I've decided to keep an online diary of this season's hunt. I'd like others to add their daily hunts too. I'll just go first:

Hit the WMA. No deer spotted. Lots of noise from I-90 and moderate south wind. This is the kind of day nothing moves around in the WMA. Tomorrow should be promising, as I like the forecast and the moon phase.

Joe

Might also mention the mosquitos are finally killed off! Two days ago, they were terrible. Tonight, not one!

Joe

I went out this afternoon/evening. No deer spotted, till I got home. Put stuff away, put chickens to bed, looked over in our woods, which is very small, and two deer were watching me. I debated sitting in that stand before I went out. I guess that's why they call it hunting.

I went out this evening after work, saw 2 does both close enough for a shot but no opportunities for one:) First was on the way to the stand and second while I was setting, also had to think real hard about shooting a squirrel at risk of spooking the deer, lol.

Frisky, I'm glad to see the "Spirit of San Diego" has leached out of that shorty Drake recurve of yours and improved your attitude. You're way laid back now dude.

Righteous!!

No deer in sight for me today. I am having a hard time finding the deer this year. Tomorrow is another day maybe they'll come through. Rick

I think my Drake needs wooden arrows to be more in the San Diego spirit. I might get out the wild shoot arrows.

Keep the reports coming in!

Joe

Took our 6 year old son out tonight on a short still hunt. Lots of scrapes opening up. Next few morning sits should be productive. Like the moon phase too...

made a new self bow. put finish on it last night. took it for a shoot around. [img]http://i.imgur.com/tWfaVrf.jpg[/img]

still cant post pictures. got a mongoose at about 9 yards

Joe, I-90 is constantly within earshot here, too. Only a mile away. Sometimes it guides me when I get into an unfamiliar piece. Turkey opens here tomorrow. I didn't get out for deer today. Maybe after work tomorrow.

That's funny, lol! You're out in NY and on I-90 too!

Joe

Yup, its called the NY State Thruway here. Toll road. Was supposed to stop being toll once paid for in the '70s, but hey, tolls live on. This is NY after all..

It goes all the way over Snoqualmy Pass to Seattle, actually, and through Boston on the other coast.

I'd love to start mine if I get the chance to go this year so far I'll be cooking my first deer tags. Hope to change that.

Msturm- When pics are fixed, show us the selfbow.

Joe

Anticipating tomorrow morning. What will I wear? What bow will I use? I hate the cold. Never have seen more deer during cold weather than I have seen in warm weather. That may be because I dont like cold weather.

The wife an i drove I-90 from UPSTATE NY to Oregon couple years back Great drive once you get out of NY and around Chicago : )

MM x2. West of Chicago or maybe Minn., the road is free finally. We did similar drive to WA three years ago, up into Olympic Peninsula. Drove past Safeco Field where I-90 ends as Knifeguy told me, to the ferry port. Didn't realize that at the time. Hopefully will have a diary entry for this weekend... Turkey or deer, bear, partridge, squirrel, pheasant - its all open now. If no kills, I'll enter the story anyway. Good idea Freddy, will be an asset to reflect on and maybe write that story book someday. I'm no Pat McManus, but I can spin it enough to make it interesting.. ;^)

When do we get to the sex parts?

My little Ranch is 25 minutes from I90 over the Snoqualmie Pass in WA. Elk season is over, Deer rifle open in the AM. Lots of storms right now thorugh Satursay/sunday. I have always gotten my blacktails during the last three days of the gun season using my recurve, stayed tuned. I have afew nice ones around here.

Its Christmass Day 1960 just got my first real bow a gift from my older brother a Herters 45# Farbenglass Recurve ,its cold with some snow as i head out into the fields and woods behind the house,i find rabbit tracks follow them till i find him sitting in a growed up fence row ,one arrow into the throat at 5 yds he is done,my first bow kill.

I finally got out to hunt, I seen one small buck at 15 yrds and a glimpse of a little bigger buck right before dark. My son seen 25 deer of various sizes and nothing close enough to shoot. We'll see what tonight will bring. Pip

elkpacker, nice area - yep, those blackies bucks like to show up around early-mid Nov. and some are really nice ones. I always saw the best ones during elk rifle season. But deer was closed... :/

Hunted on 11th. Saw no deer. Ambushed by red wasps. Attacked my right wrist, stung about 20 times. Did a 40 yard dash. Some got under shooting glove. Arm swelled and had fever. Hunted over 50 years, this was a first. Will avoid that tree. Good hunting.

