******Daily Hunt Report 2004******

[cajunbowhntr]

Wen't out yesterday morning and did'nt see a hair.Tons of hog sign,very little deer sign.So I put on my walking boots and covered some ground.The white oaks are just startring to drop.It looks like it's gonna be a tuff year because most of the whiteoaks are producing good.Lots of green acorns on the ground from last weekends weather.With no really hot sign around any particular whiteoaks,I went at looked at some of our funnels or travel corridors.Found some decent sign,but a WSW wind is the worst wind the way our property is set up.After a lot of debating I decided to sit in a little clover patch between a thicket and some hardwoods.Lots of sign and it has produced deer before.On the way in walking an old skid road something catches my eye off to the left,what the heck is that.It's 2 snakes making out,copperheads! The only problem is I'm in semi ferret mode and only packing 3 arras.Don't wanna dull em up before the hunt.Now I know why you fellas carry a back quiver and 20 arras.Of course I also left the digital camera at home.I proceded to try and find a snake whacking stick,but could'nt find a good one.So I headed back to the truck for the pistole.These snakes were not real big and would be borderline for bow backing but they was hanging out were some of the yutes like to tree rat hunt.They needed to be taken out.Now you ever try and shoot a snake in the head who's bobbing and weaving like muhammed ali?Blam,Blam,Damn! two misses.Now these two ain't even checked up.Talk about commitment.Must be true love.I try and find another snake whacking device to seperate em so I can get a decent shot and not mess up any skin.I found a half ass one and whackwed away,they still would'nt give it up.Finally romeo gets the message and they split up.I guess romeo figured the jealous ex husband was home because he decided to hall tale otta there.Blam,He's down,good head shot .The other snake is obviously pi$$ed about the snakeitous interuptous and decided to beline for me.Or maybe I was just in the escape rout.When I looked down it was about 6 feet and closing fast.I put a double tap on em and one shot hit em 2 far back and buggered up the skin.So I drug em out to the skid road and left em sit until the walk out.The evening hunt was uneventfull.On the way out I get to where I left the snakes and one of em,the good one is gone.Some vermin stole my vermin!I need to do something and exercise some demons.I have never had this much hard luck this early in bow season.


CB

[Huntrdfk]

I hunt a place a Maine that I pretty much have all to myself.  I've only been there twice this year, and have had ten different deer within five yards of my tree stand.  Problem is, they have all been on the wrong side, and I can't shoot there.  I have my stand set on the edge of oldgrowth white pines, the pines are only about forty yards long by thirty yards wide, and the northwest edge borders a finger of swale grass that leads to a distant clover and alfalfa field.  It has been as close to a prefect setup as I have seen over the years, as the deer ussually work through the pines and come out through the swale grass.  This year they changed, and have been coming out right under my stand.  The pines are very thick, with a lot of old dead limbs in the way.  Anyways, I figured after the last two times of having all these deer come by under my stand, I would throw them a curveball and hunt from the ground, putting the trail they were using between me and the stand. So tonight I setup on the ground, and now they come from behind me. I swear I had one doe so close I could her her breathing and see her eyelashes.  I've shot my share of animals, but I never tire of that rush I get when I have an animal so close.  She was within 4 yards, and had three other deer with her all within ten yards, I thought my heart was going to explode.  She ended up hitting my entry trail and the gig was up, she just stopped and went back the way she came, with the three others in tow. I'm sure all of this only lasted about ten minutes or so, but it felt like forever. What a rush. Now I need to think of a new strategy, this game is not over yet.  

David

[Legolas]

Been trying out a "Treesuit" and have fallen in love with it. It is so comfortable and when it is time to shoot it affords support and no balance worries. I had to hold in that ready to shoot position but bow not up to draw until a big boy got closer. I could rest my forearm holding the bow over one of the straps and stay there all day. He unfortunately never got into range.
Paul

[SteveMcD]

Monday.. was my first day out for the early Archery Season here in Southern New York. Weather was mild and breezy with lot's of sun (you can interpret that as little deer movement!). Seen several does, nothing to shoot or present a shot though. It's early yet.. come the end of the month and the rut starts kicking in! It was great to be out. Hard to believe another year is now here! Autumn is great! It's color! It's weather! It's deer hunting season!

[Thunder]

The past two days, things seem to be....well....changing.  The does patterns have changed, and I'm beginning to see bucks moving.
The picture below is of ol' number 3....it's a trailcam pic, but I had him yesterday at 35 yards..dang, just a bit too far !  He was coming from a bedding area that is known for the does, and it was 5 to 8 in the morning.  I've seen/watched this buck for several years..him, and two that are bigger.  I've seen all 3 this year, and I can only hope.......  :D  
I don't have much land, but what I've got is awful nice, albeit mostly transition land, where they never seem to stop, except for the small swamp area.
 
