Official Live From the Stand Thread 2023

Exit stage left......

 

It’s going to happen tomorrow!

 

Not as easy when in the climber. They probably thought someone was building a house with all that ruckus I was making.

 

Blank sit for me tonight. I'm still salty about it. You could say I pouted for a good hour. Any who, I'm going to squeeze a short morning hunt in before my day descends into more meetings. That spot is easy to get in and out of quickly and quietly

 

Congrats, more meat in the freezer.

 

Where’s he gonna put it?!

 

Don’t eat it way to green

 

Heading into the peninsula tomorrow on my kayak. Hopefully my truck won't be fire bombed by Hezbollah.

 

Congrats @LittleChief ! Good luck whoever is getting out tomorrow, I had a wild day in Ohio. Covered in deer all day, stopped counting at 20. Young bucks chasing doe hard, had two bucks I would have shot that didn’t give me a shot and one buck I’ll prob regret passing, but didn’t want it to end. I’ll be out there again with my friend 11/3-11/7 .

 

Apologies for the long write but please read if you have the time. First off congrats to all that killed today or at least enjoyed themselves! Took me awhile to catch up but i had a bit of an afternoon after my morning hunt

Well where do i start. In my 30 years of hunting i am still humbled by the woods. Nature deserves our utmost respect or it can make quick work of you. I didnt even know if i was going to write anything up because to tell you all the truth im pretty upset with myself. I came to this public spot that ive been hunting the past 4-5 years. Its very rugged and thick area. Not for the lackadaisical hunter if you know what i mean. Like any place like that there are hazards. I usually use good judgement and play it halfway sane being i have a family to support and all. Well today i got a little more adventurous than normal. I went in deep to a place that is so thick its like being in a never-ending labyrinth. Im not even Claustrophobic but i was very uncomfortable. Anyway i made my way to where i wanted to be. A spot ive been looking at on maps for awhile now. Everyone told me im crazy if i go in there. Well there i was. I bumped a GIANT deer out of his bed though. I didnt get a good enough view of his rack but he sounded like Ferdinand the Bull bouncing out of there. What i did see was mass. A Lot of it. And probably a body that was close to 300 on hoof. He didnt spook super hard he just knew something was there. Never winded me. Dont think he saw me. Just heard me. So i backed out as quietly as i could and did a huge circle to set up in this funnel where if he was still in there somewhere he would most likely come by. If he moved in shooting time that is. Well the cards werent in my favor so now its dark:30. I look at my phone and its about dead. . It used to last me all day and then some. . I turned it off after i looked at On-X and got my bearings because i knew it wouldnt last. I headed out. After a ton of cussing and cursing the deer gods i knew i was close to where an access road was. The problem was i ended up on the wrong side of about a half mile long Slough. Seemed whatever way i tried to go there were obstacles i wasnt prepared to attempt. So i see a huge telephone pole spanning the slough (now you know where this is going). . I grabbed a pretty stout stick and felt it was maybe 2ft deep. As i edged along i could tell it was getting hairy. Too much uneven weight with bow in one hand and backpack with platform etc. i could feel with the stick it was getting deeper fast. I should have turned back. Another few steps and i was more than halfway. Thats when i lost my balance. I went to use the stick to catch myself. I fell in all the way. Head under. I have a crap ton of stuff strapped to me. Bow in hand which i let go. And i was going under. There were so many leaves and sticks in this water hole it was like my arms were tied behind my back. My feet could not touch and im 6ft tall. I kept a clear head and told myself im already soaking wet, i need to try to see how deep this water is. I couldnt get to my backpack straps to free them. Thats what was really weighing me down. I couldnt help to think about my kids and wife. I let out all my air so i could sink fast and it had to be 8-10 feet deep. My foot hit a log so I grabbed it and then was able to feel a few more branches. I used those to pull myself horizontally like a ladder. This got me closer to the side where when i popped out of the water i could grab a limb that was hanging just low enough. The fight or die adrenaline kicked in and i climbed that branch like a spider monkey. I laid on the side of the bank coughing up some water but knew that it was in the 30’s i had to keep moving. I look over and somehow my bow got snagged on one of my strings on my backpack! So i was able to grab that. I hauled it as fast as i could knowing i still had to pace myself so i didnt exhaust. I was already gassed and getting cold fast. I finally made it to my truck and stripped naked right there in the parking lot. Started my truck and heater full blast. Wow…. Stuff can get hairy real quickly in the deer woods. I think i may save those adventures when i have some buddies at least hunting close-by. No more solo insanity. Be careful ya’ll!!!

 

you are lucky, glad your safe ... .. went thru the ice when trapping 'rats when a teenager, the pack basket was the only thing that kept me from going under ....

went to a new location, pretty cool spot, had a pretty 6pt come by, watched another small buck chase a doe.. that was it for the pm sit .. back out again tomorrow for a PM sit, different location ..

 

HOLY LORD, Damn brother, I'm glad you're okay! That is some scary stuff man!

 

I'm up! 0245, cold, need coffee, Go big or go home! Drive safe Adam, and again, glad you're okay Brandon.

 

Good luck joe! Let’s get it done today!!!!

 

Making good time. I’m at the place where I break off the main trail and follow the bottom of the ridge for 3/4 of a mile. Legs already like jelly, lol! Little under 2 hours till legal shooting light. Hope this is worth it!! Good luck y’all!!

 

Glad you made it out safely, what doesnt kill us makes us stronger and wiser the next time. I look back on my life at how many times I could have died or should be dead and thank God for his blessing and grace upon me and my family. I always use it as a lesson learned, like a father teaching his son. I also know that every time I survive that God is not done with me and there is still work to do.

 

I'm making an unexpected trip to NJ. Was supposed to go next weekend but snow and plowing may keep me home. So off I go today for the trip south. Will be in a NJ tree looking for Buck #3 of the year. If I can get one before December 31, it will be the first time I've ever turned a NJ hat trick in a calendar year. Good luck every one out today. Go Joe, knock one down.

 

This is great. We would get a long. I failed to share an early season swamp hunt with you guys. I crossed a submerged beaver bridge. It didn't end well.

 

Rolling to the northern inbred wetlands soon. Let's get it done today.