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1.) Jon - 01/14/2016
This season has certainly been a strange one weather wise. We started off in September with the normal 90+ degrees for most of the month, October cooled off but stayed warm generally in the 70's. November warmed up, weather was very odd, some days in the 80's. I think we had an incredible rut but the hunting was difficult due to the heat. December cooled off but nothing like it should be, temps stayed in the mid 50's most of the month and we even saw 70 on Christmas. The first week of January, we got a nice cold snap finally and the deer immediately yarded up. I'm now seeing 10 or more deer in groups consistently but when we have a warm day, the deer are invisible.
Yesterday, the weather was very cold and windy. West wind blowing at 18-25 with some 30+mph gusts. I decided to sit in a stand that's good for a W wind. I dressed warmly and fought off the urge to get down and sit by the woodstove and sip whiskey. I saw one red fox and one medium sized coyote (which are few and far between here) for the first few hours of my sit.
Last shooting light was 5:30, it was getting too dark to see through my xbow scope at 5:25 so I got up and started gathering my stuff together. I had my pack on, quiver gathered up and xbow in my hand and as I turned around, there were 11 deer all standing between 15 and 50yds from me. They all snuck in silently while I was turned around in my stand, probably a total of 1 minute. I quickly scanned to see if any had antlers but they were all slicks. They obviously came from the marsh due to the mud covered legs which helped my decision to let them all walk, it's never much fun to track a deer into the marsh when it's too cold to feel your fingers!
I did witness a gorgeous sunset which pretty much sums up my entire season this year. I consider a hunt a success if you are able to enjoy the scenery so I think I've had about 50 successful hunts.
Yesterday, the weather was very cold and windy. West wind blowing at 18-25 with some 30+mph gusts. I decided to sit in a stand that's good for a W wind. I dressed warmly and fought off the urge to get down and sit by the woodstove and sip whiskey. I saw one red fox and one medium sized coyote (which are few and far between here) for the first few hours of my sit.
Last shooting light was 5:30, it was getting too dark to see through my xbow scope at 5:25 so I got up and started gathering my stuff together. I had my pack on, quiver gathered up and xbow in my hand and as I turned around, there were 11 deer all standing between 15 and 50yds from me. They all snuck in silently while I was turned around in my stand, probably a total of 1 minute. I quickly scanned to see if any had antlers but they were all slicks. They obviously came from the marsh due to the mud covered legs which helped my decision to let them all walk, it's never much fun to track a deer into the marsh when it's too cold to feel your fingers!
I did witness a gorgeous sunset which pretty much sums up my entire season this year. I consider a hunt a success if you are able to enjoy the scenery so I think I've had about 50 successful hunts.
2.) Swamp Fox - 01/14/2016
Funny how a bunch of them can be on top of you like that at last light without you knowing "until it's too late." Always amazing to me no matter how many times it happens, LOL.
Then the strategery of how to get out of the stand...:-)
Then the strategery of how to get out of the stand...:-)
3.) Deerminator - 01/14/2016
They do have an uncanny way of just silently appearing.
I had no sooner clipped into my safty line------, -------- Bow at the bottom of the tree on the rope.
Looked down , and [FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=5]BAM[/SIZE][/FONT], there they were.
A doe and 2 yearlings. They must have watched me climb up. :laugh:
I had no sooner clipped into my safty line------, -------- Bow at the bottom of the tree on the rope.
Looked down , and [FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=5]BAM[/SIZE][/FONT], there they were.
A doe and 2 yearlings. They must have watched me climb up. :laugh:
4.) luv2bowhunt - 01/14/2016
I had a fun memory this year. I got to my tree in the dark and got busy with the routine. Screwed my bottom 3 steps in, hooked the bow to the rope, and started to put on the clothes I'd packed in for the long sit.
I heard something walking toward me, but close already. I froze against the tree and it was walking up behind me, really close. I could hear it sniffing it was so close. After a few seconds it just continued on past me and off into the woods.
This was Nov. 7 and I'm sure it was a young buck sniffing the doe-in-heat rag I had dragged in. Couldn't have been more than a couple feet behind me but I never even saw it.
I heard something walking toward me, but close already. I froze against the tree and it was walking up behind me, really close. I could hear it sniffing it was so close. After a few seconds it just continued on past me and off into the woods.
This was Nov. 7 and I'm sure it was a young buck sniffing the doe-in-heat rag I had dragged in. Couldn't have been more than a couple feet behind me but I never even saw it.
5.) Swamp Fox - 01/14/2016
:-)....
6.) DParker - 01/14/2016
[QUOTE=luv2bowhunt;38191]I had a fun memory this year. I got to my tree in the dark and got busy with the routine. Screwed my bottom 3 steps in, hooked the bow to the rope, and started to put on the clothes I'd packed in for the long sit.
