Post by: Terry Green on September 19, 2004, 08:26:00 AM
If you hunted, and want to come in at the end of the day and post a little report on your adventure, then have at it. You certialy don't have to kill anything to post, just anything interesting would good.
And remember, post your 'hero pics' on the Highlights 04 forum.
I'll start....
In route to my 'bear woods', the road was out AGAIN. Last year the state cut me off working on this one certian road just after I had finnaly found huntable bear sign, and nearly got a shot.....now Ivan washed out the bridge, and not until I'd driven in half way. Had to re-group.
Went to another place hi in the mountians....bout a 40 minute run from the bridge. Walked a mile to the top of the MT..and off the other side a quarter...came back to the top...and eased off a lead I'd hunted before. Yep...same 'spagetti junction' in the ferns as last year....I'll set up here.
The wind was howling up the lead, and I posted up looking down and to the right. I knew something could be on me rather quickly, and silently.
Sure enough, at 15 till six, I turned my head left, and there he was, yet ANOTHER 200+ Cohutta Mt boar hog. Look just like my McKenzie big boar, cept thicker.....and he was in boa range the 1st time I set eyes on him....just one more step...just one more....
He smelled my track, and turned and lopped down the lead, and I went after him.....bout 100 yards down the lead, with me not getting closer than 30 yards, he bailed off the steep stuff, and I knew he'd won...so I bit him adue.
45 minutes latter, here comes a wad of fitty pounders. Now when they smelled my track, it was like the Keystone Cops, and I got quite a laugh out of all the confusion and tail chasing, as I'm sure the big sow did taking up the rear.
That was my hunt for Saturday the 18th.
Post by: Littlefeather on September 19, 2004, 09:21:00 AM
The hogs really haven't been around this area since my lovely neighbor bulldozed his seven hundred acres. Dontcha just love Cattle Ranchers!!! Anyway, as I eased along I thought I heard a squeel. I actually had to bend down to see under a limb in front of me. Just as I did a nice red Sow about 125# and three little striped red piglets in tow. She was pretty close but considering the circumstances I think I'll just let those pigs grow awhile. It was a good hunt that put me back at the house just as last light fell. CK
Post by: StanM on September 19, 2004, 11:03:00 AM
Post by: BunneyHunter on September 19, 2004, 11:08:00 AM
Post by: JC on September 19, 2004, 01:09:00 PM
Now, funny thing is, this morning on the way to the stand @ 5am, I see and walk past 4 deer bedded down not 20 yards off the main road in a wide open pine meadow.
Gonna try this week and if it don't get no better I'm gonna go hog chasin!
Frustrated Joe :knothead:
Post by: Littlefeather on September 19, 2004, 01:16:00 PM
I was just interupted while I typed this by the dogs barking outside. I look out to see a squirrel in the Pecan tree barking at the dogs as they barked at him. One Magnus blunt between the eyes and I now have somthing to go with Fridays bunny. I wonder how squirrel mixes with bunny? Sounds like a potatoe meal. CK
Post by: Huntrdfk on September 19, 2004, 02:19:00 PM
Ivan got here Friday eve, and it rained from then until about 2 Sat afternoon. As it began to let up, I figured the animals would be out and about, so out I went. Got to the spot I was going to hunt, and a guy shows up on a three wheeler, then another, both bowhunting. (you can walk from one end of the property to the other in fifteen minutes). I take off, shortly after I hear the three wheelers coming. I get into the property about halfway, it is all overgrown fields full of wild apple, pear and cherry trees. The three wheeler gets close, and off runs a six point buck that he never sees. As he passes me, he actually stops and tells me he is to lazy to walk, then drives off. Thirty yards further I come upon a doe and two fawns watching the three wheeler drive off. I am 10 yards from one of the fawns, and they have no idea I am there. The doe is about 60 yards out, finally sees me and takes one fawn with her. The second just moseys around by me, I drew on it a number of times but didn't shoot. This fawn wlaks by me, and I head into the field to my stand, the fawn begins to follow me, and does so for about 50 yards. I get to my stand, and realize I have forgotten my steps, so end up hunting from the ground. On the way out I again run into the fawn again, and again have multiple chances to shoot, but don't. This was only my second time out since Wednesday when our season opened.
David
Post by: kojac on September 19, 2004, 04:32:00 PM
I've been wanting to go to this spot for some time now but I have not had the right wind for a morning stand set. Ive been spotting this area for several weeks and I know of several good shooter bucks in the area.
I have the day off and the wind is right for what I call the canoe stand. To enter this stand I have to access the woods from the other side of the river and canoe about a mile up stream which I figured should take about 30-45 min.
this is a new stand for me so I have no stand in place which means I must allow enough time to hang my stand all before sun-up.
45-50 min. into the canoe trip I arrive to my river exit point and all is well(I'm not all wet anyway). I did however have a couple does blowing at me before my exit but I beleive most of the deer are still feeding in the alfelfa field and should not be to concerned.
I stumble through the trees toating my bow and tree stand to a spot that looks good and hang my stand. Keep in mind it is dark and I have never hunting this spot before.
Ok, my stand is hung and I'm standing on the platform of my stand clearing some branches and I hear some ruckus up wind of my location, the light is dim so I settle in and wait.
All the ruckus finally shows itself as a group of five bucks all of which stir around my stand and offer several shot opportunities but I chose not to shoot (in hopes for bigger).
I was on stand around 3 hours and had around a dozen deer come within shooting range. I did see a shooter buck skirt by me at about 50yrds but not within shooting distance. And the canoe trip back dry and uneventful.
If the winds are right I will do it again tomorrow with a slight ajustment to stand location.
good luck,
kojac
Post by: Bpaul on September 19, 2004, 04:51:00 PM
Headed out to the little farm property that I'm house-sitting & hunting on Friday and it's raining and nasty when I get there. Helps me "decide" that I'll just double check my patterning of the deer that night. Sure enough, 6:00 on the bell the doe/fawn combo and forkie appear out of nowhere and head up the blackberries to the apple and pear trees up by the road.
Saturday I wash up, dress up in carharts and flannel shirt, facepaint and boonie hat and sneak on over to a small spot I've cleared in the brambles. It's pretty open but with cover in front and a nice small stand of alders behind to break up my outline. According to my patterning, they should come in and stay crosswind of me in this spot. It's not right up at the apples, but that's upwind and not a whole lot of places to hide.
I end up getting dam cold by the time the doe and fawn show up. But no buck. This is the first time I haven't seen the little forkie with them in two evenings (not consecutive). I was very gratified, however, that the pair walked by completely unalarmed at less than 10 yds. A little later something at the road spooks em & they bounce back down past me and then turn downwind as they exit. If they re-approach I'll be thoroughly winded, so I slowly hunt my way back.
My very first hunt for deer, first hunt with this selfbow too. Very cool.
Come home to get some better clothing (the cotton just about froze me to death in that drizzle) and have a minor disaster. Taking all my hunting clothes into the wash with a bunch of baking soda, I throw in some army surplus wool pants I just bought. After I start the wash, the overwhelming fume of moth balls begins coming out of the washer SH%$$!! I only hope I can be done descenting this stuff before it's time to get back out there.
ps/edit: No way I'll be done, I'll just hunt the wind, which I have to do anyway.
B
Post by: Roughcountry on September 19, 2004, 06:59:00 PM
Headed up for a afternoon hunt for deer or elk in a new area. The roads are closed in this area to moterized rigs so I loaded a mt. Bike to get in a ways. I wanted to try out Trashwoods sling idea also.
About a mile & a half in I tried for some rough grouse but could never get a clear shot at them in some reprod. They finally down the draw and I lost sight of them.
I left the bike at a couple miles in and headed up a ridge that flattens out and looked really good on the maps. Found plenty of rubs, both deer and elk and the top was better than the map promised. It alternates between old growth timber and twenty foot reprod which is perfect.
Found one rub where a bull had hooked the ground up all around it. I would give a quiet cow call about ever 1/4 mile but no bugles and nothing sneaking in.
I did ease up on a doe with twin fawns, no buck around. It has to have horns in this unit.
I got out to a point where the trees were gone and you could see the country. I spent some time glassing and then snaped a pic or two. [ Its on the huntin pic thread]
I found water by acident after hearing a deer blow out of a spot[ winded again] never got a look at it.
I like the looks of this country enough to come back with the tent the middle of the week an stay a few days. It's got grouse so the boss will throw her bike in and come along also.
Post by: AkDan on September 19, 2004, 07:26:00 PM
Winter's almost here!
