Stressless's 2025-2026 season journal

[Stressless]

The drought has this late summer has been a PITA. Nature makes it hard to grow without moisture lol. Thinking I'll see the farm one more time before the first sit and that'll be good. Getting old and slow getting stands moved, trees trimmed, plots maintained, equipment maintained to maintain the plots .

We did the 2 orchards in this year, that was a big step. Mom passed in Jan, that was that for my family up and over. No parents, siblings, cousins left, no aunts no uncles. My focus - Grandkids, two now and more hoped for so looking at the property as a retreat/hunting parcel rather than a hunting/retreat parcel... the ratio varies but I think you understand the shift.

Cleaning up the deep woods openings from '21-'22 are the highest priority as soon as the WTD hunting is done.

I don't think I posted this year's gobbler just about standard at the farm. Three Dave Smith's and a late morning Tom strutting right into the kill zone. The Bullhead did the trick at 10 yards.

Set a new stand, PassThru and moved two I had out, Shaggy and Pinchpoint to take advantage of movement the new mini-orchard that Shaggy plot/orchard should provide on that side hill bench.

That bench is a funnel for lots of the local wildlife.

I have high hopes for this little ambush site. I released this pear my dad and/or bother planted 25 years ago and then forgot. It really popped this spring.

Thanks fellas.

 

[Stressless]

Five bucks in this series. Rivendell From last year, not sure if he liked to fight and won some - or just picked bigger bucks to antagonize... He seemed to loose a Beam or tine about every week.

Rivendell is the first buck to walk out.

 

[Tysonhunter]

Awesome write up and photos!!!! Many of birds have fallen to that exact same setup, it sure is hard to beat, just a bloody mess HAHA

 

[Stressless]

With the drought and pressure I'm ... satisfied with the plots.

Inside the utilization cage 4"-5" of wheat, rye and legumes.

the quote, "this is why we can't have nice things." Comea to mind.

Edit -
Got in, reluctantly filled the feeders, neighbor Cliff fillled his Fri. Sild him two Boss Buck 350's hoping they'll finally outlaw it. Anyways, removed the one on Greenbrier to Spoil, and below the Cabin to Pine. Got it done, in the heat, left the machine running, minimal impact.

Picked up some cards when going past them - always nice to see a couple I'd tighten the string on.

Thinking this is Willis or Readers (One Mooch wounded last year)

Dint head out this AM, letting it sit until the cold front tomorrow and next week. My favorite week in TOO.

 

[Stressless]

ARR Sat 18 Oct. Filled the three feeders early Afternoon.

Sun 19 Oct 1.25" rain no sits

Mon 20 Oct

PinchPoint AM. W wind
-One decent 10 pt, 2.5 or 3.5

Interchange PM. W wind
- 2 does

Tues 21 Oct hot and windy no sits
- set Grassy Knoll

Between AM and PM loaded a stand, sticks, 50# of corn stand accruments and camera, went to go on the cart - flat tire, went to town got the tube replaced, then went to with the bike and ~100#'s on the trailer went a liittle less than a mile, set it up quick and quiet.

Wed 22 Oct

PinchPoint AM. SW wind
- Rivendell #2 walked thru between DoubleB and Funnel stands 0830 about 140 yds from me... didnt walk up to Shaggy. Bike did well, scent noise etc

Funnel Blind PM sit W wind.
Notes:
Interesting, there is a ENE breeze down in this blind, on the North side of my long ESE hollow. Def solid West Wind above the terrain.

I think its combo of thermals rising (ENE) is uphill, and a big roll of air coming over the 'spoil' hill, 200 yds to the West.... wouldn't have thought this would work, stnads dead WEST of the trialsX and scrape. Milkweed is going, solidly. ENE.

Thurs 23 Oct

- AM W wind, sat Funnel, wanted to see how the thermals worked down there in the AM. Works great w Steady W wind this is great as theres a major buck travel route right down from it.

-PM SW wind Interchange.
With the wind and the hill it's iffy getting a solid wind/thermal with the big hollow behind this stand.

 

[Stressless]

24 Oct AM, FrontPad, supposedly a W beeze rhat was actually a SE wind...
Hills and Thermals it's and art..

24 Oct PM, Grassy Knoll...

HEART BREAKER!

Been seeing Barney Miller [this years hitlist names are cop shows] here fairly reg since Sat.. decided, with the NW wind forecast, to sit it tonight.

Got in took a bit to set up, had the sticks in but had to hang the stand. Gotnit done but thought I blew out a mile of deer with the racket - then I remebered I had my hearing aids in and turned way up but got settled. Had the most bumping of the year, two different does, one with fawn. One w/o. Came thru both harassed by a 18 m/o but - nothing was following.

After the two sets of does getting pushed by 18 m/o bucks came thru it got busy with a 9pt and 10pt walking in... were there for a couple mins and meandered on out.

Fun sit, 10 total deer I saw, one old.doe was about 15' linear feer from me eyeballimg and head bobin' didn't give her nuttin...

