Winter Bow is in here in New Jersey. With the weather finally cooperating and granting me my wish of hunting in the snow, I was up at 4:00am....
Weather was incredibly perfect today, tolerable temps and snow were on the menu. I was up early and excited to be able to hunt this area today. This was only the second time I hunted this property and last time I took the big ten point I got in Sept. I had recently put out cameras again at a cpl bait sites and got some pics of decent bucks left and a zillion does. The property owner pulled the trigger and said thin the herds before end of winter bow or he would let it be blacktagged this coming summer. I gladly agreed to do it and figured it was a slammdunk for at least a double. Assuming anything is for sure was mistake number one....
Its approx a 3/4 mile walk into this area. No trails, no people, just me hunting it a few times a year. I immediately saw fresh deer sign in the snow from last night on my creep in this am in the dark with my red led flashlight. I have to walk thru a woods, down a steep cliff, thru a creek, up the other side of the valley (very steep), then across two giant fields to get to my honey hole. Not complaining, actually bragging. It aint easy for this 40 year old outta shape guy with all those clothes plus gear and weapon. But I made it... In the tree by 5:45am.
My lock on is on a tree on the side of a hill about 5 yards inside a cedar tree. Its an amazing setup. As the sun was coming up I could hear the crunching feet of a critter approaching from behind me and closing the gap quick. I got slowly stood up and got the binos up to see a red fox coming. He was about 45 yards and I could tell he was just a tiny one, very young. I watched it play in the snow for the next half hour or so. Then it started to snow... No wind and just slow falling snow is hypnotizing. It was perfect conditions but hadn't seen a deer yet, only heard a few.
It was then that I heard that sound. The crunch of a deer coming. I snapped out of my coma and began the process of standing again, desnowing the bow, getting it off the hook, and ready to draw, blah blah blah. The whole time I was doing this the footsteps were getting closer and I was starting to get the ol adrenaline rush...
I had bow in left hand and was holding the binos with the right when I spotted the black silhouette walking to my right around the group of cedars I was in. I got the glasses up and figured he was instantly a shooter size buck and thought I might get a shot if he closed the 60 yard gap about 30 yards more. I put down the glasses and started the whole calm down and focus routine and closed my eyes for a minute and just listened, he was still walking up the trail my stand was on. The footsteps then stopped and I opened my eyes to see this buck climbing under a cedar tree away from the snow just 45 yards away in some seriously thick underbrush. He was untouchable with my bow and no shot in any way. This buck is a high 120`s to low 130`s I guess. He had four on each side with a split browtine. Real nice buck. This is now maybe a little after 8 am.
Fast Forward..... Its now 3:30 PM and I watched this animal all day in agony because I didn't eat or pee and I needed both but could move much or chance of blowing this deal.... Couple minutes after 5pm now and I am about to call it a day and try to sneak up on this critter and seal the deal when He stands up. I go thru my routine again for the trillionth time today after every time he stood up. This time he shakes off and starts to come around the trees like I dreamed he would all day. He pauses and a few does joined him. They hung around for a few in that spot then the lead doe starts coming toward me. They buck follows 3rd in line.
I wait for the last doe in line to pass under my tree when I tried to draw my bow. The jacket I was wearing made a Velcro scratchy type noise as I drew and guess what............
12 hours I waited for a shot and blew it due to a noisy stupid camo suit..... That buck looked me in my eye and was gone!!! BUSTED!!
It was a long tiring walk back to my truck!! Thanks for reading... Lesson Learned!
Cheap noisy camo is only good for keeping you warm, not hunting!!
ARGH! Sorry, but what a great story! :banghead: :clapper:
That is a leason learned for sure. I'll bet that camo doesn't see the woods again!
Sounds like an exciting day though - you have amazing patience.
ohhh man thats a bummer. while my story didnt entail an all day sit, i had a nice buck bust my trying to draw this year too, it was dead calm and the little bit of noise my rivers west coat made was too much. i feel your pain.
QuoteOriginally posted by Whip:
That is a leason learned for sure. I'll bet that camo doesn't see the woods again!
