Post by: Lee Viv on December 20, 2011, 05:08:00 PM
At 5:45 on that Monday, I will be enjoying a Pa Dutch, all you can eat, gourmet breakfast at the Lititz home of DocNock! Then we will load up my truck and head southeast for Chester County and White Clay Creek, trying to fill some deer tags...
We hunted there last January, and found some interesting areas...but the deep snow tired two mature(old) guys out rather quickly. There will be no snow Monday, so we should be able to get through the day without a visit to the chiropractor, or ice packs afterwards!
Since I usually hunt alone, the company and conversation will be well worth it....plus I was always told to heed my elders! :rolleyes:
Looking forward to a good time with a good friend...maybe we'll kill a deer or two, maybe we'll solve the world's problems, but probably we'll just enjoy each other's company for the day and that will be enough for me.....
The camera will be along for the trip, so stories and photos will surely follow on this thread!
here is a photo of Doc I found, it's from last year's hunt.....
(http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy355/fotoguy58/008.jpg)
Lee
Post by: Ron Vought on December 20, 2011, 05:11:00 PM
Ron
Post by: maineac on December 20, 2011, 05:39:00 PM
Post by: Brian CS on December 20, 2011, 05:47:00 PM
Post by: hayslope on December 20, 2011, 05:55:00 PM
Post by: drewsbow on December 20, 2011, 05:58:00 PM
Post by: khardrunner on December 20, 2011, 07:10:00 PM
Post by: ron w on December 20, 2011, 07:21:00 PM
Post by: Doc Nock on December 20, 2011, 09:09:00 PM
That was the walk out...I can tell by the stooped shoulders and shufflin feet. I was in agony.
I knew something was wrong since LAST Nov, but not what. Turned out I had spinal stenosis of L3 vertabrae and a bunch of other pinched nerves coming off the 220V line @ L4, L5, S1.
I had surgery in March... things didn't quite get 100% back and then tore a hammy out hunting mid Oct...so now the right knee is giving me fits, but a good walk will fix it.
With ole Lee driving, I can push it hard and writhe around in the truck and not risk us being kilt while driving in that condition... "if you only knew how much pain I was in last year, Lee, you'd have walked!"
I can only imagine what it'll be like if we'd connect and haul a critter out along one of the yuppified dog-walk, bunny hugger, jogger, biker paths on my 2 wheel cart... I might take my machette for back up!
But any day with Lee is an adventure! Just gotta watch where he is if'n you want to relieve yourself...him and that danged camera! :rolleyes: :knothead: :nono:
Post by: Craig on December 20, 2011, 09:20:00 PM
Post by: Doc Nock on December 20, 2011, 10:42:00 PM
You won't get to see the middle age bleached blonde gals joggin in spandex like we will! :rolleyes:
Course, you might actually see DEER! :knothead:
Post by: GRINCH on December 20, 2011, 10:53:00 PM
Post by: Jerry Jeffer on December 21, 2011, 02:58:00 AM
Post by: Craig on December 21, 2011, 06:36:00 AM
Post by: volcanomil on December 21, 2011, 07:43:00 AM
Post by: Doc Nock on December 21, 2011, 08:15:00 AM
Habit ole man, habit. Pack has a few extra clothes, so I can layer and change with changing air temps, water, lunch, ibuprofin I'm sure and my guttin kit.
The foam seat: don't leave the truck without it. Wear it on an old belt so it's "there".
It was one of those cold, clear days that was perfect aside from 10" of old snow that was a misery to walk in...
Craig,
Now, that's funny right there about the TV! NO tellin what else you might see when doing suburban hunting, eh? :)
Post by: mmisciag on December 21, 2011, 08:37:00 AM
I will be out there on the 26th. Be safe and good hunting!
Martin
Post by: ron w on December 21, 2011, 09:04:00 AM
Post by: Doc Nock on December 21, 2011, 06:31:00 PM
You driving thru all that covered up in deer country to get to WCC?
You'd have to PM ole Lee, not sure where he's figurin on startin out.. Only there once last year with Lee after 10+ yrs away, so I forget the road names, but I did get to show ole Lee one haunt he never bothered with cause of the crowded parking lot by the creek...but it's 80% dog walkers and such... bushwhack a bit and saw some good sign in the snow... trick be seeing em in that thicket on dry ground.
