Darton & Stan R Were Right!!!!! Pic Heavy

[KactusKiller]

Congrats, looking forward to more pics

[monsterspike]

good stuff boomer (c wat i did there). darton was gonna give an update too, maybe he went hollywood on us. love these okie threads.

[lovemylegacy]

Originally Posted by Booner Sooner

Well, Gracie and I made a weekend of it. Mowed, sprayed Remedy to keep from
having to weedeat, unloaded some essentials (bed, shower stuff, etc), exterminated inside and out before jumping on the tractor. You know it’s a good day when everything starts!

Only thing I smooth forgot was to get my soil samples. Will have that on the “to do” list for next trip.

Mowing only took a couple of hours. I was at the helm but next time, the kids will be mowing. They should turn it into nearly an all day affair.


View from the front porch.

Gracie found a good way to beat the heat.

I thought about crawling in with her.

Enjoyed my first evening on the new place with a campfire.


The former owner did a good job of cleaning the place off but there is still work to do. This is the first of several trips to the dump.



Have three barn cats that came with the place. One looks somewhat lame as one leg kicked off to the side as to tore out like a bat out of hades when I showed up. The one was in stealth mode.

Cycled my cams.


The does were still springin.

The older doe on the right is noticeably bigger.


Young bucks just starting to get some growth.

Have a group of foxes by the pond. They were big players on cam-2.



The sunset from up on the hill was peaceful.
https://youtu.be/UsZaujLv2Lw

Changed the locks and put my lock on the main gate. Great feeling.



God is good.

Whats in the weeds next to buck?

You have any sheds to show?

Congrats on the purchase

[Iamhooked]

nice place. you will enjoy it. Thanks for the pics and update.

[Booner Sooner]

Originally Posted by monsterspike

good stuff boomer (c wat i did there). darton was gonna give an update too, maybe he went hollywood on us. love these okie threads.

Well executed, Sir. Translate “Hollywood” for me.....I may or may not agree.

Originally Posted by Iamhooked

nice place. you will enjoy it. Thanks for the pics and update.

My pleasure.

Originally Posted by Darton

The first true visit where the feeling finally settled on you that you are the owner! Very happy for you!

It began to settle Saturday night. Sitting in the quiet beside the campfire knowing that I don’t have to rush to do anything because this place will be there is an indescribable feeling.

Originally Posted by DUKFVR

Congrats Booner! It only gets better!!!

That’s incredibly encouraging because it feels great now.

Originally Posted by KactusKiller

Congrats, looking forward to more pics

As soon as I can get back up I will. By the next trip we should have more antler growth and should be better able to differentiate between bucks.

Originally Posted by lovemylegacy

Whats in the weeds next to buck?



You have any sheds to show?



Congrats on the purchase

I believe that is Robby the Raccoon. One coon seems to like to eat with the deer.

Sheds, yes. Have some small and larger ones. here’s one of the medium ones.
And one for the firewood:


No sheds that I’ve seen yet. Have yet to walk the whole place though. Would like to do so with an antler dog. That would be fun.

More to come...

[Hoss163]

Congratulations looking good . Hopefully one of those Oklahoma monster bucks will stroll through on your place !

[Booner Sooner]

Originally Posted by Hoss163

Congratulations looking good . Hopefully one of those Oklahoma monster bucks will stroll through on your place !

You know, that would be great but I’m really going to keep expectations very low for the first few years. I want to put in and maintain spring and winter food plots as well as do some supplemental feeding to give the local herd what I can, within reason. There is pasture in areas surrounding us but no crops that I can see. I’ve never driven the area in autumn or winter but we will see.

Here’s a view of what’s around us.

Our place is 90%+ hardwoods. I can see now that in a good acorn crop year our movement will be minimal. Our place and everything adjoining us to the East is land locked. Same way with the parcels joining us on the South, except one.

Currently I’ve got about 1.5 acres of tillable soil for a food plot. This is surrounding a pump jack and tank to the North of the house. The plan is to fertilize and plant it this summer.


There are a couple of small openings in the woods to the East. One is leading to the neighbor’s 30 acre field behind our place. I’d like to open these up just a bit to create staging areas for the deer to stop and get a nibble on their way to the field.

Back to expectations, my goal this first fall is to help my 10 year old son harvest his first deer, help my 13 year old daughter take her next steps toward hunting independently, and spend time with my friends and family making memories. Anything more than this will be considered a bonus!

[monsterspike]

going hollywood is what tends to happen after hitting the big show. its not that they dont love their hometown, or ole buds anymore, its just that they literally have no time for their past life. its onward and upward for them, while the rest of us are left with only memories.

its a term of endearment and respect, as well as an attempt to hide obvious jealousy.

so booner, are you a fan of hinge cutting?? i love that wrap around 1.58 acres. you are going to hold deer and pull others it looks like. excellent situation!

