MCH: The New Season

[MCH]

I'm sitting here at the helm of my computer at 5:30 am sipping coffee and waiting for my buddy to arrive. We had planned this hunt many days in advance. Little did we know that it would be the first snowy morning of the winter season.

In preparation for the morning hunt, I ventured out last night to place my treelounge in my selected area. I placed it in a oak flat that is parrallel to a pine thicket. A creek runs through the middle of the flat and there is excellent sign on a path leading into the thicket.

After setting my stand up, I decided to sit down for the last 30 minutes of daylight. Five minutes after sitting down in my treelounge, I heard footsteps coming up from behind me. I turned slowly to find a small coyote headed straight for me. He passed the tree my stand was hooked to within five feet. I stood slowly and finally was able to draw and place my pin on him at 40yds. I released and the arrow flew just above his back.

Well, I guess I'd better round up my bow and other hunting gear. I will report back later tonight.

[ 12-31-2001: Message edited by: mccurtaincountyhunter ]</p>

[MCH]

No luck this morning. Found out that my new treestand is ultra comfortable though. A 4 hour stay is no problem.

Did get to see something unique though. I saw an owl fly within 10 feet of me. The crows were chasing it and it just dropped from a tree limb. Looked like it was going to free fall to the ground but then it spread its wings and glided towards my stand. Beautiful sight!

May get out tonight. Not sure whether I will deer hunt or set up for coyotes. Maybe I will just start the New Year's Celebration early and go to bed..... [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

[MCH]

Have not been out hunting lately. Busy trying to find employment. Doubt I will get out again this season. I have promised wife that I would take her shed hunting this weekend.
I am going on a diet. A serious diet. I weigh 247 lbs. I would like to get down to 200 by next bow season. I will keep a running tally on here till then. If anyone has some tips, I welcome them. My current plan is to cut out cokes, eat sensible, and sit-ups at night. Wish me luck, LOL.

[MCH]

Hey guys...been a while.

Well, I'm down to 230 but seem to be stuck here. Lost almost 17 pounds in one month but can't seem to go farther.

Anyway, got two new hunting partners since I last posted here. Buckeye and Nobbins. Buckeye(wife calls him buckee...lol) is a mix between a rott and german shepherd. He looks exactly like a rott except he has the light brown coloring of a shepherd. Nobbins is a beagle/blue tick mix. Was kind of upset about getting him because a friend had promised me a full blood redbone. But let me tell you, the boy has a nose! The day I got him, I sprayed a scent wick with raccoon urine..let him smell it and then dragged it around the room and hid it. Well, I tried to show him the scent trail but he wasn't having it. So, I gave up and started watching TV. 30 minutes later I turned around and there he sat with the wick!! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Anyway, so far every weekend I've had off has been miserable. I have to work this Saturday but am planning on going fishing at Broken Bow Lake Sunday. If I do, I'll post again Sunday night.

[MCH]

It was a cold son of a buck this morning. After every two casts, we had to clean the ice off of our rod eyes just so we could cast.

Fish weren't biting at all. Threw everything in my tackle box at em. Was great to get in the practice though and to get the feel of the lake.

There was a private fishing club holding a club tournament and the two boats we talked with hadn't caught one fish.

My fishing partner did catch one fish. A 3 lb smallmouth. First one he has ever caught. He's from Georgia and has only been in Oklahoma for about 5 years and somehow has managed to avoid smallies. Caught it on a carolina rigged plastic crawdad.

If the weather holds up next weekend, we might venture out again.

[MCH]

Sunday, I went with a friend of mine to a private lake in Arkansas. The company he works for owns it and keeps a combination lock on the gate. We arrived late...around 8:00 am, and managed to get on the lake at about 8:30. At 9:00 it started raining cats and dogs. We tried waiting it out but finally gave up at 10:00.

All in all, we lost a good 4 pounder and almost caught the flu.

Plan on getting out again this weekend if work permits.

[MCH]

Just thought that I'd dust off the old journal before I needed it tomorrow.

