Barn Loft Hunting

[6mm06]

Yesterday evening I decided to give a bit of a try at calling a coyote, though I normally don't call this time of year. I guess I had cabin fever and just needed to get out and do something. Though I didn't call a coyote, the evening was not lost. I was rewarded with some fantastic video footage of a mother deer and her fawn. The deer photos below were extracted from the video.

Both deer checked out my Foxpro, but neither seemed to be alarmed, I guess due to having human activity down on the farm. They remained out back of the barn and gave me over 10 minutes worth of video. They then circled around the barn and passed by the gate entrance.

I set up in a barn loft where I built a little cubby hole and window to shoot from. There is lots of animal activity behind the barn, and the loft offers a good vantage point and helps conceal my scent.

Just thought I would share some interesting photos of the evening's hunt. To me, videoing is about as exciting as the hunt itself.

Barn loft hunting is yet one other technique for hunting. In a good areas, it can be productive, but requires a lot of patience and time. You may be surprised at the amount of animals that are near or around barns. Trail cameras near this barn have yielded pictures of bear, deer, turkey, coyotes, bobcats, red and gray fox, raccoons, crows, squirrels, and rabbits.

If you have a suitable barn handy and need to get out of the house or away from the little lady for a bit, barn loft hunting / watching / thinking is not half bad.

Checking out my Foxpro

Supper time

Motherly love

Circling the barn

Previous evening on the farm

Barn and shooting window

Vantage point

Shotgun and camera

Relaxing evening

 

[Weasel-UT]

GREAT GREAT GREAT series of photos. I'd love to have a barn loft. Thanks for sharing yours.

 

[6mm06]

Thanks Weasel. It's a lot of fun, relaxing and low keyed.

David

 

[Weasel-UT]

I'd probably live in it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif As a kid I always built what we called forts. Pretty much the same type of thing only they were on the ground. I spent many nights in them. They were like a "Comfort Cave" to me.

 

[hm1996]

Ah, the hay loft. Brings back lots of fond memories of summers at my aunt's farm. Really neat place for youngsters to play.

One early lesson learned, don't slide down the cable that was anchored at ground level and to the "yardarm" above the loft door. Sounded like a good idea to a 6 or 7 year old city kid, though /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif . Some lessons are fresh in one's memory, even 65 years later /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif.

Regards,
hm

 

[rkhood]

Wow nice setup on the gun and in the barn

 

[ozzy]

Great pics and cave! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif

 

[6mm06]

Yea, we all did things as kids that sounded good at the time. I probably would have just jumped out of the loft rather than climb down the ladder. I'm too old and brittle to do that now.

The old barn isn't the fanciest in the world, but there's lots of wildlife activity around. My son placed a trail camera on a tree at 32 yards from the back of the barn, and has captured photos of a variety of animals that I listed above. There seems to be a natural travel route along a little ridge that leads directly up to the barn.

That is neat little cubby hole to hide out in. It's about nine or ten feet square. All I need now is a small cot in the corner and I'll have a good "pouting house."

I actually have two windows to shoot from. One overlooks a deep hollow to an adjacent ridge about 200 yards away. Have seen several deer over there, so that simple, mountain barn has potential.

View with windows open. Notice trail camera on tree.

View with windows closed. Good for concealing my hide out.

Windows on opposite corners.

Entrance

View on back side. Trees are 32 yards.

View of adjacent ridge at a little over 200 yards.

 

[hm1996]

Bautiful view. Thanks for sharing.

Regards,
hm

 

[6mm06]

Here are just a few of many trail camera photos that were taken behind the barn. So, if you have access to an old barn, it might be worth a try to set up a trail camera. You might be surprised at the wildlife that are near.

Bobcat

Coyote

Gray Fox

Raccoon

Buck in velvet

Turkey

 

[Weasel-UT]

WOW! That's a slice of Heaven ya got there.

 

[MPFD]

I've got a loft that I hunt from but, it is not nearly that nice or clean. I've never really had any luck calling any thing in there but farell cats.

 

[4949shooter]

6mm,

This looks like a lot of fun. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

That is a great spot you have there. I wish I had something like it.

 

[yoteaddict]

Cleanest barn I've seen!It would be easy to spend a lot of time in that nest. Critters seem to be drawn to old building sites for the abundant mice and rabbits which usually hang out there. I utilize a lot of these set ups for moonlight hunting. I usually set up outside but you sure have a visual advantage by getting higher. Thanks for sharing all the pics! Very nice.

 

[VaPredHunter]

6mm I like what you've done to the crib. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

 

[6mm06]

Well, the inside probably looks better than the outside. The barn is pretty simple, but it works for a hunting spot. I sectioned off a portion of the loft and boxed it in with plywood, then cleaned it up, and placed a rug underneath the chair to hold noise down.

As to how successful I might be with this setup, that remains to be seen. I know there is a variety of wildlife around, but being there at the right time is important also.

My son just returned from the farm about 30 minutes ago with more trail camera pictures. Notice the time of day the coyote was there.

 

[pahntr760]

That sure is a decent spot. Reminds me of PA. MAN I nedd to get back home!!

 

[ARCOREY]

That's awesome, every man should be allowed to have a "pouting" room with such great views. It seems all the critters like that one deer trail coming down the bank there. It would be interesting to see what the night life is like there if it's that busy during the day. Great pictures David /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif.

 

[Va_Coyote_Killer]

I was hunting in North Carolina years ago and a couple of guys did this to an old tobacco barn. They built platforms in all four corners and at different height levels, cut out hinged shooting windows and used an old wood stove in the winter time to keep the place warm. They would stay there all day in comfortable chairs just watching the wood lines and fields. I seemed better than freezing in a tree stand to me. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif

 

[Coyote#1]

As usual,great pics/footage Dave..
If you guys haven't seen Daves video's, You should check them out at Apc.com. His ground hog vid is excellent.! As is his African predator hunt.. I believe I have about worn both video's out. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif