Fitz's 2012 Season Journal Thread *semi-live*

OK, here's an update.

Had a great weekend with the inlaws. Did a lot of walking with my FIL & BIL hunting grouse. Despite how flighty the birds were, we managed to send my BIL home with three birds to make his famous Grouse Wildrice Soup. He and I even went out for a walk with my bow and his Judge. We didn't get any shots off that time, but we did score this photo that ranks high on my Awesomeness scale...



So while on a 6 mile walk today with my BIL, I decided to move my camera that I had left on standby earlier, to a much larger scrape further down the access trail its on. While doing this, I decided to put out a Power Scrape dripper and swap cards. We finished our walk and on the way back to the pontoon, we jump a lone deer near the shore. I didn't get a good look at it through the thick underbrush. Damn....

On the way back across the lake I looked at the photos I had gotten. Sure enough, I got Blade walking the trail lastnight just after dark...



So now I'm wondering what to do. I was hoping to hunt tonight, but the wind was bad for that area. So I decided to grab my other camera from the dam and move it to where I had just gotten Blade's photo. I do that and swap the card.

Turns out, 45 min after I got the photo of him on the trail, he walked in front of the camera by the dam (which I had switched to video for something different).

[video=youtube_share;KdQrKwM5YEg]http://youtu.be/KdQrKwM5YEg[/video]

 

So here are my thoughts...

The Good:

-I was right in the direction and area I thought he was bedding
-he's moving close to daylight
-I'm still on him

The Bad:
-I hope he wasn't the deer I jumped today
-I wish I had about 12 more cameras

 

beautiful deer buddy I hope you connect on him soon

 

The good definitely out weigh the bad! FINISH HIM!

 

Wow, that video really shows off his character. Have you ever seen him on the hoof? Any clue on where he's bedding? He definitely knows the safe time to move.

 

So, my plan is to hunt tomorrow. The wind will be shifting in the afternoon to a favorable direction to get in close to his bedding area. Tomorrow's high is 70*, Thursday's is 41*. I'm hoping that the shift in winds, falling barometer and looming front will get him on his feet a little earlier.

I just hope I can close the deal this month before he starts to wander around looking for does....

 

Awesome! This buck is famous and has no idea!

 

Yeah, I'm glad I got the video, I love how the sticker on his G2 hooks in

The only time I've seen him on the hoof was in 2010. I was digging in my pack for my old binos to look at what I thought could be a bear sleeping under a log. Pull up the binos and it turns out to be nothing, just a new shadow as the sun was getting lower. Scan 30 yards or so to the left and he's looking right at me! I'm sure he busted me digging in my pack. He was across the creek. About 80 or 90 yards. We had a staredown for a bit, and he turned a 180 and headed back the way he had come from.

I shot a doe later that night (If I remember correctly, have to check my log).

I've been thinking that he is bedding just NE of where the photo was taken and I saw the deer today. I'd say within 100-200 yards. There's a huge area that is thick as can be along a south facing slope. That's where my $$ says he's at.

 

Fitz, as i see it time is your only barrier now. Hit this cold front hard and put this sucka' on the ground!

Cold front moving in here as well, first frost and chance of snow. Time to hammer the elk hard, I need to find my bull again. He is in there somewhere.

 

Dave, how about we both get blood on our hands by Saturday

 

Good luck Fitz. Pulling for ya! I never knew he was that big either.

 

Deal my good sir!

 

We've all been there! It's the worst feeling ever!

 

Fitz.....love the shadow photo! AND wow...didn't realize Blade was that big until I saw the video. Hope you score on him soon.

 

Wow, thats a big deer! We're all pulling for you... Go get him!

 

Will 2:00 hurry up and get here!!!!

It's calling me....

 

Awesome vid Fitz, he is a stud!!

 

Um was shadow man with the gun really packing 2 guns

 

Good luck. Hope you get a shot at him. Like crick said thats a really cool video of him.

 

Good luck Fitz! Id have a hard time staying out of the woods, waiting for the right wind.