I was waiting for Barney Miller.

Anyway, he showed last light tonight. Came out of the woods on the left, could make out a hellofa body - too dark with the naked eye, pulled out the binos, he was at 35yds - GAME TIME - Barney had stepped into the ring. This is a picture of him right after my shot at 28yds. I'm a 2" group at 30... felt like I hit him, more on that later. Picture is about 1.5 secs are the sear broke...

Low light, I couldn't see my front sight circle to fit it in the peep... meanwhile Barney Miller first bluff charges the Doe then starts eating the oats I put in, so stationary. I draw back, he doesn't notice, that Doe in the foodplot in front of him I think he's going to chase her around so It's now or never.

Tried getting a bearing where there was a bit more light in the field, then swing the pin back to onto Barrny, did that two or three times - no help, the buck filled up most of the ring; was def silhouette shooting. Pins were lit, so I thought I had him, i mean i shot instinctive for 5 or 6 years, been shooting this bow since 2010, prolly 10,000 shots. It 'felt' right.

Sent it. Thought I got a pass thru but didnt hear the lovely "THWACK' going theu ribs... thought uh-oh gonna have to call @xbowguy -
Took a couple pics to check things. This is the "real" light to the naked eye.

Long exposure.

Based on where the arrow was - I shot over. First time I've clean missed a mature buck. Had one shoulder hit, hadn't clean missed. As has been said on here many time. "All of the fun, none of the mess. Waited 30, check my arrow fully expecting liver maybe gut --- you always worry. Not even a hair on it. Whiff!

Had neighbor Cliff over for steaks and we rehashed it. At full draw I had undecided feelings on the shot and most likely DIdn't aim thru the shot, basically, not just going instinctive and aiming thru the shot, I tried to mesh the pins and non existent front sight and Aimed then Shot.... at least that's where we got to after a bottle of wine and some scotch. Tomorrow's another day.

 

[xbowguy]

24 Oct AM, FrontPad, supposedly a W beeze rhat was actually a SE wind...
Hills and Thermals it's and art..

24 Oct PM, Grassy Knoll...

HEART BREAKER!

Been seeing Barney Miller [this years hitlist names are cop shows] here fairly reg since Sat.. decided, with the NW wind forecast, to sit it tonight.

Got in took a bit to set up, had the sticks in but had to hang the stand. Gotnit done but thought I blew out a mile of deer with the racket - then I remebered I had my hearing aids in and turned way up but got settled. Had the most bumping of the year, two different does, one with fawn. One w/o. Came thru both harassed by a 18 m/o but - nothing was following.

Two sets of does getting pushed by 18 m/o bucks came thru in the first couple hours, then it got busy with a 9pt and 10pt walking in... were there for a couple mins and skedaddled on out.

Fun sit, 10 total deer I saw, one old.doe was about 15' linear feer from me eyeballimg and head bobin' didn't give her nuttin...

I was waiting for Barney Miller.

Anyway, he showed last light tonight. Came out of the woods on the left, could make out a hellofa body - too dark with the naked eye, pulled out the binos, he was at 35yds - GAME TIME - Barneyh stepped into the ring. This is a picture of him right after my shot at 28yds. I'm a 2" group at 30... felt like I hit him, more on that later. Picture is about 1.5 secs are the sear broke...
View attachment 213578

Low light, I couldn't see my front sight circle to fit it in the peep... meanwhile Barney Miller first bluff charges the Doe then starts eating the oats I put in, so stationary. I draw back, he doesn't notice, that Doe in the foodplot in front of him I think he's going to chase her around so It's now or never.

Tried getting a bearing where there was a bit more light in the field, then swing the pin back to onto Barrny, did that two or three times - no help, the buck filled up most of the ring; was def silhouette shooting. Pins were lit, so I thought I had him, i mean i shot instinctive for 5 or 6 years, been shooting this bow since 2010, prolly 10,000 shots. It 'felt' right.

Sent it. Thought I got a pass thru but didnt hear the lovely "THWACK' going theu ribs... thought uh-oh gonna have to call @xbowguy -
Took a couple pics to check things. This is the "real" light to the naked eye.
View attachment 213579

Long exposure.
View attachment 213580

Based on where the arrow was - I shot over. First time I've clean missed a mature buck. Had one shoulder hit, hadn't clean missed. As has been said on here many time. "All of the fun, none of the mess. Waited 30, check my arrow fully expecting liver maybe gut --- you always worry. Not even a hair on it. Whiff!

Had neighbor Cliff over for steaks and we rehashed it. At full draw I had undecided feelings on the shot and most likely DIdn't aim thru the shot, basically, not just going instinctive and aiming thru the shot, I tried to mesh the pins and non existent front sight and Aimed then Shot.... at least that's where we got to after a bottle of wine and some scotch. Tomorrow's another day.

And we'd have been on the way!
A clean miss, he should be back on cam even faster... Good Luck!

