Fitz's 2011 Season Journal (*semi-live)

Well, this weekend kicks off the MN Bow Season and I am pumped for the upcoming months!

This thread was inspired by the Project Build Threads I see on the only other forum that I visit, JeepForum. It's intention is to be an online journal of my entire season, start to finish. I'm hoping to include Trail cam photos, my hunting plans, updates from the field, and I may even mess with a few Ustream broadcasts Live from Ely, MN.

For starters, I'll showcase where I'm hunting at....

 

I live and hunt less than 14 miles from the Canadian border near Ely, MN.

This is the primary area I hunt (note: red areas are private areas that I do not have permision to hunt. The rest is fair game to me )






This is big woods hunting. No crops. No fields. We are on the southern edge of the Boreal Forest, so you either looking at swamp, bog, forest or water up here.

I hunt some on the land behind me, but most of my attention is given around the lake (that is until the ice comes, usually early to mid Nov.)

So, this is my primary means of transpertation to my stands-

 

This will be my 4th fall in Ely and I'm loving the challenge of bowhunting these woods. This year I'm hoping to drop the first doe that presents me a shot. I need meat for the freezer. Then my attention will shift to Blade.

Blade was a modest mainframe 10 last year with palmated G2s. We got a number of photos a videos of him last year, but I only saw him on the hoof once. He ad busted me in my stand as I was digging through my pack looking for my binoculars. When I looked up, there he was, across a beaver dam at 80 yds. He gave me the staredown for a couple minutes then turned 180 and head back into the treeline.



He's the second buck in this video.

 

This summer was extremely busy, so I wasn't able to get my cameras out until much later than I had wished. I've only gotten one series of photos of blade this year, but it was enough to show me that he's still around, and in the same area as last year.







Here's one where I was able to highlight his rack. I'm happy to see that he's added width and mass

 

Blade may be my target this year, but you never know what's going to step out of the woods up here:

The Beast:



Count Chocula (my 2009 Buck):









My Brother's two wall hangers from up here:



I am feeling optimistic about the season this year!

 

Cool idea. I'll be sure to check in often.

 

Love it Fitz!!! You are def hunting gods country up there!!! Talk about big timber and marshes, GOOD LUCK BUD!

 

Awesome, bud! Looking forward to reading your journal throughout the season. Good luck, and maybe we'll see the beast or blade fall this year:D

 

Thanks guys!

Right now it looks like I'll be working the Lodge Saturday morning, but I'll be able to sneak out by 2 or 3 for an afternoon sit. I'm so excited. If the forecasted wind direction holds up, it looks like I'll be doing a little run & gun set up in an area I just set a camera in. It's a beautiful mature stand of pines and aspens with hardly any under brush. It's full of sign from deer funneling around the lake.

Now I just need to get through Friday

 

Sweet cool idea, will be keeping tabs on your great whitetail adventures. I am very jealous of the land you have to hunt. I am in love with the big woods.

 

Alright ladies & gentlmen, my 2011 season is officially beginning! I'm headed to a stand that overlooks a beaverdam crossing. Wish me luck

 

Onward!

 

Now for the walk in...

 

Home, Sweet Home!





Now I'm gonna put the phone away for a bit and get settled in. Updates to come...

 

oh sweet! good luck to you fitz

 

God I love being back in the stand. Just had a pine marten come take a drink in front of me. Already have seen:

Eagles
Kingfishers
Grey Jays
Turkey vultures
A yet unidentified shore bird


All this in the first 1.5hrs. I have over 100 days to enjoy this!

 

Awesome bud! Definitely jealous.

 

I just had a bull moose at 4 yds!!! I'll try to upload video when I get home!!!

 

No ****?? Great Idea for a thread Fitz. I'll definitely be following along on your season. Good luck hunting the most challenging woods (big woods) one could hunt.

 

Great idea fitz we all should have one!