Opening day was a washout...

Today was opening day for archery.  Despite the really hot temps I decided to hunt anyway and headed to the dump in the morning.  It wasn't too terrible, only around 70 something so I didn't even break a sweat on my way in.  I set up in my stand quickly and had a really nice post.  As soon as the sun came up I quickly remembered why I love this sport.  I saw nothing but some squirrels and then I had to leave at 9 to go see Dani's softball games.  As I was driving to the game it down-poured...heavy!  So much so that when I got to the field, they cancelled the games.  I checked the weather forecast and they were calling for severe storms in the afternoon, even had tornado warnings.  So I skipped afternoon post.  The season is long so I didn't feel like sitting through a tornado!

It's almost here!!

Saturday starts opening day for deer! A few new things this year...I got my new bow, so I'm going to put to the test. I've been shooting it really well...after my initial disaster. I know I didn't write about it, but when I first got the bow I was sighting it in and when I took a shot, missed the target and put an arrow through my central air conditioning line (cost me $300 to fix). So I've been nervous about shooting in the backyard so I've relegated myself to my club or the shooting range. I've been shooting 4 to 5 inch groups from 15 yards out to 35 yards.  The bow shoots nice.  Also new this year is that there is no deer check in stations.  It will probably cause a lot of guys to lie about what they get, but I'll of course report everything accurately.  You just have to call in a number...that's sweet!  Lastly, today, I registered for some new property.  It's in Hackettstown (actually Independence) but it's a Nature Preserve.  Not sure how it will be but I'll try it...take a look.  So, here's to opening day!!

One less turkey...

Well, there is one less turkey in the woods today!!  The weather has gotten a little warmer.  We were in the mid 40's this morning as I was waiting for the sun to rise.  There is a pretty stiff wind, however.  I got out of the truck when I got to the property and I could hear a turkey gobbling from across the road, on the far ridge.  I know I can't get there but it made my blood pump anyway.  I went to the blind with the renewed faith of hearing that bird and I sat and called.  The sun was just starting to come up and I could feel the warmth starting already.  The wind wasn't too bad...I must be protected by the trees.  I hear the occasional gobble and I occassionally yelp.  We're not talking to each other, but I want to let all possible suitors know that I'm around.  At 6:30 I notice movement coming from my right.  Just where I was expecting.  A turkey in full strut came walking cautiously to my decoy.  I held up my gun, clicked off the safety and waited for him to enter my line of sight.  It seemed like forever.  He never made a sound...I could see him all puffed up.  I peeked at his beard and then just focused on his head.  As he entered through my window of opportunity I squeezed the trigger and he fell immediately.  Barely a flop, but I came tearing out of the blind to see him.  20 paces away, there he was...  He measured 18.5 lbs, had a 9 inch beard and 7/8 inch spurs.

Turkey hunting day two...

Well, at least it isn't raining!  It's pretty darn cold for turkey season though.  It's 34 on my truck as I sat in the parking area at the club.  I got back into the blind and didn't hear a peep.  Oh, wait...I lied.  My Phriend the Pheasant was back again.  I heard him (and I think another one) talking.  As the sun came up it started to warm up a bit.  Felt really nice.  I waited out the morning in the blind and then I got a little antsy so I went to the back of the property, near the river.  They did some work down there and there's actually a little road that goes back there.  The Autumn Olive trees smell so nice, but they are literally taking over.  I did see a bunch of deer tracks from the field, into the path that leads to the river.  Perhaps I'll set up there with the gun in the fall.  I went back to the blind and spent the rest of the morning there.  No birds but a wonderful day.

Opening Day Turkey, 2012

For the last two months it has been sunny, warm and dry.  It has felt like spring, and turkey season, for weeks. Well that was until turkey season.  Today it is cold (in the low 40's) and has been raining since yesterday.  I'm happy for that because we needed the rain, but I really didn't want it on this week!  So, knowing it was supposed to rain I went up to the club on Saturday and put up a blind in the same spot I got my bird last year.  I got to the club around 5:15 and started to get dressed.  As I was, it was just starting to get light...from what seemed like under my feet, I heard a loud cackle.  Scared the hell out of me!  I was behind the truck and peeked over to see a bird roosting in a tree, not 10 yards or so from my truck.  I stared at it wondering what to do, but then realized that it didn't look quite right.  It almost looked like a pheasant, but it couldn't be...there aren't any natural pheasants and birds haven't been stocked in months...and certainly no birds were stocked on my property.  Well, as I was staring at it, it flew out of the tree and right towards me!  It landed a few feet away from me and I asked him what he was doing there.  He looked at me and walked calmly away.  What a way to start!

I finished getting dressed and made my way into the blind.  I made some soft calls, and then as time went on...louder ones.  By around 8:00 I looked out the window to the right, where I had been expecting to see birds, and what do you know...here comes a bird.  Soaking wet and cautious it came closer to the decoy outside of my blind.  It stopped to look and then I noticed it was a hen.  It clucked and cackled a little as it made its way down towards the back of the field and eventually out of sight.   That's all I saw all day, and i certainly didn't come home with a bird, but to me it was a very successful day hunting turkey!

Last day...

Well, it's the last day of the season.  I ended muzzy last week and now I have the last day with the bow this week.  I decided to go to recycling center for one last try.  I had been seeing deer, sporadically but I have my feeder there, although I haven't checked on it in forever.  The weather was beautiful and unseasonably warm but it was breezy.  As I was getting dressed a car pulled up, it was someone else from the cull.  We chit chatted and he went on his way.  I got to the tree and started to put stuff up on the tree and I saw the other guy that hunts there.  This time, however, he was just cutting wood.  We exchanged pleasantries and he was on his way.    I climbed up the tree and sat for a very peaceful, beautiful evening post.  I didn't see a deer but passed my time with a bunch of squirrels.  It was a nice way to end the year.

Trying something different

Today was the last day with the muzzle loader.  I headed up to the club in the afternoon and once again found no one there.  The weather was really nice, almost warm and I had every intention to go over to the dip stand.  I hadn't seen anything there in the last few posts but it just felt "deery" there.  Well, when I got there and walked into the property, I happened to notice some tracks as soon as I got to the field.  Then as I walked in, I saw some droppings.  I ignored it and continued to the dip stand.  Once I got there I got a stupid idea.  I decided to go back to the truck, get a chair and sit in the first hedgerow.  I may not see anything but honestly, I haven't been seeing anything anyway and this was at least a place with some sign.  Well I did and had a very comfortable post.  As expected, I didn't see any deer...but it was an enjoyable last muzzy post. When the sun was just about gone I took a shot to clear the gun and headed home.