Well I hope to get a thread going on everyones hunting fun this season.

A couple weeks ago I shot a nice fat whitetail doe. wensel woodsman through the heart.

I also went moose hunting-see the Canadian fourm if that's of interest.

Last night I repositioned a stand-really a much better spot. It's a little further into the bush and where I noticed most deer were cruising last year. Unfortunately after I was in the new position 2 bucks walked under my old stand site!!! arrggg...at least it removed the temptation to nail one of them. There's bigger ones around.

please feel free to add your experiences this season.

The chef

It's been in the 90s during the day and upper 70s at night here in North La. I really hate sweating like crazy while bow hunting. Finally, yesterday a cool front pushed through dropping the temps 10 degrees. I've been out 6 evenings and two mornings and I've seen 14 deer, all does and fawns with the exception of one small spike buck I had at 5 yards yesterday evening.

I'm going to hit them pretty hard this weekend and maybe try and fill a doe tag or two if possible. Then, it's off to CO for mulies.

Good Luck

Reloader

Went out tonight and missed a shot at a nice doe. I grunted after she spooked and she came around for another try-I missed her again!! Both arrows were within 6 inches of each other-"side by each" we call that here. It was an extreme downward shot about 5 yards from the tree and I was up 25 feet or so. Ah well-it saved me some work again, I'm getting pretty good at missing my shots lately. Also had a coyote nosing around, I'd have given him a shot but I didn't want to wreck an arrow on an unprime coyote.

It was still better than working

The chef

Went out tonight and saw......nothing!! I think I'll knock off hunting for at least a week. Once it gets closer to the rut i'll be back out. I did go to an area I found a nice buck in and I dug a "pit blind" I've been wanting to try one for a while now. the only drawback will be the ever swirling wind in this area of the world.

cheers

I smoked a nice doe friday at 30 yards with my compound. It was a little windy, but it kept the mosquitoes at bay, LOL!

gd

I shot a nice doe with my Browning the other morning. I gave it away, didn't want to butcher. I was surrounded by deer all morning and only had the one clear shot. I seen 18 total. Been too hot and I only have a few hours hunting. I don't even feel like getting out of bed when it goes to 85 degrees during the day. What a screwy year! Al Gore will fix it if he stops spending $100,000 a year to heat and cool his houses.

I was deer hunting and a big male turkey came along. Since we have a fall season this year, i figured why not? It dropped instantly, the bow did a better job than a shotgun. Unfortunately, when it flopped its wings it broke the arrow but i did recover the broadhead.

It was a double whammy day, my husband got a doe that same day. This is how he got ready for hunting. He shot two practice arrows then did the deed and got it over with.

Good luck to everybody keep those stories coming.

Plinker

I hunted a good bit during Sept but kept getting skunked. Property lines literally keeping me from the deer.

Kinda frustrated, I went back to work for 3 solid weeks.

Finally took Monday morning off and went up a tree where a grownup cutover backs up into an unlogged swamp and got a double, two does.



Here's one of em.

Bowhuntin durin the gun season is why the orange.

Nice doe, I'm amazed of the beauty of does, after being a bucks only kind of guy. They are so clean and sleek looking not nearly as stinky as a rutted up buck.

cheers

Well I gotta keep this going. Went out Friday evening and damn it was cold. Seems I was lamenting this last year too, it was only -5C but with a wind it was brisk to say the least. I sat until the moon was overhead and saw nothing at all. At least didn't see any deer.....about 3-5000 canada geese landed in the field and I could have shot lots with a 22 they were so low overhead. The moon was amazing-huge and bright, i could have hunted all night if it wasn't illegal and so damned cold.

I went out this morning (Sat) with my old 303 to plug a doe but even they outwitted me. Sure was nice to get into the foothills though. I finally found out where they are hanging out and if I can get back before it really snows they should still be there. Seems the rut will be in full stride here on Nov 12 according to the smarty pants guys....I always listen to the smarty pants guys!

good luck

the chef

Went out with my bow this morning before work. Beautiful morning, but dry leaves made it really noisy. I setup on the ground in front of a large boulder. About 20 minutes into good shooting light a doe approached. She was 30 yards to my right, and I could not turn to shoot. She would drop her head to feed and I'd start my turn; up came the head. We repeated this for a while until she lost interest and walked back in the direction she came. No other opportunities, but it was great to start my day with that adrenalin rush when she first appeared. Muzzleloader season opens Saturday, and that I can shoot left handed!