Post by: Puma Tom on September 19, 2004, 08:55:00 PM
Great hearing about yer exploits out there..
Hearing about your adventures helps, since our season don't open till>>>> Oct.15 in NY.
Keep em coming........ Tom.
Post by: Doug in MN on September 19, 2004, 10:56:00 PM
Doug D
Post by: AkDan on September 20, 2004, 12:42:00 PM
This morning I tried the same thing, thinking the mornings were better anyways. This morning was no different.
I was sneaking on an oxbow that ran adjacent to a pipeline trail. I figured she was there as I could hear the typical woosh of water of a moose eating roots from down below. As I closed the distance to 50-75 yards, a 4 wheeler pulls up along the pipeline path, he stops at where the oxbow is only a few feet of the trail, stands up, turns around, picks up his bow, takes 1 step off his wheeler. I picked the glass's up and realized he was range finding the cow. No sooner did he put that ranger finder down, he was at full draw and he let her sail. The typical noise bustin sound, lots of water, lots of sticks, then silence. Other then passing my truck on his way in, he never knew I was 40 yards from him peering through the tree line.
I didn't know whether to be happy for the guy or to be totally ticked being he knew something was up due to where I parked my rig. We chatted for a second after I whisteled to him softly to let him know I was there. No apologies, nothing.... 10 more days and my hunt season is over!
Post by: Doug Campbell on September 20, 2004, 03:24:00 PM
Looked out at fresh snow and very low clouds at daylight this morning and decided it was perfect to invade a spot where I've been seeing a dandy dark horned 6pt bull. He's been camped with his cows in a small side hill drainage that is almost impossible to approach so with the "cover" this morning I decided to drop everything and do it. A four mile round about ride on the ATV put me within a half mile and it was looking perfect.
I slipped in quitely and crawled thru the snow and brush for the next four hours. Never heard a peep or saw anything :( About then a warm breeze swept in and all the pretty snow turned to WET. Time I slogged out I was pretty much soaked head to toe then it decided to cool off again. It was a chilly ride back out.
This big boy seems to be leading a charmed life so far but I'll be back!!
Post by: Charlie Lamb on September 20, 2004, 09:45:00 PM
Beautiful evening in the woods. Slipped into the woods on a favorable wind and checked a few trails as I went.
A little gray squirrel spotted me coming and set up a helluva ruckus. Nothing to lose, I slipped a blunt from my quiver and nocked it on the Howard Gamemaster.
The first time I had a chance I drew down on him and skewered his noisy hide... 25 yards. Nothing like a little confidence builder before gettin serious with the deer.
I had a couple more squirrels around me as the evening passed. I let them go about their business while I waited for bigger prey.
The sun set in a glorious burst of reds and orange. Not a bad day at all.
I did have 4 or 5 deer cross the road in front of me before I got to the black top.
:D
Post by: Timo on September 20, 2004, 10:14:00 PM
I've been watching a pair of young bucks,(small 4x4s) crossing the alfalfa field, and hooking into a small finger of woods,that run out into the field.Everynight to the minute, for the past 5 nights.
They had a much larger buddy,but he seems to be a bit shy? If I tarry from work a bit,I get to watch them on there return trip.They bed in the shadows of the cool creek bottom.
The oaks are dropping they fruits,and the game has switched to the ridges.I suppose the two can be found there under the giant red oaks,in the darkness.
There will appear a large scrape in that finger of woods, in a few weeks.I'm posed, and ready.
He'll show,I'll watch, and wait.
In the mean time, I'm really enjoying reading all of the day hunts.Keep them coming.
Post by: Tracy McQueen on September 20, 2004, 10:41:00 PM
The 19th I went back to a farm I have been hunting for the past three years. More of a hunting/scouting trip than anything else since my knees were killing me and I was not up to a bunch of walking. After parking the ATV, found a nice white oak grove that the deer have been hitting pretty good and plan to go back and set up tomorrow (21st) evening. Saw a butt load of tree rats and one big black (imported from Michigan by coon hunters) coon I would have shot if I could have gotten close enough. My brother and I also have some winter wheat and oats out in a few selected locations.
I'm hoping to put a nice fat doe in the freezer first off then spend the rest of the year hunting for the "Big Boy" that my brother and I have both seen. Bro is a gun hunter only (I'm working on that!) so I have a few weeks before he and my nephew hit the woods. I've actually been after this deer for the past two years and passed a lot of shots on smaller bucks because of him. But this year he is just an awesome double droptine hunk of Ky. buck that made my knees weak when I got a look at him a few weeks ago. Oh dear Lord please let this be my year!!! :readit: :bigsmyl:
Good luck folks! You all are number 2 on my list to get a biggun'! :wavey:
Post by: MDbowhunter on September 21, 2004, 12:04:00 AM
Well, let me start with opening day 9/15. This is an easy one for me. It rained the entire time and I did not see a single deer. On the bright side I did get to help my brother drag out a healthy doe. It was nice to get out in the woods again. Oh yeah as a side note, I recently switched to aluminum shafts and switched to wensel woodsmans. The reason I bring this up is because I got the wrong file (to narrow) and was not able to sharpen my heads. My brother wanted me to come along for the opener. In order for me to get out there the next day I would have to bring my compound. This was very dissapointing to me because I have spent a great deal of time practicing and shooting 3-D with my recurve. I had also told myself that I would only hunt with stickbows this year. However, I did not want to veto my brothers offer. Quickly I remebered how heavy my compound is compared to my curve.....I was almost glad I did not see anything. Although,I was happy for my brother and it was nice to be back in the woods.
Today, 9/20, I had all my trad equipment ready. The wensels shaving hair off my arms. I did get off on the wrong foot however. Setting my alarm for 5:00 last night, I forgot to go to AM. So rising on my own at 6AM I hurried and finally made it to the woods right around the 6:55 sun-up. It was already pretty bright which aided in setting my stand quickly. About 45 min into the hunt, I turned to notice a doe and a fawn coming from behind me. Walking down the path searching for acorns. 15 more yard and she will be broadside. She stops right where I had hoped. As I began to draw, the spot that I am focused on becomes covered. The fawn she was with decides to stand right next to her, blocking my shot. I think to myself, when she clears the next tree the arrow will be in her. She had a different plan, stopping behind the tree and then useing the tree as a shield as she walked away from me. Oh well, at least I was seeing deer and it was not raining. The weather in fact was perfect, one of the coldest days of summer here in Maryland. The next three hours turned out to be pretty uneventful. I figured that I would get out of my stand so I could go home, get some food and make a few work related calls. I was planning on meeting my brother at 3pm for an afternoon hunt anyway. As I was reaching for my tow rope, I caught a quick glimpse of a tail flicker. WHAT, a deer was 40 yards right in front of me and he was facing away. How did he even get there? Did he walk right past me? No way. Waiting to see what it would do, I noticed it was a young buck with a spike on one side and a fork on the other. He turns, again searching for acorns, walks around a fallen tree and heads straight toward my stand. At 18 yards, he stops, still facing me. He is concerned with something behind him. I was hoping that it was a bigger buck, but nothing else ever materialized. In fact, the young buck did not take those 2 or 3 steps that I need for a shot, but turned 180 degrees and went back to the trail he had come. I'd be back at 3:00 though.
I got fed and returned around 2pm. I had called my brother to let him know that I would be out in the woods by the time he got there. After, spending 4 and a half hours in the stand without seeing anything I was about to pack it in again. Once agian, right as I am trying to leave the deer show up. This time, the buck is a yearling with 3 to 4 inch spikes. I do notice another deer taking up the rear. I wish I could say it was a buck that would easily make book or magazine cover. Instead, it was a good sized doe. In Montgomery County the deer are so overpopulated that doe harvest are unlimited. However bucks are limited to 2 per season. I set my sights for the doe. As they munched on acorns that had been raining down, helped by a flock of birds that had landed in a huge oak about 30 min before, the doe, within range turned broadside. I picked a spot, drew, anchored and then let fly. Dang! Dang! Dang! I heard my arrow shoot in to the ground. Most have shot right over her back. Dumb Dumb, all those 3-D shoots, I know that I have to shoot a little lower from a stand. Well, the doe takes off and the spike runs about 10 yards, waits a moment or two then runs to catch the doe. I sat for a minute or two kicking myself. I then took out my binos and tried to spot my arrow from my stand. I could not see it anywhere. How could I not see yellow barred feathers? Well that was enough for me, I gathered my stuff and got down. I went to find my arrow. HOLY COW, my 2018 easton Legacy had been dipped bright red, BLOOD. Sweet, I guess the arrow was only in the deer for a milisecond and my mind did not compute that the deer was hit. It looked to me that I had shot over. A quick call on my Rino GPS gave my brother my position. When he showed up about 10 minutes later and we began to track. The blood was pretty good and went about 175-200 before we found her. She was hit a little high, but the woodsman blew through her and due to the angle from the stand the exit hole was properly placed. I did good.
