One of the worst days ever...

This should have been a good day.  The weather was gorgeous and it was the last day of pheasant (on a Saturday) and then I'm going deer hunting.  Greg, Amil and I started out on the hill.  As soon as we stepped in the woods, a rooster busted.  Greg and Amil shot and missed.  We continued up the hill a few more steps and a hen shot up.  Greg shot and then I shot and we both missed.  Not sure how we didn't even get one bird, but whatever.  That was IT!  We walked all the way past the honey hole, across the road and back and nothing.  4 hours and nothing.  We were standing by our trucks ready to leave when a bird coasted to a landing in the field.  We got our stuff out again and went into the field, within a minute, Amil had a bird.  I left to go to the club.

I got to the club and, because I am so sick, I decided to take a 30 minute nap.  As I started to close my eyes, a blue Jeep Cherokee pulled up into the field to my left, some guy got out...peed and then left.  I started to get dressed and noticed a girl walking a horse in the swamp field.  She left, I guess, as soon as she saw me.  I went to stand 4 and got in.  It was beautiful.  I looked behind me and saw two atv's riding out past pain in the neck.  Grrr...this is getting frustrating.  Just then, I noticed a white van and a white pick up truck coming through the gate.  They had dirt bikes in the back.  oh no!  Yup, they started riding in the pit, right behind were I was sitting.  So loud and obnoxious.  I left 4 and decided to go to the other side of the property near 10 so I can get away from the bikers.  I got there and as I was about to walk up the hill, an ATV came riding out from the property next door.  I got into some words with him and told him to stay off our property.  He did, but he just rode in circles on the property next door.  I was so frustrated at the day, I left.

A slow day

I started off my day by going to Flatbrook for some birds.  With the promise of the state stocking an extra 1,000 it should be a fantastic day.  I got to the lot and met up with Greg and Amil.  There weren't as many cars as I was used to but sadly, there weren't as many birds.  After walking around for 3 1/2 hours, and having Amil's dog, Chase, we didn't even get a flush!  So, off to the club...

I got to the club around 11:30 and after getting dressed, walked to Secret Stand.  I was curious to check out the area because, aside from Greg getting a doe there, I'd seen all those deer during bow season.  I loved the stand.  Sat on top of the property so I could see forever.  I didn't see any deer but it was a really nice post.

omg, so frustrating!!

Went to the club and met up with Tony and Greg.  Greg was going to Secret Stand and Tony was going to Bailers.  While we were standing around, Bob came driving out from the back.  He told us that the place was plowing in the swamp :(  When Bob left I mentioned to Tony that the landscape in our place changes from week to week.  He said that he wouldn't be surprised if we lost the property.  He said that "the kid" (Tony P's son) is running the place and that he lets his buddies hunt all the other properties and it's only a matter of time before he is hunting ours.

Well, with that lovely news I headed out to hunt the side of the hill near 13.  It was a nice evening.  I could see Greg in secret stand and to my surprise, it was right near where I saw all those deer during rut.  I didn't take long but about a half hour after getting there, Greg shot and took a doe.  I could see, right after he shot, a head coming into the thicket where I was hunting so I was hopeful.  I waited but nothing appeared, but I figured it was just a matter of time.  Greg got down and left to drag out his deer.  By around 3:10, a beige Jeep Grand Cherokee came tearing down the field, turned up to where I was and went into the pit.  I heard them start up a machine for a quick moment and then silence.  At around 3:35 the Jeep came tearing down the path again.  Went to the corner of 13, spun out around the corner and tore up the field.  I was so frustrated I could spit fire.  Totally disgusted I got up and went for a walk.  I walked around to the other side of the thicket to see if I could get on the high side and I heard a deer bust out.  Figured.  I went back to my spot and sat until dark totally frustrated and disappointed.

Buck week (or 6-day firearms)...

