight pointer that I seriously considered. All the while I never got over just how much I enjoyed covering this new ground.
When it was time to go, I stopped by the checkout station to let the officials there know I was leaving and to express my appreciation for their management of the area. The biologist on duty acted almost shocked. He said, "You're the first guy that hasn't acted p*****d off by the weather this weekend."
His comments struck me as kind of odd--could someone be fortunate enough to draw this rare of a hunt and be angry over the weather? It still puzzles me.
One final note: As I was leaving the biologist walked me to my truck and noticed my rifle. "I can't believe it. It's a REAL one!" Apparently I was the only hunter there that weekend hunting "traditional." I don't think it's the only difference in my mindset, but I'm sure it plays a part.
Sorry this was so long. Jack
