Well as some of you have found out, Jamie and I are going to have baby #3. It is due June 7th, right during fawning season. Nobody ever said that we had good timing! Hopefully everyone is doing good and looking forward to this next fall where you can see the new baby and hopefully a big buck!
Dustin
This hunt is for the late season this year. A cull buck is a buck that needs to be taken out of the herd due to age and size. These bucks can be up to 139″ but will typically be in the 110-130″ range. When these bucks step out on a cull hunt, there is not a debate on shooting.
The hunter in a culling situation is there to help the ranch manage the herd while getting a lot of shooting in. All meals and lodging are provided for this two day, three night package that is fully guided.
Jake Groth with his 240 7/8″ monster killed 12/3. What a truly magnificent whitetail taken while chasing a doe. Do you like drop tines? How about width? Ok what about a big typical frame with a lot of mass? Well this buck has it all!
Thanks Jake for a great hunt!
The free range hunts are underway with some good bucks already being taken on the ranch. So far, the best buck has been Marty Rubeo’s 158″ 9 pt beauty. Jim Wilkes’ and Jerry Bofferding’s bucks scored in at 147″ each. Other ones to mention were Pat’s 137″ buck and Gary’s 146″ buck.
Two groups have been through since our last post. We have been taking quite a few management bucks and are continuing to kill big bucks as well. Sadly, we found two bucks this past week that will not be taken by hunters. Both bucks were bruisers and would’ve score over 190″. At this time we are getting ready for this weekend, which will be the start of the Missouri Deer Season. Check out some of our bucks from the past two weeks.
The second week at the East Fork Ranch proved to be a succesful one. Eight hunters from Houston, Texas scored on big bucks and memorable hunts that will last a lifetime. You never know what each day in the woods will bring, from monster bucks to unbelievable circumstances which always make the times at EFR fun and exciting. This week brought an end to the year long reign of one of EFR’s finest hunters, David Hendricks. His modest and humble attitude of killing the biggest buck in ‘08 was put to an end by Fred Morgan’s 229″ monster that he took on this hunt. David still came in second on this week with a buck that scored an impressive 219″. Both deer were unbelievable and we appreciate the fact that we were able to see these boys out in the field while with a hunter. David is protesting the award for Fred saying that the buck had a “death wish and committed suicide”. Nonetheless, David will have to try next year for the King of the Ranch award.
We have completed our first week of the season and all I can say is WOW!! Four 200″ deer on the ground with another one scoring 189″. Two of the bucks scoring 215″ and then another two scoring 242″ and 243″, respectively, were taken. This is the beginning of our best season ever and we are still seeing several giants left in the field. With another group of hunters coming in Friday, we can only hope they show themselves at least one more time!