Greyfox- Now that you've been badly stung, you can have a life-threatening reaction to a single future sting.

Might not go out today. Winds to gust to over 35mph.

Joe

Managed to get an evening hunt in on Wed. No wind, about 50 degrees and acorns on the ground. Same very small doe I passed on couple of weeks ago came in behind me. I stand up in the treestand, turn and face into the tree while I watched her feed slowly closer for 30 min. Finally I couldn't resist the broadside 15 yd shot. Arrow grazed the top of her shoulder for a clean miss. Not enough tree stand practice this summer.... But I enjoyed every minute of the hunt :)

Frisky, my brother was found unconcious from 1 sting. Shot under tongue and ICU. He carries a shot now. It's been warm and windy here. Going next week. Kenny

Yes, my nephew was stung 13 times. My sister was telling his doctor about it, and the doctor told her to get him to the emergency room, immediately, if he was stung again.

Joe

You folks that have issues with bee stings need to see about carrying an epi pen.

They cost too much. If you get stung, all you can really do is hope you don't die!

Joe

Got to my stand yesterday at about 6:45am, it was pretty dark but I like things to settle down a bit before first light...but maybe not as much as Jimmy B.(A very small part of why I don't have his success rate.) By 7:15 or 7:20, dawn was nearing and things were starting to become recognizable. The first thing I saw was what appeared to look like a nice bright rack, almost glowing, and respectable in size along with a doe at about 50-60 yards. Shortly after that, I had a wolf within 35 yards followed by an alligator about 17 yards away...gosh, who left the 3D targets on the range at the Club? I hunted until 10:30 and saw seven more does and yearlings but the only thing close enough for a shot was the alligator!

""They cost too much. If you get stung, all you can really do is hope you don't die!""

Well yeah. That's another option, but it won't be pleasant.

Epinephrine is dirt cheap.Buy a syringe and needle and learn to draw it up and how to give it.The epi-pen cost in the news lately is an obscene.

I am at the moment reading an article in the August issue of consumers reports magazine, from this article.. .. 'Epinephrine dates back to the early 1900s and costs pennies to make. Epipen Has a unique, patented, self-injectable syringe system. Since drug company Mylan purchased Epipen in 2007, the price increased by about 450 percent. No generic version of Epipen is available.) The article states that," there is no Limit on how high drug companies can raise prices." Surely there also is no limit to corporate greed. Sandy

Ive got 4 or 5 epipens that have expired back in 2013 or before but, I still keep them in my packs in case they might still be good. Not buying any new ones so I don't want to throw them out. Herbie, that made me LOL...:)

They're still good if stored properly

I went out before light, near-full moon was setting and bright orange. Wind moderate from the east so I,went to the hedge out back, west end of it next to olen field where we saw three deer feeding behind house down the road. Standing in hedge kinda,thick and I had not cleared lanes, never sttod in that spot before. Half hour goes by, getting light, suddenly good lone doe appears from the east in the open lot. 30 yds, she comes even with me, passes, and approaches hedge. Got no shot, too much in the way. 20 yd broadside now, she inches forward and there is a small window to her vitals. I contemplate the low percentage shot. I either nail her heart or total miss, no chance of wounding. I decide to go,for it. Thread the needle. I draw, release, and the 'thread' rattles the eye and snaps in two ten yds in front of me. She bolts. I stand reliving the shot. Suddenly a bleating fawn comes into view and I am relieved I missed. No damage done. Two minutes later 3 half grown coon kits come along thru the hedge right up to me. Great morning out, chilly frosty clear and windy. Later found turkey nest with 7 or 8 hatched out eggshells, and two fresh rubs.

TK- That's a good morning. Lance.

I'd post a little photo journal but pics won't send.

Two days ago, I hunted the WMA without seeing a deer. If I had driven down the road 7.5 miles, and hunted at my brother's place, a big doe would have walked past me at sunset. He just set a trail cam pic of it. That's how it goes. You can't be in two places at once!

Joe

1st sit of the year this morning...zero deer...1 squirrel.

But, NO SKEETERS...so I got that going for me.

And, yeah, the traffic noise on I-90 is bothersome in the Wisconsin Dells area also.

