Trying to revive a lost love.

[sluggunner]

Hi everyone, Sluggunner here. I used to be a daily member to the forums years and years ago. This site was a BIG part of my daily routine until some major life changes took me away for a while (Move to a different city) Then I re joined up and had to start all over as a FAWN status...Bummer then a terrible thing happened I'll try to give you the abbreviated version as much as possible:

About 10 years ago I purchased a small 8 acre parcel of land that I could develop into my own personal whitetail sanctuary. I named it Deerhaven Woods and spent countless hours improving the habitat for whitetail and the other native wildlife by planting food plots, fertilizing the native mast producing trees and establishing cover sites. This propriety is small and landlocked by three other neighboring properties. About two years ago there was a change in ownership of the property that boarders mine on two sides. The change unfortunately was not for the better. The new owners invade the once tranquil wooded setting on almost a daily basis with their ATV’s, paintball wars, screaming children and loose dogs that love to chase deer on their property and mine. No trespassing signs and lot boundaries mean nothing to them. Needless to say it did not take very long for the local whitetail population to grow wise to their antics and vacate the area entirely. Now my once beautifully manicured food plots are weed patches and the once well worn deer trails are all but gone.

I used to dream day and night about going there to hunt and photograph these magnificent animals; (creatures that I consider to be one of God’s greatest creations.) He was definitely on his “A” game when he came up with whitetails. For the last two years I have been trying to come to terms with what has happened and close that chapter of my life and move on. I have come to the realization that this is not going to happen, as removing the pursuit of whitetails from my life would be the same as removing my heart. The bitterness and anger of them taking away my true passion in life made it so I couldn't even look at anything that even remended me of a much happier time. I have not watched a monster bucks video or visited this site for over two years because it was like rubbing salt in a very tender wound. I still don't know what to do, but I do know I can not go the rest of my life trying to run from everything that reminded me of the only activity in life that ever made me feel ALIVE. I love God and my family above all. Then after that there was just hunting whitetails or looking forward to hunting whitetails. I used to eat sleep and breath whitetails 365 days a year and even though I will not be going out into the now empty deer woods again this year, at least I can maybe start to fulfill my craving of whitetails through your stories, photos and online if you will take me back into the Realtree family. I hope you will, Sluggunner.

[lil hunter]

good to have you back sluggunner. sorry to hear about your luck with that property.

[layin on the smackdown]

I probably wasn't around when you were here before, but i am sure everyone here will welcome you back with open arms...

A very sad story you have experienced, and i feel for ya. Keep your head up, and keep on keepin on...In time, maybe things will get better. Best of luck, and welcome back.

Dan

[hammerforged]

Welcome back to the campfire sluggunner, glad to have you back with us. Sorry to hear of your "neighbor" problems.

[sluggunner]

Thanks guys, I have to remember an awesome quote that someone on this site used to use as their signature line. It went something like this: Don't cry because its over, smile because you were there. I try to focus on the wonderful times I spent hunting there to keep from crying. Who knows, maybt these morons will move out in a few years and sell their property to someone who is into deer hunting and then the deer will come back. Or I could always just turn around and dump the property real real real cheap to someone who just wants to use it for camping and to ride their ATV's on etc.

[buckee]

Welcome back sluggunner. I remember you well. My heart really goes out to you. I can only imagine how it would feel to buy a piece of utopia only to have it turned upside down. Very sad indeed buddy.

What you need buddy is a couple of good hunting friends, so you can at least get away from your place, and get some of that hunting fever and love for the outdoors back again Maybe someone on here can help.

I wish you nothing but the very, very best.

[wtnhunt]

Thanks guys, I have to remember an awesome quote that someone on this site used to use as their signature line. It went something like this: Don't cry because its over, smile because you were there. I try to focus on the wonderful times I spent hunting there to keep from crying. Who knows, maybt these morons will move out in a few years and sell their property to someone who is into deer hunting and then the deer will come back. Or I could always just turn around and dump the property real real real cheap to someone who just wants to use it for camping and to ride their ATV's on etc.