After I got off work last night, I rushed to my uncle's to work on my new "float" boat. It's about a 16 foot aluminum boat with three swivel seats. It took me a while but I think it's "sea worthy" now.

Plan on trying her out Saturday. A friend and I are going to have my wife drop us off about 2 miles west of our house and pick us up, 6 hours later, 2 miles east of my house.

We'll be fishing jigs, mostly, with largemouth bass and panfish on the menu. This will be a keeper trip.

Trying to get Young_Buck15 and Sniper down for one of these trips in the near future. Will let ya'll know when the plans become definite.

[MCH]

I called my buddy late last night to finalize the details of our trip. We basically had two choices: One , would be to put in at "Bus Body" and float to "Cattle Crossing".

The advantage to this was time. It would take 2 hours of steady paddling to reach our destination. This would give us the time to fish and still make it out of the boat before the heat of the day.

The disadvantage was the fact that for the first mile or so, Little River would be at a warmer water temperature and very murky. About a mile down from Bus Body, Little River is fed by Mountain Fork, a clear, spring-fed stream with a 10 degree lower temp.

Two , to put in at Cattle Crossing and float to "Line Ford". On this one, the advantages and disadvantages switch places. It would take 4 hours of steady paddling and the water would be clear and cold.

Well, on this day, time was our main concern and we ended up paying for it.

We put in at Bus Body @ 5:45 and made it to Cattle Crossing @ noon. Along the way, we only managed to boat 10 or so fish. Only a few of those were keepers. But here's the kicker.............We landed those fish within a quarter mile of Cattle Crossing!

As we sort of expected the night before. The fish weren't that active in the warmer water. But time WAS our main concern(my buddy had a family BBQ at 1:00....believe me I let him have it [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] ), and we did have a blast. I laughed more in that couple of hours than I have in a good while.

In other words, it turned out to be a successful trip even though we didn't "tear 'em up". I did land a 2 1/2 lb White Bass, which is rare for that part of the river.

Plan on making another trip next sunday.....we'll see then.

[size="1"][ 08-03-2002, 05:38 PM: Message edited by: mccurtaincountyhunter ][/size]

[MCH]

Made the same float trip yesterday(Sunday). The fish were a little more cooperative this time around.

All in all, we landed over 20 fish. Didn't keep any though. Decided we would be too tired to clean 'em..... [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

I was a catfish and gar away from the Little River Grand Slam. I landed a White Bass, a Black Bass, Perch, Crappie, and a 5 lb Carp.

The trip was just as enjoyable as the last. The same friend and I made the trip. Saw many sights including two curious beavers, a kingfisher diving and devouring a fish on the bank, and a few water moccasins who thought the boat was a dangerous foe!

Hopefully, when Sniper or YB decide to venture down this way, the weather will cooperate.

May go back next weekend. My friend has gone back to his offshore job, but I might talk my wife into making it with me.

[size="1"][ 08-12-2002, 10:49 PM: Message edited by: mccurtaincountyhunter ][/size]

[MCH]

Sunday the 25th I enlisted the help of one of my friends to clear some shooting lanes on one of my new stand areas. It took us around an hour to get five lanes cleared out. On our way back to the hacienda, I spotted a doe near our hay meadow. It was standing on the edge of a clear-cut, preparing to cross a fence. After checking us out for a few seconds, it bounded off. I made a mental note of where the doe headed.

After clearing the lanes, we decided to do some advanced muscadine scouting. Found tons of vines and also determined that they would ripen in about two weeks. Looking forward to the picking trip.

Tuesday the 27th I got off work at around 4:30 and decided to scout the area where the doe was spotted. Found a main trail that circled our hay meadow. Lots of tracks. Have narrowed the possible ambush spots to two.

One: Two trails intersecting into one creek crossing on both sides of the creek. Know for certain that during wet seasons, this section of the creek is the easiest to cross.

Two: The trail crosses a fence in one particular area......the only spot where the fence is broken. This area shows more traffic than the creek.