I guess over the years this has gone by many names.  This is usually the day that all the non-hunting yahoo hunting wannabees come out and hit the woods.  With that knowledge, because I have a club to go to I want to be in the woods too so that all the pushed deer might come my way.  If I didn't have private property, I wouldn't touch state land with a 10 foot pole.  With that said, I went to the club yesterday and got there at 6am.  I met Greg at the gate and after exchanging hellos, went to my stand.  I decided to start off on the side of the hill on the way to 13.  I saw nothing.  It was quite chilly, however.  By around 9 I had enough and I got up and walked towards the back of the property.  I wanted to check out the water bottle location.  It looked nice down there.  Some nice runs and a nice, big, fat tree to hide behind.  I sat there until about 11 and while I was there, I caught some movement from my right (facing the river and away from 13).  It was a coyote and it was headed my way.  When he/she got 10 yards from me I stepped out from behind the tree and scared it off.  After a while I went back to the truck to warm up and have some coffee. I came right back out and got into the same spot by 12:30.  At around 3:30ish I had two does come out to my left but behind some thickets.  They must have seen me move and left snorting.  Right after that, a doe came in from my left.  When she got about 60 yards away she knew something wasn't right.  I could see her kind of freeze up in the middle of the field.  Lucky for her I was looking for a buck only.  She must have scented all my tracks from walking around down there to check the place out.  I won't be doing that again.  She creeped towards me but when she got about 20 yards away she turned around and slowly jogged away, with her tail waiving high.  That was all I saw but it was a very enjoyable day.  By the way, Greg scored on a really nice 8 (or 7) over between 10 and pain in the neck.

rainy pheasant day....

The weather was supposed to be horrible...and it wasn't great.  It was raining all the way up to Flatbrook but by the time I got there it had slowed down a bit.  There were far fewer guys in the parking lot today.  Greg and I were going to start into the field but changed at the last moment and went up the hill.  Of course most of the shooting was from the field.  Even though there were not many guys, we kept bumping into people on the hill.  After the first rush we came across the road and headed down the river bank.  We talked about how we hope the after-push was good considering how we screwed up the morning.   As we were walking the river, to our surprised, we put up a bird.  I saw him sitting behind a tree and got Greg all set.  The bird started running and when I turned around he went up...how did we both miss?!

We continued on to the bottom corner.  As we were walking there, Greg saw a bird running so we took off after him.  We followed him up the steep hill and as Greg got to him he took off flying.  Greg missed...i saw him but didn't shoot.  We continued around the lake and on the other side, Greg spotted a bird in a tree.  He shot and it sort of just sat there.  We thought it was get stuck in the tree but then it went to take off.  Greg shot again and got it.  As we were trying to make our way back through the swamp I but up a bird that was just standing there.  We both shot...and how the hell did we miss again!?  lol.

It was a fun time with not a lot of pressure on birds, a good amount of birds, a good amount of guys and a good amount of rain.

Day two of muzzy

I took the entire day off today.  It is supposed to be really crappy today, sleet, snow, rain but I am going to the woods anyway!  I did some stuff in the morning (getting Christmas decorations out, haircut, etc) and then went to the club.  I decided to try to sit at 14  because there is a roof on the stand.  I got in the stand at 12:30 and it was a really nice, sturdy and high stand.  I really liked it.  I didn't see a thing but liked it.  The wind was blowing again and it made me cold but I was dressed a bit warmer so it wasn't quite as bad.  I'll be back to this stand again.

Opening day muzzleloader

I had to run sales payroll so my plan was to go to work, leave around noon and then get up to the club.  I had an "issue" running payroll so it took me forever to get out of work.  I ended up leaving around 1:00.  By the time I got up to the club, dressed and in the stand (13) it was about 2:30 but it was better than nothing. Greg was there also.  He was in the stand way across the field from me, on the edge of the cemetery field.  It wasn't that cold out but the wind was steady and blowing so it went right threw me.  I was quite cold.  At around 4:00 I had a bunch of 5 or so does come to about 65 yards from my stand.  They were coming from the river side and when I turned to see them (I was going for just bucks anyway), my foot slipped on the surface of the stand, they saw it and took off running and snorting.  It was a fun time though.

