Well, I hunted the wind on Saturday and it turned out to be a beautiful morning for a little while.

I heard squirrel chatter and looking in that direction I watched two fawns chasing each other from one side of a fence row to the other.
Needless to say it was the only action I was to see. The wind really started picking up, but I toughed it out for another hour.and called it a morning. I didn't see a tail on the evening hunt.

Sunday morning had me back in the same stand as Saturday. The wind was not as bad and another beautifu, but no deer. I needed to look for a spot for the evening hunt so I got down and went to check out a little cut corn field that was sort of isolated. The kind of spot where deer would feel secure.

The first thing I saw when i entered the field was a lot of droppings and footprints in the soft soil.. the trouble was thaere was not a decent tree to use a climber and hardly any to put in a fixed stand that wasn't exposed. I decided to find a ground hide and with the wind prediction of WSW I picked a spot in the NW corner of the row about 20 yards from the edge of the woodlot I expected the deer to come from. There were a couple of good runs leading from it. I made afew holes to shoot from and cleared the ground where I'd sit.

Getting in there early i sat for an hour and a half to a fairly strong wind in my face. Nowhere near as bad as it been. At 5:30 I watched a doe entered the field at 50 yards and was making her way to me. Just behind were her fawns who wandered around feeding behind her. They all ended up right in front of me picking on the scraps of corn in the field. With the wind being perfect I was only to be as still as I could to not get picked off. The doe looked a couple of times. She stared pretty hard. Luckily she dismissed me and moved her and her young along the edge away from me. Now to see if a buck might show up.

An hour went by without a thing . Looking to the runs where the doe came out I saw antlers and a nose in the air of a really decent buck. I was hoping he would come out and do the same thing as the doe. It seemed like forever before he finally stepped into the field. Unfortunately he walked straight out and started heading the other way. He picking at the corn and wandered in a circle for a bit. I went for my grunt call and it came off the cord and was somewhere down in my shirt. I gave him a mouth grunt and a snort wheeze and it didn't even faze him.

The light was getting dim when he started moving out in the field I picked up my camera and put it on him to at least see what he was. I grunted like a pig at him. He picked up his head but didn't look. He just went about his feeding. I was hung up in my spot until I could barely see him clear the field 20 minutes later. Thanks to the moonlight I could make out his silhouette.

I returned to the same spot last night. The does did not appear, but once again the i saw the buck with his nose in the trees inside the edge. He never entered the field. Just stood until I couldn't see him anymore. I looked hard in my binoculars and waited once again to make sure he didn't come in the field.

Maybe he'll give me a chance at some point. The winds are changing. I'll have to figure that out.

but I am heading out anyway. It wouldn't be the first time I hunted in the wind. As a matter of fact some of my better hunts have been on windy days. Don't quite know why. I think it might have something to do with the security the wind takes away from he deer's nose.

There is an old Roger Raglin video where he explains it in detail about the deer staying on their feet using their eyes to see danger despite things moving in the wind. Whatever the case he goes on to shoot some nice bucks in the video. I have memories of some nice bucks out and about on these type days. We'll see what today brings. Been holed up too long, lol.

Whether it be too hot or too wet the weather has really changed things up. I went out and put up the umbrella and sat in a rain last night hoping to catch sight of the bucks that have disappeared on me. From a steady rain to a drizzle to a steady rain back to a drizzle. The doe and fawns showed up late again, but still no sign of the bucks.

I am going to have to find an oak tree that is dropping acorns. Trouble is that it might take a year.

It was a quiet evening last night and a beautiful morning today. The heat returned yesterday, but I went out in the hopes of trying to catch them late. They have been moving right near dark all week. With no bait pile to draw them in 9no challenge in that) it becomes a game of cat and mouse. With the wind coming from the WSW I used my climber to get in a a good tree. It is in a big brushy drainage just inside the tractor road along the cut corn. I faced the stand opposite the field using the tree for cover.

The night was uneventful up until 10 minutes of shooting light. Two fawns come running down the path and into the field followed by a pair of doe and another pair of fawns. They milled around feeding on the scraps of corn the combine always leaves behind. My attention was on that tractor road hoping that a buck was with the group. The path goes uphill and I was a little blind to the edge. I sat and watched, but a buck never showed. I could see into the next field to the left some. Having to use my binoculars I scanned into it and on the deer in front of me as the darkness took over.

i was stuck in the tree with the deer in the field so I put my bow on the strap and lowered it down and bounced it into a bush next to the tree. The noise had them looking from what I could see in the moonlight. The big silhouette turned and the troupe followed in single file down the field and out of sight. I decided to leave the stand there and hunt it again in the morning.

