Need to find a new place...

It's just too damned crowded! Went to Flatbrook and met up with Greg, along with a thousand of his closest friends. Went through the first field and on the way in, we didn't put anything up. We turned to come back and as we got towards the end we put up a hen. I missed twice (bit shock there) and we thought she went into the point. As we were looking in there someone else came along and flushed a cockbird. I shot and, yup, you guessed it, I missed. We went across the road and found the hen...put it up and Greg got her. As we went around the hill Bacci flushed another cockbird which was too far to get a shot. We doubled back over the top because Bacci was on scent. We followed it up and over until we found a cockbird tucked next to a tree...he took off but never flew high or far. Bacci chased him down and got him. When we got him we were at the bottom of the hill near the little field so we popped out into the hedgerow where Bacci put up another hen...Greg got him. So, if you're keeping score that's two for Greg, one for Bacci and none for me. We were going to work the field but there were a lot of guys so we went back into the woods and towards the parking lot. We got to the top of the hill and Bacci saw a cockbird almost at the same time as I did. I had him on one side, Bacci on the other and Greg cut off the escape...so it was triangularly surrounded. It decided to fly straight up and I finally connected on a bird! It was a good day all in all.

Quail with Danny...

As the title would indicate, I went quail hunting with Danny today. I got up at 3:15 and made the two hour trek down to Danny's house. He lives only 5 minutes from Greenwood which is where we went. Met up with 6 of his buddies and their two brits. It is certainly a different experience down there...walking in the sand and pine trees...field after field after field...broken up only by small woodlots of pine. Very interesting. There were hardly any guys whatsoever and despite the fact that Danny and the rest of the guys said that it was the slowest that it's ever been, I thought that there were a decent amount of birds and it was fun. All except for the time when we put up a bird and as I shot, some guy started yelling that I was shooting too close to him. I, of course, wasn't...this guy was just being an ass. Up in Flatbrook, I'm used to guys being around...I guess they aren't "down south". I did end up getting two birds but came home with 6. Danny gave me Bert's birds and the other guys chipped in too. All in all it was a really fun time. Couldn't go deer hunting because I have to get back to the hospital to spend it with my mom.

I've never seen so many birds!

Started out the day by going up to Flatbrook to hunt pheasants. It was more crowded than I could ever remember seeing it. I mean, crazy crowded. We, Greg and I, stepped into the first field and all hell broke loose. There were birds EVERYWHERE. Too many birds, actually. It was actually a bit scary for the first 10 minutes with guys shooting everywhere. Here are the things that I can remember...Greg and I couldn't shoot for anything and missed a whole lot of birds. Secondly, we both got our two birds each, but I just can't remember where. There were too many shots, too many birds, too many opportunities for me to remember which ones we actually connected on. I also remember that after that first bit of insanity, we walked all the way towards the back down the riverside and then back around through the swamp side. As was the mode of the day, we did see a bird going down the riverside but she flushed and flew too low to the ground so I didn't want to take the shot. Couldn't find her again. On the way back we flushed a bird while going through the swamp and as we were going to find where he landed, some other guys beat us to it. We worked our way back to the hillside. By now the crowd had dissipated a bit and we walked through the hillside. To our surprise, we put up a cockbird on the top of the hill. It was totally unprovoked but must have been walking around and got spooked by us. Then we walked down the left side and put up a hen bird that was tucked into the briars. We carefully got ourselves ready...called in the dog to get a good sniff and when we were ready, we had her come out and flush...we shot four times and apparently missed!! We went to where we thought the bird landed and scoured the area...couldn't find her. We decided to move along. Just past where we found the hen in the briars, Bacci started getting birdy again. I saw what he was working on, a hen tucked into the bottom of a tree. Again, Greg and I got ready...called in the dog and when she took off...we both shot and MISSED AGAIN! This is crazy...this is horrible! We walked along into the swamp and as we were rounding the bottom of the hill in the swamp Bacci went on point. As we got closer a hen took off...I wasn't letting her get away this time! We decided to head back to the trucks because I wanted to get to deer hunting. As we were just about to the truck, Bacci went on point. This bird was a dead hen...right where we thought the one we shot at earlier had landed. We think that it was the same bird...that she had died and we couldn't find her.