Graveblanket day

Today is grave blanket day because we had our family had Thanksgiving a day late.  I didn't have a lot of time but had a really nice time.  It was a chilly 8 degrees when I started but by the end of the day it had warmed to the 30's.  It was beautiful and crisp and I got one bird (a nice fly over from within the point at the end of the first field.)

Thanksgiving Day

Well, it snowed a lot yesterday.  I was supposed to meet the guys up at Flatbrook but because of the snow I decided to just stay local so I went to Black River.  I walked in and started at one of the first fields.  When we started I had a flyover that I shot at a good distance so I was happy when it went down.  I had a heck of a time finding it in a hedgerow however.  I finally did and then walked around a bit.  After the crowds had largely dissipated, I was walking out in the middle of a field and saw a hen tucked in.  I put her up and shot and she came down.  She wasn't dead but hit well and I saw her run and tuck into some brush.  I walked over there and for the life of me, after looking for at least a half hour, couldn't find her.  Oh to have a dog.  It was a beautiful morning though.

That's a lot of walking.

Went to Flatbrook today and met up with Greg, Amil and Amil's son, Michael.  The stocking was very light and I think I walked further than I have ever while bird hunting.  We started at around 6:50 (don't remember the exact start time) but walked until 2:00.   We started in the field but by the time we turned around and went to the honey hole, we ended up all the way to the flats and beyond.  We went as far as the first field by the curve.  We each ended up with one bird.  During our break in the parking lot, my new friend Dave and his girlfriend came up to say hi.  It was nice...he's a little creepy, but it was nice.

My dreams come true...

Yeah, that's not necessarily a good thing!  Not sure if I've mentioned this here or not but I've always had this recurring dream that I am going hunting and when I get into the woods I realize that I forgot my bow, gun or whatever.  Well, it finally happened.  I left the house at around 5am to get up to Flatbrook to do some bird hunting.  It takes about an hour and 10 minutes to get there and when I was about 5 minutes away I suddenly realized that I had forgotten my gun.  I called home and checked with Jeannie and she did confirm that it was sitting in my garage so I turned around and home I went.  An hour later I arrive at home.  By this time, it's "first light" and the massive crowds have descended upon Flatbrook.  I could have stayed local but I decided to drive the hour and 10 up to Flatbrook again so at least I could know the woods that I'm walking around in.

I got to Flatbrook about an hour "late" and proceeded up the hill.  I walked around and it was nice and peaceful.  Most of the crazies had already gone home.  As I was walking from "the log" to the bottom, I saw a bird fly in from the road's side of the hill.  I immediately headed over that way.  When I did,  I heard and then saw a cockbird running into the hedgerow.  I tried to get it up but it seemed like it didn't want to fly.  As I was trying to get it out, two guys, their girlfriends and their dogs came over to lend a hand.  I eventually got the bird to show itself long enough for me to grab hold of it.  The guys came over to introduce themselves and they couldn't be nicer.  We talked for a while, one guy texted his number to me in case I wanted to hunt with them again and I left.  I walked through the swamps, to the back corner and back again.  It was a glorious day and I loved ever second of it.  I did end up meeting up with Greg and Amil and they seemed to have hit a true honey hole.  They had LOTS of birds and gave me one.  I had two now and headed home, very satisfied...despite coming up late.

Nice day off.

I took today off so I can do some bird hunting.  I met Greg up at Flatbrook and as it was on Saturday, it was crowded.  This is so frustrating.  The old starting point had guys lining up super early again so we walked down the road.  To our disappointment there was a truck parked right where we wanted to go in and 5 guys got out.   So much for that plan.  We started on the field across the road on the side of the hill and didn't see anything.  After a while we met up with Amil.  We ended up having a really nice time.  It's nice to hunt with dogs again.  I hunted until noon and left with two birds.

