Trad Gang

After reading Tom's (KentuckyTJ) late season hunt thread I decided to grab my camera as I walked out the door early this morning.   Hope you enjoy my morning hunt.  

Here in southeastern PA we received around 4" of snow on Saturday.  Just enough to really light up the landscape.  I have a small 30 acre property about a mile from my home that really fills up with deer this time of year.   It was timbered a few years back and all the mess that comes with timbering has provided a wonderful bedding area and better yet, a safe spot for deer to yard up.  

I hunted the property on Saturday night following the storm and had a few opportunities but the deer knew I was there and just too wired to risk a shot.   I didn't plan on heading out this morning but woke early enough for a cup of coffee and the 5 minute drive.

Not long after I got settled this is what unfolded....      :thumbsup:    

   (http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f281/Wyoming1/f85de80d7ac0dde766c29dbd7717119e.jpg)

Ten minutes later the intensity got even better!   I was so glad I rolled out of bed!

   (http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f281/Wyoming1/69ac73683a15f9cb3f9e42ed52412d63.jpg)

The first hour was pretty quiet and I was more intent on taking photos than sitting quietly.   The squirrels were moving about along with a variety of birds.  

   (http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f281/Wyoming1/259daa9196db02879f7f6c569ac1baac.jpg)

A few minutes after 8 I caught some movement on my left as these 3 does move down the trail towards my stand.  I reached deep into my pocket struggling to get the camera out and turned on before they got too close.  They hung up at 30 yards, perfect for a few photo opts.  So cool.....

   (http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f281/Wyoming1/7ff00a85943f82d255df94e7c0a00d34.jpg)    (http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f281/Wyoming1/8f4306ee2b8fe0740f1a406d7d6e8e67.jpg)

Finding good coverage late season is tough, especially in a timbered area.  Here's a photo of my stand.  A bit exposed but the best I could do.     :dunno:

(http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f281/Wyoming1/343a12d1e3347098e4ba98c8a0ab52ca.jpg)

The 3 ladies melted away without an opportunity so I was back on photo mode trying my best to get a photo of a squirrel that was harassing me.  I was twisted hard to my right trying to focus and snap the shot without dropping my bow and/or the camera.  

Is it amazing how quiet deer can be this time of year.  A few night ago I had two does come up on me so quietly that when I finally noticed them they startled the heck out of me!  Well, it happened again....

I'm doing my best to get a photo of this simple squirrel when I here a stick snap, very very close!   I slowly twisted around to find a mini herd under my stand.  Big ones, little ones and a couple horned ones.   Sorry folks, the horned ones never posed very long.  

(http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f281/Wyoming1/8589774518f90b42359b3fecf9c54472.jpg)

Yep, two of the ladies were very in tune with my intentions.     :thumbsup:

(http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f281/Wyoming1/91ae5a6e13c87c4ffd3d34c717ef37ca.jpg)    (http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f281/Wyoming1/2e27ac0e5889812f51e1f1bbcae0592a.jpg)

All in all a wonderful morning and a beautiful young doe that will help tap off the freezer until next fall.  I'm very fortunate to live in an area with deer so close to home.  I'm also fortunate to have a wife who drove down to help with the photos and loading of the truck.    :rolleyes:

Here's a photo of my my better half.  We will be celebrating 25 years on Wednesday, hopefully we will be blessed with another 25 wonderful years!
  (http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f281/Wyoming1/c16292ad4f2c9729d646a38f17f3cf3a.jpg)

Tim this is great.  Thanks for sharing with us.  God bless.

Tim,

That is great!  I was out this afternoon. Three shots, three misses!  Tomorrow is another day.

I hope you had a Merry Christmas!

Martin

Well done Tim!! Taking a deer in the late PA season is quite an accomplishment.  I've been hunting with my Flintlock and still can't get one to give me shot.

Great hunt Tim. Congrats on the long and happy marriage. That is something we don't hear about much any more. (15 years for me). Beautiful pictures too.

  :thumbsup:

:campfire:

Very nice Tim. It would have been even nicer if I was in a stand nearby!   :smileystooges:  

Martin....Martin, Martin....keep at it bud!

Are you in double digits yet? Geesh!

Congrats on both accounts!

Awesome!  Thanks for taking us along and congratulations!

Very nice, thanks for sharing. Wife and I have been married 31, and she hunts with me, gets her 2 every year nearly, we have a ball.

Nice one Tim.  I was out in the PA snow this morning and evening, just not with the great results you had.

Going out first thing tomorrow morning too.

Congrats on your Anniversary.  

Tom

That story is just great all the way around!  :thumbsup:

nice, congrats on your 25th.

Tim, you look cold in the pic, i have one day left. Plenty of deer but the gun hunters have them nervous. Great pics of the woods.

Nice Tim!  Love those thick winter coats!

Very nice day! Enjoyed the pictures.

Thanks for takin' us along on your successful hunt Tim!

Enjoy the feast!

AND congratulations on 25 years of marriage - that is a tremendous blessing!

Celebrate a Happy New Year!

Shoot straight, Shinken

 :archer2:

Beautiful animal....some good eating there. congrats on a nice kill.

Congratulations on a great late season hunt!  You're very handy with a camera also!  Also, congratulations on your 25th wedding anniversary!  Enjoy that tasty venison this winter.     :clapper:  

Bernie Bjorklund

NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin

Great pics ! Congrats on a fine trophy.