I then headed off to the dump to see if I could find some bucks. It was a beautiful day out and I enjoyed sitting there tremendously. At around 2:30 I heard a bunch of noise behind me. It was a flock of turkeys picking their way towards me. They came in on me and got a little startled and took off running back to where they came. About 20 minutes later a spike buck walked across the top, towards the dump area and about 40 yards away from me. He walked straight across and into the field. A little while later, the turkeys ventured back to me...as they were feeding around, the spike walked back towards me. Then, the turkeys actually chased him away! One or two of the birds would walk towards him and he would walk away...then they would pursue and he would walk away and this went on until the spike was out of sight. At around 3:00, that guy that is starting to really piss me off came walking into the woods. He wasn't in camo, but jeans and a sweatshirt. He walked in the woods towards his stand, circled and left. I have no clue...but he's starting to get on my nerves. When we walked through the turks were still there. I thought they would have flown off but they just sort of side-stepped him and that was it. That was the only bit of action I saw all day.

Pretty crowded day, but more birds...

Went to Flatbrook today. It was a whole lot more crowded than on opening day. Perhaps because it's Veteran's day today. Some guy started to walk into the field well before shooting time, he said he wanted to get to the hedgerow. Either way, as he got in front of where we normally start he said he saw a "shitload of birds" there so he backed out. We told him that's why we don't go in until shooting time and he walked away. Of course we started out there. Soon after getting in we put up a double...one cockbird went to Greg's way and one to mine. I started at the one that went Greg's way and realized that the other one would be a better choice. I shot twice and the bird went down. As I started walking to where it went down I saw a hen moving in the field at my feet. She didn't run far but wouldn't fly. Each time I bent down to get her she moved a little further. I couldn't get the dog to come and help me and just then, a hen (not the hen...I'll explain later) took off and Greg shot at her, he missed. I went back to the task of getting my cockbird...where was he? I KNOW he went down. Down dead? That I'm not sure about. I worked Bacci back and forth over and over and couldn't find him. After looking for quite some time we moved on. When we got to the end of the field we decided to work it back. We did, to the point, and I went inside. I got to the end near the road and Greg was on the outside. I heard running in the brush and told Greg to get ready. Just then, I heard the wings of the bird flying down the road. Greg saw a flash of her but nothing else. We worked the remainder of the field and decided to go across the street. Up the hill and into the woods. We did and found nothing. We worked our way down until we came parallel to the hillside we usually like later. Crossed back over the road and headed for the hillside. After breaking through the brush, we came to a blow-down. I saw a feather on the ground and we jokingly said that there was a hen in the blow-down. Bacci had started to run up the hill a little...when just then, a cockbird took off from the middle of the hill and right to me and Greg. We both shot and the bird went down. We continued to putz around and go back to the truck.

I had planned on going deer hunting this afternoon but Jeannie has to work late and I don't want to leave the kids home alone for that long.

Quick trip to Berkshire and then deer...

I went for a quick trip to Berkshire for birds this morning. I knew Greg was going and would meet him there but decided to leave the dog at home because there are usually a ton of guys there and they are all whackos. Well, as luck would have it, it wasn't crowded at all. I met up with Greg and we started in at the right of the first field. As we walked along he spotted a cockbird in a low tree. I decided that, because Greg spotted it first, I would get it out of the tree and he would get first shot. I threw a stick at it...and I could have sworn I heard him laugh at me! Another...and another...and another. Finally, on the last stick he flew...back over me and towards Greg. He shot first and missed...so I shot...missed...then Greg...then me. 4 shots and I watched the bird sail off towards the swamp where someone else quickly dispatched it. Lovely! Sometimes, waiting and planning is harder than just instincts. We continued along and within a few minutes, I heard some walking in the hedgerow...it didn't take long for a hen to get up and fly away. Neither one of us had a shot at her...again, she headed towards the swamp and we watched her fly away. We continued on and before heading back to the truck decided to go up the hillside and walk towards the trucks. Although it was a haul up the hill, we did see a hen when we got to the top. She was running away from us...and her legs were better than mine because I couldn't catch up. When she deemed that she was a safe distance from us she took off...she was right! She was safe.

I went to the tower for deer. It was a beautiful day!! At around 2:30 I saw a black blob in the distance. I quickly realized that a flock of turkeys were feeding toward me. I watched them until they walked off. At around 4:00, a deer appeared to my right. It was a small spike/button and he walked directly toward me and stopped under my stand. He actually started playing with my haul rope...licking it and playing with the carabiner at the end. He walked off and I saw nothing else. What a great day!