It was a cool foggy morning as I made my way to my stand. It was beginning to break light. I took my time and scanned the fields to make sure there were no deer to bump out.

Once up the tree I settled in to a rather boring morning. It was 9:00 AM or so when I saw a pair of fawns come out of the row on my right and feed about 75 yards out. It was a brother and sister act. It appeared at first that they were orphans. They fed for a bit and as if mother whistled they picked up their ears and galloped back into the row in which they appeared. I stayed for another hour as the heat started to build and a hunger pang reminded me to pack some lunch the next time..

Already a month into and all I can say is I love this stuff. I got my EAB doe in the first week. Seems like forever ago...In pursuit of at least 3 shooter bucks I have seen on the hoof and another that I got on the trail cam early. So far they are winning the game. I can't seem to put myself in the right spot. The classic move to where I see them and they they show up at where I 've been

Acorns are scarce in our woods this year and so is the deer sign. Most of my sightings including a bunch of doe and fawns have been in transition zones between fields and woodlots. The corn came down earlier than expected. A matter of time before i get it right or one makes a mistake.

Here is my doe and the video after I shot her.





Here is the buck I messed up on a bit later.

He we are the first Monday after six day shotgun to try and fill a tag with the ML once again. I'll have today and tomorrow and then give it a rest while permit shotgun comes in for three days.

Saw very few deer last week in 80% of trying. Wednesday was a few and Thursaday was a bust. Friday I saw the bedded doe and fawn and a button. Saturday morning was a zero. Saturday night had me bust a bunch of deer. I didn't see them all. I had 2 button bucks at 4:30 walk right to me to five yards . I couldn't believe they had no idea I was there. I'll be headed back to this spot as they just cut a nearby cornfield. The group I scattered will most likely be around someplace. The only way to know is to go. I don't have any stands over here, but there is a big ridge where I can watch the bottom. The snow is more than likely gone after yesterday's drenching rain.

We'll see how it goes.

I'll be out of here in a few to participate once again in the NJ 6 day buck firearm season. Well, those with permits can also kill doe. I won't be shooting doe as enough is enough when it comes to the outright greed of the state for the tag.

I went up yesterday to clear the platform of my tripod of about 6 inches of snow. There are tracks intersecting in the usual spots as well as a few off on their own. Maybe with the extra bit of pressure in the woods I'll have a chance of one walking by. So far it has been an unexplainable year. Then again all years have questions. Got to get going....

Time is flying by. Set a new stand on Sunday between the tripod and the ladder hoping to intercept the the big guy of almost two weeks ago. I hunted it last night and had a buck come through the thicket, but it wasn't the one I was looking for. Just a spike. He was on me pretty quick. Only shot I had would have been straight down. I'll have to make some shooting lanes if I want to hunt it in the future.

This morning I am headed to the place where I saw the nice 6 last week. Wind out of the northeast should make it a better choice for this morning. Besides I like the looks of the fresh sign in there.

Monday was a wash as I saw a couple doe out of the ladder at Mark's in the morning and nothing from the ladder by the road in the evening.....

Wind was all wrong for the tripod all week so far. Don't want to spook that big 8 out of there if that is his neighborhood. So...

Monday was a slow day in the woods. I went in the morning hoping that the small game hunters pushed the deer who bed in the fields into the timber. Didn't see squat to make a long story short. The afternoon was not much better. I did see a button buck and a one horned spike about 100 yards away.

Tuesday had me back in my old gun stand. A yearling doe and two fawns fed all the way up the hill right past me. They were very drunk with the red berries of an unknown sticker bush providing the intoxication. I had thoughts of shooting the doe, but the more I thought about it would have been foolish. First it was a long way down the hill and the temperature along with the humidity was heading up. Second , why shoot live decoys. Needless to say, They were the only deer I saw for the four hour sit. They did pick up their ears at the sound of other deer i could not see over in the cedars. One little one was actually trying to figure out what I was after spotting me fumble with my camera. Too drunk to care maybe? :clown: Here is the grainy video. Poor light will do this..Need to get a good HD video camera....



In leaving for the morning I went to check out another spot I knew of where I saw bucks before. Seeing some fairly fresh signs and a run that was being used hard I decided to come back and hunt it that afternoon. No sooner than I got in the tree I picked I had a big spike chase a pair of doe right past me. They came from a thick patch of spice bush to my left and ran not two yards past the stand. I whistled and they all hit the brakes and froze. Looking everywhere and seeing nothing the chase picked up as the doe led the spike down the hill.. This was a good sign, but needless to say it was all the entertainment I was to have on this sit.