Sounds like an exciting day though - you have amazing patience.
That is an awesome compliment for me, thanks!! I don't feel that way tonight, I feel very frustrated and disappointed that my very warm winter suit can never be used for anything but goose hunting.
Goin back out tomorrow in different gear :)
QuoteOriginally posted by huntnmuleys:
ohhh man thats a bummer. while my story didnt entail an all day sit, i had a nice buck bust my trying to draw this year too, it was dead calm and the little bit of noise my rivers west coat made was too much. i feel your pain.
Crumby way to learn a lesson huh? I am bummin.
Lesson learned with the best set ups sometimes a little thing like velcro can ruin it all.
Fleece and Wool!
Wear Wool and Welcome to Bowhunting ! LOL.I would love a dollar for everytime I walked back to my truck with a blown oppurtunity behind me !No one promised us a Rosegarden or said it was easy.
you did good to wait him out, sorry you got busted...next time......
QuoteOriginally posted by Steve Clandinin:
Wear Wool and Welcome to Bowhunting ! LOL.I would love a dollar for everytime I walked back to my truck with a blown oppurtunity behind me !No one promised us a Rosegarden or said it was easy.
I hear ya..If I wanted easy I woulda brought out the ol sidelock today, but easy isnt a word I understand most days. I do Love Bowhunting
Ain't that some sh_t! That's bowhunting for you. That's what makes it great, actually. Your plan worked. Get some wool. Seal the deal.
wool or fleece is the way to go.
That's why I only wear cotton or fleece on the outside, nothing else.
Bummer dude, I can feel your pain....my season wasn't much better and I had several close encounters, but just couldn't seal the deal no matter how bad I wanted it to happen.
Got a nice buck during the *** season, but that's just not the same.
Nooooooooooooooooooooo!!! I feel your pain :banghead: sounds like that round goes to the deer. Makes for a good story though.
Tooooo bad. Whats the temps in NJ right now. We were at 8 deg. with wind chill and it was palin cold. You deserve a pat on the back for that sort of discipline.
It was like 15 degrees this morning but went up to high 20`s.
Thank You !!
I admire your "sticktuitness", that takes real fortitude.
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Better luck next time!
God bless,Mudd
Sitting that long, you've accomplished more than MOST ever will ...... Good Luck Tomorrow !!!!
Thanks :archer:
Oh, man. Ain't that just the way.
Look at all that character building ya got done! :clapper: :clapper:
Well you didn't come away with nothing, and thanks for sharing the lesson with us.
Guess it is too bad you did not get the shot but the time is not wasted! You learned another important thing...the next time you will learn something else....I think "Murphy" of Murphy's Law must have been a bowhunter...If anything can go wrong...it will!
I enjoyed reading about your encounter. Reminds many of us about our expriences. Some of my best memories of bowhunting are not always about the kill. Frustrating, yes...but good nonetheless!
Good luck - Happy hunting!
QuoteOriginally posted by Macatawa:
Guess it is too bad you did not get the shot but the time is not wasted! You learned another important thing...the next time you will learn something else....I think "Murphy" of Murphy's Law must have been a bowhunter...If anything can go wrong...it will!
I enjoyed reading about your encounter. Reminds many of us about our expriences. Some of my best memories of bowhunting are not always about the kill. Frustrating, yes...but good nonetheless!
Good luck - Happy hunting!
I enjoyed reading your response as well..Thank You!!
Oh well, saved you the trouble of getting him outta there and dressed out lol
Very well articulated story. Thanks for sharing.
Great bladder and hunger control. Sorry the end was not a little different but I bet the next one will end with a long drag, deer in tow back to the truck.
Earl
What a great read. Thanks! Your patience is commendable.
Even though you didn't get the deer, you have proven to yourself that you have the discipline to sit that long. I feel that you have won the battle, you just didnt get the trophy becuase your equipment fasiled you. You will remember this hunt forever, and you will always know that you have what it takes to win the next time you go out. Good luck
WOOL it happened to me about 25 years ago so now it is wool for me
Velcro was created at PETA Labs Inc!!!!