[Darton]

Originally Posted by monsterspike

going hollywood is what tends to happen after hitting the big show. its not that they dont love their hometown, or ole buds anymore, its just that they literally have no time for their past life. its onward and upward for them, while the rest of us are left with only memories.

its a term of endearment and respect, as well as an attempt to hide obvious jealousy.

so booner, are you a fan of hinge cutting?? i love that wrap around 1.58 acres. you are going to hold deer and pull others it looks like. excellent situation!

So that's what its like making it to the show I knew it was something Appreciate you following along!

[lovemylegacy]

Man, that upper right hand quadrant next to the fields, is the bomb! What a pinch point.

[Booner Sooner]

Originally Posted by monsterspike

so booner, are you a fan of hinge cutting?? i love that wrap around 1.58 acres. you are going to hold deer and pull others it looks like. excellent situation!

Hingecutting may be in my future a few years down the road. I’ll be getting the lay of the land and a good handle on the travel patterns of the local herd before I even attempt to start making long lasting decisions about my place.

Originally Posted by lovemylegacy

Man, that upper right hand quadrant next to the fields, is the bomb! What a pinch point.

There is certainly allot of activity in that area. Have yet to place a camera up there but it is on the list to do.

[monsterspike]

Originally Posted by Darton

So that's what its like making it to the show I knew it was something Appreciate you following along!

once a fella starts owning, flippin', and upgrading, personal hunting ranches, many consider that the show. me included.

i might end up yalls neighbor one day, but ill be one of them cow people, but i like havin' nice deer around also. i need a few things to come together, and the timing of my sale, and availability will dictate where i go. 1031, ya know, timing is everything.

at one point, that timing wouldve put me in hopkins, or leon, or red river, or delta counties, now, right where yall is looking pretty good.

im learnin' a heap from yall. thanks for the tours. any cow pasture pics are valued as well. God bless!

[Booner Sooner]

Well, Gracie and I made it back up to the place this weekend to continue the adventure. We drug the Kubota up and put her through her paces. The main field was overgrown and in need of some TLC in order to be ready for a fall food plot.





I remember seeing some large rocks when I walked the place before green up so I positioned the front end loaded just above the ground and proceeded with caution.


Found a few. The front end loader handled about half of them like a champ but there are others that will take a dozer to move.




I’m pleased with the first cut. It will take another before I spray in preparation for planting. Riding the tractor through this thick growth in 100 degree heat was a great way to spend some time. More than once on Saturday evening I just smiled and thanked the Lord for the new place. It’s an incredible feeling.





Pushed up all the pallets and junk into a burn pile.


Cycled the cams and the throng of does continues. Most look healthy and there are a few fawns making appearances. Cute little buggers.





There are a few adolescent bucks showing up also. No big boys yet but with the does that are all over this place that should remedy itself once they start smelling right.



I don’t have any feeders out yet but plan to put one out on the next trip. Just have to get it ready.


Had to move some furniture and pick up some feeders as wells. Thanks for the help, Darton. Much appreciated. All in all a great weekend. Good times ahead!

[KingsX]

Lookin good! Nothing like owning and working your plan on your own land. For me it’s been very rewarding.

[DUKFVR]

You made some good progress this weekend! Place is nice!

[NotJose]

Very cool. Your place is coming along nicely!


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[Darton]

Had to move some furniture and pick up some feeders as wells. Thanks for the help, Darton. Much appreciated. All in all a great weekend. Good times ahead![/QUOTE]

Not a problem! Happy to help and really look forward to all of the progress

[chrisgunguy]

Up to date. Beautiful.

[Part Timer]

Beautiful place. Enjoying the thread.

[Booner Sooner]

Originally Posted by NotJose

Very cool. Your place is coming along nicely!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by DUKFVR

You made some good progress this weekend! Place is nice!

Originally Posted by Part Timer

Beautiful place. Enjoying the thread.

Originally Posted by chrisgunguy

Up to date. Beautiful.

Thanks, Gents. I’ve got to pace myself. I have a dozen or more projects in my head but only so many hours in the day.

Also, I’m holding off and not doing much that has a lasting impact as I need to learn more about this place and have a more cohesive vision for what it will be. The good part is that it is in my time as I don’t have to worry about a lease manager pushing me off the place, land owner taking my lease for his family to use, etc. etc. etc.

[Booner Sooner]

Originally Posted by KingsX

Lookin good! Nothing like owning and working your plan on your own land. For me it’s been very rewarding.

Exactly. Still smiling simply because of that. The thought that my kids will be able to enjoy this for years, as their friends have to contend with leases, increased competition, and more, is the icing on the cake.

