Figured I better start my log again this year since Big Holla likes reading it so much! So here goes, a season full of adventure I hope. Let me start by saying I didn't hunt the first 21 days of the season and for those of you who know me, that took some getting used to. So after a nice long stay at Myrtle Beach with the family during the month of September I spent the first couple weekends of October hanging stands and making blinds. Not the time of year I like to be hanging stands and building blinds but at least it rained just about every day afterwards which should help cut down on the scent I left. I got four stands put up in late August before I left but still had 5 more to go and several blinds to build. Nine sets are up now and I saved two sets in the garage for a hot spot that might develop. I cannot believe the mast there is this year (acorns, crabapples, persimmons, etc).
10/18/14- AM. Hunted a stand close to the house for my first sit. I learned a few years ago to take it slow for the first hunt because I'm rusty and something always goes wrong. Beautiful morning, some light rain, and I saw a spike skirting a field edge behind me at 10:00 am. Other than that nothing but squirrels. The stand I was in was more of a rut stand anyway, a place to catch a cruising buck going between a feed site and bedding area so I wasn't expecting much. Good first hunt.
10/19/14- AM. Went in late to one of my properties with bow in hand to redo a blind from last year and build one in a new spot. While sitting in the truck getting ready to get out a decent 8pt walked up on the road, stopped about 35 yards away, and looked at me then walked into the brush. I built my first blind and saw one deer sneak in behind me while doing so, oh well it happens. I then proceeded up the hill toward the second spot and stopped to pee when I heard....sparring...yep definitely sparring. So I snuck down a mowed path and peaked over some brush and there stood the same 8pt from earlier sparring with a very nice 9 or 10 point at 45 yards. This place I was at is thick as hell everywhere other than the paths we mow so sneaking closer was not possible. If they would have been in an all out fight I would have tried but they would spar a little then look around. So no use blowing them out of there. I waited on the path for awhile just in case one decided to walk right to me but that didn't happen. So I built my blind up the hill and got out of there. My brother has both bucks on camera, the bigger one is a shooter for sure.
Good luck to everybody, more to come.
10/18/14- AM. Hunted a stand close to the house for my first sit. I learned a few years ago to take it slow for the first hunt because I'm rusty and something always goes wrong. Beautiful morning, some light rain, and I saw a spike skirting a field edge behind me at 10:00 am. Other than that nothing but squirrels. The stand I was in was more of a rut stand anyway, a place to catch a cruising buck going between a feed site and bedding area so I wasn't expecting much. Good first hunt.
10/19/14- AM. Went in late to one of my properties with bow in hand to redo a blind from last year and build one in a new spot. While sitting in the truck getting ready to get out a decent 8pt walked up on the road, stopped about 35 yards away, and looked at me then walked into the brush. I built my first blind and saw one deer sneak in behind me while doing so, oh well it happens. I then proceeded up the hill toward the second spot and stopped to pee when I heard....sparring...yep definitely sparring. So I snuck down a mowed path and peaked over some brush and there stood the same 8pt from earlier sparring with a very nice 9 or 10 point at 45 yards. This place I was at is thick as hell everywhere other than the paths we mow so sneaking closer was not possible. If they would have been in an all out fight I would have tried but they would spar a little then look around. So no use blowing them out of there. I waited on the path for awhile just in case one decided to walk right to me but that didn't happen. So I built my blind up the hill and got out of there. My brother has both bucks on camera, the bigger one is a shooter for sure.
Good luck to everybody, more to come.