Youth gun season in Oklahoma ends tomorrow. Hunting public land I let them have the woods. Hundreds of young hunters are having a great time. Hope to see deer next week. None so far.

Took a ride at sundown to watch full moon rise. Just outside of nearby town and a campus, fields were alive with feeding does and fawns. Probably 30 or so. Gonna see if permission to hunt is possible. Didnt see any posted signs. That a good sign.... Hahahaha.

Hunted at my brother's place tonight. Nothing showed, except for squirrels. I did hear the turkeys coming in to roost. I should have gone to the WMA. Would have gotten a deer tonight. Nobody was in there, and I drove by. RATS!

Joe

5:00AM...64º. Nope, I'll skip this morning. Looks like a cold front's moving in late next week...look forward to that.

In my advanced life stage, I pretty much hold off til late October anyway. On vacation the first week of November.

Full moon plus high temps means we will continue to scout for new stand locations

I keep a journal and record deer and turkey killed and Trout caught and locations where I was hunting and fishing. I've seen deer every night out except this week. I think the full moon had them moving late. I'm using a new self bow and am only comfortable shooting 15 yards so had to pass on a few nice does that were a little too far. The only deer I've had close were two little ones that I let pass.

With the moon, we see deer driving home, but nothing out hunting. We had below freezing temps one night, I was hoping that it would take out the swarms of little head stander mosquitos. We must have a new hatch.

Had a great Sat. here in VA, cool 47, light wind. Saw a doe and a 4 point in the morning, no shot. Hunted from the ground in the evening, Saw 2 NICE bucks one at 17.5 that saw me when he was checking out his rub, then another one at 10 yard that I thought was going to walk over me, no shot as he turned and ran off. Best part was my son arrowed a VERY NICE 6 pointer. 21" outside, 18" inside. He shot it with a compound.

Good sunday out searching the woods. put out two camera's. We will see what we shall see this weds..

High in Oklahoma was 102° with 25 to 30 mph wind. Doesn't feel like October.

Taken from my log of yesterday's hunt:

5:00 PM, 76 F, full moon, slight west wind, property mostly flooded due to Huuricane Matthew - hunting funnel with climber between natural opening and bay. Acorns dropping.

5:30 PM - nothing but stupid birds singing. Where are the deer?

6:00 PM - Mature Cardinal spotted 25 yards front left. Too early for a shot at small game but he better not show at last light.

6:30 PM - 2 hen turkeys passed left-to-right 15 yds behind me. Not legal, risk too great and no shot anyway.

6:50 PM - 6 hen turkeys passed right-to-left 20 yds in front of me. Had a shot opportunity and it took every ounce of restraint I could muster to not shoot. Turkeys not legal here in the fall, but I haven't shot this year and feel like I must kill something. Almost worth the risk, but I still have time this year.

7:00 PM - turkeys make an ungodly amount of racket flying up to roost. Very annoying as I'm really concentrating on killing a deer and their noise makes it hard to hear.

7:05 PM - something moving close behind me - turned out to be pair of squirrels. Not sure if legal or not but don't care. Stood and got ready to draw. Squirrels are at 30 yards - kind of far for my shooting ability but who cares - they are just squirrels and I haven't shot and animal since last year. Finally saw a marginal shot opportunity and started my draw. At that moment, one squirrel attacked the other and they both exploded in hair and noise and leaves going everywhere. They raced back and forth before the one was able to escape the other and both went their separate ways leaving me with no shot.

Super crappy hunt! No deer, just a handful of stupid turkeys that I'm not supposed to shoot, but I'm shooting the next one unless a deer comes first. Worst part was on the ride home, the guys I was hunting with kept talking about what a beautiful fall day it was and how beautiful the rising moon was. I have no idea what they were talking about - the stupid leaves falling were nothing but a noisy, visual distraction. The setting sunlight filtering through the trees made too many shadows and made it harder to see deer. A couple a times, I could barely of heard if a deer come by because of the Cardinals singing. Horrible hunt. Maybe next week I can kil something.

Did I just read Frisky hunts at his brother's place where there's a trail camera.

Tonight, I went to the WMA (no trail cam) and had a red-tail hawk land at about 8 yards. He pounced on something and missed. With 30 minutes to go, I looked at my watch and heard a snort behind me. I didn't move. I never did see the deer, but it was in very heavy cover, and I wouldn't have gotten a shot. This is starting to get disgusting!

