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Team 3 2019

Well I completed a long season yesterday... it kicked my butt. No check that, it chewed me up, spit me out, then kicked my butt.
I had a lot of encounters, a lot of excellent chances, but I made too many mistakes. My biggest one was overthinking every hunt. I was so afraid of making mistakes that it led to me making big ones.
Archery seasons aren't closed here but my schedule isnt providing me any more opportunities to head out, at least that I know of at this point. Rifle seasons start up in a few weeks so I hope to fill some tags then. I am not pleased with my decisions to this point, hoping to keep it simple come the post rut.
Saturday had an encounter with a large heavy 9pt, I didnt see him until he was about 120 yards past out in the field, I grunted at him and he didnt like that. He immediately turned around and ran to me. He was on a b line headed to my tree, stopping at 25yrds behind a viney sapling offering no shot when 2 does popped out and he ran them... I saw him the next day working the same direction but a wind gust got me and and he got my wind....
Yesterday snow hit us! I got out and setup but the wind was just all over the place, not crazy high speed winds but just all over the place. I drew 4 times to get busted 4 times... I'm glad to see some big bucks hitting the dirt! Happy hunting to all, and keep at it! Stay safe.
 
ThePennsylvanian said:
Well I completed a long season yesterday... it kicked my butt. No check that, it chewed me up, spit me out, then kicked my butt.
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Man, I'm feeling this right now. It hasn't even been that brutal but I've really struck out my last two days of hunting being Friday and yesterday. Limited time, sick kid, pregnant wife, so-close-opportunities-that-didn't-come-together. Frustrating and has me eating some humble pie. But I guess that's what makes the success so rewarding when it happens.

My kid caught another cold Sunday into Monday. Had to do another doc trip Monday that thankfully ended in negative x-rays for pneumonia. Was supposed to hunt Tuesday morning but stayed home with him. The right thing to do but caused me to miss the front edge of the cold front coming through right when the rain ended. So instead I got out yesterday mid day through sunset. It was windy but I thought I'd see bucks cruising the down wind side of known bedding where I killed last year. Wrong. I'm sure my hunch to be in the bottom out of the wind is where the deer were, but I would've blown all of them out by going in. Didn't see any deer on stand but saw two little ones when I was walking in. Did see two hawks work in tandem after sitting motionless for half an hour waiting for a squirrel to come out of a tree. They let him get down the tree and then attacked. One of them stayed on the ground at the bottom of the tree he was in and then other one circled the tree flying. Somehow he got away. One of the coolest/craziest things I've seen in the woods.

I'll be out Friday until about 3pm and then I'll be out Monday from about 8am to sunset. After that I'll be back to limited hunts and battling the gun crowd which I'll probably take part of this year after how this seasons been going. Really want to get some meat in the freezer ASAP. Friday looks to be a little warmer and less wind, maybe that's what I need.
 
hokiehunter373 said:
Man, I'm feeling this right now. It hasn't even been that brutal but I've really struck out my last two days of hunting being Friday and yesterday. Limited time, sick kid, pregnant wife, so-close-opportunities-that-didn't-come-together. Frustrating and has me eating some humble pie. But I guess that's what makes the success so rewarding when it happens.

My kid caught another cold Sunday into Monday. Had to do another doc trip Monday that thankfully ended in negative x-rays for pneumonia. Was supposed to hunt Tuesday morning but stayed home with him. The right thing to do but caused me to miss the front edge of the cold front coming through right when the rain ended. So instead I got out yesterday mid day through sunset. It was windy but I thought I'd see bucks cruising the down wind side of known bedding where I killed last year. Wrong. I'm sure my hunch to be in the bottom out of the wind is where the deer were, but I would've blown all of them out by going in. Didn't see any deer on stand but saw two little ones when I was walking in. Did see two hawks work in tandem after sitting motionless for half an hour waiting for a squirrel to come out of a tree. They let him get down the tree and then attacked. One of them stayed on the ground at the bottom of the tree he was in and then other one circled the tree flying. Somehow he got away. One of the coolest/craziest things I've seen in the woods.