Both areas have excellent spots to hang my treelounge. And both spots can be reached with stealth and without getting too near the trail. I plan on enlisting my friends help again and clearing the lanes out to both spots.

The only downside to the sites is that both should be hunted with the same wind direction.

Oh, well. I've got the whole west side of my hunting grounds left to scout. Will have more updates this weekend, hopefully.

[size="1"][ 09-04-2002, 09:13 AM: Message edited by: mccurtaincountyhunter ][/size]

[MCH]

Well, I haven't had a chance to go scouting yet, but I did revamp on some much needed hunting supplies.

Went to Wally-world today and bought a few necessities. I bought a new fanny pack, since my backpack will become a burden on days that I take my treelounge into the woods. I purchased some more Scent-bombs along with some new 2 drop Supreme. I picked up 4 more 2219's, a new HD face mask, a new HD hat, and most importantly, a new 4X4 block target.

After I got home, I tried out the new arrows a couple of times to see if there were any inconsistencies. I then crested them with some white paint, so they are ready to go.

I tried my new face mask on and shot with it a couple of times. I found that my anchor point was changing a little. Hopefully, I've corrected that now.

My groups are getting more and more consistent. I really need to gain more confidence before the season starts, though. I believe that if my confidence level would rise a few notches, then my shooting would follow suit when in the field.

In a parting note, I don't know about everyone else, but my dreams, lately, are about deer every night. I shot an eight pointer during blackpowder last night. Dropped it in its tracks at 150 yards. I know the yardage because I ranged it with my laser rangefinder..........I don't own a laser rangefinder.....might buy one now though........ [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[MCH]

Well, finally got a day off Sunday, and I ventured out into the woods for the first hunting trip of the year.

I wish I could add some colorful language here to describe the beauty and solitude of the hunt but all I can come up with is "I didn't see nothing!".

I will get two days off this weekend and promise to have a handful of descriptive words to delight and entertain you, the reader... [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[MCH]

Well, let's just say that Saturday, October the 12th, started with a bang and ended with a bang. In between, however, was filled with errors.

At 6:00 am sharp I step out of my truck getting ready to do a little ground/stalk hunting. I wasn't too confident in my knowledge of putting my treelounge up in the dark, so I decided to kill two birds with one stone: Practice my rattling and scout some territory that I hadn't had the chance to during the offseason.

Well, stepping out of the truck I realize that I was not wearing a belt! "So what?", you say. Well, the 'what', is the fact that I hunt with a hip quiver that attaches via a belt loop and string around the leg! So, being the intelligent man I am, I decide to place the quiver in my backpack and zip the zipper up against the arrows. Which was excellent until I started moving and the zipper worked its way down!

About 100 yards from the truck, in the mud no less, my backpack decides to spill it's contents. Nope, no bang yet.

After finally finding a spot suitable for rattling given my wind direction, I settle in for a little practice. Within 10 minutes of my first rattling session, I hear movement to my right. Raising my bow, my eyes spot brown! A brown cow that was curious as to what the heck was going on!!! Nope, no bang yet.

Dejected I get up, planning on getting some scouting in early. While walking through a particularily dense thicket, my legs become entangled by some vines and to the ground I go..............Bang!!!!!! My knee strikes a well placed stump and my bow nails a small sapling.

After regaining my composure, I realize that my sights were loose! With a noticeable limp, I make my way back home. Total time spent in woods: 2 hours.

Laying on the couch at home, whining to my wife, watching football, somehow gives me the energy to make it back out.

Taking my trusty treelounge this time, I make my way to my #1 stand sight for an evening hunt.

After pulling my bow up to me, I reach down and pat my quiver, laughing to myself about my earlier mistake. I begin to settle in when a squirrel begins barking to my left. I begin to get ready for a sighting, when I realize my wrist release is not around my wrist! It must be in my backpack! I can just imagine what I must've looked like....sitting in my treelounge, shuffling through my backpack, while at the same time keeping my eyes peeled towards the barking squirrel! A kid in a cookie jar comes to mind.

