Good luck! My husbands Grandfather said he saw a nice big buck by my stand out on our other land. They all seem to think I'll at least see something opening morning. I'm going to suck it up and go out there and hope they're right! If I see something it's a plus, if I shoot something, it'll be a bonus! I am still waiting for that first bow kill! Hung our clothes out in the apple tree this morning. Need to run and pick up some Earth Scent Wafers, some lighted nocks, and some scent off. Hoping to get out this week and do all that.
Well I made it out of bed, woohoo! I got to my stand well before daylight this morning. Luckily I didn't bump any deer going in. I got in the stand without incident, sat there and watched a great sunrise through the trees. Just after dayight two doe came in (from the wrong direction) and hit my tracks coming in. Luckily I have evercalm on my boots, they didn't panic but turned and went into the brush and skirted the inside edge of the brushy draw opposite me at 40 yards never presenting a shot. That stand is oriented facing northeast and these deer came in from the south which is a poor side for that stand orientation since I'm right handed. I set that stand up for a north, northwest or Northeast/east wind which we had north wind this morning but I also mostly set that stand for evening hunts which explains the deer traveling the wrong direction for the stand placement...was hoping to get lucky. Anywho, those two went on and three more came in 30 minutes later. I drew on one but wasn't comfortable with the situation as I was turned in the stand as far as I could crank around to my right to draw. Right elbow was against the tree at that point at full draw. Didn't feel like trying to track a doe with an iffy shot over there considering the bucks running there now. So I elected to pass. I'm not going to stick to a doe first rule over there with Boom and Crossbow running the property heavy, it's buck target first on that property this year. After the does left, a little doinker fork came in about ten feet in front of me. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't make his antlers look like more than about 25". Pulled the card on the way out at the feeder and had both the nice 8 and Crossbow on it each of the last three nights. Problem is no daytime shots of either.
Watched my big doe tonight for 15 min and she never turned sideways to give me a shot, had to watch her walk away, and to boot got the whole thing on video..... Grrrr
But you saw her! Better than getting skunked and seeing nothing at all! She'll mess up at some point!
Haha, I had about the same thing happen to me last evening. Doe came in and stopped short of my shooting lane. She froze (think she picked up a bit of movement as I grabbed my bow). She stood there trying to see me for 20 minutes, when I didn't, she turned around and went back the way she came...I knew that wasn't the end of it. The clever *itch circled around me and came in from behind, all the while looking in my direction (though not directly at me) and I never could move enough to get on her and drawn without being busted. I sat still until she did finally give up and she finally decided best to not push an uncertain position and she left. I never get tired of watching deer think and work out problems. Anyone that thinks they are purely instinctual just isn't giving them the credit they deserve.
I never get tired of watching deer think and work out problems. Anyone that thinks they are purely instinctual just isn't giving them the credit they deserve.[/QUOTE] I agree. They are far more intelligent than most give them credit for
I tried to think of something earlier to post to bring it back up to page 1, but drew a blank lol. Heading to Ohio Friday for Saturday's opener. I got an inexpensive Pine Ridge camera arm, my try my hand at self-filming for the first time. Want to start cheap in case I decide I don't like it
I've not been back out, I didn't want to over hunt that spot and push crossbow out. Besides I've been picking pumpkins and about to start corn harvest. Bucks all seem to be sticking to their nocturnal schedules anyway, probably take some more serious rutting activities to jar them out of it.
Booner, good luck to the youth. Sometimes that's better than going out yourself! Good luck, Coop! I thought about getting the clip on attachment for the smart phone - but I want to shoot some things before I put that on myself. I know I'd pay more attention to that then I should. Probably smart thing Covey (I don't have any big boys like a lot of you here!)...I don't have that long of a season as I can only hunt Friday evenings and Saturday's...but I am hoping something may be out in day light. Going in to this other spot kind of blind. No trail cameras out, just going by trails, prints, and a few scrapes by my stand! I'm getting the itch. Feeling hopeful!
Good stuff man. When that doe was standing there I wondered why you didn't shoot then the arrow zipped over lol. A miss is always better than a wound in my opinion.
Got the truck packed except for the cooler. I am heading out around 8:30am tomorrow. Reception is spotty at this farm but I will post updates as I can over the weekend.
Seen a big buck right by my house! Then the neighbors thought it was good idea to get the ole chainsaw out and cut down some trees. Lol Come on October 1st, get here as soon as u can!
