Buckslayer's Hunting and Scouting Log

[Buckslayer]

Well Like everyone else, I've decided to start my own journal. I've kept one in the past in writing, and thought that this would be easier, and more motivating because I type so much faster, and I'm already on the boards a bunch.

Well I have a few things to start with. The first is that I've been shooting around 100 shots every day, and have gotten very good at "squeezing" my trigger release, and following through the shot while holding steady on the target - this is mainly due to my muscles getting trained and strong enough to hold my bow perfectly still on the target. Once my muscles got retrained, it became easy, and very pleasing to shoot more. I know for a fact that my accuracy has been greatly enhanced by this skill.

I got my new Gold Tip camo hunter 5575 arrows today, I adjusted the locknocks, and they shoot great out of my Bowtech Extreme VFT; much quieter as compared to the CarbonAero Epics from Easton.

Due to school I haven't been able to get out spotting so much, but that might be better because several of our deer have been getting spooked easily from spotting, lately. At my uncle's farm the other night I spotted three pope and young bucks, as compared to only one of which we've caught on the stealthcam.

Two more rolls of film are out now, and me and Buckmagnet are picking them up friday afternoon. The one cam is in a particularly hot spot, and I'm excited to see the caliber of bucks that this area holds, because this is the first run of the camera in that location.

Thats all I can think of for now.

[Buckslayer]

Last evening Buckmagnet and I went up a large hill near my house to watch deer on a nearby farm. We had thought that hill would be a perfect place, but the cattle were in an opposite pasture, and the deer were right where we wanted to be... so we spooked 4 forkhorns (one with about a 17" spread), and a half rack 4 point, as well as two does. After that we just sat down right there, and later observed 6 more deer, 3 were close and were identified as does, and then the other three were really far away, or in low lighting, and we weren't sure their sex.

Later last night we went spotting on our usual route... we didn't see anything really amazing, but I saw one piebald doe (not snowflake) that I haven't seen since last year. We also saw a five point with a rack that went straight up, kind of like one of those stags they have in England... Roe Deer? Red Stag... I don't know.

End.

[Buckslayer]

Since I've posted last, I got back some amazing Stealthcam pictures of a 155" 11 point from an area I hope to hunt. I placed the camera out again, and trimmed my entrance trail to that area so I can get in and out quietly, and without leaving much scent. My final entrance to this secluded area will be friday, and I hope to take the camera out and get the film developed. I am going to take my climber and trim a few low impact shooting lanes also. Season is only 17 days away. I'm hoping to only hunt that 11 point this year, as he would definitely place me as #1 for typical bow kill in Indiana County, and somewhere between 10th and 30th in PA.

[Canuck2]

Buckslayer, I hope you get that big guy. Sounds like a good project! Neat you got pics of him.

[Buckslayer]

Ok, I'm really getting excited now, the camera is out there, and BM got another pic of his 12 back yesterday. I want to check my (his) cam near my house to see if I got more pics of the 11 point, but I have to wait until friday to minimize my entries, and also to make sure the film is done... I guess its only one day more, although with the hurricane moving in, it might just be better to check it this evening. Who knows what I'll do, I guess you'll just have to wait to find out 'cause even I don't know as of now.

BuckMag and I signed up for a local buck pool yesterday at Gone for a Day Sports in Elderton. It was 5 dollars, and it pays 1st, 2nd, and last. It gets a lot of entrants, so hopefully the pool could literally pay off... it is judged by scoring the racks. I'll keep this up to date, as it is getting closer to the season...

[Buckslayer]

<font color="red"> Checked the forecast, yeah I'm going to get the camera tonight regardless of the film being done (maybe it is), there is no way I'm gonna do it tomorrow with heavy rains and a 30-35 mph steady wind. I'll post back tonight with the pics. </font>

[Buckslayer]

I took the camera down last night, and got the film developed, just a few does and little bucks, and me... [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] I'm not putting the camera back in that area, and if I do go back before the season, it will be for short amounts of time, with caution. That big 11 is a deer that I can solely hunt, since no one else bowhunts that area... so I'm hoping that if I don't mess it up, no one will, and I'll have my shot at him. Only time will tell. Cya on the flip side...

[dogdoc]

hope you get that big 11.

can't wait to see the pics with you holding those antlers.

todd

[Tony]

good move on the scouting camera. it did what it was supposed to do. show you what is in the area.
now that you know your first chance at him will be your best. use all the info you can to make your first encounter with that 11 point your best shot. good luck i hope you nail him.
Shoot Strong
tony

[Buckslayer]

Went out to my uncle's farm last night, saw two sets of bucks really going at it. They were smashing horns like there was a hot doe right between them (both sets). Then following that, we saw a group of 5 monsters running from the spotlight through the ragweed. 11 days and 10 hours from now I'll be in the stand... today I couldn't shoot after class because of rain, so I took a 2.5lb weight, hung it from my bottom riser, and did three 1 minute sets of holding full draw... this helps so much in being able to hold dead on target for long periods of time. I plan on doing this until three days before season to condition my muscles to their maximum potential. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[Buckslayer]

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday... thats all thats left till the season, 3 1/2 days. I have numerous stand set ups in some great buck habitat, with a very good chance at tagging my best buck ever this year. A lot of big bucks are running at my uncle's farm, but for a while at least, I'm gonna focus on the 11 point from the stealthcam. Gonna wash my clothes tonight, and start getting everything together.

[watermel]

Good Luck man. Sounds like you're good and excited, I'll have to see your pictures

[Buckslayer]

I'm almost entirely ready, have to tie up a few loose ends tonight and tomorrow night, but other than that the season is upon us here in PA. Last night I saw 82 deer spotting, and a few really nice bucks near my house. It snowed for about 5 minutes half an hour ago, that really got me pumped about the coming fall - see my post in the Lounge, haha. Well I'll either make a post right before I go out in the morning, or right before I go to bed, and then another the following opener after I'm done hunting for the day.

[Buckslayer]

This morning was no picnic here in PA. Temp. was 42 to start, and a rain storm had hit by dawn. I was in my stand until about 9 a.m. then the rain started picking up and I knew nothing would be moving till this evening. The storm just passed through, the temperature is 48, and it is overcast with 5mph SW wind gusting to the mid 20's. I am going to head out again in a few minutes for the upper of the two stands I have set up in the area of the 11 point.

[Buckslayer]

This evening the temp was 48-44 degrees. Hunted from 2:45 to 7:15, saw 2 doe at 5:20. They came from the lower stand on Deabenderfers, then crossed into the orchard. At 7:00 they came back out and were right beneath my stand. Weather wasn't bad after 3:30 when there was a short shower. It was still windy till about 6:15. Winds started from the West, and then swirled later in the evening. Total Hours today: 7.0