I'll be out Friday until about 3pm and then I'll be out Monday from about 8am to sunset. After that I'll be back to limited hunts and battling the gun crowd which I'll probably take part of this year after how this seasons been going. Really want to get some meat in the freezer ASAP. Friday looks to be a little warmer and less wind, maybe that's what I need.
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Man, we got the same situation for real, except knock on wood, my kids haven't been sick ... yet. I gotta say, though my wife(16weeks) preggers, has been exceptionally understanding and supportive through my complaining and spending every free second in the woods! God bless those ladies that love us!
 
Hang in there team 3. If there is still time in your season just push as hard as you can. Keep things in perspective, as it sounds like you guys are, your family, job etc. are more important. The deer kick all of our butts at times. It is a hobby for us but a matter of life and death for them.
 
Sziggy2.0 said:
Hang in there team 3. If there is still time in your season just push as hard as you can. Keep things in perspective, as it sounds like you guys are, your family, job etc. are more important. The deer kick all of our butts at times. It is a hobby for us but a matter of life and death for them.
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Spot on. I've got til the end of January and I won't ever quit lol. Still hoping to get plenty of points up
 
hokiehunter373 said:
Spot on. I've got til the end of January and I won't ever quit lol. Still hoping to get plenty of points up
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Same here, archery close in pa on the 16th, but it opens again dec 26th until the end of January. Wv closes on 31 dec, I still have time as well, but I was banking more on the rut keep bucks moving as I did locate any bedding this year. I didnt get to scout this past winter because I was in Afghanistan so i was feeling behind the 8ball heading into the season.... that said i do have a buck and two doe down, I just put so much pressure on myself this year that I began losing perspective! Wifey gets a couple days break, I'm gonna get the xmas lights hung (not using them yet!) while the weather is still mild. Get some of the brownie points racked back up!! Then hopefully I can find some time to get back at it!
 
I still have a doe tag, so I'll be out tomorrow and this weekend. I plan on hunting food sources and trails/travel corridors between food and bedding. Any other suggestions?
 
I had another small buck this morning within 60 yds looking like he was going to waltz right in only to do a left face and walk away. Tough season for me so far. I'm glad I have a freezer full. That being said I'd like some fresh meat, and really to get something in bow range.
 
To add insult to injury my cell cam sent me a pic of a shooter walking through the exact spot I was setup in yesterday with 45 mins of light left tonight. Gonna pull my hair out


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I am hearing everyone's pain. I have just finished my two week rutcation, and it definitely kicked my ass. I'm so beat that I haven't posted any of my photos or encounters, or details. Here is the one line summary: big buck on the property, snow, more snow, diarrhea, emergency snow ball arse wipe, miles of hiking, boat plug "malfunction" -> near sinking, more snow, finally found all kinds of fresh deer sign, new hunter got a small buck -> a 60oz bottle of crown royal + small mountain of beers celebration, lake froze over -> fishing boat ice breaker, drive home and pass out...

I'm a bit concerned I picked up giardia from a pot of coffee I made with some lake water that might not have been boiled through!

Would I have it other way - no.

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MJH said:
I am hearing everyone's pain. I have just finished my two week rutcation, and it definitely kicked my ass. I'm so beat that I haven't posted any of my photos or encounters, or details. Here is the one line summary: big buck on the property, snow, more snow, diarrhea, emergency snow ball arse wipe, miles of hiking, boat plug "malfunction" -> near sinking, more snow, finally found all kinds of fresh deer sign, new hunter got a small buck -> a 60oz bottle of crown royal + small mountain of beers celebration, lake froze over -> fishing boat ice breaker, drive home and pass out...

I'm a bit concerned I picked up giardia from a pot of coffee I made with some lake water that might not have been boiled through!