Joe

Went out back with an hour of light left. Stood inside at the edge of the woods next to open field where the deer come out at dusk. Made a nice quiet spot by clearing litter next to a forked large maple. Hidden by branches with lave still on, made a couple shooting lanes out and waited. Ten min. go by a doe and fawn comme out on far side of field. Ten two more doe, but none on my side. Got dark from incoming rain, but this spot will provide some action I believe.

Lucky is he Who is in the right place at the right time! We were hunting whitetail deer this week on the river bottom. Moon was mostly full, quite a few hunters out, including archery, black powder and fall turkey hunters, so there was a lot of pressure on the areas. Besides that, most corn fields adjacent to the hunting areas were standing corn that had not been cut. Any deer seen were right at dark, as most of the deer were in the corn during the day. We were posted up right next to deer runs out of corn in the river bottom - seeing nothing in shooting light all week. On Wed afternoon at 5:40 pm, a black powder Hunter shot and killed a 13 point whitetail buck that probably scores about 170+, about 80 yards from our sit - exactly were I was at the evening before. The buck was crossing the river heading toward the corn during daylight. Right Place @ Right Time. Newt

Tonight, I ended the day by going to Walmart and buying a Buck 110 Folding Hunter. It's a neat companion blade to my Vanguard. I had to get it, because it's a classic every hunter must own. In 75', I shot my first deer and the hunter I was with pulled out a 110 and field dressed it for me. I never forgot that. I'll post a pic when the photo deal is fixed.

Joe

Lucky is the name I gave to the young setter I found who happened to be in the right place at the right time, too. I didn't normally take that route. Exhausted all avenues to find the rightful owner, to no avail. Lucky me!

A near-constant companion now, Lucky rode shotgun as I glassed for deer this weekend. There was not a deer to be seen all morning in an extended archery season unit here in the agricultural fields of northern Utah.

Makes me think the UDWR is less interested in harvesting any surplus deer that may be aggravating the ranchers than they are in placating late season bowhunters with a token place to "hunt," even though there are very few deer in that particular area.

Frisky, you let someone else gut out your first deer? The shame! That's bogus... :) I was alone when I shot my first buck. I was supposed to be hunting with an adult companion, but my father dropped me off in a spot along a ridge, said, go along there and I'll pick you up on the other end, about two miles down the road. Cool! I went along this ridge in the woods and it was loud crusty crunchy snow. I was looking down the hill to the bottom along the length of the ridge when about halfway along, I spotted two deer laying in their beds at the bottom of the hill in the hardwoods. One had antlers. (this is a gun story, sorry, but it's about my 1st deer). I pulled up my Sweet 16, aimed at shoulder, and squeezed one off. (This gun is as accurate as a rifle to over 100 yards). The buck was whacked hard, blatted loudly and struggled around in its bed. The doe got up, took a look, and ran off. I hoofed it down the hill the 100 yds, and the deer lay helpless with a spine shot in the neck base. I finished him with another. A nice 6 pt with eye guards for my first! Then I proceeded to gut him out successfully, but popped the pee bag - that made me peeved a bit, but it was my first time, so hey... Got it done, tied my drag rope to its horns, and with one hand carried my gun, an the other, dragged the buck up this pretty steep hill. It got too much with one hand, so I had to take my gun up, leave it, and go back and drag the buck with both hands. Finally got it to the top, and was dragging it back to the road. Mind you, I was two hours late now from meeting my Dad. I heard the horn blowing a couple times, figured it was him worrying. No cell phones in '72... So I kept tugging, skidding it was fairly easy on the crusty snow, but I was sweating like a rainstorm and excited 16 year old (old by most starting out hunters-standards). Then I looked up, and here comes my Dad walking toward me. He gets up to me and goes, (I'll never forget how proud he sounded), "Well, I'll be G%# Damned"! He talked that way, but it was in a 'good way'. He helped me drag it the rest of the way out. He got a nice 4 pt the day before me, so that's why he didn't accompany me. I think it was also to let me 'go on my own to see what I had in me' kind of on his part too. Job done! So, that's my first ever diary entry! Never before writer - thanks Joe!

