Got drawn for my favorite wma for a muzzleloader hunt. I was very excited for this one because I've never been in this wma during October and the old timers i have talked to all say that is their favorite time to be out there.
Sat: Woke up at 3:30 and checked the weather. It was pouring outside so i took a couple hours nap. Got out there at 8 and rode the roads till the weather cleared up a little. There were 11 other hunters on the nearly 10k acre Scouted till 12-1 o'clock with my froggtoggs during off and mostly on rain. Lots of acorns on the ground and lots of buck sign. I eat lunch and dry out as best as possible. The weather broke around 3 and i headed in to an area i scouted earlier. I sat in a palm right on the transition of a cattail marsh and a mix of live oak and loblolly pine. I had 2 scrapes and 6 rubs all in range. 2 adult does came in followed by 2 separate doe/fawn pairs. A spike came in at last light. I decided to leave my setup and pulled my bottom stick and walked out feeling pretty confident about the morning.
Sun: Got in and set up early. First thing i noticed was the wind had shifted and wasnt the best. Second thing i noticed was the scraps was hit that night. Third thing i noticed was the head lamp that was coming to about 200yds. A deer blew at that guy while he was getting his climber setup. I waited till light then got down and walked the long way, scouting back to the truck. I moved to a new area and set my wet gear out in the sun to dry. After i had eaten and early lunch and my stuff had dried out i went and scouted an area i know a nice buck lives. I didn't take my stuff planning on coming back to the truck and packing it all in later. No other human sign and fresh deer sign. I was getting everything ready and organized and my wife called and i had to head home.
Mon: Woke up and jumped in the truck to go give it my best shot on the last day of the quota. Drive to the Gas Station to fill up. Filled the tank, started the truck, took off down the road and then the truck started misfiring. Check engine light came on. Pulled over to see if it was a silly issue easily fixed. Nothing noticeable. Limp back home. Now I'm sitting here wishing i had turned the quota back in and had the prefferance points to use for next year. The one real hunt i had i did have deer in range and had plenty of action....just no shooters......whenever the sun comes up i can start diagnosing the driveability issues with the truck...... .
Sat: Woke up at 3:30 and checked the weather. It was pouring outside so i took a couple hours nap. Got out there at 8 and rode the roads till the weather cleared up a little. There were 11 other hunters on the nearly 10k acre Scouted till 12-1 o'clock with my froggtoggs during off and mostly on rain. Lots of acorns on the ground and lots of buck sign. I eat lunch and dry out as best as possible. The weather broke around 3 and i headed in to an area i scouted earlier. I sat in a palm right on the transition of a cattail marsh and a mix of live oak and loblolly pine. I had 2 scrapes and 6 rubs all in range. 2 adult does came in followed by 2 separate doe/fawn pairs. A spike came in at last light. I decided to leave my setup and pulled my bottom stick and walked out feeling pretty confident about the morning.
Sun: Got in and set up early. First thing i noticed was the wind had shifted and wasnt the best. Second thing i noticed was the scraps was hit that night. Third thing i noticed was the head lamp that was coming to about 200yds. A deer blew at that guy while he was getting his climber setup. I waited till light then got down and walked the long way, scouting back to the truck. I moved to a new area and set my wet gear out in the sun to dry. After i had eaten and early lunch and my stuff had dried out i went and scouted an area i know a nice buck lives. I didn't take my stuff planning on coming back to the truck and packing it all in later. No other human sign and fresh deer sign. I was getting everything ready and organized and my wife called and i had to head home.
Mon: Woke up and jumped in the truck to go give it my best shot on the last day of the quota. Drive to the Gas Station to fill up. Filled the tank, started the truck, took off down the road and then the truck started misfiring. Check engine light came on. Pulled over to see if it was a silly issue easily fixed. Nothing noticeable. Limp back home. Now I'm sitting here wishing i had turned the quota back in and had the prefferance points to use for next year. The one real hunt i had i did have deer in range and had plenty of action....just no shooters......whenever the sun comes up i can start diagnosing the driveability issues with the truck...... .
