I finaly was able to get across the invisible line in the road and hunt over in Indiana this morning. It was the first time I have hunted there this year which is kind of odd for me as I usually hunt it reguraly. I will tell you now no deer were harmed but thought some of you might enjoy some pictures of the Indiana fall woods.
I was also hunting with Dad this morning which I do not get to do often anymore with us living in seperate states an hour apart and colliding schedules we don't get out much together anymore. That in itself was the real object of this hunt.
We went into an area I have access to parking next to a small old cemetery. It is halloween after all today!
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l87/adeeden/106_0233.jpg)
That individual was burried here in 1848. There are only six head stones in the whole cemetery and there all from the same time period. And I always wonder just how many deer have crossed there paths over that time!
We met early and decided to head into the woods early as well. We hiked in with our stands and such and were both set up by 5:30 A.M. a full 2 hours before daylight! Dad taught me early on in life to get in early and relax and enjoy the predawn woods, and this morning was no disapointment. Cool, calm and clear with the stars bright as all get out. It had the feeling of being a perfect day to be in the woods.
Heres the view from my stand looking west where a ridge bottlenecks and tends to funnel the deer through.
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l87/adeeden/106_0223-1.jpg)
Just after daylight a buck with a rack as wide as his ears slipped across the ridge going north to south staying about 30 yards from me. Things were off to a good start, the turkeys were yelping all down the main hollow flying down and gathering themselves together to go on a feeding mission!
Heres a shot to the north of me where all the turkeys were roosted along the hollow.
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l87/adeeden/106_0224.jpg)
I really like this area it's big mature woods with a decent bottleneck and about a 10 acre patch of 10 year old pines that borders it to the east. Lots of white and red oaks with tons of acorns on the ground. It's been good to me in the past.
Here's the "edge" where the pine thicket stars. It's a deer bedding haven back in there.
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l87/adeeden/106_0225.jpg)
Al three of those pictures were from the stand to show you the genaral area we were in. Oh I guess I should show the south as thats all thats missing!
to the south.
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l87/adeeden/106_0226.jpg)
Quite a bit of buck sign in this area as well. You know it's an active scrape when it's bigger than your bow!
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l87/adeeden/106_0228.jpg)
The amount of tracks in that scrape was nothing short of amazing absolutely covered. There were a half dozen of these within 50 yards of my stand.
We sat until noon and then met at the meeting log to catch each other up on the mornings hunt have lunch and just shoot the bull before heading out.
Here's our "meeting log" been a lot of sandwhiches and hot tea shared here, and today was no different!
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l87/adeeden/106_0230.jpg)
We caught each other up on deer sightings and rested a bit before the hike out. While it was only about 1/3 of a mile to the truck there were several good sized hollars to cross and as you can tell we always pack way to much gear!
I'm not sure how long this old stands been in this tree but it has been there for as long as I have wondered this property so at least 16 years. I always get a chuckle out of it as it's only about 6 feet off the ground.
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l87/adeeden/106_0229.jpg)
All in all it was another great day to be in the woods enjoying the show! I'm taking this evening off to trick or treat with my little one so my halloween hunts in the book till next year.
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l87/adeeden/106_0231.jpg)
It was great being in the woods with Dad deer or no deer. We have a few more day hunts planned together before seasons out so hopefully we can get it done together next time!
Man, what a scrape! Luck to ya!
Thanks for the story and pics.I've been laid up with a bum leg but hope to get out later in the week . Hunting with your dad kinda made my day a little brighter :campfire:
Very nice! Thanks for sharing. :clapper:
Nice photos of your hunting area. Thanks for sharing.
OUTSTANDING :thumbsup: :campfire:
I think I like the part best where you're giving up more hunting to take the tyke out TorT!
That's what real memories are made of... only ever got to hunt with my Dad for deer a couple times in guns season, only once to the "big woods" up North, but I will always cherish that memory as he lies in his bed in a nursing home.
Cherish time with young and older alike!
Good luck Dennis. Hap
Great pictures! Thanks for sharing your Halloween day with us!
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
Beautiful country up there.
very nice:)
thanks for sharing!
Great way to spend Halloween!
Looks like a good spot, hope you get back there to spend some time soon!
Looks a lot like home! Very similar to the woods I hunt (though we get some hemlock stands for variety).
Thanks for the pictures. Looks like a real productive area to hunt. Nothing better than spending time in the woods with family and extra special to be with your Dad. Memories to reflect on for years, for both a Father and a Son, doesn't get any better than that...although it will be nice to add a deer or two on one of the upcoming hunts. Keep us posted.