Excellent story! When I got my deer (actually, I was hunting alone) a guy came along, saw me, and asked if I had ever gutted one. I replied that I had not but was sure I could do the job. He told me he'd show me, as he was good at it. He helped me drag it out too, lol!

Joe

Joe, Had 13 slick heads come through yesterday afternoon, (not all at once), and all within bow range. Still waiting for trailing bucks, but none so far. Others have been stating the bucks are trailing does, but obviously that depends on where one lives in this nation. Here its a bit too early, but I imagine within 10 days or so for consistent cruising for these bucks. Just hope these does are still in the area then. Stay safe. MTQ

MT- Glad you're on them. It's just a matter of time now.

Joe

Went to the WMA and got skunked again. Mosquitos were back out and made it impossible to hunt without a head net. The deer are just not cooperating.

Joe

Frisky you need a new vehicle, they can smell that oil burner coming and they all move to get to better air. The next Holy Grace will just have to wait till next year.

Is it possible that the deer don't like the mosquitos eather. Look for a spot with enough breez to keep them away and you might find dinner. ??

Well, my exhaust fume cover scent seems to work well. Also, cold just hit and should kill off the remaining mosquitos.

Joe

Field dressed my first deer with a Buck 112 44 years ago and before my first, I used the same knife to field dress my youngest brother's first deer two months before. He had shot a doe in the morning, we had six folks looking for it all morning with a stinky arrow and no blood.

That evening I was walking back in from hunting, in the dark, with my older brother's girlfriend (now my sister-in-law)and we were cutting through an adjacent property we didn't have permission to hunt when we saw the lights of a truck coming up the dirt lane. We both dove into the hollow from a big tree being up-rooted, about 20 feet off the side of the road, and kept still and quiet....this was in "the grass farms" in the northern part of the lower peninsula of Michigan, i.e., the private hunting clubs for rich folks from Detroit, and they all had hired watchmen. After the truck had long passed, I looked to my right and there was a dead doe curled up next to me in the hollow, like she was asleep, still warm, hit too far back, and this was about 500 yards from where we had lost the trail that morning.

I field dressed that doe right in the little hollow by the light of a flashlight, my sister-in-law carried the bows and I slung that doe over both shoulders and carried it through the woods back to camp. I was in better shape then but it was all uphill and I was huffing and puffing so hard by the time we got back that folks in the cabin thought they were being attacked by Sasquatch. Is still carry that Buck 112.

went out to check 2 trail cameras I have up and haven't looked at since Aug 21st. We moved last week to a new house 20 min north of where we had been so its been crazy. I brought with the 12 ga thinking I might jump some pheasants or ducks. Of course I didn't see either but jumped 4 deer in different places. Had 200 pics on one camera and 75 on the other. 6 different bucks and lots of does. One buck is pretty nice 8 point high and wide, another has chocolate antlers and just inside the ears. Another tall 6 and a smaller 6 and a fork buck or two. Some fawns still have spots.

I'm going to start getting serious here and do some bowhunting now that the house is somewhat settled. Repainted rooms and hung lots of pictures for my wife last week.

I have one side of my house to paint, I got hurt painting my house this summer, SI joint, my wife says that I should leave it for spring, she doesn't want any chance of my bad back wrecking her deer hunting.

Just got in my stand for another evening hunt have only seen 1 deer since Oct 1st wish me luck. Rick

I had an interesting evening at the WMA. It was already a good day, as I was bagging leaves in the backyard and flushed out an American woodcock. I almost stepped on the old timber doodle! I hit the WMA and just after sunset heard deer coming toward me. I looked out of the corner of my eye and saw brown. As they neared me, I saw they were a man and woman, and she was wearing a brown coat. They stopped at 11 yards, right in my shooting lane, and he said, "That looks like the creek, right there. I bet this would be a good spot to hunt" I replied, "Sometimes it is and sometimes people come in late and ruin it." They nearly died, lol! They started apologizing, and I laughed and told them I was fine with them stopping by. I told them that I'd get together with them, later, and show them where to hunt in the WMA when other hunters show up. It was interesting that the lady stared right at me and didn't see a person. She wasn't expecting anyone to be around. I hope a deer will be that unobservant. As I walked to my car, 20 minutes later, a big buck took off! I know he has been sleeping in the field and heading over to corn. I have a plan for him.

