SRTMO's Hunting Journal

[SRTMO]

Yesterday I checked the mail and our permission slips are here from the land owner. He's a nice guy, he even enclosed a letter hopeing that we continue our stewardship of the land. That's really nice of him.

[SRTMO]

Today I called the owner of a different farm I shoot ground hogs and deer at. He has 2 other hunters that hunt there at differenet time, but in 2 years, I have never seen them. I thought it would be a good idea to call them and see what their plans are for the year. We decided it was best to call eachother when one of us is going out. It's a small farm and we don't want to be in each others laps. With this farm, it's a quarenteed tag filler but, I can honestly say that I have never seen a buck there.

[SRTMO]

On Monday I am going to try and go to the big farm and do some scouting from the abndoned farm house using my spotting scope. I know the deer use my area because it's a natural funnel but, I may need to go trim some trees.

Before I can do any of that I need to cut the grass and wash the dishes. I may need to get a baler for the grass. I'll use the dishes for clay targets. lol

[SRTMO]

Last night the misses and I went to the big farm and didn't see a darn thing. The farmer has not cut the corn and I didn't want to walk through the woods and spook dear. I am going back once the corn is cut and should see plenty of deer. I really hoping to see some racks. Maybe next time.

[SRTMO]

Today I was out patroling and found a truck I had never seen before on private property. Sure enough, 2 guys were hunting without permission. I gave them a stern warning and they left. I gave it awhile and checked the farms in the surrounding area. I ran across one that was a nice sod farm. No deer hunting is allowed but, the owner told me to come nack and shoot all the ground hogs I want. I had been looking for a place to hunt hogs closer to home and finally I have one.

[SRTMO]

Awhile ago I found a lost dog and managed to return it to the owner. When I took it to their house they asked if they could give me anything. I said just permission to hunt the woods on their small farm. Well, they did and today I had him sign the permission slip. I walked around and there is plenty of deer activity there. I didn't see any rubs or scapes though. I did jump a doe and fawn that were bedded down. I think I will definitely shoot deer there but, probably no bucks.

[SRTMO]

Even thought the seson has been open for 2 weeks now, today is the first day I have gone out. I was really excited, it was supposed to be 45 degrees and not very windy but, it will rain after noon. Well, when I got up, the thermometer said 65 degrees. I was quite upset at this.

I got cleaned up, drove to the farm and applyed the scent killer. I straped my pack to my climber, grabbed the bow and I was off. I went to a spot that I thought would be good, got set up and waited. I was set up and ready by 5:50 am which was 20 minutes later than I had hoped. About 7:00 I look behind me and to the right and see a doe grazing in the field about 70 yards away. I watched her come into 35 yards and thought she would come in closer but, she turned and started walking away again. Now I had practiced out to 40 yards a bit but, I didn't feel comfortable taking the shot so I let her go. She met up with another doe coming from a field in front of me and they walked off into the woods on the other side of the field together. About 10 minutes later I am glassing the woods and what I can see of the field. What do I see but another doe. She never came within 200 yards of me though. About 10:00 I packed up and left. I am debating on whether to go out again tonight and set up on a tree closer to the field. It still had a good time anyway.

I kind of wish I had taken the 35 or 40 yard shot. I know I can do it. I need to think with more confidence next time.

[SRTMO]

I went back out for the evening hunt. As I drove into the field to drop off my gear there were 2 does on the woodline. They spooked and ran. I dropped off my stuff and parked the truck by the barn. I got back to the tree and got all set up. It's about 3:00 pm by this time. I didn't see anything until about 6:00 pm when 3 does came out. One came into 40 yards but, I doubted myself again and didn't take the shot. The does walked off and about 6:30 pm a red fox came by. His right front leg was broken, must have been hit by a car. It's not fox season yet but, I would have taken him to relieve his pain. I don't know what will happen to him but, I hope he makes out okay. Poor little fella. A fog rolled in about 7:00 pm and it was getting dark. I held tight and as soon as it was dark I packed it in. Even though today was the first time I have been bow hunting and I really wanted to get one, it didn't happen. I still have a lot more time left and other farms to try. I need to practice for the 40 yard shots more.

I am going pheasant hunting on the 7th with my dad and a guy he works with. We are hunting from 8:00 am until 12:00 pm. Since I will be up that way, I am going to try an evening hunt at another farm by my dad's house. I should get one there with no problem. I know exactly where the deer will be in the evening.

[SRTMO]

I made my first bow kill this evening.

I got to my stand about 1:00 pm and was ready and waiting for the deer to start coming in. About 2:45 pm a big doe and her fawn enter the field and start grazing. They never come in but, they do lay down in the field for a nap. Another doe comes out and she walks off. None of them have come into range yet so I just wait. It starts raining really hard so the fawn and doe get up and start grazing again. They start working their way toward me and at 5:30 pm the doe comes into 10 yards. I am about 30 feet up so it's a steep angle. I put the first pin on her and let it fly. To my amazment, it wasn't a pass through. It went in about 10 inches and stopped. She takes off, runs about 100 yards and goes down hard. As soon as she goes down, someone opened the flood gates and its a down pour with hail. I was relieved I knew where she was and didn't have to worry about a blood trail. After the rain slacks off I climb down, go get the truck and drive it to the edge of the field. I load my stuff in and call my buddy who got me into bow hunting. He was happy for me. I drive to where she went down and she was piled up. She broke the arrow in half, I pulled it out and one of the blades off my Wasp SST Selectable broke off. Taking care not to cut myself on the broken blade, I cleaned her, wrapped he in a tarp, took her to the checking station, and hung her in the back yard. I'll take her to the processor tomorrow. I hit the left lung by the way.

In all, I am very pleased with the hunt and am hooked on bow hunting.