Bringing this back to the top. I know Greg wants me to tell everyone how great a trip this was, and boy was it ever.
Sleep came easy the first night, and so did getting out of bed that morning. I'd like to say it was all the excitement for the hunt ahead, but Hank the German Shorthair sure made sure he helped.
Greg had promised me that I would be spending my first morning in Westchester with "Doe-reen" his Montana doe decoy. I was sure impressed with it. Easy to carry in and easy to set up, as well as super realistic. Either way, she proved to be good company.
When we pulled up to the house in front of the hunting area, I realised this would be unlike any hunting area I'd ever been to.. I was used to the foothills of the adirondacks. Never seeing anyone, usually. When the sun finally began to light up the sky, I could easily make out the house. Heck, I could make out there tennis court. Could deer possibly live so close by.
Naturally, such questions were answered in a typical fashion when four does began following the powerlines beside my stand. Oh, how I hoped they would travel into range. All they had to do was leave their thicket to inspect the decoy, and I'd have tenderloins on the ground. Yet, it never came to be. One showed interest at a point, but wouldn't leave the group and the safety they provided. So there I was, completely content to watch them until they left 45 minutes later.
When Greg came to collect me around 9, I know I was smiling from ear to ear. Four deer in a morning. A great hunt that was only getting better...