Joe

Went out tonight . Bumped two yearlings bedded in the cat tails on the way in. It was a nice night to be out. Light wind out of the north and I was hoping deer would come past me towards the corn to the south. They were either already in the corn or went another route

Nothing going tonight. I did talk to the young couple who walked in late last night. They came out of the woods and told me they scared two does off that were bedded in the field. They seem like nice people. The lady was concerned about where to put the gut pile if they get a deer. After all, she said they might get in trouble if they leave it on public land, lol!

Joe

Frisky "After all, she said they might get in trouble if they leave it on public land"....ROFLMAO!!!!!

LOL! I explained to her the pile would be gone in a few days, with nothing remaining but a handful of undigested grass, if even that. I told her it wasn't necessary to take the guts home with you, lol!

Joe

The other night a guy from Wisconsin, I cannot figure out why anyone would cross so much better hunting areas just to get here, he came charging through, almost stepped on my wife's foot and kept on marching. Later he said that he saw our car, but didn't see anyone hunting, so he assumed that we were hunting on the private land side of the road.

Dean- It happens on public land. I've learned to accept it and just be friendly toward these folk. Many of them have never hunted in their lives and are like that lady who asked me where they should take the gut pile to if they kill one, lol!

Joe

Checked the cameras yesterday and all movement was around 10 PM and later. Very few deer as well.

Had 15 turkeys pass within 5 yards of me. They then roosted nearly above me. Thought I might have to move! No deer and no coyote showed.

Joe

Where's that fall turkey tag, Frisky?

I didn't get a tag, as my brother considers the turkeys to be pets.

Joe

When I buy some land I am going to have some pet turkeys. You don't need a tag to harvest pet turkeys.

I dislike this daily diary so I don't read it. I can't go right now so I cant and its time to get it on too.Disappointment for me but work has to come first. Got to make hay while suns shinning.LOL

Daily diary entry for 10-21-16. Hunted the WMA and got into position. Six minutes to sunset and I heard a deer. It was running toward me, then it turned and went into the woods. I figured a hunter scared it. However, when I left fro the parking lot, I noticed I was the only hunter in the woods! That means it was frightened off by people living on the west side of the land.

Joe

Drove to Jackson early yesterday morning. I had one deer cross the river behind me but could not tell if it was a buck or doe. At about 8:30 a small spike crossed the river on the trail I was watching. I let him walk. I didn't see anything on the evening hunt. I did get a few bucks on my trail camera during daylight hours.

From way back on the 13th. 54lb Guava Selfbow and mongoose kill. First practice session after shooting it in.

View post on imgur.com

Msturm.

Here is the bow Frisky.

Braced, Silencers are raw wool taken from a ferral sheep ram hunted on the big island.

View post on imgur.com

Full draw:

View post on imgur.com

Msturm

Now that's what I call a bow and a mighty hunter! Not many of us have taken a mongoose!

I had a deer go by tonight. No shot.

Joe

Spike buck from yesterday

went out this evening. low 60's 12-17 mph winds with gusts to 25. Saw one deer about 100 yards. Cold front coming in tonight. Winds will be light, I will try again in the morning.

Finally cool here with afternoon high of 67F. Sat the same funnel as last week but 50 yards to the SE. Saw a deer pass 50 yards in front of me, left to right at 6:00. At 6:30, a fawn followed by a doe came from my right directly toward me. The fawn locked up at 40 yards and stared at something off in front of me. They both got nervous and turned back the way they came. I figured that was it. I decided to give it a few for minutes until 6:45. At 6:42, I heard deer walking in front of me. I stood. Suddenly a big doe was right there to the front left. She passed 5 yards to my left and was by me before I could get turned. She was followed by a second Doe that took a differ t path and offered no shot. By this point I had turned enough to shoot and saw a third doe trailing. At 10 yards she paused in a small opening. I drew, aimed, and took the shot. The shot looked good, and she tore off and then circled and headed back the way she had come from. After 45 minutes, I started trailing her. I found my arrow, and followed a sparse blood trail for two hours and 75 - 100 yards before losing the trail due to my flashlight batteries slowly dying.

I'm heading back at daylight to finish trailing her. I'm kind of nervous. I really thought the shot looked good, but it was not a great blood trail.

Bring us good news tomorrow!