With the wind no better for a morning tripod hunt I decided to go right back where I was last night. I got there as light was breaking and put myself in a tree better suited for the wind. Watching down the hill at the hot run was most likely where the deer came from in the mornings. At least that is what it looked like with the prints I found yesterday.
Looking hard in the rainy, dim light I strained to see movement in the thickets below it. It was a deer, but what, I had no clue. By itself, it might have been a buck. All I could see were legs and a glimpse of the body. It didn't come up the run turning away just before it.

Standing and watching for more movement for over an hour I decide to reach in my pack and get a drink of water. Turning slowly as I always do I am startled as is the buck that hopped a few steps and walked away in the other direction. He stopped to look back. It looked like he was looking to the ground not fixing his eyes on me. I picked up my binoculars from my chest and saw it was a big 6 pt. Out just past his ears and high. I admired his very nice brows as he turned and slipped away in the gray. I was really angry at myself for not paying a whole lot of attention in that direction in which he came. I think the buck just saw movement and reacted to it the way they do sometimes. Not spooked, but cautious. I kicked myself the rest of the time and on the ride home. He was right there! In fact I was so annoyed at my blunder that I got down a little sooner than I probably should have. Besides nature was calling for me to get down out of the tree as it was. I planned to come back in the afternoon and see if I couldn't find another buck there. 2 bucks in 2 sits was pretty good. Despite the hard wind forecast I was amped to get back out.

Huh?...what 4:00 pm..dang it! Man oh man!....:hammer1:

I was so amped I fell asleep in the recliner after a bite to eat without setting the alarm. And to top it off the wind was no worse than it was in the morning! I'm still kicking myself. I may as well just go hunt the tripod as it appears there is no rhyme or reason in the way these bucks are moving.

Beautiful morning this morning, it was. From a beautiful sunrise to the lucky buck I let walk. The little doe came in right below me right after the 7 point passed. She was a bit confused as to where the commotion was coming from as I was in the process of performing a high wire act behind her. The ratchet strap on the ladder I was in let loose a bit and scared the crap out of me. I had to tighten it back up of course. Just had to stop and get a picture of her confusion. Successful day to say the least.




Whew, glad that guy in that ladder didn't see me! I 'll have to be more careful...


What was that?


Now let's see...how does this radar work?


Dang, can't remember what mother taught me on this stuff!

Oh well, must of been nothing...


Now where was I going anyway?


Woody posed for a picture, too

To say it was a spectacular start to November would be a bold face lie! I saw all of 4 deer all week. All of them yesterday. That fast moving front last night left behind a day of wind that had me climb out of the stand to fetch my hat twice. Needless to say on days like this you only hope the deer are up with one thing on their mind. If they were they didn't come in my direction.

I sat there for the most part replaying the events of last night with the big 8 pt. Water under the bridge, could of, should of, would of. What I did realize is that the buck was a bit closer than I anticipated he'd be. In this hindsight I should have just put it on him and let it fly without trying to stop him. Then again, I would have been heartsick to have this beautiful buck run off and die a slow death. There was a lot to the experience that made it a success. I was blessed to see a buck of his caliber with the high hunting pressure of this area. He has been around the block a few times for sure. To have him oh, so close, was a thrill I'll never forget. Who knows we may cross paths again.

I was entertained by the critters for a bit anyway. Always fun!

This guy was hammering for an hour or more


Hercules- Boone and Crockett Squirrel

Well, I went out and bought my extended archery permit and a buck tag on Friday evening after a deer less morning and afternoon hunt. Saturday had me sitting in a fog and drizzle that really never lifted. I could see something moving through the mist down near Mark's barn. I picked up my binoculars to see a coyote sneaking through the little alley between the point of the woods and the barn. First one of those i saw in quite awhile. He was using the fog for cover and as fast as he appeared he was gone. Little did I know that this was going to be the only thing I was to see for four consecutive days on stand.

Saturday being a bust I headed to the only state land I knew of that was close in my zone. It was a little piece that is tucked away all by itself. Actually, it is part of a larger tract that is separated by a creek. I never saw anyone in there so I thought it wouldn't hurt to check it out. With my climber on my back I stood by a big elm waiting for enough light to find a tree to get in. I heard a deer snort a long ways across the creek and a fallow field to my east and saw the erratic beam of flashlight. The intruder was in what looked like a trot to get through the field. Too bad for me because I was looking for the deer to come from that direction. The light disappeared and daylight started showing enough for me to quietly make my way into the woods. It didn't take long to get to the creek where I found what looked like a run with a good straight tree real close. In short order I got up to 20 feet and gathered myself for the sit. And sit I did until noon without so much as a squirrel. The silence here was deafening. I didn't see or hear the bearer of the early light leaving me to wonder where he got to. Got home in time to fall asleep to some football.