Needless to say, my release is not in my backpack. My mind conjures a picture of me laying it in the seat of my truck before turning the OU/Texas game off(radio)!

Dejected(de'ja vu) I throw my backpack to the ground and get ready to descend the tree. I place my hand in my pocket to get the climbing pin, when I stumble across something that feels strangely like my release!!!

After descending the tree to retrieve my backpack, I settle in for the evening hunt. It is now 4:30.

At around 6:15, movement to my right catches my eye. It's a deer!.....I stand up, taking deep breaths to help get oxygen to my brain.....It's got a rack!......I set my release and prepare for full draw.....He takes the route that I had planned on, only a bit further out.....A scent bomb with Two Drop Supreme hangs 10 yards out and the path of the buck is taking him, I'm assuming, 10 yards from it. I draw my bow.........When he reaches my shooting lane, I let out a small "Errrr!"........He stops........I trigger the release.......In slow motion, my arrows makes its way towards the buck in an elliptical line........At the same time the buck attempts to duck and swerve.....the arrow strikes high and takes out the spine...........Bang!!!!! He's down!!!!

After finishing him off with a heart shot, I'm off to the checkout station with my first bow kill.

Undressed(it was late the station was closing at 8:00) the buck weighed 130. So we're talking about a 90 to 100 pound deer which is average around here for a young buck and the basket rack yielded 9 points.

Needless to say.......A fitting end to a "near" perfect day.

MY FIRST BOW DEER.............WOOHOO.......WHO'S GOT THE GATORADE JUG FULL OF WATER.........I'M WAITING ON YA!

[size="1"][ 10-13-2002, 09:10 PM: Message edited by: mccurtaincountyhunter ][/size]

[MCH]

Tuesday, October 15, 2002

Got off work at 4:30 so I decided to check out my other stand site to see if anything as been happening.

Now when I scouted this site during June, there was really no deer sign in the area other than the well-used paths. But I scouted this area last year, and it was tore up with scrapes and rubs. So on this trip, I was hoping to see the action starting.

I was in luck! Within 15 yards of my stand was a newly rubbed bush! In the general area, I counted 6 bushes and 3 scrapes. One of the scrapes appeared to be a "hub" scrape. It was every bit of 5 foot across with a "wore out" licking branch above it.

Although, my game plan was to hunt this area during muzzleloading, my recent harvest has sped my plans up a notch. I will hunt this area with bow and will use muzzleloading as an excuse to go to Three Rivers WMA in the mountains.

[MCH]

October 19th, 2002

Woke up at 5:00 am to lightening and rain. Needless to say, I slept in.

I loaded up my treelounge at 1:30 and took it the area I described above. From now on I will refer to it as the "Swamp". Basically, it is the end of creek and it is filled with honeysuckle vines and rabbits. Hopefully, its filled with bucks too!

I sat in the stand until around 6:30 with no sightings other than squirrels. I did hear quite few gunshots within a mile or two radius which really got my dander up.

October 20th, 2002
Friend had a birthday party last night, so I missed going out early this morning. I didn't get home until around midnight. I set my alarm but couldn't make it out.

I ventured out at 9:00 am to go retrieve my treelounge. The hunting pressure is at a minimum during bow season, so I can leave stand up overnight with little chance of it getting stolen.

Instead of taking my "flagged" trail to the stand, I took a route that I wouldn't normally take seeing as how I wouldn't be hunting there till next weekend.

I'm glad I did.

Meandering through the woods, I ran across several new rubs that I had no prior knowledge of. I stopped just short of a small hill because I knew that I was getting close to my stand site. I looked around and sure enough, it was 50 yards in front of me behind a clump of honeysuckle. I looked down to take a step.........and there sat the biggest shed antler I've ever found!!

It would easily score 50 and had the prettiest chocolate base I've seen!

Well, I'm headed to Three Rivers to scope out our campsite. Will write back later.

[size="1"][ 10-22-2002, 10:05 PM: Message edited by: mccurtaincountyhunter ][/size]