Crickets. Nothing to see here so far. Crossbow dialed in out to 40. Shot compound well today. Might buy my deer tag in near future. Not until I'm confident in my shooting and my schedule opens up.
Phil's 2018 2019 journal
- Thread starter hickslawns
- Start date
First sit. Bumped one 100yds across the field. Stepped on a stick? Winded me? Not sure. Second one I bumped stepping on a stick another 100yds into the walk to stand. Ugh. The plan with this stand was to intercept before they hit that field and went into bedding. That backfired. Bit windier than anticipated. Forgot how much this tree sways in wind. Could be underdressed. We'll see as the hunt goes on. Got minimal intelligence gathered. Camera issues. Not many deer to scout with binoculars in evenings using my regular scouting point. Figured I'd try a morning hunt and swap a card to learn more about what is going on here.
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Had a medium sized doe come thru alone. Odd to see her alone. Hoping she was the deer I spooked on way in and not a buck I spooked. She sure looked tasty. Hung around a good bit. Came in at 25yds, walked out to 45. Mosied back by in spitting distance. Offered plenty of shots. Very spooky with the wind I'd guess. It's her lucky day. I'm buck hunting.
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Just had 4 does real skittish. Came from North. Crossed Creek. Down wind of me. Headed to field edge. Stopped. Got spooky. Stomped hooves. Came back by me. Didn't cross Creek. Headed due east on my side of creek. Wind either has them real spooky or maybe a you're wandering around. Sang girls! Quit tempting me.
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Didn't sleep much last night. I'm beat. Finished my hunt at 930. Planned on napping and getting some work done. Camera card pull on the way out (new camera) said 6000pics since Sept 21. Figured I had a bad camera out of the box. Nope. Been thru about 4300 so far. No squirrels or raccoons yet.
Second sit of year. Different property. Corn to my south. Last of beans getting picked to my west. Sitting on a pinch point. Trails converge by my tree. Massive tree with 4 branches all 18-24" wide coming out of the trunk 10' off ground. I'm around 15' up. Creek meanders thru to my west and north. Bend in creek is what creates their travel routes somewhat. Stand is hit or miss. With patience it is a great rut stand. Heavy chasing gives you lots of action here. Deer also use tractor path along corn to my south. 30yd shot to path out of this stand, across RR tracks to tractor path. Not much seat left on stand. 2 straps 2" wide each. Amazing how comfy they are. Like a hammock. This is more or less an observation sit. Land owner is maintaining her lawn 1/4-1/2 mile north of me. Farmers picking beans west. I thought it might nudge the deer my way so figured I'd take a shot. I plan on swapping 2 of the 3 camera cards on way out to learn more as well.
First hunt of year- 3hrs.
Deer seen- 5.
Shot opportunities- 5.
Been settled in here for second hunt since 445. I'll update later.
First hunt of year- 3hrs.
Deer seen- 5.
Shot opportunities- 5.
Been settled in here for second hunt since 445. I'll update later.
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Thanks @Isaacorps . Been slowly adding them to all my sets. I strap in on all sets except my buddy stands. Most of those are in trees too big to get a strap around them. The harriest stands to get in and out of got them first. This tree is a pretty dangerous one to get in/out of.
So I ended up with a small doe and button buck in bow range. Came in downwind of me, circled around me, and meandered off. Could of spit on them at one point. Later had a pretty decent 8pt sneak in. The light rain made it tough to hear anything. The crazy amount of green leaves hanging onto the trees made it tough to see. He snuck in. Saw him at 35-40 yds. Might have taken the shot if I knew for a fact he was a shooter AND I had enough time to make a quality shot. I would have needed time to range him, snag bow, draw, steady, aim and release. I only saw him for about 5 seconds. I grabbed the binoculars instead and enjoyed watching him. Don't normally use a grunt call this time of the year. This situation called for it. I dropped binoculars, got bow in hand, and hit the grunt tube a few times to see if I could turn him. Thought maybe he would get curious. Might not have heard it. Or just didn't care. I'll attach a pic of him. Honestly looked a lot nicer in person than the trail cam pics. That was weird. Usually the camera adds 10 inches of antler. lol Not the best pic but it was tonight after he passed by me. I attached another one of him from September. Need to do some digging. This deer has a big sweeping set of main beams. Decent frame on him. Just doubt he ever does much more than adding an inch or so here and there on tines and more mass. He is likely a 3yr old 120-125" (maybe) deer.
Time in stand: 2.75hrs
Deer seen: 3
In bow range: 2
Season totals:
Hunts: 2
Time in stand: 5.75
Deer seen: 8
Shot opportunities: 7
So I ended up with a small doe and button buck in bow range. Came in downwind of me, circled around me, and meandered off. Could of spit on them at one point. Later had a pretty decent 8pt sneak in. The light rain made it tough to hear anything. The crazy amount of green leaves hanging onto the trees made it tough to see. He snuck in. Saw him at 35-40 yds. Might have taken the shot if I knew for a fact he was a shooter AND I had enough time to make a quality shot. I would have needed time to range him, snag bow, draw, steady, aim and release. I only saw him for about 5 seconds. I grabbed the binoculars instead and enjoyed watching him. Don't normally use a grunt call this time of the year. This situation called for it. I dropped binoculars, got bow in hand, and hit the grunt tube a few times to see if I could turn him. Thought maybe he would get curious. Might not have heard it. Or just didn't care. I'll attach a pic of him. Honestly looked a lot nicer in person than the trail cam pics. That was weird. Usually the camera adds 10 inches of antler. lol Not the best pic but it was tonight after he passed by me. I attached another one of him from September. Need to do some digging. This deer has a big sweeping set of main beams. Decent frame on him. Just doubt he ever does much more than adding an inch or so here and there on tines and more mass. He is likely a 3yr old 120-125" (maybe) deer.
Time in stand: 2.75hrs
Deer seen: 3
In bow range: 2
Season totals:
Hunts: 2
Time in stand: 5.75
Deer seen: 8
Shot opportunities: 7
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Later than I'd like to be in stand. Ready by legal light. To me that is 30min late. Made the 250yd trek fine. For 20yds south of my stand and something bolted 10yds north of it. One. Maybe two. Couldn't tell as the creek splashing was loud. Nothing since. Having my glasses get loose and barely hanging onto my face isn't helping. My facemask is about the only thing holding them in place. Feels odd. Hope it doesn't effect any shot opportunities. We shall see. I'll pull a card on my way out to see which deer I blew out.
Momma with tripleta just came thru in bow range. She was a big fine girl. Hate to shoot a doe that throws triplets. Busy day ahead. I won't change my plans unless I shoot a buck. They get a pass. She sure did tempting me. Bow remained on hanger.