Got back at daylight and was able to pick up the blood trail again. Sometimes I could follow the trail just by walking for 3 or 4 yards, but mostly it was drop by drop, with the drops being finger tip size. Occasionally there would be some large splatters, but for the most part, there just wasn't much blood. I lost the trial 3 or 4 times when the deer changed directions, but ultimately I followed the trail for close to 300 hundred yards and 4 hours until I finally lost it where she entered flooded timber. I waded (less than knee deep) across to high ground but was never able to pick up the trail again. Even checked a couple of "islands" but nothing.

I just don't know. I still think I made a good shot, but after reviewing it in my mind all night I don't think I got very good penetration. I found one - 50 cent size spot of bright pink lung (I think) blood. The rest was dark sparse pinky sized drops. My best guess is that I only got one lung, but hell, I was at EIGHT yards. Don't know.

Worst EFF'ing journal post ever!

Low country- Crap happens. I had a buck at 8 yards and figured dead deer as I released. This was in 2010. My arrow stopped on a rib! Zero penetration! I investigated and found where my Woodsman blew through the top of a branch I hadn't seen. It expended its energy going through the branch and probably had a big chunk of wood stuck to it as it hit the deer behind the front leg. What was the likelihood of that happening?

Joe

I stayed home today. Nationwide, October 23rd is the best day to go deer hunting this year. However, we have gusts topping 30mph, so I stayed home. I actually like to hunt in the wind, but where I go now, the areas are small and the wind swirls from every direction. It's better not to chance blowing it, as the deer will leave the areas.

Joe

I made the right decision to take a day off from hunting. The gusts are now up to 40mph!

Joe

Heavy wind all day today but it poured all day yesterday so I had to give it a shot for a few hours. I bumped a deer on my way in.. made a mental note to get to this stand 30 minutes earlier next time. It was in easy range of the stand whatever it was. Using a treestand for the first time in over 20 years this season. Strapped in and waited for the sun to come up...woods came slowly alive and the squirrels drove me nuts all morning. There had to be a dozen of them making up for lost time because of yesterday's weather. At 8:15 movement out in front of me but it was way out there...a fox..moved through the tall grass and into the tree line...probably looking for a bushytail breakfast. 30 minutes later off to my 2 o'clock position meandering down the slope but out of range... a fat turkey...and me with a tag in my pocket. Watched him for a bit wishing he would move my way but it was not to be. Just after 9 am the wind got serious...the tree was swaying so bad it was no longer fun..I got down and still-hunted for a while but with the wind blowing like that I decided to call it. It was a beautiful day in the autumn woods..I go back Tuesday.

Should start calling this friskys Wall

Frisky's Wall would be an excellent name! Especially when you consider my intent to take over the sport and return it to its former greatness, when men were men and lefties and tree stands were not allowed!

Joe

Make the leather wall great again....

I'm having more fun tuning hunting rigs this year than actually hunting. Spent Sunday shooting 6 bows at the club. Found some enjoyment in that.

The 23rd turned out to be one for the books and memories, but not all good. I saw the biggest racked buck I've seen in the last 11 years while actually hunting deer in NY State. First thing in the morning, from a field away, I glassed a big bodied, white-racked 10 - 12 pt with a doe, acting Frisky... LOL. Then later, I grazed a big gray squirrel's forehead that was sitting on an ancient barbed wire fence post angling off an old tree. The broad head sparked as it struck the wire behind the squirrel. Electric fence? So close to squirrel stew. Went home, took a nice fall ride with the family and returned home near dusk. Went across the road for the last hour at the wife's urging, and no sooner did I get set up than in came a nice 2.5 yo 8 pt. At 12 steps I drew and released into ribs and chest, and it spun and disappeared into heavy weeds and brush. I waited, and then looked. I watched the arrow disappear into the deer and did not find it. I also found no blood, and it was getting dark. Looked about 1/2 hour, and went home to get the dog. Returned, got on the trail, and found blood, but not a lot. Dog never before tracked a wounded but he got right on it and was doing great. But the deer kept going and like the energizer bunny, did not stop. 5 hours later, with no cell phone and steady rain, I had to give up. It went into posted land, so now I am going back out for the day to look more. This makes me sick, and Is not looking good. 12 steps - just could not imagine this outcome.

Hopefully, you'll get him.

Joe

I haven't been out nearly as much as I'd like, either because of 30-40 mph winds, or doing something for my dad, or my aunt. Not a complaint, just the way it is.

