5 Pines Farm Whitetails 2014

[Hopewell Tom]

Good Luck, Jim!

At least there's no doubt about whether there's a good one around or not...

[ron w]

Well, if you don't get a crack at him he will be a brute next year......and that can be a good thing.   :cool:

[LITTLEBIGMAN]

outing #93 Logging road ladder

Sure glad that buck didn't appear. Because I missed a chip shot at a big coyote! Darn!

Very foggy today with temps right at the freezing mark.  Headed up early and hoping not too many deer could hear the crunching of the snow beneath my boots.

About 8 am I was focused on the trail to my right as that is where the deer should be coming from. I heard a deer trot up the trail behind me. I turned my head and there was a doe at 25 yards.

She had stopped and was watching her back trail. I thought for sure I'd see antlers at any moment. Some how the doe was aware I was in the stand. Perhaps she caught my head movement.  She turned to her left and trotted down across the logging road and into the CRP field.  A few minutes later there he was. A big male coyote. He stopped at 25 yards as well and scanned the woods ahead. He turned to his right and was crossing in front of me to my left. As he passed behind a tree I drew the bow. I picked my spot and let the string slip thru my fingers.

the arrow passed thru the long fur hanging below his chest. He jumped up in the air and forward. When he landed he stood there staring at the arrow.  You could see the WTF in his eyes! AS I tried to get a 2nd arrow out of the quiver he was off like a rocket.

How does a guy miss such an easy shot!  ARG!!!!

[buckster]

It happens Jim.  I shot one doe earlier this year way back in the rear ham.  Luckily I still recovered her because of the awesome stopping power of the Tigershark head.  

I really, really hate making bad shots on any animal, but in my experience it seems that I only recover small bucks and does when this happens, never trophy bucks.      

Really have enjoyed this thread & admire your fortitude!

[LITTLEBIGMAN]

outing #94  upper Apple Alley

Not very much to report tonight.

Winds out of the SW all day. Temps varied between 30 and 34. Snow was soft when I came out. Saw 2 does walking in . Nothing while on stand.

We had January weather last month and we have November weather now .

Here is a picture of Apple Alley on 11/27
 

And same spot tonight.
 

It was nice not being cold. But I would have preferred to have seen some deer. Hoping for more deer activity in the AM.

[LITTLEBIGMAN]

outing #95 The email Stand.

What weird weather! Above freezing and warm SW breezes. Damp and incredibly foggy.  I don't hunt this stand often. Its in a great little bench on the bluff top above the beet food plot. But for some reason I just never feel at ease here. I think it has to do with the fact that most of the trees are tall , slender Hickories.  No branches just long straight trunks. I always feel so exposed here.  Its a long walk up and around as well.
 
Visibility was never more than 40 or 50 yards. There was so much moisture in the air the trees were dripping like it was raining. By 10 am I was wet and cold and had seen Zero. Down for coffee.

Outing 96# Aspen over clover . 45 degrees and misty! SW wind.

I had not hunted the northern clover field since October! But the neighbors were gone for the day so I thought it might just be the spot. But as it turned out all the deer were behind the house. I had thought about hunting lower AA but the wind just wasn't right. I saw just one deer on my return walk. Apparently they were all in the beets per the Mrs.!  

[LITTLEBIGMAN]

outing #97 Squirrel's tail

What month of the year is it?

Driving back to the farm from the twin cities today it was 48 degrees and pouring rain. Arriving home to see all the snow gone and a green tint to the cut hay field above the house!

I got back with just enough time to shoot a few practice arrows and sneak up the this stand.

I have been spoiled by a month of hunting in the snow. Accustomed to being able to see deer movement both near and far, I struggled in the greyness of the day to find just one deer on its feet. Finally down in the food plot three or four grey bodies appeared. It was hard to say where they entered the field from , but my guess was apple alley.  Not a thing dropped off the ridge above me and the deer were absent of the beet field when I headed down. Not sure what spooked them out of the field but I did not see them leave. Weather is supposedly going to change during the night and switch back to winter. Hopefully we won't get any ice.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

 

Good Luck Jim!

[LITTLEBIGMAN]

Outing #98 Lower AA

Lately I have felt like my hunting has just been all willy nilly. Back and forth across the valley. No real plan just hoping the dice will come up 7s.

So today I had to really have a serious chat with myself just to get me out the door. I kinda feel like I am hunting bucks that no longer live. After all, all the ones I had targeted in my mind this season have been killed. It's been a long time since I got close.