Lee

I've had a decent year so far. I missed a fairly open shot at 15 yards on a small buck (nerves), but made up for it a few days later by making the toughest shot I've ever made.

I had already given up for the night and had put my pack on with my quiver (hip quiver). I took the first step onto my "tree steps", an old wood 16ft ladder. I looked at what would be directly behind where I was sitting and here comes two deer!! The one in front saw me and sorta jumped then just starting walking again.

I'm standing about 14 foot up, balancing on a ladder with an arrow nocked when it walked out probably 30 yards away. I shot and heard the thump that means tenderloin and it run off and crashed just outta sight. At this point I just left and got my step-daughter to help me "track". I didn't tell her I heard it go down, so she could experience the thrill of tracking.

She was all excited and actually screamed when we walked onto it. She wasn't too excited about gutting it but did pretty good for a first time.

quote:

I shot and heard the thump that means tenderloin and it run off and crashed just outta sight. At this point I just left and got my step-daughter to help me "track". I didn't tell her I heard it go down, so she could experience the thrill of tracking.

She was all excited and actually screamed when we walked onto it. She wasn't too excited about gutting it but did pretty good for a first time.

What a good and special thing to do for your stepdaughter. An experience she will never forget and you're a SUPER DAD! Good shot, BTW.

Plinker

This morning I got another doe. I shot her a "little far back" but I hit a big artery apparently. She was dead in about 20 seconds. Interesting point, after I shot her she did a little skip and a jump then she went back to feeding. I guess getting shot with an arrow is a "good way to die."

Just for interests sake: I decided to try a pit blind, I've been wanting to try one for quite a while now. I dug a hole about 16 inches deep and just big enough to get my feet into while still being able to turn around. I did this about two weeks ago.

This morning I walked in, set up my decoys and sat down. It was so much more pleasant than a tree stand. Fast,quiet and totally comfortable and warm what a concept!!! I was situated in front of a big log and it broke up my outline. The deer were all around me upwind, downwind everywhere- I guess scent control does work One big doe was about 15 yards in front of me for about twenty minutes or half an hour. I would have shot her but I could hear another deer and was hoping it was a buck. It wasn't so I shot it as the other one had wandered a bit further away. After I shot the doe I stayed put and three bucks came by. One was chasing a doe and she went by about 8 yards behind me, he stopped at about 12 yards and then began circling me and he continued for about 1/2 hour, I could have shot him many times over but he needs to grow a little. I have to admit it wasn't easy to refrain from shooting, that old recurve had tasted blood once and she wanted more!!

Soon the magpies found my deer in the field and they were making such a racket that I decided to call it quits for the morning. When I was gutting the deer I saw two more bucks and another doe.

This evening I went to another property and dug another pit blind, I need to brush this one in a little as it's in the sunlight a bit and not as well hidden as the other one. I got busted two times by the deer-oh well!!

I can't say enough about these blinds though. I've always wanted to try them-I usually just bring a chair. I think I'll be digging a lot of holes from now on.

good luck

the chef

If I had noticed this thread when I started a new one I would have posted here instead. As mentioned above we have had some hot weather here in La for Oct and the beginning of Nov. I hunted one afternoon with sweat dripping off my face. I said to heck with this and was preparing to get out of my stand when two small bucks walked up. I shot the closest one, which was about 25 yards. He jumped, and then hopped a few feet to look back. Then he just wilted in his tracks about 30 yards from the stand. That was the first time I’ve ever had one to drop that close to my stand that had been shot with a bow. About a week earlier I had a doe to come to the same stand. I shot her and she ran about 50 yards before dropping. I’ve been seeing lots of does with fawns and I won’t shoot them. I saw two sets of fawns that still had light spots on them. One set were both bucks. They both had good size buttons on their heads and still had spots. I thought that was unusual. I saw a nice 140 to 160 class 12-point the other morning at the same stand before daylight when I was going to it. Of course I spooked him. If I had known he was there I wouldn’t have tried to approach my stand. Hopefully he will be back. See the thread that I started for my 10-point that I killed the other day.

