09-28-2011, 03:45 AM
I started out hunting from the ground, with a shotgun, with whatever brush I could find for cover. Learning the value of being quiet and still. Later on, in college I built my first stand and started field hunting with a rifle, what I would have given for a Grendel back then. Now, I have the privilege of hunting on a active farm with about 1400 acres and about 10 members. about 800 acres are in production of crops, mostly perennial peanut hay, a great high protein nutrition source until it frosts in November/December. By then the food plots are the hot spots. We have a plethora of deer, so many the farmer has told us if we don't control the population, he would hire someone and get a crop depredation permit. We have done our best to keep it under control, sometimes some of us limit out, 12, and sometimes most of us don't. We share the meat with family and friends. We have condo stands with high back office chairs in most fields, and the food plots have regular buddy stands so the kids have a great place to hunt too. With my old job, I could get off several days a week in the afternoon to hunt. Now I am lucky for one day a month and then on Saturday's. No hunting on Sunday per the land owner, so it keeps a great day for church and family. I still hunt from the ground, a few times a year and yes, up close and personal is a thrill. Great topic BTW.