Post by: b44mag on December 21, 2011, 06:38:00 PM
enjoy and good luck hope you all fill your tags
safe hunting to you n yours
Post by: ScottinPA on December 21, 2011, 07:19:00 PM
Did a hunt down in that area in the mid 90's. Shot a nice buck but couldn't get used to the people waving as they drove by, the walkers, and the expensive homes all around. BTW that buck came out of tennis courts.
I'll be down next week but not sure if the bow is making the ride yet.
Post by: sou-pawbowhunter on December 21, 2011, 08:22:00 PM
Post by: Dale Hajas on December 21, 2011, 08:39:00 PM
Hope yall have fun I'll be patrolling the SW end of the state. :cool:
Post by: Steve95 on December 21, 2011, 10:34:00 PM
Post by: Lee Viv on December 22, 2011, 08:48:00 AM
Looks like the weather will be different this year..last year we had 10+inches of snow, and cold..this year they say Monday will be in the 40's..and no snow...makes getting around there a little easier!
I have been hunting at White Clay for at least 20+ years...and what doc said is true....you have joggers, horseback riders, dog walkers, bunny/tree huggers(antis), and the likes...and every year i have to deal with it i tell myself it's the last time i hunt there....but then, i realize why i go back every year:
1. it'a a special regs area and has an extended season
2. archery and flintlock for deer only..no small game, turkey, or any other hunting allowed.
3. white clay creek is my favorite trout stream
4. i shot my first archery buck there on a new years day many years ago...and it is now ritual.
5. there are deer in good numbers, and good sized deer to boot!
6. a good friend to me and many on this site, "Big Fred" lived near there, and while he didn't hunt much there, he went for walks there..and would tell me of areas to hunt....so every time i go to white clay...i think about Fred....
7. the scenery is beautiful....and my camera usually gets a good workout......
8. I'm getting old and set in my ways...and a season without hunting white clay would just not feel right....
so.....doc and i will spend a day there...and hopefully fill a tag or two....and i guess since i'm the younger of the two of us...i'll do the heavy lifting for the day...
as far as cookies...last time my wife made cookies they were chocolate chip...and at the Baltimore shoot in May...they didn't stand a chance with Doc! My wife didn't make cookies this Christmas...so we'll just have to make do with whatever we take.....
looking forward to a good day...and everyone going out...have a great time in the deer woods!
White Clay Creek will look a lot different than it did on our hunt last year!
(http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy355/fotoguy58/005.jpg)
Get the eggs crackin, doc.....!
Lee
Post by: Mike Brockner on December 22, 2011, 11:12:00 AM
Post by: yellow bow on December 22, 2011, 05:27:00 PM
Post by: mmisciag on December 22, 2011, 06:03:00 PM
Good thing for me, I will be about 10 minutes from the house.
I'm sorry for the miss understanding as I will not be on the White Clay Creek.
I did take a gander at Google maps and see where this little slice of heaven is. I may need to take a ride early next week to check it out. (:
Looks like a place I can hunt in the evening on the way back from a customer meeting.
Merry Christmas!
Martin
Post by: AWPForester on December 22, 2011, 07:51:00 PM
Post by: Doc Nock on December 22, 2011, 09:06:00 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Dale Hajas:
Lee make sure ya bring some cookies- oatmeal I recollect- for ole Doc. Then ya wanna keep the biggest part of em in yer pack :saywhat:!["[dntthnk]"]("graemlins/dntthnk.gif" "\"\"")
Post by: Doc Nock on December 22, 2011, 09:12:00 PM
I bought more eggs to be sure I had some on hand.
I aired out my duds while the sun shone today so everything is ready to go make meat.
Shot some too... but that's a whole nuther story.
I even located your "solo stalker" from last year you left in the truck! :)
Leave some room in the truck for me, eh? Just on the odd chance we would get something, the deer cart, all folded up, goes along, eh?! :)
With this heat...maybe we should take a few nymphs along and some leader...dangle off the end of our longbow limbs?
Post by: Lee Viv on December 23, 2011, 08:42:00 AM
oh, yeah...the camera will be along....not the big slr....deb, my wife bought me a nice point and shoot...and it will be working overtime that day!
