2001 Deer Hunting Journal-I'll try to keep a journal for the season here this year. If it goes well, this will become a regular thing. Who knows, if nothing else, it's something to look back at when the freezer is empty, the rains of winter fall, and cabin fever sets in hard.
|
I drew B-zone and G-1 tags for this season. This means I'll be able to hunt from 9/15 through 11/4. |
|
Saturday, 9/29- Well, surprise surprise.... I didn't expect to be here this weekend, but there ya go! Always gotta be flexible, so I found myself on the highway last night, and actually made it to camp before midnight! Hunted up the creek today. Tried to start before light, but that creek is impossible to walk in without light. Got to the first clearing and decided to take a stand until daylight. Outside air temp is about 55, and the creek is FREEZING! My shin bones ache. Lots of doves, and a small flock of wood ducks made the dawn's early light a pleasure. No deer in the first clearing. Coyotes yapping up the creek a ways. 0730- Went back up into that big funnel area for another look. I followed a couple of the trails, and found some really hot, fresh sign. Deer scat all over the place, some of it really big. Also found a set of huge tracks, as well as lots of smaller ones. Sat for a while, until the sun came well up and it started getting too hot to sit. I followed the trails, but they all ended in thick stuff. No way to get in without spooking everything in the county, so I'll come back and take a stand in this area around sunset. 1000- jumped a doe and last year's youngster from the creek. At last, deer! I need to move slower, though, because the little one was onto me and out of sight before I could even unsling my rifle. The bigger doe didn't see me at first, and walked right into the open. Couldn't make horns grow, though. 1130- Reached what I'd consider a dead-end. I could probably climb over and keep going, but I've been at it for over four hours. This is as good a place to turn back as any. Found a nice, shady little beach with some trees to hang the hammock in. Ate lunch and took a couple hours nap. 1420- Moving back to the funnel, I can't believe the sign. There is one set of tracks that still have water in the hollows. Must've crossed while I was napping. Just as I reach the funnel, I hear the crashing of a deer and see a small doe heading for the bank. She stops and looks back. The sun is right in my face, but I'm sure there are no antlers. I hear rocks clatter, and turn back to the creekbed. Standing right there looking at me is a much larger deer, broadside at 25 yards. The sun, again, is right behind it. I strain my eyes, and finally am fairly sure there are no antlers on this one either. I lower my gun and we stare at one another for a few more seconds before she slinks off in pursuit of the smaller doe. Spent the rest of the huntable hours sitting on a bald spot, observing the "hot" trails. No movement. I finally decide to roll a few minutes after sunset, since I don't want to be stuck back here in the dark. That's all I need is to break my ankle in this creek. I need to consider camping back here, so I can be in place earlier. I know Mr. Big is in here somewhere. I just need to be sitting on a hillside when he comes strolling out. |
|
|
|
Use your browser's Back button to return to where you came from, or Click here to go Back to my Hunting PageWanna drop me a note about this?
|