My hunting dried up after the rifle hunters moved in. The last day I spent in my treestand, I had two kids come by playing. They moved a camper in and all of a sudden my little "secret" spot was 1/2 mile from deer camp central.

Time to get the rifle out anyway!!

Last night I had 2 does in range...unfortunately I've used up my allotment of 2 doe tags. I did see a nice buck but he wouldn't come into range. I think he was after a hot little doe.

This morning I had 15 does come by, 9 were in easy bow range 15 yards and less. Somewhat tempting to use my general tag on a big doe but I'll hold out a few more days.

I had one buck come in but I wasn't ready. I was in my pit blind and I heard him coming so I ducked my head to put my face mask on when I came up there he was! He was about 5 feet away and looking straight at me but couldn't tell what I was. We did this for a minute or so and he took off. I could have poked him in the nose with my arrow, I wanted to "count coup" but I didn't want to wreck my chances of shooting him later. I can definately say my heart was going faster than any time this season-the fever was bad!! They were running all over the place today, but I had to get back to town for wifey's birthday. I'm going out again tomorrow I sure hope they are still as active.

the chef

Well, here is my wife and her contest winning buck.

She hunted with me for a few years after we married and basically kicked a$$ utill we had our first child. She has taken the last 8 years off from hunting while she kept the kids and let me hunt.

A new bow, a few weeks intensive practice and she was right back in there!

This deer won our local county (archery) contest. She is the real deal - kill, clean, process, ... and she even puts up with me!









I can only hope that you all have the blessing of a great wife and family.

What a sleek looking deer. Tell her congratulations.

Your wife did great, Big Ed! Many congrats to her. You'll have some catching up to do.

I'm done bowhunting this year due to shoulder problem.

Again, good going and good luck to all this year.

Plinker

I'm still trying to get my buck!!!

Went out this afternoon. It was -20C and a wind chill of -30C. I've suffered a lot more at higher temps, this year wifey and I made a "heater suit" wow does it work well. I also made booties to cover my felt paks and with a couple hand warmers thrown in for good measure I wasn't unberably cold.

Saw about 6 does where I was thinking about sitting in the tall grass....guess I should have been there earlier. Two small bucks came in and although I told wifey the next buck I saw was "getting it" I didn't shoot. I just can't shoot the small guys, someday they'll be big guys!! A really nice buck followed a doe down the fenceline across the field I called etc. but of course there was no convincing either of them to come in for a peek. Maybe tomorrow if I can get out he'll be done with her and I'll get my chance.


the chef

Big-Ed, many congrats to your wife. What a great bowkill!!

I can't find a deer to save my life. I just got permission to hunt some 35 acres that hasnt been hunted this year, so I'm going to give it hell the rest of the year.

Chef, I don't know how you handle the cold. My hands start getting stiff and my release really suffers when it get below about 40 degrees. I've tried to switch from a tab to a release just for that reason but I hate the feeling of a release going off.

Good luck everyone, and stay warm.

quote:

Originally posted by Plinker603:

I'm done bowhunting this year due to shoulder problem.



Plinker

Was your shoulder injury caused by pulling the bowstring back Plinker? I'm starting to get some snap-crackle-pop in mine as well. I'm starting police academy in Jan, so I'm really being careful with mine right now as well.

quote:

Originally posted by splinterhands:

quote:

Originally posted by Plinker603:

I'm done bowhunting this year due to shoulder problem.



Plinker

Was your shoulder injury caused by pulling the bowstring back Plinker? I'm starting to get some snap-crackle-pop in mine as well. I'm starting police academy in Jan, so I'm really being careful with mine right now as well.

No, it's a rotator cuff and pulling the bow isn't painful but the Dr said to rest it.

Good luck with the police academy, that sounds interesting.

Plinker

The saga continues.....

I sat in a wood pile tonight with my trusty decoys right in front of me-more on this move later. Anyway a decent buck came tearing across the field, I mean full throttle-those decoys sure do work sometimes. Unfortunately he stopped with the decoys directly between him and I, he could see me plainly as I tried to draw. Darned buck came and went about 6 times, he knew I was there but he just had to check out the does. Finally I got a broadside shot off, he didn't flinch at the sound of my bow and the arrow was good. You know sometimes when you release an arrow that it's going to be bang on. Anyway the shot was a little long but I've been practicing the long ones. Apparently I didn't realize that my arrow would have to go about 7 feet high to get to mr. big. I heard a little tick sound and the arrow hit the dirt about 6 feet in front of the buck. I didn't see that teeny tiny little branch or I would have cleared it too while I cleared the rest of them before I sat down.