God Bless.

[Jimbob]

I got the stink on me! Season has been in for 22 days and I have yet to take a shot at a deer. I killed a coyote my first time out, but since then no luck. I had two within 10 yards a couple of days ago, but I was only half way up my tree stand. Last week I had one within 5 yards, but would not stay still long enough for a shot. Please lord send a dumb one my way.

[cedar swampman]

No shot yet but today was a blast! I was getting settled in my treesuit and I hear something in the swamp.I look up and I'll be darn if it wasn't blackie(bear)! He took off and 6 deer came in no shots. On the walk back to the barn a couple of tree rats and a partridge.

[frankb]

After her soccer game was over... I went out with my daughter on her first hunt. She's twelve and her name is Candice. She was doing squirrels... I was doing deer.

After the woods settled down a bit she got tag-team-whooped by two squirrels that must have known it was the very first time she wore a hunting license. They got within five feet of us and then panicked as they realized their proximity. MAN they had fun with her and I can't remember enjoying such a sight! In an instant... she experienced her first dose of buck-squirrel fever and never even took her gun off of SAFE... but the look on her face [after those rascals vacated] was priceless.

As the daylight began to fade... I had her unload and rest the gun at her side while we looked for a deer.

Sure enough between fidgets.... the deer came... and I flat-out  missed.  First shot at a trad deer... and clean missed a nice doe [with closely trailing raghorn] five inches over her back... at about 15 yards.       :rolleyes:        

When I released... the string thwapped my forearm. The deer was looking right at me and it was one of them broadside "Here I am! Shoot me!" shots... like I had done something good this past week to deserve such an opportunity.  

When she heard the string slap my sleeve... she balled up her muscles and ducked that arrow perfectly. My daughter was amazed at the deers reflexes... and I was befuddled.        :confused:      

The doe repositioned herself about twenty yards away on the other side of a thicket to our left... and barked for five minutes until the wind shifted and she took off over the next hill... barkin' all the way until we couldn't hear her... telling the other deer how "safe" it was.          

With the wheelie bow... I would have smoked her.  With the trad set up, however... I was "oh so humbled" and, not to mention, in front of the little one. Nothing wrong with being humbled but... in front of your daughter? For a very long moment it felt as if she "Just found out" I wasn't Superman or something. That was one heck of a slice of pie, I tell ya.  

As I sat there re-thinking the shot a little more than I should have... Candice said with a smile and reassuring brow, "Don't worry dad.  There will be other chances. Maybe she'll come back!"  

Hearing that put things back into perspective, back where they were just a few moments before and I gotta admit... my hunting buddy made me real proud at that very moment. Sometimes it takes a twelve year old...

I have some "first hunt" pics to last a lifetime. Just the two of us... and every one is a trophy.

I love that child...

-Frankb

[gap_shooter]

Well I went out Sat.morn and sat till 10:30 in the rain,and saw no deer. The plan was to come out of the woods get a bite to eat and go back about 1:30.  Well after all morn in the rain I was spent and went home to dry out.  About 3:00
The skies had cleared and my attitude was better so I went back out again. I moved my climer to a new spot that I have been looking at. Well at 5:50 comming right up behind me down wind is a nice doe, she walks right under my stand and out to mabey 5 yards and starts feeding.I put the arrow right in the boiler.  She went 15 to 20 yard and just layed down. First deer this year,I am Very thankfull!!!!

[ber643]

Frankb sent me a copy of the story he posted above. I liked it so well I put it on my website as a "Guest" writer story - Nice Job IMO
  Bernie Dunn\\'s Home Page, Journal, Pg6

[Raven]

Had a great night, seen 9 deer, 8doe and one 7pt buck. Had a shot at all the deer as they fed under and around me before heading out to a soybean feild. Holding off for Mr. Big that I have now seen 3 different times. He is a BIG 10pt, his rack is out past his ears a good 2in and his tines reach the sky. So I don't whant to shoot any other deer untill I get a good sucker shot at Mr. Big or untill late season, then I will start to worry about getting the frezer full. Our rut should be starting in the next few weeks    Thats when I feel I will get my one chance at takeing the great buck, when he is chaseing or following one of the doe that I have been seeing on each of my hunts. I know where they bed, water, and feed. You can almost set your watch to there movements.............Raven  

[Bpaul]

Exciting!  Good luck, though it's not sounding like you need luck.

B

[Terry Green]

This weekend was eventfull....in the game every time out in the woods, but continued my 'luck' of not being able to  drop the string.  Hogs and deer both in range but no shot.  Lots of other hogs just out of range.  Fixin to swear off tree stands!!!

