I'm getting excited...

[Mgderf]

...about the upcoming deer season.
Until this year, I've (along with my brother) hunted the same very small strip of land situated on a hillside, with a well traveled road at the bottom of the hill. There are houses 20 yards back from the top of the hill.
If not for the foliage, I could throw a rock from the top of the hill and hit a car on the road below. THAT is how small the strip is wide.
There is roughly 15 acres in all, but foliage and terrain prevent a shot longer than about 45 yards.

That said, I've taken as many as 3 deer in a season off of this tiny strip, while my brother has had like success.
I've hunted this same land for more than 12 years.

This year will be different.

I am now co-owner of 50 acres of prime bottom land.
Myself, my uncle, and my two brothers are all on the deed.
Our westernmost property line is actually the raised tow-path for the old Wabash-Erie canal.
We are less than 1/2 mile from the Wabash river, and there is a VERY large apple orchard (one of the largest in the state) less than 5 miles north of us.
WE've been working all summer erecting hunting shacks, clearing shooting lanes, setting/checking trail cameras...

Two or three years ago, my state (Indiana) started allowing high power rifles for deer hunting on private property.
Public land is still PCR's or shot guns, muzzle loaders...
I have SEVERAL high power rifles I've been itching to try. It will take more than just a couple of seasons to try them all on deer.

Monday we have an appointment to meet our local DNR officer on our new property to discuss land management ideas.
I've recently confirmed that I do NOT need to purchase a license to hunt my own land! YEAH!
Those little buggers start to get expensive after the 3rd or 4th one. THey add up in a hurry at $24@

To top all of this off, I was drawn this year to participate in a special state park deer reduction hunt.
I get to go into one of our local state parks this year and hunt for 2 days.
I can take as many as 3 deer, one of which can be antlered, and none of these count toward my state totals.
The state park hunts are all bonus!

If I hunt all three propeties (in 2 different counties) I'll be able to harvest up to 8 deer this year!
I have a few friends/family that are going to get thier freezers stocked for free this year.

[JEBar]

congrats indeed ....looking forward to following your hunting through your coming reports and pictures

[BrokenolMarine]

Good luck, and congrats on the new property.

[Redthies]

Are you looking to adopt?

[Shawlerbrook]

Yes, nothing like hunting your own property. Congratulations!!!

[Mgderf]

I've been worried about how I would be able to get a deer out of my new property.
The only way off of my property is up a steep incline (maybe 30-35 degrees) of about 80 feet tall.
The only paths through the woods are remnants of logging trails from about 3-4 years ago.

Yesterday I solved my problem of retrieval, and a whole slew of other chores.
I picked up a 1939 Ford 9N tractor and delivered it to the woods. It has been converted to 12 negative ground. Good tires, a working 3-point hitch and PTO. It even has the desirable Sherman Hi-Lo transmission which splits the gears. (3-speed is now 6-speed...)
This little work-horse will not only drag deer out of the woods, but it will also drag felled trees around.
I also picked up a grater blade with it, so now I can clean up the old logging trails. Sooner or later I'll be able to get an average 4 wheel drive pretty much anywhere on the property.

The seller wanted $700 for the tractor.
I talked him into taking a used Braztec lever action rifle in .357mag and $250 for the tractor, then talked him down from $200 to $150 for the grater attachment.
So, $400 and a used lever gun got me the tractor and blade.

I drove it down into the woods yesterday and tarped it.
Plan to build a shack for it to sleep in.

I'm actually looking forward to the END of deer season for a change.

There will now be plenty to do, without breaking my back...

[BigAl52]

Good Luck I hope you tag out and fill those freezers. Sounds like you have done alot of leg work to get that done.

[Redthies]

I picked up a 1939 Ford 9N tractor and delivered it to the woods.

Well, you know what they say... “Pics, or it didn’t happen”!

There is a tractor section in the “around the homestead” forum. Just saying.

[roddy]

Sounds like you're well set up. I have been clearing and cutting trails through our land for a while now...it is a satisfying feeling, stepping back and looking at the difference. A tractor would be very useful here.

Maybe approach the orchard owner and see if you can pick up a few bushels of waste apples to spread around.

[JEBar]

1939 Ford 9N tractor .. .. sure love to see some pictures of it