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

Congrats on the doe!

 

Nice doe Fitz.

 

Congrats man!

 

Alright, the Internet is back up and running. As soon as my photos finish up loading, I'll post the story...

 

So this weekend, my wife had a friend come up to stay with us. The plan was for me to hunt Friday night since her friend wouldn’t be up until dark anyway. Then Saturday, the two of them were going to go into town and for a hike. My duty was to watch the Lodge at the resort all day. My next planned hunt wouldn’t be until Sunday night.

So Saturday afternoon I’m sitting in my lazyboy watching a movie (Open Range). About 3:50 my phone rings and it’s my wife Sara. They are done with their big day out and are on their way home. She says, “we’ll be home in 10 minutes, so if you want to go hunting yet tonight, go for it.”

After a 5 minute debate with myself about wind direction and remaining shooting light, I decide that the hunt is a GO. I jump in the shower, and get ready. By the time I get dressed the girls are back. Sara decides to take a parting shot of me...

 

In my hurry, I decide not to change out the battery for the trolling motor in the canoe. It’s 4:15 and I’m on my way across the lake

Half way across the lake I can feel the power in the motor draining. I’m still moving at a good clip, but not at full steam. By the time I cross the lake, hike into the stand and get settled in, it’s 5:00.

My sit was a typical one for this stand overlooking a beaverdam. I stay entertained watching and listening to all the birds surrounding the creek. I watch my friend the King Fisher catch two more minnows. The pack of chickadees flutter from one side to the other feeding and expressing their exuberance in song. The sparrows and wrens constantly pick through the underbrush and fallen leaves, forcing my mind to imagine deer footsteps. A juvenile eagle sits perched calling his little heart out, trying to figure out why mom & dad aren’t feeding him as much these days.

I spent a good 30 minutes watching a grouse pick his way through the grass along side the creek until he decided to take flight and roost across the way. Over the course of the night he was joined by 4 or 5 of his buddies.

 

I had noise and action all around me, and time drifted by. The constant noise of the foraging birds completely masked her approach. When my ears finally deciphered the difference in the rusting behind me it was too late. When I turned to look she was already at 7 yds to my 5 o’clock!

She had come right in on my entry trail and was headed like she was going to join me in the stand. I slowly grabbed my bow from its hanger and turned. At 5 yards, she picked me off through the pine boughs.

For nearly 15 minutes we had a stare-down. Neither of us moved a muscle. Eventually she dropped her head to feed. Then back to me. After another 5 minutes she decided that whatever it was that she sensed was enough to change her route. So she slowly turned 180 and arched back towards the lake to my 3 o’clock.

40 yards into her journey, she turned and headed down the hill and into the creek bottom. Then, amazingly enough, she headed right back at me, only this time down in the grass. As she closed the distance I hit record on my phone even though darkness was setting in. She was at 35 yards and about to step into my first shooting lane when she stopped. She looked back and forth a few times then without warning flagged and bounded back away from me and up into the wood line.
I think she caught a hint of my scent, but it wasn’t enough for her to spook completely.

Sure enough, 5 minutes later, she was on her way back. This time right through the thick brush halfway up the embankment. She came right at me until she was at about 15 yards, then she turned back down toward the creek. She stepped out in the open at 22 yards and I hit record again, this time it was much darker (about 15 after sunset). I drew as she stepped to the creek’s edge. I settled my pin.

Thwak! She bawled and plowed across the creek. She was piled up within 35 yards!

 

I know that they are both hard to see, but here’s the first video of her coming in down in the grass.
(she's near the bottom of the frame, slightly right of center)

[video=youtube_share;qzrpnHLRn78]http://youtu.be/qzrpnHLRn78[/video]


And here is the shot. Listen for her bawl.

[video=youtube_share;LWCEua4Ih6w]http://youtu.be/LWCEua4Ih6w[/video]

 

So my Sara and her friend came across the lake in the pontoon and helped carry my gear out to save me from making multiple trips to the canoe. This also afforded me the opportunity to get some better field shots than I would have alone.

The girls headed back across as I loaded my prize into the old town. 100yds off shore and I remembered my quickly draining battery. It lasted all but the last ¼ mile, but it was a pleasantly slow ride. I was deep in thought, reflecting on all that had just happened when a loon let loose a call from 15 yards starboard. I just about jumped out of the canoe. Full darkness had long set in, and the lake was calm. I saw 4 shooting stars on my cruise home.

What an unexpected night! I think I owe my wife big time for the last minute hunt.
Perhaps some tenderloin for breakfast

 

Now with a doe hanging in the garage, my focus will turn 100% to tracking down one of these Northwoods Bucks! That is unless it gets to be the last week or so in December. Then does will once again be in danger!

 

Here's how the shot went down.



I was a touch more forward than I'd like, but with her legs possitioned like this I'll take it.

Blew through part of the lead shoulder and busted the off shoulder. As she ran, the Rage pulled back out of the off shoulder and turned her lungs into soup.

Got both lungs and lopped the top inch or so off her heart. It was quick, and for that, I am greatful!

 

Congrats, Fitz! Way to get it done, and well documented, too!

 

Congrats on the doe.

 

Great hunt and I really enjoyed you documenting everything. What a great feeling it must be to be out in the woods with all that wildlife action happening! So jealous right now. CONGRATS!!

 

Fitz, just bought the equivalent of your bow mount, but for Android phones. Excited to see how this works. How much weight did your mount add to the front end of your bow? Was it noticeable?

 

congrats on the doe. Happy to see it all came together for you. Keep up the good work

 

Thanks guys! She's all butchered up

Matt, the mount is very light . Any noticeable weight would be from the phone or camera. But, even with my phone I don't really notice it.

 

Congrats Fitz, looks like a great time out there!

 

Congrats on the doe Fitz, hope the rest of your season turns out great. Looking forward to following how it all turns out.

 

Way to go, Fitz!!!! Congrats!