[Littlefeather]

I've not been to the woods for five days now. Spent the weekend on a 4 wheel drive expedition onto the Pardre Island National Seashore. I went to shark fish but somehow still ended up in hunt mode. I took no weapons but still called coyotes right into camp. Id thrown a few baitfish just to the edge of the lantern lights and sat back and watched the little tricksters ease in and take the bait. Lots of fun just watching!

Looks like the Rut is winding up around here. I've not seen many deer for awhile. All of a sudden I saw 5 Bucks on the 35 mile drive to work this morning. All the Bucks were decent deer by most folks standards. They are obviously getting brain dead judging by the fact that several were right out in the open fields for all to see. I think Im going to start rattling horns in the next week. I've found some quite significant rubs and scrapes. I can hope! CK

[Tbilisi]

I just finished eight days of hunting in my home state of Texas.  Each day I saw deer. Not necessarily many but at least was in close range to deer.  Probably the most exciting site of the hunt is when I had nine does and one seven point buck within twenty yards at the same time.  Pretty breath taking. I ended the hunt with shooting a doe.  It is good to go back home.

[Terry Green]

TTT

[Huntrdfk]

Yesterday morning was a good morning.  Let's see, before light I had a deer walk under me, then something, I still don't know what, flew into me and hit me in the neck, scared the bejeepers out of me.  Daylight finally comes, I give out a couple of estrus bleats and almost immediately hear something walking behind me.  At 20 yards I finally see it is a bear.  He comes to five yards and stops broadside, but I pass on him as he was only about 100 pounds.  He walks by me and straight away, 10 minutes later a good 8 point comes bounding in from my right and stops at 16 yards.  He keeps looking towards where the bear went, and walks off without ever presenting a shot.  I saw two more deer in the next two hours, never got a shot, but what a great morning.  
I will be back in the same tree tomorrow morning.

David

[mike hall]

I think things are starting to get interesting in southern Ohio.
Took the day off today and headed to one of my favorite areas to set up. After enjoying a beautiful sunrise of orange and pink and temps in the 50's I thought today is the day. Started get'n all jittery inside.  :D  
About an hour later I hear a stick snap behind me so I lean over a bit and takes a peek.  :eek:  
It's a big fat doe on the trail that heads to within a 14 or 15 yard broadside shot.
Problem is, she's looking the other way. Well, within 15 or 20 seconds she has 6 of her girl friends join her and I am pumped.    They start to head my way when out of no where this little joker of a spike runs through the pack like a school yard bully. Am I ticked.   :mad:  He runs em all over the hill side and eventually down wind where they get a bit spooky. Dang it! I can't believe some little 3" long joker just blew my morning. Five minutes passes and they are all walking back down the hill. Two of them were at 12 yards but wouldn't you know they were just behind and to the right.
Starting to wonder why I set up for a shot off the left side of my climber.......they always seem to show up on the right.
Just a heads up for you Ohio guys that the big show is about to begin. Cooler temps next week and pretty clear. I've got front row seats. Do you?
I love this time of year.
Kind of funny, after all that, I caught myself smiling on the way back to the truck.
It was a good hunt.
   

[Huntrdfk]

This morning I am in the stand where I passed on a bear two days ago.  It is located about 60 yards off a low corner of the woodline from a remote two year old select cut where they cut everything except the oaks. A half hour after sunrie I see two deer on the edge of the cut heading my way.  They get to the trail that takes them past me, and stop, turn and jog off in that typical whitetail fashion.  They didn't see me, and they were up wind of me.  I can't figure it out until two minutes later here comes the bear again.  This time he comes from the cut, and then angles in towards me. He walks past at about 25 yards and keeps going, never coming close enough to shoot.  Now I'm thinking, this bear has to go, that's twice he's spooked deer in front of me.  I sit back, and not five minutes later I hear something in the cut, and it is another bear! He stays in the cut and goes in the direction the deer went. Twenty minutes later, and here comes,(I think anyways, there can't be three can there?), one of the bears back through the woods.  This time he passes me at about thirty yards and keeps going. If one of them gets close enough tomorrow, it will get shot.  They are starting to intefere with my deer hunting now!

David

[Littlefeather]

Game on!!!

The deer are finally starting to cooperate. I spent 5 hours this morning covering several miles of prime rub lines. I rattled horns at six different locations and brought in two nice bucks. One 6 point with an awesome, high rack, and a 10 point that hung up at 40 yards and got wise and left. The six point was rubbing a tree when I saw him. I knelt trying to curb the noise of the rattling horns over my shoulder and the quiver full of arrows. He looks up and sees me but never even knew I was anything other than a brush pile. He commenced to walk a bee line straight at me. At 15 yards he realized somthing wasn't right and stops. I loose an arrow to watch it shave hair from his chest. Humble pie!!! Seems I gotta do this at least once every year. At least its out of the way now. Im outta here for now. Back to the woods for the rest of the day. Good luck. CK