Thanksgiving Hunting Trip

Shelby had great luck in Christian County Kentucky hunting this year and brought home a beautiful 9 point buck. He saw so many other big bucks that he wanted to take us for the last weekend of their gun season.  Thanksgiving day 2017 was much like every other: woke up, started some cooking and turned on the Macy's Day Parade. We had a busy day of eating ahead with going to the Byrd's at noon for lunch, and my mom's at 3 pm for an early dinner. I feel full already. I was cooking fresh turnip greens from our garden (will share the recipe later) and mashed potatoes. Shelby makes the coleslaw and it is so yummy!  He made us some of his delicious BLTs for breakfast. After we wrapped up all this epic eating we hit the road to Athens, Al where we will spend the night.   I keep thinking I can't believe we have eaten all this yummy food today and then will drive 4.5 hours. Sleepy time!

We got on the road at 5:40 pm and made our first stop at 7. After all the food we ate today we still had to stop and get snacks!  My little family is so cute and we are such a compliment to each other. We drove along singing to Chris Stapleton and talking. And then they surprised me:  they are taking me to Antique Archaeology tomorrow in Nashville!!  Omg I am so excited. I love American Pickers and even though I know Mike, Frank or Dani D will not be there I am still hopeful 😉.  I can't wait to see it!

It was everything I thought it would be!  The building had this amazing smell like real tobacco (not a cigarette) bourbon, something smoky, and aged leather. It was awesome!  I found a shirt to remember my surprise and just wandered around.  

After a bit we got back on the road - destination Pembroke, KY. As soon as we got there we got into our hunting gear and loaded up the Polaris. Jeff and Keith had just gotten in from their duck blind and we visited for a bit. Jill and Kaitlyn were Black Friday shopping. We left and drove to the land we were hunting and dropped off a blind for the next morning.  Shelby drove us around showing us all the places he hunts. He wanted to take us to the spot by the old tobacco barn and it was beautiful. I wish I could paint - it would be a perfect addition to the wall.   Of course, it would also make some beautiful pieces of reclaimed art too!  I was in my own tree stand and my only gun was a video camera. Shelby and Emily were in a stand nearby. This trip was her opportunity to kill a buck. Right before dark I could hear something walking down the hill to my right, sniffing and eat as it went.  It was just dark enough that I could not see what it was. We decided to call it a day and head back to the Polaris. On the way back to the house we decided to grab some Ferrell's burgers. Yum!  I don't get to Kentucky often enough and when I do, I want some Ferrell's. They did not disappoint! We got to visit with Jeff, Jill and Kaitlyn for a bit then it was time to get to bed.  We had an early morning and Jeff and Keith were heading out early as well.  

Shelby took us to his other stand and we were sitting in a ground blind. The temperature was not as low as we would have thought but the wind was fierce!  This girls likes to be warm and also to sleep when hunting. Both were tough this morning.  I was bundled up but sitting on a folding dove stool. Every time my head dipped forward as I tried to fall asleep I would startle awake. You will see this is a theme today. Emily told me that 'you aren't supposed to sleep when you hunt' and then she took a one hour nap. Lucky child.  Daddy wrapped her in his super warm Sitka jacket and let her lean against him. I believe I even heard her snore a little but rest assured she was not sleeping while hunting.  We saw a couple of squirrels and they were fun to watch.  When they would bury a nut they would cover it, pat it down and cover it with leaves, the whole time looking around like they were being watched. Don't worry little squirrel, I will stick with my snacks. 

After we packed up that blind we rode around the land. There was a beautiful cemetery with a newer grave dated 1876. It was under a beautiful tree that had dropped lots of fall leaves. The sun was coming through the trees and dappled the ground with light-very peaceful for sure.  Shelby then wanted to show us another spot they hunt so we left to ride around. We walked down a pretty steep hill that we could not drive the Polaris down due to the washing.  There was lots of deer tracks and rubs on trees.  There was even a spot pretty messed up that looked like it may have seen a fight.  We saw something run away from us through the trees when we walked down but did not get a good look.    We walked around and looked at this pretty creek then headed back. After a little more riding we climbed a hill and looked out over this beautiful valley. Oh my, Gods country is so perfect!  I need a cabin there.   I do not even drink coffee but may start if I had a porch with that view.  Well, I will probably stick with hot tea. 