About a week ago, I came home from hunting public land and saw nothing. I brought my stuff back in the basement, then went out to do chicken chores. Coming back to the house after chicken chores, I looked out back, toward our very small woods, and there stood two deer looking at me. The yard light had them silhouetted on the driving trail that goes through the woods.

Went out this morning to move my ladder stand but found no suitable trees. Either too many branches in the way, or no cover. My last resort was to build a ground blind. This is no ordinary ground blind. Even the Great Frisky would be proud of this one.

The breeze was currently out of the southeast, which is perfect for this spot. IF the wind doesn't switch before evening, I'll be headed out with far more confidence than I've had up to this point. Good Lord willing......

Saturday afternoon 10/22/2016 around 1:30PM, Bear Custom Kodiak A_riser/ #3 limbs 60" 43#@28,Roncho safari 2 quiver, face paint, 30" Gold-Tip arrows, bear razor head, thermocell, (black nats were bad) and my camo cushioned bucket was off an old food plot. 15 feet back in the woods. Saw 2 yellow jackets, one lizzard, fast forward; 15 tukeys went to roost in the trees across form me, squirrels having a fit!! Then the rattling started, I thought it was a bit early for that! I thought another hunter had come in near me!( I was hunting private land) Then it stopped, I was looking to my right and I caught movement to my left and there he was a fine 8pt. walking up the trail he hesitated to scratch behind di right ear and then I picked up my bow and got ready. He passed by me and put his head down and I cuold see his right shoulder beneath a couple of maple leaves and I shot!!!! 18Yds. I wish I could say I am the proud owner of a fine deer! He ducked the arrow but What A Fine DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is what keeps me coming back!!

It's a nice afternoon. In a tree I killed a buck two years ago. Corn is all harvested to the south now

Hey kodiak t/d, it's like skookum says in one of the DVDs. Not exact, but if you take a shot and get the animal, it's great, but if you miss, you get to come back and try to do it again tomorrow!

Good luck, TK--and may you have cold temps tonight; sounds like there's a dead deer waiting at the end of the trail for you.

Saw one buck to the west out in the neighbor's crp 200 yards away. Heard some to the east but didn't see them.

Thanks Frisky and crookedstix for the positives, I took off from work and spent nearly all day looking, with both dogs and my wife for awhile, into posted land (they are ok with it) but it must have made it across the highway and behind some houses into the thick doghair. It crossed a swamp on the way so maybe the dogs lost the scent, and rain washed the blood away last night. Dogs did take me to the old barn foundation where its all vine grown but he was not visible. If hes in there, I could not see him and the dogs would have shown more interest. It is the worst way to end a hunt. Had nightmares last night, what little I slept. It happens alot I guess, I have found alot of bow killed deer over the years, or shot wounded ones. That is still no consolation. I hit him squarely so I don't know what happened. If I bow shoot another deer this year it will be to fill one of the permit doe tags I have, or a buck during gun season. Unless it is a very sure thing and that big one... The bow buck tag I consider filled... Diary out, 24 Oct 16. TK

Thanks Frisky and crookedstix for the positives, I took off from work and spent nearly all day looking, with both dogs and my wife for awhile, into posted land (they are ok with it) but it must have made it across the highway and behind some houses into the thick doghair. It crossed a swamp on the way so maybe the dogs lost the scent, and rain washed the blood away last night. Dogs did take me to the old barn foundation where its all vine grown but he was not visible. If hes in there, I could not see him and the dogs would have shown more interest. It is the worst way to end a hunt. Had nightmares last night, what little I slept. It happens alot I guess, I have found alot of bow killed deer over the years, or shot wounded ones. That is still no consolation. I hit him squarely so I don't know what happened. If I bow shoot another deer this year it will be to fill one of the permit doe tags I have, or a buck during gun season. Unless it is a very sure thing and that big one... The bow buck tag I consider filled... Diary out, 24 Oct 16. TK

Had the doe I missed early in the month back! She and her sister came within 15 yards of my shooting lane and slowly fed off at an angle that put them behind brush. No shot, but at least they're back and in the area just as the rut is about to really get going!

Joe

Hope those ladies stick around for ya Joe, better yet I hope they bring some big boy's in for ya too.

Luke,

Bacon- I had my eyes looking out for a big boy. I'm near the city limits, and those in town bucks are getting big!

Joe

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