Aint bowhunting a blast?

the chef

So far this year I've only baged a turkey and two squirrels with my bow. Been watching some gobblers while gun hunting for whitetail. Going to set up an ambush this saturday!

Thank you Plinker. I'm 35 so I'm sure the physical part will be REAL interesting.

Chef, I've had little tiny braches save quite a few deer as well. I actually set up a target behind various thicknesses of brush and tried to shoot through it. With a broadhead tipped arrow, NOTHING just grazes and goes on straight to the target.

At least you've got deer coming in though, they have shut down here to the point it's getting embarrassing to come home. I've got the rest of this week then it's back to the real world.

Splinterhands, don't worry persistance pays off. I spent 6 days up north and I hunted every hour of sunlight there was....I didn't see one deer in 6 days. Talk about embarassing. My hunting buddy does well not so much because of hunting skill but sheer persistance.

good luck.

Well Friday was the last day of the season. Minus 23C when I left the house. I sat in a ground bling all morning and saw nothing at all. I packed up and "hoofed her out." Then I went to the "View and Brew" in Priddis and had a meatloaf sandwich (with no mustard!) Yum and the hot coffee and pumpkin pie were good too.

I drove around for awhile in the truck and was just about convinced to go home, the truck was so nice and cosy. After turning the heater off I started visualizing the process of slipping an arrow into a monster buck and I got that huntimg urge going again.

Well I went to another location and crawled into my treestand. damned it was bitter cold with the wind gusting and tears streaming down my face all day, snot in my moustache, fingers slowly losing their feeling. You know the story if you've ever hunted in the cold, trying to convince yorself to stay until legal light is over.

About 1/2 hour before the end of the evening (and the season) a whole bunch of deer came out on the other side of the field, the side I had wanted to hunt but with barely any cover to hide in. The big bucks kept looking at my decoy and I used my bleat call and grunt tube a few times, they were interested but not coming over anytime soon. Finally one started coming and at first I thought it was a doe. I was kind of glad it was a doe because if I couldn't get a big buck I'd rather let him grow up a little. On the other hand I told the wife that the first deer I got a shot at on the last day was going to get it. About 50 yards out I saw horns, and the little feller just kept coming. He turned broadside at 25 yards and I missed. After the shot he jumped a bit but came back and stood a little closer for me, maybe 20 yards or so. I need all the help I can get!!

The second shot struck home, and in about 20 seconds he was down. I guess I shot a little far back and too high but I got the big artery under his back, just like the last doe I shot. I gotta say I'd take that shot over anything it sure does work fast. And I'm pretty well sold on Wensel woodsman broadheads for deer sized game.

So 5 minutes before the end of the season I got a small 4x4. I'd have been as happy with a doe but hey there's more meat in the freezer! I guess it's still a trophy in my eyes, I hunted harder this year than I ever have and I turned down some decent bucks. I hiked miles and miles, froze my arse off and saw some pretty cool things too.


Good luck to the rest of you. There's a recipe posted in the recipe forum....I developed it in the treestand while I was freezing.


the chef

Nice job. We don't have the cold weather anymore like that except sometimes in January. Our archery season stays open till Jan 31st. Heck, gun season stays open till Jan 20th in one area here.

WTG Chef! You definitely earned that one. Glad it finally happened for ya.

Now maybe you'll have enough time to post the stories and photos you promised on the wall tent thread on the Cdn Forum. Still waiting to see how that yurt worked for you.

Cheers,
Canuck

Good going Chef! I always enjoy your hunting stories...makes me cold though! Glad you beat the clock this season.

Plinker

Many congrats Chef!

Myself, I'm thinking of sucking it up and asking permission from a guy I know that owns most of my town. He'll give it to me, and he's got the deer, but I'll "owe him one" the rest of my life.

quote:

Originally posted by Plinker603: makes me cold though!

Plinker

Me too!! This is how I picture Chef waiting on his stand.

I just got back from 30 straight days of hunting and camping in Ohio. Wasn't my year this time because I never even saw a buck I wanted to shoot. Had a great time though.

Wish I could go back right now.