Would I have it other way - no.

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Beaver fever!!! O man, I had that in 2010. I was camp hunting in hawaii and ironically believe it came from a pot of coffee that we used water from a stream and didnt boil long enough.....
I gotta say though misery love company. I was feeling a little sorry for myself when i originally posted my sobbing poor me post about the season so far. I'm relieved that i was not the only having some "issues" this season. Glad you didnt loose the boat, giardia sucks for about 2 weeks.
 
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MJH said:
I am hearing everyone's pain. I have just finished my two week rutcation, and it definitely kicked my ass. I'm so beat that I haven't posted any of my photos or encounters, or details. Here is the one line summary: big buck on the property, snow, more snow, diarrhea, emergency snow ball arse wipe, miles of hiking, boat plug "malfunction" -> near sinking, more snow, finally found all kinds of fresh deer sign, new hunter got a small buck -> a 60oz bottle of crown royal + small mountain of beers celebration, lake froze over -> fishing boat ice breaker, drive home and pass out...

I'm a bit concerned I picked up giardia from a pot of coffee I made with some lake water that might not have been boiled through!

Would I have it other way - no.

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I hate to laugh but that one liner summary has got me rolling. Beautiful pictures man
 
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MJH said:
I am hearing everyone's pain. I have just finished my two week rutcation, and it definitely kicked my ass. I'm so beat that I haven't posted any of my photos or encounters, or details. Here is the one line summary: big buck on the property, snow, more snow, diarrhea, emergency snow ball arse wipe, miles of hiking, boat plug "malfunction" -> near sinking, more snow, finally found all kinds of fresh deer sign, new hunter got a small buck -> a 60oz bottle of crown royal + small mountain of beers celebration, lake froze over -> fishing boat ice breaker, drive home and pass out...

I'm a bit concerned I picked up giardia from a pot of coffee I made with some lake water that might not have been boiled through!

Would I have it other way - no.

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I thought I was having a rough season.
 
Was out 1st thing this morning, a whopping 10 degrees F but no wind so it actually felt warmer than it has the last couple of days. I saw one buck cruise through at 7:20 am about 70 yds. Then another one down about the same line at 8:30 am. I got down and scoped a tree for the afternoon. I left the woods for a min (Chinese food). I'm heading back up at 12. I think I'll keep my gear hanging for the night after I get down tonight. I seem to be in the right area but I can't seem to get in the right spot. The wind could be a problem in the morning. I'll get as high as possible and hope I get similar movement in the morning.
 
Well I pulled the stick outta my arse, picked myself up, wiped the dirt off and I'm gonna go kill a deer tomorrow morning. Got a solid plan for the AM and hot does in the area. I'll be reporting back with pix.
 
Went out this afternoon and had two does mill around feeding just out of bow range for 40 minutes then just walk away. Doe hunting is real different. Back at it tomorrow.
 
I moved over to the north side of the oak flat that I saw 2 bucks cross yesterday morning I got set up in the tree in the afternoon for the evening hunt. When I left last night I kept my steps in so I could make an early fast quiet entry this morning. I kicked two deer out going in about 200 yds east of my stand they headed out to the north no blowing no fuss. Other than that my entry was flawless using the morning dropping thermal. I'm not in the tree 10 minutes and I hear a twig snap a beautiful 8pt wide dark but short tines a good buck for here, a definite shooter. He's taking his time he makes it in to 50 yds and the f@#*ing wind shifts,just a swirl against the thermal but enough his head goes up and he starts licking he stood for 3 or 4 min figures he doesn't like the wind and heads south all sneaky like. That was about 630. I watched my wind feather dance the whirling jig for the next 30 min and now I'm sitting in a SW prevailing wind. Perfect for the set up.im sure the outcome would be the same if I stayed on the other side but you can't help but wonder. It's a great morning to hunt. The photo is shot to the south
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