Lee
Post by: Lee Viv on December 27, 2011, 09:59:00 AM
The day started at 5:45am at Doc's place.....coffee, eggs, toast, and grits were on the menu....good food and some catching up conversation.....we then loaded the truck and headed to White Clay Creek Preserve in Chester County. White Clay Creek Preserve is a multi-use area...used by hikers, bikers, joggers, bird watchers, horseback riders, and hunters. It is a popular trout stream, actually my favorite one. It was originally owned by the DuPont Corp....until they donated the land in Pa and Delaware to the DCNR. It was originally an archery only for deer area..but several years ago it was opened up to muzzleloaders as well. Still only allowed to hunt deer. There are marked hiking trails...which are heavily used....where we hunt is very close to Delaware....and actually there is a marker at White Clay where PA, Maryland, and Delaware meet. The land was to William Penn in 1683 by the Lenni Lenape Indian tribe...just a little history.
White Clay falls into the Special Regs area in PA..which allows for extended doe seasons...starting in September and running till the end of January.
Back to the story.....the hour ride seemed to go fast, with the conversation in the truck. It was good riding with someone..I usually hunt alone....so this was a treat.
We decided on hunting the area we found last January.....although this time it was a little easier to navigate without the 10+ inches of snow we had last year. We walked the trail past the beaver pond we discovered last year....he has done some additional work on the dam and his lodge since last time....We encountered some muzzleloader hunters, some hikers....but everyone seemed pretty friendly....we plowed our way through some pretty thick stuff...and saw deer sign everywhere.....
We got to the top of the ridge, and headed across an open field to a lone tree....Doc made it to the tree, and as I approached, a doe bolted across the field 50 yards away at least..she stopped, looked around, and bounded into the thicket.
On the way back to the truck for lunch, we navigated the swamp and bullrushes..and saw more sign along the swamp than I have seen there in quite some time...this will be where I set up next time I hunt there....
After a lunch at the truck...we decided to investigate some more areas....and headed to another section of the property.....walked some trails, and set up for the evening....the only activity was squirrels...so we headed back to the truck and started the hour drive back to Lititz,......tired, sore, but smiling....
Back at Dave's, we unloaded his gear, and I got a chance to see his "Resurrection Bow", a true work of art and beauty.
So, that was the hunt....no dead critter, but a couple dead tired friends........a great day again.....
Lee
Post by: Doc Nock on December 27, 2011, 10:13:00 AM
White Clay creek runs along the tram road on one side and there is a large cattail marsh on the other leading up to some higher agricultural land.
I quit hunting WCC 20+ yrs ago about when Lee started. He killed deer there (perseverance pays) but the madding crowds and boom sticks un-nerved me into other pastures. When we made my return visit together with Lee last year, he took me to every haunt I described... boy knows WCC. Then I took him to this spot w/ the beaver
He'd passed it by due to the # of cars, but he learned as I did, 90% of them are bikers/walkers/joggers and such.
He liked it enough to vote with me to start there after checking the other parking areas where mostly hunters hang to find all out the day after Christmas with clear, dry weather and pleasant temps.
We were watching some orange clad boom stickers so we didn't get tangled up in their folly, but once we found them posted, we stopped to take some pics.
Post by: Lee Viv on December 27, 2011, 10:15:00 AM
Doc getting ready at the truck...unknown to each other...we both wore Asbell wool pullovers...at least the didn't match!
(http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy355/fotoguy58/IMG_0533-1-1.jpg)
walking past the beaver pond and bullrushes:
(http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy355/fotoguy58/IMG_0535-1r.jpg)
found a shed from a small 8 pt...Doc using it to make a knife handle:
(http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy355/fotoguy58/IMG_0537-1.jpg)
Doc in front of an osage tree:
(http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy355/fotoguy58/IMG_0539-1.jpg)
(http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy355/fotoguy58/IMG_0540-1.jpg)
Heading across an open field:
(http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy355/fotoguy58/IMG_0542-1.jpg)
not the only hunters that day!
(http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy355/fotoguy58/IMG_0543-1.jpg)
great day in the bullrushes!
(http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy355/fotoguy58/IMG_0550-1r.jpg)
Post by: Doc Nock on December 27, 2011, 10:17:00 AM
This year, the ole boy slept in... but I did finally take time once the orange boys were located, to snap a few:
(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm292/DavidLandis/TGMM001-1.jpg)
After making the full circle to get the wind right and come in to this knoll top thicket we worked our way out to the edge of the cattail marsh...
After tearing my ham string trying to pull off old ankle fit boots, I bought some looser fitting ones that would NOT stay on in the foot sucking muck, so I eased around where it was quiet footing but sold enough to just be muddy.