That would be Tominator's sig line. Welcome back sluggunner. Unfortunately can kind of relate to having problems with neighboring property owners.

[jbeck]

My neighbor has a bird dog that can cover his 150 acres, and my 50 in about 6 seconds flat. I used to try to grow big bucks, but it is a crap shoot here. the woods are to open, no cover on my property so I have to plant food and wait for them to cross. Also the neighbor runs the property on his 4 wheeler, with the dog running it and the 4 wheeler crossing it, hunting is tough at times.

THe only thing saving our neighbor relationship is the fact that I married his daughter, and I was taught to respect me elders.

[jbeck]

I forgot, welcome back slugger.

[redkneck]

Welcome back. The glass is half full my friend. Dwelling on one bad experience isnt good for you. I hope you get out in the woods and enjoy yourself this year. When you only have 8 acres, you never know what may happen around you (crap, I only got a 2 acre lot surrounded by woods, and I about flipped when the neighbor was once talking about making a subdivision behind me). Land is expensive. And a small piece of it in the right spot can be one's own little piece of paradise......BUT, the land around it belongs to others, and we have to remember that going into the bargain. Tresspassing, of course is another story, but just the noise and presence of folks on their own place is usually enough to spoil your experience at times.....but it is that person's right to do so.

Hope you get out and have some fun bud.

Edited August 15, 2009 by redkneck

[Shaun_300]

Welcome back sluggunner! I remember you as well. That sucks what happened with your property.

[redkneck]

Hey, I'll give ya one better than that. Where I grew up about 50 miles from here is my dad's old homeplace. We still got around 100 acres there between my dad and 2 sisters. A few years back folks were kind enough to build a drag strip less than one mile as the crow flies. Try hunting when you have a 454 with open headers roaring at you all afternoon, then it goes till about 1.00 am on weekends. NOW that's invading other's rights to me.

[PotashRLS]

Very sorry to hear of your situation.

I've often wondered how it can be that when folks have such terrible neighbors as you describe (and there are many), the terrible neighbors are totally oblivious to themselves being the poster children for such activity. I still have not figured out how so many people can be so intentionally rude and obnoxious.

I hope things work out for ya. In fact, me being a Land Surveyor out of Green Bay, I would be more than happy to keep my eye out for huntable property in the Door/Kewaunee County areas if you are interested. They are not cheap but one just never knows when something works out

[sluggunner]

Redneck, you are so right about it being their land and they can do what they want with it. They are paying the mortgage and property taxes on their proprety that is why I know I can't say anything to them as they have the right to do whatever they want on their land and I am sure that is why they bought that parcel so they can do the activities they like. I just wish they would get tired of living there and sell to some dude from this site who is into bow hunting and QDM and we could work together to make the area a deer haven that it once was....Hey one can dream right?

[sluggunner]

Hey PotashRLS, maybe you can help me. The land I own is in Fond Du Lac County and I was thinking it might help if I fenced off the long lot line that our properties share. I do have most of the property fenced. but I would need to have that section surveyed to ensure I am putting the fence on MY property and not going over theirs by even an inch. Unlike them I respect other people's property rights. Do you know how I could find a surveyer that works in the South east corner of Fond Du Lac County? I wish I could afford to just up and buy more land, but I just don't have the money for that luxury. I know I wouldn't even be having this problem if I had a large parcel like 100 acres or more as they they could do whatever they want on theirs and the deer would just hang out un molested on my property. The big problem is the deer have to cross their property to get to mine.

[Buckslayer]

Hey there sluggunner.. welcome back.. thats a real shame about your property. Hopefully you can get things turned around. If you can get the neighbors to stop, maybe the deer will return. :-/

[redkneck]

Hey one can dream right?

Ya never know, maybe they'll get tired and head for the hills!!!!

Hope things work out for you and the piece of land. Maybe Tracy can hook you up with something with some good hunting too.

[PotashRLS]

Checking a local phone book for that area should get you some names or googling it would work too. Otherwise call the Fond Du Lac County Property Lister's Office or Register of Deeds and they will be able to help you find one. Many counties compile a list for the public of Land Surveyors that do a lot of work in their county. PM me if you don't have any luck.

