New Hunting Venture

[retrieverman]

I’ve waited to say anything until it was official, and for the first time in many years, I’m going to be hunting on a new piece of property in 2025 along with expanding my target species. A couple weeks ago, I saw a lease opening on a fairly large tract of land in Pushmataha county that has decent buck quality but also eastern turkeys and bears which are a couple animals I’d like to check off my hunting bucket list. I verbally committed to join, and I finally went up yesterday to take a look around and pay my money. I haven’t hunted on a “deer lease” with strangers since the mid 80’s, so I’m not sure how I’m going to like it.
The lease year technically doesn’t start until May 1st, but they’re going to let me start turkey hunting when season opens. I’m planning to use scouting for turkeys to learn more about the place.

 

[AER244]

I’ve waited to say anything until it was official, and for the first time in many years, I’m going to be hunting on a new piece of property in 2025 along with expanding my target species. A couple weeks ago, I saw a lease opening on a fairly large tract of land in Pushmataha county that has decent buck quality but also eastern turkeys and bears which are a couple animals I’d like to check off my hunting bucket list. I verbally committed to join, and I finally went up yesterday to take a look around and pay my money. I haven’t hunted on a “deer lease” with strangers since the mid 80’s, so I’m not sure how I’m going to like it.
The lease year technically doesn’t start until May 1st, but they’re going to let me start turkey hunting when season opens. I’m planning to use scouting for turkeys to learn more about the place.

I’ve got some access in Pittsburgh county that adjoins pushmataha. We usually go the first 4-5 days of muzz season. It’s a beautiful area. A lot different than alfalfa county. Or at least has been for me. The animals I’ve encountered on the “mountain” seem much more alert/weary and scarce than my local alfalfa co critters. Antler configuration has been very different for me too- lots of clean 10-12pts with tall tines and generally very spindly, whereas at my alfalfa co farm it’s a lot of 9pts with some 8s and 10s and mostly shorter tines, but they’ll at least get heavyish. Your new place may have super heavy horns, that’s just been my experience in the area. And I’m sure you’re accustomed to hunting timber being from east tx, but that change in hunting style is still fun for me. We dont run cameras out there or even maintain stands. It’s a meat hunt when we go and no one is trophy hunting. Acorn fed deer taste just fine to me. We’ve found some big sheds and dead heads and shot a handful of pretty good ones but have never seen or found sign of a true monster. The first time you go to pull the trigger on a giant, just remember that big antlers look like huge antlers when the deer weighs <90lbs. There are pigs (and deer) when there’s water. Turkeys are few and far between at “my” place now and were fairly difficult to hunt compared to the rios I was used to. Theyre big hefty birds though. There have been bears pass through “my” place, but we’ve found no evidence that they linger very long. Hopefully your arm/shoulder cooperate and you can stick a few new things with your recurve there. Those are some of my most favorite memories and hunts down there, I bet you enjoy it.

 

[retrieverman]

I’ve got some access in Pittsburgh county that adjoins pushmataha. We usually go the first 4-5 days of muzz season. It’s a beautiful area. A lot different than alfalfa county. Or at least has been for me. The animals I’ve encountered on the “mountain” seem much more alert/weary and scarce than my local alfalfa co critters. Antler configuration has been very different for me too- lots of clean 10-12pts with tall tines and generally very spindly, whereas at my alfalfa co farm it’s a lot of 9pts with some 8s and 10s and mostly shorter tines, but they’ll at least get heavyish. Your new place may have super heavy horns, that’s just been my experience in the area. And I’m sure you’re accustomed to hunting timber being from east tx, but that change in hunting style is still fun for me. We dont run cameras out there or even maintain stands. It’s a meat hunt when we go and no one is trophy hunting. Acorn fed deer taste just fine to me. We’ve found some big sheds and dead heads and shot a handful of pretty good ones but have never seen or found sign of a true monster. The first time you go to pull the trigger on a giant, just remember that big antlers look like huge antlers when the deer weighs <90lbs. There are pigs (and deer) when there’s water. Turkeys are few and far between at “my” place now and were fairly difficult to hunt compared to the rios I was used to. Theyre big hefty birds though. There have been bears pass through “my” place, but we’ve found no evidence that they linger very long. Hopefully your arm/shoulder cooperate and you can stick a few new things with your recurve there. Those are some of my most favorite memories and hunts down there, I bet you enjoy it.View attachment 552877

From the deer pictures I’ve seen off the place, my buck hunting will still be done in Alfalfa county.
I’m not a big fan of hunting timber company land, but this place will hopefully give me a chance to check off two boxes on my hunting bucket list. Once that’s done, I probably won’t get back on the lease.

 

[Okie4570]

Lots of honey buns and grease is all I can tell you..........

 

[Ken Robinson]

How Much?

 

[retrieverman]

How Much?

All I’m going to say is it’s around 3x less than it would cost me to buy guided bear and eastern turkey hunts.

 

[2busy]

Are you going to make multiple trips to keep the bear bait stocked.

 

[retrieverman]

Are you going to make multiple trips to keep the bear bait stocked.

That’s the plan.