Buck Down!! (and opening day of pheasant)

Today would be a full day of hunting for me!  I started by going up to Flatbrook for opening day of pheasant.  I met Greg in a very crowded parking lot and because everyone was lining up early, so did we...about 45 minutes early!  We went to the far edge of the first big field  and there were a bunch of birds at the end cackling, flying around and basically just making a lot of noise.  That drew everyone to that field to line up.   Just as the time started, Greg and i made a split second decision to turn around and go up the hill.  There were a few guys going up that way but not many.  We made worked around the top for a bit and I finally came up to a bird tucked under a tree in our favorite corner.  I waited for guys to walk by and tried to flush the bird.  Instead, he just ran.  I didn't shoot.  We walked around where the bird ran to and I found it under a blowdown.  It flew but because my gloves were too big and my hands too cold I couldn't get my finger in the trigger guard and by the time I did, the bird was just about out of range.  We walked to the river side of the field and Greg got one flying across the river.  Then, as we were packing it in, we heard one in the field.  By this time most everyone was gone so we ran back into the field.  We saw it running up the hedgerow and Greg got inside.  I went to the end near the road and we managed to get it to flush.  I shot and it went down.  I went in to retrieve it and it decided to take off again, right to me and over the road.  Greg shot once but, although we could have taken another, it was over the road and didn't want to risk it.

Then I headed up to the club.  I went to stand 13 and sat wondering how badly I smelled from sweating during bird hunting.  I did see some does way out across the field.  Two of them looked like they actually got spooked by me.  They were about 150 yards away.  Then another walked from the top and by the time it got about 125 yards looked like it also got spooked.  I think that's the way the wind was blowing so I guess maybe I did smell.  At 4:00, I happen to look to my left and where I saw that spike rubbing a tree the other day was a nice 8 pointer!  It all happened pretty fast from here.  I put up the crossbow and looked through the sight but the weeds were pretty high.  The buck stepped into the road and walked towards the field.  When it was in front of me, at 25 yards, I made a noise and he stopped.  Just long enough for me to squeeze the trigger and let the bolt fly.  He ran off and i couldn't wait so I got down and found blood and my arrow soaked in blood.  I shook as I texted Danny to let him know.  Not a giant, but my biggest to date!

What a monster!

I left early from work to get some time in the woods.  After last time I couldn't wait to get back in the stand.  I got into stand 13 fairly early, by about 1:30.  It was warmer than I thought it would be and a lot windier than I thought but it was beautiful.  At around 2:30-3:00 I saw some movement on the path near the pit.  Thinking that it was going to circle around I got myself set.  Apparently it was coming from below me to go up the hill because a MONSTER 6 walked out about 100 yards up the field.  He had beautiful white antlers that just shined as he walked across the field.  He went to the upper corner and paced around up there for a bit.  I did see him chasing a doe while he was up there.  He soon disappeared in to some brush.  A few minutes later I saw another buck, smaller but still nice, following the big guy's footsteps.  A little while later the big guy emerged once again and walked across the field coming closer to me.  He disappeared in the big brush and I was hoping he would pop out closer to me.  He didn't and in the meantime, I had a spike walk out from behind me and stop to rub on a tree only 25 yards away.  He crossed in front of me and walked out into the field.  I was just about to get down because it was dark when I saw a doe walking towards me.  I stayed in the tree a bit longer and let her pass to within 15 yards of me.  I didn't want to shoot because it was getting late and I didn't want to "mess up" the area for those bucks!  I'll be back!!

Mr. Twisty is a sneaky son of a gun...