We decided to go get some lunch and found the best spot, the Plow Point Restaurant in Lacy, Kentucky. The food was great and the service was so friendly!  We liked it so much we planned to come back that same night for dinner with some of our Kentucky Framily (friends that are like family). I love food and it seems like most of our trips anywhere either start because of food, involve certain food in the plans, or we find great food that demands a return trip.  

We went back in the afternoon for our last hunt-we have to head home in the morning. We went back to the spot with the old tobacco barn. I was once again back in the single tree stand. This time Emily painted my face, she called it Camo Cheeks, with some  paint Shelby had. That was fun.  Girls can wear makeup in the woods!  We did not see anything again except for squirrels but it was still beautiful. We had a very interesting moment - I was dozing a little (big surprise right) and a tree to my left dropped a limb. With a loud crack it split and fell and hit the ground with a fun sound.  Poor Emily was scared I had fallen asleep and fell out. Thank goodness that did not happen. Scared me awake for sure!  Watched some squirrels hiding their treasures and listened to some birds singing. At dusk we heard something coming down the hill again and sniffing and eating.  I never saw it but it sure ran off when we came out of our stands.  It was a bittersweet walk and ride back since this was our last hunt. We did not see anything but the family time was amazing.  We met the Slaughters at the Plow Point and had another great meal. Mr. Alton and Mrs. Rita were there and Kieth. Good meal with good friends. 

Shelby decided that on the way home we would make some fun stops instead of a straight drive. We chose Lynchburg, TN where we went to the Jack Daniels Distillery. Such a cute little area. We did the Dry County Tour where we learned how it all came about, and how it is made.   It was a fun little detour.  We went to the little town square and shopped around. Got the same recommendation from 3 different shops-go to the Barrel-house BBQ for lunch and have the Grilled Cheese Crack sandwich.  Wow!  Grilled pepper jack cheese on Texas toast with pulled pork and their house made habanero BBQ sauce. Um...yea it was fine!  Emily got BBQ nachos that were pretty amazing too.  It was a fun stop that most people may not think about because you would assume it is all about whiskey drinking. It was just fun to learn about and of course the food was a great perk. Barrel-house BBQ you are now on our list!

As we began our 5 1/2 hour trip home I decided that I was wrong about quick trips out of town.  I usually worry about a long drive in a short time (8 hours each way in 3 days) but this was great. I definitely am changing my view of a long haul in short period of time and we will do this again.  I can't wait to go back to Kentucky and see our Framily. We will miss y'all and hope to see you soon!

Jennie

Small Boat, Big Bites

We launched a few hundred yards from the ferry dock at the end of Fort Morgan road.  Emily has been asking all year for a snapper trip and it has been hard to coordinate agreeable seas and weather for a small boat trip.   The launch is on the north side of the peninsula and drops you straight into the south end of Mobile Bay.  We headed west from the dock and charted a course for Dixie Bar and the Southeast out into the resting waters of the Gulf of Mexico.  We slipped past the now sleeping fort, where many bloody battles were fought some even predating the civil war to when it was known as Fort Bowyer.  In 1834 the construction was completed on the now standing star shaped fort.

 The big guns were quite on this night but the distant thunder made me think a little.  Seeing the yellow buoy marking the final resting place of Tecumseh, the monitor ship that lays resting on the sandy bottom, where it struck a floating mine during the civil war.  The same battle the phrase “Damn the Torpedo’s, full speed ahead” was yelled. 

We entered the gulf and had a star filled sky with no moon.  The oil rigs with flames blazing dotted the horizon.  We found a bumpy ride waiting after crossing Dixie Bar into the deeper water heading south.  Fishing the Gulf of Mexico at night has a totally different feeling than a day trip.  We passed up several drilling platforms and headed out to deeper water.  After a 40 minute boat ride we settled in for some fishing. 

We use a 10’ homemade rig hook to connect with the oil platform.  The 10’ gives me the needed distance to keep the suction of the rig from pulling our vessel into it rusty supports.  We began dropping bait to depths of 50’ and the bite was aggressive.  Emily landed her first Red Snapper and she was all smiles from there.  

