Fall Field+Stream hunting?

[unfbaseball29]

Thanks for the info questor... I live close to Shawike so this information is very valuable and I'm in my first year of hunting artifacts as well so maybe i'll give it a shot!

[chert]

Shawike...I went last fall to the plowed fields that we hunt in the spring. Some fields were deep plowed and some were chiseled. The key was to go after a hard rain just like in the spring. Around Thanksgiving time I found a very nice drill and several birdpoints. It's crazy right now not to be able to hunt up here. So I'm waiting till the crops are off and the ground worked to "scratch my itch" to hunt. I guess the key is just to go out and look. Nothing else you'll get some fresh air and exercise.

[questor]

On a second note... that last point in your in-situs, the white side notched point, I have one just like that, very rough and large, about 3 inches long but almost exactly that shape.. whats it called? I never really typed it per se.

Shawike, is good to hear several members here are considering giving a tall corn hunt a try. Rate the experience here later if you enjoyed yourselves for whatever reason?....

Side-notched types of this general outline(my white one) are fair in number up here in the Northern climes. A good percent of them fall solidly within the middle Archaic, tapering in either direction from there. From the description of yours, and without seeing it, is hard for me to associate it into any relationship to this white one here of mine that you mentioned. I like to favor the Simonson type for this specimen and several others like it that I have found around here. The keys for me on this includes; the notches rounding off into/onto the actual basal ear in a continuous transition, slight basal concavity, grinding, length to width ratio, and superior workmanship. Other closely related prospects/alternatives within the design (for mine that you inquired about) might include Lookingbill, Logan Creek, Cache River, Raddatz, Brewerton, etc... as possible related alternatives. Their are only slight variables that set any of these apart in form. Over where you're at you might want to look into Big Sandy, possibly Robinson, or maybe even Sublet Ferry, as some places to start.

Oh, one other technique you might consider trying right about now is closely related in approach as to the tall corn option. Lake banks that are situated in heavy wooded areas can be worth a shot right about now as well. The heat is up, the rain is down. We've had plenty of rain this year to take care of that part of the equation. Woodsy ground vegetation should be dying back and decomposing, possibly exposing some stretches of elevated bank lines along their edges. Get in there before the tree leaves start coming down. Watch the upper 'breakline' portion of the bank closely, as I like to refer to it as. Which is right where the sloping down initially begins, before things take a steep downward dive. Things are well washed here, but have not quite yet taken the plunge down into the compiled debris, or into the water either. If backtracking your way back to your vehicle, then this is a good time to watch the remaining lower portion of the bank if huntable, or the waters edge...Best of luck to you,,,,questor

[coffee]

Questors advise is right on the money. I find a LOT of my points by walking the corn. I might suggest a pair of light colored sun glasses, or clear gogles to protect your eyes. Cheers, Michael from Wisconsin.

[Shawike]

An update on that tall corn hunting... you weren't kidding when you said it was a nasty situation to hunt in. The spiders get a little intimidating when you have a close up, in your face situation with one of the 1 inch or 2 inch ones... wow. The sweat that pours from my brows doesn't bother me as much as the itchy forehead from the corn leaves and my EXTREMELY annoying allergy to pollen and... everything. I found that these conditions are completely unbearable without the full suit of gear, which now includes, thanks to everyones advice, : Hat, bandana around the nose and mouth, long sleeves/jeans, bug spray, and coooool weather. The hilltop im hunting is producing chunks and flakes of flint of all sizes and colors, so far the only pieces I've found have been the small point I posted a few weeks back, someone mentioned a dalton variation with broken ear and tip, and 3 tips to some finely worked points... I also have been told by the farmer that he found himself an axe on the hill and also sadly... someone else hunts the land as well. I plan to continue and I'll post any finds here.

Heres the white point that I said is very similar... at least to my novice eyes... to your point, questor, and again thanks for all your input, it's been great.

[questor]

and also sadly... someone else hunts the land as well.

Shawike - That is the advantage of utilizing this method. Not to many other hunters are willing to endure it. Chances are you will be the first person looking there since the crop canopied in early summer. And with all of the rain we have had here in the Midwest this summer, I would expect a few decent finds if you can find where it is that you need to be.


Glad to hear that you enjoyed yourself so much(chuckle). If you get, say a half dozen of these attempts under your belt, and you're still gung-ho about it, then you will have truly earned your wings. So good luck and hang in there. When you find that exceptional piece, you may think that it is all well worth while. Once you get to where you are able to 'read' the field, you will get better at determining where and when is the best time to hunt. Here in Iowa where I am at, I am still waiting for a bit cooler weather. Which we are finally starting to get some of. I have noticed the corn is looking overall ready(lower leaves dropping), so may soon give it a try. The problem being though, that we have had some serious winds several days here lately. So is possible the ground is already getting covered over with leaf debris. Oh well, such is the way that it goes it seems. Much success to you in the tall corn, and keep us posted here.

Yup, you got yourself a dandy good ole sidenotcher there. Nice point and nice to see. I hope you can score some more of them through your tall corn efforts!

[questor]

As they say 'Practice what you preach', so I did. I hunted in the tall corn today here in Northern Iowa. We've had a ton of rain this summer, so I anticipated some finds. Each discovery was spotted lying nearly full out & crispy clean. Again, the result of ample rain I would assume. Here are the results of that hunt. I have posted the insits in the order that I found each point.