 

[Stressless]

25 Oct.
-AM hunt - O mph wind didn't go out, got many things done around camp as John aka Mooch the Marine Fighter pilot is due in tomorrow.

-PM NE wind hunt tried Pine South stand for the first time this season. 8 deer seen nothing great, but solid action. Let Grassy Knoll chill.

Texted my deer hunting Sensi Cliff about dinner he said he spined one and killed it. I offered to help recovery and he gladly said yes.

At 73 yo w two artificial knees and a major back surgery, Cliff is still setting and hunting out of sticks and hang-on's and slaying BBB with his Hoyt.

Congratulations Cliff!

Offical photo we took today(27 Oct)

26 Oct
 PM hunt, NE wind back to Grassy Knoll
Barney got real lucky tonight, he came within 23 yds but never provided a solid ethical shot. Beat myself up for the last shot, knew better... Waited two days to head back to this stand. Was at full draw three times. SMDH... two does were in the plot and he chased and bumped them but never presented a clean shot, just moving or head quarter too and then wheel and chase does.

Could have 'Bleated' to try and stop him but then if it didnt work he'd never be back.

Meanwhile right after he chased the does off two other bucks came in and did the foreleg stretch at 21yds in the oats.....

He's not seen me or smelled me at that stand, at the risk of burning it out, I'll be back there tomorrow. Patterning them is just about over.

27 Oct
AM sit, got in late after helping photo and load Cliff's Buck for the road.
NE wind again good buck movement thru PIne so just sat from 830-1100 with only a little 6pt.


My buddy from grade school thats helped me with many projects here at the farm connected with a stud as well this AM.

Congratulations Chris

He'll be over tonight for ribeyes and libations with Mooch and me. Cliff had to head homento get his buck to the processor.

PM sit, NE wind, Grassy Knoll round 3
With the rut kicking up Im about to loose any patterning I might have seen in the last week. Goong for broke with the continued NE wind and a dumb, dumb dumb mature Buck called Barney Miller.

We'll see...

 

[Curran]

Couple really nice bucks taken by your friends!! Congrats to them!!

 

[Stressless]

Well. Been a min since I got back to TOO. Nothing really new, just reposting some details where I can find them from other threads.

Took stock of the freezer and decided to mount up and give Muzzle Loading season a try. Stopped at the kids in TN, caught up and got here Thurs, New Years Day with a trailer big enough to haul Red (the UTV) to the shop for yearly maintenance. Slung thru picked up bait, and had to clear 2 downed timber obstacles in the drive in.

Filled two feeders and made a small pile in the bottom to see wjat might be crossing there - sat there first sit Fri AM.

Hadn't been shooting the bow enough to try it on Friday so took the camp crossgun out. Nadda but a couple fawns and hinky wind.

Earlier in the day I took the T/C Triumph out to check the sighting.

I had bought some pyrodex 50gr pellets ... like 6 or 7 years ago. First shot, clean barrel was in the bull, glad I kept shooting. Could oy get one of the next three shots to seat proper. Tore the gun apart to clean it good. Went out on the deck opening day, Sat at noon and switched to using 110gr of Blackhorn 209 propellant.

First shot, high, adjusted, second shot 3" low, adjusted, thrid shot cut a cattail head in half at 100yd. Good to go.

That evenings sit on the otherside of the property. Looks like a couple herds came thru... lots of tracks. They’re tearing the snow away for the greens.

Got setup in Halfway Redneck blind.

Big nanny at 72yds.

Moon on ice.

 

[Stressless]

Sunday was a beautiful day. Snow was crusty and LOUD so stayed in, got chores done and prepped for my buds that evening for dinner and drinks.

Set up to watch the flase bottom, mostly for interest. Been seeing bucks and does running there but the winds are a PITA down there. Milkweed was almost going right but swapped to the other side and then it was actually going to the right way.

Sat from 1100 to 1630 with just a small walkabout to get my range finder from the blind last night. The crossing was right at 100yds with the road I put in just above that.
Couple fawns came out momma followed but was hinky turned around and left with the twins, couple more deer crossed in the plot about 150yds but some limbs so dint shoot. Momma and the twins came back about 1710, fawns of course rolled into the ambush zone, momma almost did and then started back but stopped between some trees with no brush (oops). I had ranged that bit, 110yds, good hold on the tripod touched it off. She ran about 30.

Chris had shown up from his farm in Glenmont and Cliff texted that he smoked a doe but would need help getting her out of a big strip pit.

We got mine hung, went to help Cliff, with the snow and really steep pit we improvised the winch on Red, my UTV, and got her outa the pit and we were all ready for grub.

That closed the season for me. Had my opportunity at a big young buck, hope he grows for next year.

Today was chores in the AM.

Got all my wood duck house's wood chips done, another post.

Really happy with the mini orchard and the pear tree in it. It still has fruit, freeze dried now. Looking fwd to getting them all producing.