Oh yeah, this is my first traditional deer.
Feels damn good. Thanks for reading.
WM
Post by: Hoodoo Arrow on September 21, 2004, 12:18:00 AM
Post by: Doug Campbell on September 21, 2004, 12:35:00 AM
I headed back to check out another spot and ran into the neighbor so we visited for a few minutes then I headed into the woods again. I'd barely got started again when I looked up and saw another bear not 20 yards from where the first one had been. The stalk was on again and I was hoping the wind would hold this time. I made the same 40 yard mark again and was just watching because this bear was super nervous when a little black head popped out of the weeds next to the bear.
Oops momma and baby means slip out quitely so I did. Guess I'd done too much tromping around there for the night cause the deer never showed up but it was a very successful night anyway :thumbsup:
Post by: Bpaul on September 21, 2004, 12:46:00 AM
So I'm supposed to be the sneaky one right? Ain't that right?
Ok, so I set up in the same ground blind I hunted before (could have cleaned it a bit better) and waited for the parade. I was fretting about smelling like grandma's coat closet still, but decided to go for it anyway... the spot is great windwise, maybe it won't matter.
Sure enough, here come the does and babies. All 6 this time. 1 no fawn, 1 with 1 fawn, 1 with 2 fawns. I don't know that fawn is the correct word anymore, the youngins' are big enough they're hard to tell from the moms at this point. They head right as I expected them to, which leads them a bit out of range from my spot. When they wander back downhill, however, they normally path along the berries right past me at 10 yards or less.
They begin wandering back and the light's getting thinner and thinner. One doe (the biggest, and without kids) wanders by and stands around 25 yards away. Almost a shot opportunity, but no go.
So I'm standing now, very well camoflauged (sp?) as the camo I chose is for dark forest and looks dandy here... face paint and all. Anyway, I'm watching upwind where some of the does are messing around, and I hear something behind me. I forget my book learnin' and jerk my head around reactively, instead of sloooooowly.
There's the buck.
Dam him, he let the women and children come in as shock troops (as I knew he would) and then comes in at a totally different angle! He's 12' behind me, downwind, and frozen staring right at me. He has a big body for a forkie, which doesn't surprise me on this side of the mountains in Oregon. Might be a 3 year old with little points I can't see or something... he seems quite hefty compared to the ladies.
He's staring at me, I'm frozen... little breeze comes along, he gets skittish, finally decides to stomp a few times and book.
Exciting, he was DAM close and that gave me info for the next day's scouting/tracking. This morning, I use this info and head over to that area of the property. I find a whole new network of trails. I also decide to give the buck a nickname... he has attitude, and I settle on Little Mister (god knows why).
Today, I figured since I've been busted up by the apples, I'll pick another trail that shows tracks leading upslope (so deer moving in the afternoon, as opposed to moving back down hill to bed after dark) but downhills quite a ways from my former blind. I make a little clearing among some small alders and grass mid-day , swing around a bow-length stick to make sure it'll work, and get out of there to let things calm down before I return this afternoon. The spot has a very brushy draw behind it, and there are some trails but I'm pretty confident that they're late-night bed trails.
I bring a stump to sit on when I return, thinking I'm smart. I found out after 3 hours that I need some more paddin' on my tush... I was agonizing just as the light was getting right.
So I'm setting in this little blind, which is REAL close to the trail, and kind of exposed, but I thought I'd try it. Great quartering away shot opportunities if they should come this way.
I hear some deer up and south of me, and it sounds like the parade has chosen a different entrance to the property because the wind has changed. I'm starting to think about still-hunting upwind a ways when I hear a LOUD "WHUFF -- WHUFF!" right behind me, like -- not 10' behind me. 'Bout scares the crud out of me too.
BUSTED!
Yet again Little Mister has snuck up on ME! And downwind, and opposite of the direction I was facing in my blind.
About now I start having some fantasties about calling a time-out to all this hunting stuff and pulling Little Mister aside for a chat.
"Look, you're the deer, I'M the hunter. You're supposed to be walking along, oblivious to my brilliantly placed blind, up-wind, and broadside at about... oh say 15 yards. You're the one who'se supposed to be 'Doe-Eyed' -- NOT ME. Get it? Me Hunter, You Prey -- Capiche? Now let's try this again next weekend and this time try cooperating with the plan." I smack his haunch, sending him back into the woods like a bad horse and return to reality.
Dam buck is schooling me good.
I still-hunt back up the road to the farmstead and the does and yearlings are everywhere. I get spotted a couple times and wait out the stare, pace, stare... wander off scenario a few times. Eventually I wait for the deer to be out of sight and I change walk to "I'm just Farmer Bill headed out to the garden... nothing to see here, nothing to see." The deer stand around and stare at what formerly they thought was deadly, I go over to the fence on the garden and open and close it for an added dash of realism.
Hell, who am I fooling --
I'll be back next week Little Mister... and this time, you better be acting like Prey instead of such a Sneaky Bas&%@!.
ps: Had a freaking great time, taking my lumps but in the deer every night, I can't complain. Hell, it's my first season ever and I'm trying to hunt with a selfbow, on the ground for crissakes.
I can see why folks like rifles (could have downed a dozen deer by now -- total carnage), and compounds (probably an honest 4 deer dead by now), and tree stands (at least 3, even with my selfbow).
So far, only the treestand is really tempting me. I'm going to try more with ground blinds and may cave in to that idea if I'm still failing a month from now.
B
Post by: Tree Killer on September 21, 2004, 08:09:00 AM
Good luck!
Post by: Pete W on September 21, 2004, 12:35:00 PM
I nocked an arrow and didn't even have time to drop my pack and I could see the rack coming in thru the brush.
I noticed my glasses were fogging up but no time to clean them.It was only one side anyway and he was going to be close.
He broke thru the brush at 20 yards and turned broadside with his head behind a big tree and Bugled again.
The shot was rehearsed thru every move.All was as perfect as it gets. I thought. It was like going down a check list making sure everything was perfect.,well almost perfect the sight picture was a bit fuzzy from the right lense being wet and fogged up, but what can that do at 20 yards?
LOTS !
I released as clean a release as I have ever done and watched in horror as the arrow flew in slow motion BEHIND HIM ! Why do they look so slow when you screw up? LOL
That's right I shot behind him.Unbelievable but I totally missed what seemed like a perfect shot.I watched in disbelief as he bolted, I bugled and he replied then growled like a bear or a lions roar.,Bugled again and he came back and stood behind a couple trees for a minute then turned again and gave me a second shot at 25 Yds.
This time I made sure that everything was perfect again and released a clean arrow, BEHIND HIM again!!!!!!!!!
It is amazing how slow an arrow flies when you screw up.I can still see them in super slow motion,flying in the wrong place.
I couldn't figure it out at first.Then after some cleaning of glasses it dawned on me what was going on.the right lense fogged up was making my left eye the dominant eye.With this in mind I tried shooting with a foggy right lense and guess what, I shoot way off to the left.
What a lesson to learn.Both arrows were found clean as a whistle.
The trip was a meatless one but exciting to say the least.I will see those arrows for a long time now flying off target like they did.
Even with the best of gear and lots of practice things can go wrong.The good things that come from this exciting hunt are that I learned a valuable lesson.
1/ Clean them or toss them if the glasses fog up, especially if it the right lense only.!!
2/ I get to go elk hunting again.
3/ I didn't have to pack him out of that jungle he was in 2 miles back to camp.LOL
All in all it was a very successful hunt and I had a great time.
Pete
Post by: Charlie Lamb on September 21, 2004, 09:42:00 PM
I need a rain so I can do some still hunting.
Post by: Tracy McQueen on September 21, 2004, 10:13:00 PM
He never even knew I was there.
He was never in any real danger from me, at least not this early in the year. I'd much rather have a nice fat doe right now for the freezer; especially since I know his grandpaw is still out there somewhere and I've got plenty of time.
A little further along I stopped a sat a while to listen to the little brook as it sang it's way on down the hollow and noticed a patch of paw-paw I had not seen before. No fruit this year, but maybe next.
