Will's 2010 Season Journal

[dagr8bilster]

Went out tonight kinda late. Got in about 4:25. I had a doe trott through as I went in but she didn't seem scared by me. Started seeing deer shortly afterwards. I was doe canning every few minutes or so. Had a couple does come out followed by a buck. I canned them and he pushed them forward seein if they were ready or were the ones makin the noise. I forgot to estrous my entry trail and the base of my tree otherwise I'm pretty sure the buck would have been down. He came just shy of a overhanging limb. I couldnt get a clear crosshair on him, then he spooked and went in the woods after the does. He came around behind me but I couldn't see him. Had a few more does come out right after that but didn't get a shot off.

As I was leaving out I was doe canning and creeping slowly. I had several instances where A deer would trot or run up to about 20-30 yards of my canning and stop. I was crouched down but again with no estrous they stopped short and didn't investigate further. If I had night vision I'm pretty sure I could have taken several bucks out tonight. All in all it was a fun hunt. Saw 7 does and a buck. I'm kickin myself for not trying to shoot the buck but either way I count it as a miss...just this miss didn't cost me a bullet.

20 hunts 11 sightings 5, 8, 8 taken

[dagr8bilster]

So I go out to my hunting spot this evening. I get settled and start seeing deer shortly afterwards. Where I'm hunting is not that far from civilization. So I see a white minivan driveby way down at the end of the cut just barely through the trees...600+ yards. There are several does out between me and the van. The van slows down, stops then speed away. Then I hear a shot and hear the miss rustle some brush across from where I'm set-up in my climber stand. Then another shot and the deer are gone. Then I see this guy with an orange hunting vest running down the cut and start draggin out one of the does. I'm thinking to my self (Is this rally happening?) Did I just almost get shot by a roadside slob hunter blasting deer from his freaking minivan??
So a few minutes later I hear one of his kids say (Did you get it?) Then the tires ball and the van speeds off. The entire event took maybe 2-5 minutes.

So the woods settle down and I'm back to my hunt. Well its startin to get dark so I climb down and start walkin out. I'm doe canning as I creep out with just barely enough light to see. I hear the footsteps of an approaching deer...heavy steps. I crouch down and take a position for a shot...the steps stop just shy of visual...I can a few more times...the deer starts stomping...grunting and snorting as if the doe (me) is supposed to come to him. I'm ready for anything at this time. I can a few more times and he continues to stomp and grunt. Its too dark to see now. So I fish out my minimag light and give myself a count of 3. Well those darn minis have to be adjusted after you tunr them on and just as I get a focused beam i see a nice buck tail leaping back into the brush. My heart was racing for the second time that hunt. At least now I know where that buck lives for sure. It was probably the same buck from last night...same MO anyway only tonight I had estrous out that drew him a little closer.

21 Hunts 12 sightings 5, 8, 8 taken

[dagr8bilster]

Went out Friday evening and Satu morning. Fri I tried a new spot where I scouted and found a scrape line and several active trails coming out of the swamp. I chose to sit near the back corner of the standing corn field along the tree line so I could see anything coming out. No dice. Just suirrels. There are deer there though its just finding them or being there when they are there.
Sat morn was the marsh stand. I sat the powerline but after several hours of drizzle and light rain, the wind picked up and I called it a day. My buddy and his brother saw a doe or two coming in out in the field. After sitting 4 hours in the rain and the wind I was done.

23 Hunts 13 sightings 5, 8, 8 taken

[dagr8bilster]

A last gasp for taking a deer. Went out this evening and sat in my climber with optimism. The sun went down and the deer stayed home. Saw a few does after hours while driving out but no dice.

24 Hunts 13 sightings 5, 8, 8 taken

[dagr8bilster]

Took my last hunt in the marsh stand Sat morning. The last doe day for the 2010 season. Weather was warm lower 50's overcast and very still and calm. I was optimistic but after a few hours of nothing but birds I called it quits went for a walk and then got into the truck and headed home.

With some improvments that location may become productive but this year it scored a HUGE zero. It showed potential because I did see deer there but nothing I would have really wanted to shoot.

A youth hunt is scheduled for Jan 8. Maybe I'll take my boys to the farm and see what we can do.

25 hunts 13 sightings 5, 8, 8 taken