Knowing that I have to go to Christopher's house for Ryan's birthday party I wanted to leave early to get in the woods for a bit.  I went up to the club and saw Greg there.   After talking for a bit I went to stand 13 and got settled in.  At around 4:00 I saw a nice looking buck with a weird rack (almost twisty) walking from the middle of the field towards the hedgerow in front of me.  I waited for him to pop out in front of me but instead he walked closer to the pit.  I saw him rubbing on a tree right near where I would normally have sat on the hill.  About an hour later, to my surprised, I heard some crunching from behind me.  I slowly turned and saw through the tree that the twisty buck was right behind me!  I got my self settled and ready for him to walk around the tree.  I was shaking like a leaf.  He never did come around.  He must have walked back into the thick stuff to the bottom of the pit.  He was a sneaky son of a gun!

Another windy day

I had to get out of work for a bit and I was needing to be in the woods.  I didn't really have time to get up to the club so I went to the dump instead.  It was windy when I went out but the wind seemed to calm down a lot.  It ended up to be a gorgeous afternoon.  I got into the stand at around 3:30 or so and the only thing I saw was that other guy coming out around 4:30.  It was still nice to get out.

This is getting frustrating...

I took the day off of work today.  Knowing that i'll be involved in softball all day on Saturday i took today and hit the woods.  So after brewing up a batch of beer and taking Bacci to get his nails cut, I headed over to the club.  I was going to go on the road between the two fields again.  I'd been seeing deer so it seemed like a good choice.  The weather was nice but boy it was super windy.  I think the gusts were up to the low 20's mph.  I got in the tree around 2:30 and at about 3:30 I saw a horseback rider on the field across the road.  That makes me so angry that people just trespass at will.  At 4:00 I saw Tony walking through the same field that I just saw the horseback rider to the "pain in the ass" stand (it's near 10 I think).  I happened to turn my head at around 5:30 and noticed Tony's truck pulling out from the corner of THE FIELD I WAS ON!   This is the same corner that that other guy went to the last time I was on the stand on a Friday.  I sat wondering why he pulled out of that corner.  Maybe he got a deer.  A few minutes later, I looked over and apparently Tony drove back into the corner because he pulled out again...but this time, the jerky guy was following in his truck and he had a deer on the back.  I guess the jerk parked in the corner and was hunting...didn't use the board and I didn't see his truck.  I think I'm fed up with that spot and honestly, wish I could find another piece of property where I didn't have to deal with assholes.  I saw no deer this day.

They can really smell...

Again I was supposed to be at Gianna's softball game but again it was cancelled.  I took the opportunity to get to the club again.  This time I was going to sit in the swamp.  As I was getting dressed a guy from the club (don't remember his name) pulled up and asked where I was going to sit.  I told him the swamp and he said that he was going to put a block in the swamp so he would come back.  After talking a bit I found out that he was the one that drove across the field last week.  I told him that I was hunting there and he said that he was sorry.  oh well.

So I got to the swamp and after getting up the tree, realized that it was facing the wrong way for me.  So I sat on the ground.  At around 4, two does were coming across the field.  On of them was heading right for me so I raised my bow and at about 60 yards, she caught wind of me and high tailed it out of there.  The wind must have shifted but I was surprised.  I washed my clothes in special stuff, I sprayed down in special stuff and didn't sweat getting into the stand.  These suckers could really smell.  That's the last deer I saw in teh day.

Unexpected

Was supposed to watch Gianna play ball today but it rained all morning so the games were cancelled.  We decided to go see her at school and take her to breakfast instead.  While we were there, the sun actually came out and it got clear...windy, but clear so I hit the woods.  Sat on the hill near 13, saw nothing.  I did see Tony there, he told me that they's been seeing bears.  When I got out of the woods, he was gone.

Took the day off...

Feel like I need to get out more so I took the day off of work.  I went to the club and I sat on the road between the two fields again.  This is, coincidentally the same tree that I got my first deer at the club from.  I saw two deer entering the field from stand 4 but never came my way.  At around 6, I saw a white car...looked like a Subaru, drive from the gate onto the field...yes, the field I'm sitting on!!  He drove to the corner (where I turkey hunt) and got out.  I saw him walking near the dip stand but couldn't make out who he was.  He was there for about a half hour and then left.  Grr

Why didn't I do it when I had the chance.