I heard something walking toward me, but close already. I froze against the tree and it was walking up behind me, really close. I could hear it sniffing it was so close. After a few seconds it just continued on past me and off into the woods.
This was Nov. 7 and I'm sure it was a young buck sniffing the doe-in-heat rag I had dragged in. Couldn't have been more than a couple feet behind me but I never even saw it.[/QUOTE]
It sounds like you got lucky....or almost got lucky....
I heard something walking toward me, but close already. I froze against the tree and it was walking up behind me, really close. I could hear it sniffing it was so close. After a few seconds it just continued on past me and off into the woods.
This was Nov. 7 and I'm sure it was a young buck sniffing the doe-in-heat rag I had dragged in. Couldn't have been more than a couple feet behind me but I never even saw it.[/QUOTE]
It sounds like you got lucky....or almost got lucky....
7.) Swamp Fox - 01/14/2016
Different people want different things out of a day afield.
It's all so subjective...
LOL
It's all so subjective...
LOL
8.) Deerminator - 01/15/2016
[QUOTE=luv2bowhunt;38191]I had a fun memory this year. I got to my tree in the dark and got busy with the routine. Screwed my bottom 3 steps in, hooked the bow to the rope, and started to put on the clothes I'd packed in for the long sit.
I heard something walking toward me, but close already. I froze against the tree and it was walking up behind me, really close. I could hear it sniffing it was so close. After a few seconds it just continued on past me and off into the woods.
This was Nov. 7 and I'm sure it was a young buck sniffing the doe-in-heat rag I had dragged in. Couldn't have been more than a couple feet behind me but I never even saw it.[/QUOTE]
Prolly a bear.
I heard something walking toward me, but close already. I froze against the tree and it was walking up behind me, really close. I could hear it sniffing it was so close. After a few seconds it just continued on past me and off into the woods.
This was Nov. 7 and I'm sure it was a young buck sniffing the doe-in-heat rag I had dragged in. Couldn't have been more than a couple feet behind me but I never even saw it.[/QUOTE]
Prolly a bear.
9.) Hunter - 01/15/2016
[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;38183].
Then the strategery of how to get out of the stand...:-)[/QUOTE]
Swamy, what's your best strategy for getting out of stand at dark when you still have deer around you?
Then the strategery of how to get out of the stand...:-)[/QUOTE]
Swamy, what's your best strategy for getting out of stand at dark when you still have deer around you?
10.) bluecat - 01/15/2016
[QUOTE=bluecat;37995] and found some scent that really works and isn't messy or expensive (hs scent wafers).[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=luv2bowhunt;37997]Always wondered how you know if it does or doesn't. One day I swear it is working and then they ignore it, or worse yet bust out of there, the next 4 times I hunt. It's hit or miss for me at best, regardless of what brand I've tried.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=luv2bowhunt;38191]I had a fun memory this year. I got to my tree in the dark and got busy with the routine. Screwed my bottom 3 steps in, hooked the bow to the rope, and started to put on the clothes I'd packed in for the long sit.
I heard something walking toward me, but close already. I froze against the tree and it was walking up behind me, really close. I could hear it sniffing it was so close. After a few seconds it just continued on past me and off into the woods.
This was Nov. 7 [B]and I'm sure it was a young buck sniffing the doe-in-heat rag I had dragged in[/B]. Couldn't have been more than a couple feet behind me but I never even saw it.[/QUOTE]
:wink
[QUOTE=luv2bowhunt;37997]Always wondered how you know if it does or doesn't. One day I swear it is working and then they ignore it, or worse yet bust out of there, the next 4 times I hunt. It's hit or miss for me at best, regardless of what brand I've tried.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=luv2bowhunt;38191]I had a fun memory this year. I got to my tree in the dark and got busy with the routine. Screwed my bottom 3 steps in, hooked the bow to the rope, and started to put on the clothes I'd packed in for the long sit.
I heard something walking toward me, but close already. I froze against the tree and it was walking up behind me, really close. I could hear it sniffing it was so close. After a few seconds it just continued on past me and off into the woods.
This was Nov. 7 [B]and I'm sure it was a young buck sniffing the doe-in-heat rag I had dragged in[/B]. Couldn't have been more than a couple feet behind me but I never even saw it.[/QUOTE]
:wink
11.) bluecat - 01/15/2016
[QUOTE=Hunter;38200]Swamy, what's your best strategy for getting out of stand at dark when you still have deer around you?[/QUOTE]
Lower bow, lower pack, lower body. It's the same procedure you used to get up in the stand only in reverse.
Lower bow, lower pack, lower body. It's the same procedure you used to get up in the stand only in reverse.
12.) Swamp Fox - 01/15/2016
LOL...
