I posted this on another forum so I apologize if some of you are seeing this twice. I'm just too new to this hobby not to use all of the available resources.
I recently gained permission to hunt a late 1800's homestead and the place hasn't ever been hunted unless it was without permission and knowledge. this homestead has been in the family since the 1880s and has had 3 different houses on it and I know the location of the houses and pretty good idea of the outbuildings etc. I know pretty much how I will hunt those areas.
The current owner told me of a trading post that was located just down the road. The trading post closed during the depression. She now owns the land it was on and told me she remembers going to the closed trading post and playing as a young girl but doesn't remember exactly where in that 160 acres it was. We narrowed down that it was probably within 300 yards or so of the road but could be anywhere on that 1/2 mile stretch. I looked for inconsistencies in the grass and physical geography but couldn't find anything.
My question is this: How would you hunt the area to possibly find the trading post? Section it off and go hunt multiple times but hunt it thoroughly? Cover a lot of area moving pretty fast in an "S" shape back and forth until I start getting hits? It is pretty flat but there are two small hills that I figured I would start on. If I were going to build a trading post, I would put it on one of the hills even though they are probably only about 5' above the surrounding land.
I don't even know what to expect to find there but the landowner was pretty excited at the prospect that I might find the location. Seemed that she had very fond memories coming back to her and told me about one item that she wanted back if I found anything. A locket she lost as a girl.
BTW, this is within a few miles of the Sante Fe Trail in an area well know for some Plains Indian attacks and conflicts and buffalo hunting. I'm really looking forward to hunting this area and don't have a time limit. Can't wait until the weather clears up.
I recently gained permission to hunt a late 1800's homestead and the place hasn't ever been hunted unless it was without permission and knowledge. this homestead has been in the family since the 1880s and has had 3 different houses on it and I know the location of the houses and pretty good idea of the outbuildings etc. I know pretty much how I will hunt those areas.
The current owner told me of a trading post that was located just down the road. The trading post closed during the depression. She now owns the land it was on and told me she remembers going to the closed trading post and playing as a young girl but doesn't remember exactly where in that 160 acres it was. We narrowed down that it was probably within 300 yards or so of the road but could be anywhere on that 1/2 mile stretch. I looked for inconsistencies in the grass and physical geography but couldn't find anything.
My question is this: How would you hunt the area to possibly find the trading post? Section it off and go hunt multiple times but hunt it thoroughly? Cover a lot of area moving pretty fast in an "S" shape back and forth until I start getting hits? It is pretty flat but there are two small hills that I figured I would start on. If I were going to build a trading post, I would put it on one of the hills even though they are probably only about 5' above the surrounding land.
I don't even know what to expect to find there but the landowner was pretty excited at the prospect that I might find the location. Seemed that she had very fond memories coming back to her and told me about one item that she wanted back if I found anything. A locket she lost as a girl.
BTW, this is within a few miles of the Sante Fe Trail in an area well know for some Plains Indian attacks and conflicts and buffalo hunting. I'm really looking forward to hunting this area and don't have a time limit. Can't wait until the weather clears up.
