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

Bacci's last stand...

Well, I'm not sure if it is but it very well could be.  I wanted to try and get Bacci out just one more time, just in case he can't do it next year.  We got out of work early for New Year's Eve so I ran home and grabbed the dog and headed over to Black River.  There was no one there...just me and two other cars.  Bacci and I walked to the back.  I wasn't going to push him at all but just follow him.  When we got to the back he got really birdy on a path that was in between the fields and a hedgerow.  I was certain that he was smelling something from this morning but he was locked.  I walked towards the spot he was pointing to and a cockbird came busting out of the cover.  I got him and couldn't' have been happier.  The weather, the fact that it was Bacci and I alone...and that it was probably his last made this the most special bird I've ever shot.  We walked around a bit more and made our way back to the truck (where we kicked up 5 deer).  When we got home, I immediately cooked up the pheasant and gave it to Bacci.  He deserved it.

Last Saturday birds

Went to Flatbrook for the last Saturday.  I planned on bringing Bacci but after the last time, I just don't think he would do well with it.  I met up with Greg and Amil and there was a ton of guys so we started up the hill.  I got a tree bird when we first went in and all in all, we ended up with 4 birds.  My tree bird was the only one for me.  I had a good time though.  There were ample opportunities for a change.

Unlucky 13

Took a half day from work because it was so nice out.  Went to the club with the intention to sit in the swamp.  When I got there, I saw that the pit was open and I didn't want to sit with trucks driving by again.  I thought of perhaps going to the dip but most of the fields back there have been cleaned out.  So, back to 13 I went.  I had a very enjoyable sit but no deer at all.