She caught several species including Bonita, Blue Fish, and Black Tip Sharks, but the Red Snapper was by far the best table fare so we released the other fish and hoped for some King Mackerel. 

The Kings never showed even though we pulled out all the tricks including drift lines and balloon drifts.  The key to fishing these rigs is water depth.  The 20’-60’ depth’s tend to produce more cull fish.  I normally try to find at least 65’ of water and it produces a better variety of table fare including Snapper, Grouper and Trigger Fish.   In these water depths King Mackerel and Spanish Mackerel are prevalent as well.    

 For questions or comments about fishing the gulf find me on the SeeMeHunt app for apple products and android devices. Or you can reach me online at www.seemehunt.com or on my blog at www.rarebreedwhitetailhunting.blogspot.com

Shelby Byrd

Whitetail Season On The Brink

Shelby Byrd with a nice Kentucky Buck

Every year it starts just like this: I’m looking at the clock and its only 2 am and I am desperately trying to fall back asleep.  3:17 am looking at the clock again, doze a little until 3:50 am.  How do you explain the excitement of an opening day of Whitetail Deer gun season?  The hope, the anticipation, all the unknowns of a season on the brink.  The rolling hills of Western Kentucky offer a sportsman’s paradise I consider second to none.  Normally when we hit the woods the day before the season starts, to install seat cushions in stands and pull camera cards, we are greeted with rut signs on every trail.  This year it seemed the bucks were going to be a no show.  I didn’t see the usual scrapes and massive rubs leading the way down the ridge to my old but steady ladder tree stand.  The only indication deer actually roamed these woods was a single rub found 30 steps behind my stand.  The single rub was an attention getter due to the size of the tree and the height of the destruction exhibited on the tree. 

3:55 am and it's 27 degrees-I decide to put on extra layers of clothing.  I’m running down a quick inventory of my Sitka Stratus jacket pockets: Flashlight, gloves, neck gaiter, ammo, orange hat, vest- all there.  Now moving on to the backpack: skinning knife, grunt call, snacks, and oh yeah don’t forget the toilet paper.  It is now 4:10 am so I grabbed the Browning and headed out to the trucks.  We trailered the side by side ATV’s the night before so after a quick safety check we start the 45 minute trip north to begin the hunting season. 

We arrive at the hunting lease an hour before first light.  After unloading the Pioneer and Ranger we split up and head to our hunting areas.  I drop two of my friends, Joe and Jeff, at their respective stands and make my way across the property to a dimly cut gas line where I park the Ranger.  As I leave the Ranger I always make sure to apply plenty of cover scent before hitting the long descending trail to the bottom of the ridge.  It's apparent the ridge road I’m traversing once lead to a small cabin, many decades ago, if the pile of stacked stones and foundation corner rocks still visible are any indication.  On this dark morning I’m the only person within a quarter of a mile and only visible due to the small hand held light illuminating my path.  30 yards into my trek down the ridge I find a fresh scrape that was not present the previous day.  At that point I could have turned off the hand held light and my smile would have been sufficient to light my path. 

Seated in my stand and all I have is a gray/black view.  I can just make out the tall ridge that stretches the length of my view across the bottom in front.  I hear a rooster crowing in the far distance, then another rooster answers just across the ridge in front of me.  I think to myself this setting will make a great story to tell Emily my 11 year old daughter.  Each night she begs to hear a bed time story.  I want to remember every detail so I can bring this excitement back to life for her.  I look at the dark sky and see very few stars, and I’m blowing cold smoke with every deep breath.  I hear soft steps crossing the ridge 30 steps behind me:  Is it a doe searching for a good bedding area?  Maybe a coyote sniffing out a rabbit?

The gray dawn is adding more colors now, I can clearly see the old fence row that surrounds the 600 acre ranch in front of my stand.  I can make out individual leaves on the hardwood trees that surround my location.  I hear a dog barking across the farm in front of me.  Then I hear a lone coyote crying out down in the bottom to my left.   I now hear the sound of stretching wire, I know the sound, and it’s a deer jumping the square wire fence down in the bottom to my right just out of view.  It’s shooting light now and my complete attention is focused on this area.  Will the deer come out of the bottom and on to the ridge or head deeper in to the bottom and away from me?  Two minutes later I have my answer, a basket rack 8 point with 8” tines is making his way up the ridge.  The young buck is walking a trail that I know will bring him to a crossing at 20 yards directly behind my stand.  My first instinct is to reach for my cell phone and get a video of the beautiful young buck.  I start the video and the buck is directly to my right, before the video is complete I’ve had to swap sides of the tree as the deer has crossed behind me and is now on my left going away.  