I took the afternoon off to go hunting at the club again.  After missing the day on Saturday I needed to get back out.  I decided to try stand 13 and made my way there.  I climbed the tree and noticed that it had grown in so much there wasn't a good shooting lane.  I couldn't trim it out then so I decided to go sit on the hillside instead.  I thought it was cool out but by the time I was walking back from the tree I was sweating my butt off.  I got settled in and waited.  It was a nice spot but I learned that sitting, without having my back supported by a tree, is painful.  Anyway...I hadn't seen a thing but a fox but by 6:30, I made out some movement coming from my left.  I put up my bow and saw that it was a buck.  A 7-point buck.  Why didn't I take that doe the last time I was at the club!  Then I could have shot the buck...instead I had to watch him walk away.  Which, by the way, didn't take long because he must have caught my scent from walking back from the tree.  He knew something was up and he stepped back into the autumn olive.  I found it strange because the wind was blowing in my face.  I guess I laid down scent on the path.

Covered in stuff....

I took the afternoon off of work.  Considering the bust that was opening day I wanted to get back into the woods.  I decided to try the "farm road" between the first field and the upper field.  It was a beautiful day.  Slightly warm but not too bad.  I went down the farm road and hopped up into the tree.  I didn't realize how "open" I would feel in the tree but hopefully it would be ok because it was a bigger tree.

I got in the tree around 2:00 and by about 4:30 I saw a flock of turkeys in the first field.  They were feeding all over the place...even came to within 10 yards of me.  I could hear them clucking and purring.  It was cool.  As it was getting darker, perhaps around 6:30, I saw 4 deer near stand 4.  They slowly worked their way towards me.  A small doe, clearly a fawn or yearling at best, was ahead of the group.  She came to within 15 yards and presented a broadside target.  It would have been an easy shot but I decided, because i would have to bring this one to a butcher (Grandma's stuff was taking over my garage so i couldn't butcher it myself), that I would wait for the biggest one to come to me.  She, however, stopped 80 yards from me and started stomping her foot and snorting.  I am assuming that she caught wind of me...the wind was swirling and i did work up a sweat getting into the tree.  Either that or she saw me.  As she carried on stomping and snorting the one that was in front of me looked back and started to slowly walk back to the group.  The group by this point had taken off and she slowly walked back across the field.   I got out of the tree at dark and that was my day.

Perhaps I'll wish I took that shot as the season goes on but for now I'm ok with holding back.

Opening day 2014

It's opening day!!  The weather forecast isn't looking so good, which sucks because all week it was supposed to be sunny and cool.  In the morning I decided to head over to the recycling center.  I wanted to try the spot that the other guy used to go to, in the back.  That's close to wear I saw that big buck a few weeks earlier.  I got in the stand early and it was a beautiful post.  The weather was cloudy and still.  I sat post until just about 10am and saw nothing so I went home to nap and get to the club for the afternoon.  I left home at 12:30 and as I was driving to the club it started pouring out.  Grrrrr.  I sat in my truck at the club waiting for the rain to stop and kept checking the radar.  I sat in my truck until almost 3.  There was a break in the rain so  I got out of my truck and got dressed.  As I was going to put my pin in the board I saw 4 does on the other side of the 10 field.  I belly crawled up the side of the hill hoping to sneak closer and have them walk towards me but they were going the other way.  I got back down and walked to the first field.  Almost as soon as I got there it started to pour again.  I don't mind the rain but I didn't want to shoot a deer and have the blood trail wash away so I packed it in and went home.  So much for opening day.

Turkey Time

I went to the club on Saturday to set up my blind.  I was filled with anticipation of Monday's opening day.  The weather had been really chilly so I wasn't sure how that would effect the birds, however.  When I got to the club it was quite chilly and I went to the blind and sat calling until about 8.  I decided to get up and stretch my legs a bit and I walked around to different spots on the property.  By the later morning it had started to warm up nicely but I still didn't hear any birds.  I spooked two deer that were crossing the big field.  I saw a bear track on the road near the new pit and had a pheasant that came to visit me in the blind.  I actually heard him calling all day.

