First cold morning...

I went out behind my job this morning. I knew I only had time for a morning hunt because i had a gig at night and I also wanted to get to Gianna's softball game. I went in and got set up by 6:10...it started to get light at 6:40. I saw nothing...but it was pretty cool and had been raining so it was the kind of cold that gets to your bone.

Gave 'em a pass....

Went out to the Recycling center today. It was nice, about 62, but really windy. I honestly didn't expect to see anything. At around 4:45 I had two small deer walk into me. They came from the roadside of the property and I watched them from about 50 yards out. I could clearly see that one was a button...the other, I wasn't so sure about. It didn't look all that different from the button so I decided to give them a pass. I watched them feed around my stand for about 20 minutes...close enough that I could spit on them. They walked away. A little while later, maybe by around 6:00, I had two deer come in from the houses side. The first one came into me and I thought that it was the 2nd deer that I wasn't sure if it was a button or not, I needed to see the other one that it was with to make sure. I watched and then I drew back...the deer walked up, under my stand and by the time I saw the second deer was NOT the button, I realized that this was a doe but she was under my stand and I couldn't draw on her. My bow hit the railing! They took off spooked, but I don't think from me. Not sure. I waited until it was just about dark...I couldn't really see well and started to pack up my stuff. From the other side of the big tree next to me, I heard the leaves. Apparently the two does had come back to me...but I didn't know. Now it was getting really dark but I took my bow and slowly tried to turn around in the stand. By the time I was turned, the deer were on the path, around 27 yards from me. I didn't feel comfortable taking a shot when it was so dark, pointed towards the path...so again, I gave them a pass. It was an eventful evening.

I hobbled in....

My ankle was still hurting today but there was nothing keeping me out of the woods today. Went behind my job in the morning. It was a cool, foggy morning...just like I like it. By 8:30, I heard a CRASH right next to me. In the thicket between me and the drive, a small buck...looked like a spike, came crashing out of the thicket and back in. I saw the brush move and then it stopped. I wasn't sure if he was in there or left. I assumed he was shot and running away. I got out of the tree at 9:30 so I can see Dani's game and I walked over to where I saw him last. As I peeked in the brush, I saw him get up and walk off. I think his left front leg looked bad. Not sure if he was shot or hit, but I think he was messed up.

Went to the club in the afternoon. Saw Tony and Brad. I sat in the swamp stand and at 4:45 had, what looked to be, a spike walk out into the field. He walked towards the swamp and then was gone (have no idea where). Tony got a doe in 3. Brad saw nothing in 10

OUCH!!

Well, I went out this morning...it was a really nice morning. The weather was a little warmer than it's been, but it was hazy, foggy, drizzly...so it was nice. I went behind my job. Although it was a nice morning, I didn't see anything. I wonder if the full moon had something to do with that. After my morning post, I went to see Dani play softball in Randolph. While I was there I sprained my ankle...instead of going hunting in the evening, I went to the ER! I hope this damned thing gets better soon...I don't want to miss too much hunting!!! GRRRRR!!

Finally!!

Went out behind the Recycle Center today. It was only in the high 50's, low 60's and overcast. The wind was blowing pretty strong. I settled in around 2:45. I think I climbed too high because I was feeling really uneasy. So much so that after about an hour of sitting I had to lower myself down a bit. It was literally a foot but made me feel better. Strange, I know. At 5:00, without notice, boom...there were two deer at my stand. They were small but I really wanted to get a deer. So I stood up, drew back and the first deer gave me a clear shot at about 18 yards. I remembered to hold lower this time and I let it fly. Well, it was the perfect hight...just further back than I would like (hence, I still suck). The deer walked away, but not far. I saw it lay down. I thought, game over! But I watched it through my binos...and even though I saw the blood coming out of the entrance wound, it was still alive. After about 25 minutes, I the deer get up and try to walk...the guts were hanging out...so even though it was back, the exit was down through the belly and the guts followed the arrow out. How was he still alive?! I got my stuff together and came down the tree after about 45 minutes. I got my arrow and saw that he was still alive so I walked over to the deer and put the original arrow through his heart. I left to bring my stuff to the truck then came back to get the deer. When I started to field dress him, I noticed it was a button...damn! I brought him home and butchered him up.

Grunting, now?

I went behind my job this morning. I wanted to get in a post before going to see Daniella's double-header against Montville. I got set up by 5:45 and by 7:00 I saw nothing. Then all of a sudden a buck came hauling past me...not really running but certainly rushing. He went from my right to the field/tracks. Then I heard grunting and another buck quickly followed him, grunting. I'm surprised. About an hour later I saw a deer coming from the street side down to my left. Never came close enough for me to see what it was, but it was just a fleeting glimpse.

Nuthin...

Left work early and went to the Recycling Center. It was a beautiful 70 degrees and sunny. It was pretty breezy though. Gusty at times. Well I got set up by 2:30 and was on edge the whole night...certain that I was going to see deer. Nuthin! I guess it was just too windy for them.