Basket Rack Kentucky Buck

As the young buck is leaving my visibility I hear another sound back to my right.  Same path but different sound.  This time the deer jumping the fence did not stretch the wire.  It cleared the fence with no problem but landed with a deep crash in the crisp leaves on the other side.  I stopped my video and started shifting around for a view to my right side.  Instantly I spot movement in the thick young hardwoods and see the flashes of a mature deer with a heavy rack.  As quietly as possible I maneuver the Browning around and obtain a shooting position to my right.  As a right handed shooter it’s as hard of a shot as I’ve had to make from a tree stand.   Before I was able to find the buck in the scope he had progressed 50 yards or so up the hill from the fence row and was in jeopardy of getting out of sight.  I found one opening in the hardwood thicket and pulled the trigger when he appeared.  The 7 Mags report echoed across the hillside and barrel smoke rolled in the cold air.  I lowered the rifle and watched as the big bodied deer disappeared with long lunging leaps heading straight away from me. 

Time stops in moments like this, and so many thoughts rush through my mind: should I give chase?  Rational thought wins out and I sit still and quietly in my stand for what seems an hour.  I revisit the shot in my mind, did I hit an obscure tree branch and deflect my Hornady 139 grain bullet away from the buck?  An hour into the first hunt of the season and I’m either sick over a buck that got away or I’m in jubilation over a big buck down, only time will tell now.  My phone buzzes in my pocket, no time for that at the moment too many thoughts going through my head.  How big was the rack?  How long have I been waiting, it seems like an hour, maybe 10 minutes?  I will give him at least 10 more minutes. 

Phone buzzes again, "Did you shoot?"  At this point I’m climbing down the ladder stand.  I fight my way through the young white oaks and approach the spot where the deer made an abrupt turn in the thick leaves.  I can see his tracks in the dense foliage and search the area for blood.  I could qualify for CSI at this moment.  I’m flipping leaves, checking on limbs and trees but no blood.  I look back in the direction of my ladder and have a sick feeling when I see how thick the limb clutter is between my current location and the stand. 

Hardwood Thicket

 This might explain why I don’t see any blood and didn’t hear the sound of the deer crashing in the distance when he left like he was shot out of a cannon.  I walk the direction of the disturbed leaves, maybe 10 more yards and still no blood.  The buck is now quartering downhill towards the fence row.  If he crosses the fence I fear he is gone for sure.  Another 20 yards still following the deep imprints in the leaves and still no blood on the ground.  I scan the now thinning hardwoods and I’m feeling pretty desperate and depressed.  I’ve now covered at least 40 yards and no sign of blood and the buck is still heading to the old fence.  Ten steps straight ahead I see a spot on a 10 inch diameter tree.  The spot is about 3 feet off the ground and a major direction change appeared on the ground in the leaves.  The spot on the tree is blood.  It’s now clear the buck ran into the tree, I’m sure the life poured back into my face on this discovery.  I have conformation the buck is indeed hit and all hope is back.  I’m following the blood trail and see another tree covered in blood as if it was side swiped by the running buck.  I begin heading straight down the hill towards the fence row with 30 yards to go and only a fallen tree laying between me and the fence.  As I approach the tree I see my buck laying just across the fallen log and 20 steps from the old fence.  I see the antlers and know I made a good decision and now have a little more to add to Emily’s bed time story.   The buck was a beautiful main frame 8 point with 12” rear tines.  His left G2 was sporting a 2” kicker.   It took 3 men to drag him out and get him loaded on the Ranger. 

As I currently reflect on this hunt I realize the allure of a hunt is the unknown, it’s what keeps you going.  What will the sound of the next snapping limb or rustling of leaves materialize into?  Often it’s a squirrel hiding the last acorns covering the ground.  Sometimes it’s nothing other than a cold wind blowing through but every once in a great while it’s the buck of your dreams.    I did finally answer the text messages and as of last night Emily has heard her bed time story. 

Shelby Byrd

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