Armed Polite Society
Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: White Horseradish on November 14, 2012, 11:21:34 AM
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In the sense that "vegetarian" is derived from an old Indian word for "bad hunter". =D
I had an unexpected invitation to go hunting. Also unexpectedly, my wife decided to come along. So, we grabbed a 30-30 each and headed for the woods. In four days I saw a deer butt, and she saw nothing.
In the end, I am not all that disappointed. Spending time in the woods is fun in itself. And I got an invitation to come back for muzzleloader season.
Now, to improve my deer-finding skills...
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We had three does in our barn eating horse hay one evening a couple days ago.
As soon as I have time and daylight to gut, skin, and debone, I am going to return the favor >:D
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In the sense that "vegetarian" is derived from an old Indian word for "bad hunter". =D
That's funny right there!
Now, to improve my deer-finding skills...
Around here, shooting deer is mostly done in self defense. ;) to prevent being run over
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Now, to improve my deer-finding skills...
Most of it is patience and iron constitution to have a frozen butt.
Were you walking/stalking hunting or sitting and waiting?
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patience
Check
a frozen butt.
Check
Were you walking/stalking hunting or sitting and waiting?
Sitting and waiting.
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So you need to improve your scouting skills.
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Deep woods? Edge? Open timber? Open field?
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Middle of fairly dense woods. Can't see very far in them.
I did see spots where the deer turned over leaves and ate acorns, also saw some deer poop. I know the bastards were around there somewhere.
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Saw two mule deer in my driveway this morning. Unfortunately, the neighbors frown upon hunting in the area. "OMG! You murdered Bambi!"
I did see spots where the deer turned over leaves and ate acorns, also saw some deer poop. I know the bastards were around there somewhere.
. . . laughing.
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Middle of fairly dense woods. Can't see very far in them.
I did see spots where the deer turned over leaves and ate acorns, also saw some deer poop. I know the bastards were around there somewhere.
Try to get out towards the edge or a large clearing. I have killed very very very few deer in deep timber (1 or 2 out of the 40+ I have killed), most of mine have been in really open woods or on the edge of fields/meadows.
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That's a little problematic, since the one edge of the property that doesn't border more woods comes out on a road. I've mostly stuck to old logging trails.
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I have killed very very very few deer in deep timber (1 or 2 out of the 40+ I have killed), most of mine have been in really open woods or on the edge of fields/meadows.
That.
Deer are 'edge habitat' animals.
You want to find where they cross from woods/swamp/marsh into bean/corn/hay fields and post your butt there.
Deep woods/swamps is very tough hunting. You can look for intersections of major deer trails or a scrape, but it might take you a long time to pattern the deer movement through those areas, and those times might be at 10 at night.
You really can't 'stalk' them in areas like that either- they will almost always see you first.
If you have white oaks that are dropping their acorns, sit there.
Other than that, get to your stand at least an hour, (2 hrs would be better) before sun up and sit tight until after sun down. You won't be able to legally shoot during these hours, but you will spook a lot less deer.
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get to your stand at least an hour, (2 hrs would be better) before sun up and sit tight until after sun down. You won't be able to legally shoot during these hours, but you will spook a lot less deer.
Except that you will be froze to death :(
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Except that you will be froze to death
You sort of get used to the cold after awhile, as long as its a 'dry' cold.
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You sort of get used to the cold after awhile, as long as its a 'dry' cold.
Yeah, once the shivering stops and you pass out.
Cold is okay as long as I'm active, but I can't sit around anymore - not ever with carhart coat and overalls, long johns, sorrels, etc :(
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Cold is okay as long as I'm active, but I can't sit around anymore - not ever with carhart coat and overalls, long johns, sorrels, etc
I have that problem with 'hot.' I sweat constantly from the first day its over 50 degrees out until the day the frost comes back.
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I have that problem with 'hot.' I sweat constantly from the first day its over 50 degrees out until the day the frost comes back.
i had a boss from Mexico once. He wouldn't sweat unless it was 100+. On the other hand, he would be shivering under 70 F.
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That's a little problematic, since the one edge of the property that doesn't border more woods comes out on a road. I've mostly stuck to old logging trails.
Legal to bait or use attractant?
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Legal to bait or use attractant?
No bait. Don't know about attractant.
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3 Bucks in the yard this morning. If there weren't other houses close by I'd invite you to come get them. 1 5x5, 1 4x5 and 1 4x3. 2 were born under the deck here and they come back all the time to visit. I can't get them close enough yet to shoot them with a bow that I don't have.
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You really can't 'stalk' them in areas like that either- they will almost always see you first.
I stalk deer right after a 8-10" overnight snow fall. This usually only happens once out five years. When the weather shows a significant snow dump after midnight through mid morning I try to be in the woods during that last hour of the storm and try to find a spot where a top of a hill is lee of the wind (known bedding area) and wait for the deer to emerge from their beds under the snow. Last one I shot that way didn't even get a chance to shake the snow off its back.
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We've been seeing the same three does every day.
This weekend I'm planning to get some free-range organic venison fattened on organic horse hay from our barn >:D
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Aaaand... I almost creamed two deer pulling out of the garage at work. Bastards. I think I need to go into the woods in my truck.