Lee watched the perimeter and look what I found:
(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm292/DavidLandis/TGMM003-1.jpg)
The old boy really was casting a wide net. I'd not seen a beaver castor mound since I left MT where I trapped beaver.
That marsh was full of sign...trails everywhere, but as we all know, wet, soft ground hold sign a long time... there were sharp, fresh tracks since the rain, but we filed the spots into memory and headed to the truck for rest and chow.
Post by: Doc Nock on December 27, 2011, 10:24:00 AM
Off we went to a new location.
There was a beautiful old homestead I'd hunted around 25(?) years ago...but never knew how I found it... Lee spoke often of a foundation.
So we go to the foundation to hunt... a good hike to re-loosen stiffened muscles...
Up ahead...I wonder if I'm on the trail of Bigfoot?
(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm292/DavidLandis/TGMM004-2.jpg)
We can only hunt deer, but Thar's Griz in dem dar woods!
(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm292/DavidLandis/TGMM009.jpg)
Time not only wears on our bodies as we age, but time lets nothing remain as it was. Indeed, this was my magnificant old homestead I'd hunted around...now grown thicker than hair on a dog, and time had reduced this once proud abode to rubble.. :(
(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm292/DavidLandis/TGMM007-1.jpg)
I agree with Lee. It was perfect weather and a perfect time afield.
Too much people traffic and so many other orange army folks out, to really "pattern" deer, but it is so full of sign thereabouts, hope springs eternal.
Great day. Great time with a good man to hit the woods. Thanks Lee.
Post by: mmisciag on December 27, 2011, 10:51:00 AM
Martin
Post by: Bob Palmer on December 27, 2011, 11:30:00 AM
Post by: Doc Nock on December 27, 2011, 12:12:00 PM
Be good to call the Ranger station and get some maps...or PM Lee Vivian who started this and get their website addy so you can download maps.
There are parcels scattered all over with varied access and parking lots.
It can be confusing at first...but endless places to go play roulette with the local population of deer and 2 legged denzins of the area!
And yeah, it's pretty country... I used to hunt the Arc Corner Road parking area a good bit "in the day"... and it has some neat features. Each different terrain.
Post by: stringstretcher on December 27, 2011, 12:27:00 PM
Post by: Big Ed on December 27, 2011, 12:58:00 PM
Post by: Lee Viv on December 27, 2011, 02:24:00 PM
Didn't realize you were that close....at times there are more Delaware tags on vehicles than PA tags...I think WCC in Delaware has assigned tree stands for hunters....not sure..but alot of them come over to PA...only 5 miles from the state line!
Would be great to hunt there with you....just give a shout!
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/findapark/whiteclaycreek/index.htm
Post by: two4hooking on December 27, 2011, 03:09:00 PM
Good luck guys!
Post by: Seeking Trad Deer on December 27, 2011, 07:47:00 PM
Post by: GRINCH on December 27, 2011, 07:53:00 PM
Post by: Bob Palmer on December 27, 2011, 08:43:00 PM
Post by: Doc Nock on December 27, 2011, 09:15:00 PM
Quote
Originally posted by GRINCH:It was Larry, but looks like only way I'm going to get my Robo knife bloody per your well-wishes earlier is if I cut myself! :( :eek:
Sounds like a great outing,thanks for sharing.
I WAS thinking of offering the Boom-Sticker help skinning HIS just to get the knife bloody...but he kept yammering about how his meat processor wasn't answering his phone and his wife told him not to bring home more deer...
Being we were there in Lee's truck, I had to be polite cause I was about to suggest to the ole boy he just stick that old deer his wife didn't want drug home in Lee's truck and we'll take it from there!
Lee's way to polite for my irreverant self so I shet my mouff! :p
Post by: GRINCH on December 27, 2011, 09:53:00 PM
Post by: BenBow on December 28, 2011, 04:37:00 PM
(http://images.imagelinky.com/1325108180.jpg)
Post by: Craig on December 28, 2011, 05:44:00 PM
Let me know when ********* Archery Club starts there 3D shoots
Craig
Post by: Craig on December 28, 2011, 05:47:00 PM
Post by: Doc Nock on December 28, 2011, 08:23:00 PM
Here I thought my pain last year (that shot) was from the spinal stenosis...but alas, there was a kitchen sink in my back pack...I see the drain sticking out there...
No wonder all my energy and luck went "down the drain"! :)
Truth be told, only thing in my pack is 90% clothing... or empty spots to stash extra layers when it warms as it seems to do in PA a lot!