Thanks Tim! Hope to see ya sometime soon.....

... mike ...

Congrats on the deer and the anniversary!

No comment

Thanks folks, glad to see there are a few others out there that passed on the New Years Eve partying for a nice relaxing evening at home!    :biglaugh:

good stuff Tim. Glad to see you made it out. Congrats on the doe and on 25 years too!

Congrats Tim! Looks like the tip is working out for you! Nice shot!

Tim,

Thanks for taking us along! Great hunt and it looked like a great shot as well. Congrats!!!!

Congrats Tim,and thank you for taking us along.

Good deal,congrats on a nice freezer filler and a lovely wife who is sympathetic to this addiction we have.Have a happy New Year.
   :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:

Tim, thanks for having us on your hunt. Congrats on a fine harvest.


Mike

Well done Tim !!!  :clapper:  


Bill

Great Story, Congrats to you and your wife.

Congrats on the plump woods goat Tim, and thanks for sharing. We finally got some snow after our late season ended of coarse!Tough hunting these north eastern deer, especially late season without snow.May you enjoy an eternity with your wife. God bless

Very nice pictures and story Tim! Congratulations on 25 years!

Great story Tim!  Thank you for sharing.  Congrats on your 25th.  Happy new year!

Great story and pic's, congrats to you and the misses for 25 years!

Congrats Tim!!  :thumbsup:

Thanks for sharing.  Great pics and congrats on the doe... And more importantly, 25 years!!     :clapper:

The pics, the hunt, the doe, the beautiful wife.
Lots to be thankful for.
Best wishes for another 25+ years.

Congratulations on a great late season PA hunt, and congrats on 25 years with your beautiful wife!

Too cool Tim!  To go out with pictures in mind and end up taking a deer to boot is sweet success!
Congratulations on the deer, and even more so on the 25 years.  :thumbsup:

Good story, I'm from SE PA myself, love hearing about those woodlot deer.   :thumbsup:

Great pictures and story Tim! Thanks for sharing. Congrats on your late season trophy.

Tim, I started laughing as soon as I saw this, I was sure you were going to follow through on your threat and I was going to see a different bow in the pictures.Kathy definitely deserves to be congratulated for putting up with you for 25 years, I don't know how she made it. The shot looks perfect.

Congrats Tim on your 25 years and beautiful wife.   Congrats on a fine deer.  thank you for taking pictures and sharing them with us.   :thumbsup:

Nice pics and congrats!

Well done Little Buddy!!!

Tim, great pics and story.  Congrats to you and Cathy, hard to believe she puts up with you.  The Tip looks great!

Way to go bud, congrats on a milestone.

Tim, That's awesome brother...25yrs!!  Congrats!!

Having a reliable late season area to hunt like that are true treasures!

I plan to scout hard to find something like that for Cade and I in the future. I luv hunting the late season!

Thanx for taking the time to share this with us...hope to see you soon    :campfire:

Tim, congrats on a fine trophy and your 25 year milestone. Thanks for taking the time to show us how it's done.

   :clapper:

Congratulations on all accounts, Tim.  Great shot and what a beautiful sunrise.  Thanks for taking us along.

It's not hard to brush in a stand a bit and it can really help with staying hidden once the woods opens up.  Oak branches cut in late summer or from blowdowns will hold their leaves for a couple years.

Congratulations Tim. Thanks for sharing the story and pics.   :thumbsup:  

Dave

Fantastic!  Thanks for letting us tag along with you.  I hope to be making some late season memories of my own soon.

Congrats on 25 years also!

Congrats on a great day and the 25yrs!

Tim, Great Job on the doe... but better job on your gal, 25 yrs you should be proud. Just a great day.

:thumbsup:    :thumbsup:

Tim,

How long ago was that I came down to meet the family, pick up Craig's used limbs and marvel at the Hollywood Life in your beautiful family and home??

Seems about a good 10 yrs anyway... you've only aged the tiniest bit...but my gracious, that li'l gal bride of 25 yrs looks timeless! she hasn't aged a lick!

Beautiful family! Takes work to make 25! Good on you and a great job raising your children into fine young people!

Those pics were stunning! Good job on the critter, too!

Just a great family, Cathy is going to be real happy on Wed, maybe a new bow or a ATV or????

Congratulations to the whole family.

Congrat's on the 25 year's and the late season deer.

Yeah David, it's been quite awhile since you stopped by the house.  Time sure moves right along.   I like to refer to my life as pretty simple and user friendly!

No new bows for me William.....at least none I would tell you about...     :goldtooth:

Great pics and congrats!    :thumbsup:

Congrats!!  Thanks for the great pics and story. Joe

Thanks for taking us along on your Hunt.

Congrats Tim..You are my new hero..lol..I have screwed up my rotater cuff and havent been shooting much at all.Also congrats on your 25th and Happy New Year to you and your family.Hope we can all hook up some time this year and sling some arrows and stories..

Danny

Tim...nice way to close out a great year, and in turning the page on 25 years on to the next 25!  You are a fortunate man!   Congrats...to you and your bride!  :thumbsup:

Great story Tim and thanks for taking us along. Congrats on 25 years of marriage, we hit 24 years Sunday.

We do have something in common: Our wives have held up better than us    :biglaugh:

Very nice.  :thumbsup:    :archer2:

quote:

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Originally posted by Tim:


No new bows for me William.....at least none I would tell you about...      :goldtooth: