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Post by Trumbull Archer on Jan 1, 2006 12:29:16 GMT -5
I kept a talley of sightings during my hunting season this year. Taking care to note weather conditions wind directions,and location of the hunt.
Our season started Oct 1. with a trip to Dillon ST park for a 2 day hunt. It was a very hot weekend,and movement was only during early or late. However I did have 6 does under my stand the 1st in the evening,and 3 more Sunday the 2nd,in the am.
My next sighting came on the 9th at the gun club I belong to. It was an evening hunt,and a bit windy,so I took my popup blind instead of climber. Set up in an oak flat between 2 corn fields. Had 2 does circle my blind out of curiousity for bout 20 mins,(on a side note my scent regemin seems to be working as they never winded me).An hour later 2 small bucks do the exact same thing. One was a 120 class 10,but I decided to hold out. All told October was a very hot and windy month,but the total of deer seen was a decent total of 17.
T.A.
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Post by Trumbull Archer on Jan 1, 2006 14:06:00 GMT -5
November.
As expexted Nov was my best month for deer sightings and shot opportunities,as I had more time off work then any month during the season.
The 4th saw me at my property in S.Ohio. Had a small 6 pt give me multiple shot opportunities,but the comming rut kept me from shooting it at this time,however I did take the 6pt in muzzle loader season.
The 7th thru the 11th had me camping at Dillon st park again, during peak rut. Seen a total of 16 does,and 9 bucks. I had a 32yd shot on a very large buck on the 9th. I hit him too far back(was a very windy day,and my arrow drifted left),a definite gut shot. Decided to back out as it was 4pm,and resume the search the following am. I never found the buck,but I did find a gut pile 100yrd from the spot I hit him.
As expected Nov. was the best month for sightings. I seen a total of 12 bucks 2 being shooters and,20 does.
T.A.
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Post by Trumbull Archer on Jan 1, 2006 14:13:17 GMT -5
Dec was slow as far as sightings where concerned and most of the deer where preasured,but the sightings where there to be had.I was only able to get out 5 times, but in the 5 trips I harvested a 6pt, and hunting with my wife we were able to get her a fine fork horned buck for her first deer. All totaled in Dec. I seen 19 deer,
17 does,and 2 bucks,both bucks being harvested.
All totaled I was witness to 68 deer so far this season,with a month to go.
T.A.
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Post by Trumbull Archer on Jan 9, 2006 21:31:43 GMT -5
Sunday evening saw me at my place in the feeder stand. Was an unusually warm day for Jan 8th here,45f.
4 small does came to the feeder,but I had no desire to harvest any. But it raises my season total to 72. On a side note, I put 2 cams out today,both over looking my beaver dam. This dam has had unbelievable traffic this year. One cam is 35mm pointing directly on the dam,the other is digital and on the trail up from the dam. Hopefully Saturday when I go back down well have some good pix. Anyway Friday is the controlled hunt at Mosquito refuge(muzzle loader).and I will take a doe if presented the opportunity.
T.A.
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Post by Trumbull Archer on Jan 16, 2006 19:08:55 GMT -5
Friday was the controlled hunt. Upon arrival at the headquarters,the DNR officer asked if we would mind going to another section of the refuge,then the one we where assigned being the assigned section was over crowded.. I had no problems with that being any place should be as good as any other. Turns out we got some of the best area of sign I had ever seen.We got a section of hardwoods between a swamp on the west,and 2 fields of still unpick-ed corn,and winter wheat. I went in to the woods about 200 yd from the field edge,and my friend went to the swamp. About day break 3 does came thru my area,but didn't offer a clean shot,so I let em walk. At 1pm a very large buck came thru on a dead run,he was BIG,but I've already used my buck tag.Mean while my friend in the swamp had been seeing deer all day and was desperately trying to get a hold of me to come over where he was,but I turned off my radio,and cell,not wanting to be disturbed,figuring I was in the best area anyway. He killed a decent 8pt,and put 2 other people in position to harvest deer them selves. Round 3pm 2 nice does came into my area. I pick out the bigger of the 2 and hold my scope on her till she gets into a nice clearing 30yd from me,not even aware of my presents. I pull the trigger,and through the smoke I see her mule kick and fall down. She gets up and walks away,all the while I couldn't get the primer off the nipple of my gun for a 2nd shot,so I sit down and finally get the primer off,and decide I'll wait a 1/2hr to let her lay down then go track her b4 dark. Well when I get to the spot she was when I shot there was no sign of a hit,no blood no hair, nothin. The only thing I can figure is when I shot my buck a couple of weeks ago,I strapped the gun to the front of my quad when I was hauling the deer out of the wood,which was about 1 1/2 miles back,and probably knocked my scope off a bit. I can't figure out why she fell unless she just slipped in fear. So goes my season this year. I'm just glad I decided to take the buck in December.
Any way I'm going out next weekend for the final time this season,but with the 6 I seen Friday it brings my season total up to 78. Hopefully I will get 1 more chance to arrow a doe.
T.A.
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Post by Trumbull Archer on Jan 24, 2006 19:42:32 GMT -5
Well we're down to the end now. Went out all day Saturday at my place,and saw zip in the way of deer,but did have a good long look at 3 long beards,that where feeding around my feeder. I put a friend(from California) in the feeder stand,hoping he would get at least his first sighting of a whitetail in a hunting situation,and I sat below him in one of my favorite early season stands. At least he saw the turkeys. Standing at 78.
T.A.
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