While I didn't shoot a deer today it was an entertaining morning. I decided to hunt in the "sure thing" stand. Andy ivy was the last one to hunt out of it back on 10/30. I always question the best way to access this stand. Do I walk down the gravel road and then cut up the hillside or do I walk up in the old pasture and follow the edge of the timber all the way to the stand.? I am never sure which way may alert more bedded deer. Today I chose the road, it seemed like the quieter approach.
Once again I was very dismayed at the number of gun shots fired in the valley before it was legal to shoot. I counted seven. Hell the first four went off when it still so dark I couldn't see the forest floor from my stand!! There are some real SOBS out there.
Any way the first deer I spotted was right at first light. It was down below me about 100 yards walking on the mowed trail I walked on once i got off the road. It had its nose down and was either trailing a doe or me. Ended up being me. It finally got a nose fill and took off like a race horse in the other direction.
Shortly after turkeys roosted up above me on rattlesnake ridge started to talk. The hens were really vocal. A young tom tried his first gobble. Sounded like a gobble crossed with a yodel! I laughed out loud then I remembered where I was!
They started bailing out and one soared all the way down to other side of the valley and into the timber above the prairie grass!