Couldn't be happier
One year ago next month, I got a phone call from my uncle informing me that he had just closed on 50 acres of wooded bottom land.
I said, "Great, what do you plan to do with it?"
His reply took me by surprise.
"I bought it so you and your brothers would have someplace to hunt" [:0]
My uncle has not hunted in more than 40 years, but lately he got the itch again, so...
He went a step further still by adding me and both of my brothers to the deed!
Not only do I now have access to GREAT hunting property, but it belongs to me(us)![:D]
O.K. details.
My(our) new property is located at the junction of 3 counties in SW Indiana.
It boasts 1800' of roadside, but that is deceiving. In most places the hill starts about 20 feet or so inside the woods, so there is not much flat ground at road level. Just enough to park a handful of vehicles.
It is a precipitous drop. The hill is about 80' tall. It can be driven, but only by 4-wheel drive, or a tractor.
The bottom land is flat, and dense.
The western-most property line is the actual raised berm that served as the tow-path for the old Wabash-Erie canal.
Just 30 yards past the berm, in what was the old canal, is a beaver den!
We constructed shoot houses on the top of the hill, and this season I took the largest buck (antlers) that I've ever seen in the woods, and I've been hunting Indiana white-tail for more than 35 years.
He's not a trophey, but he is for me. A very respectable 9 pointer.
I don't hunt for tropheys, but he was a big deer, which means a lot of meat.
I took another button buck, and a good size doe on top of the big buck.
My youngest brother took 3 does but never got a decent shot at a buck.
Middle brother doesn't hunt, more for me and the youngest!!!
Sadly, uncle did not get a shot on a deer the entire season, but he didn't spend as much time out there as the brother and I.
Just before the season started I knew I was going to have issues trying to drag a deer up that hill by hand, so I went looking for a 4-wheeler.
WOW! I had no idea how proud some people are of USED 4-wheelers!
I didn't want to spend $5k on a USED 4-wheeler, then ran across a deal on a 1939 Ford 9N tractor.
$450 + a used Braztec .357 lever action rifle and I had a running tractor! Another $150 in cash and I also brought home a 5' wide grater blade, so now I can cut my own roads through the property!
I used the Ford and an old logging path to drag my trophey deer up to the road with ZERO effort!
I asked my uncle how I could ever thank him. He simply said, "Enjoy it."
I did gift him a brand new S&W M&P15. It was the first new gun he's received in more than 40 years, and he's like a kid in a candy store.
He loves it, but it's not nearly enough...
Sorry about running on.
I just couldn't be happier...
I said, "Great, what do you plan to do with it?"
His reply took me by surprise.
"I bought it so you and your brothers would have someplace to hunt" [:0]
My uncle has not hunted in more than 40 years, but lately he got the itch again, so...
He went a step further still by adding me and both of my brothers to the deed!
Not only do I now have access to GREAT hunting property, but it belongs to me(us)![:D]
O.K. details.
My(our) new property is located at the junction of 3 counties in SW Indiana.
It boasts 1800' of roadside, but that is deceiving. In most places the hill starts about 20 feet or so inside the woods, so there is not much flat ground at road level. Just enough to park a handful of vehicles.
It is a precipitous drop. The hill is about 80' tall. It can be driven, but only by 4-wheel drive, or a tractor.
The bottom land is flat, and dense.
The western-most property line is the actual raised berm that served as the tow-path for the old Wabash-Erie canal.
Just 30 yards past the berm, in what was the old canal, is a beaver den!
We constructed shoot houses on the top of the hill, and this season I took the largest buck (antlers) that I've ever seen in the woods, and I've been hunting Indiana white-tail for more than 35 years.
He's not a trophey, but he is for me. A very respectable 9 pointer.
I don't hunt for tropheys, but he was a big deer, which means a lot of meat.
I took another button buck, and a good size doe on top of the big buck.
My youngest brother took 3 does but never got a decent shot at a buck.
Middle brother doesn't hunt, more for me and the youngest!!!
Sadly, uncle did not get a shot on a deer the entire season, but he didn't spend as much time out there as the brother and I.
Just before the season started I knew I was going to have issues trying to drag a deer up that hill by hand, so I went looking for a 4-wheeler.
WOW! I had no idea how proud some people are of USED 4-wheelers!
I didn't want to spend $5k on a USED 4-wheeler, then ran across a deal on a 1939 Ford 9N tractor.
$450 + a used Braztec .357 lever action rifle and I had a running tractor! Another $150 in cash and I also brought home a 5' wide grater blade, so now I can cut my own roads through the property!
I used the Ford and an old logging path to drag my trophey deer up to the road with ZERO effort!
I asked my uncle how I could ever thank him. He simply said, "Enjoy it."
I did gift him a brand new S&W M&P15. It was the first new gun he's received in more than 40 years, and he's like a kid in a candy store.
He loves it, but it's not nearly enough...
Sorry about running on.
I just couldn't be happier...
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Sounds good.
Those old Ford 9n's are great tractors and they are all over the place.
I have a 49 model.0 -
I'm sure seeing you guys enjoy it is thanks enough for him... You got understand us old folks live vicariously through our young family members...
Great story, thanks for sharing it0 -
quote:Originally posted by remingtonoaks
I'm sure seeing you guys enjoy it is thanks enough for him... You got understand us old folks live vicariously through our young family members...
Great story, thanks for sharing it
With any luck he'll be back on the hunt next season.
Uncle is 81, but just months ago he was swinging on the vines we cut out of the trees!
He also spent several days down there with us using chainsaws to clear shooting lanes.
I turned 60 late last year, so I'm no spring chicken, but we are a spry bunch.
I'm just hoping uncle can drop a nice buck this season.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Sam06
Sounds good.
Those old Ford 9n's are great tractors and they are all over the place.
I have a 49 model.
Well, she's not a looker, but she runs great, and when I got her she had already been converted from the 6volt positive ground to the 12volt negative ground.
Makes it easier for me to deal with.0 -
You have been truly blessed! Deer hunters around here dream of hunting Southern Indiana and Western Kentucky. Those who have been there speak very highly of the area. 0 -
Awesome, I hope your clan gets to enjoy that for many many years 0 -
Lucky you! You gave him some venison too right? Unc. must really love you boys. You are blessed. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by He Dog
Lucky you! You gave him some venison too right? Unc. must really love you boys. You are blessed.
Oh yes, he gets all the venison he wants.
I've spent more time with him in the past year than I had the rest of my life.
That is sad, but true.
We've always had an amiable relationship, but never what I considered close.
This came out of the clear blue sky.
We've enjoyed a few range trips this past year, letting him play with his new AR15.0 -
[8D][:)][^] 0 -
quote:Originally posted by He Dog
Lucky you! You gave him some venison too right? Unc. must really love you boys. You are blessed.
He Dog said it all right here. +100 if I may,,,0 -
Where do we park? Is either side of the road OK? Thanks 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Mgderf
Sadly, uncle did not get a shot on a deer the entire season.
I bet he did, he just didn't take it [;)], he's doing exactly what he wants....enjoying your company and the land gift, that's a good man there [:)]0 -
Such a good act. Enjoy 0
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