By now my knees were starting to complain a bit. Wondering, I suppose, what the heck I thought I was doing walking all that distance on them when they wern't much used to that any more. I mentally told them to shut up and not ruin what was so far a great day and that I didn't have any pain pills with me for them anyway.
I knew it was going to be getting dark in the woods pretty soon and began to ease my way back to the truck. As I topped the last little rise before heading for home I turned to the west and was greeted with a beautiful sunset of pink, orange, blue, and purple.
I may be eating pain pills and track soup tonight, but the taste is sweet as honey. :thumbsup:
Post by: manyletters on September 21, 2004, 10:58:00 PM
The second morning I walk into the stand again...spook 3-4 deer on the way in...just when it gets light I find myself surrounded by whitetails...13 to be exact...2 5x5's that are quite nice, a 3x3 and a forker, the rest were does and fawns. The bucks were heading my way when a doe with two fawns busted me when the wind shifted slightly. Then all of them left. Like Arnold says "I'll be back"
Post by: Lee in S.C. on September 22, 2004, 06:58:00 AM
Post by: kojac on September 22, 2004, 07:38:00 PM
It's taken me a couple days to get back here. I leve reading all this stuff but boy I HATE to type more than a couple lines.
Anyway back to the hunt
Day 2 of the canoe stand hunt. I set my alarm a little earlier than the previous day but for some reason I twittled around enough that I had to rush so I could reach the canoe before 5am and canoe up river for 45min. and hang my stand but I made it and found the tree I pick the day before and (in the dark) hung my stand.
The wind was a little more from the north than I wanted and I didn't see the number of deer that I saw the day before but I did see 6 or so includingthe shooter buck I was looking for, he's a high 140's to 150 class deer. And he was still out 45 or so yrds with a few small ash trees between me and him but I believe if I would have sat the same stand I sat the day before I would have had a 15yrd or less shot at this boy(bummer). But as it turned out he got by me with no shot opportunities "YET".
I'm workin' for a few days now but if I see the right wind coming in I will try to get a day off but my next scheduled day of is wed (9-29)
untill then, Good Luck
kojac
Post by: Elk song on September 22, 2004, 10:54:00 PM
Today-Sept.22, I was headed up the valley to get into the Elk, they were screaming! About half way there a group of bucks wandered past at 40 yards. Well the wife said it was time to get some meat in the freezer, so even though these were smaller bucks I started movin' in for the shot. They had fed over the edge of a short drop off down towards a creek bottom. When I thought I was in the right spot I peaked over the edge and spotted a small forky about 18 yards away. I nocked an arrow, rose up over the edge as I drew my bow and shot him right through the middle. As he dashed off out of sight I wasn't sure what to think of the shot, but it seemed a bit far back.
I decided to leave him for awhile, so I headed up towards the screamin' bulls. I moved in on a bull that sounded like he might be a good one, but was cut off by a medium sized 5x5. Again I though about my wife and that empty freezer. I decided that if he gave me a shot I would try for him. We played a little cat and mouse for around 10 minutes before he wanted to get a whiff of the cows he couldn't see. As he moved to circle me I was able to move into a spot that would give me a shot if he kept his course. Well he did eveything right! I must have been looking at his eyes, because when he stopped, I drew, he looked right at me and I smoked one right past his head! WOW! I haven't missed an Elk in a lllooonnnggg time, and it was a bad miss! Well after that the herd bull had moved off and I wanted to find the deer.
Back at the creek bottom there was not much blood. There were a few tracks though so I started following what sign I could find. As I came around a stand of willows there he was. Still alive. I snapped another arrow on the string just as he was standing to leave and snap shot at ten yards. He only went another 50 yards. I was pretty excited, this was my first big game animal with the longbow. A bow I traded from Kojac(thanks!). Hopfully the picture will turn out and I can post them on the site.
Hopefully tomorrow I can make good on the ELK.
Post by: Roughcountry on September 22, 2004, 11:02:00 PM
Couldn't go to the hills tonight, had to much to do in the shop. So I thought I'd look for a deer down here in the wheat feilds. Any deer is legal down here. Anyhow I rode my trusty Mt bike down the canyon to see what was stirring. Nothing on the way down but on the way home I spot a couple deer just below the house.
I check the wind and grab gear and start my stalk. I get across the draw and start down the other side with the wind perfect. It's pretty hard to stay queit in these weeds but things are workin good. They are over the bank in the ditch so it's a blind stalk.
When I get fifty yards from where I last seen them I slow down and go real slow. Finally I'm on the bank just above where I figure they are. Visions of being adopted by the lion family for such a good stalk are playin in my pea brain. I ease up where I can see, arrow nocked and ready. It's real queit and I can't spot them. Then I see a bush moving thirty yards down the draw. Thru the bino's I can see a ear flapin.
I back up and slip down the draw till I'm even.
Ever so slowly I ease up to the edge. Can't see anything yet. Then about forty feet down the draw I see a doe & fawn walking along feeding. I'm looking at them and turning to go when 8 yds away a big ol dry doe blows out of the very bush I'd seen the ear in. :knothead: I thought there were only two.They trot off about sixty yards and stand lookin back at the thing that ruined their dinner. I have to sit there awhile and watch them move off. No salvage for this one.
If the Mt. Lion family will save those adoption papers awhile there's a few huntin days left :o
Post by: kojac on September 23, 2004, 01:39:00 PM
Great job, I believe you also put some turkey on the table with that bow this year, did you not?
kojac
Post by: shortshot on September 23, 2004, 10:24:00 PM
Your bud Miles
Post by: Elk song on September 23, 2004, 11:56:00 PM
Yes I did stick a really nice tom with the bow also. It is a sweet son-of-a-gun!
I went out today and the Elk were really talkin'. I tried the same herd bull today, this time I was not intercepted by any little bulls. The old boy wouldn't fight though, every time I closed the gap he would round up the ladies and run. So tomorrow I let him do the talkin, and I will just have to get sneaky on him.
Post by: Chippy on September 24, 2004, 10:49:00 AM
Post by: Pete W on September 24, 2004, 11:44:00 AM
Today might be better, but we will have to wait till the afternoon to find out.
It doesn't make sense how a moose can move silently thru the bush and a Squirrel makes so much noise.LOL
Post by: Hooked on September 25, 2004, 07:13:00 PM
Our season doesnt open til next friday, so sending this back to the top so maybe we can read somemore stories. Helps me scratch the itch til next friday.
Post by: JC on September 25, 2004, 09:32:00 PM
So downstream I go and lo and behold, find where the deer have been having themselves a beach party! Moved the stand and sat there this afternoon, with high expectations. Bout 7pm this little forkie comes walking down the trail and stops bout 12-15 yards away munching on muscadines for what felt like 10 minutes. Sadly, on the public land I'm hunting, it's 4pts or better on one side to be a shooter buck. I coulda killed em 4 or 5 times...kept waiting and hopin a fat doe was somewher around. He sauntered off round dark.
Man it sure was good to be in killin range of one...it's been a hard season fer me so far with many hours in the stand in well scouted and proven spots and only seen two deer before this one. Hopefully it's only a matter of time now....I was beginnin to think I'd fergot how to do this! :bigsmyl:
Joe
Post by: Charlie Lamb on September 25, 2004, 09:57:00 PM
Will go in tomorrow a.m. and see what's piddlin around.
Post by: Doug Campbell on September 25, 2004, 11:56:00 PM
Post by: Terry Green on September 26, 2004, 08:22:00 AM
Here's a photo I took about 4 miles into the Cohutta Wilderness 1000 feet over Jack's River.
(http://tradgang.com/terry/pic4.jpg)
Post by: Tracy McQueen on September 26, 2004, 10:03:00 PM
No deer seen today, but did run into a flock of about 15 wild turkeys. I'll be looking for them again in a few weeks ;)
Man I don't think I have EVER seen as many squirrels as I have this year! Terry has been seeing a lotas well it seems, how is it where you guys are?
Post by: Doug in MN on September 26, 2004, 10:04:00 PM
Doug D
Post by: John Scifres on September 26, 2004, 10:12:00 PM
It's darn scary how many squirrels are about this year. The ones in my yard are a nuisance. Cured one yesterday though. It's like "The Birds".
Post by: Roughcountry on September 26, 2004, 10:52:00 PM
Anyhow I talked my bride into going up with me about late morning. Figured I'd hike out on a Mt. I hadn't gone out on for about three years. I was hopin to get Cindy a shot at a big ol blue grouse on the ridge goin out or on the trail around the top. No grouse but we did find a good elk wallow and a lot of fresh sign. I'll get some pics up on Littlefeathers thread as soon as photobucket fixes their site.
