Getting close!

So here's an update of what's been going on. Last weekend (8/16/08) the bow shoot at Whittingham with Daniella. We met up with Tony, Bob and Brad and Brad had a friend there too. It was a lot of fun and I actually shot really, really well. I'm very happy. I even hit the 45 yarder. Only lost two arrows and learned, dont' shoot on your knees under a log! lol.

Today (8/22/08) I took a walk in in the recyling area. I wanted to fine tune where I will most likely be on opening morning and I brought my ranger finder too, I wanted to make sure I wasn't too close to the houses. I walked up the path and just about past the power towers I walked in the woods. I happened to see a deer, she was trying not to be seen, but I clocked her at about 75 yards away. I walked up and towards the front. When I got about even with the tower I saw a good spot. I saw some droppings there and there was obviouly a walk way there as well. So, that's probably were I'll be. It's well away from all the houses and I've seen deer there every time.

To the club...

Went to meet Tony on Saturday. Yes, it IS my birthday, but I went to go meet Tony so I could pay him. We looked at a few stands that he had worked on the week prior. After that, Tony left and I went to the big feeder stand to do a little shooting. I actually did horribly!! I was missing everything high and to the right. I'm not sure, but I think that it's my form when shooting from the stand...something just didn't feel right.

Just a mid-summer update

Yeah, I know it's summer time, but that doesn't stop me from thinking about hunting every day! I still go out and shoot my bow almost every day...I try for at least 5 times a week. I'm getting pretty good with it too...I have some off days, but most of the time I'm hitting the zone. I've picked up the application form for the Morris Plains property and am sending it in today. I've spoken to Tony about dues, they are due at the end of this month and will be $250. I told Tony that if he goes to the shoot in August with Greg I would like to go as well and that I'm available before then to hang stands, etc. I guess that's it for an update...i'll hopefully have more to add before the season starts.

I know it's summer but...

I've still been obsessing over hunting! I passed by the Recycling spot today and a turkey crossed the road and went up to where I'm thinking about being on opening day. I also have been shooting just about every day and I'm starting to really get good! Talked to Tony this week...dues are due and they are $250 this year. I told him that I would like to go to the shoot with him and Greg this year...and if they want to get together to work on stands to call me. I picked up the application yesterday from the police so that I could hunt the town property. I think that's it for now...I'll continue to obsess.

Walking around MP again!

I think I'm going to make this entry my official property log, this way I can record how the properties were when I visited them. Today I went to Recycle. I will try and update this when I visit each property. Below is the Summary:

Sunset 1: This is a pretty big, and nice piece of property. Now I know why it's the most hunted. I walked down the hill and entered a nice field...at the edge of the field I saw a bunch of tracks. I was afraid of getting too ticky so I didn't go too far in...(and to be honest, the parade bear certainly was in my mind). I started walking towards the end of the field and started to get bottled up near the rivers and saw this mangy looking thing walking on the other side. It was hunchbacked looking, looked sort of bald...dark in color. Almost like a coyote with no hair...or one of those things from lion king. This peice of property had a lot of promise though. If I had to go in on opening morning, I would make my way to the left of the field, where the field meets the river.

Sunset 2: This is a small peice. The back is a pond/stream and it's bordering the crazies. It wasn't anything to really write home about other than it was pretty. I didn't see any sign of deer. It did have a path going through it as though kids walk through or ride bikes through it all the time...think Walnut Street.

Court/Work: This is a small peice that reminds me of a dump. Not much there.

Recycle: This is a nice peice that runs up the powerlines. I saw some nice promising runs, a lot of acorn trees and I saw a doe walking through the property. Didn't spook her too badly either. If I had to hunt here on opening morning, I would walk up the power lines to the double thingy on my right...then cut in on the left.

Briarcliff: Took a walk around Briarcliff today (5/23/08). It was a really nice peice...it has a walking trail that when you follow it, takes you to Recycle. I went up the trail to the powerlines and saw a deer walking towards Recycle. I turned around (didn't cross the field) and walked in and around the woods. I really didn't see much sign, maybe a few runs, but mostly it was just woods with turned up leaves.

Sun Valley: Took a really short walk on this today (5/28). I didn't even really walk to far in to the woods. It's not as big as I had thought by looking at the map. More on it later when I can walk it.

Community court: I suppose I was half-way between pool and court today (5/30). I parked in the parking lot up by the pool and walked into the woods on the parking lot. There really isn't much space there...houses as soon as you get in the woods. I walked the perimiter of the lot and followed some tracks and saw some droppings. I followed it around and there was some nice woods near the road...I think it's far enough from houses (right on the road however) . Then I walked behind the pool...see below

Community pool: Walked behind the pool and it buts up to the lake with a small walk through opening. It was mushy but there were a ton of tracks there. I didn't walk up in to the woods there, but stopped at the walk through. It would be a great spot if it wasn't too close to the pool house...i'll have to check that out.

Took a walk today

I decided to put the properties in Morris Plains in my GPS and take a walk as well. I went to the first one that Ed brought me too, I named it Sunshine and took a walk "behind the pond" There wasn't much room and I didn't see any sign. It was pretty though. I took a ride to the one near my complex (forgot what I named it), but it was thick and there wasn't much too it (other than the tick that I picked up on my leg). I'll have to go out and check out the other properties too.

Ok...can you say EXCITED!!

Today I got a call from Detective Ed Dobbins and he said, "hey, keith..can you get out". I said I'll meet you downstairs. A few minutes later he pulls up and hands me a map. He said for me to get in my truck and follow him and he proceeded to show me all the properties. SWEET! I said to him "so Ed, what are the chances of me getting in this hunt" He said "Oh..Keith, you're in it already". I told him that I loved him. LMAO. I am so excited I can't see straight. I can't wait to start looking around at the properties...when is deer season? 123 days away!!