Five Seasons

Sorry to hear wolc. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sort of glad I’m a way to hear others mention the lack of shooting. Thought it was just us. With the rona, thought more would be out moving them. Weird year behavior wise. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Where’s biz at? Dude has a kid and is much quieter now... not that any of us dads didn’t see that coming [emoji1787] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sure it does, a small doe is just as good. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Perfect wolc buck. Congrats man! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

PS you guys with your “der der it’s 7 minutes to sunrise” Nobody cares Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I’m normally in 7J for the opener, but the Rona had us making in different plans. Only ever hunted 8F once on the opener but gotta admit it’s crazy I haven’t heard a shot yet. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hunting in the wind got hunters making escape plans, like do I surf this bitch down or which tree can I monkey jump to Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Opportunities at 2 non target deer within 15 yards this morning, so not a total bust. Going to call it and give it one last shot tonight to fill all my bow tags. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

remember for many hunters, the season hasn't even started yet haha

any chance it was high too and maybe hit a bunch of that heavy muscle and vertebrae?

I think when guys here share their stories like this we all learn from them. I'm glad that for the most part we have a culture of supporting and not shaming as I know I learn more from these then a I do from a grip and grin. Sorry this happened man, just curious as I don't know a lot about crossbows. If you hit him back, why no passthrough? that's the detail that I'm struggling with, especially when bolts have more KE than a compound. And if he was quartering away slightly and you hit opposite shoulder, that would surely have hit some vitals...

i've never understood the mindset of a guy who feels free to climb in someone else stand. I have a summit too and while they're nice, I totally agree that they're a hassle, noisy and sweaty even for the most proficient. One trick we have in an area that is ripe with trespassers is to cable lock cameras and to use screw in steps for our hang ons. You can remove the bottom 2 screw ins (hide them under a rock or pack them with you) and then your only work is to rescrew those in. It's not 100% but will stop most guys.

squirrel, guts are always fatal but it just takes a while. It's also possible you hit liver, which is the same scenario. If you shot him at 9, 3pm will be about 6 hours and enough for him to expire if not bumped. I think 8 hours is even more preferred but then you run into dark and if he plugged up between first bed down and bump you're going to want that daylight. this is a situation where many of us look the other way if you bring a gun with you. and then many other righteous warriors on this site would say different. just my .02.

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Super quiet both sound and sightings wise last night. A peaceful hunt none the less. There's an injured hen near one of our stands. My dad's seen her a few times and so have I. She's always alone and limps on her right leg but seems to be doing ok. The fact that she's never with the flock is odd to me. But I saw her fly up and roost just about 10 yards in a tree behind me. Was worried that she might bust me if I had to draw, but we came to a mutual understanding that she was comfy for the night and I wasn't going to see any deer to draw on haha. 2 more sits on Friday and it's a wrap.

Liver Mousse from the meateater cookbook tested my marriage as the wife offered to do the work... there's a smell and taste one does not forget haha

i've heard whitetail fat isn't worth the effort (from the meateater guys haha), but i'll try anything once. Bear fat is where it's at I'm told.

well today was 1 of 2 days left I had off to fill all my tags. Got to bed early, had all my cold gear ready and when the alarm went off at 5 and I heard that wind howling I thought oh no. Checked the weather and the 15-20 mph winds weren't stopping soon and with a windchill in the teens and meat in the freezer I gave it a pass. I'm bummed about it but I'm going out this evening and maybe today will still be success.

spot on. Playing the wind can be tricky as we've all had plenty of deer not do what they should be doing haha, so that's why I try to increase my odds even if i'll never get 100% scent free (which I agree with you is basically impossible)

sigh just because you see deer stinking like a goat doesn't mean it doesn't help to not stink like a goat. Yes guys kill deer every year without paying attention to scent control. Yes some guys even kill slammers like this. Yes sometimes it's a bow hunter, but honestly If you look at guys that hunt high pressured areas and consistently kill mature deer with a bow, I doubt many if any will tell you that they don't practice some level of scent control. Go ahead and hunt how you want, but shooting a 1.5 year old buck at 200 yards with a rifle smelling like irish spring doesn't mean it's a best practice for bow hunting or for increasing your odds at a trophy buck. Finally, if cost is a concern, any of the tide free and clear or baking soda methods are pretty cost effective and one bar or all-in-one bodywash/shampoo will last a season or 2. So for maybe less than $20 a year you can do a lot without even getting into scentlok and ozone.

well shit you buried the lead haha. There's nothing better than getting access to unpressured land and getting in during the rut. That's like a gift from the gods and i'd buy a loto ticket while you're at it. all that said, I don't believe in luck. You still put the stand in the right spot and made 2 great shots. congrats to well earned again.

that's a good point, when a buck is standing their ground, it's almost always him guarding "something" haha

(definitely) (themselves) dick

much of hunting, weather we want to admit it or not is where we hunt. Hunting low pressured high populations areas will not require the same attention to detail as other areas. Ultimately, i think most of us subscribe to the idea that if we can do anything to increase our odds, within reason we'll do it. I wear 2 layers of scentlock. It's been proven to be less than effective, yet still does reduce odors to some degree, so I'll take it. I also use an ozone generator on my gear at home and in the truck. If it helps, I'm for it.