Another good day of experience!
You need to take care of everything when you bowhunt.
Velcro was created at PETA Labs Inc!!!!
Wapitimike1 that's a good one.
At least you can still go hunting! That's one of the positives.
Great story! i felt your pain!
Been there....done that! Now all my hunting clothes for cold weather are wool, my daypack is wool, cut the velcro off my bino case and replaced with buttons and loops. On those cold clear days sound carries forever in the woods.
Lets just say I can relate and feel your agony.....
:smileystooges:
Oh yeah, wrap your food in a piece of brown, green or gray soft cloth. Just cut up an old shirt. Thet way you can get it out without making a sound.
Great Story Dave! :thumbsup: :archer:
Now that is some persistance my friend. Sorry it didn't turn out better but atleast you were in the game. Better luck next time.
Tough tough tough, but what a great day. Close and teased is better than sitting all day and having no one to show up for the dance. I bet you spend a lot of the spring and summer shopping for wool closeouts.
It's happened to all of us, or will!
Wool or Polar feece is the cure for the noise!
Happy Hunting,
Greaseman
Thanks for all the positive replies guys, you sure make me feel better about the day. I know it was a fun learning experience and I took home knowledge I didnt leave home with. The ideas you all are stating are great ideas that I will incorperate into my hunting ritual immiediatly!!
Can somone post me a link or pic of a wool setup for warm weather that I can use for bowhunting?
Thanks again!!
Dave
QuoteOriginally posted by Manitoba Stickflinger:
At least you can still go hunting! That's one of the positives.
I have farmer tags that let me shoot deer all summer, and in New Jersey, Bow season is open from Sept-Feb. I have numerous buck tags and unlimited antlerless tags, so I can ALWAYS go bowhunting. This and the great flyfishing is the reason I stay in this state.
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=26h&oq=&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GPEA_enUS336US336&q=wool+hunting+clothing
links is a google search with many links for wool. There is a wide range of prices involved. You can look for expensive items on auction sites.
Beware of wind-proofing linings that can still make a lot of noise under the wool.
oh, someday in the future you will politely try to tell someone their clothes are too loud. They will say "it's quiet enough" and you will just give a knowing smile.
You have the patience it takes for stand hunting, also great story telling ability. Now get yourself some quiet hunting clothes and bring us a story with some "hero" pics and a happy ending. :archer2:
QuoteOriginally posted by glass76:
You have the patience it takes for stand hunting, also great story telling ability. Now get yourself some quiet hunting clothes and bring us a story with some "hero" pics and a happy ending. :archer2:
Thanks!!
I usually pull it off...
http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=146;t=000164
Hummmm!Déjà vu!?
I second KSDAN...fleece and WOOL!
Great story! I felt like I was in the tree with you! What an incredible day, even though the ending wasn't like you desired. It sounds like you indeed have a "honey-hole". Thanks for sharing!
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
48# Spirit longbow
45# Martin Hunter recurve
You are a better man than I!!!
The suspense would have killed me for sure!!!
There would have been no need to worry about loud clothing.
Dave.. Great story. Sorry ya did not get the dude but the learning curve is now getting a bit more flat.
Yep.. wool...
Where are ya at in Jersey? I grew up in the very NE corner of Bergen Co.
I csn do 3 hours tops in that temperature. Then I'm so cold I have to move around. Great job sitting it out. Good luck tomorrow.
Nice story, and way to hang in there for the duration. It was worth it though, wasn't it? After Christmas sales should bring about a warm, QUIET coat for you.
CELEBRATE THE CHANCE !!! You had A CLOSE ENCOUNTER!! You'll Remember this more than if you'd scored!! HA HA.. My Trophies lose luster -- my failures alway's get magnified!! LOL.. Great Tale. :clapper:
Very kinds words that are appreciated!!! Thanks everybody for the advice and compliments.
I sat tonite in my home doe stand for a little testing of my other camo.... Had one at full draw 4 times tonite... Couldnt take her, not shooting any does from home stand again till next year.But I think my coveralls as an outside layer will work till I get some fleece or wool.
Dave