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1023's Season Chronicles

bowhunter1023

Owner/Operator
Staff member
49,331
288
Appalachia
Saw a nice buck behind the house last Sunday when I went back to check the camera, then found fresh rubs on today's check, so I have a little action going out the back door. I pulled cards and made my final camera sets for the season at the farm this afternoon. Saw a few small rubs and one community scrape that was opened. I'm looking forward to next weekend so I can begin getting serious!

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2019 Stats

Antlerless Sightings: 2
Bucks Sightings: 1
Different Bucks: 1
Shooters Seen: 0
Total Sightings: 3

Deer Killed: 0

Morning Hunts: 2
Evening Hunts: 1
All Day Sits: 0
Skunked Hunts: 1
Total Hunts: 3

Hours on Stand: 4

Average Time Per Hunt: 4.5 Hours
Deer Seen Per Hour on Stand: <1
 

bowhunter1023

Owner/Operator
Staff member
49,331
288
Appalachia
This season has already been one for the books, yet the season is still young. When Kaydence got home Saturday night, she says: "Daddy, when can I go hunting?" I explained that the choice was hers and whenever she was serious about it, I'd make it happen. We've shot the crossbow some off and on since I picked it up early in the year, but she's not shown much interest in actually hunting, so I haven't pushed it. I asked her yesterday if she wanted to help set up a blind behind the house and she jumped at the opportunity. I have three things I want to accomplish before the season is over, assuming she doesn't want to hunt. One, kill a doe on public land before 12/9/19. Two, try and kill a deer behind the house with the girls in the blind with me. And three, Tracie is due for #16, so if we want to keep the streak alive, we gotta get after it! But if K wants to hunt, you know what will be priority numero uno!

After we set the blind, we got the crossbow and tripod out. We worked out a little mantra to control our shot process over the course of 20-some arrows. This was her best group. We'll stay consistent with the practice this week and if the weather holds, Friday night might be her first legal hunt. She's smart enough and knows enough to grasp the taking of a life, so we're over that hurdle. The big issue now is simply controlling the weapon. With the aid of modern technology, that's not that big of a hurdle as you can see!

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I have her placing the stock in the center of her chest, which is where she seems to acquire the dot most effectively. She holds the stem of the back yoke like a handle and finally has hands big enough to get a good grip and manage the trigger squeeze. The plan is to get a deer broadside at 20 yards eating golden acorns. I'll acquire the target, then she'll start to "drive". Then I start coaching: "You're driving. Both eyes open, whole hand on the grip, find the trigger, find the dot. Good? Ok, safety off. Right behind the leg, almost halfway up. Squeeze..." I was really proud of the way she understood coming up off the front leg and finding the heart.

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There's no doubt this one will want to hunt. She's ate up with deer pictures and hunting shows. She was pissed she didn't get to shoot too, so we had to make her happy!

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2019 Stats

Antlerless Sightings: 10
Bucks Sightings: 5
Different Bucks: 3
Shooters Seen: 1
Total Sightings: 15

Deer Killed: 1

Morning Hunts: 3
Evening Hunts: 3
All Day Sits: 0
Skunked Hunts: 1
Total Hunts: 6

Hours on Stand: 18

Average Time Per Hunt: 3 Hours
Deer Seen Per Hour on Stand: <1
 
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finelyshedded

You know what!!!
Supporting Member
32,539
274
SW Ohio
Thanks buddy! K came home this past weekend and asked if I’d shoot with her Sunday morning so she could knock the rust and spider webs off her bow. She shot really well considering she hadn’t had time to do any shooting the last couple years. She is still drilling at 20 back to 30 and would like to get out a few days over Thanksgiving break.🤗👍🏻
Enjoy the ride buddy, it’s a blast👍🏻
 

bowhunter1023

Owner/Operator
Staff member
49,331
288
Appalachia
Nothing particularly noteworthy about this hunt other than I've got baiting down to a science in this spot. You can see the ground blind in the back and it's overlooking the Corner Pocket. The video I posted earlier in the thread details why this is such a prime spot and it's even better when it gets cold. I spread 150#s of corn on New Years Day over a 500 sq. ft. area, making sure to spread some inside the woods and the rest dispersed throughout the food plot. I try to spread it so you can't see it, unlike my neighbor who piles 300#s at a time in an area no bigger than your bathtub. I'm not baiting on the farm until after gun season and he coincidentally told me this week the deer have stopped coming to his corn like they were before gun season 😂

Anyways, with all the good south facing bedding in close proximity of here, golden acorns make it the go-to spot for my hired gun. We were pretty well frozen when she said: "Deer...the one you wanted me to shoot too!". I looked up from my phone to see this old girl staring us down. She'd busted me in the treestand hung here back in October and she's the biggest one on the farm, so she was target #1 and it turns out, she's the only deer we saw this morning. She played the head bob game for a couple minutes before presenting a shot and when the smoked clear, she laid 6' from where I shot my buck.

It's been a pretty awesome season, one I'll reflect on when it's actually over because we have more to accomplish yet if we can pull it off. But I'm extremely thankful for the memories and a freezer full of good eats! This old girl will get turned into dozens of snack sticks for the whole family to enjoy!

So, for yet another year, "The Streak" lives on. Lucky #16 is in the meat locker and we're looking forward to season #17!

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bowhunter1023

Owner/Operator
Staff member
49,331
288
Appalachia
Telecheck makes that easier and more appetizing for those prone to do it. I'd be lying if I said this place isn't one of the biggest reasons I'm no longer a rule breaker. You guys keep me honest! 😎

The cell cam is now behind the house. K has a buck tag and a handful of opportunities left. We'll see how it goes!