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LIVE from the saddle 2023

thedutchtouch said:
I decided to keep the phone in my pocket for a change, but went out for a hour after work today, targeting a bedding area that a very kind gents on here let me know about recently. (Seriously the kindness from people and advice on here is probably at least 50% of the reason I have had some success, the other 50 I figure is 40% luck, 10% me, though that may be generous. Anyhow I digress... )

I had two doe work in around 5 from quite a ways away, was able to hear and then see them at about 80 yards before swirling winds caused them to wind me and somewhat spook, but I think they never saw me and the wind switched, so after running off about 60 yards and hanging out there for 15 min or so they slowly came back and I was able to find one again/hear the other, just after last light she came back thru roughly the same area and I watched her path to the bedding area, sneaky little sidehill cut that I missed on initial scout. I might have had a shot about 10 min earlier and could see her silhouette clearly, but legal light had passed so the bow stayed on the tree while I watched where she went. Hopefully that was not only the ethical/legal right way to go, but also didn't educate her to my presence with a bad shot, and I'll get a chance tomorrow. I need to make a slight tree adjustment depending on the wind and I think I'll have a good play on this pinch point she came around. Now the decision for the morning- set up in roughly the same spot, with the sidehill adjustment, assuming at some point deer will be coming out of or (if I sit all day) going back into that bedding, or hike in a bit in the direction she came from, to have a better chance of daylight shots. Woods seemed a bit more open there which is why I didn't keep going today. (And it being a new spot I wasn't exactly sure where the deer would be coming in from). Tomorrow may be my last hunt for the season so I'm trying to not put too much pressure on myself, but the debate is on. I suppose the wind direction(s) will help me decide on the AM, and I may just climb down midday and move if I can think of a reason.
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Be. Aggressive. Be. Be. Aggressive.
 
Bigterp said:
Just shot my first Sika! Gorgeous cold morning in Sikaville. Got 2 more tags left . I’m bobbing & weaving in a tree a little small diameter tree….. definitely corn dogging it!View attachment 80387View attachment 80388View attachment 80389
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All I wanted when I hunted Sussex DE was to see a Sika. So dope. Here’s a Shakespearean ditty in lieu of traditional congratulations:

Jealousy abounds, fair @Bigterp
Lo, but had I only been of such luck
When lived I in the swamplands of the East
To roost above the cattails and the muck
And send mine arrow through the antlered beast;

Yon stag who bellows wretchedly across
The dawn’s array of lifting foggy life
When hind is near and searching for her boss
Thou’st won the day with gun in hand, and knife.
 
DelaWhere_Arrow said:
All I wanted when I hunted Sussex DE was to see a Sika. So dope. Here’s a Shakespearean ditty in lieu of traditional congratulations:

Jealousy abounds, fair @Bigterp
Lo, but had I only been of such luck
When lived I in the swamplands of the East
To roost above the cattails and the muck
And send mine arrow through the antlered beast;

Yon stag who bellows wretchedly across
The dawn’s array of lifting foggy life
When hind is near and searching for her boss
Thou’st won the day with gun in hand, and knife.
Click to expand...
Damn this guy’s a nerd.
 
No deer seen yet for me this AM. Pushing into a new area next to where I was last night. I figure the place where I think there is bedding is best left undisturbed, and worst case I can wander back to that pinch point I was at last night. Speaking of these new woods that I haven't explored before, perhaps not a great plan for end of season, but it's what's happening. Lots of open timber/hardwoods that I feel like I'm not great at hunting in (too open and crunchy for me to sneak in with my bow) so currently taking a short break to cool off and planning on doing a big loop along the other edge of the property line and returning back to the briars/brambles where I see tons of poop, and saw the deer last night. Starting to second guess my plans but I know I'll be mad at myself later if I quit, so I'll be out here til deer or dark.

Congrats @Bigterp I hope to follow in your footsteps eventually

Hoping the red sky this AM was a sign of things to come and not impending storms. Been a good 4 hours in the woods so far.
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Edited to add: I just checked my map and I'm approaching 2 miles from the truck. Not sure if I want to shoot anything this far away anyway since I brought the cart not the bags, but I suppose that would be an acceptable problem to have. Perhaps I'll wander back a bit closer though, these woods all look the same to me with minimal sign anyway.
 
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Well that was a long day in the woods not seeing any deer. Still a good day, but to add insult to injury a nice big doe walked in front of my game cameras in my other spot I've been frequenting at 5:50, so might have had a chance at her if she was there 6 min prior. Oh well, she wasn't by me lol.

@gcr0003 hope you find him, you deserve it after how hard you've been hunting lately!
 
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