It was a great day in the hills and a good end to the season. :) We can hunt grouse a few more months. So I'll get my bride out somemore. Those tags taste better if you put them in the dutch oven with a bird or somethin.
Post by: Woodduck on September 27, 2004, 01:56:00 AM
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/Woodduck/Cnv0027.jpg)
Post by: Woodduck on September 27, 2004, 01:58:00 AM
Post by: RayMO on September 27, 2004, 08:03:00 AM
I had quit a hunt last night. It is a rather long story. Two does, one was right behind me and I didn't even know she was there. The squirrels were making such a racket all afternoon. I see the other doe off to my left, stand up for a shot and the one that was behind me flags and runs to the other doe. Boy did I feel stupid. :scared: Then she come in even closer. This deer really wanted an arrow. Unfortunately she never gives me another good shot.
Obviously, I need to work on shots taken over the back side of my lone wolf. ;) I have taken many shots from this stand and never had this problem before, but then I was never in this position.
Anyway, my composure will be much better next time (Lord willing) and I won't make that mistake again (I hope :D ). Still learning.
:thumbsup:
Post by: Littlefeather on September 28, 2004, 07:45:00 AM
Post by: gatorarchr on September 28, 2004, 01:25:00 PM
good luck,
Donnie
Post by: Doug Campbell on September 28, 2004, 02:12:00 PM
Saw thirteen different wolves and five different bears last week. The compitition amoungst us preditors is getting a little stiff up here :mad: Taking a few days off to take my better half away so will be back after em when we get back. Bear season will be open then :thumbsup:
Post by: b.glass on September 28, 2004, 03:23:00 PM
Sept. 25, 2004
8:00pm
7 yd. shot
recovered less than 90 yds.
12 pt. buck
first deer ever!
planning to send story to ATHA
Post by: Hooked on September 30, 2004, 02:50:00 AM
congrats! Lets see some picks!
Post by: Littlefeather on October 01, 2004, 09:04:00 PM
Thats right, I missed again.........
Uggg, I sat quite patiently for almost 15 minutes as I watched MaMa Sow and two 40# pigs feed. I also noted the tree I'd failed to trim nice and neat. In addition, I even thought about how the little branches wouldn't be visible after the light got much dimmer. Id committed to getting the Sow to quarter because she was quite large.
As she quarters, I draw smootly and release. It was over till the Ash shaft changed directions at the same time as the hogs left the State. I forgot about the little branches in the faiding twilight.
Ahhh, The reason I love this so much is the strain on all the emotions. I cannot imagine the successes without the failures either. At least it was a Sow and not the 190 class Buck Im working toward. Yea, Right! CK
Post by: Timo on October 01, 2004, 09:31:00 PM
Found out that we have a lot more acorns than I first thought,and that the deer are slammin um down!
Found a little water hole full of tracks.Muddy beyond belief. Followed muddy tracks up through the leaves about 40 yds to a huge chinkapin. matted grass, and raisins everywere.
Got some stands set!
Post by: insttech1 on October 01, 2004, 11:29:00 PM
I jumped a deer 100 yards from the truck, 12 yards off the road...scared the crap outta me...oh well...
Make my way towards where I wanna hunt, go 25 yards off the trail...and jump two more that were standing watchin' me in plain darn sight...I just wasn't ready for them to be that close to the trai (this is public land, and a state park, with hiking trails...) They were close enough to the campground that even I could smell the campground!!
Oh well, so much for them...
Get to where I want to sit for the evening spot, on a known route to water...and jump another deer comin' down to water WAY early...this one also was within 25 yards, and I wasn't ready...
Then watched 4 more 300 yards away across a bowl as they fed in and out of private property...
But hey, I was able to confirm that the deer are where they were last year (didn't scout much, can ya tell????), I was able to get within 25 yards without freakin' em out too much, so I had to be kinda quiet, at least...
The acorns are fallin' here like crazy too...that's pretty cool! And I was able to see eight deer in less than 2 hours, which is pretty good for this area of public land...
Looks like the start of a good year to me! Now I just gotta figure out how to get a stand along their travel route to the local lakes (bad area for swirling winds on edge of a bowl), and I'll be almost golden...LOL yea, right...!!
Take Care,
Marc
Post by: Littlefeather on October 02, 2004, 12:35:00 PM
I thought Id take the long way back to the house still hunting as I went. I was about a half mile into the walk when 10 feet in front of me two hogs bust out of the brush in opposite directions. Once I gathered myself I realized that they were now looking for each other so I crept forward to put myself in between them. Boy, It got interesting for the next few minutes. I had one in at ten yards but could only see the top of his back before he moved off.
I slowly moved forward about 40 yards and again I found them lying down but without a shot opportunity. Well this went on for an hour or so. Id catch up to them then they would bust and run. I've never seen them do this. Well, about the seventh time they ran they must have dead ended into a pond. As I sat and pondered which direction they'd gone, I heard a grunt. Surely they wouldn't have been so stupid to trap themselves at the pond. About then seven or eight 100 pound hogs comes over the pond levey and is on a collision course with me. As I raise my bow they change direction and stop at 10 yards. THWACK! One Wensel Woodsman directly through the shoulder bone. Broke the shoulder! The shot was a little forward but he was hit hard and left good blood.
Well, There was good blood for about 5 minutes then a torrential downpour started. I've been walking in circles in the rain for two hours and still no pig. Im sick! The rain is still comming down and Im sitting here in the house pouting. Not much I can do till the rain stops. I guess I can still hope but things sure look gloomy. CK
Post by: hunt it on October 02, 2004, 01:30:00 PM
Post by: Littlefeather on October 02, 2004, 06:43:00 PM
Im calling it an evening. I sure do hate the Lows in this sport. Sometime it happens. CK
Post by: Roughcountry on October 02, 2004, 08:20:00 PM
Post by: Charlie Lamb on October 02, 2004, 09:48:00 PM
Well, I did see three in a field along the road in. When I got to my property I was heading up the trail road when I spotted movement ahead about 50 yards.
Just weed tops shaking at first then a small rack appeared above the brush.
I just had time to step to the side of the trail and freeze before he stepped out in the trail.
Pretty cool! He turned my way for a few yards, then continued off into the brush on the other side.
The rest of the evening was very quiet, and no more deer seen.
Post by: Hooked on October 03, 2004, 11:50:00 AM
Excited about opening day, I got up early and was out the door in record time. Cold Front is coming in so there are supposed to be scattered thunderstorms starting in the morning and then all day. My plan is to hunt until they hit.
Get to the property and load up with my gear: strap on the fanny pack, throw my Lone Wolf Hang On on my back, and grab a rain coat just in case.
First thing I notice is how bright the moon is tonight. Good news is flashlight is definitely not needed, bad news is my experience on this property is that the deer will not be moving during daylight because they have been up all night feeding with the near full moon. Being optimistic, I tell myself that the approaching cold front will get them moving.
The Soy beans are already cut, so I head straight across the cut bean field to the treeline where my stand is located. Wind is out of the South ( I am walking stratight into the wind). The bucks tend to walk the North edge of the timber with a South wind so I am setting up in a tree there.
Get to my tree. Immediately look for my rope for pulling my bow up. Found it, now looking for my bow to tie it to. UH OH! Suddenly I feel a sense of Deja Vu! I am living that dream where you get to your stand and your bow is back in your vehicle! AW SH_T! (Pardon my french!)
With no time to waste, I hang my stand quick as I can and head back to the car. I did get back to my tree before sunrise, but with alot more exercise and prespiration than anticipated.
Hope this isnt an indication of how the season is going to go!
Post by: John Scifres on October 03, 2004, 03:44:00 PM
(http://residents.bowhunting.net/sticknstring/2004hunt01.JPG) Shot 1
(http://residents.bowhunting.net/sticknstring/2004hunt02.JPG) Shot 2
(http://residents.bowhunting.net/sticknstring/2004hunt03.JPG) Shot 3
The rest of the morning was uneventful.
I moved my stand and had 2 deer walk right under it at 3:00 pm. Only problem was I wasn't in it. I had decided to take a siesta downwind about 100 yards from my stand before climbing in for the evening hunt. I had both deer within 10 yards of me but neither offered a shot. Of course I was taking a sip of coffee when the first one showed up so she nailed me. The second saw me walking up to get in my stand but never busted me. Never offered a shot either.