With work being a bit slow and probably getting slower toward winter, you could get a pretty good price if you call around and compare. Be warned though that the lowballers out there don't have insurance and put the landowner at risk because they have nothing to fall back on if there is an error. Also doing surveys of wooded property after the leaves fall is usually quicker and should save you a little $.

[stevebeilgard]

welcome back, sluggunner. i remeber you. if that were my place, i'd go talk with my neighbor. tell them what you did, and why. let them be aware of the problem, and ask them to keep off your place. and let them know you heavily trap your property and that their dogs may get caught. next, let them put up a fence... lol

[Hoyt03]

My neighbor has a bird dog that can cover his 150 acres, and my 50 in about 6 seconds flat. I used to try to grow big bucks, but it is a crap shoot here. the woods are to open, no cover on my property so I have to plant food and wait for them to cross. Also the neighbor runs the property on his 4 wheeler, with the dog running it and the 4 wheeler crossing it, hunting is tough at times.

THe only thing saving our neighbor relationship is the fact that I married his daughter, and I was taught to respect me elders.

LOL

Welcome back slug

[sluggunner]

Thanks for the GREAT tips PotashRLS. And thank all of you for your kind words and encouragement, you all are the best!!

[Tink]

Welcome

Cheer up in the lst few year the US Whitetail popular has grown

You need need to make that yoru base camp and hunnt other spots as you find them

happytrails

TINK

[Casey]

Hi everyone, Sluggunner here. I used to be a daily member to the forums years and years ago. This site was a BIG part of my daily routine until some major life changes took me away for a while (Move to a different city) Then I re joined up and had to start all over as a FAWN status...Bummer then a terrible thing happened I'll try to give you the abbreviated version as much as possible:

About 10 years ago I purchased a small 8 acre parcel of land that I could develop into my own personal whitetail sanctuary. I named it Deerhaven Woods and spent countless hours improving the habitat for whitetail and the other native wildlife by planting food plots, fertilizing the native mast producing trees and establishing cover sites. This propriety is small and landlocked by three other neighboring properties. About two years ago there was a change in ownership of the property that boarders mine on two sides. The change unfortunately was not for the better. The new owners invade the once tranquil wooded setting on almost a daily basis with their ATV’s, paintball wars, screaming children and loose dogs that love to chase deer on their property and mine. No trespassing signs and lot boundaries mean nothing to them. Needless to say it did not take very long for the local whitetail population to grow wise to their antics and vacate the area entirely. Now my once beautifully manicured food plots are weed patches and the once well worn deer trails are all but gone.

I used to dream day and night about going there to hunt and photograph these magnificent animals; (creatures that I consider to be one of God’s greatest creations.) He was definitely on his “A” game when he came up with whitetails. For the last two years I have been trying to come to terms with what has happened and close that chapter of my life and move on. I have come to the realization that this is not going to happen, as removing the pursuit of whitetails from my life would be the same as removing my heart. The bitterness and anger of them taking away my true passion in life made it so I couldn't even look at anything that even remended me of a much happier time. I have not watched a monster bucks video or visited this site for over two years because it was like rubbing salt in a very tender wound. I still don't know what to do, but I do know I can not go the rest of my life trying to run from everything that reminded me of the only activity in life that ever made me feel ALIVE. I love God and my family above all. Then after that there was just hunting whitetails or looking forward to hunting whitetails. I used to eat sleep and breath whitetails 365 days a year and even though I will not be going out into the now empty deer woods again this year, at least I can maybe start to fulfill my craving of whitetails through your stories, photos and online if you will take me back into the Realtree family. I hope you will, Sluggunner.

Once a family member, always a family member. Welcome back Shane.

[hunterbobb]

Welcome back slug gunner for a fellow Wisconsinite. There is no need it give up hunting just becuse your eight acre patch has been invaded. Take out a Wisconsin road map and look at the northern part of the state. You will see lots of green. That green stuff is tens of thousands of acres of public land. I assure you with a little work you can find a place where you can wander for hours unmolested for hours.