[Rwc]

I have really enjoyed your thread, I can't wait to see what the years bring for you and your piece of ground.

Rwc

[RCDuck]

Originally Posted by Booner Sooner

Thanks, Gents. I’ve got to pace myself. I have a dozen or more projects in my head but only so many hours in the day.

Also, I’m holding off and not doing much that has a lasting impact as I need to learn more about this place and have a more cohesive vision for what it will be. The good part is that it is in my time as I don’t have to worry about a lease manager pushing me off the place, land owner taking my lease for his family to use, etc. etc. etc.

Thanks for your thread... I should do one as well, but I never seem to take the time to take many pictures. I closed on my place in Love County in December of 2016. Like you I spent most of the first year learning the place.... still lots to learn, and like you, I always have a long list of projects I'd like to do.... more food plots, possible seasonal wetlands for waterfowl, cabin, etc. Right now my main focus is getting more plots ready for the fall. I had great luck spring and fall with the plots I got done last year. This spring, no luck at all... the spring plots are nice when they work, but my timing was terrible this year, and I got almost no rain after planting.


It is an incredible feeling pulling up thru the front gate, knowing that the place is yours, and you can do whatever you want with it. We had a pretty good first season last year with a few deer and many opportunities for my 13 yr old son with his bow... he's was actually too picky and never took a shot, and didn't even want to get a gun tag during gun season. Now that I have a better idea of the herd, I told him he needed to be less selective... that's a nice problem to have.

Unlike you, we have a lot of pigs... I trapped/shot over 50 last winter... I don't mind having a few around, but I think we're going to have be as ruthless as possible on them to try to keep them in check. I don't mind having a few around, cuz it's always hunting season, but man do they make mowing a new plot tough... I don't have rocks like you, just a lot of hog craters.

[Booner Sooner]

Originally Posted by RCDuck

Thanks for your thread... I should do one as well, but I never seem to take the time to take many pictures. I closed on my place in Love County in December of 2016. Like you I spent most of the first year learning the place.... still lots to learn, and like you, I always have a long list of projects I'd like to do.... more food plots, possible seasonal wetlands for waterfowl, cabin, etc. Right now my main focus is getting more plots ready for the fall. I had great luck spring and fall with the plots I got done last year. This spring, no luck at all... the spring plots are nice when they work, but my timing was terrible this year, and I got almost no rain after planting.





It is an incredible feeling pulling up thru the front gate, knowing that the place is yours, and you can do whatever you want with it. We had a pretty good first season last year with a few deer and many opportunities for my 13 yr old son with his bow... he's was actually too picky and never took a shot, and didn't even want to get a gun tag during gun season. Now that I have a better idea of the herd, I told him he needed to be less selective... that's a nice problem to have.



Unlike you, we have a lot of pigs... I trapped/shot over 50 last winter... I don't mind having a few around, but I think we're going to have be as ruthless as possible on them to try to keep them in check. I don't mind having a few around, cuz it's always hunting season, but man do they make mowing a new plot tough... I don't have rocks like you, just a lot of hog craters.

Great info RCDuck. Sounds like we are walking the same path but you are a few steps ahead of me.

[Booner Sooner]

Purchased a feeder from local surplus hunting supply this past weekend and brought it back home to refurbish and get ready for the season. This feeder needs a bit of TLC but should be solid for the new place.







The drum has moderate rust build up.


There are allot of different magic interweb approaches to cleaning the rust off but I’m interested in hearing if anyone has had success with anything other than a wire brush and safety glasses?

[hog_down]

Cup brush on a angle grinder. Wear a mask, eye/ear protection and some old clothes. Works great.

[Darton]

Did it come with a warranty

[Shake N' Bake]

Originally Posted by Booner Sooner

Purchased a feeder from local surplus hunting supply this past weekend and brought it back home to refurbish and get ready for the season. This feeder needs a bit of TLC but should be solid for the new place.







The drum has moderate rust build up.


There are allot of different magic interweb approaches to cleaning the rust off but I’m interested in hearing if anyone has had success with anything other than a wire brush and safety glasses?

Did you mean to say you purchased it from an antique hunting supply?

[Booner Sooner]

Originally Posted by hog_down

Cup brush on a angle grinder. Wear a mask, eye/ear protection and some old clothes. Works great.

Thanks, hog_down. Any chemical prep used to speed the removal?

[Iamhooked]

Ospho will help with the rust. Just brush off the loose rust and spray or brush it on.

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[Booner Sooner]

Originally Posted by Iamhooked

Ospho will help with the rust. Just brush off the loose rust and spray or brush it on.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

Good info. They are proud of this stuff.

[Booner Sooner]

Originally Posted by Shake N' Bake

Did you mean to say you purchased it from an antique hunting supply?

It was an out of the way place for sure!

The good part about old stuff is that it may be better built and last longer than the new stuff?!? Hoping...

Started doing some CPR on the motor housing this evening.


New battery + a little WD40 and...
https://youtu.be/CZysCTZqlM4

BOOM!

[Booner Sooner]

Originally Posted by Darton

Did it come with a warranty

No sir. The Emporium I do business with is more of an “all sales final” outfit.

Good people but firm and final with all deals.

[Darton]

Originally Posted by Booner Sooner

No sir. The Emporium I do business with is more of an “all sales final” outfit.

Good people but firm and final with all deals.

Sounds like my kind of people

[Booner Sooner]

Originally Posted by Darton

Sounds like my kind of people

Certainly not everyone’s cup of tea.


Found a chemical that takes the rust right off. Product called L-BO Grease.




Quite a bit of metal left on this classic.

[ReydonPete]

Looks like you’ve been making good progress, the place looks great
Nothing better than working on a place and knowing it’s yours at the end of the workday
Keep up the work, will be following your progress

[texaspacker]

Way to go. Man that is purdy! Now all you need is a storage container?

[No-Tox]

I was going to say the rust was a good camo color and just leave it alone.

[monsterspike]

did they ever finish the study on why mature bucks are so attracted to rust?

[Booner Sooner]

Originally Posted by No-Tox

I was going to say the rust was a good camo color and just leave it alone.

With the lease I’ve been on, a long term view has not been the focus. With this place I’m trying to do it once and do it right.

Originally Posted by ReydonPete

Looks like you’ve been making good progress, the place looks great
Nothing better than working on a place and knowing it’s yours at the end of the workday
Keep up the work, will be following your progress

With limited time on trips I’ve been hitting it hard. It’s been fun. Rewarding.

Originally Posted by monsterspike

did they ever finish the study on why mature bucks are so attracted to rust?

Nope. If this were the case my family would be legendary by now!

Originally Posted by texaspacker

Way to go. Man that is purdy! Now all you need is a storage container?

Come to think of it, I know where a low priced option can be found!

[Booner Sooner]

A few weeks ago I was contacted by a company hired by the petroleum company to perform 3D seismic mapping of the subsurface deposits. With my place being 90% solid timber they were going to have to use large, industrial munchers to cut lanes through the timber to make room for the shot holes to be drilled. Once the lanes are in they essentially drill 30’ deep coffee can size holes before setting off small charges and record/map the subsurface.

Here is a map. The proposed lanes are yellow.


The interesting thing is that I have been saving my pennies, nickels, and dimes to go toward hiring a dozer service to clear some lanes and make small kill plots. Now I have someone asking if they can pay me to to do the same thing.

It is about a $4000 swing as best I can estimate.

My only conditions for signing the contract were that the lanes would be at least twice as wide as normal and there would be no work impacting our deer hunting.

Has anyone had this type of work done before?

[Booner Sooner]

The primer is on and it’s starting to make the transition from rusted an antique to finely tuned, modern management tool.





I used Rust-oleum’s rusty metal primer. Rolled it on.


Had enough to go ahead and to the inside as well.


The drum and stand should be good for as long as the kids need it.

[Booner Sooner]

Two coats later, she’s about done.

[Booner Sooner]

Another coat and a little accent paint and the feeder barrel and stand are ready for action.



Now attention turns to the hand winch.




She soaked up the WD-40 and sounds strong.

[ReydonPete]

Booner Sooner your pretty handy
Work on feeder looks great

[Booner Sooner]

Originally Posted by ReydonPete

Booner Sooner your pretty handy
Work on feeder looks great

Thanks!

I haven’t used a winch like this before. There is no latch/switch to disengage the brake. Won’t crank backwards as is so wondering if it has to be under load in order to do so.

Anyone with experience with this type of winch that can shed some light?

[Booner Sooner]

Getting prepped to head back up to the hilltop on Friday with the wife and kids in tow. Thanks to local neighbors and TBHrs getting rid of furniture I’ll be hauling more furnishings to the cabin.


Special thanks to ShockValue for donating and help loading the furniture.

Will be setting out the refurbished feeder and scouting some of the new lanes cut by the survey company. Some pics taken by Darton recently.





Will be taking a pole saw to help open up these a bit further. Looking forward to finding new possibilities for small kill plots and sets. Think these will be prime for clover. May set out some additional cameras to see if these are being used yet.

Also looking forward to seeing the kids mow the place

[DZM]

Looking great, in for all the progress


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[Booner Sooner]

Originally Posted by DZM

Looking great, in for all the progress


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Can’t wait to see the lanes that have been cut. Have that feeling like a kid on Christmas Eve....

[monsterspike]

all signs point to this purchase being a good decision.