My morning started with high anticipation. I knew a front was moving in, and I expected a lot of deer moving. During my drive to the mountain, I saw deer all over the place.
We got up on the mountain early and were going to try sitting an area to help us see how the deer were moving up the mountain. Well, we found out the hard way that the deer were all ready in the area before light. While setting up, we could hear the deer moving around us.
We had been coming into this spot from above, and it seems we need to switch back to that tactic. Coming up from below just put us right into them.
After a bit, the snow started and we had a very pretty morning, and learned a lesson.
(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/jjeffer/frostyferns.jpg)
(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/jjeffer/snowybench.jpg)
(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/jjeffer/snowygear.jpg)
We met up around 10:30 and talked about the morning, the deer we had bumped, and how we would handle things next time out. The permit season is starting this coming week. The deer are getting frisky, and the colder weather has me a little excited too. So, we move on to the next phase.
(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/jjeffer/snowyVaughn.jpg)
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
I hunted Friday night and saw less deer activity in than expected. I slept in and let the storm come in Saturday morning. I ended up going out mid storm during a bit of a lull. Snow changed to sleet for a while and the wind picked up. I've never seen my woods look and sound like it did mid day yesterday. Limbs dropping, trees falling... it sounded like the woods were being shelled. I was out for about two hours, until my wool was dripping wet. I didn't see a deer, and it's likely they were all bedded under pine boughs somewhere.
As it was getting light yesterday morining, I was expecting to see Jack Nicholson running through the woods lik in "The Shining". It was really cool looking with all the snow on the trees, but I didn't see a deer all day. I did see a bunch of turkeys, but no shooting. Got all my gear sitting over heater vents drying out.
Nothing like huning in the snow.
That first snow of the year is always special. Great pictures!
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
Great photographs. :thumbsup:
If its like Michigan try to be in the woods as soon as the snow lets and it clears up! after a storm they head for the food sources! Tough hunting when that snow is so heavy and wet!
Jerry, I hunted behind my Buds house in Wantage Saturday morning. I had high hopes as well. Went up on the Ledge behind his house a natural funnel. Leads to a bedding area. Nuts dropping all over yet. I figured with the front coming threw they would be eating like crazy and then bed down to weather out the storm. Nope! Saw 1 Doe around 7:30 that was it. 4 Turkeys right under my stand 2 nice gobblers and 2 hens. No turkey permit. Oh well.Funny thing when I left my house that morning at 5 A.M. a fork horn was chasing a doe down my Street! My daughter saw the same Buck early this morning chasing again . My Bud called me this morning to tell me 4 button Bucks are behind his house eating .
Great pics Jerry. :thumbsup:
Something bout that first snow of the season.