1 hour after getting in my stand I had a doe just about step into my shooting lane before looking up, right into my eyes, she swapped ends and blew out of there before I thought she could have processed what I was. She must have seen a treestand before. 15 minutes later a doe and her grown fawn came in but mama scoped it out for baby and walked on the wrong trail where I had no shot. She got downwind and left but never spooked. It was a fun day in the woods and I got some squirrel meat simmering in the crack pot as I type this :)
Post by: insttech1 on October 03, 2004, 08:57:00 PM
Watched a doe comin' in about 70 yards out. It was clear she wasn't comin' at us...oh well...at least he got to see her--cool!
Half our after that--I hear 'em comin'--but IT'S A HORSE!! This thing is off the trails on public land, rider in an orange vest, and goes crashin' off into private property, breakin' trees that sound 3" thick...
He was 12 yards from us, and to my knowledge, had no clue we were there...
Never seen him there before; never saw a horse trailer, either. Suspect he came from private property, hopefully just out for a ride. I hate to think that he was there to push deer, which is exactly the route he'd need to take to push 'em from the state land to the adjacent private parcel...then 20 minutes later, he comes back out onto state land and rides outta sight...
If I see 'im again, I'll talk to the DNR. If he's on the trails, it's his land too. If he's off, I think that's a no-no. Not sure if that applies to a horse, but it does to the mountain-bikes.
Then we saw three more as we drove out, one at 8 yards--the boy was happy with that!
So no shots, but a great time was had...
Take Care,
Marc
Post by: SilverTip on October 04, 2004, 07:48:00 AM
Billy
Post by: Bulletman on October 04, 2004, 10:10:00 PM
Bulletman
Post by: cajunbowhntr on October 05, 2004, 04:06:00 PM
CB
Post by: cajunbowhntr on October 05, 2004, 04:17:00 PM
CB
Post by: Terry Green on October 05, 2004, 04:43:00 PM
Friday it was stone cold dead....no animals moved at all....only the Kaddi Didds buzzing.
Saturday we got a great start, heading off the Mountian at 1st shooting light. Found lots of well used game trails, and lots of fresh hog sign.
Had lunch at about 10:30 on the top of a knowl, and about 100 yards from there on an uphill lead off the knowl we found more than a half a dozen piles of bear scat all within spitting distance of one another....looking better.
Got to another top, and turned left down a moderately steep lead....more bear scat. We then sat down to re-group and check the map to see if we had an idea where we were. This was 11:20.
As JC and I glassed across the hollow to the bank of another lead, I paused to get the map out......
"There's a bear right there" I said in a heavy wisper. JC said nothing, still looking into oblivion across the hollow. "There's BEARS right there" I said again....still nothing from JC as he gaized 150-200 yards. "RIGHT THERE"...then JC couldn't help but see them....as a cub ran up a tree 30 yards in front of us...yep, and mom was coming straight up the lead to us.
The bow was no good, neither were leagal to shoot, so I checked my boot knife, and told JC to get my camera out of my pack. I took a couple of photos, but they didn't turn out as good as what I could have gotten 5 to 10 seconds earlier.
Anyhow, the cub slid down, and rambled broadside over to mom....and mom had either heard enough wispering, camera clicks, or smelled enough....and she gathered em up and went back the way the came. JC said he saw two cubs, but I only saw one....I was too busy trying to get a decent pic of Mom that I just didn't see the other little one.
We then found a really nice saddle, that has definately been used, with lots of wild grape vines as well as a couple of scattered oaks. We set up here for the evening.....it was big enough for us to both set up on, one on each end.
Heard a few 'wild' sounds, and 'imagined' bears were making some of the noises we heard....but we saw nothing but the images of earlier replaying over and over in our minds.
It took us an hour and 45 minutes to walk out......we was in the Big Woods....here's a few photos......
View of the Cohuttas.....
(http://tradgang.com/terry/jcc1.jpg)
JC surveying the dark laurel bottom below....
(http://tradgang.com/terry/jcc2.jpg)
Mama Bear...and back end of one of the cubs...
(http://tradgang.com/terry/jcc3.jpg)
Post by: frankwright on October 05, 2004, 11:00:00 PM
This morning it was calm and cool, about 60 degrees. A floating wisp of cotton ball blows behind my little hang on stand telling me the wind is right, at least for now. I sit staring at the jungle of vines and saplings that fill this creek bottom I am watching. I can see two fresh rubbed trees from my stand. Finally, I see front legs, about 35 yards in front of me, I can tell it is a deer but not what kind or how big and frankly right now I don't care. The deer disapears in the thicket and then I see it moving to my left. It's a buck! Nice thick antlers but not many of them. It looks like a big four point but I am not sure. He stops for a second, at about 24 paces (stepped it off later) and then starts to turn to move away. I stand up, come to full draw and proceed to forget everything I have ever known about shooting a longbow. A total and complete brain fart. I shoot one inch under his belly. He is not happy as he jumps straight up, spins and runs off. I hear him stomping the ground, somewhere out of sight. I am sick but I will take a miss rather than a bad shot. I did not pick a spot, I did not push with my bow hand, I did not do anything I know how to do. Why do animals make us act like fools. Oh well. I at least saw a deer, maybe my luck is changing.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/frankt/P9220002.jpg)
Post by: JC on October 06, 2004, 09:18:00 AM
I was locked on this hillside across a hollow when Terry was tellin me "Bears". So I strain my eyeballs a little more. "Bears...right there!" I'm still lookin....."NO BEARS...RIGHT THERE." Then I look at him bewildered and he's lookin down the same ridge we're on, bout 30 yards. All of a sudden this cub runs 35ft up a tree like a monkey goin up a ladder, I mean lickety split. Then I see the ma...Now terry may have checked his knife...I don't know, I was too busy nocking an arra. He said "they aint' legal"....I think I asked him "you shore?" ten times before I got the hint. Very cool, worth the whole trip.
We saw sign on top of sign in this one spot...I mean looked like the aftermath of a bear convention. And some spots that the hogs had plowed big enough fer a food plot.
Walk back was rough, my asthma kicked in some bout midway back as the night air chilled quick and Terry slowed/stopped quite a bit for me. We left our huntin area bout 7:45....back at the trucks at 9:30. Terry's dead reckonin was real accurate, but thank God fer GPS, compass, and led headlamps brudda. Rule #1, GPS don't lie.
Joe
Post by: Terry Green on October 07, 2004, 11:00:00 AM
(http://www.tradgang.com/terryimages/jcview.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/terryimages/jcpost.jpg)
Post by: Charlie Lamb on October 08, 2004, 09:48:00 AM
Been hunting from the ground in different areas getting a feel for things and just waiting for the weather to break so I really feel like getting serious.
The weather did break and turned off nice and cool, which stirred up some of the old predator feelings.
Haven't seen much, just building an information base so far. Of course there was yesterday! Isn't it funny how things seem to escalate as the season rolls along.
I'd been disappointed that a bottom corn field hadn't been picked yet and the adjoining woods were empty for the most part. I knew the deer were in that corn.
I took my tree seat and set it up along a trail that parallels the creek which separates the woods from the corn. A small bluff is there too, so I was on top of the bluff.
Well, guess who decided that it was time to pick the corn. I was in bliss with thoughts of giant whitetails crawling all over me.
I saw nothing until a half hour before sunset. The picker had just come even with my position and was making it's usual racket.
Through a gap in the brush I could just see the creek below and it's normal smooth surface was rippling.
Craning my neck to see, I spotted a little forky that I'd seen before. Not much to look at, but a deer no less.
He must have been pretty thirsty, because he walked around in circles for several minutes sucking up water.
Finally a truck came down the road between the corn field and creek. That was a little much for the buck and he jumped into the brush on my side and started up the hill.
I'd picked my way into my spot figuring the least impact and least likely way for deer to stumble on my trail. Go figure!
He was gonna cross that trail if he kept coming. (I wasn't planning on shooting him anyway)
The buck was about 12 feet away when he finally crossed my trail and bounded away. Some fun!!
Today I'm off to Springfield, Mo. to hunt the weekend with the Kinslow boys on their farm and when I get back Monday, I'll turn around and go off to north central Mo. for a few days with an old hunting bud. He's a character!
He uses his "lighted" sight pin on a recurve that I made him. (a match stick taped to the riser) Makes it work too!
See you all later. :wavey:
Post by: tim-flood on October 11, 2004, 04:03:00 PM
Post by: Timo on October 11, 2004, 04:17:00 PM
Has a oval type leaf,with a saw tooth edge.Drops a small diameter acorn,very dark in color,and sometimes elongated.Deer and turks love them.
Post by: Ralph Renfro on October 11, 2004, 09:23:00 PM
Did I mention it was so foggy I had to hit something.