All the way until today, Thursday, I didn't see a tail in what was supposed to be the time when the bucks were to be chasing and seeking out does. Frustration is an understatement. I couldn't believe that there was nothing where I decided to hunt. I did see turkeys and squirrels and other critters, but the deer were absent.

Tonight I decided to hunt out of my tripod. I don't usually bow hunt out of it as it is primarily a gun stand. I recently removed the swivel seat and replaced it with a milk crate. It gives me a bunch more room and makes it easier to use the bow. The WSW wind was perfect for the spot. At 3:30 I watched as two doe came through the thicket to my left across in front of me at 25 yards and into the thicket to the right headed to the corn. At 4:00 I watched the same two deer come back across the opening, but crossed farther down the lane. At 4:30 a big bodied "spork" stepped into the opening just beyond the point of where the doe crossed. With my hopes up, just by seeing deer, I was all eyes in that direction. They were on their feet and in the neighborhood.

The wind was picking up pretty good and I felt a few drops of the rain they were calling for. I huddled inside the tripod whose walls were blocking the stiff breeze. The sun was set and darkness was approaching as fast as the coming storm. It was time for one last look down the lane with my binoculars. To my amazement there was a great 8 pt headed right to me! Wow, what a dandy. Out past his ears and thick. Just walking like those big guys do. Head down, rack swinging side to stride. I grabbed my bow and hoped he would keep right on coming. He got to about where the doe crossed the second time and I lost him as he got into the thicket. Looking hard in the falling light I saw him reappear in the lane on the other side of me heading my way. I could see him through the branches a mere 20 yards away. The problem I was to have bow hunting out of the tripod was here. I have to stand to be able to shoot. With my release on the string I slowly stood. I got away with that, but as I went to draw he caught something or heard something which caused him to rear back and look around. He was near where I walked to the stand. The first time this year I used my rubber boots and i get nailed, I thought. He stood there looking and then slowly turned picking at the wind with his nose and then with his mouth at some leftover leaves of a raspberry bush. He then turned and went back into the thicket. I slowly got to full draw, but the problem I had now was that I didn't know where he was. I couldn't see into the thicket at all. Where was he going to step out if he does. It seemed like forever before he stepped out. I "erped" but he walked through and stopped behind the big cedar to my left. I had no time at all to quick check the yardage. I only hope he didn't hear me leave. It started to rain pretty hard shortly after. Hopefully, it covered my escape. But for 5 more minutes of light.

These are pictures of my tripod a few years ago. The cedar he stopped behind it directly left in the last picture. The thicket's overhanging branches need some serious trimming now!

Got up again a bit early. The days are getting shorter with sunrise at 7:28 this morning. The hardest decision this morning is how to hunt the ENE wind. Really don't have anything for that wind direction in the morning. The swamp is flooded as I ended up going there last night. Didn't see a tail until driving down the road headed home. I may just as well go down the big hill to my old gun stand. Trouble is it is a long way to get there and even longer to be dragging something out. All uphill. But if that is what it takes.

I just hope I don't have a change of plans headed there. I do that and find myself riding around wasting gas sometimes. I do have choices of places to, but none are really hot so it is a crap shoot. I just need to remind myself that taking it as it goes is the best you can do. I have to keep my patience in check. I am finding that harder and harder to do these days. Must be getting old...

Another weekend of foul weather. Supposed to clear up tomorrow afternoon. I got out yesterday morning to try and catch some activity before the front hit. The night before was a bust. No sightings at all. One of those weird sits.

I went to my old gun stand and had these deer and a spike within shooting range. I passed on the little 7 pt. There are times when you just have to have fun with them. I grunted every time the 7 pt put his head down. The button buck was too busy eating the berries in a sticker bush to care!

Who dat?


Ouch, ouch, ummm, ouch

We'll try it again today. Yesterday was a bust in a big way as I got busted both in the morning and the evening sit. In the morning a group of deer were feeding behind me . I was sitting down. Tried to ease up into a standing position and I don't know of they heard me or caught a reflection or shadow... my glasses Oh, well!

I was just in the wrong spot with the wind last night. Had unseen deer blowing at me from the thick. The wind was in my face, but watching falling leaves headed in the direction of the deer convinced me not to take the direction of the wind for granted.