I made it back to the club on Thursday.  It was chilly again in the morning, but didn't seem to warm up quite as much as it did on Monday.  Again, I sat in the blind until about 8 and then went to other spots before returning to the blind.  Again I saw nothing, heard nothing.

Friday...more of the same.  I am going to eat tag soup this year.  not sure if it was the weather or the fact that the property was turned into a moon scape.

Last day...

It was the last day of the muzzy season and I decided to sit on the hill overlooking the dip stand.  I had seen the deer a few nights back and thought this would be a good opportunity.  The snow was thick and crunchy...actually kind of hard to walk in.  At about 3pm I heard a bunch of snow mobiles and atvs coming my way.  I got out of my seat and walked to the field.  I met up with one of the snow mobilers and told him that he had to leave, that it was private property.  He told me he used to own it, which is a lie, but I told him that he doesn't any more and that it's my property and that he had to leave.  He did.  I saw nothing after that.

on a hill

Got to the club and decided that if everyone else is going to have luck sitting at 10, so will I!  I was alone and I walked down the farm road to stand 10, or actually just beyond where Tony had been sitting.  When I got there I saw tracks all over the place, many of them coming from the field that 10 was looking over.  I decided that 10 would be the best option.  I didn't have my harness so I walked back to the truck to get it.  When I got back to 10 I started to climb and it just felt too unsteady.  I got back down and then walked up the hill where Tony had been sitting.  I saw three empty shells there so I know it was productive...plus all the tracks, I was convinced that I would get a deer.  No such luck.

Finally saw a deer...

I feel like it's been forever since I've seen a deer.  I went to the club today and it's COLD and snowy!  I think the high, without windchill, was only 13 but I was determined to go.  We were also expecting between 4-6 inches of snow so I had this bright idea.  I'll pull my truck into the old farm road, sit in the back with the window open and if I see a deer, I'll shoot (and stay warm and dry at the same time).  I know it's not exactly legal, but I figured it's like sitting in a really nice ground blind.  I did just that...until about 2:15, then I decided to talk a little walk.  I went over to see what the dip stand looked like.  While I was there I saw an entire flock of turkeys!  There was also a lot of deer tracks in the snow, so as I stood there thinking i saw someone at the gate.  I walked back to my truck and saw that it was Tony.  Well, now I can't sit in my truck-stand!  He was heading towards 10 and asked if I was going to stay where I was because if I wasn't, he would.  I told him that I was just coming back to the truck to get my crate to sit on.  I got it and went back to the edge of the field where I saw the turkeys.

I sat there and it wasn't as cold as I thought I would be.  Maybe because the wind wasn't really blowing, but the snow was certainly falling.  I was sitting on the edge of the field (towards the pit) looking at the corner nearest the horse field.  At around 5 I happen to look to my right and there was a doe, 50 yards away looking right at me.  As soon as I even moved my eyelid, she took off.  Because I didn't see her coming I couldn't prepare.  That was all I saw and walked out where I met up with Tony.  He told me that, although he didn't see anything, he had seen a bunch at that spot and that Greg killed 5 or 6 from that spot.  He seemed very bothered by that and said that he was done with the club after this year...WHAT?!  He said that he's not enjoying it anymore and that as long as Joanne is working at the station we can go through her, if she retires then we can go through whoever is there.  This does not sound good!

Old habits die hard

Went to the club and sat back on the hill at 13.  When I got there I saw Tony's truck and tracks also driving into the old farm road.  I sat at 13 and saw nothing, but Tony walking around near 13.  I had to wave him off.  I think the guy (presumably Frank) that drove to the old farm road, he parked back and went to the dip.  I did hear a shot.

Nothing in the swamp

Left work early to get to the woods.  I went to the club and sat at the swamp.  Saw nothing