Post by: insttech1 on October 12, 2004, 10:33:00 PM
Thanks,
Marc
Hey All!!
OK, here it is: First trad deer, and second shot at a deer with a bow. First shot missed on Saturday evening... Took a few with the rifle, but this one happened just right!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v241/insttech1/traddeerresized.jpg)
I finally got one, on public land, ten yards, on the ground...
I hit him forward of the front shoulder, went into the off shoulder, and the broadhead/insert came out of the carbon shaft. He took it with him, and it tore the opposite shoulder up--bad!
He went 100 yards, with little blood, and the arrow dropped out 20 yards from where I hit 'im...
Here's the bow spec':
Roberston Montana Falcon, 62" 58@30", 31" Carbon Express Terminator Hunter Select 45/60, 125-grain Wensel Woodsman, shaft weights about 530-ish...
I was sitting in a tiny makeshift groundblind (I carry about a 5x2' piece of camo with me), I found a new spot that looked really good, spooked some does on the way in, and sat down for an hour...
I watched him run into a little bowl, and could hear him feeding for 40 minutes as he walked my way...
He came into the berry patch near me, stopped broadside at ten yards, glanced at me as I drew, and I watched the white fletch headin' right where it should--turned out it was forward of the leg bone, but all was well...
There was almost NO blood whatsoever...just tiny drops, but they looked like lung blood. We surmised (I went to get my trad mentor-buddy) that I hit the off-shoulder, since we found the shaft with no head, and 6" of blood on it only.
The woodsman head was OK, but the adapter and the insert itself were bent as he tore off on his last hundred-yard dash...
I was thinkin' about Barb earlier last night, too...gotta go launch one for her now.
You all take care!! And thanks for all the help over the last year and a half that lead to this!!
See Ya!!
Marc
Post by: so tx pighunter on October 12, 2004, 10:46:00 PM
Peace and walk the way of the hunter.
Post by: Ralph Conrad on October 13, 2004, 11:10:00 AM
Post by: Timo on October 13, 2004, 09:40:00 PM
Probly be some good "no stress meat"?
Post by: cajunbowhntr on October 14, 2004, 10:12:00 AM
CB
Post by: Huntrdfk on October 16, 2004, 08:05:00 PM
David
Post by: Legolas on October 18, 2004, 07:32:00 AM
Paul
Post by: SteveMcD on October 19, 2004, 11:50:00 AM
Post by: Thunder on October 21, 2004, 02:29:00 PM
The picture below is of ol' number 3....it's a trailcam pic, but I had him yesterday at 35 yards..dang, just a bit too far ! He was coming from a bedding area that is known for the does, and it was 5 to 8 in the morning. I've seen/watched this buck for several years..him, and two that are bigger. I've seen all 3 this year, and I can only hope....... :D
I don't have much land, but what I've got is awful nice, albeit mostly transition land, where they never seem to stop, except for the small swamp area.
(http://www.windsongranch.org/cambuck3.jpg)
God Bless.
Post by: Jimbob on October 22, 2004, 11:19:00 AM
Post by: cedar swampman on October 22, 2004, 07:44:00 PM
Post by: frankb on October 24, 2004, 02:25:00 AM
After the woods settled down a bit she got tag-team-whooped by two squirrels that must have known it was the very first time she wore a hunting license. They got within five feet of us and then panicked as they realized their proximity. MAN they had fun with her and I can't remember enjoying such a sight! In an instant... she experienced her first dose of buck-squirrel fever and never even took her gun off of SAFE... but the look on her face [after those rascals vacated] was priceless.
As the daylight began to fade... I had her unload and rest the gun at her side while we looked for a deer.
Sure enough between fidgets.... the deer came... and I flat-out missed. First shot at a trad deer... and clean missed a nice doe [with closely trailing raghorn] five inches over her back... at about 15 yards. :rolleyes:
When I released... the string thwapped my forearm. The deer was looking right at me and it was one of them broadside "Here I am! Shoot me!" shots... like I had done something good this past week to deserve such an opportunity.
When she heard the string slap my sleeve... she balled up her muscles and ducked that arrow perfectly. My daughter was amazed at the deers reflexes... and I was befuddled. :confused:
The doe repositioned herself about twenty yards away on the other side of a thicket to our left... and barked for five minutes until the wind shifted and she took off over the next hill... barkin' all the way until we couldn't hear her... telling the other deer how "safe" it was. :)
With the wheelie bow... I would have smoked her. With the trad set up, however... I was "oh so humbled" and, not to mention, in front of the little one. Nothing wrong with being humbled but... in front of your daughter? For a very long moment it felt as if she "Just found out" I wasn't Superman or something. That was one heck of a slice of pie, I tell ya.
As I sat there re-thinking the shot a little more than I should have... Candice said with a smile and reassuring brow, "Don't worry dad. There will be other chances. Maybe she'll come back!"
Hearing that put things back into perspective, back where they were just a few moments before and I gotta admit... my hunting buddy made me real proud at that very moment. Sometimes it takes a twelve year old...
I have some "first hunt" pics to last a lifetime. Just the two of us... and every one is a trophy.
I love that child...
-Frankb
Post by: gap_shooter on October 24, 2004, 02:54:00 PM
The skies had cleared and my attitude was better so I went back out again. I moved my climer to a new spot that I have been looking at. Well at 5:50 comming right up behind me down wind is a nice doe, she walks right under my stand and out to mabey 5 yards and starts feeding.I put the arrow right in the boiler. She went 15 to 20 yard and just layed down. First deer this year,I am Very thankfull!!!!
Post by: ber643 on October 24, 2004, 09:18:00 PM
Bernie Dunn\\'s Home Page, Journal, Pg6 (http://residents.bowhunting.net/bsdunn/bernie15h.htm)
Post by: Raven on October 24, 2004, 09:48:00 PM
Post by: Bpaul on October 25, 2004, 12:43:00 AM
B
Post by: Terry Green on October 25, 2004, 09:41:00 AM
Post by: Littlefeather on October 25, 2004, 01:17:00 PM
Looks like the Rut is winding up around here. I've not seen many deer for awhile. All of a sudden I saw 5 Bucks on the 35 mile drive to work this morning. All the Bucks were decent deer by most folks standards. They are obviously getting brain dead judging by the fact that several were right out in the open fields for all to see. I think Im going to start rattling horns in the next week. I've found some quite significant rubs and scrapes. I can hope! CK
Post by: Tbilisi on October 26, 2004, 09:39:00 PM
Post by: Terry Green on October 28, 2004, 09:41:00 AM
Post by: Huntrdfk on October 28, 2004, 07:08:00 PM
I will be back in the same tree tomorrow morning.
David
Post by: mike hall on October 28, 2004, 09:01:00 PM
Took the day off today and headed to one of my favorite areas to set up. After enjoying a beautiful sunrise of orange and pink and temps in the 50's I thought today is the day. Started get'n all jittery inside. :D
About an hour later I hear a stick snap behind me so I lean over a bit and takes a peek. :eek:
It's a big fat doe on the trail that heads to within a 14 or 15 yard broadside shot.
Problem is, she's looking the other way. Well, within 15 or 20 seconds she has 6 of her girl friends join her and I am pumped. ;) They start to head my way when out of no where this little joker of a spike runs through the pack like a school yard bully. Am I ticked. :mad: He runs em all over the hill side and eventually down wind where they get a bit spooky. Dang it! I can't believe some little 3" long joker just blew my morning. Five minutes passes and they are all walking back down the hill. Two of them were at 12 yards but wouldn't you know they were just behind and to the right.
Starting to wonder why I set up for a shot off the left side of my climber.......they always seem to show up on the right.
Just a heads up for you Ohio guys that the big show is about to begin. Cooler temps next week and pretty clear. I've got front row seats. Do you?
I love this time of year.
Kind of funny, after all that, I caught myself smiling on the way back to the truck.
It was a good hunt.
:)
Post by: Huntrdfk on October 29, 2004, 02:28:00 PM
David
Post by: Littlefeather on October 30, 2004, 01:26:00 PM
The deer are finally starting to cooperate. I spent 5 hours this morning covering several miles of prime rub lines. I rattled horns at six different locations and brought in two nice bucks. One 6 point with an awesome, high rack, and a 10 point that hung up at 40 yards and got wise and left. The six point was rubbing a tree when I saw him. I knelt trying to curb the noise of the rattling horns over my shoulder and the quiver full of arrows. He looks up and sees me but never even knew I was anything other than a brush pile. He commenced to walk a bee line straight at me. At 15 yards he realized somthing wasn't right and stops. I loose an arrow to watch it shave hair from his chest. Humble pie!!! Seems I gotta do this at least once every year. At least its out of the way now. Im outta here for now. Back to the woods for the rest of the day. Good luck. CK
Post by: JC on October 30, 2004, 01:46:00 PM
As usual, the grizzled hunter that I am, then started shakin like a kid on his first kill....man is that a feelin or what! :D That mixture of elation, joy, accomplishment, tinged with sadness and old memories of people long gone. Lord help me if that ever goes away.....