If the weather's okay, the first thing I try is waiting them out, but sometimes they're intent on sticking around longer than I have patience. On rare occasions, I'm hunting with someone else, and it's even more rare that they can drive a vehicle toward me close enough to scare deer away, but I have done that. That may be the most successful trick.
Dropping or lowering a piece of gear to the ground is probably what I do most often, though. Whether the deer spook at this in a good way, a bad way, or not at all seems to me a bit of a crapshoot. And I'd say lowering stuff quietly vs. ostentatiously is the same way.
Beware the deer that seem to have moved off out of caution, but who are lurking just yards away no matter how long you gave them and how much you strained your ears to the silence! They will make their presence known when important muscles of your body are not ready! LOL Other times the deer really seem to have disappeared...I suspect a few times they were still there, because can anything leave a scene without making any noise at all?
Since I can't whistle (or never learned properly), that's out, as is making farting noises with my armpit most of the year (a layers-of-clothing thing, not a lack of skill or motivation). Barking like a dog seems hit or miss. Once or twice I've taken a coyote call (turkey locator) up in the tree, but have not had an occasion to use it, at least that I can remember. I expect it would be the same deal as with my dog barking, but maybe I should put one in my pack this year as a regular piece of gear and give it an honest try. You definitely feel less stupid blowing it than voice-yapping like every kind of dog that comes to mind in hopes you'll stumble on the breed deer fear most.
Sometimes I've carried acorns or pebbles up the tree with me to toss down, but that doesn't seem to work at all.
Sometimes I think the only thing you can do is just climb down and cross your fingers that it won't matter in the big scheme of things.
If an area is particularly sensitive, though, once I get down I do try to be ultra-quiet and to take a different way out of the woods than I normally would, in hopes that I'm making it difficult for deer to pattern me. I figure I may have been busted at the tree, so why make things worse? Sometimes this makes for a very long hike back to the truck, or a walk on the side of the highway which always feels weird and unstealthy, but what I think I give up in terms of being secretive to human eyeballs, I think I gain in multiples of deception regarding deer senses.
If the weather's okay, the first thing I try is waiting them out, but sometimes they're intent on sticking around longer than I have patience. On rare occasions, I'm hunting with someone else, and it's even more rare that they can drive a vehicle toward me close enough to scare deer away, but I have done that. That may be the most successful trick.
Dropping or lowering a piece of gear to the ground is probably what I do most often, though. Whether the deer spook at this in a good way, a bad way, or not at all seems to me a bit of a crapshoot. And I'd say lowering stuff quietly vs. ostentatiously is the same way.
Beware the deer that seem to have moved off out of caution, but who are lurking just yards away no matter how long you gave them and how much you strained your ears to the silence! They will make their presence known when important muscles of your body are not ready! LOL Other times the deer really seem to have disappeared...I suspect a few times they were still there, because can anything leave a scene without making any noise at all?
Since I can't whistle (or never learned properly), that's out, as is making farting noises with my armpit most of the year (a layers-of-clothing thing, not a lack of skill or motivation). Barking like a dog seems hit or miss. Once or twice I've taken a coyote call (turkey locator) up in the tree, but have not had an occasion to use it, at least that I can remember. I expect it would be the same deal as with my dog barking, but maybe I should put one in my pack this year as a regular piece of gear and give it an honest try. You definitely feel less stupid blowing it than voice-yapping like every kind of dog that comes to mind in hopes you'll stumble on the breed deer fear most.
Sometimes I've carried acorns or pebbles up the tree with me to toss down, but that doesn't seem to work at all.
Sometimes I think the only thing you can do is just climb down and cross your fingers that it won't matter in the big scheme of things.
If an area is particularly sensitive, though, once I get down I do try to be ultra-quiet and to take a different way out of the woods than I normally would, in hopes that I'm making it difficult for deer to pattern me. I figure I may have been busted at the tree, so why make things worse? Sometimes this makes for a very long hike back to the truck, or a walk on the side of the highway which always feels weird and unstealthy, but what I think I give up in terms of being secretive to human eyeballs, I think I gain in multiples of deception regarding deer senses.
13.) Jon - 01/15/2016
Can you explain changing a tire in less than 2.8 billion words?
14.) bluecat - 01/15/2016
:grin:
15.) crookedeye - 01/15/2016
if deer are around me when i'm still up in the tree, i bark like a scotish terrier with several sharp barks with a few growls..i continue this all the way to my truck..
16.) Bob Peck - 01/15/2016
[QUOTE=Jon;38215]Can you explain changing a tire in less than 2.8 billion words?[/QUOTE]:laugh:
17.) bluecat - 01/15/2016
[QUOTE=crookedeye;38217]if deer are around me when i'm still up in the tree, i bark like a scotish terrier with several sharp barks with a few growls..i continue this all the way to my truck..[/QUOTE]