Opening day of Pheasant...

I had a great day of hunting today! Started out by going to Flatbrook for pheasants. Went to the normal parking area and was surprised how few guys there were there. Not that there wasn't a lot of guys, but I expected more. Started out on the field with Greg and again, was surprised...not one bird to be found! There was little shooting for opening day. After the first field didn't work out we went across to the hill. Worked our way around and Bacci pointed us a cockbird that was tucked up under a log. He was a low flyer but I managed to get him. We continued on when at the end of the hill Bacci pointed another bird...a dead one. It was a freshly killed hen so Greg took her. We continued down and through the swamp. Bacci pointed another hen...but when she went up there was a tree between her and I...Greg shot but missed. I came around the tree but I missed as well. We continued on through the swamp and came to the end. We walked up the hill and as we walked along the ridgeline, we saw a hen bird about a mile up in a tree. We normally try to shake the bird out but this thing was so far up the tree there was no way. So I decided to take her. We continued on the hilltop. When Bacci saw a cockbird walking...he went to the bird and he took off. Sort of running, sort of flying...he did take off (but didn't want to)...Greg was able to get a shot off...I wasn't. We walked down the hill and towards the area that we thought the bird went. As we walked around I saw a hen, just walking around. We followed her waiting for Bacci to come in and point her. We tried to wrangle her towards a good shooting lane for Greg. When Bacci caught up to us she immediately flew and Greg shot her. It was a really fun opening day.

I then went to the Recycle (dump) to sit for deer. At around 4:30 ish, a button buck came in and started feeding under my feeder. I watched him for just about a half hour when my feeder went off. It scared the crap out of him and he took off. That was all I saw for the rest of the night. I'll hopefully be back at it on Tuesday.

Two bucks...no shots

I took off of work today. I was going to go after that buck that I saw. I headed out to the dump. By the time I dropped off Dani at school it was too late for a morning sit so I decided, with the rut starting up, that I would sit in the woods from 10 until about 1, which is what I did. I saw nothing, but it sure was beautiful out. I went to my truck and tried to take a nap...I think I may have fallen asleep briefly but I couldn't wait to get back in the woods. So, at 2:30 I got back in my tree. I moved down the hill about 40 yards so that my tree isn't up on the hillside...when you're up a tree that's up a hill it seems like you'r a mile in the air and I am never sitting comfortably.

At 4:00, from the bottom, I saw a buck coming towards me. I stood up, got my bow in hand and waited for him to come to me. He quickly closed the distance. He was either a six or and eight with the brow tines...couldn't really tell. I came to full draw while he walked behind a tree...he's at 35 yards and he stopped! He saw me and was trying to figure out what it was. He wasn't overly concerned and took another step. I only need him to take one or two more steps...he put his head up in the air...gave it a sniff...decided he didn't like it and then turned around and went back the same way he came.

4:45, that same guy that put up his stand 30 yards from me came walking in the woods. I saw him climbing a tree that was 50 yards from me. Well...I moved 40 and he was 50 from me...so I guess I can't complain. Just about dark...but I don't want to get down until he does. I don't see so well in the dusk time so I don't mind getting down a minute or two early because I can't see well anyway. But I didn't want to mess him up. Just then...walking across the bottom of the hill I have movement to my left. A deer, I can see it's a buck but I don't know how big, passes through the branches to my left and right up to where my stand WAS. I was just about to get frustrated that I moved when he walked down the hill and right past me...at 20 yards. I can see that he's a buck, but I can't tell how big. In this area, you have to make sure that he's got three points on one side so I didn't shoot. I was at full draw and he was stopped at 20 yards. I let up and let him walk...and he slowly walked around me. He headed out to the middle of the property and then I think I heard the other guy shoot...either that or he was making noise getting down from his stand because he didn't see the deer coming at him. Either way, the deer made a bunch of noise...like it was either taking off or going down...one of the two. As i was getting out of the tree I kept looking for the other guy's light to see what he was doing but I never saw it. Not sure if that buck is alive or not.

It's aliiiiivee!

I went to the dump today to see if the guy moved his stand and to refill the feeder. I walked out of my truck...got the bag of corn and headed out...as I turned the corner...there in the middle of the path was the deer I saw on Saturday!!!! I'm taking off work on Wednesday and try to get a crack at him!!