Post mortem showed first shot to be almost perfect, right lung and top of heart....the second shot cut the artery running next to the spine and well into the spine from the underside of one vertebrate.
Finally, 1st Deer of \\'04 Season! (http://community.webshots.com/photo/100883240/207958380wbysZf)
:bigsmyl: Joe
Post by: JC on October 31, 2004, 08:35:00 PM
First hour or so was slow with no movement by any critter I could see. It was warm today but we had a good breeze and it cooled off quick as the light got low. As the light started to fade I heard the tell tale off tempo crunch of a deer coming through the brush down the main trail. This trail runs parallel to the creek to a point about 15 yards past my stand then makes a turn not far from my stand to a creek crossing. It usually provides several shot opportunities each year.
I'm up, on full alert, ready to kill my second in 2 days! I can see the body as it moved gracefully down the trail in absolutely no hurry but the head is hidden by the understory along the creek. Never dipped it's head to feed or browse so I suspected it to be on full alert. 50, 40, 30 yards....it's gonna happen again.... I can feel the adrenaline rising. Finally comes out of the brush and....and...and....it's a spike. Dang...my little buck tag was filled yesterday, next one has to be 4pts or better on one side by GA law. He walks clueless along the trail passing my stand at an easy broadside shot of 15 yards at a slow walk. Hops the creek crossing like you and me stepping over a chuckhole, 15' covered with a flick of the tail. Stood on the other side of the creek for quite a while looking and listening in the directiion he was going. Funny how he got real cautious after crossing. He filtered into the brush and day faded quickly into a cool fall evening. Sweet....within killin distance of another deer in 2 days....now it's startin to feel like fall.
Joe
Post by: kennym on November 01, 2004, 09:27:00 PM
Post by: Tedd@work on November 03, 2004, 08:24:00 AM
I was even at work on time! Tedd
Post by: b.glass on November 03, 2004, 08:48:00 AM
Post by: JC on November 03, 2004, 06:52:00 PM
Glass, I've been discouraged so far too. Lots of hours on the stand with very few deer in rang. Except it all came together saturday and Sunday. If your stands have the sign, keep at it. Change your stand sites, try something different than you normally do, at this point what do you have to lose. The main thing is, You ain't gonna kill em off the couch bruther...I wish you luck!
Joe
Post by: Ralph Renfro on November 05, 2004, 07:25:00 PM
Post by: Huntrdfk on November 06, 2004, 07:07:00 AM
David
Post by: Walter Mauney on November 07, 2004, 08:00:00 AM
Post by: Doug Campbell on November 07, 2004, 08:24:00 AM
Post by: Blue Moose on November 08, 2004, 02:02:00 PM
I scouted for about an hour and found a couple of heavily used bean trees in a 20-yard-wide strip of woods between two fields. I climbed a tree downwind and within 30 minutes there were two does coming in for beanie brunch (around 9:15).
The timing was excellent because a crew came in at noon to cut the remaining timber on that section of the property. Bummer...it was truly beautiful in those woods.
Off to try for a buck now. Good luck to all.
Tal
Post by: Warren H. Womack on November 08, 2004, 02:31:00 PM
Making a high percentage hunt is what it's all about. Your time spent scouting, provided you with just that.
Warren
Post by: Chippy on November 09, 2004, 02:05:00 AM
Post by: rabbitman on November 09, 2004, 07:56:00 AM
!["[laffsmyl]"]("graemlins/laffsmyl.gif" "\"\"")
Post by: Ralph Conrad on November 10, 2004, 12:53:00 PM
Post by: Huntrdfk on November 14, 2004, 09:12:00 PM
David
Post by: Terry Green on November 14, 2004, 10:00:00 PM
Friday morn....1st three I didn't feel the shot was right, 30 yards was the closest I got, on the ground, and the lead doe was quatering away, and the other two we small, and kept their vitals below the palmettos.....
Blew a 20 yard wide open shot on a really wide 8 - 10 point, I was on the ground again. I didn't pick a spot, rushed the shot on the 'cruising buck' as he stopped, and shot right over his back. It all happened so fast, and I knew when I let go of the string that I boneheaded the opportunity.
Friday evening.....zilch.
Saturday morn....Had a spike within spitting distance, but not leagal.
Saturday evening....Had two does come out at dark, and got right under my stand, and I couldn't get a shot off. I must have drawn 5 times.
Sunday morn....had a doe stop and going through a bottom with a 'deer' picking along behind her. She came right by my stand at 18 yards, and I did not shoot thinking the other deer was a buck....but it was another doe, and although she was in range, she never offered me a shot even though I did manage to draw down twice.
Post by: Huntrdfk@Work on November 15, 2004, 07:59:00 AM
David
Post by: Ralph Renfro on November 15, 2004, 08:38:00 AM
Post by: SuperKodiak38 on November 15, 2004, 10:28:00 PM
Not a "clean miss" but I am sure she is fine and saw the group later that day. Even without letting an arrow go it was an awesome morning. It could have been better, but it could have been worse.
Post by: Terry Green on November 16, 2004, 12:02:00 PM
Had to come back to the office...going back in around 2:30.
Post by: J from Denmark on November 16, 2004, 04:52:00 PM
Post by: Bpaul on November 16, 2004, 04:52:00 PM
Brandon (from Oregon)
Post by: J from Denmark on November 16, 2004, 04:57:00 PM
Post by: J from Denmark on November 16, 2004, 04:58:00 PM
Post by: J from Denmark on November 16, 2004, 05:22:00 PM
These pictures are from a trip to Idaho in september this year. We were 4 bowhunters ( the other 3 with wheelbows ) from Denmark and we got two bulls. Both bulls were younger animals but I am happy with mine anyway. The second day I asked the guides for permission to go up in the mountains alone and after two days alone in the mountains ( they call them hills ) I got this bull by sneaking up to him. He actually had cows with him even though he was a young one. And it was not privat land or any "easy" stuff like that, I met other hunters twice up there, they were walking around bugling all the time.
I shot a badger down in the valley too but missed a perfect chance at a grouse.
It was a great trip. GREAT scenery
Oh yeah I almost forgot. When we cut of the backstraps he had a broken piece of alu arrow sitting right above the spine !!
It was all healed up around the wound and he was in perfect condition, bugling and chasing cows. we guessed that the arrow must have been from last year. Talk about educated elk ;)
Jacob
Post by: J from Denmark on November 16, 2004, 05:42:00 PM
They are much smaller then whitetails.
This is a mature roedeer doe (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v512/jcjccjcj/bueogpilr.jpg)
Post by: J from Denmark on November 16, 2004, 05:44:00 PM
Post by: J from Denmark on November 16, 2004, 06:22:00 PM
Post by: Bpaul on November 16, 2004, 06:31:00 PM
B
Post by: Terry Green on November 17, 2004, 03:56:00 PM
Post by: Terry Green on November 26, 2004, 01:34:00 PM
I was on point for an hour and a half this AM...I don't know how many I saw, coming and a going, all were from 15 to 25 yards out ofbow range, but I did see two bucks, and I'm bought positive I saw the buck I seen Wensday evening.....small basket 8 looked to be, whole rack well inside his ears. 2nd buck was a shooter for sure. As I figured, with the full moon, they moved from 10:00 till 11:30, and I spooked on on the way out. Wish I could have stayed through lunch....
Going back in tomorrow morn.
Post by: smalson on November 26, 2004, 08:39:00 PM
The view can be found by pasting this address in your address line:
http://community.webshots.com/scripts/editPhotos.fcgi?action=viewall&albumID=222879312
Post by: Terry Green on November 27, 2004, 09:07:00 AM
I didn't hunt this AM....my girls wanted me to do some things with them.....couldn't turn em down donn't ya know.
Post by: smalson on November 27, 2004, 09:20:00 AM
Post by: Huntrdfk on November 27, 2004, 03:37:00 PM
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/huntrdfk/DSC01723.jpg)
And here is Avery's first kill.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/huntrdfk/DSC01724.jpg)
It doesn't get a whole lot better.
David