But finally I decided that sitting inside feeling bored was really a waste of time and out I went. Better to be afield and skunked than to be watching them from inside.

Winter is back today with a howling wind out of the NW. I had to be some where out of the wind and this spot was the only place that would give me shelter and be near the deer's current main food source.

About 3: 30 I spotted a tan hide moving through the cob web of branches above me. A quick flash of antler encouraged me to grab the bow. A small bodied spike was walking down hill towards me. I knew I had seen antler!

At about 30 yards he froze and stood scanning his surroundings. He hadn't smelled me but he kept staring in my direction. He seemed to know right where I was and made a turn that took him around me as he headed down to the field.

30 minutes later I spotted a darker colored form moving my way. Another buck! This one was a small eight , but he went by me with out slowing his pace or showing any concern. While I was watching him out of the corner of my eye, I spotted more movement on the back side of the apple tree in front of me. This one a doe and she had seen me move. Off she goes , back the way she came. By now it was past legal shooting time and I could make out several other deer down in the beet field below.

As I walked the short walk home the coyotes went crazy on the ridge above me.It was good  just to be out there!

[coaster500]

I couldn't be more envious Jim....  Your still at it and I'm pretty much done until next year...  just isn't right!!


 

[DanielB89]

wow.. 98 sits in so far.. If I were journaling this, I wouldn't have 15 sits in so far.. You are a lucky and blessed man!

[ron w]

We are all done here in the Empire State......how much more season do you have?

[LITTLEBIGMAN]

outing #99 Yurt hang on.

Minnesota's archery season ends at sun down on 12/31 Ron.

This morning Jayne saw 6 deer up in the corner of the hay field just below where this stand sits. So wanting to give the two stands I have been frequenting a rest and having a perfect wind I chose to sit here.
 

We had clear blue skies, temps in the high teens and a light Westerly wind. I was anxious to go but waited until 2 pm to be sure I could out last the cold. Lately my feet have been giving out on me early!

Around 3.30 I heard a deer approaching. But it was above me which meant I was going to get winded. A spike buck was working his way across and down the bluff on a trail I hadn't really noticed before. He got right behind and above me and locked up. He was about 20 yards up hill and roughly just a foot or so above eye level. He stood and stomped and stared. Finally he turned and walked back up hill. Flag up but no snorts and with in a few yards he was walking like nothing ever happened. I was on alert now for more deer coming from the south.

I started to see shapes moving in my direction from about 80 yards away. Six does and fawns all in single file were working their way to the hay field. At first it looked like they were on the trail directly below me.  But they ended up being at least 60 yards down hill as they went by. So much fun to see.  Then just at dark I heard another deer walking some where above me. It took me a bit but I finally spotted a large doe that had already gone past me and was on her way to the beet field.

It felt good to have picked a spot using Intel instead of just guessing!  I hope I can do it again tomorrow.

[huntnmuleys]

I still have to think this is going to come together for ya.  seem to still be plenty of deer around.

[LITTLEBIGMAN]

outing#100!   Lower AA

Well I wish my 100th tree sit of the season had more exciting details but unfortunately it does not!

The grey skies returned but temps were slightly warmer. It was 23 F when I climbed up the ladder  with almost zero wind.

All afternoon I kept thinking of what a great year its been. At 4pm I heard an animal trotting up behind me. Another big coyote! Damn they are everywhere this year. I reached for the bow and the song dog stopped up short.  20 yards away but no shot. It stood there for a few more seconds and then headed off up the hill directly towards I hoped deer would come from. I had no deer come down and headed home one day closer to the seasons end.

On the hillside above the house I counted 7 dark shapes in the corner of the hay field where I sat yesterday and 4 next to my house!

[Cyclic-Rivers]

 Keep at it Jim. You have had a  great season but its not over yet!

[LITTLEBIGMAN]

outings 101 & 102

I'm dreaming of a White Christmas.


17 deer on this hill side last night.

so I sat in the logging road ladder just above it this am and I got skunked.

[LITTLEBIGMAN]

up to the Dallas stand this after noon.

the clover is actually looking green again. Four yearling does fed into it early from the south. Not one adult deer all afternoon.

Got home and the wife says the big group came back tonight and fed here and there.

I guess they are going to keep me guessing.

[ron w]

Over 100 outings.......just amazing    I admire your ability to stay after them!

[Tom]

Tradgang Ironman for sure, thanks for tagging us along.